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Space Shuttle
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Sure, there have been some problems with the shuttle program recently, but overall this thing is pretty bad ass. Think about this... these bad mamajamas were designed in the 1970s or something. Think about how lame some of the cars looked back then and then look at the space shuttle; it is pretty impressive. Imagine strapping yourself on to the business end of two rockets coupled to the largest gas tank in the world... 'Don't think about all the things that can go wrong; think about all of the things that have to go right to get this thing to and from space.' Bad ass. NASA Fact: The energy released by the three space shuttle main engines is equivalent to the output of 13 Hoover Dams. -- Snoop Dogg would say 'that is a grip of energy.'
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The Shinkansen en.wikipedia.org
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When the express train blew by me at 200mph as I was standing on the local train stop in Himeji, I felt the hand of God. No joke, I literally started to cry. That much metal moving at that speed while passengers inside listfully enjoy their green tea and Daily Yomiuri, is like nothing else. Despite the power, the Shinkansen trains come to a whisper quiet stop at designated stations exactly at the planned times to the second, year round. And then in you go to enjoy a quiet, smooth ride with spacious seating, and incredible views of Mt Fuji and the Japanese countryside. It is a feat of technical, social, and psychological engineering. To deny this as a Modern Wonder of the World because it makes for less of a photo op than some rocks on a hill, is an insult.
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Manhattan en.wikipedia.org
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Although it may be located in the US, New York is the world's city. And when New Yorkers refer to "The City", they refer to Manhattan. This 22sq mile island inspires dreams like no other metropolitan area in the world. The miles of yellow cab rivers at the bottom of concrete canyons. Towering skyscrapers, almost 4,000 highrises in total, 3 times as many as any other city. The Empire State building, built in a single year, over 70 years old, and still one of the tallest buildings in the world. The exess bacchanal of bars and clubs on every corner neighboring the wealth and responsibility of world financial headquarters. An iconic glowing skyline from a windowseat above. A cultural mecca. A movie setpiece. A sweaty summer tourist's confusion. A panhandler's goldmine. An expat's home. It isn't any structure from any moment in time that makes this a wonder of the world. It is generations of humanity determined to acheive the goal of bigger better faster more.
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Opportunity and Spirit marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov
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Gotta give it up for NASA on this one... they strapped a whole bunch of chotchkies onto a couple six-wheeled golf carts, churched them up with some solar panels (alternative energy baby) and wrapped them in space duct tape. Then they strapped them to a rocket and sent them on to Mars where the deployment process looked eerily similar to one of those plastic guys with a parachute coupled with some super bouncy balls. The mission was supposed to last for something like 3 months, assuming the plastic army guy/super bouncy ball deployment strategy actually worked, and then they would run out of power rendering them unable to be recovered. Three years later they are still cruising around with no end in sight!
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If you have never been to San Francisco, then you are missing out at one of the true marvels of modern construction. The brazen red paint and the amazingly high clearance makes this monster stand out like no other bridge in the world. And if that isn't enough, try driving across on one of those spooky San Francisco summer days where the fog only covers half the bridge. Its an experience like nothing else.
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Sure, you can't understand a word they're saying over the loudspeakers and the platforms in the summer evokes what a health club in Hell would feel like, but what other public transportation system gets you anywhere in the city for $2 and has express trains that take you from downtown to midtown in less than 15 minutes? Pure genius.
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Eiffel Tower en.wikipedia.org
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Although this is is not France's first or last giant middle finger to the rest of the world, it is their biggest. This hulking beast of wrought iron demands and commands attention. There is no way to be in the City of Lights without having your attention drawn to it. While every other tall structure today is some modern mix of concrete and glass, the Eiffel Tower stays true to its middle finger roots, and sticks with steel. For 50 some odd years it was the worlds tallest structure until New York came out swinging with the Chrysler Building. Now pushed further back on the list, it still remains one of the most recognizable figues in modern construction.
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Taipei 101
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Taipei 101 boasts a number of the typical 'whose dick is bigger' attributes of all these new-age skyscrapers popping up all over Asia and the Middle East. It has the fastest elevator, a bunch of concrete, a Louis Voutton store in the mall at the bottom, etc, etc. One of the coolest things, though, is there is a gigantic suspended ball at the center of the observation deck at the top. It's job is to counteract the effects of the swaying of the building due to wind. I'm pretty sure it was broken when I was there because I still started to get quesy. That's a big bitch.
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