# Technology doesn't work that way - SamuelA's Pit Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 3, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420 "2017-12-03T00:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 77
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1521 "2019-08-26T20:14:55Z")
> [@naita](#): > > [More SamA environmentalism trolling](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=881026). I think he’s both dumb enough to think the total oil consumption in the world is a fixed number, and dick enough to only post to rile people up with his superior non-PC brilliance. I like how the last four posts aren’t directly addressing the git. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1522 "2019-08-27T00:54:22Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > I’ve never paid a lot of attention to **SamuelA** , but a couple weeks ago he did drop into a little discussion of ransomware and encryption in general to tell me i didn’t know what I was talking about. He did this by making a wild misstatement of fact, then questioning my qualifications when I asked him for a cite. That was kinda annoying. I don’t claim to know much about much, but I do actually teach cybersecurity for a living. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=880110](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=880110) I’m glad that I didn’t see that thread. I’m itching to jump in, but I think it’s better to let it lie. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1523 "2019-08-27T01:20:39Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I’m glad that I didn’t see that thread. I’m itching to jump in, but I think it’s better to let it lie. Yeah, prolly so. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1524 "2019-08-27T03:40:57Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > I’ve never paid a lot of attention to **SamuelA** , but a couple weeks ago he did drop into a little discussion of ransomware and encryption in general to tell me i didn’t know what I was talking about. He did this by making a wild misstatement of fact, then questioning my qualifications when I asked him for a cite. That was kinda annoying. I don’t claim to know much about much, but I do actually teach cybersecurity for a living. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=880110](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=880110) You’re in good company. This board has many experts and professionals from a wide variety of different fields and Sammy has argued with all of them. [He even explains his SOP here.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21689252&postcount=952) Basically the way it works is that Sammy stumbles across some idiotic factoid in some discreditable pseudo-scientific garbage like _SuperFreakonomics_, applies his giant throbbing brain to extrapolating this factoid to comically simplistic and grossly incorrect conclusions about how the world works, and considers that to be a sound basis for arguing with people who have devoted their entire careers to a specific field of science or technology. That’s just how Sammy rolls. That is in effect what this whole lengthy Pit thread is about – not that Sammy deserves the attention, it’s more that in this world of sin and woe, we can always use a laugh, and Sammy’s solemn pontifications are always a boundless source of comic relief. Although since quietly returning from a 30-day suspension Sammy has been cranking up the idiocy to such a fearsome extent that I suspect it’s deliberate trolling, because not even Sammy could be _ **that** _ stupid. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1525 "2019-08-27T15:13:13Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > Given that 1 “Just” = √(-1) ∙ 3.762 x 10^109 nanobots, 1 “Could” is 1/12 of a “Just” and is = √(-1) ∙ 3.135 x 10^108 nanobots. One “Could” is equal to the imaginary power of [3.135 x 10^8 times one googol](https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=3.135+x+10%5E108) [10x10^100] of nanobots’ power. [3.135 x 10^8 times a ‘nano’ of any unit equals 0.3135 units] > > What does this mean in practice? This means that with one dim (0.3135 W)-witted idea times one Google search, **SamuelA** will post it. I think we’ve seen plenty of examples where this has been the case. > > That’s open to debate. > > Before I forget, here’s a status on the _Great **SamuelA** Cheeto Banning Challenge 2019_ competition: > Round #2 will open up on October 1st. > > Here’s the rub: **SamuelA** has a pretty predictable pattern, where he’ll post all “nice-nice” for a period of time, offering “advice” and “facts/opinions” on things, and generally keeping his head down. Then he’ll fall into some sort of funk, will expose another trace of racism, and when called on it, will spiral down into another crash. With his suspension recently lifted, I think you can see the tone of his posts being “nice,” but now shifting down into a lower-brow sort of path. It’s a matter of time before we see the real **SamuelA** expose himself again, and I think that’ll coincide with the opening of Round #2. Fresh Cheetos will be provided to the winner. But I digress. . . > ------Shifting Gears----- > > I’d like to ask a few questions . . . > > I remember reading about Orion. It was, as you call it, a “thought experiment” that never left ‘paperspace.’ How would propulsion charges help you? And how would you expect to generate sufficient blast overpressure in a vaccum? > > The Kiwi and NERVA experiments worked better for propulsion, and are far more feasible to manufacture and use. I’ll toss you a bone, and tell you to look those up instead. . . Get back with us after you’re done. > > Pretty sure that with that post you’d made, you’re doing some **vast** oversimplifications and handwaving, that you’ll need to address before you say “you can.” To wit: > > [ul] > [li]How are you going to anchor foundations into a \>45-degree slope, in a potentially non-bedrock environment? How are you going to guard for seismic issues?[/li][li]Will you be using a suspension architecture, cantilever, or post-and-rod architecture for the towers to run your cable cars?[/li][li]What mixture of concretes will you use for the altitute/vapor pressure differentials? How will you supply that concrete, and other building materials to the site?[/li][li]How will you provide the infrastructure necessary (power, water, sewer, comms) to continue with the production on site in one of the most austere environments on Earth?