simonbp

https://social.linux.pizza/@simonbp

Linux, Railway, Beer dork; Astrophysics PhD; occasional interplanetary explorer

Minor Planet: 11467
Most typical location: Colorado Front Range
Active Passports: 🇺🇲 🇨🇦 🇮🇪

Public Key

npub10m865zrf2qfmeelcp9dvs3z28dlz30xs7du7l4cfmcpdnqmx84gqwt6gmu

NIP-05 Address

simonbp_at_social.linux.pizza@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs8ana2pp54qyauuluqjkkgg39rkl3ghng0x7006uyauqkesdnr65qprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntqyt8wumn8ghj7ct5d3shxtnwdaehgu3wd3skueqy4yd88

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relay.momostr.pink

atlas.nostr.land

nostr.mom

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Last Notes

2025-09-22 12:44:53 UTC

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Sunday started with a train I've been looking forward to since I read about it, the gauge-changing Golden Pass Express! The first half is pulled by a MOB meter gauge loco, and then halfway that is detached, the carriages reconfigured to standard gauge on a special track, and a BLS standard gauge locomotive added on back. The entire gauge change experience was extremely fast and smooth and almost unnoticeable. After decades of hand wringing I'm so glad someone has finally cracked the gauge change nut.
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/115/248/002/139/757/507/original/7608e605957c4c12.jpg
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/115/248/002/263/580/019/original/4833c876d1a8dcd7.jpg

2025-06-25 14:55:37 UTC

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Second, the biggest winners were kids. From the moment they started the program, there were tons more kids on the bus. In fact, that was the one part they kept, with free fare for under-19s. Now during the school year, my once sleepy bus can get absolutely jammed full of kids on their way to school. It's great in the near term (less giant traffic jams around schools) and long term, some of those kids will grow up unafraid of riding the bus (unlike so many that grow up in the American suburbs).

2025-05-06 14:53:38 UTC

Good news: My first Hubble observation of Pluto for the year worked.
Typically 2025 news: One of the frames has a satellite streak, presumably a Starlink.
(Yes, that happens. No, it's not the first time it's happened to me.)
#astrodon

2025-05-04 02:22:20 UTC

Walked to my local to get the newly awarded world beer cup gold medal American Belgian ale. It's good.
(Three breweries in town won medals; it's a cool place)
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/114/447/160/396/953/631/original/1195028a9a73ec74.jpg

2025-05-02 15:00:18 UTC

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But even then, that doesn't help you. A data center on the ground is just as close to a LEO constellation as something in LEO. The geometry offers no benefits.

2025-05-02 14:26:40 UTC

Orbital data centers are a really, really dumb idea, for innumerable technical, logistical, and purely practical reasons. And buying a space launch company to build them is a terrible waste.
But if you are a tech CEO and all you know is data centers, and you're willing to ignore literally everyone with spaceflight experience, go ahead and waste your ill-gotten adtech money...

2025-04-15 21:08:17 UTC

$500k doesn't seem like much for a whole McDonnell Douglas KC-10 (tanker version of the DC-10). You can barely get a condo here for that.
Should I sell my house, buy a KC-10, and live on the KDEN ramp?
https://www.flyingmag.com/how-to-buy-a-kc-10/
#avgeek

2025-03-27 18:13:07 UTC

GDI, now I gotta deal with Sundance too?
Place is gonna become infested with Hollywood wannabes.
https://deadline.com/2025/03/sundance-boulder-relocation-1236352302/
#boulder

2025-03-27 13:23:49 UTC

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Teal?
It's the color I always think of as the default background for Windows 98.

2025-03-11 23:58:18 UTC

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Crankier than usual (but not wrong)

2025-02-24 22:53:13 UTC

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And then there's the intermediate of a Suica/Pasmo on a phone or watch. Doesn't work for me with a non Japanese android phone, but my girlfriend loved using her Apple watch with a digital Suica. Don't even have to take anything out of your pocket.

2025-02-17 19:22:57 UTC

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At least 3d tvs were rare enough to not fill landfills.
I wonder how many server gpus will end up in landfills.

2025-02-10 19:20:27 UTC

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Not that there are too many lakes around Tucson...

