Nick Frietas frequently leans a bit more into culture war stuff than I'd like, but he is a VERY smart guy. His military and legislative experience is both broad and deep, and he has a better understanding of the applicability of historical precedents than a lot of folks. I put a lot of stock in his analysis.
Malcom and Simone Collins are best known as pro-natalist influencers, but are more broadly a couple of epically crazy people who are rumored, by less epically crazy people to be vampires...no really.
I suspect that they are not.
They are highly autistic and rather more sanguine than I am about the likelihood of very good outcomes from A.G.I. They are also extremely smart, well informed, and entertaining. Their more worrisome, materialistic, almost Huxleyan views (which do not come out in this video) seems to be a product of their neurodivergence rather than malevolence and their analysis is quite analytical and thought provoking. I'm disturbed to agree with them more often than I don't and the worst people in the world seem to hate them, so at least give them a listen.
I got a call after Tuesday's stream that Mom was in the E.R. with a suspected heart attack. I went to work, asked to be off or at least be let go early. After about 4 seconds of contemplation, they gave me the week off.
I drove 300 miles Visited Mom in the E.R., she seemed better. Fun fact: Zolpidem has side effects that include, dizziness, and hallucinations, if taken with certain arthritis medications these can also include angina, shortness of breath, perceived tightness in the chest, disorientation, and extreme weakness. Mom got put through EVERY test, but is home now (with a new set of prescriptions) and doing fine. I got in last night after having been up for 41 hours and went to bed. I just woke up....There may be some further schedule adjustments.
Spoiler Alert:
There have been some further schedule adjustments.
The schedule has been tweaked and extended to 9 days out just to annoy those dastardly Hiatus Ninjas!
(All times EDT)
The Hiatus Ninjas MUST NOT WIN! Do your part to help the channel thwart these fiends by checking in at https://www.twitch.tv/brickmuppet
1
Razorfist seems quite salty about this. I'd never heard the accusation before so I don't really have anything to say about it except I prefer B5 to DS9.
Posted by: Rick C at Thu Mar 19 18:49:23 2026 (1zWbY)
2
I like what I remember of DS9, but bounced off B5 my first attempt.
I basically don't care about the IP/fandom wars at this point, but will be annoyed if the new Star Gate is below expectations.
I'm pretty much asking whether some specific fanfic is good, and otherwise ignoring the claims by official IP holders about the IP. Internet fights between alleged fans about whose oshi is better are may hard to sort from water armies.
DS9 and B5, each satisfy personal taste, and stand on their own, independently of what other people on the internet think.
I'm very likely to give B5 another try one of these days.
Posted by: PatBuckman at Sun Mar 22 17:29:17 2026 (s6adZ)
3
I liked DS9, too, I just thought B5 was better.
I'm currently working my way through Amazon's adaptation of The Expanse, which is mostly pretty good, and has much better space battles than Star Trek-style stuff.
Posted by: Rick C at Mon Mar 23 07:09:31 2026 (1zWbY)
Stop by, Stay "Hi!" Tomorrow Night at 6pm EDT, 10pm UTC And watch me try to learn how to stream again over at https://www.twitch.tv/brickmuppet.
There is not actually going to be a hiatus between March 20 and April 1, it's just not scheduled beyond next week, except for the certainty that we WILL be covering the Artemis 2 launch, which will be the first manned circumlunar flight since 1972!
So. While I was away, did anything happen?
Oh dear.
The murderous, totalitarian regime that is, in addition to oppressing their citizenry to the tune of killing over 30,000 of that same citizenry, has unlocked the achievement worlds largest sponsor of terrorism and advocates for the annihilation of all Jews on the planet, the destruction of the United States...has over the last week, found themselves in a spot of bother.
Possibly the stupidest outrage is that surrounding the sinking of the Iranian WARSHIP by a U.S. submarine. The warship, of a country, we are at war with was, being a warship, a legitimate military target, and was sunk (as is good and proper). It now turns out that warship of the murderous, totalitarian, theocratic nation was WARNED: TWICE which is not something that a submarine is required to do when attacking an antisubmarine escort.
