Rondo, that was one long dissertation!
Lots of good interesting stuff, with an almost artistic writing style...well worth the read.
Part of it was even comical, at least to me.
I got a good belly laugh from the part where..."On Star Trek, Captain Kirk mixed coal, sulphur and saltpetre and shot an alien with an improvised gun, with a diamond as a bullet."
Now just why I found that funny, I don't know. Unless, of course, he was trying hard to tie the fabled with fact.
He was doing okay with his information on Gun Powder, Cannons, Canister Balls, and other old stuff, and then here comes Star Trek...
Uncle Russ...