Author Topic: Elon The Boring Company  (Read 1626991 times)

Offline JamesH65

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1559
  • Liked: 1739
  • Likes Given: 10
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #980 on: 01/07/2018 10:01 am »
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geopolymer

Googling around looking for what Elon Musk might have been hinting at in this twitter exchange.

There’s an interesting alternative to Portland cement based concrete associated with a guy who argues that the great pyramid was mostly built by pouring it into wooden forms in place rather than moving stone blocks.

This geopolymer stuff happens to be stronger and more waterproof and in general be better suited to tunnel casing. It also produces MUCH less CO2 than Portland cement which is a major source of carbon emissions.

Obelisks may be a reference to this stuff.

It seems like a serious greener alternative but not yet used at scale, something TBC could correct since it would use enough to pay for it’s own supply chain.

Obelisks sounds like a reference to N.K.Jemisin's  book series The Broken Earth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._K._Jemisin#Broken_Earth_series

Offline RDoc

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 516
  • Liked: 123
  • Likes Given: 12
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #981 on: 01/08/2018 03:38 am »
I suspect obelisk is a reference to Kubrick's movie 2001.

Offline Lar

  • Fan boy at large
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13463
  • Saw Gemini live on TV
  • A large LEGO storage facility ... in Michigan
  • Liked: 11864
  • Likes Given: 11086
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #982 on: 01/08/2018 04:43 am »
I suspect obelisk is a reference to Kubrick's movie 2001.

Although there is an obelisk in "the Sentinel" a 1940s short story by Arthur C. Clarke that he said was a precursor tale, when that story was reworked into 2001, the mysterious solids are monoliths, not obelisks...
"I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact." -Elon Musk
"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

Offline Ludus

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1744
  • Liked: 1255
  • Likes Given: 1017
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #983 on: 01/10/2018 04:52 am »
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geopolymer

Googling around looking for what Elon Musk might have been hinting at in this twitter exchange.

There’s an interesting alternative to Portland cement based concrete associated with a guy who argues that the great pyramid was mostly built by pouring it into wooden forms in place rather than moving stone blocks.

This geopolymer stuff happens to be stronger and more waterproof and in general be better suited to tunnel casing. It also produces MUCH less CO2 than Portland cement which is a major source of carbon emissions.

Obelisks may be a reference to this stuff.

It seems like a serious greener alternative but not yet used at scale, something TBC could correct since it would use enough to pay for it’s own supply chain.

Obelisks sounds like a reference to N.K.Jemisin's  book series The Broken Earth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._K._Jemisin#Broken_Earth_series

It’s specifically a reference to making Obelisks from material excavated by TBC. Jemisin’s Novels seem to be Fantasy without much emphasis on science and technology and the “Obelisks” are magically floating crystals that don’t seem to be connected to that.

Musk might just be joking. He might be alluding to something fictional. Often though that sort of cryptic comment is a reference to something that makes sense later.

Offline deruch

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2422
  • California
  • Liked: 2006
  • Likes Given: 5634
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #984 on: 01/10/2018 08:24 am »
Now that hats are sold out, I took a pass at designing their next item of company merchandise.  For a flamethrower, it's quite boring.
« Last Edit: 01/10/2018 08:28 am by deruch »
Shouldn't reality posts be in "Advanced concepts"?  --Nomadd

Offline JamesH65

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1559
  • Liked: 1739
  • Likes Given: 10
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #985 on: 01/10/2018 09:05 am »
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geopolymer

Googling around looking for what Elon Musk might have been hinting at in this twitter exchange.

There’s an interesting alternative to Portland cement based concrete associated with a guy who argues that the great pyramid was mostly built by pouring it into wooden forms in place rather than moving stone blocks.

This geopolymer stuff happens to be stronger and more waterproof and in general be better suited to tunnel casing. It also produces MUCH less CO2 than Portland cement which is a major source of carbon emissions.

Obelisks may be a reference to this stuff.

It seems like a serious greener alternative but not yet used at scale, something TBC could correct since it would use enough to pay for it’s own supply chain.

