The Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy called and wants me to post on the recent trend of billionaires in space. After I suggested they might want to fix their payroll issues, I agreed to post the following.

First, I am not at all upset that Bezos and Branson, AKA The B Team, launched themselves into space. I *would* be upset if, after their launches, ( Read more... )

On Saturday, I went to my local eat-and-drink movie house to watch the new SF flick Ad Astra. I have opinions.

1) I found the movie a bit ponderous. Some of that is characteristic of the plot, which is basically Heart of Darkness as interpreted by Apocalypse Now. Some of that is just because it's ponderous ( Read more... )

A preview of the trivia section for this week's newsletter of the Darien Rotary Club ( Read more... )

I'm taking a break from politics. At some point (like, last week in my case) everything that needs to be said has been said, and repetition does nothing but make people cranky. So, no repetition from me.

I will note that those fine people at NASA have found not one but seven Earth-sized planets. I'll call that a win for science.

I'll be at a Rotary event all day tomorrow, so I expect no blogging. Herewith, have a few links to tide you over:

A) In Ye Goode Olde Dayes, cities used to be full of shit - literally.

B) Mary Robinette Kowal is taking applications for a writer's workshop and cruise. I did this last year, and it was well worth it ( Read more... )

Comes news today that SpaceX just successfully recovered their first stage, making them the second entity to fly a reusable spaceship to orbit. (NASA's Shuttle was the first, of course.) This event is critical, in that if we are ever to have colonies in space, the cost of getting to orbit has to go down. The only way that happens is if we stop ( Read more... )

I'm not going to Rotary today due to Daye Jobbe events, but I will be off-site. Have some links:

A) An interesting thought as to why US voter turnout is so low.

B) Supposedly, it's here transparent aluminum.

C) Presented without endorsement - the long con of Republican party "activists".

D) Rabbit starvation, or starving to death because of a ( Read more... )

The far side of the Moon as the Moon transits Earth. (Link with movie here.)


( Read more... )

Various links, by topic.

A) Police - from The Onion, Do You Know Why I’m Pulling You Over, Being Wildly Aggressive, And Charging You With Assault Today, Sir?

B) Planets - Pluto is roughly the size of Australia. While not a planet, the Moon is roughly the size of the continental US.

C) War - presented without comment or endorsement: Neville ( Read more... )

I'm going to Rotary, so have some links in lieu of content.

A) The other government revolving door - sheriffs departments and state troopers providing new homes for bad cops. Note: although this article is safe, the full site is full of not-safe-for-work "good shit."

B) Regarding the mess in Ferguson, this guy sums up my views perfectlyC) An ( Read more... )