I have no problem with this, as worded. It’s probably about the best you’re going to do and still have consensus, given who was involved in crafting it. I disagree, though, that the 2010 NASA authorization is consistent with it. I’m sure they had to say that to get Bingham to go along.
Category Archives: Technology and Society
A High-Pitched Whistle In My Office
It’s driving me crazy. Not a smoke alarm, not the computer. I can’t echo-locate it. Cant really hear it much outside the room, but very distracting within it. Any ideas?
[Update a few minutes later]
Turned out to be the UPS. Off to Frys to replace it.
[Update a while later]
Spent about $60 for 425 VA. It’s charging now, meanwhile, I’m just operating without one. Peace and quiet.
Generally, my need for them isn’t that great. My machine can survive a sudden power loss, and most of the stuff I do backs up automatically periodically. The main reason to have one these days, for me, is to keep my internet alive. The main fiber router in the garage has its own UPS, but I need to keep my wireless routers up if I want to use a laptop with power out.
Risk Aversion
…costs more than fast failure.
This is about defense, but it applies to space as well. NASA in particular suffers from paralysis by analysis, as demonstrated by how long and how much money it took to do that stupid Orion test flight last year (and how long and how much more money it will be until the next one). But it doesn’t matter, because Congress doesn’t really care if anything is accomplished as long as the jobs don’t go away. I may expand on this in the next edition of the book.
Coffee
Yes, it really does seem to be good for you. I don’t consider myself an “addict,” though. I can take it or leave it. I don’t like it that much, and it has no discernible effect on me. I drink it only for health reasons.
But this isn’t really true:
The bad news? Frappuccinos and lattes are not included. You have to drink it black, because added sugar, cream, and milk can pack on the calories.
The experts aren’t very “expert” if they continue to push the calorie myth. The sugar is bad because, well, sugar is bad. Cream and milk are fine though (though I do drink mine black). I do add some sea salt in the filter to take the bite out of the bitterness.
Thoughts On Turing
…from Freeman Dyson.
Electric Cars
It’s time to end our “green” worship of them.
Dragon Pad Abort
The test may happen in the next couple weeks.
Defensive Gun Use
No, it’s not a myth.
Next-Generation Launch Vehicle
Here’s some useful speculation on what it might look like and do.
Gamergate
The SJWs have lost the moral high ground, and are on the run.
And of course, this is one of the ways of bypassing the Leftist gatekeepers.