Nostr notes by simonbp

Thank you!

2026-07-03T22:36:27+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…nxkv
_________________________

Thank you!

Hey German Masto Hive Mind! I get in to BER at lunchtime on ...

2026-07-03T22:22:29+02:00

Hey German Masto Hive Mind!

I get in to BER at lunchtime on Sunday (jetlagged and woozy) and have not much to do. Where should I go for currywurst?

(Hotel is near Alexanderplatz, but I don't mind mindless riding the U Bahn to wherever)

I mean, aren't their (fictional) data centers roughly the ...

2026-06-05T20:46:19+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…wgcv
_________________________

I mean, aren't their (fictional) data centers roughly the mass of Skylab?

Yes. It gets forgotten these days, but the original promise of ...

2026-05-15T22:43:43+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…psfj
_________________________

Yes.

It gets forgotten these days, but the original promise of Shuttle (pre Challenger explosion) was exactly that. It only ever was used for Hubble and a couple of comm sats, but the potential was there. Several Landsats had never-used refueling ports, as did (IIRC) Spitzer, a legacy from when it was supposed to be in LEO (the S in SIRTF originally stood for Shuttle).

Crayon consumption engenders reckless behavior

2026-05-15T03:43:40+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…2mxf
_________________________

Crayon consumption engenders reckless behavior

And I should say we first tested it with dwarf planet named after ...

2026-05-15T01:13:21+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…ptcc
_________________________

And I should say we first tested it with dwarf planet named after Manwë, the Zeus analog in Tolkien's pantheon. Once we saw that ë propagate, we got ambitious.

My PhD advisor's wife studies African click languages. So he ...

2026-05-15T01:07:39+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…lgr4
_________________________

My PhD advisor's wife studies African click languages. So he officially named a few Kuiper Belt objects with names that include click sounds to see what parts of the Minor Planet Center's system were Unicode noncompliant.

Time to update the sign: It has been 0 days since I last had to ...

2026-05-04T21:49:02+02:00

Time to update the sign:

It has been 0 days since I last had to use some weird astrophysical quantity measured in centimeters.

#astrodon

If you're an #avgeek, I'm sure you've heard that the ...

2026-05-02T02:52:07+02:00

If you're an #avgeek, I'm sure you've heard that the reason the F-117 Stealth Fighter was so angular was that computers couldn't calculate the radar signature of complex shapes. This the guy who wrote that code and ran those simulations in the 1970s, creating the modern stealth aircraft from seemingly unrelated maths developed by Maxwell in the late 1800s.

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/denys-overholser-stealth-pioneer-whose-work-led-to-the-f-117-dies-at-86/

They do not have any orders. They have some extremely ...

2026-04-22T03:08:36+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…xqul
_________________________

They do *not* have any orders. They have some extremely noncommittal expressions of interest. Airlines don't put in real orders until there is something to order.

The XB-1 used three GE J85s, a 1950s jet that you can pick up for cheap on the used market.

For reference, the Rolls Royce Olympus that powered Concorde ...

2026-04-22T02:48:31+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…mlj5
_________________________

For reference, the Rolls Royce Olympus that powered Concorde started development in 1946, first ran in 1950, first flew in 1952, and first used on Concorde in 1969.

There are no comparable military engines that Boom can just buy, so they are going to need to create a massive testing program to build up the run hours required for certification. Developing commercial aircraft engines is absurdly expensive, for a reason.

Lol. My dad's master's thesis back in 1974 was about how ...

2026-04-13T21:32:15+02:00

Lol. My dad's master's thesis back in 1974 was about how methanol, despite being a promising fuel, was a nightmare to transport and distribute consistently because it's so ridiculously hygroscopic.

https://carnewschina.com/2026/04/12/geely-doubles-down-on-methanol-says-lithium-evs-too-heavy-for-future-transport/

I assume anything to do MoW on LIM track is super custom.

2026-04-13T20:52:53+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…umux
_________________________

I assume anything to do MoW on LIM track is super custom.

I am really glad we fought back when the IAU tried to make the ...

2026-04-13T20:13:20+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…6xyf
_________________________

I am really glad we fought back when the IAU tried to make the convention for Pluto to names related to death and dying. Their provisional list was a cultural insensitivity nightmare.

Someday the Z scalers will convince me to join them (At the Rocky ...

2026-04-12T01:54:05+02:00

Someday the Z scalers will convince me to join them

(At the Rocky Mountain Train Show, Denver)

#ModelRailway #ModelTrain #ZScale

If you're wondering who the #Artemis2 recovery ship is named ...

