As Twitchy reported earlier Thursday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was pleased to announce that he had received verbal government approval to build an underground “hyperloop” that would whisk commuters from New York to Washington, D.C. in just 29 minutes.
Just received verbal govt approval for The Boring Company to build an underground NY-Phil-Balt-DC Hyperloop. NY-DC in 29 mins.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 20, 2017
I don't think this is how that works? https://t.co/s58FySMlx7
— Adam Vaccaro (@adamtvaccaro) July 20, 2017
Those with more down-to-earth titles were surprised by the announcement, pointing out that “verbal government approval” isn’t how these things work, at all. New York City Hall said it was news to them, and Musk elaborated, saying there was still a lot to be done before securing “formal” approval of the project.
Approval needed from: Federal DOT; 6 states; 17 counties; numerous cities; hundreds of elected officials. Definitely happening rapidly. https://t.co/QBDoFKLscI
— Yonah Freemark (@yfreemark) July 20, 2017
There's also that minor problem related to the fact that Hyperloop is an unproven technology without safety approvals from any government.
— Yonah Freemark (@yfreemark) July 20, 2017
Certainly property acquisition for his stations in central DC, Philadelphia, and NYC will be easy-peasy–and definitely affordable!
— Yonah Freemark (@yfreemark) July 20, 2017
Tunneling under the Susquehanna, Delaware, and Hudson Rivers? How simple!
— Yonah Freemark (@yfreemark) July 20, 2017
Well, it certainly won’t be with that attitude, mister.
Still, maybe Musk just happened to catch “the government” on a good day, because it seems a lot of people are reporting success in securing verbal government approval of just about everything.
Just received verbal govt approval to seek written govt approval via series of arcane forms from 1970s to be faxed & lost immediately.
— Jonathan Schroden (@JJSchroden) July 20, 2017
Now that’s how things work.
Just received verbal govt approval
— Adam Steinbaugh (@adamsteinbaugh) July 20, 2017
Not to brag but I just received verbal govt approval as well.
— Elliott Schwartz (@elliosch) July 20, 2017
Hello I have just received verbal government approval to do a tweet about receiving verbal government approval.
— Simon (@obaisimon) July 20, 2017
Yea, well I just received verbal approval from somebody to build something else futuristic and totally awesome. https://t.co/ecs4RPSX8i
— Ryan D. Enos (@RyanDEnos) July 20, 2017
Guys, big news. Just received verbal govt approval for The Beam Me Up Company to build a transporter. NY-DC in 2 seconds.
— Second Ave. Sagas (@2AvSagas) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to build elevator to moon, NYC-Aitken Basin-Tycho. NYC-Tycho in 28 mins.
— Dave Gershgorn (@davegershgorn) July 20, 2017
I just received verbal govt approval to open a Mars colony. https://t.co/OJa7wm9siw
— Coles St. Pothole (@ColesStreetPoth) July 20, 2017
just received verbal govt approval to destroy the sun
— Felix Gilman (@felixgilman) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to build time machine that emits an aerosolized cancer cure. It also cures cancers you don't have yet btw https://t.co/PwAZBpWmZ7
— Adam Siry (@AMS_0) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval for my dinosaur theme park, 29 species to be revived, more to come.
— Nathaniel (@Awe_some_Rossum) July 20, 2017
I just received verbal govt approval for a free Tesla. https://t.co/QlDABhRom3
— Brian (@Briligerent) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to build a retractable dome over the entire state of Florida to protect from the rain. Open to close 7min https://t.co/uCWjQ2AHga
— RobWagner (@wagner_rob) July 20, 2017
just received verbal government approval for my very large trebuchet
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to fire both my big handguns repeatedly into the ground until the recoil makes me hover like Yosemite Sam
— Salami Swami (@SalamiSwamiCA) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval for The Lanley Company to build a monorail Brockway-Ogdenville-North Haverbrook
— Luke Zimmermann (@lukezim) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to purchase the USPS. I asked my mailman if I could and he said sure
— gen z wolf (@SadMarchand) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to Tweet this.
— Nathan Wurtzel (@NathanWurtzel) July 20, 2017
just received verbal govt approval to wear shorts at the office
— Robert Hackett (@rhhackett) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to skip that meeting at 6 pm https://t.co/m56zBBKVME
— Brian (@Principat0) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to take the rest of the month off. Office-bed in 15 mins. https://t.co/GULC7Ag1k8
— Eric Reif (@esreif) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal approval to go "all the way" with my girlfriend in Canada when I see her this summer https://t.co/aMTfHmCV7e
— Dan "TBONE" O'Sulliv (@Bro_Pair) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal government approval to eat my lunch before noon. Brown bag to my stomach, 29 seconds.
— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to eat all the peanut M&Ms in the vice office. Dispenser to stomach in 29 mins.
— Aaron W. Gordon (@A_W_Gordon) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal approval to build a floating taco barge in the middle of the Charles River. Shore-Taco in 5 mins.
— Gustavo Quiroga (@GooseQ) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal gov't approval to take the rest of the day off and go see Dunkirk instead
— Alex Fitzpatrick (@AlexJamesFitz) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal approval to dunk a basketball. https://t.co/RjcndOa814
— Jack Wickham (@jawickham) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to pet all the dogs on Instagram https://t.co/aK20cDLoCi
— Marx Jimin (@MarxJimin) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal approval to eat my weight in tacos by my nutritionist who is a picture of a hamster eating a cake pic.twitter.com/feL9dcK9ti
— David Kim (@tiggs) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to build a pillow fort for my basset hound. Fully intact to torn in 29 mins.
— Tom Knox (@TomKnoxBiz1st) July 20, 2017
I've just received verbal approval to go to happy hour. 0 to drunk in 29 minutes.
— Filmi Girl (@filmigirl) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal govt approval to drink heavily and hit on cocktail waitresses two at a time. https://t.co/qT4XoxIOIh
— Fredo Corleone (@real_fredo) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal government approval of my "outstanding rack."
— SaraKateW (@SaraKateW) July 20, 2017
I've just received verbal government approval to rename the Manhattan Bridge for Shemp from the Three Stooges.
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) July 20, 2017
Just received verbal government approval to call a hot dog a sandwich
— Heteronormous Jones (@landertb) July 20, 2017
my 6 year old Bustyr looked at me and said “i just received verbal govt approval to have ice cream for dinner” how do i explain this to him
— Scørin' Kierkegaard (@OhWowHmm) July 20, 2017
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Related:
ALL HYPE, NO LOOP: De Blasio press sec throws cold water on Elon Musk’s ‘verbal approval’ for DC-NYC hyperloop https://t.co/4ZVd82XLJR
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 20, 2017