Shuttle Geek – Discovery Rolls Out For Final Mission

September 9, 2010

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The Space Shuttle Discovery is moved into the Vertical Assembly Building today, in preparation for the next Shuttle mission to the International Space Station.  This may well be the last flight of Discovery.  STS 133  While there is a new system on the drawing boards, it will be years before the United States has a manned spacecraft after the shuttles are retired.  In the meantime, we will rent space on Russian rockets to get our astronauts into space.

Asteroid Geek – In Space, Nobody Can Hear You Coming

September 8, 2010

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But they can sometimes see you…

On Wednesday, September 8, 2010, asteroid 2010 RX30 sailed past Earth at a mere 154,600 miles away.  That’s just over half the distance to the Moon!

The images above were taken at the Mayhill, New Mexico Observatory’s 0.25 meter telescope at 12:45 am by Italian amateur astronomers using the Global Remote Astronomy Telescope Network.  Details at Wired Astronomy.

Whoosh! I thought I felt something brush past me this morning!
(well, drat. The image is supposed to be an animated gif, but for some reason it’s not animating! Go to the Wired Astronomy page to see the asteroid actually moving across the image)

UPDATE: 9/09/2010 1330 hrs PT
A couple of people have asked about the size of the asteroid, so after a bit of Google work, the results are in. 2010 RX30 is 10 to 20 meters across (32 to 65 feet). In comparison, the rock that hit Arizona 50,000 years ago was about 45 meters (150 feet) across.
2010 RF12, an asteroid 6-14 meters (19 to 45 feet) across slipped past us later the same day (5:12 pm EDT) at a mere 49,000 miles. The Goa’uld may be practicing!

Astronomy Geek – Firing Lasers At The Stars

September 7, 2010

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In an attempt to destroy the black hole at the center of the Milky Way, scientists at The Very Large Telescope in Chile fire a laser at the monster eating the galaxy!  Ok, not really.  The laser is actually used to compensate for atmospheric instability, allowing the telescope to adjust for the clearest image possible.

Some geek about the joke…  even if they were firing at the black hole, the laser light would just get sucked in like everything else.  Plus, it would take about 35,000 years for the beam to get there, assuming it didn’t spread out to nothingness well before it got anywhere near the targeted singularity.

Black holes are weird, and science is cool!

Read the Bad Astronomy blog about it all here.

Audio Post

September 6, 2010

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Oakland Threw Me A Birthday Party!

September 6, 2010

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How’s this for a birthday bash?  Oakland’s gay community got together and decided to throw a big street party in honor of my birthday!

Such thoughtful folks!  And so many adorable men!  Even Chaka Khan was there!

Sorry about the audio, iPhones just can’t handle loud bass. Or just plain loud, for that matter.

Here are some random pictures from the day…

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It’s That Time Of Year Again

September 5, 2010

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That ain’t even right!

Summer Creeps Back

September 4, 2010

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Yesterday’s heat.  Temps are creeping up again.  But it’s still a “dry” heat.

Hide Your Kids, Hide Your Wife

September 3, 2010

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A serious news story out of Ohio, but you can’t help but be amused by it.  Then watch what was done with the interview!  This is some funny sh..  uh…  stuff.

Now see what’s been done with that interview!

Tip ‘o the scarf to A.J. McNasty at QueerVisalia.com

More of the days

September 3, 2010

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The boat before the Boat.  Before the Coupe de Ville was the 1968 Chrysler Imperial.  A 440 cubic inch V-8, power everything, it would float along at 80 mph like it was riding on silk.  Another gas hog, and a bit spare compared to the opulence of the Cadillac that followed,  but still a great car.  I think my Dad paid about $300 for it.  Mine was a rich blue, called “silver cloud metallic”.  I didn’t see the silver, the metallic, or the clouds, bit it was a nice blue shade.

Some other cars I’ve owned…

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Those Were The Days

September 2, 2010

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1973 Cadillac Coupe de Ville

I had one just like this, waaaay back in the early 80’s.

Great car, a joy to drive, smooth as silk.

7 miles to a gallon.

Sigh.

No, not economical, not ecological, not cheap to run.

But still a heck of a car.

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