What was once a sign of modernity and progress is now often seen as plain foolish and geeky.

BBC: Newt's long shot at the Moon

The United Arab Emirates often highlights its modernity and progress to the outside world, choosing to forget that just a few generations ago, the country was inhabited by Bedouin tribes living in the desert.

BBC: Al Ain: The desert��s oasis

The railroad companies were losing money and would soon be heading for bankruptcy, and the once-proud stations were left to moulder and decay as anachronistic and expensive behemoths, standing in the way of modernity, and progress - and real estate development.

BBC: Grand Central Station in 1930