Category Archives: Discursive Detours

A catch-all category

WASP-18 b and Other Wonderfully Weird WASP Worlds

When I started writing this, I’d planned on talking about WASP-18 b, a hot Jupiter: how we’ve found water in its atmosphere, and something odd about the planet’s temperature on the edge of its sunlit side. Down the Rabbit Hole: … Continue reading

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ChatGPT, Attorney at Law — or — Trust, but Verify

There are times when I almost regret having successfully avoided a conventionally-successful career. Last weekend was not one of them. Partly because I saw what happens when an otherwise-smart person forgets to think. Big-Time Bungle: Bogus References “ChatGPT: US lawyer … Continue reading

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A Prescription, Disorders, Conformity and Culture

First, the good news. I am not experiencing withdrawal (or, more politely, “discontinuation syndrome”). The not-so-good news is that I’m putting off what I was getting ready for today until next week. This ‘journal’ post is, in part, an explanation: … Continue reading

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International Space Station: Seven More Years

Nations and organizations running the International Space Station agreed to keep supporting it until 2030. That’s what I’ll be talking about this week. Along with why the ISS won’t last forever, plans for either ditching it in the South Pacific … Continue reading

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Commercial Space Services and Changing Times

This week I’ll talk about the SpaceX Starship and ispace test flights. Whether or not they were successful depends on who’s talking. I’ll also look at the usual hand-wringing over threats to the status quo. News and Views The SpaceX … Continue reading

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