"Space is the hole we are in -- a vast area of human ignorance. The history of the world shows that attacking ignorance is fruitful."

Monday there were some helium balloons left and since I'd never tried talking with helium, I went to the trouble of untying one. There was some change in voice, but I caught myself trying to talking in a higher pitch. I wonder how much is the helium and how much of the effect is from "helping" the helium along. After that, KT, JJ, Chaka, and I ( Read more... )

That movie has been showing now. Even Fairmont's little theater did the bit with selling tickets late at night and then showing the picture just after midnight. I am planning on seeing it, eventually, though only to have an idea of what many are going on about rather than as a true fan. While I was around and aware of the first Star Wars movie ( Read more... )

kelloggs2066 mentioned strange cults and odd beliefs and the Moon Landing Hoax Conspiracy came up. While the items pointed to by those pushing the hoax can be explained, that may not be the best way of countering the nonsense. While responses to the accusation are needed, lest it be said that "you haven't accounted for x" there is another way to counter it ( Read more... )

I've seen several UFOs. That is, I've seen a good many Unidentified Flying Objects. They did not stay UFOs. By watching them for a while, knowing the sky, and being aware of various phenomena, it was possible to identify what I was looking at.

Oh, I have seen a few spacecraft. They were all made on earth.

( Some background history. )

A person could get superstitious about this time of year...

Jan. 27: Apollo I fire
Jan. 28: Challenger
Feb.  1: Columbia

But this shows problems happen at all times of the year.

October 4, 1957: Sputnik I is the first artificial satellite.

October 4, 2004: Space Ship One carries people into space for the second time in two weeks.

It's still the dawn of the space age.

Or, "Hey kid, that joke's old enough to vote now."

For a little while now there's been a bit going around about how this picture of Saturn's satellite Mimas resembles an item in a certain movie. This is amusing, but not for the reason that those posting it of late might claim.

The big crater, Herschel, on Mimas has been known about since 1980 or ( Read more... )

Then: A communist country launched a manned space capsule into orbit, before non-communists managed to even get a sub-orbital manned space flight. That was, of course, the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A.

Now: A communist country launched a manned space capsule into orbit, before non-communists managed to even get a sub-orbital manned space flight. This ( Read more... )