Stephen Smith 🇺🇦
I am a long-time advocate of space exploration, settlement and commerce. Migrated from @WordsmithFL on Twitter.
Joined Nov 2022
@Kinnison I agree. If I were #NASA, I'd ask for another uncrewed test too. But they don't ask for my opinion. 🙄
#Boeing got more money because supposedly they were the trustworthy experienced aerospace company. #SpaceX got less money and had to jump through more hoops, e.g. an abort test. What goes around comes around.
@Kinnison BTW, the original contracts for both #Boeing and #SpaceX guaranteed a minimum of two operational flights with a potential of up to six.
Obviously SpaceX got a new contract for more flights, but Boeing is still guaranteed the minimum of two, unless there's an amendment to the contract I don't know about.
If NASA doesn't fly those flights, presumably they have to pay Boeing for the two operational flights anyway. Unless they negotiate a settlement. (2/2)
@Kinnison #NASA didn't "cancel" #Starliner. Here's what the official press release says (at the bottom of the page):
"NASA is keeping options on the table for how best to achieve system certification, including windows of opportunity for a potential Starliner flight in 2025."
It sounds to me like they're still in test. NASA needs redundancy; they're stuck with this dog vehicle, for better or worse, until it's certified. (1/2)
https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2024/10/15/nasa-updates-2025-commercial-crew-plan/
@singlemaltgirl Not all DQs have Orange Julius. It doesn't hurt to try, though.
When I went home to SoCal in 2014, I went to the L.A. County Fair for the first time in many years, specifically to have an Orange Julius. I found the stand had been torn down. Another part of childhood gone.
The DQ people told me they know it's not the same, for example they no longer use real fresh oranges.
@singlemaltgirl The DQ version is reasonably close, but it's not the same. I have one every rare once in a while to recall my childhood, but I'm under no illusions that it's the real thing.
@singlemaltgirl It's an approximation.
I tell them about how Orange Julius had a long stand at the Los Angeles County Fair where you could watch them slice an orange in half and grind it to make the drink. That doesn't happen any more.
Sometimes DQ tells me they don't have all the ingredients. Would I like one without <fill in the blank>?
Um, no.
@singlemaltgirl The original Orange Julius is no more. Dairy Queen licensed the name but today's receipe is not exactly the same.
Having grown up in SoCal, home of Orange Julius, I tell the local DQ about the "real" Orange Julius and how there were stores all over SoCal. They know it's not the same, but it's what they're sent. No freshly squeezed oranges.
@MLClark Why tell you what you already know?!
Another one that annoys me is the "evil admiral" who always comes in to be the antagonist of the week.
To be more generic, I'd have to give some thought to evil highers-up who come in with some agenda to frak up our protagonists.
@Tacitus_Kilgore I can't wait to see Elon lose his shizzle when the DOJ brings criminal charges against him for trying to bribe voters.
Elon Musk's daily $1 million giveaway to voters could be illegal, experts say.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/20/politics/elon-musk-voter-giveaway-legal-questions/index.html
From #CNN: North Korean soldiers training for deployment in Ukraine.
Comment ... DPRK may view this as an opportunity to get their soldiers some combat experience. I've always suspected that generals like to deploy their soldiers and equipment once in a while to some global hotspot just to keep in practice.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/19/asia/north-korea-ukraine-russia-troops-uniform-intl/index.html
And there's an alligator in my back yard ... 😱
The ducks don't seem to mind, though.
(The photo was taken through a screen, hence the bluriness.)
The Brevard County Supervisor of Elections office makes it easy not only to vote by mail, but also to check the status of your ballot.
I voted by mail two days before Hurricane Milton arrived. I just checked online; my ballot has been received and counted!
If you live in Brevard County and want to vote by mail, you have until October 24 to request a ballot.
https://www.votebrevard.gov/Ballots-by-Mail/Check-My-Mail-Ballot-Status
Tonight's sunset (looking to the west), just before the #SpaceX launch (about to look to the northeast).
Stephen Smith 🇺🇦
I am a long-time advocate of space exploration, settlement and commerce. Migrated from @WordsmithFL on Twitter.
Joined Nov 2022