Author: publius

Fools! I will destroy you all!!

ASFO 2026–08–15

The European water crisis continues to expand. While Central Europe is noteworthy for its heavily–populated inland regions, which can see no direct benefit from seawater desalting or seawater–cooled power stations, some of the areas of the continent most heavily affected can and should look to the sea. Also, an interesting look at the “tourist” streetcar line in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a note about the Peruvian mango harvest, and Mail Call!

ASFO 2026–08–08

Falling water levels in the Rhine and Danube systems : do they mean disaster for nuclear power in Europe? No (regardless of what Deutsche Welle might imply), but it’s not good news for thermal power plants of any kind, much less hydropower, and as a result, for European power grids generally. Also, more about my exploratory forays into medallic art.

ASFO 2026–08–01

JAMAICA is the third–busiest railway station in New York City, and the fourth–busiest in North America (after Toronto Union Station, but ahead of Chicago Union Station) as these things are measured. And yet, if you don’t live in NYC, you probably have never heard of it. After all, it’s in Brooklyn, and virtually all its traffic is to points on Long Island. If the United States were to emphasize long–distance passenger rail services over air services and driving, a re–routing of Northeast Corridor trains might make Jamaica a station of more than local importance.

ASFO 2026–07–11

FAREWELL to Munich? Trying to understand car ownership in Germany, and the continuing failure of the Bundes Ministerium to deal with successive oil crises, through the lens of on–street parking ; the incompatibility of austerity drives with AI hype, and the perennial question of why or how things which are bad for people in general should be good for business ; a misleading announcement about a “nuclear–powered commercial satellite”, which leads me into an explanation of a technology known as betavoltaics ; and a discussion of my medallic art projects.

ASFO 2026–07–04

MetropolCon, in Berlin, the European Science Fiction Convention for this year. No display or program from me, but I did manage to spend some time with friends, and rope SDFer and aNONradio DJ “tyn from Berlin” into coming. I think he had a good time, too. I explain about the Double Secret Platform 22 at Berlin central railway station, and describe a Ridiculous Eurail Pass Trick ; and question why or how it is possible to sell shares in “being tortured for eternity by Robot Satan”. The sestercentennial (why in the world some people are calling it a semi–quincentennial escapes me) of the United States Declaration of Independence merits a recommendation of the musical 1776.

ASFO 2026–06–13

Back in Texas, after failing to do a show last week with no excuse whatsoever, what do I have to say? There is the potential effect of the New Glenn explosion on the just–announced NASA lunar program ; the inexplicable or at least inexcusable proposal for looser driver–licensing in Germany ; and a little “I told you so” crowing over the undistinguished results of the Enhanced Games.