Posts by Sokolik

Quick chevrons

Don't know about his U.S. Army, but in mine, about 20 years later, Private Basic to Sergeant in two years was, pardon the expression, warp speed. Seems perhaps our friend was a prodigy. Put another way, seems he demonstrated early all the talents and wisdom attributed to him here in this discussion.

Yeah, I know, always the military angle.

Back To The Future*

If I've got this right (by no means certain!), this reminds me of the old days. It was shouted at us, "NEVER INSERT A FLOPPY FROM AN UNKNOWN OR UNTRUSTED SOURCE".

"Floppy". How quaint.

*apologies to Robert Zemeckis, et al

Please help Colonial ignoramus

Sincerely, and with all due respect, could someone please distill this into a newspaper-article lead sentence...something like the classic journo lead-formula of no more than 21 words? I confess my ignorance, every time national or global economics come to attention, my head swims and I get dizzy. Morevor, I was educated as a journo thus am challenged by introduction to something that isn't distilled into a lead sentence.

For what it's worth* (or not), here's what I get; please tell me if I am accurate or inaccurate: Russia has a natural-resource-based economy. Such an economy is unstable and-- as natural resources are finite-- unsustainable. Plus, Russia has reverted to a command economy, only the commands now are issued not by the Party, but by Putin and his indentured klepto-pluto-crats. And, finally-- and this is the bit I feel most important but feel least-sure I've got right: it's all but impossible for free-markets to interact with command markets, leaving the command markets impoverished.

I was shocked to read a bloodthirsty-take-no-prisoners-free-market attributed to China. I mean, yeah, I get it. That description, however, primarily in my mind has been tightly-associated with the Russian economy.

These have been my observations and conclusions both from afar, and also from three visits spanning two decades since the fall of the old union.

At the end of the day: I would like to think I care for the Russian people and have a bit or two of insight to their individual and collective temperament. I know they want the "heavy hand", they want stability, perhaps they don't trust themselves to govern themselves, and are sadly afflicted with a xenophobia that, when there's a problem, instantly points the finger at everyone/everywhere else. Thus, my long-standing conclusion, the Putin dictatorship has been democratic because it is what the Russian people want.

I would like to think I care deeply for the Russian people and culture and thus really want to get this one right.

Sadly, also I would like to know if it it is no longer possible for an anonymous westerner (read, "me") to wander the streets of Moscow or Petersburg outside the tourist zone, in safety and in peace of mind one is not likely to be exploited (read, "framed") by over-eager zealots from FSB and Militsiya.

Just like in the Bad Old Days individual Western wanderers begged to be hassled, framed, and jailed by the KGB.

Please help me with these questions. Thank you.

*apologies to Stephen Stills et al

If I knew anything, I'd have alphabet soup after my name. Yet, I think it's fair to say, "Mr. Nobody" also is based on sound science.

Finally! At last!

And about time: we'll get flying cars!

(born in 1955)

It's Obvious!

Every Colonial Baby-Boomer knows exactly what this is. It's sun glare because some 2d Lt doesn't know to lower the windshield on his Jeep.

Anecdotal Report

First, I concede freely I am in *'way* over my head here. A mere glance at your criteria makes my head swim. However, I offer you these anecdotes: VMWare worked seamlessly with Debian years ago on what would be now an ancient Dell desktop who's specs I no longer remember. Also, as an alternative to virtualization, of course-- though I realize in my ignorance probably I am missing the point-- I had dual-boot. For that, I used GRUB. I had been a Linux (read, "Debian") fanboi for years. Best regards for success.

The Solar Calendar is Wonderful

Happy Solstice to you, too, sir! The solar calendar provides a wonderful necessary rhythm to life. Too bad locked up in our autos and homes, few of us notice it much. However, when my primary transportation was a bicycle, the solar calendar was very noticeable. Living in the northern hemisphere, this day always brings to mind "Here Comes the Sun": we're now on our way back to its primary exposure. Thank you, George, for the great musical addition to this day.

Typewriters, old spacecraft designs, and Night Witches

In the prehistoric, pre I-T days of my USAF service, electric typewriters *were* considered a security risk. And I saw only electric typewrites in my four years of active duty. Typewriters at least used for classified information,, as I recall, were off-the-shelf, but then..."hardened" is the only word coming to mind...by USAF so as to block atmospheric transmission of the keystrokes which could be intercepted...a pre-digital keylogger, as it were. So I can't help wondering if these typewrites purchased by the Russian spooks are electric. Also, it's no secret the Russians are historically-gifted at turning a perceived disadvantage into an advantage...especially at using stuff pre-dating present technology.. Witness the flight -safey record of the venerable, apparently invulnerable, Soyuz vs that of STS. The irony, you can cut it with a dull knife, we Yanks rely on a 50-year-old *Soviet!* design for crewed spaceflight! Further back, remember the Red Air Force "Night Witches" who, with relative immunity to Wehrmacht AAA tech, badgered the Nazis by night in their wood-and-fabric Polykarpov Po-2/U-2's?.

ummm...mountains...

Long-time resident of California's "Great Central Valley" here...passenger trains haven't run that route in decades...yeah, yeah, I know; our "passenger rail" relatively is a tiny scrap of sh*te anyway...still, one way or t'other, ya gotta get over at least one of several mountain...OK, OK, in deference to residents of the Caucusus, Pyrenees, Alps, wherever, "hill" ranges...in the late 19th century this was made possible by an engineering-marvel, the "Tehachapi Loop"...still used daily by gi-normously heavy and lengthy freight trains. Maybe that's the whole point...maybe his system will have the torque and velocity to go straight up grades impossibly-steep with today's technology...thus, no need for a necessarily-wide mountain loop where there ain't no real-estate available or useful anyway...

the children!

won't *somebody please* think of the children?!?

My Bad

Oh, why? am I wasting ever-more precious moments of an old life to respond?!? I know these "Best", "Worst" etc. etc. ad infinitum, ad nauseum lists are akin to trolling. They exist only to generate much heat and light signifying nothing. But I'm sucked into this meaningless void like a moth to its death in the flame (please pardon the unintentional pun).

I freely confess, the fool is me.

End mea culpa. On to the business.

I am baffled by the presence of a couple of entries on the penultimate list. I don't disagree with the final list.

But, I cry out, where o where on the final list are Heaven's Gate and Ishtar?!?

ohhowstupidami...

...I didn't even know Safari is available for Wintel!