Obelisks sounds like a reference to N.K.Jemisin's  book series The Broken Earth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._K._Jemisin#Broken_Earth_series

It’s specifically a reference to making Obelisks from material excavated by TBC. Jemisin’s Novels seem to be Fantasy without much emphasis on science and technology and the “Obelisks” are magically floating crystals that don’t seem to be connected to that.

Musk might just be joking. He might be alluding to something fictional. Often though that sort of cryptic comment is a reference to something that makes sense later.

The obelisks in Broken earth were indeed floating crystals, 'manufactured' from excavated material....

And yes, NKG books are indeed fantasy/SciFi. As are Bank's Culture series.

Offline Ludus

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1744
  • Liked: 1255
  • Likes Given: 1017
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #986 on: 01/11/2018 04:04 pm »
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geopolymer

Googling around looking for what Elon Musk might have been hinting at in this twitter exchange.

There’s an interesting alternative to Portland cement based concrete associated with a guy who argues that the great pyramid was mostly built by pouring it into wooden forms in place rather than moving stone blocks.

This geopolymer stuff happens to be stronger and more waterproof and in general be better suited to tunnel casing. It also produces MUCH less CO2 than Portland cement which is a major source of carbon emissions.

Obelisks may be a reference to this stuff.

It seems like a serious greener alternative but not yet used at scale, something TBC could correct since it would use enough to pay for it’s own supply chain.

Obelisks sounds like a reference to N.K.Jemisin's  book series The Broken Earth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._K._Jemisin#Broken_Earth_series

It’s specifically a reference to making Obelisks from material excavated by TBC. Jemisin’s Novels seem to be Fantasy without much emphasis on science and technology and the “Obelisks” are magically floating crystals that don’t seem to be connected to that.

Musk might just be joking. He might be alluding to something fictional. Often though that sort of cryptic comment is a reference to something that makes sense later.

The obelisks in Broken earth were indeed floating crystals, 'manufactured' from excavated material....

And yes, NKG books are indeed fantasy/SciFi. As are Bank's Culture series.

You may be right. I wasn’t aware of the books and was thinking his SF references are usually older stuff I’m aware of, but he also references newer things. I’d never heard of Rick and Morty until he tweeted about it. He does have 5 boys now old enough to make him more aware.

Offline RedLineTrain

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2459
  • Liked: 2412
  • Likes Given: 10229
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #987 on: 01/17/2018 07:37 pm »
An article from the Baltimore Sun about the Maryland Attorney General's office providing an unhelpful opinion to legislators.

Quote
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office has called into question the state’s authority to grant permission to Tesla founder Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Co., to build several miles of tunnels for his high-speed Hyperloop transportation system below the Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Quote
But the Hyperloop system “is not a utility under federal standards or SHA’s federally-approved utility accommodation policies,” Assistant Attorney General David Stamper wrote in a Jan. 2 letter sent to state Sen. Ed DeGrange about the project. The letter was obtained by The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday.

“A Hyperloop system does not produce, transmit, or distribute communications, cable television, power, electricity, light, heat, gas, oil, crude products, water, steam, waste, or ‘other similar commodity,’” the letter said. “A Hyperloop moves people, automobiles and cargo. For this reason I do not believe SHA can authorize the construction of the proposed ‘transportation tunnels’ within the B-W Parkway right-of-way by issuing a utility permit.”

Stamper pointed out that any proposal to grant a utility easement through state-owned property “must undergo a review and comment process … and an easement agreement must be presented to and approved by the Board of Public Works.”

“An SHA utility permit, on its own, does not grant an easement,” he wrote.
Quote
In a statement, MDOT spokeswoman Erin Henson said: “We respectfully disagree with the advice provided by the Assistant Attorney General for the General Assembly, which was given without consulting with the Maryland Department of Transportation. Instead of 10 pages, we could have clarified in one that MDOT does have the right and responsibility to permit construction under state highway right of way, including the conditional permit issued to The Boring Company to build a concrete shell under the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. As stated months ago, the Federal Railroad Administration would provide the appropriate federal approvals for Hyperloop. Maryland should be proud to be the home for leading technology that can add one more tool to fight congestion that plagues Marylanders every day.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-hyperloop-ag-opinion-20180116-story.html

