phred14

phred14 t1_ixhs5rq wrote

Out of curiosity, why not?

I know it's more into programs for kids and longer term things like that, and I know some of the facilities are a bit crude, but is there something beyond that?

1

phred14 t1_ixfo8am wrote

Difference is that cyclic warming doesn't generally happen really fast. There are forcing function things that do, like supervolcanoes or asteroid strikes, or humanity. Time scale is important.

Our civilization, poorly adapted as it is, is adapted to our current climate and is not ready to adapt to rapid change.

14

phred14 t1_it5bunp wrote

So if I'm not mistaken, according to what you've just said, the toy soldiers are lined up so precisely that one bullet taking them all out isn't unreasonable. I know, it's not really that bad, if only because the bullet would be deflected by the first collision and you said 10cm. But the cloud of retrograde ball-bearings sounds like it might really be devastating.

2

phred14 t1_it5bdnh wrote

I used to think of him as Heinlein's "D.D. Harriman" (The Man Who Sold the Moon) in real life. But the more he shoots his mouth off and pulls silly stunts, the more I think of his Mars ideas as the Ultimate Doomsday Prepper, with plans for an out of this world bunker - on Mars.

To be fair, he did more than anyone else to push acceptance of electric cars, to take them from boring to desirable. He also moved the launch business to re-usable and closer to commonplace.

But when he opens his mouth, it can make it hard to remember the good things.

6

phred14 t1_isy5b26 wrote

I remember reading that at some point nuclear submarine crews were on an 18 hour day, and only the radio officer and captain were on 24 hour days. I had the opportunity to ask a crewman a year or so back and was told that was no longer the practice. But it sounds like it was.

I also once read that the people controlling Mars rovers lived on a 27 hour day. That may have stopped with the newer more autonomous rovers.

12

phred14 t1_irw7pax wrote

I forgot one exception. We have a white oak, and I've been told that they're wonderful trees to have. So I worked hard at keeping it clear of caterpillars, with some success. It partially refoliated where there was more damage, but kept on with the lightly damaged leaves. An interesting question in how much damage calls for refoliation.

3