Author: publius

Fools! I will destroy you all!!

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.

ASFO 2026–05–23

Blackpool again? My recent visit to a Nuklearia meetup, a degree of comeuppance for Gerhard Schröder, various recent industrial accidents, performance–enhancing drugs in sport, and an answer to a question from SDFer jlamothe about the possibilities of nuclear power for the Yukon Territory.

ASFO 2026–05–16

Recent events in Romania once again lead us to question the notion of “economic efficiency”. Does it really make sense to re–define what we consider good to match the outcome of a theory? Also, further travel plans, and a stab at re–formatting the Man and Atom Briefing Book.

ASFO 2026–05–09

Anything but nuclear strikes again, with a proposal to link Canada and Europe by an undersea electric transmission line. The problem is not that this is a bad idea, per se : it is merely a costly and roundabout way of approaching a problem that we already have a more satisfactory solution for. Also, more doubt cast on the Canadian Atlantic spaceport ; and a consideration of common misconceptions and their implications.

ASFO 2026–05–02

Blackpool, and why I am not likely to visit Pleasure Beach. This episode recorded ex post facto, because I lost track of time while riding the tram system — the only one in Britain to have been spared. From its northern terminus you can see the Heysham nuclear power stations. Also a “Museum of Water and Steam”, and Humphrey Davy and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, still two names to conjure with.

ASFO 2026–04–25

Britain! The British Museum, and why I can’t get in even though it’s just outside my window… Also a report on my visit to Thurso, at the northern extremity of Britain ; and (continuing from last week’s Pannonian Ethanol) a brief thought about the perhaps–reasonable justifications for the use of biofuels, as opposed to the environmental ones, which are delusory.

ASFO 2026–04–18

Anything would be a let–down after last week. This show ended up being mostly about my upcoming travel plans in Britain, and some of the interesting industrial museums there, with a mention of something described as a “Luxury Dreadnought”. Also a discussion of the economics of the Eurail Pass, water damage on printed materials, the continuing policy failures of the Bundes Ministerium, and congratulations to the Japanese for getting one of the reactors at the Kashiwazaki–Kariwa power plant back in operation. If all of them were working, it would be the largest nuclear power site in the world, but that never has happened.

ASFO 2026–04–11

ARTEMIS II grabbed the imagination of the world, but left us with two thoughts. First, that we somehow have all this to do over again ; and second, it sets before us once more the stark choice of what to do with our scientific–technological mastery over the inanimate world.