Better clean up this act

There has been some talk that Trump's support is falling. There has also been some talk that he is still leading by a lot.

It is perhaps understandable that some folks would like a different choice. Understandable in the sense that they never did like Trump. However, if he gets the nomination, I would hope that there would be an end to the division that only encourages the Democrats.

If that division is serious enough, then forget about it for 2024. If they GOP doesn't do anything else, they had better clean this up.

The Case for Malthusianism

Yesterday's announcement of a breakthrough in fusion research has led to some reactions here and elsewhere. There was something on the Powerline blog, which cites the frequent opposition from the green crowd with respect to all technological advancements. Generally, they are quite negative about it. Powerline quotes some environmentalists on the possibility of cold fusion back in the 80's, and laments the negativity of these Malthusian types.

This allows me to segue into a comment on the Malthusians. Given that their arguments are wrong, that such arguments can be taken seriously in some quarters is enough to give pause in itself. If technology can be misused, it is most likely going to come from bad argumentation like the Malthusians made, than from the technology itself. Paradoxically, this could be a reason why technology may be a flawed way towards advancement. These idiots may get their hands on it and abuse it. Like they do with social media.

The Brandon mal-Administration has hyped up a modestly succesful advancement as a cure for a problem that may not even exist, for example. It is neither a cure ( because it isn't anywhere near commercialization), nor is there really much of a need for the cure they claim is needed. We cannot overheat the Earth even if we tried. But we can do a lot of other very stupid things.

If genuine scientific advancement cannot even be understood properly, how can it be managed properly? That's the question. Malthusianism is nothing more than a bunch of misinformed cranks who couldn't fix a bowl of soup, much less a real problem. The problem is really that so many people listen to these nincompoops.

If there's a real problem with a technology, they cannot be trusted with it.

I'd worry a lot more about artificial intelligence than in nuclear fusion, for example. You cannot count on these clowns to get it right. There's my best case in favor of the Malthusians.

Utopia has come! ( not really)

There has been something of an amusing announcement from the Brandon mal-Administration. A notable scientific achievement has been reached! Yay, team!

I've checked out a few approaches to fusion, and one of these wasn't covered all that much. That's because I didn't think that it lent itself to commercial development. It so happens that this approach towards net energy from fusion was the National Ignition Facility in Collyfornia.

Although the Biden mal-Administration wants to hype this scientific achievement by claiming that fusion is now around the corner, it needs to be mentioned that nobody should get carried away by the hype. The achievement, if real, is notable. The first time that fusion has been produced while getting more energy out than they put in. Well bravo on that, but it isn't all that it is cracked up to be.

If they achieved ANEUTRONIC fusion, it might be said to be "clean energy". But if not, it will produce neutrons, which will impart some of that nasty radioactive stuff to the environment. Not likely to have reached nirvana just yet. Sorry to burst that little bubble. ( not really)

But the Biden mal-Administration would have everyone believe that they've conquered this clean energy hill with this announcement. That's where the hype is.

Beside the likelihood of it not being really "clean energy", the thing is monumentally impractical. The device is the size of a stadium, yet produces only enough net energy to make a cup of coffee, perhaps. Let's not get too excited. There is a LONG way to go to make a commercial device. That is, with this approach. My impression is that it isn't EVER going to produce a practical device because it needs to be much, much more compact.

There are better approaches than this, in other words. They got a scientific coup, but that is all.

Griner-Bout trade gets curiouser and curiouser

 

1) Very odd Victor Bout arms merchant statment

2) James Carville on swap



Comments upon links:

With respect to link #1, it would seem that the Russians see an opportunity to look for sympathy along racial lines. Although it DOES seem like the wokesters are on a crusade against the purportedly Christian Russian nation, it doesn't mean that we should join them. As I've written all along on this, it is not our fight. We shouldn't have anything to do with this. That is not based upon racial lines, but I would bet that the wokesters LOVE the idea of whitey fighting whitey. I know I've seen it on the web that certain Muslim nations would like Russia and the USA to destroy each other. We don't need Russia for that, though. We are doing it well enough on our own.

The James Carville reference in link #2 pretty much cements the idea. The left runs the government on the basis that the purpose of government is to divvy out the goodies on the basis of political support. Therefore, if you criticize the deal, it is only because you would prefer that it go to the white dude. Well, that would be a rather jaundiced view of race relations in this country. Number one, if such a deal were made on that basis, the Democrats would go insane. They might even have a legal case, as it is in the law based upon non-discrimination on the basis of race ( and other things that are getting added to the list of aggrieved groups). Nobody would do it overtly on the basis of race, except Democrats, because that is where their bread is buttered. Number two is that there is a basis for concern on the basis that this guy is an "arms-merchant to terrorists". This label was applied by the Obama Administration. So, maybe they are saying it sotto-voce, that the guy isn't so dangerous after all. Or that they don't care even if he is. Is he dangerous or not? It is "their words". Now they are refuting their own words. It must be okay then, to endanger the country in favor of their pet groups. If you disagree, it is only because you are a bigot. At least, according to Carville and Co.

Somewhere in this lies the problem in this country today. It's all about me, me, me. Nobody can say anything against "me", because I am going to be offended. Lord help anybody that offends "me". The country cannot endure it. /sarc

But we CAN endure terrorist acts because "shut up".

Stupid is as stupid does

Today was a day for watching some videos, and one of them jogged the memory of things gone past. People have this tendency to talk "out their asses", and so do I. I've tried to tone it down a bit, but the tendency is strong.

Anyway, on one of the videos, a guy was telling about how a guy trash-talked Ringo Starr, and the narrator showed him up a bit on it. The trash-talker really didn't know what he was talking about, and he was shown why he didn't know. That's what reminded me of something that I've noticed before. Somebody was talking out their ass, and so it happened in this story. It happens often enough that I wonder if it is a universal thing.

