Jonathan Duncan retweeted
Artemis II - Next up, crew walkout from the O&C to the pad.
PS You like rocket views? We got rocket views:
youtube.com/watch?v=8c-GAkIz…
Hey, @NathanFillion! Have you heard that you are trying to bring back Firefly?! 😍 🚀
#bringbackfirefly
instagram.com/reel/DV6Js56jT…
Jonathan Duncan retweeted
A guy with a YouTube channel just accidentally redesigned the most complex machine in human history.
Not an aerospace engineer. Not a SpaceX executive.
A guy with a camera who asked one obvious question.
Tim Dodd was walking around Starbase when Musk proudly explained how the Super Heavy booster eliminated its entire cold gas thruster system. Instead of a separate, heavy, complex mechanism, it just vents hot gas directly from the propellant tanks.
Elegant. Zero added mass. Zero extra failure points.
Dodd asked one question.
“But this is only for the booster, right?”
Musk stopped.
Not to defend. Not to explain. Not to reframe the question so it didn’t threaten what he had just said.
He stopped because something clicked.
Musk: “Yes. Although arguably, now you mention it… we might be wise to do this for the ship, too. Now that… we’re going to fix that.”
Mid-sentence. In real time. On camera.
No pause to protect his pride. No deflection. No “good point, let me circle back on that.” Just the immediate, unfiltered acknowledgment that a better path existed and they were going to take it.
Seven months later, Musk confirmed it was one of the biggest improvements ever made to the vehicle.
Think about what just happened.
To change a fundamental flight system at a legacy aerospace company requires years of environmental reviews, safety committees, and budget approvals.
Musk deprecated an entire subsystem in 15 seconds because a podcaster asked the obvious question that nobody inside had dared to ask.
In a traditional corporation, that cold gas system gets built anyway.
Because admitting the architecture is flawed is politically expensive.
The VP doesn’t want to lose the headcount.
The engineers don’t want to scrap the work.
The manager doesn’t want to explain the pivot to their director.
And so the mistake gets a budget. Gets a timeline. Gets a team assigned to it.
The machine gets heavier. The flaw becomes load-bearing. And eventually the flaw becomes so embedded in the structure that fixing it would require tearing down everything built around it.
So nobody fixes it.
Now think about the last time someone pointed out a flaw in something you built. Something you were proud of. Something you had already explained to twelve people without anyone questioning it.
Did you stop the way Musk stopped?
Or did you feel that heat in your chest. That reflexive need to explain why they were missing the point. Why the context was more complicated than they understood. Why the question, though interesting, didn’t really apply here.
That heat is the most expensive thing most organizations will ever pay for.
A failed launch at least tells you the truth.
A defended mistake just compounds.
This is the organizational architecture required to win the AI arms race.
The ultimate moat isn’t compute. It isn’t capital.
It is the velocity of error correction.
The geopolitical AI race will not be won by whoever starts with the best blueprint.
It will be won by whoever can feel that heat in their chest and choose the truth anyway.
A journalist asked a question. The best answer won.
The rocket got lighter.
Most egos don’t.
I can vouch for the veracity of this post.
One of the most damaging myths young people believe is that the adults around them have life figured out. That somewhere along the way, a switch flipped and everything just started making sense.
I know this because I see it every time I speak to a room full of young people. They're often anxious and look at a quickly changing economy and wonder if they, too, can figure things out enough to be successful.
Here's what I wish someone had told me earlier: the people you admire most are making it up as they go.
That business owner you think had a master plan? They probably failed at three other ventures first. That leader who seems so composed in every meeting? They're looking up answers to basic questions at 11pm just like you. Adults have simply gotten better at projecting confidence while quietly figuring things out in real time.
Success is not a straight line. It's a messy, repetitive process of trying things, falling short, adjusting, and trying again. The entrepreneur you look up to didn't sit down one day with a flawless blueprint. They experimented. They pivoted. They built something, watched it break, and started over with slightly better instincts than before.
