Returning to the Canyon again today
No posting again for much of today, as my trip to the Grand Canyon continues. We return to Tucson tonight, so things will return to normal tomorrow.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
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No posting again for much of today, as my trip to the Grand Canyon continues. We return to Tucson tonight, so things will return to normal tomorrow.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Enjoy Bob!!!
As there is no relevant thread to comment on this news article I just read, I’ll post it here…
Big respect to Lockheed Martin for actually reusing old hardware AND keeping costs down due to the reuse ( NASA, are you listening? )
I have no idea if this flying wing will ever impact on my life… But if this report is to be believed ( and why wouldn’t it…) , this is the perfect example of a company keeping track of it’s abilities, and inventory…. Colour me impressed! ( And yes, it’s spelt “Colour” in real English ;-)
https://www.fastcompany.com/91225286/nasa-x59-supersonic-plane-engine-test-old-parts
That’s OK, we’ll just stay here. Thanks. Enjoy the canyon. It’s nice here too, I guess.
Hmmmmm….. Absolutely zero interest in my link to an amazing success story, embodying everything good about the US manufacturing industry… Which is very pertinent right now.
Is it because it isn’t a YouTube video, and actually requires concentration and reading words?
I can only conclude that lack of interest is either I buried this on the wrong thread, ( twas during a small hiatus from our host ), it is because I posted the story, Hence it must be left wing propaganda, or the above…. It seems the only links to actual sources and presentations/PDF’s are posted by our host, and occasionally by myself.
I would 1, ask Bob to have a deeper dive into this Lockheed Martin story…. It strikes me as worth it,
And 2, remind all the regular posters here that a YouTube video or link to a crazy tinfoil hat website would get you less than zero points in your dissertation, go for the peer reviewed papers .. I know many of the posters here love a good conspiracy theory… But follow the science! If it’s true then someone will have peer reviewed it, and replicated it.
Lee S: The reason there was so little interest in that X-59 story is very simple. This is pork and of little future use. The contract is the absurd amount of $247.5 million. Despite this, the plane was built using an enormous amount of old spare parts. There are several private commercial startups building similar type supersone planes, for profit, for far less. Do a search for “Boom Aerospace” on BtB for an example.
This is also a typical NASA research project. No matter what is built, it is not linked to any profit-oriented goal. It will get built, work or not, and the data will then be filed away, forgotten.
In the new space world today, such NASA projects don’t interest most space fans. They are almost always dead ends, and a waste of the taxpayer’s money.
Lee S: I must add that this disinterest is no cause for you to spout insults about my readers and other comenters here. It accomplishes nothing but make YOU look petty.
Sorry Bob,
I was only trying to point out that responses to many of my comments consist of YouTube vids, or posts on what I can only describe as “dubious” websites. I have been described as many things here over the years.. and rarely have complained.
It’s obvious that I have not overtly, but covertly been judged intellectually lacking, neive, stupid even.
However I prefer to discuss peer reviewed science, and well presented news articles in respected journals than woo created by folk wearing tin foil hats.
But getting back to the story, my point is that Lockheed Martin are reusing inventory in a sensible way…. Compare that to NASA reusing shuttle engines… One kicks the other into a bucket. I was just expressing my admiration for a private company having the wits to achieve this… A much better spend of your tax dollars. Isn’t it nice for a government project to come in under budget? ( But then again… As a pinko communist lefty liberal… What do I know?)
Sorry if you consider this a non story… I read it and was impressed…. I was obviously wrong
““dubious” websites”
At least he can get a good laugh out of me :)
Lee S: Any read / opinion on the D.J. Trump reelection?
Cotour-
Har!
Personally, I admire your tenacity. A lot of people talk about websites et al, but you actually have one.
“YouTube vids,” that’s probably 2-3 of us. And, I’m a big offender. I confess.
I consider it my value-added contribution to the cause here, and I think my selection quality is pretty good, if I don’t say so myself.
Thats right, Wayne, and no apologies.
This medium of communication has many valuable layers to it that make easier to transmit ideas and differing opinions to those who are differently oriented and of a differing perspective.
Speaking ofwhich:
A PRESIDENT WITH A VISION, A PLAN AND THE CAPACITY: (AND FLYING CARS!)
https://www.sigma3ioc.com/post/a-president-with-a-vision-a-plan-and-the-capacity-and-flying-cars
SELF DELUSION IS THE BEST DELUSION
https://www.sigma3ioc.com/post/self-delusion-is-the-best-delusion
ARE YOU POLITICALLY UNSOPHISTICATED?
https://www.sigma3ioc.com/post/are-you-politically-unsophisticated
All three apply here.
Cotour: I do not mind at all that you plug your posts here at BtB, but please limit you plugs to one per comment.
I thought it was 3.
will do.
Cotour: Doing one per comment is for your benefit. Makes more likely people will check the link out.
Lee S,
You wrote: “Absolutely zero interest in my link to an amazing success story, embodying everything good about the US manufacturing industry”
“ … my point is that Lockheed Martin are reusing inventory in a sensible way…. ”
You are amazed that we had no comment on a U.S. manufacturing company doing what you practically describe as standard operating procedure? I read your linked article, thought it was mildly interesting, but I had nothing to say about it. It is not an amazing success story. I have worked for OldSpace companies, and reusing hardware — flight as well as ground support — is routine. Maybe not where you live, but it is here. Making a silent supersonic transport would be good, but they have not done it yet. That would be news.
This is why you look like a troll. You make a comment, then when it doesn’t get responses, you start complaining in a hurt, insulting way that you expect will get comments. Just because we aren’t interested in the exact same things you are or don’t think exactly like you does not make us illiterate, conspiracy theorists, or stupid. It does not mean that you linked to a “wrong” site or that we hate you for being marxist. It just means that your comment or link was not worth the time or electrons to respond.