How can I work this into something general that may illustrate a point worth considering? There was something in the news recently that may do the trick. The news item is that Biden's poll numbers are up near 50% in the Rasmussen Poll. That's pretty high for him. But it seems pretty undeserved to me. Why?

What could make people think that Biden deserves this high of a rating? Is it the lower gasoline prices lately? Or the release of the female basketball player? Neither of those indicated any merit on Biden's part. Yet his polls are up. If those are the reasons, then could it be that people are really "talking out their asses" with their opinions about the guy. Well, it is either them doing it, or those (like me) who don't like Biden are wrong. Who is right and who is wrong? Everybody has opinions. But that doesn't make it right. Those dumb-asses could be right, but I don't think so.

The people who opine that Biden is doing well are being manipulated into saying that. That's what makes them wrong. If you really know what you're talking about, the media cannot so easily influence your opinion. The media DOES influence opinions, and that's what makes them troublesome. That, and these people who won't think for themselves. Just because the media hypes these things doesn't make these things true. That is what you should be approving or disapproving of someone for, not what someone says about it that you allow to influence your opinion. The media will go out of their way to protect Biden, and trash their opposition. This has had consequences, and the consequences can be severe.

The release of the basketball player was a poor choice of exchange with the Russians. The "bargain" was no bargain at all, and in fact, was a very bad deal. Even if the basketball player was a stature of Michael Jordan, it still was inappropriate. That's because they should have never released somebody who is an arms merchant, and who is responsible for getting arms to TERRORISTS. This will result in people getting killed. Is the release of ONE basketball player really worth the lives of this that will cause others to be lost? This was a really bad choice. Not to mention that the Russians offered an exchange of a Marine who really did rate our concern far, far more than this athlete.

It is an example of the stupidity that is running so rampant in our society that people REWARD someone like Biden, who will be responsible for a lot of suffering later on. Biden doesn't deserve any credit, and in fact, should be getting raked over the coals for this. He is, in some quarters. But the media, as usual, is covering for Biden. They are playing games with people's lives, and these idiots are cheering it all on. Just because they won't think for themselves.

You'd think that people would wise up by now. But it looks like they never will. Too many people are stuck on stupid.

Starship musings

 

The morning started with some thoughts about the Spacex Starship project. It appears that there is something of a problem with the launch pad. The enormous amount of thrust has caused concrete to come loose and rain down on the complex. Some videos show that repairs are ongoing to the launch pad, and probable upgrades. There has yet to be a full 33 engine static fire. This will delay the eventual launch of the new rocket for awhile. What should be done?

There has been some discussion about the purchase of offshore rigs, and possibly using them as offshore launch pads. Also, some discussion about a flame trench, which would divert the rocket's blast so that the facilities don't get so damaged with each launch. A crazy idea came to mind. Maybe more than one crazy idea. What if a "flame trench" could be built offshore? The rocket's blast could be diverted into tubes below the water line. The water will keep the tubes from getting too hot ( presumably). What's more, some blowback could actually supply some more thrust! This is reminescent of some undersea launches from submarines. The rocket pops up out of the water, and goes airborne. Could something like this work? Is it even being considered? There was an idea from sixties to use a "Sea Dragon" concept rocket, which would take off out at sea. The rocket would have been monstrously big. Even bigger than anything Musk is proposing now. Such a study said it was a feasible idea back in those days.

Or would they just use the offshore facility as a testing facility? But in the same manner discussed above. No need to land rockets that aren't intended to land anyway. Or perhaps a combination. It could be a way station to the main site onshore. Rockets could land out there too, but only first stages. They could be tested out there, and then fly back on their own power to the main facility. They could be positioned to catch the rocket offshore, and then reload it offshore and fly back to the main base. This would allow them to devote more fuel to the payloads. It wouldn't take as much fuel to take a mostly empty first stage back to base, where it could be launched with a full payload. With the fuel savings not having to be used to take the empty stage back to land, they could put more payload onboard the land based launches. Every pound of fuel saved saves at least 20 more for additional payload. This could make it all worthwhile.

Obviously Musk is thinking about something like this, or why acquire their offshore platforms? Evidently, he doesn't want big flame trenches like NASA used for the Saturn V launches in the sixties. He needs some sort of testing facility and an offshore platform might be suitable for that purpose. A short hop to land for the main launch doesn't seem too way out of an idea. He has already perfected the technique with the Falcon 9 of landing out at sea. What would prevent such a scenario? It might be what he has in mind.

This wasn't the really way out idea I thought. It might even be brilliant.

The thing that is way out there may be in putting the rocket under water and launching it. What would happen then? Maybe it would explode. Too much power in too little space, perhaps.

But it isn't that far out of an idea to do it as I've laid it out above. It might even be considered "conservative" to use the offshore facility to land the rocket, while increasing its payload fraction a bit because it didn't need a boost back burn to get the rocket back to base. The main transit to get the payload in orbit doesn't get so penalized by having to save fuel for the boost back burn. It could be a difference maker.

Assorted links December 8th 2022

Artificial intelligence : Good or bad?

Comment: Here's something to worry about. But I've been worried about it for years now. As soon as these people looked like they were going to make self-driving cars, I figured my job was going to be made obsolete. It's a lot worse than that. Human beings may be made obsolete. Something that these developers need very much to be aware of, but probably aren't sufficiently so.



Indian reservation life

Comment: Here's a video that cuts to the chase without bullshit. Too bad our media isn't like this.



Update on Spacex Starship

Comment: I've wasted a lot of time on click bait posts on youtube in an attempt to get this kind of information. Behind the Black blog has a good link here that tells what's going on.