Rocket Jones

January 31, 2004

Mixed feelings about this one

The X From Outer Space.

I always considered myself the guy who never met a Japanese monster movie he didn't like, until now. I kept waiting for this movie to fall over the precipice into the "so bad it's good" category, but no matter how hard I wished, it just stayed firmly in the 'bad' place.

From the TV guide:

A spaceship returns to Tokyo with a spore, which grows into a spear-spitting monster.

There was actually more plot than that. Basically, the spaceship is sent to Mars to find out why the previous six ships haven't reported back. The Japanese suspect a mysterious UFO is causing the disappearances. The UFO appears, spaceship finds sparkly egg spore and returns to earth where the egg hatches spore grows into a giant monster named Guilala (Goo-La-La). Which attacks Tokyo.

"Fireball" and "spear" must be synonyms in Japanese.

Scientists find solution. Monster is reduced back to spore, and they "Shoot it out of the universe" on a rocket to nowhere. Tokyo saved.

Love triangle not resolved, no further mention of UFO nor missing spaceships.

Plenty of cheesy 60's pop music in the soundtrack if you like that sort of thing. If you ever have the chance to see this one, run screaming in the opposite direction. If you can do that and shoot fireballs at Tokyo at the same time, so much the better.

Update: I did some further digging and found the following in a movie review:

they defeat GUILALA using a rare material known as "Guilalium", which blocks GUILALA's main drive; it stops the flow of energy. Using some remaining jets, the Japanese Defense Air Force literally bukkakes the mighty monster into his small, harmless spore form. This movie marks the first bukkake scene in history.

That ought to be good for a few Google hits, eh? Anyway, this movie does seem to have it's champions among the cult movie afficianado's.

Posted by: Ted at 09:13 AM | Comments (40) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

January 30, 2004

Superbowl commercial preview

Pepsi. Hendrix. Great!

Posted by: Ted at 11:39 AM | Comments (33) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

All those hours spent playing video games

Darren Rowse has a blog devoted to UAV's - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Nifty stuff for military buffs and/or tech heads.

Posted by: Ted at 07:11 AM | Comments (37) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

213 Things Skippy is No Longer Allowed to Do

...in the Army, that is.

According to Avalanche Company's Sgt Stanford, SPC Schwarz was quite the soldier.

Among my favorites on the list:

16. Must get a haircut even if it tampers with my 'Sampson like powers'.

33. Not allowed to chew gum at formation, unless I brought enough for everybody.

34. (Next day) Not allowed to chew gum at formation even if I *did* bring enough for everybody.

44. I am not the atheist chaplain.

61. If one soldier has a 2nd Lt bar on his uniform, and I have an E-4 on mine It means he outranks me. It does not mean ‘I have been promoted three more times than you'.

84. Must not use military vehicles to ‘Squish' things.*

Ya know, I could go on and on. Just go read the darn list.

I don't remember where I found this, if it was from your site, let me know so I can give credit.

*I can relate to this one. Once on duty I was caught driving across a field trying to run over a bunny rabbit**. When asked why, I answered "because I knew you'd be mad if I shot it."

**The bunny rabbit was in no real danger. If you don't believe me, try it sometime.

Posted by: Ted at 06:55 AM | Comments (44) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

XM-8

Over at Murdoc Online, he has a nice comprehensive article (with pictures) about the proposed replacement for the current US Military M16 combat rifle and M4 carbine.

If I'm very very good, maybe Santa would bring me one.

Thanks to Spoons for the pointer.

Posted by: Ted at 06:28 AM | Comments (38) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

January 29, 2004

Go say hello

Josh Cagan, who doesn't like you, writes stuff like this:

It's for a jury to decide. Although, in a case where it's Solomon vs. the Hiltons, how does one assemble a jury of peers? Do you try to find 12 millionaire scumbags? Or six millionaires, and six scumbags?

Or do you just save yourself the headache, and clone Larry Flynt 11 times? But then, would you let them retain their ability to walk, or do you shoot them in the spine as soon as they come out of the cloning chamber? Or do you let half walk, and shoot the other half in the spine, you know, for balance?

This is why I'm not a lawyer. I'm far too thoughtful. And I'm off my point.

Posted by: Ted at 08:52 PM | Comments (37) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

More places to see and people to do, International style

Thanks to the Gray Monk, via GDay Mate, another map-generating site, this time of the world showing the countries I've visited.

