(no subject)

[mamadeb]

Huh.

Was reading Dave Barry's column today, and.

He apparently just learned about space elevators, and he seems to think the idea is silly sounding.

But it's not. And if they are starting to think a beanstalk is practical, well. *Wow*. Yes! Cool! Other expressions of glee!

This is another difference between sf fen and mundanes, isn't it? (Apologies for the non-polite term.)

Comments

[ellen-fremedon.livejournal.com]

I suppose, if one weren't already familiar with the idea, and if the article Barry read didn't include any explanation of how a space elevator would actually work and the ways in which it would differ from a typical Otis freight elevator, it might seem a kind of an odd notion.

But, yeah. It's easy to forget that there are people who aren't familiar with the idea of space elevators...

Now I want to go reread some Kim Stanley Robinson.

[sdelmonte]

Or Arthur C. Clarke, who is also a public advocate for this endeavor.

[estherchaya.livejournal.com]

ahem. I'm ashamed to say I didn't know what a space elevator was until I read your post and asked my husband about it. He demonstrated using an apple and a skewer. It was really funny. He went into "teacher mode" which is funny since he's never been a teacher. :)