War has probably advanced technology more than any other human endeavor, except when it comes to communications technology. There the driver has always been porn.
Category Archives: Technology and Society
Peak Everything?
Thoughts from Ron Bailey, on running out of stuff. I found this interesting:
The folks at the GPRI point out that the phosphorus in just one person’s urine would be close to the amount needed to fertilize the food supply for one person. So why not recycle urine? In fact, NoMix toilets have been invented which allow for the collection of urine separate from solid wastes, allowing phosphorus and nitrogen to be recovered and used as fertilizer. In addition, crop biotechnologists are exploring ways to produce plants that dramatically increase the efficiency with which they use phosphorus, which would reduce the amount fertilizer needed to grow a given amount of food.
Urine recycling would be not just handy, but perhaps crucial, for space settlements.
On the broader point, as long as we have affordable energy and knowledge there’s no reason to run out of anything. The biggest problem is the overabundance of stupidity on the part of those who would rule our lives.
Powerpoint
…and the military. Some concerns.
Congratulations
…to Pete Worden:
“I am truly honored to receive the 2010 Arthur C. Clarke Foundation’s Innovator’s Award,” Worden said. “This prestigious award recognizes technology trailblazers whom I personally admire, and I am proud to be considered among them.”
I’m surprised, but pleased that Pete, probably the most politically incorrect center director ever, has survived the transition. But fortunately, he has friends in high places, if not all the way up in the White House.
Heating The Planet
…with biodiesel.
Maybe politicos should do more research before imposing half-baked energy mandates?
It wouldn’t do any good. They’re mostly too stupid to understand the results of the research, or too much on the take from the benefitting industry to care. But they get to pretend to be saving the planet.
Speaking of biodiesel, will the same be true of biokerosene? Is the “green aviation” initiative another unintended consequence on the way?
The Return Of Nukes
…is happening, but very slowly.
And I wonder if it’s happening in space at all? I haven’t looked at the new budget in detail, so I’m not sure if nuclear is one of the technologies being restored. If not, it’s futile to develop new propulsion technologies if there’s no way to power them.
More Earth Day Celebration
Andy Borowitz: “I’m not sure if a gigantic oil rig sinking was the best way to celebrate Earth Day.”
But they’d been planning it for months!
[Update a few minutes later]
On this Earth Day, thank Big Oil.
And Now For Something Completely Different
A weightless dog.
He (or she) doesn’t seem that upset about it. Probably not the first time.
[Via Stephen Gordon]
The Downfall Of The Thousand-Video Reich
First they came for Hitler. And of course, Hitler is understandably upset.
Greased Lightning
I’ve been suffering with a crummy DSL connection for months, since the move back to CA (I’ve had to reboot the modem often, because it seems to slow down and start dropping packets periodically, with multi-second delays on pings). But yesterday, Verizon fiber finally came to the house.
This is real broadband, for the first time at home. It’s like night and day, in terms of page loads and video.
[Update a few minutes later]
No, I don’t know why the date is wrong. I did the test today. Maybe I should try a different site.
[A couple minutes later]
Bandwidthplace says that it’s about 4 Mbps up and 15 down.