(in the extended entry)

Posted by: Ted at 08:38 AM | Comments (34) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

More range than a rover

Spirit and Opportunity are on the surface and doing their thing. Despite some problems, the fact that we can successfully land and communicate with two robot vehicles on another planet over 40,000,000 miles away says a lot.

Knowing that more that a couple of rovers are in the works, I went digging over at Rocket Man's blog, looking for a certain something we'd talked about...

A couple of weeks ago, Ted from Rocket Jones also sent me an email about a Mars Airplane currently being developed under the Mars Scout Mission program –

Manassas, VA. Aurora Flight Sciences Corp. announced today an order from the NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., for a full-scale prototype of a proposed Mars airplane. The aircraft is being built as part of the Mars Scout Aerial Regional-Scale Environmental Survey (ARES) project of which Dr. Joel S. Levine is the Principal Investigator.

In 2002 Aurora and NASA Langley successfully demonstrated a half-scale version of the airplane in a series of low altitude and high altitude drop tests. The new airplane is to be a full-scale version, designed to demonstrate flight-weight components and actual aerodynamics. The prototype plane is scheduled to make its first flight later this year with a deployment test in the upper reaches of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Ted was lucky enough to actually see some of the projects Aurora Flight Sciences Corp is working on as he told me in the email -

The reason I know about these people is that the owner of the company and his kids are in our rocket club. Good people, as they say. I've been in Aurora's building and all of the hardware and projects are probably like Disneyland to an engineer. To me, it was just cool.

That's right, they're well into developement of a semi-remote controlled robotic glider aircraft that will soar the skies of Mars, mapping and using radar to gather yet more data about the red planet.

There are some intriguing video clips of the testing at the Aurora site. One in particular clearly showed the tail surfaces unfolding after being released from the high altitude balloon which carried it aloft.

The reason for the extreme altitude testing is because the atmosphere of Mars is very thin compared to earth. The ARES glider will actually fly much closer to the surface once it deploys on Mars.

Posted by: Ted at 06:45 AM | Comments (39) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

If I didn't have such a dirty mind, I might've thought of this

Carol points the way to Tom, who hilariously photoshops a spam. Bravo!

Posted by: Ted at 05:06 AM | Comments (38) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

January 28, 2004

A little innocence can be a dangerous thing

Absolutely work safe, I promise.

cummingfirst.com

Thanks to TL Hines for the pointer, his take on it is priceless.

Posted by: Ted at 09:36 PM | Comments (38) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

How it should be

So the owner of the Washington Capitals hockey team got into it with a rowdy fan at the game. Said fan had a sign (which was a pretty good one), and owner and fan tussled. End result: fan on ass, fight over.

Owner apologizes, and the fan says 'no hard feelings'.

That's how hockey fans disagree. Gentlemen, I salute you!

Posted by: Ted at 07:28 PM | Comments (42) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

It's been lovely, but I must scream now

Like I said, we're in the middle of implementing a brand new computer system. This morning one of our users was asking about a common everyday work process that he has to do, and the on-site support person said this to him:

"I don't know, we never thought of that."

Excuse me, but you've spent six years and mucho dinero (think really big number followed by lots of zeroes) designing this system and YOU DIDN'T THINK OF THAT?!?!?!?!

Posted by: Ted at 12:01 PM | Comments (35) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Composed on the way to work this morning

Four-wheel Driving Fool

(sung to the tune of Hootie & the Blowfish’s – Only Wanna Be With You)

Look out the window,
Nasty weather outside,
Let’s climb in my SUV
And go out for a ride.

Snow and ice?
Ain’t no big thang,
I bought this big ol’ jeep,
To make up for my wang.

Ain’t no weather too cruel,
I’m a four-wheelin’ fool.
I rode the short-bus to school,
I’m a four-wheelin’ fool.

(There should be more, but I expect that by this point the idiot will be ditch-bound.)

Posted by: Ted at 08:03 AM | Comments (37) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinaahhhh!!!

I mentioned bread dipping oil in this post, and the excellent samples that SilverBlue and I tried. I first heard about it on the radio when a local restaraunt advertisement talked about it.

Here's what I did to make my own version. It's pretty good.

Bread Dipping Oil

1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp dried basil
1 Tbsp dried thyme
2 cloved finely minced garlic
pinch salt
2-3 grinds black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Let flavors combine for several hours at least. Store in refrigerator, use within 3-4 days.

