Probably until Monday, unless I check in from a wireless truck stop. I’m heading off to Florida from California.
Enjoy the convention.
All posts by Rand Simberg
It’s The Organization, Stupid
Tim Worstall has some post-apocalyptic thoughts that are applicable to pre-apocalyptic space policy. I can never remind people enough the reason that we aren’t a true space-faring nation is not lack of technology or technologists–it’s lack of the viable institutions and means of organizing resources toward that end. Fortunately, that’s starting to change.
It’s The Organization, Stupid
Tim Worstall has some post-apocalyptic thoughts that are applicable to pre-apocalyptic space policy. I can never remind people enough the reason that we aren’t a true space-faring nation is not lack of technology or technologists–it’s lack of the viable institutions and means of organizing resources toward that end. Fortunately, that’s starting to change.
It’s The Organization, Stupid
Tim Worstall has some post-apocalyptic thoughts that are applicable to pre-apocalyptic space policy. I can never remind people enough the reason that we aren’t a true space-faring nation is not lack of technology or technologists–it’s lack of the viable institutions and means of organizing resources toward that end. Fortunately, that’s starting to change.
Ominous
If you’re a Kerry fan.
The Swift Boat controversy is taking its toll, even if it’s not showing up that strongly in the polls yet. People have been dumping his stock for the last couple days. If they could sell short, they probably would.
[Update a couple minutes later]
And Kerry’s chickens continue to come home to roost. His problems may be just beginning. Judging by the disproportionate impact of the Swift Vet ads, in terms of their funding, I suspect that this documentary will similarly have much more impact than Michael Moore’s polemic.
[Yet another update a minute or two later]
Whoops, spoke too soon. Kerry’s woes are showing up in the polls, too.
More Publicity For Burt
Not a whole lot new here to people who’ve been following this, but Jim Oberg has an article about SpaceShipOne in the IEEE Spectrum magazine.
Thanks A Lot, NASA
A loon from my home state of Michigan believes that NASA’s Mars exploration activities are affecting weather on the earth.
[Via emailer Frank Johnson]
Professors Behaving Badly
This is simultaneously funny and sad.
Planet Wars
There’s a huge (and largely pointless) argument going on over at Space Politics about whether or not we should go to the Moon before Mars (kicked off by Bob Zubrin’s wishful thinking).
I liked Ed Wright’s comment:
We don’t have a national consensus on what to do in the air or on the sea or on land.
We don’t need a national consensus to decide whether Americans will go to Las Vegas or Disneyland next year.
Why is that when it comes to space, people think there can only be one destination and one goal, which is chosen by national consensus?
The Overst0ck.Com Television Ad
…has to be one of the most effective ones in history, in terms of watchability and effectiveness in selling the product. At least if you’re a (heterosexual) male.
There are a lot of ads that are interesting, entertaining, but ineffective in terms of making the viewer (or listener–there are many that have only music as the audio, which provides no cue or clue as to what the product is to those who only listen to the television while doing other things, and aren’t watching it) aware of the product and interested in purchasing it. But this one compels healthy males to watch, and hammers the product into their reptilian brains.
[Wednesday update]
I’m curious to know how effective this ad is for women. I suspect that it might be, though not for the same reasons. I’d be interested in the opinion of any female readers who’ve seen it.