[/li][li]What is your lifecycle maintenance plan for this project? “Who will maintain all of the moving parts at 29,500+ feet?” What special materials (i.e. lubricants and fuels) will you need to substitute at higher altitudes and extreme climactic conditions?[/li][li]What does your cost-benefit analysis tell you about the engineering methods necessary to scale the height and span the distances? Is existing architecture used in the 5-10k foot altitude sufficient?[/li][li]What are the political and economic limitations on your project that will drive the architectural and engineering principles to make this thing come to life? (What are your constraints? Do you really believe the Nepalese government will allow this?)[/li][li]Most importantly: **Why are you recommending this project be built?** What problems does it solve? Are you installing this for the benefit of one person per year, or is there a greater market? [/li][/ul] > > Why do you need a cable-car when even you, someone who claimed to be an Army medic, would realize that _a Harvest Falcon 4-bed EMEDS kit (Ref 1-3), hauled up the mountain to the nearest safe escarpment, would provide at least a Role 2 medical capability_\* (advanced trauma management and emergency medical treatment) to stabilize the injured/ill person until they can be brought down the mountain. No drilling, no concrete, just lay out the assets and provide a staff, with the most difficult part being getting a power cable up the mountain. Infinitely more practical than a cable car or ski lift up one of the remaining majestic adventures on the planet. > > But if you want to prove that your cable car is feasible, start by addressing the above list. > > These are weasel-words, because you have not done any homework (see above) to address real-world concerns. But, I don’t know where this idea came forward, or what it was meant to address. . . I suspect it came from another thread, addressing another topic, and I will defer to your OP there. Please link to the original thread where you proposed the idea of a cable-car up Mount Everest, so we can have some context. > > Tripler > \*Note: I’m old-school and am used to Harvest Falcon. I understand the Air Force is evolving to a new system. > > [sub] > Reference 1: AFTTP 3-42.7, _Aerospace Medical Contingency Ground Support System_, 10 Oct 2013 > Reference 2: AFH 10-222, Volume 2, _Bare Base Assets_, 6 Feb 2012 > Reference 3: AFPAM 10-219 Volume 5, _Bare Base Conceptual Planning_, 4 April 2013.[/sub] Cool. Note my definition of feasible is “given a budget up to the NASA Apollo program budget in constant dollars, and customizations of existing technology, the project could be completed”. I see it as physically realizable under those constraints. It could become real, it’s not impossible. Then for this problem I just need to note that: You can skip the glaciers with suspension links You can build 100m of cableway starting from the base town. With space suits, you could build the last 100m to the peak of Everest, given limitless supplies and equipment from the past 15 kilometer cableway. Rest is just extensions of the above two cases. Dynamic programming. So to disprove it you would need to come up with a possible problem that NASA of 1969 couldn’t solve. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1526 "2019-08-27T16:05:28Z")
Sammy, you are too dumb to even argue against. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1527 "2019-08-27T16:34:49Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > Also noted that he’s been avoiding this thread, but has been posting infrequently. One of which has been a [thinly-veiled](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21810955) question on how to use E-Verify to . . . **He’s been pretty milquetoast,** with one or two exceptions since his suspension, but I noted his reliance–again–on databases and computer technology to solve social/political issues. I see this kind of thing in lots of places. One other site I hang around has had a number of discussions about self-driving/autonomous cars. there seems to be a depressingly large number of geeks (usually ardent Elon Musk fans) for whom the solution to everything is machine learning/neural nets and those solutions are easy and will be ready in a couple of years because of course they will. “Elon said they’re collecting tons of data, so you just use machine learning with neural net and Full Self Driving will be here in 2020!” ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1528 "2019-08-27T19:31:38Z")
Oh, and regarding Orion propulsion charges: these are nukes with propellant on one side of the weapon. When the nuke detonates the light and heat vaporizes and accelerates the propellant. This cone of high velocity propellant hits a metal plate on the rocket and transfers momentum. This sudden impulse has the advantage, allegedly, of more ISP than NERVA (it’s hotter gas) Umm in reality as a paper study I am not sure if they addressed heating or ablation losses, ablated material “counts” as part of the propellant efficiency (ISP) calculation. Anyways you could in theory anchor an Orion drive engine to an asteroid and push it, or if it’s a nickel iron asteroid, skip the engine and use the propulsion charges directly. (Aim the high velocity jets of each detonation at it’s center of mass) Given the fact that Orion drive works incredibly well in atmosphere it would let you launch enormous spacecraft with massive payloads. This seems like an obvious thing to try if a civilization ending astroid is coming. But sure, we all die eventually, why bother trying. Just accept our fates. That’s you. Everyone in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1529 "2019-08-28T01:39:12Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > But sure, we all die eventually, why bother trying. Just accept our fates. That’s you. Everyone in this thread. No, please, you are mankind’s last hope! Never give up! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1530 "2019-08-28T02:56:55Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Oh, and regarding Orion propulsion charges: these are nukes with propellant on one side of the weapon. When the nuke detonates the light and heat vaporizes and accelerates the propellant. > > This cone of high velocity propellant hits a metal plate on the rocket and transfers momentum. > > This sudden impulse has the advantage, allegedly, of more ISP than NERVA (it’s hotter gas) > > Umm in reality as a paper study I am not sure if they addressed heating or ablation losses, ablated material “counts” as part of the propellant efficiency (ISP) calculation. > > Anyways you could in theory anchor an Orion drive engine to an asteroid and push it, or if it’s a nickel iron asteroid, skip the engine and use the propulsion charges directly. (Aim the high velocity jets of each detonation at it’s center of mass) > > Given the fact that Orion drive works incredibly well in atmosphere it would let you launch enormous spacecraft with massive payloads. This seems like an obvious thing to try if a civilization ending astroid is coming. > > But sure, we all die eventually, why bother trying. Just accept our fates. That’s you. Everyone in this thread. Are you now saying that we can achieve immortality? ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1531 "2019-08-29T01:05:34Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > Also noted that he’s been avoiding this thread, but has been posting infrequently. One of which has been a [thinly-veiled](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21810955) question on how to use E-Verify to . . . **He’s been pretty milquetoast,** with one or two exceptions since his suspension, but I noted his reliance–again–on databases and computer technology to solve social/political issues. “He’s been pretty milquetoast” Well, shit. See, I don’t want to get banned. Not because it would affect me in any real way, but because I don’t want to read the post where the Cheetos winner posts a selfie of his/her cheese covered hands and gloats at how delicious they taste on such a glorious occasion. But now I wonder if maybe that was your plan all along. I mean, you were a military officer, you know how to lead difficult to lead soldiers with mixtures of positive and negative reinforcement. Maybe you planned it this way and by staying within the lines on here you’re getting exactly what you wanted… Finally, what’s “thinly veiled” about talking about making illegal immigrants not depress the labor market for red blooded American citizens that you once swore to protect? If you read further I even conclude that the ones who have been here a long time were **de facto paid to be here** and I coming to the obvious conclusion that illegal immigrants shouldn’t be thought of as these hordes of “others” invading the USA. They should be thought of as cigar smoking assholes in large business flouting the law on minimum wage and hiring citizens and these villains are **paying** the hordes of third world residents to evade the border. They are the **actual** criminals. Not the poor, destitute illegal immigrants seeking a better life. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1532 "2019-08-29T02:48:13Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > They should be thought of as cigar smoking assholes in large business flouting the law on minimum wage and hiring citizens and these villains are **paying** the hordes of third world residents to evade the border. They are the **actual** criminals. Not the poor, destitute illegal immigrants seeking a better life. This might be the first time I’ve read something you wrote and agree with you. I share this opinion. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1533 "2019-08-29T02:58:12Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > This might be the first time I’ve read something you wrote and agree with you. I share this opinion. Technically if my ignorance level goes from 100% (the opinions of the posters in this thread) to 99.9999%, ignorance has been decreased. ---
**Author:** ![tricoteuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tricoteuse/32/4334_2.png) [@tricoteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tricoteuse)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1534 "2019-08-29T13:58:00Z")
[Now he has the brilliant idea to stick basically a giant picnic table umbrella in space to block the sun from heating up the ocean, so hurricanes can’t form.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=881179) That’s like something from the Who Shot Montgomery Burns cliffhanger! Tripler can I have September 13 in your pool? It’s Friday the 13 th and I have a good feeling about it! ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1535 "2019-08-29T13:59:31Z")
I might agree with you more if I didn’t think “cigar chomping assholes” was just an attempt to distract from your racism. “Red blooded American citizens?” What color blood do you think the immigrants have? Oh right, they’re different from us. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1536 "2019-08-29T14:19:09Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Technically if my ignorance level goes from 100% (the opinions of the posters in this thread) to 99.9999%, ignorance has been decreased. If you spread 0.0001% less ignorance, you are still increasing the amount of ignorance by _slightly_ less than one metric shit-ton, rather than full metric shit-ton you usually spew. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1537 "2019-08-29T15:52:54Z")
In the future, they’re gonna thaw his brain out just for the LOLs. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1538 "2019-08-29T17:15:03Z")
I think the written record will be good enough. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1539 "2019-08-29T17:50:52Z")
Maybe we could convince Sammy to freeze himself, like, right now, thus preserving his enormous throbbing brain for the benefit of future generations. I know it’s a horrible thing to do to blameless future generations, but the appeal of shutting him the fuck up is irresistible. I say let the future take care of itself – maybe they’ll invent a miracle therapy that replaces the obsessive need to bloviate with some maturity and humility. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/1540 "2019-08-29T19:39:59Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I might agree with you more if I didn’t think “cigar chomping assholes” was just an attempt to distract from your racism. “Red blooded American citizens?” What color blood do you think the immigrants have? Oh right, they’re different from us. But it’s a common term: [https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/8qrn9m/what\_is\_meant\_by\_the\_phrase\_redblooded\_american/](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/8qrn9m/what_is_meant_by_the_phrase_redblooded_american/) Good grief I’m defending SamuelA (shudder) but in this case the terminology fits, since it’s evoking patriotism (ironically?) and wasn’t intended literally. Can somebody change the subject? I don’t like doing this. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420.md?page=76) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420.md?page=78)