Monthly Archives: June 2020

Earliest 3D printer

Va an email from Paul, from a forwarded email (I’m not certain of the whole email chain or original source, but it’s interesting. UPDATE: The note was written by Stan Sieler, and posted on a mailing list called “classic computers”, a list for hobbyists interested in old computer technology and/or the restoration and operation of old computers.  Old, as in anywhere from 20 to 50 or more years old.):

Start quote:
Hi,

Back in 2017, I posted something about seeing a possible first-ever
reference to the idea of 3-D printing in a 1951 issue of Galaxy Science
Fiction magazine.

I stumbled over an even earlier one tonight…

The September, 1941, issue of Astounding Science Fiction magazine has a
story called “Elsewhere” by Caleb Saunders (a pseudonym of Robert A.
Heinlein).  On page 118 we see:

[They used] a single general type of machine to manufacture almost
anything.  They fed into it a plan which Igor called, for want of a better
term, the blueprints.  It was, in fact, a careful scale model of the device
to be manufactured;  the machine retooled itself and produced the artifact.
A three-dimensional pantograph, Igor called the machine, vaguely and
inaccurately.  One of them was, at that moment, molding the bodies of
fighting planes out. of plastic, all in one piece and in one operation.

End Quote

A note to my reps

I wrote the following note to my state Representatives and Senator, and requested a reply. When I get a reply I’ll post that as a follow-up.

If you are a WA state resident, and want to send your rep/sen a note, click here.

=-=-=-=-=-=

Why are you letting a convicted felon run guns in the CHAZ / CHOP?

Raz of CHAZ Distributes AR-15s from Tesla Trunk

EXCLUSIVE: The Mysterious Case of RAZ from CHAZ – BLM Warlord Owns Multiple Guns (including an Uzi), a Tesla, BMW and Jaguar XJ, Millions in Properties, and Is Supported by Dubai Government

If you are silent on such an obvious violation of recently passed state law, and such events do not evoke suspicion in you, then you are tacitly condoning such illegal activity as long as it effectively targets your opposition, much like the Nazis, the Russian NKVD, and Mao’s hit squads, allowed some political violence but not others, and arbitrary enforcement of the law (with is the same as supporting lawlessness). Interesting ideological company you keep.

That way lies civil war and death. (I say this as a student of military history).

Care to comment?

A legal question of orthodoxy

Within the case West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, there is the following passage:

If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.

If I’m reading this correctly, that means that any school district or other government institution that requires you to sign or write a commitment to “diversity” is violating the law. Any legal-beagles out there who can confirm or reject my understanding? It would seem that so many school districts say this, and they to do otherwise would be “against their values,” but then they turn around and say preaching values would be unconstitutional, so you can’t push your biblical interpretation of anything. So… if the WVBoE case is right, then…. they can’t discriminate against you if you think one of their “values” is bull. could that make the basis of a class action lawsuit?

Indulgence

The latest cringe-worthy celebrity PSA is so awesome comments on youtube for it are closed. It is called “I take responsibility.” The write-up at the link is pretty good, so I’d encourage you to hit it. What occurred to me is that their encourage / extorting you to “give to BLM [or other racists / leftwing cause]” to prove your contrition has an exact parallel.

Exact.

The medieval practice of buying an indulgence from the Catholic church to have your sins forgiven. They are morally preening, virtue-signaling without any actual meaning, demanding that YOU must give money to approved donation-plates to be forgiven of your racism and bigotry.  Considering how messed up most of them are, the irony is so thick you could cast battleship armor from it.

Schools are failing boys

I’ve had several rather unsatisfactory interactions with one of my son’s teachers, and the principal of the school he attends. I’ve even gone as high as the head of curriculum and learning, trying to see if factual accuracy where possible was an actual expectation.

Below is a (nearly) final draft of a note I’m considering sending to the Language Arts / Social Studies teacher, the principal, and the curriculum director (all are female). Other than being too long, any thoughts? Continue reading Schools are failing boys