Robert may have a higher rate of responses to his postings, perhaps because the people who come here tend to be interested in what interests him. Lee, we do not come here because we prefer your comments and links; we come because we prefer Robert’s.
Accept that not everything you write is going to get a response. Golden and fascinating as they are, not every comment that I write here gets a response, and it is not because I have blown away everyone with my vastly superior intellect. Or maybe it is, but the point is that not every comment gets a response. Accept it, live with it, and move on. Stop trolling.
@Edward…. I just thought it was nice, after the absolute torrent of tales of US government misspending to share something that perhaps would please the readership here. I was obviously wrong. Oh, and just saying, I am not Marxist.
@Cotour, anyone with a working set of fingers and a few bucks can purchase a web site… Just because your personal conspiracy theories are on the interwebs don’t make them any closer to the truth. Your nonsense is just that. I disagree with our host here on many subjects, but I would never accuse him of spreading lies, or nonsense. Unfortunately I cannot say the same about yourself
I have been pretty accurate Lee S.
And I provide you with 412 posts if you would like to review.
I share what I think, and I tell you why I think it.
You can disagree with me if you like.
It’s your world.
Winter is upon us, are your kinetic heaters spinning away? Nice and cozy over there in Sweden?
https://www.sigma3ioc.com/post/a-product-all-kamala-supporters-must-have
Lee S: If you are going to accuse Cotour’s work of being factually wrong, it is rude and slanderous to simply say he “spreads lies” or “nonsense,” without backing up the accusation with some proof. Such statements are serious forms of defamation, and actually make you liable under most slander laws worldwide.
Either you apologize, or back up your statements. If you don’t, you reveal yourself to be just another leftist troll who uses slander as your only debate tactic. Most shameful.
Cotour–
what IS the scam with those molecular-heater toys?
Its a new technology from the Rayhong™ Portable Kinetic Heater company, from China, Wayne. Leading edge. It will as advertised, melt the snow off of your auto and can keep a room in your house warm. Lee S has got to have a couple of them.
You should look into getting a couple and test them our over this winter, let me know the results. You can post your results right here on BTB.
I heard this is something that all the Democrats in America have in their home this winter to save them money during the unnecessary inflationary period we are currently experiencing.
What about the grand canyon pics?
John: I purposely left my camera home this trip, letting my brother and sister-in-law take the pictures. If you want to see my perspective on hiking into the canyon, see these essays from my previous trips:
Doing the Grand Canyon Right
Another Grand Canyon tour
Lee S,
You wrote: “I just thought it was nice, after the absolute torrent of tales of US government misspending to share something that perhaps would please the readership here. I was obviously wrong.”
It was nice. Where you were wrong was requiring anyone to comment on it.
“Oh, and just saying, I am not Marxist.”
You just unknowingly and unconsciously play one in real life. It is your conclusion and your perspective. Doesn’t however mean you are not a nice or good guy.
Many highly compassionate and hyper “moral” self-righteous, idealistic people see themselves in similar terms.
That was the entire thesis and proposal that the American Democrat, radical un and anti-American political party just attempted to sell to the American people in the 2024 presidential election.
And not everyone sees things in those terms, the Democrat party was roundly in numbers and in electoral votes REJECTED!
Who is it that is correct, the radical Leftist media talking heads? Or the mass of the American people?
Trump is not even installed as president yet and he is changing the entire structure of the worlds political power alignment and focus. Economically, militarily, socially. The day after he was elected governments fell, the stock market went up 1500 points, enemies suggest they are eager to have a good relationship with the new administration, they have had enough, Hamas will be no more, and politically motivated and based political persecution lawfare cases evaporate. etc. etc.
Its a long list, and again he has not even been installed.
Weakness V strong leadership.
Even the perception of valid and previously demonstrated strong leadership changes things in the real world for the positive.
Stand by.
https://www.sigma3ioc.com/post/politics-two-things-2024-have-you-learned-anything
An excellent example of an American self-deluder: George Conway: https://youtu.be/TOdTjYjaWEk?si=G3euWlDUqN4TB6Eb
Where does this self-delusion come from?
When you grow up in the bosom of the fantasy that is America and the Western world crafted and structured by the American Constitution you live many layers from real reality, and you have the luxury of self-indulging in your self-delusional thought process based in the fantasy.
Most people without that cocoon of freedom of thought, expression and Rights provided by the Constitution and “other people” more brilliant than most in America and in the Western world they would be relegated to surviving based on their own personal physical and intellectual abilities and not the layers of luxury of personal freedom and Rights provided by the overarching and pretty much all including fantasy that they live within.
And that really is the point of the fantasy, isn’t it? Providing the format for human beings to move as they please into the future and live the way they choose.
But to convince yourself that the fantasy does not exist at all, and you and your perspective are superior no matter what the clear evidence and what a majority of others in a Democracy tell you is the ultimate proof that those who crafted the fantasy through their brilliance was and is a success. You believe your perspective is superior and all others must adhere to it.
The logic and the truth of the situation is like looking in the mirror and arguing with yourself about how wrong the other guy in the mirror is. It is a paradoxical luxury provided by the fantasy.
You are not happy with the fantasy, and you want to destroy it in order to install what? Your insisted upon reality which is constructed by you within a fantasy provided by others? And now we are back to the beginning of it all and others attempting to tell free people how they must live.
This is our system; this is our process.
Don’t screw it all up by allowing yourself to over think things too much.
Lee S is a catalyst on BTB.
Catalyst: a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change: