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Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Satellites Of Love
So those of you out there who miss Mystery Science Theater 3000 now have a question to ask yourself -- what exactly do you miss about MST3K? Joel? Mike? The robots? And, more specifically, the way the robots looked? The way the robots sounded?With a couple of new announcements, there are now three different MST3K splinter groups putting out MSTy-ish projects.
The first, of course, is Mike Nelson, with the relatively venerable Rifftrax, on which he's been joined by Kevin Murphy (the voice of Tom Servo) and Bill Corbett (the second voice of Crow) on downloadable commentary tracks for the sort of more popular movies that MST3K couldn't do.. He's also been joined by Mary Jo Pehl, but we'll get back to her later. Corbett, Nelson and Murphy are also teamed up for The Film Crew, which sells DVDs of more-typical-MST-fodder movies with commentaries.
For those their prefer their MST3K more old-school, there's now Joel Hodgson's Cinematic Titanic, on which he's joined by Trace Beaulieu (Dr. Forrester and the original Crow voice), the aforementioned Mary Jo Pehl, J. Elvis Weinstein (the original Tom Servo), and Frank Conniff (TV's Frank, natch), in doing, shockingly, some movie-riffing of some sort.
Finally, if you don't care about any of those people, but just want real, honest Mystery Science Theater 3000 in some form, there's now, well, Mystery Science Theater 3000. Jim Mallon, Bes Brain president and owner of the rights to MST (and the voice of Gypsy), is bringing back the MST3K bots (well, something that looks like them, at least) in a series of animated Flash episodes. He's joined by Paul Chaplin (the Observer, et al).
Used tags: funny, movies, television
Paste And Pay
If anyone's interested, Paste Magazine is pulling a Radiohead, letting you pick your own price for an 11-issue (each with accompanying CD) subscription. (Technically, not quite a Radiohead, since the minimum payment is a dollar.)
Used tags: magazines, media, music
STS-120 Update
Per Spaceflight Now:NASA and contractor engineers worked through the night assessing a variety of options for possible repairs to fix a ripped solar blanket on a partially extended array. At the same time, planning continued for a spacewalk Thursday to more thoroughly inspect a contaminated solar array rotary joint on the other side of the space station's main power truss.
The Discovery astronauts successfully moved the 17-ton P6 solar array truss segment Tuesday, bolting it to the far left end of the power truss. The first of its two solar array wings, known as P6-2B, extended a full 110 feet as required, but the crew aborted deployment of the second P6-4B wing when one section of hinged blanket slats hung up, possibly due to a guide wire snag. Two seams between adjacent slats pulled open, resulting in separate tears, and the edges of several nearby slats were crumpled. The largest rip measured some two-and-a-half feet long.
Eighty percent deployed, the P6-4B array can generate 97 percent of the electricity of a fully extended wing. The station is not yet using power from the torn array, but engineers say tests confirm no major damage to its internal wiring.
The immediate concern is figuring out a way to fully extend the P6-4B wing to provide the necessary structural rigidity. With a partially deployed panel, none of the arrays on the left side of the main power truss can be rotated as required to track the sun without risking additional damage. As a result, the station's left-side solar alpha rotary joint, or SARJ, is locked in place while engineers assess their options.
Adding to NASA's problems, the station's right-side arrays also are locked in place because of unexpected metallic contamination inside the starboard SARJ. Astronauts Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock are working today to prepare their spacesuits and tools for a spacewalk Thursday to carry out a more detailed inspection of the right-side SARJ to look for the source of the contamination.
Used tags: eva, international_space_station, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_117
iComet
Behold ... the iComet!
Used tags: apple, astronomy, space
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
"Rhett Butler's People"
I was looking for a good quote from Gone With the Wind to sum up my thoughts about Rhett Butler's People, and instead found this, which actually does a pretty decent job of it:
Scarlett: Go! Go!(And, by the way, here's whatever happened to the Pat Conroy version.)
