September 26, 2009
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Calling Mr. Jetson
Shut about the jet-backs, already! Sitting under the giant geodesic stainless steel ceiling pattern of Hong Kong airport, chatting on my laptop with friends in China and US, waiting to get onboard a flying machine for a week back home…I know that we are living in the Amazing World of Tomorrow! A jet pack would just burn your bum anyway.
On Monday I had to make a last minute trip to Shanghai — which is a community that seems even more advanced than many cities on that trek to Futureland.
It was an incredibly clean and hospitable place and all the buildings in the downtown core looked like
George Jetson was going zip up to the top floor in one of his bubble-domed flying cars. Not consistent with my earlier experiences with mainland China.
But the funnest and most Buck Rogers experience was riding the MagLev train! We were gliding along nothing but an energy field at a speed of over 460 klicks. It felt like sliding on butter! We made the trip from the City subway stop to the airport in less than 15 minutes. Which is the record for airport commutes as far as I’m concerned.
We have got to get one of these in Toronto!
They also have regular subways in Shanghai — which are actually a little confusing — but here’s psychedelic pic of in search of valuable museum knowledge…
