That could well be an "emerge from the simulation into the layer that generated it" book, in which we find out that Our Heroes were being run on some hyperintelligent space penguin's equivalent of a dead badger.
]]>Which is to say that so long as Collins's brain can avoid going "It is night and the full moon is out, therefore GRRARRRRGH" he'll be fine.
It's clear that the mere sight of the image of a very large full Moon isn't enough in itself, since Collins is an astronaut and therefore narratively required to have had posters of the Moon up from a very young age.
So a detailed understanding of orbital mechanics, and of the irrelevance of concepts like "night", "full", and "out" in his situation, would quite possibly stop the transformation entirely. Alternatively, a few weeks on a random schedule in a windowless room with no calendars, and possibly some neuroweirdness drugs, might screw things up enough that he wouldn't be subconsciously expecting it and a timer could drop a shutter down at intervals (or the mission controller can go "Mike, don't look at the sky for a moment, OK?").
]]>It will be judged by a panel consisting of Piers Morgan, Philip Green, and another algorithm.
]]>Here in Derby North, we have an... interesting... situation. The sitting MP, Chris Williamson, has twice been suspended from the Labour Party for unrepentant antisemitism (we've had the most mealy-mouthed non-apology letters from him) and has decided, for reasons best known to himself, to stand as an independent socialist candidate in order to split the vote. I'm really hoping for a Tory collapse and a Brexit Party split, but I'm not optimistic.
]]>(It is, of course, eminently and painfully hackable.)
Houses, in the sense of "where you can keep all your stuff and safely fall asleep", depend entirely on the existence of stuff, and the nonexistence of safety. If we end up with programmable and reconfigurable clothing, and a single smart multitool (a walking stick that turns into a cutlery set, a garden fork, a camp stool, or a carving chisel at a wireless command string) then that's two of the great categories of Stuff trimmed down radically.
And houses for people who can't afford all this? High and wide warehouse racking, one basic screen and a set of dubiously sanitised earplugs per bunk, disposable paper clothes or third-hand old-style ones worn till they fall apart, and tools issued by the employer on a hefty deposit. No money for stuff, no need for safety, no problem.
]]>A lot of people are saying they're afraid of far right and pro-Brexit riots after a successful Remaining - seriously, have they ever met any of these people? An uptick in individual incidents and stochastic terrorism, yes, unfortunately. But they couldn't organise a coordinated violent uprising in a distillery next to a bandage factory, and the right wing are always more dangerous when they think they're winning, when we've given them half of what they want.
]]>Everyone "knows" that if there were a second referendum tomorrow, between No Deal & Remain, Remain would win - but we legally and logistically can't schedule a referendum for less than (IIRC) six weeks away, which gives all factions time to prepare, and we know that Brexiters fight dirtier than Remainers.
In addition, nobody can agree on what a referendum should say - there's a significant body of public opinion which explicitly says that "Remain" is not a legitimate political aim any more, and that the only choice which won't lead to Brexiters rioting in the streets is between Unicorn Brexit, Mermaid Brexit, and Eating Turnips In The Dark Brexit.
I figure we'll either end up with a two-year extension and an unsubtle push for a referendum, or an implausible series of Parliamentary shenanigans which will basically involve stepping on a rake, ending up with custard down our collective trousers, and accidentally pratfalling into No Deal, whereupon the country descends into neofeudalist anarchy and the nice Indian and African people in white helmets come over.
]]>The ensuing negotiations may take a while, but that's a problem for after we commit a further binding act of Democracy.
]]>