Stephen Clark has a round up of both domestic and international planned activities, with probability estimates.
Category Archives: Technology and Society
Stop Using Mercator Projection
Why Greenland is important.
Greenland – As viewed from a proper map
— Object Zero (@Object_Zero_) January 6, 2026
Why Greenland? Well because Moscow bases almost all of their strategic military assets on the Kola Peninsula next to Finland. This is where the Russian ICBM silos, submarine bases, and their strategic bombers are.
If you look at the… pic.twitter.com/z6qECCJ3u5
I’m pretty sure that Copenhagen is not capable of defending it.
[Update a while later]
I can't believe this needs to be explained but:
— Robert Anderson (@ProfRobAnderson) January 6, 2026
1. The US is not going to attack Denmark.
2. The bluster from Trump is to give encouragement to Greenlanders for a vote of independence, and a warning to Denmark not to ignore the results of such a vote.
3. Once the vote for…
[Thursday-morning update]
The unfortunate Greenland kerfuffle.
[Bumped]
What To Watch For In Space This Year
Phil Metzger’s top 20:
🧵 1/ Here are the 20 things I’m watching in 2026 as potential disruptors of the space industry (positive & negative). They include things outside the space industry that may have oversized impact inside the space industry.
— Phil Metzger (@DrPhiltill) January 1, 2026
First item on the list:
1. Declining launch costs and… pic.twitter.com/2RtFM68Psu
The Energy Infrastructure
A clarion call, if we are to not be defeated by China:
I know some people think I only post silly videos and make ridiculous comments.
— Sovey (@SoveyX) January 2, 2026
I joined this platform to write long form articles.
Unfortunately, no one reads more than 280 characters. https://t.co/nsqtmNXkcq
Happy New Year To All
This past year has been good for a number of reasons, but I’m hoping that next year will be even better, both in general, and for space policy and activity.
I’m hoping that the economy will improve sufficiently to prevent the Democrats from taking Congress. I’m also hoping that there will finally be some accountability for all the corruption and lawlessness for the past decade, and not just in Minnesota.
I expect Jared to be aggressive in moving out on his agenda, and I expect Starship to start flying on a more-regular basis. In terms of technology in general, I suspect that we are entering interesting times, in the Chinese sense of the word.
We’re having people over for brunch today, with fresh bagels with lox, quiche, deviled eggs, meats and cheeses, and holiday cookies, while we watch a soggy Rose Parade and football games. The parade and Rose Bowl have been living a charmed life for the past couple decades in terms of weather, but looks like their luck may have run out. One of the things that motivated people to come to California was seeing the people in teeshirts and sunshine on New Years Day while they themselves were snowed in or cold. Maybe this will also dampen the enthusiasm people have had for immigrating here. The Democrats certainly continue to encourage them to leave.
Speaking of football, I was a little surprised, but not shocked, to see Ohio State lose, and I was disappointed, of course, to see Michigan do so, but they were playing only for pride. With the new coach, perhaps they’ll be on track for a better season next year. They’re doing well in basketball, but I hate basketball.
Anyway, that’s all for now. Be kind in comments.
The Early Days Of Computing
Eric Raymond remembers:
I was writing some code the new-school way yesterday, prompting gpt-4.1 through aider, and for whatever reason my mind flashed back 50 years and the utter freaking enormity of it all crashed in on me like a tidal wave.
— Eric S. Raymond (@esrtweet) December 27, 2025
And now I want to make you feel that, too.
In 1975 I ran…
The Dark Ages
Could they return?
It’s sadly quite possible.
Gundo
The Economist has discovered El Segundo, including its history with SpaceX. It’s a primary reason I haven’t abandoned California yet.
The Foresight Meme Prize
I saw this at Vision Weekend a week and a half ago.
Announcing: the winner of our $10K Meme Prize!
— Existential Hope (@HopeExistential) December 18, 2025
After reviewing almost 400 entries, we are thrilled to share that the winner of our Meme Prize is “Voices from 2099” by @JellyfishDAO! Their short video makes us see the present day through the eyes of a future society that has… pic.twitter.com/PsxrO1uPPi
Moving Forward
NASA may have a new Administrator as soon as Monday or Tuesday of next week. https://t.co/2aDdcaJMJa
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) December 11, 2025
[Saturday-morning update]
The Empire strikes back.
One of the last people whose opinions I have any respect for in such matters is Doug Cooke. His and Mike’s porkfest is what got us here. I may fisk this later.
[Wednesday-afternoon update]
Confirmed, 67-30: Confirmation of Executive Calendar #593 Jared Isaacman to be Administrator of the @NASA.
— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) December 17, 2025
[Bumped]