2025-01-31 23:10:42 UTC

"LGBT(Q)" expresses your support for the general queer community, while "LGB" only shows you are a fan of Lehmann Gross Bahn, the popular manufacturer of 45 mm gauge model trains.
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/113/925/489/531/314/727/original/d0722234946f57c7.jpg

2025-01-31 20:33:06 UTC

Arguably the least #QuestionableModelRailroadAccessories , but it's already #caturday in Japan.
Best part is the autotranslated description describing all possible cat activities:
- Incense box sitting
- Yawn
- Stretch
- Walking (1)
- Walking (2)
- Sit
- Face washing
- Grooming
- Intimidation
- Goron
- Lucky cat statue
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/113/924/861/557/515/788/original/9e00bc17dc889965.png

2025-01-22 14:43:49 UTC

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Or tea, in my Mom's case

2025-01-18 16:47:55 UTC

Very cool visit to the System Source Museum in Maryland. Bob, the owner, gave me a tour and it's clearly a labor of love. Highly recommended if you're in the area.
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/113/850/367/225/113/695/original/a463336a6aca8803.jpg
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/113/850/366/977/294/165/original/8792e4ae1e7e79cb.jpg
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/113/850/367/854/151/924/original/5abfa4cac1d0759d.jpg
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/113/850/368/523/403/766/original/65c4156b227aa465.jpg

2025-01-16 16:07:36 UTC

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Yeah, Buran wasn't a launch vehicle, it was a payload. Energia was the launch vehicle.
The liquid boosters for Energia were always intended to be reusable. However, on the two flights of Energia, the parachute covers were empty and the landing legs and retro rockets not installed. So, it wasn't yet an RLV, but very close.
https://www.buran-energia.com/energia/energia-consti-1eretage.php
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/113/838/891/145/924/698/original/66cbbdb65a23da1d.jpg

2025-01-16 14:29:17 UTC

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That's a point. In that case, neither Starship nor New Glenn would qualify. In the case of "a successful recovery with attempt to reuse", Starship would qualify, but not yet New Glenn.
"Recovery attempt on an orbit launch with intent to reuse" is I think the most generous but defensible case, but such things are always arbitrary.

2025-01-16 14:15:52 UTC

Congratulations to the New Glenn team on reaching orbit on first try, and becoming the 4th* Reusable Launch Vehicle to reach orbit.
Looking forward now to the Space Pioneer Tianlong-3 likely being the next, followed by either Rocket Lab Neutron or Stoke Nova. There are also a host of other Chinese launch startups that want to fly RLVs soon, but it's hard to tell how far along they are.
*Shuttle, F9/Heavy, Starship, NG. Energia as flown wasn't yet an RLV. Parts of Ariane 5 and Electron have been ocean recovered, but the stages were not intended to be reused intact.
#NewGlenn #ReusableLaunchVehicle

2024-12-15 01:53:07 UTC

Very few forms of public transport manage to pull off looking like the architects' renderings, but the DC Metro does.
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/113/654/329/954/382/445/original/8a9e6881f239bc53.jpg

2024-11-30 00:08:20 UTC

Misread the assignment and celebrated U Boat Friday. Went down to 103 ft (31 m).
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/113/568/977/547/181/011/original/a241e1d03d9125bd.jpg
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/113/568/979/771/384/816/original/105af9be84c7fb60.jpg
https://cdn.social.linux.pizza/system/media_attachments/files/113/568/983/026/798/249/original/df471ea5ef885770.jpg

2024-11-29 20:58:22 UTC

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Possibly a good idea now that JR Pass now allows Nozomi, but only with reservation, meaning there are more tourists on the Nozomi. But then, possibly irrelevant because JR Pass pricing no longer makes sense.

2024-08-19 15:14:25 UTC

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Legislation is very much needed for that, not rolling stock.
But the newer stock with better suspension will help for the times when the long distance trains are actually able to run at 79 mph, but vibrate like a paint shaker because of the garbage quality track maintenance.

2024-08-19 14:26:14 UTC

A nice summary of #Amtrak's RFP for new trains to replace their 1970s era long distance stock. Notable features:
Most roomettes replaced with smaller solo compartments, reflecting their actual usage. The solo compartments (and most upper decks) would have dome-style skylights!
Lounge is only for sleeper passengers; I'm surprised that they haven't already done this...
There is an accessible core, so a passenger in either the accessible sleeper or the accessible coach (both of those have lifts) can access all the public areas step-free. Massive improvement from now.
And most importantly, an actual digital reservation system, so no more conductors running around with silly hand written paper slips.
https://bureauofadventure.substack.com/p/18-amtraks-next-generation-trains