Month: April 2011
John Browning, part 4
An evening pause: The last part of “The Guns of John Browning” from Tales of the Gun.
The documentary correctly honors Browning for the quality of his designs and workmanship. To me, it is more important to honor him for making the weapons that allowed the United States to defend freedom in the twentieth century. Without these tools in the hands of our soldiers, the wars would have been longer and many more lives would have been lost. And worse, the fascists and Nazis and dictators might have won.
As George Bernard Shaw wrote in Major Barbara, “The people must have power.”
Climate change is a serious problem, but the solutions are a joke
This from someone who believes in climate change: “The solutions are a joke.”
This from someone who believes in climate change: “The solutions are a joke.”
Technical problem delays US shuttle launch 48 hours
Technical problems have delayed the last launch of the shuttle Endeavour at least 48 hours.
Technical problems have delayed the last launch of the shuttle Endeavour at least 48 hours.
The world’s ten creepiest abandoned cities
The world’s ten creepiest abandoned cities.
The world’s ten creepiest abandoned cities.
Putin sacks the head of the Russian space agency
Putin sacks the head of the Russian space agency.
Putin sacks the head of the Russian space agency.
John Browning, part 3
Hubble and Swift show that asteroid debris came from collision
Space telescopes Hubble and Swift have proven that the debris that suddenly surrounded asteroid Scheila last year was caused by a collision.
Space telescopes Hubble and Swift have proven that the debris that suddenly surrounded asteroid Scheila last year was caused by a collision.
Budget Crisis Forces Detroit to Cancel Half Its Murders
If only this was true: Budget crisis forces Detroit to cancel half its murders.
If only this was true: Budget crisis forces Detroit to cancel half its murders.
Fed chairman Bernanke goes on record: US deficit “not sustainable”
Gee, you’d think he would have noticed this a long time ago: The Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke went on record today to warn that the US deficit “is not sustainable.”
Gee, you’d think he would have noticed this a long time ago: The Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke went on record today to warn that the US deficit “is not sustainable.”
John Browning, part 2
Are astronomers finally going to push for a replacement for Hubble?
Astronomers are considering the merger two space missions to create a new optical/ultraviolet space telescope. The mission would be designed to do both deep cosmology and exoplanet observations.
The two communities would both like to see a 4–8-metre telescope in space that would cost in excess of $5 billion. “Our interests are basically aligned,” says [Jim Kasting, a planetary scientist at Pennsylvania State University]. Such a mission would compete for top billing in the next decadal survey of astronomy by the US National Academy of Sciences, due in 2020.
This story is big news, as it indicates two things. First, the 2010 Decadal Survey, released in August 2010, is almost certainly a bust. The budget problems at NASA as well as a general lack of enthusiasm among astronomers and the public for its recommendations mean that the big space missions it proposed will almost certainly not be built.
» Read more
Nazi bomb found near North Sea oil pipeline
Sixty years late: A North Sea oil pipeline is threatened by a World War II Nazi bomb.
Sixty years late: A North Sea oil pipeline is threatened by a World War II Nazi bomb.
Muslim actress poses for Playboy and is threatened with death
Islam tolerance: A Muslim actress posed for Playboy and is now threatened with death.
Islam tolerance: A Muslim actress posed for Playboy and is now threatened with death.
The little solar sail that could!
The $23-Million Textbook
More details, including images, of China’s proposed space station.
More details, including images, of China’s proposed space station.
More details, including images, of China’s proposed space station.
The countdown for Endeavour’s last launch has begun
The countdown for Endeavour’s last launch has begun.
The countdown for Endeavour’s last launch has begun.
Confirmed: one of two tickets for lunar flyby has been sold
Confirmed: one of two tickets for a lunar flyby on a Soyuz has been sold. More here.
Confirmed: one of two tickets for a lunar flyby on a Soyuz has been sold. More here.
John Browning
An evening pause: As this year is the 100th anniversary of the M1911 pistol, probably the most popular pistol ever made, here is the part one of a four part documentary telling the story of the man who designed it, John Moses Browning.
Last Typewriter Factory in the World Shuts Its Doors
Technology marches on: The last typewriter factory in the world has shut down.
Technology marches on: The last typewriter factory in the world has shut down.
China looking to public to name space station
China is asking the public to name its space station.
China is asking the public to name its space station.
A hotel carved out of a mountain
In Turkey: A hotel carved out of a mountain.
In Turkey: A hotel carved out of a mountain.
One of the largest statues of an Egyptian pharaoh unearthed in Luxor
One of the largest statues of an Egyptian pharaoh ever found has been unearthed in Luxor.
One of the largest statues of an Egyptian pharaoh ever found has been unearthed in Luxor.
SETI suspends operations
Out of funds, SETI has suspended operations while it looks for new investors.
Out of funds, SETI has suspended operations while it looks for new investors.
The Hudson River School
An evening pause: Four minutes of paintings by artists from the Hudson River School.
Anyone who has ever hiked along or sailed on the Hudson River knows it to be one of the most beautiful rivers in the world, a quiet wide river winding south nestled between lush green hills. In the 19th century American artists Thomas Cole, Frederic Church and Albert Bierstadt among others were inspired by this beauty to paint some of the world’s greatest landscapes. If you can find the time, go to a museum that has some of these paintings and see them in person. They show us the majesty of the universe.
Update: Unfortunately, the video that I had originally embedded here disappeared from youtube last night. Here is the work of Alfred Bierstadt, set to the Connie Dover’s “Who will comfort me?”
Japan’s tsunami waves top historic heights
Japan’s tsunami in March produced the largest waves in history.
Some waves grew to more than 100 feet high, breaking historic records, as they squeezed between fingers of land surrounding port towns.
To me, however, this is the biggest takeaway:
Although terrible, the preliminary estimate also finds a better-than 92% survival rate for people living in coastal towns hit by the waves, Bourgeois says. “In that sense, given the magnitude of the unexpectedly large earthquake, things could have been even worse,” she says.
Japan’s tsunami in March produced the largest waves in history.
Some waves grew to more than 100 feet high, breaking historic records, as they squeezed between fingers of land surrounding port towns.
To me, however, this is the biggest takeaway:
Although terrible, the preliminary estimate also finds a better-than 92% survival rate for people living in coastal towns hit by the waves, Bourgeois says. “In that sense, given the magnitude of the unexpectedly large earthquake, things could have been even worse,” she says.
Good grammar equals white oppression
Modern educational theory: Good grammar equals white oppression.
Modern educational theory: Good grammar equals white oppression.
World’s smelliest flower opens for the first time in 75 years
The world’s smelliest flower has bloomed for the first time in 75 years.
The world’s smelliest flower has bloomed for the first time in 75 years.
Past House GOP Tactic Proves Useless to Democrats
A past House GOP parliamentary tactic is proving useless to Democrats.
This article is instructive in giving a sense of where the political winds are strongest. The Republicans stand firm, because they feel the public will support them in their votes. The Democrats, meanwhile, caved frequently in the last Congress out of fear of losing the next election, a fear that was proven justified.
A past House GOP parliamentary tactic is proving useless to Democrats.
This article is instructive in giving a sense of where the political winds are strongest. The Republicans stand firm, because they feel the public will support them in their votes. The Democrats, meanwhile, caved frequently in the last Congress out of fear of losing the next election, a fear that was proven justified.