Being cynical, I think it's the following: *) We really want this bridge, but it'll cost a fortune. *) The Mafia want their kickbacks. *) We have committed to increase NATO spending. *) So … (View Post)

I can combine this with another PB favourite; railways. Many rural railway lines have closed in Japan over the last couple of decades. https://www.economist.com/asia/2020/09/10/japans-rural-railways-… (View Post)

With all the hilarious stories that came with Stalin's order for it to be an 'exact' copy. The Russians had the largest plane in the world for a while pre-WW2: https://en.wikipedia.org… (View Post)

An interesting story: "Man who went on run to be sentenced for murder of woman walking dog" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cyvn30vj582t But in a linked story about the same case: "How… (View Post)

Nuclear weapons were going to be developed by someone. The ideas, and much of the science, was out there. The Manhattan Project got an initial boost by the incorporation of our Tube Alloys project; t… (View Post)