Mastodawn

I feel I need to say something about Artemis as a former NASA employee, Space scientist and engineer.

I hope more than anything that the astronauts get back safely. But let us not be fooled by what this is.

Is it spectacular, yes. Is it a feat of engineering, yes. Does it make any advance in science, no. Does it help mankind explore the universe, dubious at best.

Why exactly are we sending humans to the moon? With our technology we will never send humans much further than Mars. The only way humans can possibly go further is through a scientific breakthrough. Good luck with that when Trump is gutting science.

Human exploration needs money spent on long-term advances - not using the same technology to do what we did before, however, glamorous it is.

So why do this and why do it now? Political theatre, a win for a Trump led NASA if it succeeds.

So I hope all works well and all return safely. But let us be clear what this is and why it is being done.

This is my opinion, I do not represent anyone.

Tofueater 2d ago

I'd always thought Starmer was unprepared because he hadn't planned ahead. This afternoon I watched him actually planning to be unprepared. His message to the nation was: When this war is over we will do something about it and that something will be exactly what we're doing now. Did he misunderstand the Keep Calm and Carry On slogan?
#ukpol #starmer #IranWar

Tofueater 3d ago

Primo Natura 3d ago

"SSE begins operating 150MW battery system at former coal plant"

#UK #UnitedKingdom #Energy #Batteries

https://www.edie.net/sse-begins-operating-150mw-battery-system-at-former-coal-plant/

SSE begins operating 150MW battery system at former coal plant

SSE has begun operating a 150MW/300MWh battery storage system on the site of a former coal-fired power plant in Yorkshire.

edie

Tofueater 6d ago

AO Smith 6d ago

I planted some new tulip varieties last fall that are just starting to bloom. Now if only I could remember which varieties I selected... 😅

#BloomScrolling #gardening

Tofueater Mar 27

Mia Mar 27

I don't want this important news to go unnoticed: the National Library of Scotland's Access team have given names to collection trolleys including: Trolly Parton, George Orwheel, Wheeliam Shakespeare, Daphne du Trollier, Rene Descart, Cart Cobain, JRR Trollkein, Cart Vader, and Mary Wheelstonecraft.

Via @cawston.bsky.social's https://cawston.ghost.io/weeknotes-12-monsters-only/

Weeknotes #12: Monsters Only

A week of interesting chats, admin churn and unexpected tribulations. What happened this week? Monday began with a useful chat with one of our Board members about a large-scale AI roll-out across a multi-national organisation. Initial scepticism has been replaced by seeing dedicated agents delivering huge time savings. Context is

Cawstonotes

Tofueater Mar 27

Nicolas

Mar 27

By the way: a few days ago I finally finished my custom traveller's notebook cover / wallet!

All in all I'm very happy with how it turned out. There are a few things I might adjust or do differently for a V2. For example, the money compartment could be a little wider and attaching bias tape straight is harder than I thought.

I'll have to tinker with the closing mechanism: in theory, there are magnets and ferrofoil in there, but although I tested it and thought it should work, in practice the adhesion through the two layers of leather is so weak that you barely notice it :( Maybe I'll try bigger magnets or a magnetic button.

But still, most things work just as planned in real usage and the aesthetics work as I hoped! I enjoyed working with this cork leather a lot (sadly the shop I got it from closed down, so I'll have to look somewhere else for fuzure projects).

The hardest thing for me about this project was serial decision paralysis. Since I planned this all by myself from scratch, every single measurement and design was a decision I had to figure out. Which was especially hard to do starting from a blank page. For my next project I'll probably do something guided with a pattern to recuperate :D

If and when I'll find the time, I'll sort out and upload my plans, in case anyone wants to make something similar themselves :D

#travellersnotebook #fountainpen #journalling #sewing

Tofueater Mar 23

Kingfisher Mar 22

We extended our deck to add some built in planter boxes, which involved pulling up all the old boards ….and instead of wasting the old boards and save some money, we made a stripey pattern of old/new boards. It will eventually even out in color as the wood ages, but for now it is very fun.
#DIY #Carpentry #RepairReuseRecycle #Gardening