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“... When computers were first invented, everyone was talking about computers translating languages. Turns out it was a tougher nut to crack ...”

The reasons for lack of success in translating are not lack of computing power, nor lack of software innovation. No language translates precisely one-to-one, into another. Go ask the most junior employee of an international technical publishing firm.

Just because advances in digital computing have occasionally advanced farther, at quicker rates, than this or that wild forecast, there is no reason to assume all aspects of life will advance indefinitely, everywhere, at ever-steepening rates, without limit. Believing such is immature: unworthy of people who presume to style themselves “conservative.”

Making complete firearms by 3D printing will continue to present extraordinary challenges, in part because gun owners are iron-spined traditionalists of the most die-hard sort. No civilian buyer will be inclined to purchase an arm that doesn’t fire traditional cartridges, no matter how inexpensive such a gun might be. Bear in mind that the first metallic cartridge introduced is still in routine production: 22 rimfire short. It first appeared in 1857.

Just because advances in digital computing have occasionally advanced farther, at quicker rates, than this or that wild forecast, there is no reason to assume all aspects of life will advance indefinitely, everywhere, at ever-steepening rates, without limit. Believing such is immature: unworthy of people who presume to style themselves “conservative.”

I disagree. I believe it will continue until the Lord returns. And I believe the rate of discovery is increasing exponentially. It is not immature thinking. It is mature thinking. History demonstrates it.

To put it bluntly, regarding any and all possible discoveries, it is not “if”. It is “when”. But the Lord will cut it off.

Making complete firearms by 3D printing will continue to present extraordinary challenges, in part because gun owners are iron-spined traditionalists of the most die-hard sort. No civilian buyer will be inclined to purchase an arm that doesn’t fire traditional cartridges, no matter how inexpensive such a gun might be. Bear in mind that the first metallic cartridge introduced is still in routine production: 22 rimfire short. It first appeared in 1857.

Everything changes. And the rate of change is rapidly increasing. I remember in high school (I graduated in 1972), we would be arguing about some possible government control change and people would say, “People will never accept that!” I always responded, “I think what you mean is that THIS GENERATION will never accept that.”

And look where we are now. ;)