[She whips the horse many times, and it falls down dead]
Prissy: It's dead! It's dead!
STS-120 Update
Per NASA:Mission Specialists Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock helped install the P6 truss in its permanent location and inspected the port Solar Alpha Rotary Joint today during STS-120’s third spacewalk. The 7-hour, 8-minute excursion wrapped up at 11:53 a.m. EDT.
Shortly after the spacewalk began, Parazynski and Wheelock went to work at the end of the port truss to help station robotic arm operators attach the P6 to its new location on P5. The two provided verbal cues to Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Dan Tani and Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson as they aligned the truss. Once the 17.5 ton truss was in place, the spacewalkers secured it and attached its power source.
In other news, the mission has been extended by a day, to allow time for a spacewalk to inspect a rotary joint of the relocated arrays. Landing is now scheduled for Nov. 7
Used tags: eva, international_space_station, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_117
iPhone In Six Colors
Heh.
Used tags: apple, iphone, newton
Free Taco
Apparenlty you can get a free taco at Taco Bell from 2 to 5 p.m. today. If you're interested.
Used tags: food
Koolickle
One of my coworkers came in today talking about an unusual snack someone had brought to her class last night. My coworker had never heard of this before, but, since the person who brought it in said she learned about them while living in Mississippi, she thought I might have.I had not, in fact, heard of Koolickles -- dill pickles marinaded in Kool-Aid.
To be honest, I don't have a whole lot of interest in a personal encounter therewith. But I was curious as to how I would have been unaware of a Mississippi cult food phenomenon. The classmate in question was from the southern part of the state, so perhaps, I reassured myself, it was a local thing in an area outside my stomping grounds.
But then I see something that mentions it as being based primarily in the Delta. So I turn to the first authoritative source I see -- The New York Times' story linked above. Which is primarily about Indianola and Sunflower County. I mean, it mentions invididual streets in Indianola where you can get them.
So, I'm ashamed. My only guess is that perhaps it's something that has started in the five years I've been gone from the Delta.
Do any of you know anything about this?
Used tags: food, mississippi
Monday, 29 October 2007
Regular Richie Feature
Recent search strings on alltheseworlds.net:- T-shirt and cap crowd and "Pete Boone"
- steve jobs cartoon
- How do you prevent your G5 iMac from taking a nap?
- star trek new voyages
- fire orgeron
- 4400 renewal
- 2012 fifth dimension count down - what's new october 2007
- shuttle mission logo
- Apollo Snoopy
- Downloads Star Trek Games
- Nasa shuttle docking
- shuttle discovery patch
- eileen collin
- the smartest man in the world (Of course that leads here.)
- simpsons season 13 cover
- Jango Fett
- Gemini 6 Space Docking
- nasa coins discovery
- star trek device examine
Used tags: blog, regular_richie_feature
Another Dave-Friend Book-Pimping Update
My review of Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington, D.C.
, by Jesse Holland, my former editor at The Daily Mississippian, is coming, I promise, but not today.In the meantime, here's a review of Francis French and Colin Burgess' In the Shadow of the Moon
, the second book of the Outward Odyssey series.On his blog, Jesse's got a link to a radio appearance he did and information about an upcoming book signing for folks in Mississippi, on Nov. 17 in Holly Springs.
Used tags: apollo, books, hatbag, history, media, mississippi, moon, nasa, ole_miss, outward_odyssey, soviet, space, writing
STS-120 Update
Per NASA:The Space Shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews are using the station and shuttle robotic arms to move the P6 truss segment and preparing for Tuesday’s spacewalk, the third of the mission. The crews will also get some off duty time this morning.
The station robotic arm operators have handed off the P6 truss to the shuttle robotic arm operators. The shuttle’s Canadarm will hand the P6 back over to the station’s Canadarm2 later this morning after Canadarm2 moves closer to the worksite. Canadarm2 will then install P6 to the P5 truss during the mission’s third spacewalk.
