Category Archives: Uncategorized

Human Colonies in Space…

I listened to two talks in September that blurred together and definitely inspired me to think more about human colonisation of space, and in particular whether space stations or the surface of planets/moons would be better locations. Colonisation is an old science fiction theme, almost to the point of having become hackneyed without careful thoughtContinue reading “Human Colonies in Space…”

New Deep Sky sketch of NGC 6934…

I just added a scan of my sketch from last night of the field of globular cluster NGC 6934 in Delphinus to my astronomy images page… A globular cluster is a spherical grouping of stars, which formed in the same region of a cool and dense molecular cloud, bound together by gravity, with a higherContinue reading “New Deep Sky sketch of NGC 6934…”

The New World On Mars – What We Can Create on the Red Planet – Robert Zubrin…

In the ‘New World On Mars’, Robert Zubrin lays out what is obviously a thought out programme for how Mars might be colonised by human beings. The book considers both the physical demands for how to travel to Mars and then develop a stable colony utilising in situ materials as much as possible, and theContinue reading “The New World On Mars – What We Can Create on the Red Planet – Robert Zubrin…”

United States – Keeping the Peace, or Addicted to Killing?

The United States has been at war or in conflict with other peoples for roughly 225 of its 250 years of existence. No other nation has, on the face of it, been more war-like in the same period. The reasons for war (declared or otherwise) are varied, and in some cases one might say areContinue reading “United States – Keeping the Peace, or Addicted to Killing?”

Trump is “… strongly considering pulling out of NATO…” – bye then…

The Telegraph reported on 1st April ’26 that President Donald Trump is “… strongly considering pulling the United States out of Nato (sic) after it failed to join his war on Iran.” – the comment can be found in this article. Bye then. At this point, I doubt that any European nation believes that theContinue reading “Trump is “… strongly considering pulling out of NATO…” – bye then…”

Iain M. Banks’ Culture Series:Utopia, Power, and Moral Complexity…

“The Culture” is a series of nine novels and one short story collection written by Iain M. Banks: Consider Phlebas (1987) The Player of Games (1988) Use of Weapons (1990) The State of the Art (1989) Excession (1996) Inversions (1998) Look to Windward (2000) Matter (2008) Surface Detail (2010) The Hydrogen Sonata (2012) “The Culture”Continue reading “Iain M. Banks’ Culture Series:Utopia, Power, and Moral Complexity…”

The gulf between the USA and Europe continues to widen, and now sucks in sport…

I noted reports that both the USA team, and the US Vice President, J. D. Vance, were booed by the audience at the opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Apparently this has not been reported openly across USA media. Resentment had been building against the USA for reportedly sending ICE agents toContinue reading “The gulf between the USA and Europe continues to widen, and now sucks in sport…”

An In-depth Review of Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation” Series of Novels…

This is a long article, intended to summarise and celebrate Isaac Asimov’s seminal science fiction (SF) series. Isaac Asimov was one of the most influential SF writers of the twentieth century. Born in Petrovichi, Russia, sometime between 4th October 1919 and 2nd January 1920, his family emigrated to the United States of America in 1923.Continue reading “An In-depth Review of Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation” Series of Novels…”