That cycle repeated dozens or even hundreds of times before anything resembling "success" showed up. (This is my situation too)
The most powerful thing I've ever been able to share with a young audience is this: nobody knows what they're doing, and everything is figureoutable.
You can almost feel the tension leave the room. Shoulders relax. Eyes light up a little. Beacuse suddenly the pressure to have a perfect plan evaporates. They realize they don't need to compare their uncertain beginning to someone else's polished highlight reel.
If you're young and feeling paralyzed by the idea that you should already know your path, let this be your permission slip to stop waiting and start doing. Put in the reps. Try something. Let it fail. You won't be "behind" - that's just part of the process. It's exactly how it works for everyone, at every stage.
The journey is the thing. Enjoy it.
Jonathan Duncan retweeted
On this day in 1913, the 16th Amendment was ratified, giving Congress the power to levy an income tax.
At the time, Americans were promised this would only affect the wealthy. And technically, they were telling the truth. The original tax applied to incomes above $3,000 for individuals and $4,000 for married couples.
In today's dollars? That $3,000 threshold would be worth over $1 million.
The rates were modest: just 1% on most taxable income, climbing to a maximum of 7% for those earning over $500,000 (roughly $15 million today). Less than 1% of the population paid anything at all.
"Don't worry," the argument went. "This is just for the Rockefellers and the Carnegies. It will never affect ordinary Americans." Sound familiar?
Within just four years, rates jumped to 67% as World War I spending exploded. By World War II, the top rate hit 94%. More importantly, what had been a CLASS tax on the wealthy became a MASS tax on the middle class.
Before the war, only 7% of Americans paid income tax. By 1944, that number was 64%.
The camel's nose was in the tent. Then came the neck. Then the whole camel moved in and made itself comfortable.
Today, income tax applies to nearly two-thirds of all Americans. The 1040 form that started as three pages is now accompanied by instructions running over 100 pages. The IRS employs over 80,000 people. And the tax that was "only for millionaires" now takes a significant chunk from workers earning $50,000.
This pattern repeats itself because we let it.
Right now in California, there's a proposal called the "Billionaire Tax Act" that would impose a one-time 5% wealth tax on the state's approximately 255 billionaires. The pitch is familiar: "It's just for billionaires. It will fund healthcare. The ultra-wealthy can easily afford it."
Maybe they can. That's not the point.
The point is what happens next.
Government programs never shrink. Revenue "needs" never decrease. And taxes marketed as targeting "the rich" have a historical pattern of trickling down to everyone else.
California already tried a wealth tax proposal in 2024 that would have applied a 1% tax to those with $50 million and 1.5% to billionaires. Notice the threshold was already lower. Give it a few years, and any "wealth tax" will apply to anyone with a paid-off house and a retirement account.
Some might call this speculation. I call it the lesson of the 16th Amendment playing out in real time.
The 16th Amendment should serve as a permanent reminder: When govt. asks for a small power that will "only affect" a small group, the power never stays small and the group never stays limited.
Every expansion of govt. authority, every new tax, every "temporary" measure that only targets those who "can afford it" is a precedent. And precedents have a way of growing.
The time to object is not when the tax collector comes for you. By then, it's too late. The time to object is when the principle is being established, even if you're not personally affected.
Especially if you're not personally affected.
That's the lesson of February 3, 1913. We didn't learn it then. We have another chance to learn it now.
Jonathan Duncan retweeted
In 1783, King George III asked an American painter what George Washington would do now that he had virtually won the war. The painter replied that the General intended to return to his farm in Virginia. The King was stunned. He reportedly said, "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world."
Throughout history, victorious generals almost always seized the throne. From Caesar to Cromwell, military success usually meant political dictatorship. The concept of voluntarily walking away from absolute power was practically unheard of. But George Washington wasn't like other men.
By December 4, 1783, the British surrender at Yorktown was past, and peace was finally assured. Washington commanded a powerful, seasoned army that adored him. Conversely, many of his officers were unpaid and angry at the inefficient Congress. They had the guns, the manpower, and the loyalty to install a new monarch. He could have been King George I of America.