2026-04-10T23:36:14+02:00

If you're wondering who the #Artemis2 recovery ship is named after...

787 ZA002, the oldest 787 left in the US! Also the one that ...

2026-04-10T19:07:54+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…4jmd
_________________________

787 ZA002, the oldest 787 left in the US! Also the one that caught on fire in 2010, putting the program back a few years.

I've been to Darwin three times now, can't remember ...

2026-04-10T07:17:34+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…sjs2
_________________________

I've been to Darwin three times now, can't remember seeing a bus once.

Half the movie is Statham just sitting there waiting for a bus.

And last weekend, at it's forever home ...

2026-04-10T07:11:54+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…lt95
_________________________

And last weekend, at it's forever home

there's a lived in feel that I think movies/TV rarely ...

2026-04-09T16:47:11+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…wh6q
_________________________

there's a lived in feel that I think movies/TV rarely capture. Coffee cups and water bottles all over the place. Print outs of things you think you might need but probably don't. So many computers.

The canonical channel wing is the Custer CCW-5, first flown in ...

2026-04-09T16:25:47+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…a0mh
_________________________

The canonical channel wing is the Custer CCW-5, first flown in 1953. It had remarkable STOL (short takeoff and landing) performance (Popular Mechanics compared it to flying an autogyro), but the effect was limited by the engines of the time. It apparently still exists, in the Mid Atlantic Air Museum in Pennsylvania.
#avgeek

OMG it's a channel wing! Channel wings are one of those goofy ...

2026-04-09T16:17:21+02:00

OMG it's a channel wing!

Channel wings are one of those goofy aero gimmicks that were briefly popular in the 20th century without any real adoption. It's funny to see drone makers cycle through them to see what sticks.

https://www.yankodesign.com/2026/04/07/semicircular-wings-give-this-hybrid-evtol-an-800-mile-range-with-30-less-power-consumption/
#avgeek

Of course Canada also bought out the UK part of Gemini for ...

2026-04-08T04:22:47+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…j8f2
_________________________

Of course Canada also bought out the UK part of Gemini for basically nothing...

I mean, Canada is "cooperating state" in ESA with its own ...

2026-04-08T04:19:42+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…xnxq
_________________________

I mean, Canada is "cooperating state" in ESA with its own bespoke agreement and everything.

Boo.

2026-04-08T04:12:56+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…z2gh
_________________________

Boo.

Cats care not for human obstacles

2026-04-07T21:32:29+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…qh9l
_________________________

Cats care not for human obstacles

Yeah, not the worst view. I have no idea how the NASA lunar ...

2026-04-07T19:31:40+02:00

Yeah, not the worst view.

I have no idea how the NASA lunar program will play out from here. It almost certainly won't be as frenetic as the current administration would like, but the success of Artemis II will certainly be a kick to keep it going. The current mission is the culmination of two decades of hard work by many people, but it's also the first step of hopefully many more over the coming decades.

Ex Luna, Scientia.

#nasa #astrodon #Artemis2

My usual morning commute is on a Gillig, a very standard American ...

2026-04-07T16:14:36+02:00

My usual morning commute is on a Gillig, a very standard American local bus. But today we got upgraded to one of the big Motor Coaches used for highway service. Feels fancy.

Some bored Starfleet officer spent years getting the grass that ...

2026-04-06T05:39:48+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…jv5s
_________________________

Some bored Starfleet officer spent *years* getting the grass that shade of brown

(His ancestors were really into model train scenery...)

Some memories from back then ...

2026-04-06T05:30:29+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…lxq3
_________________________

Some memories from back then

Saw an old friend yesterday. I got to fly on SOFIA for the ...

2026-04-06T05:20:39+02:00

Saw an old friend yesterday. I got to fly on SOFIA for the Arrokoth occultation in 2017. I calculated the ground track we used, and extracted the occultation light curve from very noisy data.

Now at the Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
#astrodon #avgeek

APT-E, Locomotion, Shildon, UK, 2025 ...

2026-04-04T05:03:56+02:00

APT-E, Locomotion, Shildon, UK, 2025

I remember we had a talk when I was in undergrad (in Huntsville) ...

2026-04-02T03:40:27+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…5pd8
_________________________

I remember we had a talk when I was in undergrad (in Huntsville) from one of the guys that designed the urine recycler for ISS, the first of its kind. He absolutely made Kevin Costner Waterworld jokes.

Thinking about the Lockheed Martin engineer who has been working ...

