Friday, October 3, 2025

Hey. It is, as promised, spooky season. But I don't feel any different.

Item 1: a link

I loved reading the story about the history and actual operation of this mechanical navigation computer, designed for the Soviet space program. It's pretty awe-inspiring to think about navigating in space using physical mechanisms, rather than electronic programming running on silicon computers (It's also kind of awe-inspiring to think about doing it using electronic programming running on general purpose silicon computers).

Loyal Wolmania readers may recall this other old navigation device, which was technically digital but (in my opinion) emotionally analog.

Item 2: a list

Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, Ranked:

1. Knees
2. Heads
3. Shoulders
4. Toes

Item 3: a media recommendation

Item 4: word of the week

Agorism

For the person who looks around and thinks, "I wish I were more at the mercy of predatory corporations and amoral opportunists", may I suggest: agorism?

Item 5: a photograph

See ya!

Thanks for reading – see you again next week.