Instead, on this day in history, Washington walked into the Long Room at Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan. The room was filled with his most loyal officers—men like Henry Knox and Baron von Steuben—who had frozen with him at Valley Forge and bled with him for eight long years.
The atmosphere wasn't celebratory. It was heavy with inevitable separation. Washington, usually stoic and commercially reserved, poured a glass of wine and looked at his brothers-in-arms with visible emotion. "With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you," he said, his voice shaking. "I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable." He didn't order them. He didn't demand their allegiance. He hugged them.
One by one, the hardened soldiers wept openly. Washington embraced each man in silence. There was no pomp, no ceremony, and no speeches about future conquests. It was just a quiet goodbye between warriors who had done the impossible. Immediately after leaving the tavern, Washington didn't march on Congress to demand payment or power. He rode to Annapolis, Maryland, resigned his commission, and went home to Mount Vernon to plant crops.
He did the impossible.
He refused the crown.
He trusted the people.
By stepping down, he ensured that the United States would be a republic ruled by laws, not a kingdom ruled by force. He proved that the military serves the people, not the other way around. It was the final, and perhaps greatest, victory of the Revolution.
The world watched in awe as the American Cincinnatus returned his sword to its sheath, proving that character is the strongest constitution of all."
#archaeohistories
Jonathan Duncan retweeted
Announcing the Tunnel Vision Challenge! Pitch us your best 1-mile tunnel idea (Loop, freight, pedestrian, utility, etc.), we'll pick a winner, and build it…for free!
Details:
boringcompany.com/tunnelvisi…
Criteria:
-Usefulness (good bang for the bore)
-Stakeholder Engagement (get hyped)
-Technical, Economic, and Regulatory Feasibility (success is physically possible)
Prufrock was designed to build mega-infrastructure projects in a matter of weeks instead of years - so let’s build!
⚽️ I decided to follow the pattern that @24x7soccerus created a make a #soccer #kickwall (kickwall.com). Turned out nice.
photos.app.goo.gl/emmAkv5PcH…
Happy Day of Independence for the United States of America!!! 🇺🇸
music.apple.com/us/album/rag…
open.spotify.com/track/3lUiz…
Jonathan Duncan retweeted
There are honestly some decent and common questions about the Apollo program’s moon landings that I figured we should check out ourselves. Because there’s no denying things from the Apollo program look unusual and are quite literally foreign to us in all other contexts.
Enjoy 10 months of research, work, dozens of animations, 9 hours of 6k dialogue that took up 3.1 terabytes of hard drive space and MOUNTAINS OF LOVE covering the most incredible journey in all of human history (so far), the Apollo Program.
Send this to anyone who watched the Bart Siebrel video on @joerogan, and maybe @elonmusk, you should make Joe watch this so he has answers to his questions.
00:00:00 - INTRO
00:04:40 - APOLLO 17 LIFTOFF FOOTAGE
00:19:05 - WHY DON'T WE SEE STARS
00:25:40 - LUNAR SHADOWS
00:32:00 - CROSSHAIRS BEHIND OBJECTS
00:34:10 - WHY DID THE FLAG WAVE
00:38:00 - ASTRONAUTS ON WIRES
00:47:15 - FOOTPRINTS / PROP ROCKS
00:49:05 - MOON ROCK OR WOOD
00:51:35 - VAN ALLEN BELT RADIATION
01:12:55 - LOST APOLLO 11 TAPES
01:07:55 - DID NASA FAKE FOOTAGE
01:19:30 - LOST SATURN V PLANS
01:23:00 - THE LUNAR LANDER'S THIN SKIN
01:27:50 - LUNAR ROVER DUST
01:29:30 - OTHER PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE 01:37:20 - DID ANYONE ELSE TRACK THE MISSIONS 01:40:15 - THE SOVIETS' REACTION TO APOLLO 01:42:10 - ORBITAL MECHANICS OF APOLLO
01:51:15 - DELTA V OF APOLLO
02:04:30 - WHY HAVEN'T WE GONE BACK
02:14:30 - SUMMARY
Signing up for a foot race and I get to this question:
"Please select your average 10k ROAD pace per mile"
Does that not strike anyone else as humorous?
