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tastes like ashes
Apr. 15th, 2007 04:50 pmi had a truly wonderful weekend, in spite of the cold, but all i can do is cry.
i'm pretty sure that LiftPort is done for. i'm not sure that i've written about them before, but they are both romantic and practical in a way that fires my imagination. Michael Laine is a charismatic man, (i've seen him speak several times now, at SFM, Norwescon, etc) but he constantly tempers his enthusiasm with honesty. they've actually built a prototype elevator robot. they've done trials. they're working to get the materials science up to speed to produce what they need. they've thought it through so carefully that they know the project will take 24 years, they're...out of money.
they're being sued. and Laine is losing the office building he owned before he started this crazy thing. a real press release is supposed to happen tomorrow.
i would give up the lovely new library across the street for a space elevator. i say that because saying that i don't give a fuck about vaccinating kids in Africa is pointless - it has no impact on me. i love that library, i use it often, and i know that the Gates foundation paid for a lot of it. these people deserve to have a philanthropist on their side, someone who wants to be remembered for something more than how they made their money. it's not me (or it can't be in time) but it has to be someone. i've mentioned here before that the first $20 million of my imaginary lottery winnings would go to sending me into space with the Russians. really that money should be venture capital or something like the X-Prize. humanity must get its nose out of its fucking navel and start getting off the planet before we destroy it. where is an eccentric billionaire when you need one? Mr. Allen?
i'm pretty sure that LiftPort is done for. i'm not sure that i've written about them before, but they are both romantic and practical in a way that fires my imagination. Michael Laine is a charismatic man, (i've seen him speak several times now, at SFM, Norwescon, etc) but he constantly tempers his enthusiasm with honesty. they've actually built a prototype elevator robot. they've done trials. they're working to get the materials science up to speed to produce what they need. they've thought it through so carefully that they know the project will take 24 years, they're...out of money.
they're being sued. and Laine is losing the office building he owned before he started this crazy thing. a real press release is supposed to happen tomorrow.
i would give up the lovely new library across the street for a space elevator. i say that because saying that i don't give a fuck about vaccinating kids in Africa is pointless - it has no impact on me. i love that library, i use it often, and i know that the Gates foundation paid for a lot of it. these people deserve to have a philanthropist on their side, someone who wants to be remembered for something more than how they made their money. it's not me (or it can't be in time) but it has to be someone. i've mentioned here before that the first $20 million of my imaginary lottery winnings would go to sending me into space with the Russians. really that money should be venture capital or something like the X-Prize. humanity must get its nose out of its fucking navel and start getting off the planet before we destroy it. where is an eccentric billionaire when you need one? Mr. Allen?
