And it has androids.
…given Q1’s reported glitch-related “spasms” at the expo, it may be a while before androids are escorting tour groups or looking after children
Unfortunate Analogy
Taylor Dinerman says that we should be optimistic about the political staying power of the president’s Vision For Space Exploration.
Unfortunately, the example he uses doesn’t inspire confidence in me, at least in terms of the potential for success of the program, though it may continue to get funding ad infinitum, as our ineffective space activities already have for the past three decades since Apollo. After all, over two decades after Reagan made his “Star Wars” speech, we still don’t have a missile defense.
Auditioning For A Hitchcock Remake?
I saw this story, via Warren Bell, and was reminded that I was attacked by a bird when I was in Phoenix in April.
I was walking across a shopping mall parking lot by the hotel where I was staying, and felt something hit my right shoulder from behind. I turned around, and saw a bird hovering. I figured it was an accident, and kept walking, but a few seconds later, it did it again.
I was unsure what to do, but figured that the sooner I got to the mall entrance, the better, so I kept moving, though I didn’t run. I was wearing glasses, which I hoped would protect me if it started to peck, but fortunately it didn’t. It hit me one more time, and then flew back to a tree behind me. I figured that I may have walked to close to its nest. After that, I continued the walk to the mall entrance without further events, but I kept an eye over my shoulder.
Opening The Kimono A Little More
Alan Boyle has more details on Blue Origin’s plans.
A hundred kilometers, once a week, with three or more passengers. That’s at least a hundred fifty new “astronauts” per year. How big will their fleet be?
Their choice of propellants is interesting–peroxide and kerosene. I wonder what the strength of their peroxide is, and where they’re getting it?
Personal Vidcams
Glenn points to this article about battlefield use of high-storage-capacity videocameras.
I suspect that it won’t be long before people start having these installed in their cars to quickly resolve disputes in accidents. It would be particularly helpful against people who deliberately cause fender benders for insurance fraud. I’d think that the insurance industry would start offering discounts for people who have them, and that eventually they’d become factory equipment.
Still In The Tank
Thomas Lipscomb says that the Boston Globe appears to be helping Senator Kerry keep a lid on some of his military records:
Now that the Boston Globe has in its possession what it claims are Kerry
There’s A Fungus Amungus
And it kills mosquitos. This could save the lives of millions.
Cool.
There’s A Fungus Amungus
And it kills mosquitos. This could save the lives of millions.
Cool.
There’s A Fungus Amungus
And it kills mosquitos. This could save the lives of millions.
Cool.
Shuttle-Derived Wet Dreams
Ed Kyle has an overview of Mike Griffin’s plans for a Shuttle-derived launch architecture.
I think that it’s a mistake to maintain the expensive Shuttle infrastructure, and an even bigger one to make the president’s vision dependent on heavy lift vehicles, particularly when there’s only one type, with no resiliency. But as Ed points out, politically, there are a lot of influential congresscritters with Shuttle employees in their districts, so pork may rule the day once again.