Ouch

I met Ellie at ASCEND in Las Vegas in October. She’s had a bad few weeks, but I’m glad to see she’s on the mend.

People have asked if I will climb again and while it’s hard to think about now, I really do love it so much, and will likely try again, but may explore other sports as well.

“We risk death doing those things but it’s those moments that make you feel alive… What do you think is gonna happen when you go to outer space you’re risking your life? How am I going to get back and rock climb, you are gonna do it with more knowledge, if you are already in that that’s why your femur broke, in the future when you are healthy rock climb all you want,” said Kagy.

She’s tough, and I hope she gets to space.

Virgin Orbit

Looks like the end of the road.

I never thought it was a great business model.

Branson has managed to waste an astonishing amount of Other Peoples’ Money on his space ventures. I weep when I think of what could have been done for just a fraction of it if it had gone to something sensible. For example, Lynx could have flown.

Of course, Stratolaunch was a boondoggle as well, which also never made any sense. Air launch is a niche market for people who want mission flexibility and single-orbit rendezvous, and there weren’t enough of those people to sustain that costly infrastructure.

The QAnon Shaman

…has gotten an early release from prison.

Chansley will have some time to consider [a lawsuit], and as of now he has not been exonerated or had his plea vacated. He has simply been released early.

The January 6th prosecutions have been a farce. It’s not that the rioters deserve no consequences for their actions. They do.

But the response has been utterly disproportionate to the cause. The fiction that this was an insurrection, not a riot, is absurd on its face. Putting rioters in solitary confinement for months to pressure them into guilty pleas? Unforgivable.

There is still a lot of injustice to rectify.

Biting Commentary about Infinity…and Beyond!