tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post5779418066490194708..comments2024-03-28T06:22:23.961-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: More Than Human? And science roundup!David Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-78756631036142620612017-05-11T02:22:15.746-07:002017-05-11T02:22:15.746-07:00Do you really want to know why Le Pen lookalikes l...Do you really want to know why Le Pen lookalikes like Trump and Urban (Orban?) are in power? It is due to the difference between immigration policy by coalition and by referendum.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-65569152031685452862017-05-09T14:24:33.647-07:002017-05-09T14:24:33.647-07:00onwardonwardDavid Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-73086156145688871422017-05-09T12:42:25.588-07:002017-05-09T12:42:25.588-07:00There's also this: https://www.or.is/english/c...There's also this: https://www.or.is/english/carbfix-project<br /><br />The (potential) benefits are obvious. The drawbacks seem surmountable: it takes 10x water by weight for each amount of CO2 sequestered. The sequestered rocks may release methane.<br />But it's possible that the rocks themselves could be used as fuel in the future.Zepp Jamiesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16261339498383415026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-36307514308286230362017-05-09T12:07:35.625-07:002017-05-09T12:07:35.625-07:00onward
onwardonward<br /><br />onwardDavid Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-74036966602107166362017-05-09T06:59:30.920-07:002017-05-09T06:59:30.920-07:00Probably not an original question: as science beco...Probably not an original question: as science becomes more market led, will there be a corresponding increase in misleading presentation of data? We know from virtually every other area of western life that this is a problem, so, will the aim of the whole enterprise shift toward market share? At the expense of curiosity? Who would notice such a thing if it did occur? How could it be recognised? What might be some of the unanticipated effects?<br /><br />For example this article from 'Bulletin for the Atomic Scientists' seems to be unable to distinguish between cause and effect:<br /><br />"The combination of this lack of Russian situational awareness, dangerously short warning times, high-readiness alert postures, and the increasing US strike capacity has created a deeply destabilizing and dangerous strategic nuclear situation.<br /><br />When viewed in the alarming context of deteriorating political relations between Russia and the West, and the threats and counter-threats that are now becoming the norm for both sides in this evolving standoff, it may well be that the danger of an accident leading to nuclear war is as high now as it was in periods of peak crisis during the Cold War."<br /><br />http://thebulletin.org/how-us-nuclear-force-modernization-undermining-strategic-stability-burst-height-compensating-super10578Paul Revilenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-81807656741587847442017-05-09T04:08:48.621-07:002017-05-09T04:08:48.621-07:00A friend of mine works discovering (one so far I k...A friend of mine works discovering (one so far I know of; footemineite), and collecting rare hydrate minerals. Not all are yet known.<br />Note the abundant lithium nearby, which one of our drive-bys scoffed about, not knowing my NC environs well.<br />http://mineralbliss.blogspot.com/2013/11/collecting-at-foote-mine-with-jason.htmlJumperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794110173836133321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-74784808862471752642017-05-09T01:27:58.700-07:002017-05-09T01:27:58.700-07:00Catfish N. Cod:
At which point all I could do is ...Catfish N. Cod:<br /><i><br />At which point all I could do is move my family to the least threatening province, find as many people willing to preserve civilization with me as possible, and fort up.<br /></i><br /><br />Another echo of Asimov's "Foundation". Life is feeling more and more like that lately.<br />LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-58316235977102423262017-05-08T22:41:41.517-07:002017-05-08T22:41:41.517-07:00LarryHart,
Regarding the mixing of genes, I think...LarryHart,<br /><br />Regarding the mixing of genes, I think you'll find it is a mixed up thing. Some would hold to what you say. Others are more fearful of cultural mixings. Others look more at social strata mixings.Alfred Differhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01170159981105973192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-87745749486056434412017-05-08T22:38:07.249-07:002017-05-08T22:38:07.249-07:00Critical postmortem of the Hillary Clinton campaig...Critical postmortem of the Hillary Clinton campaign? What is there to do but say Oops?<br /><br />It's going to get done by the people who like to do those things. Most of us don't and won't. Moving on now. Seriously. I think we've all pondered the Clinton's enough. 8)<br /><br />Alfred Differhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01170159981105973192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-61557896187713445302017-05-08T22:33:11.910-07:002017-05-08T22:33:11.910-07:00A properly hydrated phosphate of copper and alumin...A properly hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum makes turquoise. Study the semi-precious stones and you'll find lots of them are what they are because of water.<br /><br />I doubt we will have to bake the water out of Martian minerals to get a drink, though. It will be far easier to dig a deeper hole. Alfred Differhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01170159981105973192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-29277365180115533152017-05-08T19:14:27.197-07:002017-05-08T19:14:27.197-07:00Paul451/Jumper: it's tidbits like your last ex...Paul451/Jumper: it's tidbits like your last exchange re concrete that keep me salivating (and feeling humbled...negligent chemical training). ;-)donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-60678002638348544272017-05-08T18:42:16.368-07:002017-05-08T18:42:16.368-07:00I hear you, Paul. But if you stick that concrete i...I hear you, Paul. But if you stick that concrete in an oven and recoverable H2O bakes out, it becomes irrelevant. Now for making bricks, (also an interest for Mars) it's sadly more important. The hydrate minerals don't provide any lube for assisting compaction.Jumperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794110173836133321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-63384039901539438712017-05-08T18:28:35.017-07:002017-05-08T18:28:35.017-07:00Re: Mocking typos.
