Kicking the can down it. Anyone who is waiting for NASA to send anyone to Mars is going to be very disappointed.
Category Archives: Technology and Society
Peter Thiel
A conversation with Tyler Cowen, on the future of innovation, life extension and God.
Blue Origin
They’ve completed acceptance tests for their new suborbital LOX/hydrogen engine. Hope this means they start flying again soon.
NASA And The Moon
Yes, the agency really is reconsidering it.
One can understand why PAO has to deny it, though.
[Update a few minutes later]
This looks like an interesting seminar. Things like this are why I sometimes regret not living in DC.
COMSTAC And The Learning Period
Jeff Foust has a report on last week’s meeting, but I can’t tell from it what actually came out of it.
An Epistemological Question
Ron Bailey wonders what it would take to convince you that AGW was occurring.
Roy Spencer responds.
I agree that Ron is a smart guy, but I do think there’s some of this going on:
I hate to impute motives, but I really have to wonder if he is succumbing to peer pressure, since believing anything that smacks of denial-ism is really frowned upon in the intellectual circles I’m sure Ron is part of.
I think it’s compounded by the fact that it’s hard enough to change your mind once. It would be kind of embarrassing to revert back to skepticism. The key point, of course, is that Ron doesn’t necessarily believe that the problem demands any particular policy solution.
Large Space Structures
Rob Hoyt has a revolutionary idea. If power satellites ever happen, this would be the likely construction technique.
Hillary’s Email
“This amounts to a flouting, if not a violation, of the Federal Records Act, which says all federal agency employees have an obligation to take some steps to preserve things for posterity,” Metcalfe said.
Laws are for the little people.
The Hugos
…were a huge loss for Tor and the SJW fascists, and a win for those interested in true “diversity.”
[Sunday morning update]
…to be asked for civility from the side that’s been emptying the slops bucket on our head ever since their favorites didn’t get the call is all too precious and rich. The people who were screaming at us that “Women are allowed to write science fiction too” apparently didn’t notice the women on this side and on the ballot (I know, we’re wrongwomen and wrongfans.) And the idiots who for years have said that this was all because Larry wanted a Hugo owe him a giant apology. Until I see that I’m all out of f*cks to give about their precious hurt feelings.
…I’ve never accused anyone of “stealing” the Hugos or of buying sock puppet memberships; other than saying that some of the nominees (and winners) in recent years have been long on social justice and short on worth (a value judgement but MY value judgement and that of a lot of fans who no longer use the Hugo as a buy recommendation), I’ve never impugned the character of any Hugo nominee/winner for being nominees/winners (I’ve pointed out bad behavior from some of them and an habit of wearing their own colon as a stylish hat in other circumstances. That’s different, but that’s frankly more descriptive than impugning);and I’ve never, not even in my worst moments accused anyone on the other side of thought crime (racist, sexist, homophobic, wrongthinker or eeeevil) or private vice (I’ve never once said I fear for my safety around them.)
I will employ civility when I see some. And some apologies, too for people like Larry.
I hope she doesn’t hold her breath.
Also, on this Easter, if you’re the praying type (or even if not) send her some best wishes for improving health.
Making Babies Off Planet
Another article about the medical and ethical issues. Too bad it doesn’t point out the need for a gravity lab.