Lawrence Pearson has a good overview of recent events, here.
There is cause for concern as Iran has a lot of terrorists embedded around the world. Recent events indicate that this a real threat....one that will not be averted until this regime is taken down.
1
An interesting question is exactly what time pressures did Trump perceive for accelerating the schedule. Lots of possibilities. Lots that may become clear on waiting.
Posted by: PatBuckman at Tue Mar 10 19:52:58 2026 (rcPLc)
2
In the same article: "The 30,000 figure is also far beyond tallies being compiled by activists methodically assigning names to the dead" but we'll run with it anyway because why not and who's going to object?
Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at Sat Mar 14 17:50:23 2026 (LZ7Bg)
Hobby Space News of the commercial space industry A Babe In The Universe Rather Eclectic Cosmology Encyclopedia Astronautica Superb spacecraft resource The Unwanted Blog Scott Lowther blogs about forgotten aerospace projects and sells amazingly informative articles on the same. Also, there are cats. Transterrestrial Musings Commentary on Infinity...and beyond! Colony WorldsSpace colonization news! The Alternate Energy Blog It's a blog about alternate energy (DUH!) Next Big Future Brian Wang: Tracking our progress to the FUTURE. Nuclear Green Charles Barton, who seems to be either a cool curmudgeon, or a rational hippy, talks about energy policy and the terrible environmental consequences of not going nuclear Energy From Thorium Focuses on the merits of thorium cycle nuclear reactors WizBang Current events commentary...with a wiz and a bang The Gates of Vienna Tenaciously studying a very old war The Anchoress insightful blogging, presumably from the catacombs Murdoc Online"Howling Mad Murdoc" has a millblog...golly! EaglespeakMaritime security matters Commander Salamander Fullbore blackshoe blogging! Belmont Club Richard Fernandez blogs on current events BaldilocksUnderstated and interesting blog on current events The Dissident Frogman French bi-lingual current events blog The "Moderate" VoiceI don't think that word means what they think it does....but this lefty blog is a worthy read nonetheless. Meryl Yourish News, Jews and Meryls' Views Classical Values Eric Scheie blogs about the culture war and its incompatibility with our republic. Jerry Pournell: Chaos ManorOne of Science fictions greats blogs on futurism, current events, technology and wisdom A Distant Soil The website of Colleen Dorans' superb fantasy comic, includes a blog focused on the comic industry, creator issues and human rights. John C. Wright The Sci-Fi/ Fantasy writer muses on a wide range of topics. Now Read This! The founder of the UK Comics Creators Guild blogs on comics past and present. The Rambling Rebuilder Charity, relief work, roleplaying games Rats NestThe Art and rantings of Vince Riley Gorilla Daze Allan Harvey, UK based cartoonist and comics historian has a comicophillic blog! Pulpjunkie Tim Driscoll reviews old movies, silents and talkies, classics and clunkers. Suburban Banshee Just like a suburban Leprechaun....but taller, more dangerous and a certified genius. Satharn's Musings Through TimeThe Crazy Catlady of The Barony of Tir Ysgithr アニ・ノート(Ani-Nouto) Thoughtful, curmudgeonly, otakuism that pulls no punches and suffers no fools. Chizumatic Stephen Den Beste analyzes anime...with a microscope, a slide rule and a tricorder. Wonderduck Anime, Formula One Racing, Sad Girls in Snow...Duck Triumphalism Beta Waffle What will likely be the most thoroughly tested waffle evah! Zoopraxiscope Too In this thrilling sequel to Zoopraxiscope, Don, Middle American Man of Mystery, keeps tabs on anime, orchids, and absurdities. Mahou Meido MeganekkoUbu blogs on Anime, computer games and other non-vital interests Twentysided More geekery than you can shake a stick at Shoplifting in the Marketplace of Ideas Sounds like Plaigarism...but isn't Ambient IronyAll Meenuvians Praise the lathe of the maker! Hail Pixy!!