Nick

[Nick @GoPats15]

But here’s what all the naysayers never address… imagine if before Apple went public, they dominated the corporate computer market. And the next computer they were testing wasn’t just a simple evolution but a revolution that would not only continue to cement their dominance in the industry, but open up multiple new revenue streams which could increase the value well beyond what any other company has done before?

*IF* Starship/Superheavy work as they are being planned to, at the cost estimates that have been thrown around, that’s exactly what could happen. SpaceX could be ready to/continue to revolutionize and dominate the following industries:

Governmental & Commercial satellite, supply cargo and crew launches. Not to mention Space tourism.

Space resource mining (specifically the moon and possibly an asteroid or mars in the future)

Internet and possibly cell phone services. Increase in Starlink speed and network capacity could put pressure on internet providers like Xfinity and Verizon and break smaller ones. Meanwhile they bought cell signal spectrum which indicates some planned entry into the market (even if it’s initially just partnerships with traditional tower providers)

Space data centers (we’ll see)

Sub orbital intercontinental cargo and possibly human transportation. I feel like this isn’t talked about as much, we’ve already seen about 50 minutes from TX to Australia in these test flights. Imagine what that could do to the global air cargo transportation industry. The goal is to get orbital cargo down to well under $10lb. At that rate it would certainly put pressure on air cargo market from companies like Apple. Not to mention the possibilities with human transportation (although I’m more skeptical due to g forces). Still if you can fly halfway around the world in under an hour for the price of a business class-first class ticket, there’d certainly be a decent sized market for that. Look at how many fly now, and how many would pay more to not sit on a plane or multiple planes for 15-20+ hours.

Right now there’s few companies positioned to enter/dominate these industries. Blue Origin is the closest competitor and even it will be far behind in many aspects.

So again I ask, what would you value Apple in the 80s if it’s next generation of computers were set to gain all or most market share from home and business computers, start hosting websites, become a search engine and ad generator for websites and has also talked about having a portable computer/phone in your hand in the not too distant futre based off the technology they are working on now….. would that not sound like a company potentially much more valuable to investors to an upcoming IPO than simply what their current numbers are doing and factoring in traditional growth?

[Nick @GoPats15]

@mjfree First few photos coming out today seem to show it’s reflecting just fine. We’ll see once it fills up…

[Nick @GoPats15]

@zacharyebell As far as I’m concerned, Mr. Lizard nailed this hands down….

https://t.co/q5CVbVcb8X

[Mr Lizard @Lizard_Casual]

@zacharyebell @Fat_Electrician

[Nick @GoPats15]

No one like a price increase, but outside of ads, the “Premium” feature I use the most is the background play. Throw on a 2-3hr podcast and listen while working or I also like listening to a few reaction channels on shows I’ve already seen and listen to their insights. There’s a bunch I missed/never thought about that others have picked up on and given me a greater appreciation for the writing/acting.

[Nick @GoPats15]

For non brand stores, I’m guessing it’s to replace damaged luggage, especially a carry on since it’s with you. For branded stores I think it’s more of a marketing thing with the intention of you getting to see and touch the luggage (think how much nicer it is than what you have) then buy it when you get home…

One thing I am curious about, since I’ve never purchased them before, if you do buy one. Will the store take care of checking it empty for you for your upcoming flight? Does it count against your check luggage allowance?

[Nick @GoPats15]

@DLaurence401 @the_transit_guy I’m 100% for commuter lines and subways, I even have no problem for current passanger service on existing rails.

What I don’t agree with is dumping millions-billions into high speed rail which isn’t better than flying….

[Nick @GoPats15]

Dr. Moist, Moist Russia with Love, Moistfinger, Moistball, You Only Live Moist, On Her Majesty’s Moist Service, Moist are Forever, Live and Let Moist, Moist Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Moist Me, Moistraker, For Your Moist Only, Moistpussy, A View to a Moist, The Moist Daylights, License to Moist, Moisteye, Moist Never Dies, The World Is Not Moist, Moist Another Day, Moist Royale, Moist of Solace, Moistfall, Moist & No Time to Moist.

And then off course there’s the most controversial one

Never Say Moist Again……

[Nick @GoPats15]

@RubenYanB @Kristinartz Sooo close…… When Moist Met Sally

[Nick @GoPats15]

@libsoftiktok @AmericanAir Unfortunately It happens, i always pack a spare set of clothes in my carry on as a backup. Wouldn’t necessarily help you in this case but depending on what you flew in, it may be enough to get those washed/dry cleaned.

[Nick @GoPats15]

I mean yes, but i can easily see SpaceX building a none or partially reusable second stage for Super heavy thats no more than a starship with the top 1/3rd cut off and a fairing added allowing for payloads larger than what fits in cargo hold of a standard starship. Especially after they retire Falcon Heavy.

