ProfessorTomoe

It's back. I just lost part of my dinner, immediately after finishing it. The process brought tears to my eyes. I wonder if it's related to how much post-nasal drip I've had today. That's been a huge problem. Then again, the antibiotics and Nexium might need another bout to treat a H. pylori infection. Hell, I don't know. I'm just tired of the situation.

Morning news, telling me how my currently-fantastically-performing 401(k) is going to tank the moment the Dow Jones followers come to their senses.

So, 6:00 p.m. launches, then. Right?

This is pretty much the idea behind my book. That's about as long as the Saturn V was held—just enough to get the engines up to sufficient power to lift that behemoth off of the launch pad. Ignition sequence start took place at around T-7 or T-8 seconds before liftoff. That's the reason for the booster. I think.

Hmm. That's something for me to think about. I don't know if I could describe this in the book without a massive infodump, though. Still thinking about it, though.

The only problem with this is that the craft (and people inside, if any) would have to be able to handle the tremendous acceleration that a railgun would produce. I don't want to put crumpled people into space. A valid point. So, firing at 30,000 feet would be a waste of everything, really. How about this: ignite the rocket at ground level and hold it, like with the Saturn V's hold-down clamps. Release it once it's built up X amount of thrust, and simultaneously block the gravity lines, allowing it to ascend without gravity holding it down. Let it go up Y number of feet, gradually letting gravity lines reattach during ascent, and have it pitch over to gain angular momentum once all the lines are unblocked. Would that work?

... and ... Both of these are concerns, yes. However, my goal in the book is to launch rockets into space at a fraction of what it "used to cost" (we're talking near the end of this century here). There will be some booster activity, but it won't fire until something like 30,000 feet is reached. Now, if they can get the rocket that high and fire a booster (I guess with the rocket oriented at an angle so the booster gives Delta-V as well as a further altitude boost), do you think it could make it to some kind of orbit more cheaply than simply firing the whole thing from the ground? Energy usage for blocking lines (of any of the 4 fundamentals) is going to be a handwaved item in the book. It's a cheap out, but necessary so as to not bog down the story. Like I said, this is "somewhat" rooted in real physics.

Most likely not, unless the atmosphere was affected by the lack of gravity in the zone. I would imagine that natural wind pressure inrush would fill any vacuum created. Then again, I could be wrong. What if it didn't reduce atmospheric pressure? The manipulators could probably lift and guide the rocket into at least the upper stratosphere, if not higher.

Think of it as hazel. It changes its apparent color depending on what she wears.

My sincere condolences.

I wish we could set up a separate "alternative facts" thread. I imagine it would be fun to fill.

I use Rex Conn's Take Command as my "shell" for Windows. Been using it (and its predecessor, 4DOS) for almost as long as VEDIT. In other news, I think the extra antihistamines are finally kicking in. So is the brain fog that they cause.

You have my respect for your perseverance. I could never wrap my head around vim. Wound up using nano for almost everything. Now that I'm back on Windows, I'm back using VEDIT Pro 64 as my text editor. Mrs. Prof let me get it way back in 1992 when it was just VEDIT for DOS. I've kept up my subscription (geez, I'm just now realizing that it's my 25th anniversary with the program!) and even learned the macro language for a while when I was doing programming and writing The Hack Report. My macro-fu is no longer as strong due to lack of recent use, but that's beside the point. The message is, if you need a powerful text editor, you'd be hard-pressed to beat it in the Windows world.

Just had a pint of Harviestoun's "Old Engine Oil" Black Ale. Interesting stuff from Scotland. I'm not thrilled by the aftertaste, but it's good on its way down. The aftertaste is a bit too much like bitter black coffee, but it's tolerable. Should have had a snifter instead of a pint glass for it, though. It'd be good for multiple pints, since it's only 6% ABV. About to have microwave chicken & pasta. And tea.

I hope I can stay within established (and re-confirmed) boundaries here. The new administration has boggled my mind. Why raise such a stink about the reporting of the inaugural crowd size, then come out and state what they're calling this morning "alternative facts" about the issue? Why is this even an issue in the administration's mind in the first place?

No problemo.

@The Old Hack : Is your inbox full? I tried to ask you an offline question, but the system says you can't receive messages.

All I can say is that after what took place Friday, I need to get some alcohol into my system. Time for a trip to the local craft beer store.

I've been on a lot of Tramadol today, and it's starting to take over tonight. I did something that aggravated the 7-year-old compression fracture in my lower spine, and this was just while trying to tape a box shut for UPS delivery. Add the allergies from today (along with other things best left for another thread, if anywhere), and you've got a very non-functional me.

Mrs. Prof was not always the genius that she is today. She grew up in Victoria, TX, a town with no Interstate highways. I learned early on in our relationship that she thought "Frontage Road" was the real name of a street. I had to set her straight on that. Ever since, we laugh at Frontage Road exit signs, forever known as "the world's longest road."

Taquitos from Taco Bueno, with cheese and guacamole dips. And tea.

Miguel Ferrer has died from cancer. Some of his best Twin Peaks moments, including the ultimate one at the end:

Every single day of the rest of your life?

ThankyouverymuchI'llbehereallweektipyourwaitertrytheveal.

I'd give the edge to the whacked knee in the pain expectation department.