“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.
Category Archives: Technology and Society
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.
A Pressing Question
Thought Exercise: Dinosaurs never went extinct, became dominant species. How expensive would it be to send dino Neil Armstrong to the moon?
— Political Math (@politicalmath) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Have to specify species. They come in different sizes. Also, do we have to bring him back?
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
@Rand_Simberg OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO BRING HIM BACK! YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE A DINOSAUR ON THE MOON!
— Political Math (@politicalmath) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Well, you just made the problem a lot harder.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Who are you to say I can't leave a dinosaur on the moon? There's nothing about it in the Outer Space Treaty
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Anyway, the answer is "yes," but you couldn't do it in a single launch. Dinosaur to orbit first, then propellant separately.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Do you want to know total program cost, average cost, or marginal cost? How many lunar dinosaur missions are we talking here?
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
@Rand_Simberg I'm assuming a single mission, no research costs. Cost of materials / life support based on modern day human-based prices.
— Political Math (@politicalmath) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Life-support costs would depend on whether or not you think dinosaurs are warm blooded.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
Anyone want to take a WAG at it?
SpaceX
…is starting to get busy.
The Paleo Diet
The results of a controlled metabolic study:
Even short-term consumption of a Paleolithic-type diet improved glucose control and lipid profiles in people with type 2 diabetes compared with a conventional diet containing moderate salt intake, low-fat dairy, whole grains and legumes.
Color me unsurprised.
Claire Berlinski On The Iran Deal
Me, neither.
The simplest explanation is that the president has sustained his delusions on this issue from at least 2008.
Integrated Vehicle Fluids
A nice video, from Frank Zegler at ULA.
[Update a few minutes later]
Why SLS is insane.
Fake Meat
An interesting story on the state of the art. It’s still terrible.
I think he’s too pessimistic, though, and ignores the technology that will probably create the breakthrough: 3-D printing.
The Hugo Awards
Some thoughts on taking back SFF from the SJWs, from Brad Thorgersen, and Sarah Hoyt:
I lived in fear, unable to associate normally or make friends with anyone. It was like being spied on all the time and knowing the worst construction would be put on my actions and words, even if the actions and words were not political, even if I just forgot what the week’s hate and the week’s cause was.
I got tired. I got really tired. I know authors who walked away after one or two books because they simply couldn’t take it anymore. I know others – gentle souls – who didn’t realize they’d been blacklisted on suspicion of being – dropped voice – conservative. This was particularly true of Libertarians (and libertarians) who never thought of themselves (I still don’t) as “conservatives” and couldn’t understand it when I tried to explain it.
All this was justified, you see, because in the minds of the establishment and establishment hangers on, conservatives are creatures shown as “right wing” on movies and tv (none of whose writers would know a true conservative, much less a libertarian if one bit them in the fleshy part of the *ss [and libertarians might.] They give conservatives (which again is everyone to the right of Lenin) informed attributes never found in the real creature: conservatives, in their crazy little heads, are people who are racist, sexist, homophobic, ultra-religious in a medieval fashion or a crazy-evangelical (there are some, but not many) one.
This kind of thing isn’t the only reason I haven’t been reading much in the past few years, but it doesn’t help.
[Afternoon update]
Michael Z. Williamson: “I am not a ‘real fan’.“