JK Wedding Entrance Dance
An evening pause: This video of the JK wedding entrance dance went viral several years ago, but man, it is sure worth watching again and again. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Makes its Longest Test Flight Yet
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon, any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Earth Day predictions from 1970
The predictions of disaster from the first Earth Day, 1970. I especially like this one:
“Demographers agree almost unanimously on the following grim timetable: by 1975 widespread famines will begin in India; these will spread by 1990 to include all of India, Pakistan, China and the Near East, Africa. By the year 2000, or conceivably sooner, South and Central America will exist under famine conditions. . . . By the year 2000, thirty years from now, the entire world, with the exception of Western Europe, North America, and Australia, will be in famine.” Peter Gunter, professor, North Texas State University [emphasis mine]
A consensus was reached and the science was settled!
Remember this the next time some blowhard global-warming pundit tries to claim “the science is settled” today.
The predictions of disaster from the first Earth Day, 1970. I especially like this one:
“Demographers agree almost unanimously on the following grim timetable: by 1975 widespread famines will begin in India; these will spread by 1990 to include all of India, Pakistan, China and the Near East, Africa. By the year 2000, or conceivably sooner, South and Central America will exist under famine conditions. . . . By the year 2000, thirty years from now, the entire world, with the exception of Western Europe, North America, and Australia, will be in famine.” Peter Gunter, professor, North Texas State University [emphasis mine]
A consensus was reached and the science was settled!
Remember this the next time some blowhard global-warming pundit tries to claim “the science is settled” today.
Loretta Lynn – Coal Miner’s Daughter
Now available in hardback and paperback as well as ebook!
From the press release: In this ground-breaking new history of early America, historian Robert Zimmerman not only exposes the lie behind The New York Times 1619 Project that falsely claims slavery is central to the history of the United States, he also provides profound lessons about the nature of human societies, lessons important for Americans today as well as for all future settlers on Mars and elsewhere in space.
Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space, is a riveting page-turning story that documents how slavery slowly became pervasive in the southern British colonies of North America, colonies founded by a people and culture that not only did not allow slavery but in every way were hostile to the practice.
Conscious Choice does more however. In telling the tragic history of the Virginia colony and the rise of slavery there, Zimmerman lays out the proper path for creating healthy societies in places like the Moon and Mars.
“Zimmerman’s ground-breaking history provides every future generation the basic framework for establishing new societies on other worlds. We would be wise to heed what he says.” —Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society.
All editions are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all book vendors, with the ebook priced at $5.99 before discount. All editions can also be purchased direct from the ebook publisher, ebookit, in which case you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
Autographed printed copies are also available at discount directly from the author (hardback $29.95; paperback $14.95; Shipping cost for either: $6.00). Just send an email to zimmerman @ nasw dot org.
Russians say “Nyet” to Dragon docking on its next flight
The competition plays hardball: The Russians say “Nyet” to letting SpaceX’s Dragon capsule dock with ISS on its next flight.
The competition plays hardball: The Russians say “Nyet” to letting SpaceX’s Dragon capsule dock with ISS on its next flight.
Harvard Researcher Banned From Teaching Next Year
A Harvard researcher, under investigation for research misconduct, has been banned from teaching next year.
A Harvard researcher, under investigation for research misconduct, has been banned from teaching next year.
Leaving Earth: Space Stations, Rival Superpowers, and the Quest for Interplanetary Travel, can be purchased as an ebook everywhere for only $3.99 (before discount) at amazon, Barnes & Noble, all ebook vendors, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit.
If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big oppressive tech companies and I get a bigger cut much sooner.
Winner of the 2003 Eugene M. Emme Award of the American Astronautical Society.
"Leaving Earth is one of the best and certainly the most comprehensive summary of our drive into space that I have ever read. It will be invaluable to future scholars because it will tell them how the next chapter of human history opened." -- Arthur C. Clarke
SDO’S best Images from its first year
Pachelbel’s Canon in D played at 3 am
An evening pause What good musicians do in their spare time, play Pachelbel’s Canon in D at 3 am in the morning, without rehearsal. Or as they themselves describe it, “The Most Juicy Canon On YouTube!!!”
The violin players (l to r): Marie Samuelsen, Andrey Rozendent, and Alexander Gilman.
Scientists find previously unknown deposits of CO2 on Mars
Scientists find a gigantic and previously unknown deposit of CO2 at Mars’ south pole.
“We already knew there is a small perennial cap of carbon-dioxide ice on top of the water ice there, but this buried deposit has about 30 times more dry ice than previously estimated,” said Roger Phillips of Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. Phillips is deputy team leader for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Shallow Radar instrument and lead author of the report. . . . “When you include this buried deposit, Martian carbon dioxide right now is roughly half frozen and half in the atmosphere, but at other times it can be nearly all frozen or nearly all in the atmosphere,” Phillips said.
What this discovery means is that, depending on Mars’ orbital circumstances, its atmosphere can sometimes be dense enough for liquid water to flow on its surface.
Scientists find a gigantic and previously unknown deposit of CO2 at Mars’ south pole.
“We already knew there is a small perennial cap of carbon-dioxide ice on top of the water ice there, but this buried deposit has about 30 times more dry ice than previously estimated,” said Roger Phillips of Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. Phillips is deputy team leader for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Shallow Radar instrument and lead author of the report. . . . “When you include this buried deposit, Martian carbon dioxide right now is roughly half frozen and half in the atmosphere, but at other times it can be nearly all frozen or nearly all in the atmosphere,” Phillips said.
What this discovery means is that, depending on Mars’ orbital circumstances, its atmosphere can sometimes be dense enough for liquid water to flow on its surface.