Offline Lar

  • Fan boy at large
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13463
  • Saw Gemini live on TV
  • A large LEGO storage facility ... in Michigan
  • Liked: 11864
  • Likes Given: 11086
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #988 on: 01/17/2018 07:39 pm »
https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-boring-company-flamethrower-exists-video/

Do we want to know why, other than as a lark, this flamethrower exists?
"I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact." -Elon Musk
"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

Offline DigitalMan

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1679
  • Liked: 1178
  • Likes Given: 76
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #989 on: 01/17/2018 11:17 pm »
I think Mr. Attorney General is going to find case law doesn’t agree with him either.

An article from the Baltimore Sun about the Maryland Attorney General's office providing an unhelpful opinion to legislators.

Quote
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office has called into question the state’s authority to grant permission to Tesla founder Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Co., to build several miles of tunnels for his high-speed Hyperloop transportation system below the Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Quote
But the Hyperloop system “is not a utility under federal standards or SHA’s federally-approved utility accommodation policies,” Assistant Attorney General David Stamper wrote in a Jan. 2 letter sent to state Sen. Ed DeGrange about the project. The letter was obtained by The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday.

“A Hyperloop system does not produce, transmit, or distribute communications, cable television, power, electricity, light, heat, gas, oil, crude products, water, steam, waste, or ‘other similar commodity,’” the letter said. “A Hyperloop moves people, automobiles and cargo. For this reason I do not believe SHA can authorize the construction of the proposed ‘transportation tunnels’ within the B-W Parkway right-of-way by issuing a utility permit.”

Stamper pointed out that any proposal to grant a utility easement through state-owned property “must undergo a review and comment process … and an easement agreement must be presented to and approved by the Board of Public Works.”

“An SHA utility permit, on its own, does not grant an easement,” he wrote.
Quote
In a statement, MDOT spokeswoman Erin Henson said: “We respectfully disagree with the advice provided by the Assistant Attorney General for the General Assembly, which was given without consulting with the Maryland Department of Transportation. Instead of 10 pages, we could have clarified in one that MDOT does have the right and responsibility to permit construction under state highway right of way, including the conditional permit issued to The Boring Company to build a concrete shell under the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. As stated months ago, the Federal Railroad Administration would provide the appropriate federal approvals for Hyperloop. Maryland should be proud to be the home for leading technology that can add one more tool to fight congestion that plagues Marylanders every day.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-hyperloop-ag-opinion-20180116-story.html

Online hamerad

  • Member
  • Posts: 89
  • South Australia
  • Liked: 43
  • Likes Given: 43
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #990 on: 01/18/2018 12:02 am »
https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-boring-company-flamethrower-exists-video/

Do we want to know why, other than as a lark, this flamethrower exists?

Other than they ran out of hats and this  video, yea just as a lark
« Last Edit: 01/18/2018 03:07 am by hamerad »

Offline deruch

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2422
  • California
  • Liked: 2006
  • Likes Given: 5634
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #991 on: 01/18/2018 06:01 am »
https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-boring-company-flamethrower-exists-video/

Do we want to know why, other than as a lark, this flamethrower exists?
<video clip>
Other than they ran out of hats and this  video, yea just as a lark

I wouldn't buy the flamethrower.  But I would totally buy a lunchbox if they sold one.
« Last Edit: 01/18/2018 06:02 am by deruch »
Shouldn't reality posts be in "Advanced concepts"?  --Nomadd

Offline RedLineTrain

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2459
  • Liked: 2412
  • Likes Given: 10229
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #992 on: 01/18/2018 02:20 pm »
The LA Loop tunnel is being presented on Monday to the Culver City Council and the public.  Attached are the handouts, some of which appear to be more or less taken from The Boring Company's web site.  Quoted below is an article about it.  Interesting that the tunnel alignment to be presented on Monday (second PDF) is somewhat different than on The Boring Company's web site.  It appears to connect to the tunnel in Hawthorne.

Quote
The company will present its ideas to the City Council of Culver City and a public audience at just after 7 p.m. on Monday at Culver City’s City Hall.

