May 19, 2004
I didn't know this
In 1997, NASA was sued by three Yemeni men who claimed that they owned the planet Mars, and had the documents to prove it.
"We inherited the planet from our ancestors 3,000 years ago," they told the weekly Arabic-language newspaper Al-Thawri, which published the report Thursday.
Thanks to Jeopardy for the pointer.
Posted by: Ted at 05:35 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
May 18, 2004
Rocketing Around the Blogosphere
Blogger had issues, there's no argument there, but the new version added comments and more style to several of my regular stops, so that's a good thing. Here we go on the Blogspot edition of Rocketing Around the Blogosphere...
First up is The Eternal Golden Braid, which is a great space blog. He's got comments now. Woot! I also found a link from his place to a page about StarForce, which is the space wargame and company I couldn't remember the name of here. That makes me happy too, although I'm guessing you're less than overwhelmed. May I suggest you go visit and check out his awesome Martian Pictures of the Day. Check out Blogeline's snazzy new design. That's what I mean by new Blogger style. She was invited to be a Munuvian by notGeorge, and I think she wants to, but she's shy. Pixy, is she on the waiting list? If not, may we get her added? The Llama Butchers are moving from Blogspot to new digs within the ever-expanding borders of Munuviana. Are they anti-Llama? Or are they Llama's who enjoy a little of the ol' ultra-violence, eh? Check 'em out, and decide for yourself. Warning though, they're definitely the thinking person's wooly mammal. Mammals. Whatever. The Cheesemistress of Chaos (who I'm sure has noted that the term 'fairy floss' sounds like something Tinkerbell would wear at her evening job on the seedy side of town) has found a new friday funfest called Blogmaze. I followed her maze and came across CowDog, who was automatically added to the blogroll just for being an adult cowpuppy. Somewhere and somehow I also wound up on the beach at the end of the world (not Mookie-safe, but fun nonetheless). She's Aussie, mentions breasts a lot, has pictures of submarines in her photo album (and we all know how much I loveOpinion8 - he's also a regular commenter at the Ministry of Minor Perfidy
Serenade - a Brit, I believe.
Republican Atheist Rocket Scientist Man - almost as descriptive as the literal Rocket Jones, eh? That's it, I'm outta here. Dinner and a hockey game coming up.
Posted by: Ted at 04:14 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Finding rockets with GPS
There's been a misunderstanding about how I intend to use GPS when tracking and recovering my rockets. I'll talk a little bit about what's available now, the excellent suggestions given, and then explain the technique that I'll actually use.
(in the extended entry)Posted by: Ted at 11:24 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Practice your innocent look first
Have some fun with this site where you can create fake newspaper stories about your favorite (or not-so-favorite) people.
(work sensitive)Posted by: Ted at 08:23 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Amateur Rocket Carrying Ham Radio Payload Reaches Space
The CSXT team is not competing for the X-Prize, but they've managed to reach space on their third attempt.
Posted by: Ted at 12:55 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
May 17, 2004
Calling Iron Chef Klendathu
What the hell is wrong with people?!?!?!?
Cicada's are crawling out of the ground after 17 years and everywhere you look these nitwits are talking about eating them! Recipes are printed in the newspaper, the newscasts are full of happy freaks chowing down on the insects, even the radio on the way home talked about chocolate chip cicada cookies. "First you pull off their heads and legs, then you dry roast them..." *gag* Be honest now, March was National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, did y'all have a sudden hankerin' for chitlins?Posted by: Ted at 04:17 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Virtual target practice
Thanks to Wince and Nod for the pointer to this online shooting range. Learn how to line up various kinds of sights on pistols and rifles. Lots of fun and edjumuhcationable too!
Posted by: Ted at 02:30 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Lessons learned and lessons taught
America learned once again, thanks to Abu Ghuraib, that our freedoms are a two-edged sword, especially when trying to instill our overreaching principles on another people.
For all the breast-beating and second-guessing that we're hearing, I'm still proud of the USA, precisely because of what happened at Abu Ghuraib. The humiliations inflicted on the prisoners were wrong, but that is a small (albeit important) part of the story. A soldier knew that it was wrong, and reported it to his chain of command. The military immediately began an investigation. The people identified in the investigations are being brought up on charges. The media was informed of the investigation at the very beginning, by the military itself. America proved to the world that not only do we talk the talk, but we walk the walk. We've given the whole world a lesson in American-style freedom, and it is being noticed and talked about. From BlackFive:Iraqi media, almost unbelievably, have in recent days begun to editorialized astonishment at how the United States has responded. No covers ups. No denials. The President of the United States, the world's most powerful man, formally apologized to the people of Iraq. The U.S. Congress grilled a senior member of the Administration and all the while the U.S. media was allowed to report on the unfolding story with full freedom and access. "Why does Arab media fail at self criticism and why can't Arab human rights NGOs pressure Arab governments the way their counterparts do in America?", asked the host of satellite news channel al-Arabiy's (one of the harshest critics of the United States) "Spotlight" news program. The follow up commentary was even more astounding, given the source. "The Americans exposed their own scandal, queried the officials and got the American Government to accept responsibility for the actions of its soldiers," stated the host before asking her guests why this sort of open and responsive action isn't taken in the Arab world.
There's lots more, all worth reading.
Posted by: Ted at 11:48 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Shoe porn
Not quite as dirty as it sounds, but still not safe for work.
Posted by: Ted at 05:30 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Altruism *is* self-interest
What's in it for me?