[Nick @GoPats15]

@Hush_Kit I mean I’m no military expert, but what’s the likelihood that all 4 steam catapults go down (without apparently the much bigger issue of the nuclear reactor going down) so that no other fighter aircraft can take off to defend the ship?

[Nick @GoPats15]

It’s not though, because the cost to build it doesn’t make economic sense.

Most of these routes are heavily populated in the suburban areas around the large cities. That means that either the trains have to travel at a lower speed than what HSR needs to succeed. Or you have to spend billions to build new lines that are straight enough and safe enough to travel at the high speeds. Just think of all the eminent domain that would be needed to build a true high speed rail in the Northeast… and Acela isn’t that…

If you do some of the math for the cost of the Cali project and the LA to Vegas project, you’ll find that just to cover the cost to build these rail networks, you could subsidize free air travel between these points, at it’s current rate for 60-100+ years… and that’s not even factoring in the costs to operate and maintain these routes after being built.

Finally my last argument is always the lack of flexibility in adjusting for population changes with rail. Look Detroit….. over the last 70ish years, it’s population has shrunk by 2/3rds. So if you had a HSR system to another major city, it wouldn’t be growing in ridership traffic, it would’ve been shrinking. Yet you still have to keep up the same maintenance levels on the tracks to keep it safe. Meanwhile airplanes can easily be redirected (especially short term like in the winter when there’s less demand and they can be profitable elsewhere, while extra trains would probably just be stored) and the only maintenance you got to focus on is the airport itself which could also easily shrink by shutting down terminals/extra runways.

The ONLY way HSR will work in the US is if there is some major technological breakthroughs which significantly drop the cost to build or operate which in turn would significantly drop the cost to the consumer. Take Acela again, yes it’s profitable and has plenty of riders but for many, unless the tickets were 1/4-1/2 the cost of flying, it’s not that big of a draw to truly replace air travel for the majority of the population. Right now, both take about the same time for around the same cost (sometimes even more with Acela’s “business class”, something desired on a 3 1/2hr train ride, but less so on a 1 1/2hr gate to gate flight….

[Nick @GoPats15]

Reuse benefits both, yes SpaceX may be able to make better margins on reused rockets vs what a single use margin would be, but the customer certainly benefits from the lower cost to launch. No matter what, a reusable rocket will be cheaper than a single use one.

As for Starship, I really don’t think it will be all that long before it’s used for commercial cargo flights. The key will be booster rapid reusability more so than Starship itself. That will give SpaceX more Starship flights to work on their different designs. Do you really think that once they have a orbital starlink launching version working it won’t be that hard to empty the cargo area and add some form of large door to launch the kinds of payloads Falcon 9 does now.

Then once that’s all going, you could see a non reusable large cargo second stage (or semi reusable) much more similar to current fairing style second stages now. These could take over the Falcon Heavy launches and again, wouldn’t be a huge technical departure from what they are already doing.

Really the hardest Starships (as it is with most spacecraft) will be the ones rated for human travel to/from earth. Those I don’t expect to see for at least 3-5 more years.

[Nick @GoPats15]

@kylehan @sourceryy @_Eric_Romo @grok

[Nick @GoPats15]

@eevblog @elonmusk @SpaceX Yes, and I can see him using it as a marketing thing a couple years from now by shooting a few scenes in space onboard a Starship to become the first US production to do so.

[Nick @GoPats15]

Politics…. Needs to buy F-35 so it can still participate in certain NATO/Norad operations. But really doesn’t want/can’t afford them.

Gripen cheaper to buy & operate than Super hornet but it’s biggest draw is Saab building them in Canada boosting their defense industry and economy.

Truth is Canadian Air Force plays little role in global operations. Gripen makes sense for their national defense (mainly to intercept Russian bombers). 60 Gripens and 30 F-35s is about the size of the airwings of 2 US carriers. Considering the amount of aircraft typically down for service and the amount needed to hold back for home defense, you’re talking about Canada maybe being able to send 1 maybe 2 squadrons to a conflict (and those would probably be the F-35s anyways)… so besides the legacy knowledge, does buying and flying the F-18 still make much sense when it’s more expensive and built out of the country? Really can’t blame the Canadian Government for considering that route.

[Nick @GoPats15]

@MichaelShanks Anyone remember when Amazon was making good content their customers wanted and not the force fed garbage they are putting out now?

[Nick @GoPats15]

@RevivedThoughts Always counted a country if my passport was stamped by them. But made a distinction between “been to” and “seen” / “visited” based on leaving the airport.

I mean if you’re now subject to the laws of a country when you’re physically in the airport, then you’ve “been” there.

[Nick @GoPats15]

Maybe try driving slightly out of the city…. According to the app: BJs in Medford at $4.20, Revere $4.12, Stoneham $4.07…. Well worth the cost of a membership, not to mention taking another $.15 off per gallon with the branded credit card…. Making 2 locations under $4 per gallon….