On What Could Have Been One Of The Coolest Things Ever

If you're anything like me (hopefully not too much like me) then you've contemplated the early 20th Century and its inventions and all of the things that made their world better than ours (Imperialism, healthy cigarettes, acceptable chauvinism, WWII, three-piece suits all year long, hard-boiled detectives, etc.). One of my favorite things to come out of that time period is the topic of today's musings. Zeppelins. No, not the band that takes themselves far too seriously, but Airships. Granted, my fascination with these inflated inventions was fostered a bit by hours of Final Fantasy 7, but there would be no "Highwind" if these "blimps" (which I find to be a derogatory term towards zeppelins) had never left the ground (shut up, Wright Brothers). But the zeppelin was the slow moving form of transportation that those crazy Germans loved so much. In fact, in the historically accurate movie The Rocketeer we see one with the Nazi swastika flying over Washington D.C. Why wasn't there more popularity towards the zeppelin? I imagine part of it has to do with those very Germans using them as a weapon. Possibly because the hull is easily penetrable, but mainly I think it was the "Hindenberg". There's speculation as to how the fire was started, but once it sparked that baby went down (up, if you're referring to the flames) faster than President Garfield's time in office (too soon?). Yes, the "Hindenberg" ruined zeppelin travel for the rest of us. Think about it, if Zeppelins had become popular during their time technology would have eventually run its course and produced personal zeppelins, affordable for all incomes, commuter zeppelins for long distance travel, cruise airships, casino airships (the only time I'd ever want to go on a cruise or gamble). Traffic would be cut in half as people would take to the skies rather than those blasted motorways. Transatlantic travel could be done without the aid of sails or waves and parking would be absolutely absurd! They could be made to float, deflate, be made more compact for easy storage and eventually the hulls and skins would be made near impenetrable. Airships would have their own racing leagues and wouldn't be restricted to flashing Goodyear adverts above football stadiums. But what would intrigue me the most would be the opportunity for piracy. Air piracy. The skies wouldn't be safe! It would be a new frontier for outlaws, lawmen, imperialists and those looking for adventure. Think of all the jobs that would be offered. It can still happen, if only those fat cats would realize the money to made in zeppelin manufacturing and R&D. I guess I'm once again far too hopeful for one of my wild dreams to come true, meaning the next piracy/new frontier traveling opportunity I'll have is if the government either A) speeds up their space program or B) speeds up their cryogenic (they froze Han Solo in carbonite, dammit! <-- 1:20-1:22, HAHA!) freezing process to put me in hibernation until these things are realized. Until next time, friends. And remember: Updates throughout the day on the music post.