Recorded live before a global audience on Thursday, December 3, 2020.
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The Stratosphere Lounge Episode 267
Recorded live before a global audience on Thursday, December 3, 2020.
Recorded live before a global audience on Thursday, December 3, 2020.
Recorded live before a global audience on Thursday, December 3, 2020.
11 replies on “The Stratosphere Lounge Episode 267”
Here’s where I think I was going with the “Martian reform school”.
As space habitat technology gets better, there’s going to be pressure to keep people in space for longer-term job assignments, to minimize the number of launches from Earth that have to be done to change out personnel.
At some point, those time periods could get long enough that the only way to get people to agree to take those jobs, is to accommodate their families. The obvious goal would be to make them as useful as possible to offset the cost of bringing them along, which I expect could work well enough most of the time. Nevertheless, there’s a risk of this arrangement not working out. It’s statistically inevitable that there will be some misbehavior.
The simplest and cheapest remedy would be to send these unfit people back to Earth. But, if they’re family of critical space personnel, then that potentially changes the calculus. All of a sudden, whatever option that gets high-skilled space workers to consider renewing their contracts, as opposed to retiring early, is at least potentially justifiable.
Since my profile tag references the CSR… I’ve rejigged the wording to “Fan of Common Sense. Vive la Wholesale Overthrow!”
I’ll point out an episode of another old classic to contrast it with modern entertainment: Lassie.
Here is a typical episode. Timmy gets in danger and Lassie rescues him. In this case he and his friends, inspired by nearby Army training maneuvers, play Army. They find a dangerous area marked off and the kids are afraid to go but want to at the same time. The “general” orders Timmy to scout it out, because he is the lowest ranking. Turns out it had land mines. Everything works out and the real Army General catches the kids trespassing. Then comes the lesson. You THINK it will be “don’t ignore warning signs”. That’s what a modern show’s lesson would be. Not 50’s America. The general admonishes the kids for not having enough training and then delivers the moral of the story: Leaders lead from the front, they don’t order enlisted men into danger and hide in the rear. He chews out the oldest boy for having sent Timmy where he was afraid to go himself.
That’s it. Officers must lead from the front, not give orders from the rear. And also, leaders must prepare their subordinates properly for their responsibilities. No mention of “always obey warning signs”. Imagine living in a country where instead being focused on teaching kids to obey and be, safe pop culture pushed them to step up to the responsibilities of leadership and made sure they knew how to do so.
https://youtu.be/C3E4yLqBXwQ?t=1001
Until Bill gets his Sci-Fi project done … If anyone is interested in a “no magic” style series try reading Larry Niven’s (with co-authors Steven Barnes and Jerry Pournelle) “Heorot” series. It’s some of my favorite Science Fiction literature and you won’t be disappointed.
I’d be interested to know if Bill has read it and what he thought of it.
Don’t underestimate your BW Now and Right Angle segments. Those two offerings are the reason my wife and I signed on. The dialog between the three of you is the best and the back and forth on BWN is unsurpassed. Please keep it going Bill. You, Scott, and Stephen have a winning formula.
I used to have naive belief in our sytem of government (state and federal) with a childlike faith.
Its gone!
Bill,
Regarding your pioneer farmer settling things himself… you might want to watch the first 5 minutes or so of this for ideas of how Walt handled it:
https://youtu.be/c1Umrej7Rvg?t=154
then watch the whole thing as an example of the American attitudes entertainment used to promote
Hey Bill, many years ago (40 +/-) I read a book by RAH (Robert Anton Heinlein) the main character was Lazarus Long the book content being his many experiences in his 2000 year life… one of those stories was about his experience as a homesteader… you might want to look into that because what you’re describing is eerily reminiscent…….
One of best books written, Heinlein’s philosophy on life should be understood by everyone! And if u want to understand fiat money, great explanation in that scifi book.
The one question I have is how much voting fraud occurred in solidly blue states where GOP candidates were running for different offices? I understand in NY there is one GOP candidate that won a representative seat by 12 votes and now has to sue for a recount. Congressional district 22.
I’ve noticed that on Facebook, they are flagging the video as “missing information” that could be misleading. In the feeble words of Joe Biden, “Come on, man!”