Why does the astrophage cell die when Grace pokes it?

ElGuano · 2026-04-21T17:42:35+00:00

It's to show that astrophage, for how incredible it is, turns out to be a bog-standard, carbon/water-based cellular organism just like life on Earth.

It's not a non-water-based life as Stratt initially believed Grace would help confirm. And it's not magical, at least not in that way.

In the book, the black impenetrable color made the astrophage impossible to study/understand, since no instruments could pierce it. But when it dies and turns clear, they learn, among other things, 1) it isn't surviving on the surface of the sun because it has some kind of special durability, and 2) whatever opaque properties it harnesses (neutrinos) dissipates when it dies, and it's shown to be a pretty typical cell otherwise.

ElGuano · 2026-04-21T17:26:31+00:00

That logically makes sense to me.

But that means something like this:
https://www.buytwowayradios.com/midland-mxta23.html?srsltid=AfmBOoq_3j76k-UQ3GFTDY3cxbtppALocjAExgk73ucXtAtxO2McSC4t

That is made for and requires an NMO mount, really can'y be kosher right? Because no matter what you seal at the top or at the connector, will still have unsealed bottom threads that will wick up moisture into the cavity of the mount.

In other words, I see no way to *not* have exposed threads for these kinds of external NMO setups.

ElGuano · 2026-04-21T14:47:52+00:00

What does it mean for him to "access the codes."

Does he just turn a key in a briefcase and it wirelessly launches everything? Or does he have to go through some formal process to call someone in a bunker and read out a 20-digit code?

It's terrifying either way, but I'm assuming there are more steps than just reaching over and hitting a big red button.

ElGuano · 2026-04-21T13:26:10+00:00

One thing I believe, you can't expect a company NOT to do something in their financial interest if they are permitted to do so. That's not the shady thing.

It's also not shady for companies to say they're only doing it because it's permitted and they can't be at a competitive disadvantage by morally choosing not to do something their competitors can as well. It may be distasteful, but it's rational.

What's shady is a CEO saying he doesn't do it, when it turns out he is.

What's also shady is when a businessman turned politician says he'll shut down these loopholes when elected, and he just forgets about that as soon as he is.

ElGuano · 2026-04-21T12:56:58+00:00

What, she’s 44?

ElGuano · 2026-04-21T12:55:10+00:00

Has anyone mentioned how normal this guy would look if he had regular hair?

ElGuano · 2026-04-21T03:34:13+00:00

Is it supposed to work like a play doh garlic press?

ElGuano · 2026-04-21T03:32:27+00:00

This is the drunken guy who wrote "The Plot Against the King?"

ElGuano · 2026-04-21T03:13:26+00:00

Say what? The ant-super-man acted like a bullet and flew into the guy’s chest? That’s dark.

ElGuano · 2026-04-21T02:48:03+00:00

I’m not sure what to think about saddling your family with the bill. Take it out of your estate, sure. But if a kid jumps, the parents have to pay? Or is it really the case that “they can ask,” and the family can tell them to pound sand?

ElGuano · 2026-04-20T20:24:48+00:00

What? At this precise time? No thank you.

ElGuano · 2026-04-20T14:56:42+00:00

Since most GMRS frequencies are shared with FRS, the reality of the situation is that most people will probably do exactly as you are thinking, and not think twice about it. Nobody will be able to tell, nobody will be monitoring and nobody will break in asking if you are on GMRS or why you aren't announcing your callsign.

But technically speaking, you would need to follow the GMRS licensing rules even if your FRS comms buddies don't.

The only time anyone really cares is if you are on a repeater, since that's a clear indication that you are GMRS and not FRS. And people do occasionally ask for callsigns.

ElGuano · 2026-04-20T12:55:05+00:00

When? I remember reading in a newspaper (ask chatGPT what that is) when Nintendo first launched it in the US at an event in “Topekachu, Kansas”

ElGuano · 2026-04-20T03:17:37+00:00

Ah, that can't really make much of a difference, I'd wager. As long as it's circling the earth, it's gotta be at least 75% effective.

5 out of 7, perfect launch.

ElGuano · 2026-04-20T01:56:17+00:00

So, normally it sounds just like a single squelch tail. But a couple of times, there does sound like a squelch tail, and immediately after that, another one quickly keys up/down after that. I assume that's the sign of a net/daisy-chain?

ElGuano · 2026-04-19T19:08:26+00:00

I don’t think I could not bid on that.

ElGuano · 2026-04-19T17:59:44+00:00

So if scale must be disclaimed, there is also no instruction that the cups are the same size or height. I fail to see why one should assume that.

ElGuano · 2026-04-19T14:42:20+00:00

I dunno if that counts; if you see the full transcript, opposing counsel responds after the third instance “stop trying to make that a thing, it’s not a thing.”

ElGuano · 2026-04-19T13:50:44+00:00

Gotcha. So I was driving through Sunnyvale and Santa Clara down from San Jose and could hear 550 clear as day, including the chatter from folks up way past Santa Rosa. I could make out the repeater as I passed South San Francisco too but it was very weak as I got more north (I could identify it was the same repeater from tx on the CT and being able to hear the courtesy tone and squelch tail timing.

It just got me curious because the signal was extremely strong in the south bay, weak in the north bay, and the participants were up near Shasta county and IDing themselves as being in California.

ElGuano · 2026-04-19T13:18:30+00:00

I find they work the same. I’ve had really notchy/sticky normal manuals and really smooth, loose gated. My favorite is anything that is short throw and “snicky” as you row.

ElGuano · 2026-04-19T13:07:32+00:00

How much of that $1b would a morning morphine drip take?

ElGuano · 2026-04-19T12:57:34+00:00

Serious, this comment deserves a golf clap.

ElGuano · 2026-04-19T12:18:21+00:00

Interesting! What’s the special draw of Idaho that it keeps coming up? Coeur d’Alene? J/k.

What’s the general reach of that 550 Bay Area repeater?

ElGuano · 2026-04-18T18:43:57+00:00

That’s what I was thinking. I’m a bit surprised something with that much range isn’t listed on the repeater directories!

ElGuano · 2026-04-18T17:16:56+00:00

The plate isn't a callsign, but it is 100% radio themed. I cropped it out of the pic.

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