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‘Yes, it’s going to crack’ - a spacecraft not everyone thinks is safe to fly BuckGalaxy January 23, 2026 10:42 am (Flame)

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This is so strange, on so many levels. ER January 21, 2026 5:13 pm (Off-Topic)

What's in your wallet? ER January 19, 2026 8:10 pm (CurrentEvents)

Anne Applebaum: Trump’s Letter to Norway Should Be the Last Straw BuckGalaxy January 19, 2026 7:18 pm (Flame)

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Trump's irrational fixation on Greenland could lead to widespread conflict. BuckGalaxy January 14, 2026 10:48 pm (Flame)

Germany, Sweden, France and Norway announce joint military exercises with Denmark in Greenland BuckGalaxy January 14, 2026 10:12 pm (CurrentEvents)

Erich von Däniken, 1935 – 2026 podrock January 13, 2026 9:05 am (CurrentEvents)

It is the cowardice that has doomed us.... RL January 11, 2026 1:07 pm (CurrentEvents)

An opinion from our neighbors up north, eh... podrock January 11, 2026 9:14 am (CurrentEvents)

Murdering moms in mini-vans in Minneapolis Minnesota RL January 10, 2026 2:01 pm (CurrentEvents)

Things I learned today June 6, 2011 9:55 pm TB

A phrase from “Zero Punctuation:”

“More assholes than a donkey in an iron maiden.”

A new economic term: “Monopsony,” from a presentation on the economics of space flight.

From ancient Greek μόνος [monos] “single” + ὀψωνία [opsōnia] “purchase.” It means a market in which only one buyer faces many sellers. An example of imperfect competition, similar to a monopoly, in which only one seller faces many buyers. As the only purchaser of a good or service, the “monopsonist” may dictate terms to its suppliers in the same manner that a monopolist controls the market for its buyers.

In this case, it referred to companies who only do business with the government, common in the defense and space industries.

  • Here's an example from the private sector, rock band managers who negotiate ridiculous contract provisions with concert promoters. (Party of ... by ER 2011-06-07 04:41:18

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