The Speed of Whoosh

Space. The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the.... Wait. It's not the 23rd century! It's only 13 years into the 21st century. We are living in a technologically advanced society, with communities only surpassed by science fiction.

Many of the tools we have today, ie, cellphones, flat screen monitors and TVs, desk top computers, i-Pads, MRIs, ATMs and so many other devices, were the creation of science fiction writers and visionaries, and that are now part daily living for billions of people. Who knew when we read 2001:A Space Oddessey in 1962 or saw it in 1969, were amused by space stations and shuttles used as regular forms of transportation and living in the not too distant future, it would become a reality.  Or that a debit card would be a convenient way to pay for a service.

Most of what we take for granted to make our social life, home life, business careers and leisure time came from these outlandish ideas from the mid-60s. Who knew?

So, on Monday, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk revealed his latest idea to the public, which is yet another step into the future which will soon become the present. This futuristic transportation system, called the "Hyperloop", would whisk travelers the almost 400 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles in about 30 minutes, which is half the time it takes now by plane. That is 800 MPH. It would be built along the I-5 corridor, through agriculture-rich central California.

Once again, people, not the government, have created this new idea through innovation, imagination, design, development and, within seven years or so, production. Mr Musk has successfully developed or co-founded online payment service PayPal, luxury electric car company Tesla Motors and rocket building company SpaceX.

And, of course, right away the boo-birds were singing the negative tunes about this possibility to replace the high rail system presently stalled in its production in California. It's a shame these people just won't give the man his due. But then, jealousy is a negative emotion.

You can check out http://www.SpaceX.com/Hyperloop for more information.

And if this project proves successful, you can be assured that other metro regions throughout the United States and Canada will bid for the Hyperloop. Good Luck, Mr Musk, on a great idea!