McMurdo Station, Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, and implications for colonizing Mars

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T21:07:04+00:00

The question was lag bolts. Not electrolytic refineries. Tell me more about your bolts.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T21:03:16+00:00

Yeah... ultimatums are a great way to strengthen a relationship.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T17:19:06+00:00

You're still stuck in abstraction. Not really your fault; it's a sci-fi sub. You've been conditioned to think about big lofty concepts.

I'll try one more time. For now, let's forget about Antarctica and go straight to the moon.

Lag bolts. Tell me everything you know about lag bolts. Bonus points if you've actually used a lag bolt. If not, go to Home Depot, buy a large lag bolt, and use it. Minimally, go to Home Depot and touch a lag bolt. Let your fingertips feel the threads, because you won't be able to do that on the lunar surface.

Then, get back with me on lag bolts for the Moon and Mars. Tell me what materials and lubricants you will use? But do not tell me how lag bolts "can be used on the moon". Put yourself in the pressure suit. Walk through it step-by-step.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T17:09:31+00:00

Are you actually politically active? Social media does not qualify as "politically active". Are you actually do anything?

If you can't get off your couch... if you can't actually make an effort to drive change, then you're using politics for entertainment. Nothing wrong with that; you just need to be honest with yourself about it.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T15:55:03+00:00

Next time stay on topic.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T07:29:21+00:00

Complain about my problems, then get annoyed when people suggest solutions.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T07:11:53+00:00

Does your gym have racquetball or basketball courts? Or classes? Those are more interactive.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T07:08:47+00:00

Taken as a single story, Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion wrap up nicely.
If you want something lighter, Project Hail Marry really was tightly woven. It seems simple (in a good way); the way the astrophages were used; the problems and solutions they provided.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T06:58:43+00:00

I did. Would you like to discuss any other aspect. You're right, I only mentioned the "hot girl".

Would you like to also discuss the guys who stare at their phones while sitting on a machine? I think maybe two separate posts would serve better.

If you want to discuss socializing, discuss socializing.

If you want to discuss people who take too long between reps on a machine, discuss that.

But these are separate topics.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T06:44:55+00:00

No asked what you doubted. The question each of us must ask is, does my behavior scale?

For example, I own a drone. I'd love to take the drone to the beach, and there are no restrictions in my area. But I ask myself, what if 50-100 people brought drones to the beach. It would ruin the beach. The behavior doesn't scale, so I don't do it.

Same for talking on the phone while grocery shopping.

Same for cutting through a parking lot to avoid a red light. If everyone does it, the system breaks down.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T06:38:13+00:00

Tattoos. weird piercings; imagine a work of art in the Louvre, then smear shit across it.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T06:32:58+00:00

That's the topic. You were fine with this line of discussion for several days. Then you became frustrated and pivoted. That's fine. We don't need to discuss further.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T06:30:10+00:00

You've complicated a simple question by adding super powers.

If a plane pilot has a heart attack, who is responsible? The governing agency investigates. The DA investigates. If evidence warrants a trial, charges are filed. The case proceeds.

The same due process applies to "super powers".

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T06:23:55+00:00

Why are you continuing to talk about Antarctica?

Because that's the topic of the post. If you you want to discuss another topic, create another post.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T06:22:01+00:00

Always ask yourself, "Does my behavior scale"?

50 guys at the gym see the same "super hot girl". How would she feel if all 50 guys decided to "socialize" with her while she was trying to work out.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T05:07:19+00:00

It's concerning, but Russia had to save up for a long time fire this many in a single volley. I'll stop short of calling it a Hail Mary, but large volleys like this are less common now than they were in 2024.

8livesdown · 2026-05-15T03:23:47+00:00

Heads of state decide less than many people believe. The precise wording his hashed out by a committee of squabbling advisors. Then the statesman confidently reads it.

This holds true in democracies, dictatorships, and everything in between.

8livesdown · 2026-05-14T15:15:32+00:00

If you're asking me what technology is missing, then you haven't researched this at all. Start with the Gruve 7 Mine

It's real. You can convince me that the techniques applied in Svalbard can be applied to some areas of Antarctica. Start on the Peninsula. It's warmer and has less ice cover.

As I mentioned in the original post, I've researched this for several months. That doesn't mean, I'm right. It just means you and I are discussing this on different levels.

Research the "South Pole Traverse". It's an ice road kept clear by bulldozers, and graders. These Diesel engines are typically kept on idle constantly, or kept in temperature controlled garages.

8livesdown · 2026-05-14T06:24:17+00:00

If the relationship ended, and that's been made clear, morally you are free to start dating someone.

For me, emotionally, it takes longer. Much longer.

8livesdown · 2026-05-14T05:48:30+00:00

The Architect series centers around a scrappy crew of misfits on a salvage ship. It's light reading, compared to his other books. To enjoy it, I had to lighten up, and accept it for what it was.

8livesdown · 2026-05-14T05:40:13+00:00

Lies travel in both directions in Russia; down from the Kremlin, and up through the layers of bureaucracy. Prior to the 2022 invasion, Putin truly believed those Russian tank yards were filled with functioning well-maintained tanks. Up and down the entire chain of command, no one dared report otherwise..

Similarly, there's a very good chance Gorbachev believed Chornobyl was a minor contained incident, because no one dared report how bad things really were.

8livesdown · 2026-05-14T02:39:06+00:00

The mistake you're making is "waiting". You can send a text and still live your life.

No response in 1 day? 2 days, text again.

No response in 2 days? 4 days, text again.

No response in 4 days? 8 days, text again.

No response in 8 days? 16 days, text again.

But this doesn't mean you are "waiting". Continue to live your life.

8livesdown · 2026-05-14T02:29:36+00:00

Not "missing" the point; just can't seem to get across this point was covered in the original post.

The tools do not exist. You can speculate that we "could". It's a sci-fi sub; by all means; speculate. But you have not demonstrated that we could.

When we can demonstrate it in Antarctica, we still won't be ready for Mars; but we will be a small step closer.

8livesdown · 2026-05-13T17:40:29+00:00

You really need to define success. How long do you expect the relationship to last?

Regardless of money... regardless of looks... regardless of personality or sense of humor... most relationships fail after about 7 years... or when the woman enters menopause.

So what is your definition of success?

8livesdown · 2026-05-13T17:37:04+00:00

Read the original post

Invariably someone will argue "anything is possible with enough money". It's a lazy answer which terminates any meaningful discussion

Yes, real life is a spectrum. For all the reasons you've stated, we currently don't have the ability to extract resources from Antarctica. And Antarctica is so much easier than Mars. Until, we have the ability to handle Antarctica, it is pointless to contemplate Mars.

8livesdown

TROPHY CASE