And per Spaceflight Now:
Space station engineers are scrambling to determine the source of unexpected debris in a critical solar array rotary joint and considering whether to order an additional, more thorough spacewalk inspection to figure out what sort of downstream repair work might be necessary.
The international space station's right-side solar alpha rotary joint, or SARJ - a 10-foot-wide, 2,500-pound motorized gear used to turn outboard arrays to keep them face on to the sun - needs to work normally to generate the electricity required by the growing space station's myriad systems.
Used tags: international_space_station, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Leopard
Since some have asked:Yes, I bought Leopard Friday. (It's all the Tutors' fault.)
Yes, I got the shirt.
No, I haven't installed it.
I'm probably going to wait a week or so to make sure no major issues come up. I see they've already released one update.
Used tags: apple, birmingham, macintosh
Sunday, 28 October 2007
Space Question
Ever wanted to ask an astronaut a question? Thanks to a joint effort between LucasFilm and collectSPACE, you can submit a question at StarWars.com. One question will be chosen to be asked by collectSPACE during an interview with the on-orbit STS-120 crew.
Used tags: collectspace, nasa, space, star_wars, sts_120
STS-120 Update
Per Spaceflight Now:Space station commander Peggy Whitson and Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli opened the hatch to the newly installed Italian-built Harmony module at 8:24 a.m. today and floated into the roomy, brightly lighted room that will serve as the gateway to European and Japanese research modules scheduled for launch late this year and early next.
And per NASA:
STS-120’s second spacewalk is now in the books. Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski and Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Daniel Tani successfully prepared the P6 truss for its relocation during the excursion, which ended at 12:05 p.m. EDT.
...
The next spacewalk is scheduled to take place Tuesday. Parazynski and Wheelock will team up to assist with robotic arm attachment of the P6 truss in its new location on P5.
Used tags: eva, international_space_station, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Kowal Portable Typewriter
The Kowal Portable Typewriter and Adding MachineVery possibily the coolest casemod ever, even if it is relatively uninvasive. Oh, man, I want one of these. (Without having to actually do the work.)
Used tags: computers, history, writing
Friday, 26 October 2007
Paying For A Ride
Bigelow Aerospace is upping the ante for commercial spaceflight yet again.Bigelow, perhaps the only altspace company to actually be putting stuff in orbit, is looking to launch an inhabitable structure within the next three years or so, giving them essentially their own private space station. The problem, of course, is that while they'll have their own station where people could go, they won't have anyway of getting them there.
The company has been working for a while now on a solution to that problem, and has announced a new possible solution:
Bigelow Aerospace intends to spur development of a commercial space vehicle to take people into Earth orbit by offering to sign a contract worth $760 million with any company that can meet their criteria, company president Robert Bigelow says.
...
The company plans to break ground in less than a year on a factory to mass-produce its inflatable space stations, but they are worried that without an affordable commercial crew launch vehicle, none of its potential customers will be able to pay to get to these space stations, Bigelow said.
...
The contract or purchase agreement would be worth $760 million in total for eight launches. To show that Bigelow Aerospace is serious, it will deposit $100 million in an escrow bank account up front if the plan goes forward.
The potential offer tops the $500 million NASA has budgeted for its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) programme, which is part of the agency's own effort to spur development of commercial orbital crew launch capabilities.
STS-120 Update
Per NASA:STS-120 Mission Specialists Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock kicked off STS-120’s first spacewalk at 6:02 a.m. EDT to prepare Harmony for removal from Discovery’s payload bay. The excursion is scheduled to wrap up at about 12:32 p.m.
...
The spacewalkers have removed and stowed the S-band Antenna Structural Assembly. They also secured a Payload and Data Grapple Fixture onto Harmony that could not be in place during launch, removed contamination covers and disconnected the power cables linking Harmony to Discovery.
