10 technologies that deserve to die (Go at it)

MSN/Technology Review ^ | 24 Oct 03 | Bruce Sterling

[ericthecurdog]

Well, cumbi-f'ing-ya...

What a bunch of hooey.

That said, I have eliminated incandescent lights from my home, and I am very pleased with the results. My utilities bill is rock steady at $30 per month.

[Always Right]

Actually if this guy would just stop putting his DVD's in the toaster they would be just fine....

[FreedomCalls]

In fact, it is rather suprising that we still place so much reliance on such old technology.

The ultimate reliance on old technology is the nuclear power plant. It may seem high tech, but all is does is heat up water to steam and then send the steam to power the generators. So it actually is the oldest form of technology -- the steam engine -- that actually provides us the electricity. The nuclear aspect is just there to heat the water.

[Always Right]

Is he wearing a mullet?

A mullet head, LOL

[Alouette]

So this elitist wants everyone else to give up coal power and the internal-combustion engine, but he gets to keep his SUV and his 5000-sq.-ft California home.

[Publius6961]

Didn't we go through all this about a monthe ago?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

100% of all critics of land mines do not have there asses on the 38th parallel facing infiltration by lunatic minions of Beloved Leader Jr.

100% of all US critics of Hiroshima were not in uniform in the Pacific in 1945. Nuclear weapons prevented a major third world war in the 20th century by scaring the bejesus out of world leaders. Anyone who thinks Stalin wouldn't have invade Western Europe sometime shortly after 1945, absent nuclear weapons, probably believes Ed Asner when he promises to move to France.

[BenLurkin]

This is SATIRE. Isn't it?

[olorin]

a rouge space object

Would that be like Tammy Faye Baker?

[kaktuskid]

Coal can be converted into a gas or synthetic oil, which means we don't have to get those items from insane people wearing tablecloths on their heads!

[Zathras]

Prisons are technology?

[AngryJawa]

To pick up your line of reasoning:

100% of all Cosmetic Implant critics have never had their face disfigured in an accident. Nor have they had to live with a total mastectomy.

100% of all Prison critics have never had to live next door to a paroled murderer, rapist, or pedophile.

[xsrdx]

In fact, it is rather suprising that we still place so much reliance on such old technology.

The technology may have been around awhile, but "old" is subjective.

We've been screwing around with solar, wind, fuel cell, turbine, hydroelectric, and various other forms of electrical power generation, and that nasty coal powerplant still generally gets the job done with less fuss than any "newer" technology. Nuclear power is probably the best real alternative, but we're - unjustifiably - afraid to build them.

As for internal combustion, NOTHING, but NOTHING, has come even close to matching the efficiency, power, reliability and durability of the hydrocarbon IC powerplant - turbine, 2/4 stroke, diesel, whatever - in one form or another, our ability to shape our environment has been expanded by orders of magnitude due to the internal combustion engine.

Oh, and this Sterling guy is an idiot and most likely a hypocrite as well.

[AngryJawa]

This is SATIRE. Isn't it?

Methinks Mr. Mullet is quite serious.

[CodeJockey]

I'll miss the loud, soul-stirring THRAAAAGH of a two-stroke motorcycle

And not the the heart-pounding THUMPPPP of a four stroke Harley?

The author and I are not cut from the same cloth.

[Namyak]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/993684/posts
already posted here... beat you by almost a full month...

[KevinDavis]

6. MANNED SPACEFLIGHT

This alone makes him an idiot.

[brianl703]

Maybe if Mr. Sterling would use the services of a capitalist pig mechanic to give his vehicle a tuneup, the need for which has probably been indicated by an orange dashboard light glowing in Mr. Sterlings face like deer in the headlights, the exhaust fumes wouldn't smell like those from a lawnmower.

[xsrdx]

So why do we go through these same ritual gestures with the iron bars, uniforms, and transport trucks?

Mr. Sterling, like most liberals, cannot fathom that some people in this world get up, every day, with nothing on their agenda aside from taking advantage of other people, often violently.

While I'm sure he'd be comfortable living next to a proximity collar equipped homicidal rapist, he knows he'll never have to so why not speculate.

[luckystarmom]

Well, I'd like to see ovens and stoves gotten rid of and replaced with replicators. I hate to cook!