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August 27, 2008

A Note About Jet Packs

I think it's long time someone finally had the courage to say who gives a fuck about jet packs. I'm sorry, guys, but this is an outdated future technology that we don't need to fantasize about anymore. That's right, I'm rising up, a lone voice against Big Jet Pack.

Now, let's be very clear on this.

I'm not against futuristic modes of travel that involve flying or excessive speed. Those are two great qualities that we should definitely keep in our outlandish travel technology plans. But jet packs are the Segway Scooters of the '50s and '60s and the only reason they aren't as derided is because they never existed. If jet packs were made available in as limited and overpriced a format as the modern Segway, everyone would be making so much fun of that shit. "I saw a guy flying his jet pack down the street and he had to pull over in mid-air to let an ambulance pass by. It was ridiculous." That's the kind of anti-jet pack cocktail talk you'd be hearing at all the parties.

Because here's the thing no one ever talks about: when you get to your location, whether it's a dinner party or a funeral, sure, you get there with comfort and style, but now you've got to lug this giant jet pack around with you all day. It can be difficult just having to figure out what to do with one's coat during the winter, how are we going to deal with 1500 cubic pounds of compressed nitrogen?

No, jet packs are done. You can pack them away in the Ideas Basement, next to the box of Hypercolor t-shirts and on top of Breckin Meyer's career.

(video via Rob Huebel)

Posted by Gabe at 10:15 AM in
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4 Comments

iamsosorry

Let's get real, Gabe. You're just frustrated that scientists have been piddling around with jet packs when they could have been making Hoverboards a reality by now.

Posted by: iamsosorry profile link at 08/27/08 10:23 AM | Reply
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lordofendsville

Breckin Meyer,holy shit! Next out of date science, human cryogenics. Yo, he gotta come back fo Clueless 2!

Posted by: lordofendsville profile link at 08/27/08 10:40 AM | Reply
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mmmikey

Damn gabe? Breckin Meyer? Ouch... That's a Zing of the Hill

Posted by: mmmikey profile link at 08/27/08 1:28 PM | Reply
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agreed, jetpacks are cumbersome and silly. i predict bugs stuck in teeth and maybe getting hit in the face by a bird. not awesome.

also, judging by this video and the episode of "arrested development" with the jetpack, you have to wear a weird jumpsuit when you jetpack, which could cramp some style.
that is not a future i am prepared to live in. (i want a more sexy, "barbarella" feel to my future, you know? like "barbarella" meets "mad max" meets "the fifth element." there's no room in that future for those idiotic jumpsuits.)

and, since no one has worked on that plane-car that folds into a briefcase that george jetson carries, which would be SO convenient, let's just scrap all of that stuff and work on teleportation. TELEPORTATION - so much the best idea!

think of how convenient that would be! no more drunk driving! no more commute nightmares! wear whatever you want, not necessarily a white or silver jumpsuit with matchy-matchy helmet!

see you later, dependence on foreign oil! ('cause it's power by flux capacitors and compost, duh.) we're straight up 'portin' now, son.

Posted by: caringiscool at 08/29/08 1:34 AM | Reply
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