Bored Elon Musk (BoredElonMusk) on Twitter

"We could build roads that lasted 50+ years if we simply added 10% crushed up superball into the asphalt mix."

I have presumed that Musk's choice of how to present the HyperLoop to the world was motivated by the goal of drumming up popular support for the project in California. In effect, he likely wants the citizens to tell their government, "Go out and buy Elon's product." Governments are accustomed to citizens saying, "X is a problem and something must be done." vs. "We want Problem X solved via Means Y." So, one incentive which kicks in is risk aversion. No elected official wants the failure of something new to be pinned upon him. Also, better ways of doing things often are worse for politicians. How much bribery, favoritism, etc. is encompassed in the process of fixing the same road over and over again every few years? Politicians might dislike the reduction in power and control which would come along with a road which would last 50 years.

Imagine if companies with innovative technologies marketed them directly to citizens. "We sell a road system which will last for 50 years. Tell your local government you want Surface XYZ." Such marketing would be akin to the marketing of prescription drugs to consumers as a indirect way of influencing physician prescribing habits.

"Air-Conditioned Vest Keeps Factory Workers Cool"

So, according to the link, some guy in China invented one. My dad worked for years in Akron rubber factories, often in front of a steam-powered press of some sort. Temperature was controlled through large exhaust fans -- a practice largely adequate when the outdoor temperature was cool but barely tolerable in August. I recall Summer days when he would instruct my mom before he left home that the window air conditioner in my parents' bedroom should be cranked up to full power in anticipation of his arrival home from work. [We didn't have central air at the time] After eight hours in a 100+ degree Fahrenheit work environment, he wanted little more than to lie down in a cold room.

I was thinking just a couple of weeks ago about this and how a refrigerated suit would have made him much more comfortable (and likely a more efficient worker). Even if an employer does not care about the happiness of its employees, it does care about productivity and the wage required to attract and retain workers. Why are refrigerated suits not more common? I recall reading about ice pack vests worn by people in sports team mascot suits. However, I don't see the guys working on the side of the road wearing anything similar.

Could an inexpensive, reliable suit be "powered" primarily by dry ice? I presume the energy density of a block of dry ice to be at least a order of magnitude greater than a modern battery pack. I'm imagining some sort of small water pump which would cool off the water by allowing it to flow around the dry ice and then circulate it around a person's body. It doesn't seem unreasonable for a road crew to carry along a cooler of dry ice for suit refills.

"Just finally got off a late night call with Ray Kurzweil. He yammers on like he’s going to live forever."

:)

Why don't they just put the email instead of just using (at)?