It's a crass way of defining the motivations of man. All mankind. Every last one. Even people like Mother Theresa operate from the same basic principles, although one might put it more delicately. Helping someone 'from the goodness in your heart' means you do it because it makes you feel good inside, or it satisfies your code of ethics. Or maybe you do it because God tells you to, in which case your 'reward' is spiritual, but it is there. Even self-sacrifice boils down to the same base motivations. Nobody does anything unless their self-interested needs are met somehow. (this is what passes for rigorous thought in my fluffy little world, now where's my puppy...)Posted by: Ted at 05:06 AM | Comments (40) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
May 16, 2004
Nifty historical links
Courtesty of The Massive Whinger, who's trackbacks are blocked and won't work.
Castles of Britain. Churches of Britain. Military history. Prelude to D-Day, 1944. The Battle of Monte Cassino (WW II).Posted by: Ted at 06:29 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Preference
I have one, and if you do I'd like to hear it. Leave it in the comments.
Pink or Avril Levigne? Update: So far, the vote is Pink: 5 Avril: 1, although Norah Jones did get a write-in vote. We also got two "who?", including Lynn who points out that Avril sounds like the name of one of those new drugs on the market.Posted by: Ted at 05:07 PM | Comments (18) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Online Space Related Resources
NASA History Series Publications On-Line. A whole heap o' historical documents available, including some very interesting online books about various NASA facilities (Ames, Marshall and Johnson research centers), projects (Skylab, Mariner, etc) and other aspects such as space medicine and planetary research. This is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in space and the space program.
Be sure to check out A Meeting With The Universe: Science Discoveries from the Space Program. This book has beautiful illustrations and photographs and is designed for the non-technical reader. Also, there's an amazing history of America's "moon" rocket - the Saturn booster, which includes not just what actually came to be, but also the earliest concepts and plans as well as what might have been had we continued development of that family of rockets. Of course there are little gems for rocket nuts like yours truly too, like this publication entitled: NASA SOUNDING ROCKETS, 1958-1968 - A Historical Summary. Bliss!Posted by: Ted at 08:05 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
PSA
For pete's sake people, if you're looking for partners to have cyber-sex on the internet, at least use some ordinary common sense and protect yourself.
(in the extended entry)Posted by: Ted at 06:48 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
May 15, 2004
Rocket Launch
I've been under the weather since wednesday, but today I'm headed out for a club rocket launch. The day is supposed to be beautiful, with possible thunderstorms rolling through tonight.
Enjoy your day, I'm going to enjoy mine.Posted by: Ted at 07:17 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
In space, no one can hear you say stupid things
I got this comment to one of my space posts a while back, and had put it aside to respond to later. I forgot about it. Naturally, the return email was bogus, but the sentiments contained within are worth looking at again.
I believe that there should be one global space program (to help it move along quicker) However, it should be noted that if any country needs a space program, it's China. When one and one half billion people live in an area the size of the US, and when they have to commit genocide against the Tibetans in order to resettle the Han population, I say it's about time to resettle the same Han Population onto the Moon. Not only China, but also India, Bangladesh, Madagascar, the United States etc need to resettle their collective populaces outside the Earth for the sake of environmental recovery. People need to settle on the Moon etc As Soon As is Possible. There are way too many people on the Earth and for each person born (especially to the wealthy) our resources are strained more and more and our environment is further decimated. It would be best if ALL the people on planet Earth left for space, save for a few indigenous peoples. That would give the Earth time to repair it's self. Eventually all the cities towns and villages lying along the great coastal plains will have to build protective domes around them (as the ice caps melt and sea levels rise). The Space program may very well supply this technology. The given link [here ya go - RJ] shows all the eco-regions and how, why, and to what extent they are being threatened.
Oh man, where to begin...
Posted by: Ted at 06:14 AM | Comments (49) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
May 14, 2004
Edge of space
Burt Rutan and his team are right on the edge of claiming the X-Prize. Read about their latest successful test flight.
Posted by: Ted at 02:04 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Movie Review: Happiness of the Katakuris
Japanese. Horror. Subtitled. Musical. Schizophrenic. Fun. Thriller. Stupid. Subtle. Disjointed. Hilarious. Crude. Original. Sweet. Surreal.
Wow, this one is impossible to describe. It's all of the above, and more. Imagine watching the shower scene from Psycho, and immediately afterwards the police show up and the investigation is conducted as a musical number from Saturday Night Fever. It makes even less sense than that, but damn, it'sPosted by: Ted at 07:07 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Estes releases X-prize model rockets
Crap. I'm going to have to get all eight of these. Yep, darn. 
Posted by: Ted at 01:48 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Damn, this war is expensive!
Time for some creative thinking!
Contact your local PTA's and volunteer to head up fundraising efforts for Uncle Sam. Picture the little patriots standing out in front of the local supermarket, holding a "Pennies for Cruise Missiles" drive. Or for organizations, how about a "Sponsor A Bomb" program? For your donation, you get pictures showing your organization's name and logo on the bomb, along with the crew who're going to load it onto the aircraft and the pilot who drops it. You also get before and after photos of the target taken out by "your" bomb, and if it's a smart bomb you get a tape with the actual video feed as it reaches out and touches someone. Up close and personal, as they say. I know, I can hear you saying that you already pay for all those things with your tax dollars, and you're absolutely correct. Think of this as a way to direct your bucks towards something specific. Ever hear someone complain that if they could, they'd make sure their money wasn't being used for [insert whatever here]? Same idea, turned 180 degrees. Another thought. Why isn't PETA sending doggie-flak vests to our K-9 compadres? Here's an angle that may persuade them: for every military working dog that survives, the chances are that he'll point out more humans that will be killed! Safer dogs and less people! Win - win, eh? Come to think of it, the tree-huggers outta be thrilled with that too. There are untapped resources out there. We just need to give until it hurts them.Posted by: Ted at 01:28 AM | Comments (42) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
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