I generally only react to the ...Re: Mocking typos.<br /><br />I generally only react to the interesting ones. Those which change the meaning of the sentence in an amusing or ironic way.<br /><br />Or to those of PaulSB, who apparently is raising an autocorrect-AI which is going through a particularly creative phrase. ("Thunder and Does" for "thinkers and doers". "Space Elf" for "share of".)<br /><br />Jumper,<br /><i>"that as dry as Mars is, its soil still contains 5% moisture."</i><br /><br />Water, but not moisture.<br /><br />It's an oft-repeated but misleading number. Hydrous minerals are not "moist" in any reasonable sense. The water molecules are part of the structure of the mineral. To "extract" the water you are actually changing the mineral to another form. From clay to feldspar, for example.<br /><br />To use an analogy, concrete has a high level of water content in the chemical hydration of the cement. But good luck trying to get it back out again.Paul451https://www.blogger.com/profile/12119086761190994938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-43565218648992880872017-05-08T17:36:52.185-07:002017-05-08T17:36:52.185-07:00Catfish N Cod:
Dr. Brin is right, this is startin...Catfish N Cod:<br /><i><br />Dr. Brin is right, this is starting to feel 1789ish. And I don't *want* to live through such. I liked my life so far, thank you.<br /></i><br /><br />Remember, 1789 also brought us the US Constitution. And 1933 brought both Hitler <b>and</b> Roosevelt. There are alternatives.<br />LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-56354409409369304822017-05-08T17:33:54.621-07:002017-05-08T17:33:54.621-07:00donzelion:
LarryHart: "Ironic as well, becau...donzelion:<br /><i><br />LarryHart: "Ironic as well, because for the nationalists who are leading the shake-up, "remixing genes" is the last thing they want to do."<br /><br />You must know a different sort of nationalist than I do. The folks I know have little problem 'remixing genes' - it's the terms of trade that they object to: they want control over the equation sans responsibility for the outcome. How many anti-immigrant reactionaries in America would hesitate to mix genes with Melania Trump given the opportunity, despite her immigrant status? <br /></i><br /><br />Yeah, they'll all carve out exceptions for their own selves. But the nationalists I know are big on racial purity. They're the ones who would condemn others of their race as race-traitors for co-mingling their genes. I don't see them being down with (say) white Aryans as a whole spilling their genes in with the mongrel races.<br />LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-73367802744324455042017-05-08T17:24:33.621-07:002017-05-08T17:24:33.621-07:00Midboss57:
Meanwhile, the far right is ignored be...Midboss57:<br /><i><br />Meanwhile, the far right is ignored because it serves as an example of what happens if you refuse to play their game. "You think we treat you bad ? What you're gonna do, side with these psychos ? We dare you ! Besides, they are so toxic no one would willingly... oh."<br /></i><br /><br />You'd think they'd have learned that lesson in 1933.<br /><br />Or have I just watched "Cabaret" too many times?<br />"Do you still think you can control them?"<br /><br /><i> <br />Problem is, they got too greedy and 2008 and its fallout happened and people are very angry. A smart move would have been to dial back the bad behaviour long enough for things to blow over but they didn't even slow down. And now people all over the developed world are willing to side with anyone that promises an alternative, no matter how horrific.<br /><br />Fortunately at least, we can thank Trump for showing the world that no, the far right is not going to put a leash on the oligarchs reprehensible behaviour. That may have saved us from Le Pen for another five years.<br /></i><br /><br />I was going to say...and then you said it yourself. It doesn't surprise me that desperate voters go for the unprecedented. It does surprise me that they haven't yet figured out that those particular radicals (nationalist demagogues, "Nazis" by other names) inevitably end up empowering the very same enemies that the revolt is supposedly against. It's like an entire electorate of locumranches.<br /><br />LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-16077039217245877822017-05-08T17:15:13.166-07:002017-05-08T17:15:13.166-07:00Midboss57:
It's actually pretty obvious why p...Midboss57:<br /><i><br />It's actually pretty obvious why people are turning to the far right.<br /><br />Standard plutocratic/despotic/feudal... leadership 101 teaches that one of the most important things to do is to neutralize all moderate opposition as top priority so that the only alternative to you is the unthinkable. <br /></i><br /><br />That was part of the backstory of "Earth" which led to the Helvetian War. Moderate politicians were bribed or threatened or assassinated in order to insure that <b>only</b> radical loonie policies could be pursued, making sure that reasonable compromise was not possible.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-38715902822886286242017-05-08T15:27:09.924-07:002017-05-08T15:27:09.924-07:00Catfish: "Dr. Brin is right, this is startin...Catfish: <i>"Dr. Brin is right, this is starting to feel 1789ish. And I don't *want* to live through such. I liked my life so far, thank you."