Recently retired computer mogul Bill Gates filed patents that propose to be able to save the United States, and elsewhere I presume, from the devastating impact of large hurricanes.
While scientists seem both skeptical and encouraging:
“There is no way to stop it. The storm might weaken in the center, but the outer areas wouldn’t be affected much.”
and
I don’t think this is anything that’s going to be done in the next few decades in a practical sense, but maybe further down the line. I would love to see Bill Gates, with all his money, use some of it to experiment.”
Gates seems to have forgotten one critical thing: If there isn’t a financial return, there won’t be a financial investment. Saving New Orleans from suffering $5 billion worth of damage by investing $10 billion dollars worth of research and effort is a noble task and one that would be most appreciated by those of us living in the path of such devistating storms.
The price of life? Priceless of course. Assuming that a stranger is willing to spend if for you. And even Bill Gates with his $40 billion dollars worth of software loot can’t afford to save us all.
