ASFO 2026–01–31

More evidence for my position that NASA should just pause operations during the last week of January and first week of February : a serious mishap to one of their three WB–57 Canberra high–altitude research aircraft. Also, my updated (and hopefully final!) travel plans, and a tiny bit of progress toward the token issue for the 75th anniversary of electric power generation by EBR–I.

Supplementary Show

2026–02–03 Audio from two recently–transferred educational films, The Transuranium Elements with Glenn Seaborg and collaborators, and Understanding Electricity.

ASFO 2026–01–24

Weather has disrupted my travel plans, and I spend most of the show talking about how that came about. Unfortunately the result of having to re–plan at short notice is a great deal of distraction and losing my train of thought, so I don’t manage to say much else of value.

ASFO 2026–01–17

NOBODY is going to Mars this year, for better or worse. I tell you how I know that. The launch vehicle for the NASA Artemis II mission is on its way to the launchpad, in preparation for a manned circumlunar flight which may launch sometime in the next three months, and a possible landing sometime in the coming years. Colour me unimpressed. Chancellor Merz of Germany admits that the nuclear exit was a mistake — again, colour me unimpressed. And I let you know of my upcoming travels, and my continuing anxiety over the US domestic and international political situations.

ASFO 2026–01–10

CRIMES against Peace — Lord Voldemort? — Nietzsche’s Superman as fast–food mascot — a brief discussion of the complicated situation in Venezuela — Putin working hard to get the spotlight back — escalating stupidity in Cowley County, Kansas — “carbon pollution”, literally — colossal stupidity in Japan — further progress, of a sort, with blast.

ASFO 2026–01–03

Senator Floyd Haskell provides an example of how not to do representative government ; controversy erupts in Cowley County, Kansas, and I suggest a rule which would substantially change the way “renewable energy development” is approached ; and some good news from Japan and South Korea, bad news from Belgium, and downright stupid news from the European Commission.