Astromart

September 25, 2010 02:49 AM Forum: Investment Discussions

Coca-Cola Bought CCE

I need a little help with this one... from just the names, it sounds like a non-event. wink

October 14, 2010 03:21 AM Forum: Investment Discussions

The reversal ended up being the briefest of dips -- one day, in fact. But gold is very heavily into the overbought range at this point looking at the trend channel which the tape is racing towards the top of. The chart is going positively parabolic, showing the appearance of a 'blowoff' rally that precedes a hard crash.

April 5, 2005 03:58 PM Forum: Polls

Manned Missions to Space

Posted By Paul Kammueller

We've outgrown Earth. This planet cannot accommodate us anymore.

In this century, our power output will grow well beyond the planet's capacity to absorb and dissipate it. Our resource needs are growing beyond the planet's capacity to supply them.

We reach into space, or the game is over.

April 7, 2005 03:17 PM Forum: Polls

Manned Missions to Space

Posted By Paul Kammueller

Kevin Conville said:
Continue with unmanned missions for the pure science of it but leave the people on Earth.

This has always sounded weird to me, this 'leave people on earth' thing. For how long? Until the next asteroid hits and wipes us out? Until the next super-volcano erupts and exterminates 90% of all life? Until the Sun goes red giant and incinerates every living thing on the planet?

Exploration means, ultimately, the next stage in evolution. On to bigger and better things. Man venturing into space is like the first sea creature that ventured onto land. It is taking things to the Next Level.

Staying on Earth means eventual extinction. Staying on Earth for the duration of the species is like living with your parents your whole life and never venturing outside.

I say, if we're just going to sit on this planet and wait to die off, then what is the point of even being here at all?

April 6, 2005 02:44 AM Forum: Polls

Manned Missions to Space

Posted By Paul Kammueller

Basically you have exponentially growing energy output occurring in a finite environment. Virtually every bit of energy used is eventually vented into that finite environment as waste heat. You can't cheat the laws of thermodynamics.

The rate at which Earth can dissipate thermal energy is limited by its parameters of size and surface area, and to some extent its atmospheric properties.

Say you have a finite-sized piggy bank. Throw a penny into it. Now double it. Double it again. And again, and again... etc. Before long the piggy bank breaks.

April 11, 2005 01:28 PM Forum: Polls

Manned Missions to Space

Posted By Paul Kammueller

I'm not saying we shouldn't try to clean up our act here too. I just don't accept that these are mutually exclusive tasks as you seem to think. Should we just put a halt on all technological and scientific progress until we have all our political and social problems solved?

We know that the reality, of course, is that life on Earth will never be absolutely perfect. Sure, Neverland and Oz are fun to tell stories about, but let's be realistic, if we really want to wait for Nirvana on Earth before we expand into space, well we might as well just nuke ourselves now because we'll never get out there then.

>BTW, asteroids strike other planets Paul.<

Not all of them at the same time. The point is that the more environments a species has, the better chance it has to survive a disaster that strikes one of those environments.

April 11, 2005 01:56 PM Forum: Polls