Category: anonradio

ASFO 2024–03–16

The difference between disextensification (better name urgently needed) and degrowth is the difference between “doing more with less” and “doing less with less”. The former views the un–sustainability of economic expansion as primarily a practical, the latter as primarily a moral problem, and that in turn reflects the question of what value we place on human life and welfare. Also, is “building the world’s largest aeroplane for a single narrowly–defined purpose” an invariable sign of an idea that has been taken too far, and fallen into absurdity?

Objects In Mirrors Episode 5: “Per aspera ad astra”

    Archive Download

    • Captain Beefheart – I’m Glad
    • My Morning Jacket – They Ran
    • Bruce Springsteen – My Father’s House
    • Waxahatchee – St. Cloud
    • Grizzly Bear – Foreground
    • Leonard Cohen – Chelsea Hotel #2
    • Neil Young – Harvest Moon
    • Spacemen 3 – Sometimes
    • Lou Reed – Perfect Day
    • Mark Lanegan – Creeping Coastline of Lights
    • Syd Barrett – Terrapin
    • Galaxie 500 – Sorry
    • Deer Tick – Goodbye, Dear Friend
    • Broadcast – Illumination

    ASFO 2024–03–09

    De–extensification provides a better approach to environmental problems than de–growth, because it is more compatible with human aspirations and well–being, although it still seems as though a good en– would be preferable to any sort of de–. (More thoughts on this topic here.) It also helps to explain why nuclear energy is preferable to renewable energy. Also, Keller Independent School District is at it again, where by “it” I mean “providing a microcosm of American politics”. And I did get some scan files from Sandia. (Minor technical trouble at the beginning.)

    ASFO 2024–03–02

    The anodyne syrup of the “solar–hydrogen economy” keeps mankind suckling at the fossil–fuel teat when we should long since have moved on to adult foods. Also, computer programmers once again prove unable to deal with intercalation, even when it comes on a regular schedule, and has for centuries past ; congratulations to Georgia Power on first synchronization of Vogtle 4 ; and, who are your heroes?

    Cutaway model of a General Electric BWR-6 nuclear power reactor, mounted on a wooden plinth, with a plaque reading "Clinton Power Station Initial Criticality February 27, 1987".
    Coming soon to a display near you

    №4472 Flying Scotsman

    Steam railway locomotive noises from an LP? Yes! But not just any steam locomotive, one of the most famous in the world, the last surviving non–streamlined “Pacific” (4–6–2 wheel arrangement) of the Gresley A3 class. Undoubtedly it was the great love for the Flying Scotsman that made possible the brand new “Pacific”, 60163 Tornado of the A1 class, which was funded by rail fans and completed in 2008.

    Archive recording (By error, the 2024–03–01 broadcast included only side A of the record, played twice, so I ran a corrected version at the next opportunity.)

    Steam shunting locomotive moving three "Excellox 3" nuclear fuel flasks. Ad from ATOM 265 (1978 November)
    “From steam power to nuclear power” indeed!
    Greenpeace poster advertising a U2 concert in Manchester, part of the "React" campaign against the Sellafield THORP reprocessing plant project.
    Of the text on this poster, the location, time, and ticket purchase information is probably truthful. The rest? Nobody cares!

    ASFO 2024–02–24

    Congratulations to Intuitive Machines for the soft landing of their Nova–C vehicle “Odysseus”. Also, economics, real and virtual – the subordination of the former, which supplies the goods and services people actually consume, to the latter, seems to be a major cause of trouble in our modern world, and inspires the question, what exactly is a market? Also, BANANAs on the march ; “Stranger Danger” a dogma in America ; and Mail Call!