…that geeks would do with $700B.
I can tell you that if I had that much money to play with, I can guarantee that, within two decades, asteroids wouldn’t be a worry any more. And there would be a tourist resort on the moon.
[Via (where else?) Geek Press]
I’m not sure the amount would cover #7.
I, for one, could certainly use a few more seasons of Firefly.
As for #7, I’d prefer to launch six Bigelow modules in a 3-axis cross formation and inflate a low pressure screen-printed sphere around the whole thing to make it look like the Death Star. It wouldn’t be lifesize, and the laser-dish would just be a hatch, but I have no designs to destroy the world anyway.
I’d buy the world a Coke.
“4. Start nationwide chain of Soylent Green restaurants.”
Will they serve Ben & Jerry’s for dessert?
can i have
– ISRU demo ( lunox, iron, lunar solar cells, whatever )
– space solar power demo
thanks ?
Will they serve Ben & Jerry’s for dessert?
No, they would serve Ben and Jerry.
How about abolishing the MPAA and RIAA, legalizing file sharing, and forcing “entertainers” to, you know, entertain for a living? Not just record one performance and live off the royalties, I mean get out there, work every day — play music, act, whatever — thus forcing them to establish savings and to worry about retirement just like the rest of us “untalented” folk? That would solve a host of problems, including stifling the haranguing of the worthless Hollywood “let them pay taxes” crowd…. The music might even sound better.
Mars Disney.
How about a large, self-sufficient outpost on the Moon like Moonbase Alpha or the movie 2001.
L-5…O’Neill colony.
I’d spend that $700 bil on a launch-capable linear accelerator. (Yes I have read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.)
Alan, for that much you could have the linac and the moonbase to go with it. Never mind; Mr. Bush chose to spend a similar (maybe larger) amount on buying votes for his party by blowing holes in Iraq. (shrug)
At least a little of the $700 billion might be recouped by seizing the assets of the greedy, dishonest wunch of bankers that made this mess in the first place. On that note, I propose that as a new collective noun for bankers. It might resonate better with Brits than Americans, though.
Mr. Bush chose to spend a similar (maybe larger) amount on buying votes for his party by blowing holes in Iraq.
Why would Bush buy votes he already had? If I were a vote-bribing right-of-center president, I would use bribe money to attract votes from the left of center. Stainless steel levees for the NOLA Ninth Ward. Extra-hackable electronic voting booths for Chicago’s First Ward. Ted Kennedy prescription drug welfare program. (Wait a minute – he did sign up for that last one…)