</i><br /><br />Our host tends to favor analogies to 1932 or 1861. I still prefer 1871 - the era in which New York bankers financed the very Southern Aristocrats who pretended to hate them (but borrowed extensively from them to preserve sharecropper plantations). Texan Ted Cruz has one foot in Texas, another in NYC (where does his wife work again), and GW Bush, Trump, and any other 'outsider' gets nowhere without close links to the bankers (the largest financiers of GWB, once Enron collapsed, were credit card companies).<br /><br /><i>"I feel like the Guelphs and Ghibellines have come to roost, and we are now a grab-bag collection of provinces to be fought over by outside powers despite having the greatest wealth and technology of our civilization, all because we'd rather feud than anything else."</i><br />Again, 1870s feels more apropos. Feuds between Democrats and Republicans in that era drew public attention, but the real action was behind the scenes boardroom deals and trusts -<br /> which dictated prices and dominated society to the extent they could force mass migrations. The more Republicans and Democrats blocked each other from doing anything at all, the easier it was for robber barons to take over anything of value and keep it for themselves.<br /><br />And then those farmstead university towns started to work their magic, setting up a later generation to fuel a pair of Roosevelt agendas...<br /><br /><i>"At which point all I could do is move my family to the least threatening province..."</i><br />The future will be a fight between old money hierarchies through a Texas-dominated faction, and new money middle through a California-dominated faction. <br /><br />Texas makes its money through monopolistic insider trades (land extraction) and serflike exploitation (e.g., largest employers: the 'call center' systems set up by Infosys, Wipro, Accenture, and Tata).<br /><br />California makes its money through NOT 'forting up' - but embracing science and creativity around the world (e.g., our largest employers are Disneyland + the University of California system). <br /><br />You can guess which side I back in this contest.donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-40965986854513422062017-05-08T14:53:42.518-07:002017-05-08T14:53:42.518-07:00LarryHart: "Ironic as well, because for the n...LarryHart: <i>"Ironic as well, because for the nationalists who are leading the shake-up, "remixing genes" is the last thing they want to do."</i><br /><br />You must know a different sort of nationalist than I do. The folks I know have little problem 'remixing genes' - it's the terms of trade that they object to: they want control over the equation sans responsibility for the outcome. How many anti-immigrant reactionaries in America would hesitate to mix genes with Melania Trump given the opportunity, despite her immigrant status? How many French protest against Salma Hayek marrying a Frenchman? <br /><br />Science obliterated the mythology of 'racial purity.' It seems to me it has been replaced with <i>marginally</i> less reprehensible 'beauty exploitation through immigrant subjugation.' Genocide is far less probable for any group, BUT new forms of slavery a bit more probable, a burden that tends to fall most heavily upon women (as everything else involving human gene exchanges tends to do).donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-73427152631490974712017-05-08T14:47:03.892-07:002017-05-08T14:47:03.892-07:00It's actually pretty obvious why people are tu...It's actually pretty obvious why people are turning to the far right.<br /><br />Standard plutocratic/despotic/feudal... leadership 101 teaches that one of the most important things to do is to neutralize all moderate opposition as top priority so that the only alternative to you is the unthinkable. Al Assad has done this in Syria and this means that the two choices are either him or islamists. Meanwhile, in the US, the corporate top dogs essentially throw their money at buying those democrats that are willing to sell out (Repubs do it too but their voters don't really seem to mind that much) or throw money/propaganda at defeating any remotely economically progressive candidate. The effect is somewhat less strong but still exists in the other Western Countries. The reason a Sanders type shakeup is not in the cards is because they are pulling every effort in preventing it from ever happening because that would be a credible alternative and that's their greatest threat. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the far right is ignored because it serves as an example of what happens if you refuse to play their game. "You think we treat you bad ? What you're gonna do, side with these psychos ? We dare you ! Besides, they are so toxic no one would willingly... oh." <br /><br />Problem is, they got too greedy and 2008 and its fallout happened and people are very angry. A smart move would have been to dial back the bad behaviour long enough for things to blow over but they didn't even slow down. And now people all over the developed world are willing to side with anyone that promises an alternative, no matter how horrific.