A Simple Way To Go Faster Than Light That Does Not Work

Phil Plait on motions within the U.S. Congress towards a space mission that would get the dealie on asteroid Apophis' sinister plans by physically popping a radio beacon onto it, well before its scheduled holy-shit-that-was-close.

I really like the idea of this; it's a very satisfying mode of nerdly assertiveness. We are nervous about the big bruiser sauntering leisurely our way, but rather than wait and hope it doesn't wallop us when it gets here, we send a speedy little robot emissary directly to it. It will say "Howdy, neighbor!" and then slap a bug onto its back. That's excellent.

I am writing the user manual for Gamut. It will be good. You will like it.

I know I'm on the right track in my work when I feel full of existential dread. No joke. It's been true for years, and in areas of my life outside of Volity: When I hit upon something I instinctively know I should do right now, I feel overcome with a sense of personal fragility and mortality. This sounds distressingly Shelleyesque or summat, O that I should fade away naught but dust on the la di da, but it's true. And there ain't no better motivator! Whatever works, I guess.

Also Fluxx 3.1 is in testing; it's right in Gamut's game finder window. You should play it. It is good.