Unpopular opinions

[Giles]

@seawolf I first found out about the Oxcart when reading about the frankly astonishing Brian Shul...

https://theaviationist.com/2023/05/24/the-sled-driver-has-flown-west/

[Giles]

Unpopular opinion - They don't make them like that any more....

[mclaincausey]

@Giles I really wish they would reprint some of his books.

Here is a shot from one of them that used to be a phone wallpaper for me. A coffee table book including such photos and details about the plane would be great.

No question Lockheed skunkworks managed to keep many projects hidden from the public eye, including U2 and the F117. Impressive, though doesn’t lend credence to the moon landing being a hoax.

[pechelman]

slightly off thread topic but on topic for the last few posts, if you have any interest in the SR-71 and havent read it, I'd highly recommend Ben Rich's book on Skunk Works.

[Tago Mago]

@Matt I googled Matt-Bot. I wish I hadn't

[popvulture]

@Nick said in Unpopular opinions:

I do enjoy people arguing about it. Esp flat earth. Watching a YouTube video does not give you the authority to deny actual science from scientists. Not sure if I should laugh or just hold my head in the palm of my hands.

Flat-Earth belief is really peak moronitude, the uncut cocaine version of stupidity. I feel like I need to develop a checklist to present to these folks.

1. Go outside. I know it's hard, but do it.
2. Find a wide open space and pick an object far in the distance.
3. Walk forward and notice how said object appears to rise out of nowhere as you approach.
4. Ponder a curve.
5. Go back home and read anything but your phone. Preferably a book.

[mclaincausey]

It’s just so easily falsified, you really have to be mentally ill or trolling not to accept what was obvious even to the ancients about our planet.

Another obvious falsification is the earth’s shadow on the moon. Why is it always a perfect circle? Why aren’t we getting weird oblong projections?

Reminds me of a meme I saw. Something to the effect of expecting flying cars by now when a kid but instead having to rage “THE EARTH IS ROUND” at morons.

[Giles]

@pechelman said in Unpopular opinions:

I'd highly recommend Ben Rich's book on Skunk Works.

Ordered, as I am fascinated...

[mclaincausey]

Same found a used hardcover. I have a PDF of Sled Driver but would love a hard cover of that. It would be a fun coffee table book.

[Giles]

Yeah, I want Sled Driver too.....

Hard cover £377

[Mister_Brue]

@Giles Ouch.

[Giles]

Or, ever £1,200 plus

[steelworker]

@goosehd said in Unpopular opinions:

You guys are missing one important element in this discussion. @Matt lived in New Mexico for a period of time - Fact. Aliens love New Mexico - Fact. Aliens love to perform experiments on humans - Fact.

Matt saw a reason to leave New Mexico - Fact.

I’ll let you guys come up with your own conclusions.

Yeah, the crocs are actually alien feet. Clever bastard.

[RobeOfTheMagi]

But ... what if the moon does not exist?

[NickD]

What if none of this exists and is all just a figment of my imagination, all of you included?

[goosehd]

@NickD If it is, we need to have a serious talk…also, can you make everyone filthy rich so no one has to work anymore?

[RobeOfTheMagi]

But maybe NickD dreams us but has no agency on how we act.

[mclaincausey]

@RobeOfTheMagi speaking of Buzz, I’ll always appreciate that he blasted a conspiracy theorist in the face.

[NickD]

@RobeOfTheMagi it would explain why I'm not filthy rich too.

[mclaincausey]

@Giles said in Unpopular opinions:

@pechelman said in Unpopular opinions:

I'd highly recommend Ben Rich's book on Skunk Works.

Ordered, as I am fascinated...

@pechelman

Y’all should listen to this podcast about Lockheed. It is lengthy and from the perspective of VC guys but gets into a lot of the history of the skunk works. I am sure they sourced Rich’s book.