Got my slides put together for this meeting tomorrow. It's a damn good summary of the many ways that terrible things are happening in orbit that are already RIGHT NOW destroying the night sky, destroying the atmosphere, dropping shit on people, and making collisions much more likely in orbit. I think I might have to just go cry now.
I've got a cup of coffee and a cat on my lap, and I'm ready for this presentation! I hope my power/internet holds...it's very windy and snowy now...
Mmmm nothing like a layer of freezing rain on top of a bit of snow, a bunch more snow, and then many days of very very negative temperatures.
Got to play the traditional Saskatchewan game of "where the hell do you think the road is" earlier today
I love getting invited to important committee meetings with Canadian Space Agency representatives with less than 24 hours notice! Especially when don't tell me how long I'm supposed to speak for or exactly what to focus on other than "Dark and Quiet Skies!"
Grumble grumble.
Got my slides put together for this meeting tomorrow. It's a damn good summary of the many ways that terrible things are happening in orbit that are already RIGHT NOW destroying the night sky, destroying the atmosphere, dropping shit on people, and making collisions much more likely in orbit. I think I might have to just go cry now.
Mmmm nothing like a layer of freezing rain on top of a bit of snow, a bunch more snow, and then many days of very very negative temperatures.
I love getting invited to important committee meetings with Canadian Space Agency representatives with less than 24 hours notice! Especially when don't tell me how long I'm supposed to speak for or exactly what to focus on other than "Dark and Quiet Skies!"
Grumble grumble.
There are so many FCC comment periods that will close right at the beginning of January, on really stupid, short-sighted, make-billionaires-richer things they want to do with loosening the already incredibly loose regulations for satellites. I am tired. But I have to write stuff for these, because it's the one and only way to formally protest. Fuck.
HEADS UP that the FCC comment period for Reflect Orbital's first hideously bright, ecology-disrupting satellite will open probably in mid- to late-January. I'm gonna need EVERYBODY to write in for that one.
https://fccprod.servicenowservices.com/icfs?id=ibfs_application_summary&number=SAT-LOA-20250701-00129
There are so many FCC comment periods that will close right at the beginning of January, on really stupid, short-sighted, make-billionaires-richer things they want to do with loosening the already incredibly loose regulations for satellites. I am tired. But I have to write stuff for these, because it's the one and only way to formally protest. Fuck.
placenta
I find it completely hilarious that Air New Zealand specifically says that you can bring a placenta on their flights, as long as it's in a leak-proof container! Enough people have asked about this that they have decided it should be in the FAQ what-can-I-pack list!!
https://www.airnewzealand.com/items-not-allowed-on-flight
Improved frivolous poll thanks to a suggestion from @silverfox@toot.cat (currently the poll winner is "Goat!!")
Which term better describes gently but firmly wrestling silly yearling goats up onto a stanchion for hoof trimming + carrying struggling annoyed yearlings for a weigh-in:
The excellent essay by @pluralistic@mamot.fr today https://pluralistic.net/2025/12/08/giant-teddybears/ reminds me that I should have also included Judas goat as an option in the frivolous goat poll!
(Yes that is a ridiculous connection. Just go read the essay, it's fantastic.)
Frivolous poll of the evening: Does gently but firmly wrestling silly yearling goats up onto a stanchion for hoof trimming + carrying them for a weigh-in count as goat yoga?
Improved frivolous poll thanks to a suggestion from @silverfox@toot.cat (currently the poll winner is "Goat!!")
Which term better describes gently but firmly wrestling silly yearling goats up onto a stanchion for hoof trimming + carrying struggling annoyed yearlings for a weigh-in:
Prof. Sam Lawler