Extreme Engineering Addict

Thanks to Netflix, I'm an Extreme Engineering addict. I admit it. I think it's a cool show, and even sort of funny at times. See, every episode deals with a past, current, or proposed large-scale engineering project, and there is always at least a five minute "and then disaster strikes" segment, which always ends with the design passing the test.

Last night I watched one on the New York City subway system, and part of it was about the proposed expansion that involves building a megastation 140 feet under Midtown Manhattan. Of course, there had to be a fire. And, of course, rather than presenting it as an entirely hypothetical situation, it is presented as something that will most certainly happen, usually about 20 years in the future. Sometimes the narrator even gives an exact date. Because speculative alarmism is Extreme Engineering's bag, baby.

Anyway, gotta go -- watching one about Boston's Big Dig. I bet the potential disaster is some sort of earthquake or large sea serpent.