2026-04-02T02:49:45+02:00

Thinking about the Lockheed Martin engineer who has been working on the Orion toilet for 20 years, only to see it fail immediately when someone tries to use it.

#Artemis2

Same factory, same people. Quality control is critical for solid ...

2026-04-02T01:46:32+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…nntv
_________________________

Same factory, same people. Quality control is critical for solid rockets that can't be tested before flight.

The two Vulcan SRB failures are very fresh

2026-04-02T01:24:25+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…5ms0
_________________________

The two Vulcan SRB failures are very fresh

I was personally most worried about the SRBs, so that's good. ...

2026-04-02T00:39:26+02:00

I was personally most worried about the SRBs, so that's good.

#Artemis2

Somehow #Artemis2 beat me to finishing ...

2026-04-02T00:33:32+02:00

Somehow #Artemis2 beat me to finishing

Merge points are almost always what create chronic traffic jams, ...

2026-04-01T18:21:06+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…35jp
_________________________

Merge points are almost always what create chronic traffic jams, because people never want to give way

Yeah, when you built it as a station, trains by definition ...

2026-03-31T18:54:25+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…apdl
_________________________

Yeah, when you built it as a station, trains by definition don't rumble through.

Americans seem stuck thinking about elevated trains in terms of New York and Chicago's ancient noisy Ls, rather than Vancouver's vastly quieter, much more lightweight system.

Beefy

2026-03-31T14:57:17+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…4ajv
_________________________

Beefy

IIRC they use radar primarily, so I bet it means they didn't ...

2026-03-30T22:06:16+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…02fp
_________________________

IIRC they use radar primarily, so I bet it means they didn't see anything moving fast until they suddenly saw a lot of things moving fast

"Internal energetic event" It done blown up

2026-03-30T22:03:14+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…mm6e
_________________________

"Internal energetic event"

It done blown up

"Most blocked" and "125k blocks" imply that blue ...

2026-03-30T20:49:04+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…d5qr
_________________________

"Most blocked" and "125k blocks" imply that blue slop might have a bit more of a bot problem than its human users might care to admit.

Yikes. Stage 1 fire restrictions are starting tomorrow. ...

2026-03-30T20:43:05+02:00

Yikes. Stage 1 fire restrictions are starting tomorrow. That's way early. We're going to be in for a scary summer in Colorado.

#cowx

Concorde 001 prototype in the Musée de l'Air et de ...

2026-03-30T03:33:52+02:00

Concorde 001 prototype in the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Paris, 2018
#avgeek

Well, no rush then

2026-03-28T02:20:31+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…s0d9
_________________________

Well, no rush then

It's Friday evening and the packed pub just started randomly ...

2026-03-28T01:41:31+01:00

It's Friday evening and the packed pub just started randomly playing the Shire theme from Lord of the Rings. It works.

that too

2026-03-26T13:31:34+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…36nw
_________________________

that too

Colorado springtime ...

2026-03-26T04:29:18+01:00

Colorado springtime

(An ultimate source for early NASA lore) ...

2026-03-24T21:13:25+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…wlz5
_________________________

(An ultimate source for early NASA lore)

Space Reactor-1 "Freedom" is the most Soviet name ...

2026-03-24T21:11:24+01:00

Space Reactor-1 "Freedom" is the most Soviet name imaginable for a NASA spacecraft.

Though a reminder that of the early NASA missions, the "Pioneer" series was named by a USAF officer to spite the US Army, and the "Ranger" series was literally named after one of the JPL engineer's Ford Ranger truck.

Upstate New York was a hotbed of utopian communes and ...

2026-03-24T18:16:32+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…x3nu
_________________________

Upstate New York was a hotbed of utopian communes and idiosyncratic cults in the 19th century. So I guess that's probably the least strange place he could've put it.

Second deepest trench in the ocean, literally the fastest plate ...

2026-03-24T06:12:30+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…e7pe
_________________________

Second deepest trench in the ocean, literally the fastest plate tectonic motion on Earth as the Pacific plate subducts under the Indo-Australian plate

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonga_Trench

Indeed

2026-03-23T18:34:07+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…560r
_________________________

Indeed

Yeah, always an excuse to ride trains in Switzerland. I need to ...

2026-03-23T16:13:09+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…uhxc
_________________________

Yeah, always an excuse to ride trains in Switzerland.

I need to do some proper Balkans trips, though.

Spend the weekend adding a ton of old trips to ...

