Bitchin Dave's Newsletter

 

June 7, 2023 Insights, news, ramblings, and other serious nonsense from Dave

Dave’s Musings

I find it intriguing how as humans we keep learning new things, even when it seems to contradict things we thought we knew. Take the James Webb Space Telescope, and consider that it is providing some unexpected things. And as a result, maybe the universe isn't exactly what we assumed.

But that's the point of a scientific theory. As scientists, we come up with a plausible explanation based on available evidence. It has been tested and repeated to become widely accepted as a scientific theory.

The cool part though is that it is always subject to review and modification. Sometimes, these theories can be challenged by new evidence. And then the revised theory will be tested until it becomes widely accepted.

I know not everyone quite gets that, but its one of the things that is at the core of science and discovery. We continually learn and update what we know. There are very few absolutes, and there is no clinging to "this is how its always been."

The JWST can point us to new theories and new ways of looking at the world.

Arthur C. Clarke once posited that communications and power could be relayed between satellites and the Earth. Of course, global communications came to pass, with satellites in orbit that can find your position on Earth, or connect you to the internet. But the idea of power from space was well ahead of its time. Until now. CalTech is attempting to use micro satellites to collect power in order to beam it to Earth. Sounds like science fiction doesn't it? But yet, the launch was in January, and now its being tested out. https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/in-a-first-caltechs-space-solar-power-demonstrator-wirelessly-transmits-power-in-space

AM radio has been in the news lately. Car companies want to stop including them in cars. And several electric cars have already done so due to interference from the electric motors. And anyway, AM radio has mostly served its purpose and is "dying" anyway. But for those of us who grew up with it - in the days before the internet or even cable TV - they were a part of life. And at night, the signal changed. Why? Because of physics. Its about the atmospheric conditions that impact the wavelengths used, essentially. But you can read the details here. https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/in-a-first-caltechs-space-solar-power-demonstrator-wirelessly-transmits-power-in-space

Quirky News

Last week on 60 Minutes, there was a piece titled How an Air Force veteran discovered his new house was the seat of a plantation where his ancestors were enslaved Much as the title suggests, its a fascinating tale about a man who unintentionally purchased a house (and the acreage) that was once part of a plantation ..... and that plantation is where his ancestors lived, worked as slaves, and died.  The house they once occupied still stands, and their graveyard is on his property.  What an interesting turn of events.   https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sharswood-air-force-veteran-plantation-ancestors-reclaiming-history-60-minutes-transcript-2023-05-28/

There was a story from November about a team of researchers, working on a project off the coast of Florida, who found a large section of the Challenger space shuttle from 1986.  https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/piece-challenger-space-shuttle-discovered-bottom-atlantic-floridas-coa-rcna56653

One Little Spark …  … for your imagination

This past weekend was the "Wear Orange Weekend" to commemorate the victims of gun violence.

Its unconscionable when you consider that roughly 43,000 people are killed each year in the US due to gun violence, and another 76,000 are wounded.  That number alone should give us all pause to consider just how pervasive this is, and one would think it SHOULD lead us to have a rational and honest discussion about the Second Amendment and its full context.  

Perhaps the lack of an Oxford comma is a concern, but the word "well regulated" do appear.  Can we talk about it?

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Dave’s latest video

I'm talking about "Park Assist" on the Tesla. Its a little unusual, since it only uses cameras. I believe its a work in progress. Watch here: https://youtu.be/Xh2e2ZhStSY

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