My Addled Brain

How many of you were disappointed when we entered this new millenium, those many years back? Well, I’m sure some you strange people were disappointed that Y2K didn’t rend the earth asunder as predicted by some, but my disappointement stems from the fact that I did not recieve, nor have I yet to recieve, my government-issued jetpack. It’s 2005, dammit! I should be able to fly to work under my own power in a matter of minutes! I tried writing my Congressman, but all I got was a form letter and a cease-and-desist order. Again. So I was once again feeling lost and dejected, until I stumbled upon this story from CBS news, hailing the not-too-distant-future of flying cars and jetpacks! Huzzah, for I am vindicated! Soon, I too can fly from place to place at my own whim, with nothing to worry about except for all the other lousy pilots who shouldn’t be trusted with such a machine, people who currently do crap like drive in the median or cut you off when you’re trying to switch lanes to make your exit.

As much as I’d like to think this is a great idea, it’s going to have to be, sadly, heavily regulated. Expect laws governing this to be a lot more strict once these things go on sale. Which is sooner than you might think: the AirScooter (/.ed as of this writing), for example, goes on sale later this year, at a price of about 50k.

Still, I forsee a bright future ahead - one where I’m flying my rocketpack to my office, controlling my flight with one hand, and flipping off the a-hole that buzzed me with his aircar with the other.