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Whither Falcon?

A comment on a post on Instapundit this morning (more about Tesla cancelling the Cybertruck because of a talent shortage than about cancelling Falcon, but this guy mentioned Falcon as an analogy):

This is why SpaceX is winding down the Falcon 9, there are only so much talent available.

I think the issue in this case is more complex.

  1. Musk wants to concentrate on Starship/Super Heavy. He wants to get off the planet. He’s already made that clear.
  2. Musk sees a dozen (I may be exaggerating) other rocket companies futzing around and getting basically nowhere (RocketLab may be an exception) and wants them to get off the pot and build inexpensive, reusable orbital capability to replace Falcon. Deciding to cancel Falcon may be how he’s decided to put a burr in their backsides.
  3. Musk is not going to spin off Falcon like he might be tempted to spin off Tesla. There’s too much at stake, and the first time a spun-off Falcon malfunctions and drops on something it shouldn’t, he’ll be blamed. Better to cancel Falcon and concentrate on Starship and Super Heavy.
  4. Yes, there is a talent shortage. That can be blamed directly on the woke US educational system. I’ve always wondered why Musk doesn’t invest in private schools and a university, TBH. He’s willing to do other controversial things.

This is all my opinion from 30,000 feet, of course. But everything Musk does is about getting to Mars. Even the Moon is just a distraction.

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All I have to say

is that if you voted for the Democrats yesterday — or didn’t vote at all — you’re the ones who are going to be blamed down the road for what happens in the next two years.

Enjoy your Trump vetos, assholes.

And we all know Baby Bayh only won over Max Engling because of his *spit* name.  Baby Bayh isn’t interested in the Secretary of State office as anything but a springboard to the governor’s chair.  And the last thing we need is another fucking Bayh in government.  No Kings?  How about No Political Dynasties?

Finally, I hope Hamilton County and points north enjoy becoming the Indianapolis East Side when their mayors and other officials shift to Democrat in two years.  You’re already on your way to that particular hell.

These are, as Robert Heinlein put it, The Crazy Years.

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Found On Road Alive is available!

(Yeah, I snuck this one in. Quick two-week piece to give my brain a break from BBESP.)

It’s Always About A Dame

Five years after he defeated a tong queen, and found a bride, and went back to chasing down cheating husbands and wives, New York City blue blood and private detective Clark Griswold is back on a case.

This time, the Russian Mafia is involved. And a general in the Russian Army, stationed in faraway Xinjiang Province in what used to be part of China. And a South Chinese army wanting to take that part back. With Americans sitting in between them, trying to broker peace.

And a dame. Because it’s always about a dame. And this time, Griswold and his wife Becca have no idea what they’re getting into when the particular dame in question is

Found On Road Alive

A quick little 21K word read for you.  Read on Kindle+ (formerly Kindle Unlimited) or buy the e-book for $4.99.  There’s also a paperback physical edition available for $9.99, once Amazon gets done fiddling with it…

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I’m The BBESP Volume FIVE is AVAILABLE!

I’m the Beautiful But Evil Space Princess Who Rules A Galactic Empire But Really Wants To Leave People Ruthlessly Alone!: Volume 5
by Nathan C. Brindle

Book 5 of 5: I’m The Beautiful But Evil Space Princess Who Rules A Galactic Empire But Really Wants To Leave People Ruthlessly Alone!

Imperial Princess Regnant Alice has lately discovered herself to be with child.

This doesn’t stop her usual grind of duties, of which she has also discovered quite the backlog since returning from her honeymoon with Prince Daniel. With the help of both Daniel and her private secretary Lady Candace, and of course that of her loyal maids, the Princess Regnant powers through audiences and public appearances and even the unending round of lavish soirées thrown by the rich and noble of Capital.

As always, though, her life is bound to have problems tossed into it…much like grenades. An ancient frigate appears in Capital space, from a sector a hundred thousand light years away, normally a 12-year one way trip. Of course they bring news of a problem. But their means of arrival may also spark the biggest war seen in the Galaxy since the Wars of the Dispersal…

The fifth volume of the BBESP light novel!

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Indy news outlets not exactly “Flooding” the zone.

I have been trying to find coverage of the local flooding and keep running up against news outlets that insist either I must be subscribed to their service (IndyStar, looking at YOU) or must turn off my ad blocker to view their reportage (WTHR, looking at YOU).

But there are others.  Those are just the first ones I looked at.

First of all, their reportage mostly sucks.

Second, there ought to be a law stating that information like what’s going on during a natural disaster should be free and open and not subject to paywalls or ad blocker restrictions.  Either show me the news or you’re nothing more than an entertainment site (which, to be honest, is what I think of you anyway).

Get serious.  People’s lives and properties are in danger.

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End the Faucists.

Fauci and all of his accomplices must die. Or at least pay a major penalty with the rest of their lives in prison.

And nuke Wuhan until it’s as flat as a pancake and play football on it with Chairman Xi’s head.

Fuck ’em all.