<br /><br />Fortunately at least, we can thank Trump for showing the world that no, the far right is not going to put a leash on the oligarchs reprehensible behaviour. That may have saved us from Le Pen for another five years. Midboss57noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-53171927222776217312017-05-08T14:46:05.550-07:002017-05-08T14:46:05.550-07:00So by this theory, the leftists and the fascists a...So by this theory, the leftists and the fascists are advancing for the same reason: the hollowing out of the middle class and the push of the oligarchy for greater control.<br /><br />Dr. Brin is right, this is starting to feel 1789ish. And I don't *want* to live through such. I liked my life so far, thank you.<br /> <br />But I am starting to despair at the idea of rational discourse having anything to do with this Republic. My contacts with conservatives and conservative libertarians are going down dangerous roads... despite the mounting evidence that Trump, at minimum, made a monumental error by hiring a compromised National Security Adviser, they continue to insist that the investigations are 100% politically motivated attempts to avoid doing a critical postmortem of the Hillary Clinton campaign, and this justifies them ignoring any and all criticism of their shiny new Administration. Two wrongs, it seems, make a right.<br /><br />I feel like the Guelphs and Ghibellines have come to roost, and we are now a grab-bag collection of provinces to be fought over by outside powers despite having the greatest wealth and technology of our civilization, all because we'd rather feud than anything else.<br /><br />At which point all I could do is move my family to the least threatening province, find as many people willing to preserve civilization with me as possible, and fort up. Catfish N. Codnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-81447375862814267392017-05-08T14:30:02.523-07:002017-05-08T14:30:02.523-07:00Deuxglass: "Their strategy now is to get as ...Deuxglass: <i>"Their strategy now is to get as much as you can and then escape to a prepared place when the carnage comes."</i><br /><br />I prefer to think of it as 'build your gated complex, let your friends in, burn down the town, buy it at a discount.' <br /><br />The gated community is the neo-feudalist equivalent of a castle - designed less for 'peasant uprising defense' and more for 'wealth preservation.' Sure, oligarchs can flee in the unlikely event of a true uprising - but why bother since they own the police? Easier to retreat onto a golf course, plot their next development project (e.g., block a freeway expansion for a few years so they can get thousands of plots at 15% discount when locals hurt, flip those plots sans discount after they stop blocking it...). All they need is simple, repeatable, high margin schemes like that to guarantee they and their progeny remain wealthy.donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-75059525956572708842017-05-08T14:26:09.095-07:002017-05-08T14:26:09.095-07:00If we wanted to be snarky about language I'd j...If we wanted to be snarky about language I'd jump on the "hurtles" we must cross. But I make them too, all the time. Mistakes, that is.<br /><br />The solar still reminds me of something I read recently - that as dry as Mars is, its soil still contains 5% moisture. Now, first, I don't believe this, but if they mean volume percent (about 2% by weight) it might be true, against all my gut reaction that it's not. Soil holds on to moisture extremely tightly, especially to smaller particle sizes such as clay. Even in a vacuum environment soil does not like to give it up. Increase the tendency by adding salts which further pin it in place,Jumperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794110173836133321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-61844588705733243472017-05-08T14:19:26.740-07:002017-05-08T14:19:26.740-07:00Dr. Brin, main post: "There. Down with the w...Dr. Brin, main post: <i>"There. Down with the war on science and all of its practitioners. They want all this to stop."</i><br /><br />That's a 2005 review? Time for an update...<br /><br />Folks hear the 'debate' about climate science. They do not grasp that billionaires are profiting immensely from perpetuating the debate - it pushes down the cost for insurance that will ultimately cover their own assets, while skipping regular folks. Likewise, the hypocrites behind 'alternatives to evolution' seek to publish their own textbooks at 800% markup, thereby breaking the education textbook oligopoly.<br /><br />Healthcare must be the most important angle of all...doctors want to treat patients - patients want treatment - yet a vast industry has arisen to prevent both from getting what they want, seeking to monopolize the amazing fruits of scientific discovery for their own benefit. donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-81132422462510076242017-05-08T13:52:56.591-07:002017-05-08T13:52:56.591-07:00Paul: Mine's even easier. Donzelion, same se...Paul: Mine's even easier. Donzelion, same service. ;-) Let's definitely get together before I'm fully in Anaheim.donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.com