by Bartender
on November 29, 2022
In Chapter Fifteen (Space Is The Place) I introduced the idea of The Fling without bothering to explain it, hoping the way the chapter unfolds how it operates will be obvious to the alert reader who knows a wee bit of space travel concepts.
What is the deal with that thing? Well, here’s the problem for your intrepid space explorer. If you’re relying on rocket fuel for go-juice the only place you can really fill up your ship is Earth. Once you’ve left the surface and are in orbit, on the moon or on Mars, better hope you took enough with you. That’s not 100% true, there are plans to make fuel on Mars, but it’s not like you can just fill up the tank when you want to like you can on Earth. So what to do? Avoid using fuel!
“The Fling” is a kinetic launch system that quite literally throws the cargo into the sky. A system based on this concept is close to operation, right here on Earth in 2022. You can read about it here. There is a big difference between what they are using at Bradbury Base in the novel and what SpinLaunch is currently doing. The Fling at Bradbury Base is essentially a very large railgun, using magnetic fields to launch the cargo into space, like firing something from a cannon only without the gunpowder.
Why would this be good? Well, gravity on Mars is less than half of Earth and there’s far less atmosphere to fight. From the fuel perspective, you can get to orbit for free, then use the fuel you’re carrying for other things, like docking with something like Phobos station and eventual re-entry.
Solve the fuel shortage problem, by avoiding using fuel!
Keep in mind this novel is meant for humor, entertainment and social commentary. The “science” parts are like horseshoes and hand-grenades, only expected to be “close enough”. If you’d like to calculate how many joules of energy it would take to throw a cargo into space from the surface of Mars and what the magnets would be like, send me your figures and I’ll put them here.
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by Bartender
on November 26, 2022
Back here on Earth Prime, SpaceX is launching a resupply ship to the International Space Station. What does it include? Lots of snacks… Does that sound familiar?
Read more here: https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/26/world/spacex-launch-saturday-iss-dwarf-tomatoes-scn/index.html
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by Bartender
on November 21, 2022
Arnold is staring out the window of the rusty green 1978 Chevy double-cab pickup somewhere in Colorado.
He’s got sunglasses on, and he’s smoking.
And he’s a pig.
He’s down to two cigarettes.
That is a problem. This problem cannot stand.
It’s 20 miles into town.
Can he make it?
He’s a pig on a mission. Cigarettes, smokes, coffin nails.
The dry dusty landscape of Colorado rolls by. Arnold’s in the passenger seat, such as it is and he’s looking at the driver. “Can this fucker pull it off?” Arnold knows it’s about a 50/50 chance that there will have to be violence and he plans to be the one who walks away with all his internal organs intact.
He keeps his big yap shut though, as he can’t actually drive a car on his own, being a pig ‘n that. The rig rattles into the parking lot of the gas station at the far end of town where hope goes to die. There’s cheese fries and the droppings of the emotional leavings of the foodstamps of gawd-aweful desperation.
Arnold watches the driver stick a glock down his pants like he thinks he’s some kind of anti-hero in a Tarrantino nightmare vision. He’s got a toothpick stuck in his mouth like it’s making up for his own personal tobacco problems.
“Ok pig, are you ready to make this happen?”
Who is this pig?
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by Bartender
on November 21, 2022
Tighty-whities. The Stereotypical definition of stereotypical describes what is known as a wife-beater t-shirt, which he has on but he doesn’t have a wife and would not do violence on her if he did. He’s simply not that kind of guy.
He’s staring at the TV. He knows Time Hog is there. The TV is not turned on. It doesn’t need to be. He knows Time Hog is watching.
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by Bartender
on November 20, 2022
Marigold is clearing the bar. The drunks are collapsed in the corners, leaning on things. Marigold pretends to light a cigarette. There are no real cigarettes on Mars because oxygen is not free. And tends to explode if you’re not careful.
The Tiki Bar seems to be accumulating science fiction authors. Marigold slides what looks like a rum and coke to William Gibson. Will looks deep into The Heart of Darkness and sighs.
“The future of yesterday’s past. It’s all in this glass. Cheers.”
As the timekeeper of yesterday’s tomorrow, Marigold has to agree.
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by Bartender
on November 10, 2022
You just can’t make this stuff up.
Many years ago I was in Ron Wyden’s office here in PDX. If you didn’t know, he’s doing good work for us all as a Senator. The staff had a thing for celebrating Darcelle, a local drag queen and inspirational story for all of us.
Where did Darcelle the person live? Just two blocks north of me, just walk up the street and there he/she is…
#howweruinedportland
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by Bartender
on November 9, 2022
“Lanky, long and lean – a laundry-folding machine” he mumbles to himself, a bit of his floppy blonde bangs falling over his deep, dark goggle-like glasses. Hands. Feet. Laundry. Fold.
In his apartment bedroom, Dr. Tomorrow looks up and considers himself in the mirror on his dresser. He stares at his reflection for a moment and then three more. The sun is setting through the window behind him.
“Is this all there is?” he mouths to himself. He looks down at the spotless white turtleneck in his hands.
“This is all there is.”
He gets back to folding.
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by Bartender
on November 8, 2022
It’s fall in Port City, possibly named after the deluge of leaf debris. Zamboni Boy and his mom watch the slow mating dance of leaf collection vehicles. Humans in orange vests and leaf blowers scurry about as if they are tending some great insect queen. The street sweeper rumbles by, brushes gobbling wet leaves into its maw. Zamboni Boy’s mouth drops open. He stares, drawn in by the majesty, the glory a thousand fantasies born.
He points. “Look Mom, it’s a Street Zamboni….”
“Alright kid, let’s get you to piano lessons.” She drags him down the street, still staring after the machines.
“Street Zamboni…”
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by Bartender
on November 6, 2022
Who is Banana Man? Read more here.
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by Bartender
on November 6, 2022
Napoleon and his senior officers are reviewing a map on a hill with a view of the potential battlefield near the town of Waterloo.
The Emperor of the French practically jumps out of his boots when he was startled by a loud horse whinny right in his ear. Surprised he turns around.
And steps right in it. A fresh steaming heap of fresh horse road apples. No horse to be seen anywhere.
“Merde!” he cries astonished looking about for some horse that appeared then vanished without a trace other than the ones he’s just trod upon. How can that be?
From the woods the men hear a nicker, but somehow it sounds more like a snicker.
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