Thoughts on the worthwhile difficulties of settling space.
A Coup Is In Progress
But I beg to differ with Mr. Hinderaker; it’s not a “liberal” coup, but a leftist one.
[Update a few minutes later]
Could someone inform the federal judiciary that Jihadis are Muslims?
Like Charles Cooke, I don’t agree with the policy, but this ruling was lawless.
I dislike this EO as a matter of policy. I’m also outraged by this decision, and think Trump is absolutely right on the legal question.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) March 16, 2017
[Update a couple minutes later]
The courts in Hawaii and the 9th circuit have essentially stripped the president of his powers. It will take SCOTUS to restore. And funny how these people never mind the tyrannical and actually lawless behavior of Barack Obama.
[Update a while later]
Grandstanding judicial supremacy must end. Basically, the ruling was based on mind reading, and feelings.
Restoring Eyesight
…with an artificial retina. This is great news. But I wonder how it would work for someone born blind. Could their brains learn to see?
[Update a while later]
There seems to be some confusion in comments. My point was that even if the brain starts to get the visual signal, it may not be able to learn how to use it. Learning to interpret the input and translate it into a map of the world is something that happens very early in development, and if it doesn’t happen, like language, it may not be possible to learn it as an adult.
The Economics Of Airfares
An interesting history, including a bonus discussion of space tourism.
The Warbird
Tara Copp has written a book that’s been getting good reviews from the defense media. Here’s an excerpt.
So the wonderful @TaraCopp gave me a copy of her new book, The Warbird, I am ENGROSSED.
GO BUY IT.https://t.co/oE75lBl8mz
— Valerie Insinna (@ValerieInsinna) March 14, 2017
The Southern Poverty Law Center
It’s been doing so for decades. No one should take it seriously any more.
Classic Cars
My step-brother had a TR-4, but I’m surprised that you can pick up a TR-6 for that little money. Seems like a great deal. It may soon be the only way you can get a real stick shift.
Michelle’s School Lunch Program
The reign of terror is almost over. What’s not mentioned, though, is that even if the kids were eating the food, it’s not healthy for them. Low grains are only a little less terrible than refined ones, and low fat constitutes physical child abuse, because they need fat to grow their brains.
If You Lose Your Health Insurance
Are you really worse off?
The word “insurance” has lost all meaning when it comes to health care, and the continual confusion and conflation of the two lies at the root of much of the problem. Crazy idea: I want a health savings account to deal with normal medical expenses, and insurance for catastrophes. You know, the way insurance used to be until it got screwed up by wage controls during the war and union negotiators.
The Planetary Society
Entirely not unexpectedly, they have some terrible suggestions for Trump and NASA:
- Maintain the exploration of Mars as the organizing principle for NASA’s human spaceflight program
- Direct NASA to plan an executable, affordable path for sending humans to Mars orbit by 2033
- Expand NASA’s highly successful science portfolio
- Continue to grow and support the commercial space industry
- Initiate annual five percent increases to NASA’s budget for five years
The only good one is the fourth. Here are mine:
- Make the continuous reduction of the cost of space activities the organizing principle for NASA’s human spaceflight program
- Direct NASA to end development of its own launch systems and to start to procure propellant in LEO to enable trips beyond
- Expand NASA’s science portfolio with data purchases
- Continue to grow and support the commercial space industry
- Direct funding from SLS/Orion to support 1-4