Pour into a shallow dish and dip pieces of crusty Italian or French bread into it.

You could also start with a flavored olive oil, and use rosemary, oregano and/or parmesan cheese. This one begs for personal variations.

Posted by: Ted at 07:45 AM | Comments (38) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Memorable advertising slogan

In the extended entry.

Posted by: Ted at 06:34 AM | Comments (44) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Super Bowl trivia

(shamelessly stolen from ESPN)

Super Bowl facts from 1 to 38

1. This marks the first time ever that both Super Bowl teams take their name after a state or area, not a city.

2. Only two teams have ever won a Super Bowl while committing more turnovers than their opponent (Colts in Super Bowl V, Steelers in Super Bowl XIV).

3. The Panthers defeated the Eagles in Philadelphia for the NFC championship. It's worth noting that the last three Super Bowl champions all won their conference championship games on the road.

4. The Panthers will be the fourth different opponent the Patriots have played in a Super Bowl (Bears, Packers, Rams, Panthers).

5. Carolina will try to become the fifth first-time winner in the last five Super Bowls (Rams, Ravens, Patriots, Buccaneers).

6. A Panthers win would make the Patriots the sixth different franchise to lose three Super Bowls.

7. Who knows, He Hate me could become, "He's the MVP!" There have been seven kickoff returns for touchdowns in Super Bowl history. On the contrary, the Super Bowl is still waiting for its first punt return for touchdown.

8. Eight of the last nine Super Bowls that happened two weeks after the Conference Championship Games have been decided by 10 points or more (only exception was Super Bowl XXXII when Denver beat Green Bay 31-24).

9. If the Panthers win Super Bowl XXXVIII, nine different clubs will have walked away with at least one championship in last the 11 seasons.

10. A Patriots win would make them the 10th franchise to win two Super Bowls, and ...

11. ... would make the Panthers the 11th different team to lose in the last 11 Super Bowls.

12. Tom Brady's jersey number -- the most popular number worn by a quarterback in Super Bowl history.

13. Peyton Manning didn't reach the big game, but this is the 13th straight year a Tennessee Volunteer has reached the Super Bowl (Shane Burton and Deon Grant of the Panthers).

14. The Patriots enter the game on a 14-game winning streak, a single-season mark only topped by the undefeated 1972 Dolphins who scored 14 points in their Super Bowl VII win.

15. The Panthers are the first team to reach the Super Bowl just two seasons removed from going 1-15.

16. If Brady wins the MVP, he will be one behind another quarterback that he has been receiving favorable comparisons to: Joe Montana (who wore No. 16).

17. Jake Delhomme becomes the third quarterback in Super Bowl history to wear No. 17 (Billy Kilmer, Doug Williams).

18. Delhomme will try to make the Panthers the 18th different franchise to win a Super Bowl.

19. Brady and Delhomme better start practicing saying, "I'm going to Disney World." A quarterback has been the Super Bowl MVP 19 times.

20. The Patriots and the Panthers have won a combined 20 straight games entering the Super Bowl (including playoffs). That is the most ever in the Super Bowl era.

21. Both teams feature top defenses. The lowest scoring Super Bowl was Super Bowl VII when Miami and Washington combined to score 21 points.

22. Twenty-two of the previous 37 Super Bowls have been played on grass fields. This may become the first to be played on a grass field indoors (though the NFL wants to keep the roof open).

23. Half of 46: Jake Delhomme becomes the 46th different quarterback to start a Super Bowl. Forty-six is also the amount of points New England gave up in its first Super Bowl vs. the Bears (with a 46 defense).

24. The lucky number for both the Panthers and Patriots. Both Ty Law and Ricky Manning Jr. wear No. 24 and had three interceptions in the conference championships

25. The team that scores first is 25-12 in Super Bowl competition. However, the team that has scored first has lost the last two Super Bowls.

26. Active players on the Patriots and Panthers have combined to win 26 Super Bowl rings (23 Patriots, 3 Panthers).

27. Expect a blowout in this year's Super Bowl. Twenty-seven of the previous 37 Super Bowls played have been decided by more than seven points.

28. No team has scored exactly 28 points in a Super Bowl, but teams getting over that plateau are 20-1 in Super Bowl play (only loss: Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII).

