Monthly Archives: September 2014

Russia and China: Just a Coincidence to be Living Near So Many Unhappy Neighbors?

Posted on 30 September, 2014 by alfin2101

Russia and China are Surrounded by Territorial Disputes That Could Become Wars China’s neighbors, for example, “are going on a military spending spree:” China shares a land border with more countries than any other nation on earth — and it … Continue reading →

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Ingenious Nuclear Energy for an Abundant and Expansive Human Future

Posted on 28 September, 2014 by alfin2101

Molten salt reactors, however, are fundamentally different from conventional nuclear reactors. MSRs use a liquid fuel, whereas conventional reactors use a solid fuel – and MSRs operate at atmospheric pressure, whereas conventional reactors are highly pressurized. “The ability to operate … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, expansive future, Nuclear Power | Tagged | 5 Comments

The Stupidity of Renewables, and What Children are Taught in Government Schools

Posted on 27 September, 2014 by alfin2101

Update: How Green is Europe? A hard-numbers dismantling of the “green mystique” of Europe — and an ominous warning for Europe’s future. Natural gas accounts for 22 quads and coal is right behind with a respectable 8 quads. Hydro and … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Energy, Green Quagmire | Tagged , | 2 Comments

What Would a Rational Society Do With Its “Elite Overproduction?”

Posted on 26 September, 2014 by alfin2101

“elite overproduction” … refers to a growing class of elites who are competing for a limited number of elite positions, such as political appointments. __Klint Finley in Wired Magazine Elite overproduction also refers to tenured professorships at elite universities, “thinktank” … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, Competence, Demographics, Europe, Future, Government, Russia | Tagged | 4 Comments

The Empire, Long Divided, Must Unite; Long United, Must Divide

Posted on 24 September, 2014 by alfin2101

Nations are fictions which exist only as long as the right people continue believing in them. __ Attributed to Al Fin For thousands of years, one Chinese dynasty has followed another. But not every dynasty has been able to control … Continue reading →

Posted in Discontinuities, Empire | Tagged | 4 Comments

Not Enough of Russia Left for a Dog to Gnaw On

Posted on 23 September, 2014 by alfin2101

The border, all 2,738 miles of it, is the legacy of the Convention of Peking of 1860 and other unequal pacts between a strong, expanding Russia and a weakened China after the Second Opium War. (Other European powers similarly encroached … Continue reading →

Posted in Russia, Russian Collapse, Siberia | Tagged | 8 Comments

The Long War for Eastern Europe

Posted on 19 September, 2014 by alfin2101

Update: Putin’s Long Game Corrupt and Bloody The Long War for Eastern Europe Has Barely Begun Russian President Vladimir Putin may not be comparable to Adolf Hitler, but he will, nevertheless, keep pushing westwards until he is stopped. ___ http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2014/09/17/the_long_game_in_eastern_europe_110713.html … Continue reading →

Posted in Putin, Russia | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

A Broken Civilisation is Not Easy to Regrow

Posted on 18 September, 2014 by alfin2101

Civilisation is not an easy thing to build in the first place. Not every breeding population can achieve it, no matter how much time it is given. But once civilisation is allowed to break down, bringing it back again can … Continue reading →

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Small Technology and the Death of Big Government

Posted on 17 September, 2014 by alfin2101

As powerful technologies grow smaller, more capable, more affordable, and more concealable, large and oppressive governments grow less viable. If a person can supply his own food, clothing, shelter, security, health care, and means of income — all at a … Continue reading →

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Genes and Violence: Are All Black Males Thugs?

Posted on 16 September, 2014 by alfin2101

The association between violent crime and black males is undeniable. But are all young black males thugs? No, it would be neither fair nor accurate to accuse all young black males of thuggish violence. But violent crime by young black … Continue reading →

Posted in Blacks and crime, Racial Myths | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Russia vs. Africa: Which is Worse?

Posted on 15 September, 2014 by alfin2101

In terms of corruption, violence, risk of doing business, high disease rates, and in many other ways, Russia is very much like Africa. Scan the global maps for different rankings, and note the many similarities between Africa and Russia. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Russia | Tagged | 3 Comments

Disposing of the Corpse

Posted on 13 September, 2014 by alfin2101

Death is a normal part of the cycle of life. If one lives long enough, he is likely to see a good share of corpses. As the global Idiocracy descends upon human populations, it is particularly important for Dangerous Children … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark Enlightenment, Government, Idiocracy | Tagged , | 6 Comments

All of Putin’s Mischief Fails to Push Global Oil Prices Above Fiscal Breakeven

Posted on 12 September, 2014 by alfin2101

Update: Oil prices are cramping Putin’s grand ambitions Update: Can Putin Survive the Global Demand Slump? The world is in flames, with an Islamist terrorist group on the rampage across the Middle East, the White House weighing another fight in … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Fiscal Breakeven Oil Price, Putin, Russia | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Signs of an Educated Person: Falsifiability

Posted on 11 September, 2014 by alfin2101

How do you know whether a claim is true or false? One of the first things to consider is whether or not the claim can ever be proven true, or proven false — and if so, how? The ability to … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy | Tagged | 6 Comments

Low Global Oil Prices Pushing Russia to the Financial Brink

Posted on 10 September, 2014 by alfin2101

Update October 2014: Falling oil prices hurt Russian ambitions of empire Update: Global oil demand slump spells big trouble for Russia One ominous sign that Russia’s corrupt oil/government axis of power is under strain Oil prices have sunk as much … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Energy, Fiscal Breakeven Oil Price, Oil Prices, Russia | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Contradiction and Consistency

Posted on 9 September, 2014 by alfin2101

The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.F. Scott Fitzgerald, “ One of the keys to clear and fertile thinking … Continue reading →

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Sneak Peek: College of the Future?

Posted on 8 September, 2014 by alfin2101

With a 4X higher graduation rate than other similar colleges, Arizona’s Rio Salado College provides a glimpse into some of the innovations that are likely to transform US colleges in the future: There are 600 courses that start on almost … Continue reading →

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A Magical Transformation: Natural Gas to Diesel Fuel & Gasoline

Posted on 6 September, 2014 by alfin2101

It’s not alchemy. Cheap and abundant methane can be converted to more valuable diesel and gasoline (and many other materials) via “gas to liquids” (GTL) processes. Most GTL approaches utilise the Fischer-Tropsch approach, but other chemical methods show promise of … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Is That Daft of Wind Blowing Through Putin’s Brain a Mere Smokescreen?

Posted on 4 September, 2014 by alfin2101

Dugin believes that the Eurasian state must incorporate all of the former Soviet states, members of the socialist block, and perhaps even establish a protectorate over all EU members. In the east, Dugin proposes to go as far as incorporating … Continue reading →

Posted in Putin, Russia | Tagged | 2 Comments

Homemade Firearms: $1200 CNC Mill Makes AR-15 Lower Receiver

Posted on 2 September, 2014 by alfin2101

Get yours now, because the price will soon go up to $1500. Defense Distributed is now selling a $1,200 computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) mill—dubbed the “Ghost Gunner”—that can complete an unfinished lower receiver for an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle as part of a … Continue reading →

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China Just Smiles

Posted on 1 September, 2014 by alfin2101

China is watching the expanding Russian war in Eastern Europe very closely. China is not at all worried. For this conflict, the dragon can only smile. … China has close relationships with the defense industries of both Russia and Ukraine. … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Military, Russia, Russian Collapse, Siberia | Tagged , | 7 Comments