2026-03-23T15:14:30+01:00

Spend the weekend adding a ton of old trips to [@viaduct_world](https://mastodon.social/@viaduct_world )

Been on a lot, a lot still to go!

#trains

While wearing a cork hat and yelling Waltzing Matilda at the top ...

2026-03-23T05:56:44+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…x5pe
_________________________

While wearing a cork hat and yelling Waltzing Matilda at the top of your lungs!

Based on my experience last week, it's a lot more common in ...

2026-03-23T05:46:45+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…v269
_________________________

Based on my experience last week, it's a lot more common in cities, especially on crowded trains. Outside that's, it's mostly older people.

Satellites tend to graze the atmosphere and burn, versus meteors ...

2026-03-22T03:41:18+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…gyas
_________________________

Satellites tend to graze the atmosphere and burn, versus meteors that come in higher angles.

And what you're seeing satellites, it's aluminum for the most part. Which is a problem because aluminum particles damage the ozone layer...

American graffiti, circa early 2026 ...

2026-03-21T02:13:00+01:00

American graffiti, circa early 2026

Did you send them a fax?

2026-03-21T01:23:11+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…uadk
_________________________

Did you send them a fax?

#JustCppThings

2026-03-21T00:50:40+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…l35f
_________________________

#JustCppThings

How icy was it?

2026-03-21T00:49:54+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…57f9
_________________________

How icy was it?

Honestly curious how they're funded, since that sounds like ...

2026-03-20T22:57:57+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…c909
_________________________

Honestly curious how they're funded, since that sounds like someone that would've been DOGE'd

That's a reminder to go to the one near us (that's always ...

2026-03-20T16:03:06+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…c6vf
_________________________

That's a reminder to go to the one near us (that's always full of Chinese grad students). Can't remember them having fried bread or "garlic scape" though.

"Orbital data centers" are not, will not be a thing. Musk ...

2026-03-20T06:06:58+01:00

"Orbital data centers" are not, will not be a thing.

Musk is claiming he's going to launch them as a stock market scam before the SpaceX IPO. He won't. It's a lie.

And every other company claiming that they are going to do it are either lying or dupes.

And thus the push for centralized data centers that only a ...

2026-03-20T00:45:23+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…jg4m
_________________________

And thus the push for centralized data centers that only a billionaire could own.

If an AI could profitably run on a small local machine, the dynamic inverts and the wealth creation goes to a multitude of small specialists.

Moore's Law would seem to favor the latter.

And buying Flintstones vitamins makes you addicted to chalk

2026-03-19T04:22:22+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…99an
_________________________

And buying Flintstones vitamins makes you addicted to chalk

I mean, who among us hasn't spent $80 billion on a failed ...

2026-03-19T04:09:05+01:00

I mean, who among us hasn't spent $80 billion on a failed terrible useless VR chat knock off that's now cancelled and will be a tax write off?

I mean, is there any possible innovation that isn't just a banner ad with extra steps?

/s

When I first spent a summer in Pasadena in 2006, I do remember ...

2026-03-19T01:15:30+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…jmzk
_________________________

When I first spent a summer in Pasadena in 2006, I do remember being shocked when it suddenly cleared and I could see the mountains.

"the system was driving without issue until it suddenly ...

2026-03-18T18:23:13+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…m879
_________________________

"the system was driving without issue until it suddenly wasn’t"

I believe an actual safety expert would say that it was always driving with issues.

Google Scholar because I have too many ADS doppelgangers. Almost ...

2026-03-17T16:45:51+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…2wwm
_________________________

Google Scholar because I have too many ADS doppelgangers. Almost caught up to you two.

Double charm and a downer, very Irish

2026-03-17T16:26:57+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…8ue2
_________________________

Double charm and a downer, very Irish

Mallard about 5 minutes in, lots more trains besides ...

2026-03-17T01:07:32+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…vx64
_________________________

Mallard about 5 minutes in, lots more trains besides
https://youtu.be/L1G0sRjryTo

Petition to change "python -Wignore" to "python ...

2026-03-16T20:26:21+01:00

Petition to change "python -Wignore" to "python --stop-complaining-i-know"

Mars in Mars, barely

2026-03-16T16:20:18+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…atkr
_________________________

Mars in Mars, barely

When the article starts to get defensive of Loeb of all people, I ...

2026-03-15T15:36:29+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…msxm
_________________________

When the article starts to get defensive of Loeb of all people, I tuned out.

It's not fundamentally different in the US: the majority of ...