City officials have already toured the company’s test tunnel at the SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, said Councilman Jim B. Clarke, who expects the Jan. 22 meeting to focus on potential impacts to the public or lack thereof.

“When we were there about a month ago, there were still a lot of unanswered questions, and that may still be the case,” Clarke said. “This is informational. They still have to go through the [public approvals] process, and that would take months.”

The Argonaut


Online catdlr

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11195
  • Enthusiast since the Redstones
  • Marina del Rey, California, USA
  • Liked: 8824
  • Likes Given: 7835
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #993 on: 01/23/2018 06:27 am »
ELON MUSK WANTS TO DIG ANOTHER TUNNEL UNDER LA

Quote
On Monday evening, Boring Company operations chief Jehn Balajadia stood before the city council of LA County's Culver City, and spent 45 minutes explaining why Musk wants and deserves the right to dig a tunnel under their homes. The sometimes chippy meeting was packed with members of the public and highlighted both the exciting and not quite consistent elements of the transportation company's plans.

Source article from WIRED:  https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-boring-company-culver-city/
Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline RedLineTrain

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2459
  • Liked: 2412
  • Likes Given: 10229
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #994 on: 01/23/2018 02:57 pm »
I watched the presentation last night, but it doesn't appear that video has been archived yet.  Mostly, the presentation was an introduction, with not much new information for those who have been following closely.  A few tidbits.

*TBC has submitted an excavation permit application to the City of LA, but not yet to Culver City
*The 6.5 mile initial stretch is being described as a test tunnel, with no stations and no above-ground impact in Culver City until the tunnel is deemed successful; this sidesteps the neighborhood impact issues somewhat
*TBC hopes that more people use the people-mover pod than the car-mover pod; price per ticket for people-mover pod promised to be at or lower than current systems
*The city council seemed interested in coordinating with the City of LA, which seems to imply that Culver City in some ways would follow the City of LA's lead
*No preferred timeline was provided
*One councilwoman was pretty negative on the whole concept; four others, including the mayor, seemed receptive
« Last Edit: 01/23/2018 03:20 pm by RedLineTrain »

Offline Zed_Noir

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5490
  • Canada
  • Liked: 1809
  • Likes Given: 1302
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #995 on: 01/24/2018 10:15 am »
There is a news article from Electrek on the Culver City council meeting. There is an embedded youtube news clip from the local Fox TV station (KTTV).

Electrek article


Offline Ludus

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1744
  • Liked: 1255
  • Likes Given: 1017
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #996 on: 01/25/2018 09:49 pm »
https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-boring-company-flamethrower-exists-video/

Do we want to know why, other than as a lark, this flamethrower exists?

I think he was just joking but it turns out people do in fact sell recreational flamethrowers and they’re legal. It’s easy to slap a Boring Company logo on one. In fact I saw just this appear on this website after Musk posted about it, they put up a Boring Company logo version but took it down.

https://throwflame.com
« Last Edit: 01/25/2018 09:50 pm by Ludus »

Online docmordrid

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6334
  • Michigan
  • Liked: 4207
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #997 on: 01/26/2018 06:27 am »
https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-boring-company-flamethrower-exists-video/

Do we want to know why, other than as a lark, this flamethrower exists?

I think he was just joking but it turns out people do in fact sell recreational flamethrowers and they’re legal.
>

To clarify the US legality;

banned in Maryland, regulated in California and some municipalities, but legal under Federal law and used for clearing brush etc.  Shippable by mail, and small propane models ($20-$60) are used for burning driveway grass, melting sidewalk ice and so on.

We now return to your regularly scheduled programming....
« Last Edit: 01/26/2018 10:08 am by docmordrid »
DM

Offline sanman

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5975
  • Liked: 1312
  • Likes Given: 8
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #998 on: 01/26/2018 07:51 am »
Presumably this is to help clear aliens out of tunnels - provided you're facing in the right direction at the right time.

Offline RedLineTrain

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2459
  • Liked: 2412
  • Likes Given: 10229
Re: Elon The Boring Company
« Reply #999 on: 01/26/2018 09:24 pm »
The Culver City Council presentation is now up on the web.  @ ~52:25

http://culver-city.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=1173

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
0