THE NEW SPACE RACE: The Chinese military’s skyrocketing influence in space. “China’s multiplying presence in ‘the final frontier’ is part of a reawakening to the importance of space around the world. The fundamentals aren’t new. In 1970, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) noted the importance of space exploration, and China is one of a growing number of countries recognising the tremendous economic, strategic, military and political potential of activity in space. The annual number of payloads launched into orbit has increased tenfold in the past decade, and the global space economy is estimated to sit at US$469 billion, with yearly revenues from space 6.4% higher in 2022 than in 2021.”
Author Archive: Glenn Reynolds
November 12, 2023
THIS IS HOW THE MOVIE STARTS: Physicists Simulated a Black Hole in The Lab. Then It Started to Glow.
THAT’S HIS DEVIOUS PLAN FOR CONQUEST!
Invite Xi to stay year-round. https://t.co/ZBxbc48rXN
— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) November 12, 2023
DELICIOUS, HEALTHY MEAT: I lost 80 lbs with the carnivore diet and it transformed my health.
Follow the science: Testosterone to help normal straight men who are deficient in the natural substance lead better lives is heavily regulated and treated with suspicion. Testosterone to help “trans men” lead the lives they choose should be dispensed like candy.
For that matter, why shouldn’t bodybuilders with “body dysmorphia” be prescribed true anabolics? They’re just trying to bring their actual body in line with their preferred look, same as the trans folk.
UPDATE: From the comments: “Masculinity is toxic except when women want to look like men.”
Plus:
Alex Blumberg:[LAUGHTER] I’ll say. Wow. Testosterone didn’t just turn you into a man. It turned you into Rush Limbaugh.
Griffin Hansbury: I know. That I was not expecting. That I was not expecting. . . .
Alex Blumberg: Or something. Are there other ways– other than the visual and other than the libidinal, are there other ways that you feel like testosterone has altered the way you feel or perceive?
Griffin Hansbury: Something that happened after I started taking testosterone, I became interested in science. I was never interested in science before.
Alex Blumberg: No way. Come on. Are you serious?
Griffin Hansbury: I’m serious. I’m serious.
Alex Blumberg: You’re just setting us back a hundred years, sir.
And:
Meanwhile, also from This American Life, the most NPR line ever: “I have rage. Unfortunately, it’s impotent rage.” Also, the highest testosterone level among the NPR males is 274, which I believe is treatably low. . . . .
Plus: “If I can’t be the most manly in public radio, where the hell can I be the most manly?”
Good question.
21ST CENTURY RELATIONSHIPS: The best at-home STD tests of 2023.
SUNLIGHT IS THE BEST DISINFECTANT: ‘Travesty in darkness’: Trump backs drive to televise his D.C. election subversion trial.
YOU DON’T WANT CHIKUNGUNYA: FDA approves vaccine to prevent infection with the chikungunya virus.
HIGHER EDUCATION BUBBLE UDPATE, DEI EDITION: Oklahoma public universities under scrutiny after spending $83.4 million on DEI.
Line-item details showed that DEI events at Oklahoma colleges “have included funding for drag-queen performances, a program on fostering ‘Trans and Non‐Binary Resilience,’ so-called ‘antiracist’ training, and a presentation on ‘Black Jesus,’” the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs reported.
The University of Oklahoma needs to look more like the state that funds it.
HIGHER EDUCATION BUBBLE UPDATE: MIT student activist blames school for lackluster response to anti-Semitism.
I’M STARTING TO LIKE HIM: BEASTMODE: Fetterman Waves Israeli Flag at Hamas Supporters Getting Arrested Outside Capitol.
AN UPTICK IN FREIGHT VOLUMES — FOR NOW.
But as much as I would wish otherwise, the caveats must be restated. First, October’s growth was heavily driven by exports from China. As we have previously noted, China halted or curbed exports at the beginning of October during the national celebration of Golden Week. Taking into account the lead times, transit times and potential delays at either the port of discharge or lading, this disruption will not hit U.S. shores until next week. So by all means, smoke ’em while you’ve got ’em, but the winter is about to hit truckload markets sooner rather than later.
Second, ocean carriers are bracing for unfavorable trade winds that are forecast to persist well into 2024 if not beyond. After a brutal third-quarter earnings miss, Hapag-Lloyd — the world’s fifth-largest ocean carrier — tightened its guidance for the remainder of the year. . . . This outlook is equally applicable to truckload markets, insofar as they are both fed by maritime imports and are also suffering from overcapacity driving down rates.
Hmm.
NOT SO SMART:
— WhiskeySilverball (@WhiskeySlvrBall) November 12, 2023
November 11, 2023
BIDENOMICS: Where’s the Beef? Not the metaphorical beef, I mean the actual, eating beef. “I know I’ve had a heart attack at the price of a chuck roast several times over the course of the past year, and I’m blessed to be able to buy it if I needed it. I can’t imagine trying to feed four kids with three of them boys at the prices everywhere now.”
OPEN THREAD: Party like it’s Saturday Night.
JUSTICE:
UNSOPHISTICATED LO-INFO ONLINE WINGNUTS: That's what he gets for disloyalty to Biden's immigration policies.
SOPHISTICATED WELL-INFORMED VOTERS: Don't be paranoid. That's not how DOJ works.
ACTUAL INSIDER POLS: That's what he gets for disloyalty to Biden's immigration policies. https://t.co/CIj2wWHoR4— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) November 11, 2023
THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING: Season 4 of ‘For All Mankind’ debuts with alternate asteroid history.
HMM: Something in Your Brain Can Tell When a Face Isn’t Real. That this evolved suggests that at one time humanity had to deal with things that looked like people, but weren’t, which is disturbing.
FLASHBACK: Why We Still Don’t Have Flying Cars.
AYAAN HIRSI ALI: Why I am now a Christian.