We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/the_puppy_blender_makes_a_cogent_observation.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:07:09 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ...Westerners tend to forget it, but it was a few key technologies -- primarily steam navigation and repeating firearms -- that made the era of Western colonialism possible. (See Daniel Headrick's The Tools of Empire for more on this). It is, no doubt, as hard for American and European mandarins to imagine being conquered by Chinese troops equipped with superior weaponry as it was for Chinese Mandarins to imagine the reverse, two hundred years ago. Will our mandarins be smart enough to learn from that experience? That's the question, isn't it? In short - yes, Glenn, it is. Anyone remember... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/the_puppy_blender_makes_a_cogent_observation.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/the_puppy_blender_makes_a_cogent_observation.html Fri, 06 Aug 2004 10:52:51 -0600 Well, you'd certainly find out who among your friends and associates are serious geeks... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/the_puppy_blender_makes_a_cogent_observation.html#comment-12329 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/the_puppy_blender_makes_a_cogent_observation.html#comment-12329 Sun, 23 Jan 2005 10:17:30 -0600 Here'ssomeone else who remembers Revolt in 2100. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/the_puppy_blender_makes_a_cogent_observation.html#comment-12327 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/the_puppy_blender_makes_a_cogent_observation.html#comment-12327 Sun, 23 Jan 2005 09:46:31 -0600 Yup, I remember that part of the book, too. I always thought the protag's escape at that point was rather contrived and cheesy. Of, course, these days, they wouldn't have to wait to take you downtown to photograph yer retinas. Ain't it amazing that none of the SF writers of the 50s predicted ubiquitous cheap computer-aided gizmos? Thinking again, though: Weird amazing un-up-makable things do happen from time to time. It helps to stay light on your feet, and grab opportunities which spontaneously arise. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/the_puppy_blender_makes_a_cogent_observation.html#comment-5735 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/the_puppy_blender_makes_a_cogent_observation.html#comment-5735 Sun, 08 Aug 2004 01:49:52 -0600 2100? That was a long time ago - like 38 minutes ago. I never did get around to printing up Nehemiah Scudder for President bumper stickers. Seriously, I saw a device recently which I first read of in that book, a security identity validator which does an eye scan. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/the_puppy_blender_makes_a_cogent_observation.html#comment-5724 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/the_puppy_blender_makes_a_cogent_observation.html#comment-5724 Fri, 06 Aug 2004 23:43:50 -0600