29. The team leading at the half has won 29 of the 37 Super Bowls played.

30. This is the first Super Bowl in Houston in 30 years. The last time was Super Bowl VIII when the Dolphins defeated the Vikings 24-7.

31. The Patriots are looking to become the first team to win the Super Bowl after being shutout in Week 1 (They lost 31-0 at Buffalo).

32. Super XXXII ended the NFC's 13-game win streak in Super Bowls. Including Denver's upset of Green Bay, the AFC has won four of the last six Lombardi Trophies.

33. The team that gains the most total yards has won 33 of the previous 37 Super Bowls.

34. Last year's Super Bowl MVP wore No. 34 (Dexter Jackson of the Buccaneers). Could the Patriots Chris Akins be this year's Dexter Jackson?

35. The last Super Bowl quarterback to wear No. 17 was Doug Williams. He led the Redskins to 35 first-half points in Super Bowl XXII.

36. Of the 43 Patriots that played in their Super Bowl XXXVI triumph, 26 are still with the team.

37. Of the first 37 Super Bowls, only one has been won on the final play of the game. Will Adam Vinatieri make Super Bowl XXXVIII another one to remember?

38. Stephen Davis must carry the load for the Panthers to win. Speaking of carries, the most ever in a Super Bowl is 38 by another one-time Redskin: John Riggins in Super Bowl XVII.

Posted by: Ted at 05:30 AM | Comments (41) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

January 27, 2004

Withdrawal

Football season is almost over. It's too cold to start playing baseball. I'd feel bad if I cross-checked Mookie into the fence playing backyard hockey (I'd still do it, but I'd feel bad). Basketball? This time of year you spend an hour waiting for the next 10 minute game to start down at the Y. So what should the sports-minded among us do?

Calvin-ball. Leagues forming now.

Posted by: Ted at 06:38 PM | Comments (41) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Places to see, people to do

Thanks to Daniel, I now have a personalized US map showing all the states I've visited (in red).

Being in the military helps, especially if you drive from one assignment to another.

For those eagle-eyed individuals, I do not have teleportation superpowers, Texas has airports.

And I may have driven through Arkansas on a trip from Minnesota to Mississippi, but I'm not positive, so I didn't mark it.

It's in the extended entry.

Posted by: Ted at 07:50 AM | Comments (44) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

MookieMeet

Daughter Mookie is contemplating an area blogger meet. She's already gotten some interest in the event, and is soliciting ideas. If you're from the Maryland/DC/Virginia area, or might like to travel a bit to attend, visit her and leave some feedback.

Posted by: Ted at 06:54 AM | Comments (42) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Going to Mars, on someone else's ruble

Over at Jen's History and Stuff, Pete posted a nice review of US Mars exploration missions to date (he also included the UK's Beagle2).

As an addendum, here's a quick list of Soviet Mars missions.

October 1960: Two unnamed Soviet spacecraft achieve Earth orbit only, fail to fly past Mars.

October 1962: An unnamed Soviet spacecraft achieves Earth orbit only, fails to fly past Mars.

November 1962: Soviet Mars 1 spacecraft radio fails en route to flyby of Mars. A second, unnamed Soviet spacecraft achieves Earth orbit only, fails to fly past Mars.

November 1964: Soviet Zond 2 spacecraft flies past Mars, but radio fails and no data are returned.

May 1971: Soviet Kosmos 419 lander achieves Earth orbit only. The Soviet Mars 2 orbiter-lander arrive at Mars in November 1971; no useful data received after lander burns up. Soviet Mars 3 orbiter-lander arrives December 1971; lander operates on surface for 20 seconds before failing.

July 1973: Soviet Mars 4 spacecraft flies past Mars in February 1974, but fails to enter orbit. That same month, the Soviet Mars 5 spacecraft arrives in orbit, but operates for only a few days.

August 1973: Soviet Mars 6 and 7 combination flyby module-lander spacecraft arrive at Mars in March 1974. Mars 6 lander smashes into Mars; Mars 7 lander misses planet.

July 1988: Soviet Phobos 1 orbiter and lander fail one month after launch. Phobos 2, launched five days after Phobos 1, is lost March 1989 near the Mars moon for which it was named.

November 1996: Russian Mars 96 orbiter and landers fail on launch.

And in July, 1998, the Japanese took a shot at Mars with their Nozomi spacecraft. It failed to enter Mars orbit in December 2003.

Posted by: Ted at 06:17 AM | Comments (44) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

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