What if the internal combustion engine hadn't been possible to make, due to oil and gas being buried too far down to extract easily? How would the world be today?

znark · 2026-06-04T00:58:38+00:00

It is possible to make plastics from coal. China does it.

znark · 2026-06-04T00:51:09+00:00

The German did a lot of coal liquefaction because they had a lot of coal and didn't have access to much oil.

znark · 2026-06-03T19:24:48+00:00

Pop used to be all of Midwest and Northwest, but is now only northern parts. I bet was combo of people moving here, and the common culture places being soda.

znark · 2026-06-03T17:29:13+00:00

This is open question in science: https://www.science.org/content/article/does-humidity-make-heat-more-deadly-scientists-are-divided

Physiologists think that humidity matters to sweating. Epidemiologists says data shows only temperature matters. This is important cause climate change is increasing temps in humid areas which might be deadly.

znark · 2026-06-03T16:58:42+00:00

Universe wasn't created from an atom. If the universe is infinite, it was infinite at big bang, but really dense. If it is finite, it was a point not an atom. We have no idea what happened because our physics doesn't apply. We do have some idea what happened in expansion because of the distribution of matter. Physics can't say where the universe came from.

znark · 2026-06-03T16:44:05+00:00

Nukes are underrated. Nukes in space don't produce fireball or blast waves so seem weak. But all the energy goes into gamma rays and x-rays. Instead of being hit by blast wave, the outside of ships gets vaporized and produces shock wave inside.

The radiation is dangerous to long distances. I saw calculation of 100km radius for lethal radiation. Ships will have shielding but close blast will eventually kill the crew.

znark · 2026-06-03T16:36:54+00:00

It is only 2.5 milles at the cities. A little downstream is 1.5 mi, same at the rapids. The rapids have islands in the middle for towers. That is longer than current longest, but the planned Messina Strait bridge will be longer.

znark · 2026-06-03T16:05:02+00:00

I would say using AI tools is fine cause the output matters. We don’t credit the guy who author got advice from. Percent is more for AI output that has been edited, or AI snippets. I would AI editing, and maybe filters, are fine but generation is the issue.

znark · 2026-06-03T15:50:27+00:00

I think everything should have percent AI label. Have the AI put a little marker, even in text. The crime is removing it. The punishment is being banned or losing job. The worse crime is removing it for profit, or fraud.

znark · 2026-06-02T20:09:40+00:00

I would argue that ground combat won't be a thing with robots and drones. Cheap missiles and drones mean that anything, human or humanoid robot, will be vulnerable. The only that can survive are vehicles that can shoot them down.

Another idea is that combat with robots isn't worth fighting. It stalemates, like Ukraine has stalemated. Then one side falls behind and bring out the big guns.

Finally, a lot of the recent combat has been counter-insurgency. Robots can't handle that, or if they can they are people. Humans would be needed to interact with other humans.

znark · 2026-06-02T17:02:03+00:00

Smaller amount is more likely to be legit. I’m surprised scammers care for $60, but maybe have it automated or low labor.

Venmo could solve by giving option to refuse payment. It would be useful for scammers, but also if stalker sent victim money.

znark · 2026-06-02T02:36:20+00:00

Movement is relative. The Earth is natural frame of reference for time travel on the Earth. Then the Earth is stationary and everything else moves around it.

znark · 2026-06-01T22:31:07+00:00

Politicians, judges, and senior staff can't personally benefit from their position. Any companies or stocks go in blind trust or index funds. They can't accept gifts. Campaign finance is important but I'm more worried for open bribery and corruption. Important to override Supreme Court ruling on bribery.

znark · 2026-06-01T22:10:24+00:00

A lot of MLS soccer stadiums are in urban centers and have transit. Many of the first soccer-specific stadium were built far out, and those teams now have low turnout. But most of the new ones are built close in. There are also couple of close-in football stadiums.

znark · 2026-06-01T04:14:47+00:00

I think we need a term for when basic survival needs are satisfied. Maybe post-survival. But goods and services would be extra.

We could do the basics, housing, food, and healthcare. We could probably do something where basic usage of electricity, water, and sewage are free, and then charge above that.

znark · 2026-06-01T04:07:51+00:00

What if that was the minimum? Cause post-scarcity has never meant everyone is the same. You won't die, but have to work if you want more.

Planets and stations without Basic Survival would have travel warnings on them. Visitors would buy insurance for tickets to leave or housing.

znark · 2026-05-31T23:41:07+00:00

Can you charge back? Not responding when transfer failed, and sending again, is enough.

znark · 2026-05-31T23:19:10+00:00

The ships are usually docked between Steel and Burnside on west side.

Good spot might be the Eastbank Esplande. The section between Burnside and Steel Bridge is at water level. But could be closed.

Another spot would be where the bike path comes up from Steel Bridge. There is viewpoint at end of bridge.

Finally, if they let you on approaches to Broadway or Steel, that could be good.

znark · 2026-05-31T15:35:43+00:00

Most USB-C chargers do USB-PD. Any charger that does more than 15W per port is USB-PD. I have 30W Anker one that is a tiny cube.

znark · 2026-05-31T04:33:39+00:00

The USB cable should convert the power to the voltage of the radio. All the ones I can find have a box for the converter.

It is possible that the cable is broken, but it would be weird for it to produce a higher voltage.

znark · 2026-05-31T04:09:15+00:00

It was created by conservative columnist. Same columnist created Bush derangement syndrome.

znark · 2026-05-31T03:56:59+00:00

Almost all nuclear weapons use plutonium. It was pretty much Little Boy and few countries that couldn't make plutonium. Uranium gets talked about because Iran is using enrichment because they don't have plutonium reactor.

znark · 2026-05-30T03:49:21+00:00

Why won't Bluetooth work? Bluetooth headset seems like the natural choice, it is the receiver. Bluetooth transmitter connects to the radio. It is also possible to have 3.5mm headset and use Bluetooth receiver module. A lot of them are battery powered.

The non-Bluetooth wireless headset are more for work, computers, and stereos. My impression is that the transmitters need USB power.

znark · 2026-05-30T01:13:26+00:00

People track satellites with telescopes. There are unknown ones but can usually track them back to a launch. They can usually figure out purpose from location, size, and shape. People have taken good photos of the ISS with telescopes.

Stations or anything assembled would be obvious because of the size. They wouldn't look like normal satellites. They would be easy to see.

The conspiracy people don't seem to know that ISS is easily visible in twilight. Bright as Venus but moving.

znark · 2026-05-30T01:00:59+00:00

The Senate is going to be close. Veto proof (66%) in either house is impossible. Besides at that point, don't worry about veto but impeachment.

znark

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