Des Moines paper publishes over 5,000 names of gun permit holders
The Des Moines CityView newspaper has published the names of over 5,000 legal gun permit holders.
A newspaper which goes after law-abiding citizens like this should simply go out of business.
The Des Moines CityView newspaper has published the names of over 5,000 legal gun permit holders.
A newspaper which goes after law-abiding citizens like this should simply go out of business.
More Democrats Join Threat to Hold Up Debt Ceiling Vote Without Spending Cuts
This is hopeful news: More Democrats are threatening to hold up the debt ceiling vote unless there are more spending cuts.
This is hopeful news: More Democrats are threatening to hold up the debt ceiling vote unless there are more spending cuts.
Funding for final shuttle flight assured
Some details behind Blue Origin’s manned spacecraft
“Our conclusion was there is no benefit to the environment of oxo-degradable plastics.”
“Our conclusion was there is no benefit to the environment of oxo-degradable plastics.”
Instead, they say burn them!
“Our conclusion was there is no benefit to the environment of oxo-degradable plastics.”
Instead, they say burn them!
Federal Borrowing on Pace to Hit Debt Limit in Less Than Week
Investigation of doctors who issued fake sick notes in Wisconsin goes forward
The investigation of doctors who issued fake sick notes to union protesters in Wisconsin goes forward.
The investigation of doctors who issued fake sick notes to union protesters in Wisconsin goes forward.
NLRB dictates Boeing operational plans
Government gone wild: The National Labor Relations Board wants to shut down a Boeing plant because it happens to be in a right-to-work state.
Government gone wild: The National Labor Relations Board wants to shut down a Boeing plant because it happens to be in a right-to-work state.
Dearborn denies permit, says Quran-burning minister could face arrest
Freedom of speech in Michigan: Dearborn denies permit, says Terry Jones could face arrest if he protests.
Freedom of speech in Michigan: Dearborn denies permit, says Terry Jones could face arrest if he protests.
“We need to protect our authority.”
“Space beer,” one giant leap for mankind
“For example, many metals burn more easily in reduced gravity, liquids behave differently, both of which have important implications for safety and the way machinery and equipment operate in spacecraft and space stations. The beer experiments assisted in determining the correct level of carbonation, so that it can in the future be appropriately enjoyed by humans in reduced gravity,”
“For example, many metals burn more easily in reduced gravity, liquids behave differently, both of which have important implications for safety and the way machinery and equipment operate in spacecraft and space stations. The beer experiments assisted in determining the correct level of carbonation, so that it can in the future be appropriately enjoyed by humans in reduced gravity,”
Obama will attend last Endeavour launch; Rep. Giffords also expected
Politicians go sightseeing: Obama will attend the last Endeavour launch; Rep. Giffords is also expected to attend.
Giffords makes sense, as her husband will be on the flight. Obama is merely taking another of his numerous breaks from work to get a last look at a program he helped kill.
Politicians go sightseeing: Obama will attend the last Endeavour launch; Rep. Giffords is also expected to attend.
Giffords makes sense, as her husband will be on the flight. Obama is merely taking another of his numerous breaks from work to get a last look at a program he helped kill.
Government Cash Handouts Now Top Tax Revenues
Time is truly running out: The federal government’s cash handouts to all households now exceed what those households pay in tax.
Time is truly running out: The federal government’s cash handouts to all households now exceed what those households pay in tax.
Budget chaos at NASA causes ESA to halt work on its own Mars orbiter and rover
Sounds crazy, but it’s true: The budget chaos at NASA has caused the ESA to halt work on its own Mars orbiter and rover.
Sounds crazy, but it’s true: The budget chaos at NASA has caused the ESA to halt work on its own Mars orbiter and rover.
Flute duet on Earth and in Space
An evening pause: Though this took place last week, on the fiftieth anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s flight, I can’t let it go by, especially because it is so nicely done. Trust me, for two flute players to play a duet with one several hundred miles up in space and traveling more than 17,500 miles per hour while the other is safely on Earth is not easy.
Saturn and Enceladus linked by electricity
India launches three satellites on single rocket
India has successfully launched three satellites using its low-Earth-orbit rocket.
The launch could not have come at a more apt time than now. The old reliable workhorse vehicle was last used in a July 2010 launch. ISRO’s next two launches of the indigenous higher-powered GSLV failed.
India has successfully launched three satellites using its low-Earth-orbit rocket.
The launch could not have come at a more apt time than now. The old reliable workhorse vehicle was last used in a July 2010 launch. ISRO’s next two launches of the indigenous higher-powered GSLV failed.
University of Iowa Professor Tells College Republicans to “F” Off
Barack Obama at the Pearly Gates
Barack Obama at the pearly gates.
Having arrived at the Gates of Heaven, Barrack Obama meets a man with a beard. ‘Are you Mohammed?’ he asks. “No my son, I am St. Peter; Mohammed is higher up.” Peter then points to a ladder that rises into the clouds. . . .
Barack Obama at the pearly gates.
Having arrived at the Gates of Heaven, Barrack Obama meets a man with a beard. ‘Are you Mohammed?’ he asks. “No my son, I am St. Peter; Mohammed is higher up.” Peter then points to a ladder that rises into the clouds. . . .
Global warming advocate discovers that anti-nuclear activists lie!
Confusion in the environmentalism movement: A global warming activist discovers that anti-nuclear activists lie!
Confusion in the environmentalism movement: A global warming activist discovers that anti-nuclear activists lie!
Sift through Kepler data and find exoplanets
Got some spare time for original science? Volunteers wanted to sift through the Kepler data to find exoplanets.
Got some spare time for original science? Volunteers wanted to sift through the Kepler data to find exoplanets.