THE PLANK NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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If you liked it, then you shoulda put a ring on it:
(via Andrew Sullivan)
2 comments
Such a ring system would seem to create a lot of deep shade on the earth's surface. Possible anti-global-warming geoengineering effects? I smell a chapter for Ultrafreakenomics, or whatever they're gonna call the next book in that series.
- rhubarbs
November 23, 2009 at 12:39pm
rhubarbs is on to something (or on something: you be the judge!). We've already been seeding the skies with space junk for a couple decades now. Why not do the job right? Forget landfills: we need to dump our junk into spacefills until we have some big-honker Earth-shading rings. Kids with backyard telescopes will cry out "Look, pa! There's our old fridge...with my art project from third grade still duct-taped to the door!" Here's the best part: it will once again be patriotic to consume. The more crap we throw away (i.e., into orbit), the better the environment back on ol' Third Rock. And by making all the trips one-way (why not leave the rockets up there?), we've just doubled the product that the aerospace hardware contractors sell!
- williamyard
November 23, 2009 at 1:34pm