2026-03-15T14:58:47+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…knce
_________________________

It's not fundamentally different in the US: the majority of young men are left leaning, but apathetic to voting. Hillary and Harris both lost because of extremely low turnout from under-40s.

The point when I knew Harris was in trouble was in the summer of 2024 seeing a toilet in a hip coffee shop defaced with "Harris for Genocide". I wonder what fraction of the people in that coffee shop bothered to vote.

Nah, the more esoteric your references, the more distinguished ...

2026-03-15T05:24:49+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…u2cu
_________________________

Nah, the more esoteric your references, the more distinguished you sound

A lesson hard learned

2026-03-15T05:18:18+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…rg2z
_________________________

A lesson hard learned

Not even the most egregious example ...

2026-03-15T05:17:09+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…7hs7
_________________________

Not even the most egregious example

Gratuitous Mallard posting after some fun at the club. The new ...

2026-03-15T03:14:03+01:00

Gratuitous Mallard posting after some fun at the club.

The new Rapido LNER Dynometer Car is really nice.

#trains #ngauge #modeltrains

I know the guys that have to hit up vintage computer shops for ...

2026-03-14T04:51:36+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…yq8z
_________________________

I know the guys that have to hit up vintage computer shops for parts to keep the circa 2005 New Horizons equipment going. The stuff in space has been a lot more reliable than its ground based analogs.

Somehow the only Brewdog in the US (crammed between a rail yard ...

2026-03-14T00:30:57+01:00

Somehow the only Brewdog in the US (crammed between a rail yard and a Pepsi bottling facility in Denver) is still open. IIRC they signed the lease for this right before COVID and then took forever to open.

I literally have a family sized passport holder, for myself.

2026-03-13T05:19:58+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…waqu
_________________________

I literally have a family sized passport holder, for myself.

First time I've had three active at once. Technically the ...

2026-03-13T04:34:51+01:00

First time I've had three active at once. Technically the first passport I traveled under was a page in my mom's Irish passport.

Just a brain, labeled "Normal, Abby"

2026-03-12T06:22:54+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…79j6
_________________________

Just a brain, labeled "Normal, Abby"

Learned this at a young age because I had a Lego Technic ...

2026-03-12T05:34:21+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…z96y
_________________________

Learned this at a young age because I had a Lego Technic excavator powered by pneumatic pistons (and an engineer dad who excitedly explained the difference between pneumatic and hydraulic systems).

At least the mountains got some snow. #cowx #BusWindowViews ...

2026-03-11T15:30:25+01:00

At least the mountains got some snow.
#cowx #BusWindowViews

That's why he's so confused as to what the whimy sticks ...

2026-03-11T04:14:40+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…3w4z
_________________________

That's why he's so confused as to what the whimy sticks are

Random train in Milano Centrale, last September #trains ...

2026-03-10T23:58:39+01:00

Random train in Milano Centrale, last September
#trains

I like my Ecobee, but I have no idea how they make a profit, and ...

2026-03-10T23:54:07+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…0mld
_________________________

I like my Ecobee, but I have no idea how they make a profit, and probably neither do they

The only appropriate place for a gallery car in a museum

2026-03-10T23:50:53+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…sj5l
_________________________

The only appropriate place for a gallery car in a museum

I am 100% convinced that the end game for LLMs/similar is only ...

2026-03-10T19:17:32+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…djl0
_________________________

I am 100% convinced that the end game for LLMs/similar is only running them locally. It's the only long term cost model that remotely makes sense.

"Bier Depot" reminds of the liquor store in Longmont ...

2026-03-10T00:12:20+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…pgp6
_________________________

"Bier Depot" reminds of the liquor store in Longmont Colorado that's built into the former rail depot building.

Nostr event nevent1qqsw004uf6lhqctc9jvt484p5hxwkh6jxy4es5nguxueglcawwn36sszyplvl2sgd9gp8088lqy44jzyfgahu29u6rehnm7hp80q9kvrvc74q3n904e

2026-03-09T20:33:27+01:00

Lol the BS site just enshittified overnight

The time of year went I again wonder why kitchen appliances do ...

2026-03-09T00:36:54+01:00

The time of year went I again wonder why kitchen appliances do not have a "DST ON/OFF" button. Just one button, that's it. That's all you need.

It's a fair cop

2026-03-08T03:11:22+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…3eh8
_________________________

It's a fair cop

Still the most ridiculous cupholder I've ever experienced ...

2026-03-08T01:21:42+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…r9ar
_________________________

Still the most ridiculous cupholder I've ever experienced