He listed at least one reason, that because they are often single track systems, a single breakdown freezes the entire system.

Once it's assumed that it's not reliable or, worse, that there's a decent chance of being stuck in a suspended/elevated train until the whole system can be evacuated (requiring specialized rescue from every train that didn't stop in a station, then being 'down' until the breakdown is fixed or removed), people won't use it, and it will fail.

That doesn't explain why they don't just make all systems 2 track systems like the German one to solve that issue for a bit more money (but not double the money), but it does explain why some failed. It seems to me that they could still be a decent solution in some congested areas where light rail only adds to congestion, and they look neat.

I read a really great explanation of n-dimensional space a while ago... trying to find it but the basics were:

If I have a point, that has 0 dimensions (note: not a point on a plane, just a dot).

if that point position changes, I have 1 dimension (a line)
if the line position changes, I have 2 dimensions (a square)
if the plane position changes, I have 3 dimensions (a cube)

Easy so far right? but if I take a view of time, then that cube (in fact, all of 3 dimensional space) is a dot again.

if the cube exist for 10 seconds, it has moved through time. Now we have a line in four-dimensional space.

Now here's where it gets tricky. Let's go back to the point and the line.
When we have 1 dimension, I can move the point along a line, but I cannot change the line. Think of it like a train on a single track. It can go back and forth, but the track doesn't change. If I want to change where the train goes, I need to move the track.

Same with the line. To move a line I need two dimensions.

And same with time. To change time, we need FIVE dimensions. With 4 you can only go along the time line (hell, we can only go one way). But if you want to change time, then time must be on a plane... a 5th dimension.

> I can't figure out how the single track model steers.

Tilting, pulling, pushing the handle to get different parts of the track digging differently

I can't figure out how the single track model steers.
Sure looks fun.

Aww, c'mon. You cannot expect me to pick a favorite! After 24 years of gaming on the PC, there's an endless list of themes in my head, one better than the other.

So here's what I came up with in two minutes:
-- Battle Isle 2, epic midi theme
-- The Settlers/Die Siedler, original theme
-- UFO: Enemy Unkown, theme
-- X-COM: Terror from the Deep, geoscape "crap your pants"-theme
-- Outlaws, theme
-- Carmageddon 2, "kill all the fucking pedestrians"-theme

Also add every single track of the Jagged Alliance soundtrack. The original, mind you, not the second installment. And do I even have to mention Hell March or the original C&C?

Edit: ffs, now I have to fire up DOSBox and play Battle Isle until my eyes start to bleed.

From my understanding of autotune (everyone's on the internet's an expert, right?), as this is a single track recording, if someone bent her voice, it would also bend the keyboards, so she'd still be out of tune, and the keyboards would sound wrong to boot. The other possibility is that the video is overdubed from a two-track recording with the vocals autotuned, which I'm also doubtful of, given how close the video matches the audio (still an expert). One thing I'm not an expert in is detecting subtly autotuned songs by ear, so I can't speak to that.

>> ^G-bar:

Don't want to be the bad news guy, but I'm pretty sure there's a bit of Auto tune going on there with the high notes... She does have an amazing voice though...

>> ^Ryjkyj:
Do you ride to work in the rain? Because nobody I know rides their bike in the rain. So what then, call in sick every time it rains?

Rain, snow, lightning, fog, hail, tumbleweeds, crazy drivers. The weather here ranges from -10 F to 105F and yes I ride every day no matter what. Riding in the rain isn't that big of a deal if you have a waterproof helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, and boots.

You can buy a used dirt bike for about $1000 - in fact my very first motorcycle was a used Ninja 250 (sport bike) which I bought for $1400. Gets 70 MPG. As far as maintenance on my current bike goes; spark plugs are about $2 (single cylinder) and an oil change is what $10? Mine was $7000 brand new, but I don't make minimum wage. Most people spend what, 10, 20, 30 thousand on a new car? Why would you spend $20,000 on a car? They are slow, dangerous, get terrible gas mileage, and can't even ride down single track

Thing is, if you are making minimum wage, why would you need a car to commute in the first place? Theres a McDonalds on every block and used bicycles are like $30. Anyone working less than 10 miles from their house could easily ride a bicycle to work. One of my coworkers does it every day (14 miles) ...yes in the rain and snow too.

Its not a question of "can" its a question of "will." People in America think (know?) they need a car yet theres really no need for it.

As far as TAXES go...you know I'm a libertarian right? I don't believe in taxation...so that part is on you...if you want to steal 20% from someone making minimum wage thats on you, not me

HA! love it! tyvm for the dedication, dft!
i'd have loved this one anyway. just so happens that they're one of the favorite bands of mine & my brother Denis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_bungle

Mike Patton has one of the most amazing voices in modern music and can sound like almost anyone he wants to. and Faith No More's 'Epic' was one of maybe 15-20 albums i've ever heard, where i dug every single track on it.
great pickup, dft.