"Tell us how fast you run 1 mile of a 10 kilometer race"
#justusemetricalready
Long live the dreamers!
When I see a picture like this, it is impossible not to feel energized about the future. I think it is so important for people to understand the profound implications of sending humans to another planet:
- We will develop groundbreaking technologies in propulsion, habitability, power generation, in-situ resource utilization, and manufacturing—unlocking mission optionality from the Moon to Mars and beyond.
- We will create systems, countermeasures, and pharmaceuticals to sustain human life in extreme conditions, addressing challenges like radiation and microgravity over extended durations.
- These advancements will form the foundation for lower-cost, more frequent crewed and robotic missions across the solar system, creating a flywheel effect to accelerate world-changing discoveries.
- The pioneering science, technology, and knowledge we gain will benefit life on Earth—economically, technologically, and socially—for all humankind.
- This achievement will enable humanity to survive beyond Earth, serving as a hedge against catastrophic events that have shaped our planet’s past and will inevitably happen again. It is a critical step in overcoming the Great Filter.
- While peaceful exploration and discovery remain the ultimate goals, space is also the strategic 'high ground'. It is America’s responsibility to lead—to ensure national security, maintain competitiveness and secure our place in this rapidly approaching & exciting future.
Achieving such an outrageous endeavor--like landing American astronauts on another planet—will inspire generations of dreamers to build upon these accomplishments, set even bolder goals, and drive humankind’s greatest adventure forward 🇺🇸
Jonathan Duncan retweeted
Hysterical reactions like this is how you know that @DOGE is doing work that really matters.
This is the one shot the American people have to defeat BUREAUcracy, rule of the bureaucrats, and restore DEMOcracy, rule of the people. We’re never going to get another chance like this.
It’s now or never. Your support is crucial to the success of the revolution of the people.
An unelected shadow government is conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government.
DOGE is not a real government agency.
DOGE has no authority to make spending decisions.
DOGE has no authority to shut programs down or to ignore federal law.
DOGE’s conduct cannot be allowed to stand.
Congress must take action to restore the rule of law.
Today I learned that turntable.fm has be reincarnated in the form of Hangout (hang.fm/). 🎶🎛️
Jonathan Duncan retweeted
I am honored to receive President Trump’s @realDonaldTrump nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA. Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.
On my last mission to space, my crew and I traveled farther from Earth than anyone in over half a century. I can confidently say this second space age has only just begun. Space holds unparalleled potential for breakthroughs in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and perhaps even pathways to new sources of energy. There will inevitably be a thriving space economy—one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space. At NASA, we will passionately pursue these possibilities and usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization.
I was born after the Moon landings; my children were born after the final space shuttle launch. With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place. We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.
It is the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role and to work alongside NASA’s extraordinary team to realize our shared dreams of exploration and discovery.
Grateful to serve,
Jared
Jonathan Duncan retweeted
A new photo of the Sombrero galaxy from @NASAWebb reveals finer details of the hat-like formation. It has a smooth inner disk, while its “brim” – the outer ring – is made of intricate lumps. go.nasa.gov/3CLH5Fl
ALT A two-panel image. The top image is Webb’s view of the Sombrero galaxy; the bottom image is Hubble’s view. In the Webb view, the galaxy is a very oblong, blue disk that extends from left to right at an angle (from about 10 o’clock to 5 o’clock). The galaxy has a small bright core at the center. There is a clear inner disk that has speckles of stars scattered throughout. The outer disk of the galaxy is whiteish-blue, and clumpy, like clouds in the sky. In the Hubble view, the galaxy is an oblong, pale white disk with a glowing core over the inner disk. The outer disk is darker and clumpy. Credit: Hubble image - NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); Webb image - NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI
I watched the #BonhoefferMovie the other day. I recommend it.
angel.com/tickets/bonhoeffer