The station robotic arm operators are removing Harmony from the payload bay and will move it toward its position on Unity. Meanwhile, the spacewalkers are preparing the P6 truss for its relocation.
Used tags: eva, international_space_station, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Trek XI Update
OK, if you don't like the time-travelin'-old-Spock-teams-up-with-young-Spock-to-fight-Romulans rumors about the plot of the next Trek movie (and, frankly, I do), here's you an alternative Trek XI plot rumor that I'm not as keen on. Frankly, I'm opposed to anything that would take Robert April out of canon.
Used tags: movies, rumors, star_trek, star_trek_xi
Razor's Edge
AICN has more bad news for those waiting for the Battlestar Galactica conclusion. Sheesh, people, just get on with it, please.On the plus side, though, if you're not already, you can be getting a new BSG fix right frakkin' now. The new series of prequel webisodes to the upcoming Razor prequel movie is already on its third part. The webisodes focus on the adventures of a young, pre-space-stache Billy Adama, and are full of awesome old-school BSG goodness.
Used tags: bsg, dvd, television
Thursday, 25 October 2007
STS-120 Update
Per NASA:Space Shuttle Discovery and the STS-120 crew arrived at the International Space Station at 8:40 a.m. EDT, delivering a new module and crew member to the orbital outpost.
The STS-120 astronauts and the station’s Expedition 16 crew will conduct pressure and leak checks before the hatches between the two spacecraft open about 10:30 a.m. After the crews greet each other, they will quickly begin joint operations.
...
Also, preparations will begin today for the first of five scheduled STS-120 spacewalks. It is set to kick off at 6:28 a.m. Friday.
Related story: Items Taken Into Space Reflect Accomplishments on Earth
Used tags: international_space_station, nasa, space, space_shuttle, star_wars, sts_120
Editorial Note
OK, a rare ATW personal note, but for those who actually know me and haven't heard -- I got word yesterday that the divorce is official. It's done.
And, now, back to topics far more interesting than me.
Herbert Was My Valley
This week's new Hatbag strip is now online. Go check it out.For those ATW readers who don't follow the weekly Hatbag link, a brief explanation -- Hatbag is a weekly webcomic Lain and I create; following two old college buddies as they adjust to sort-of grown-up life. If you read ATW, take a few extra seconds to go read Hatbag. Please? Please?
Used tags: comics, funny, hatbag
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Cultural Diversity
Reasons why I'm cooler than you, No. 376*
*Relative coolness based on U.S. average. No guarantee is made of superior coolness to any individual reader. No representation is made that the quality of my coolness is greater than that of other coolness. Still, you gotta admit that's pretty cool.
Used tags: books, comics, hatbag, media
Popular Location
China reportedly successfully launched its first lunar probe, Chang'e 1, yesteray afternoon on what is planned to be a one-year mission to observe the moon. Chang'e will join the Japanese Kaguya orbiter, which this week entered its science orbit and is beginning its final check-outs, wich should be complete in mid-December. Still coming over the next year or so are Indian and U.S. lunar orbiters.
Big Moon On The Rise
Per SpaceWeather:This week's full Moon is the biggest full Moon of 2007. It's no illusion. Some full Moons are genuinely larger than others and Thursday night's will be a whopper. Why? Read the answer below.
The Moon's orbit is an ellipse with one side 30,000 miles closer to Earth than the other. The full Moon of Oct. 25-26 is located on the near side, making it appear as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than lesser full Moons we've seen earlier in 2007.
In the language of astronomy, the two ends of the Moon's orbit are called "apogee" and "perigee." Apogee is the farthest point, perigee the nearest: diagram. This week's full Moon is a "perigee Moon" with extra-high "perigean tides."
The Moon is 14% bigger, but can you actually tell the difference? It's not so easy. There are no rulers floating in the sky to measure lunar diameters. A fun experiment: Take a friend outside Thursday night and ask if they notice anything unusual about the Moon. Explain perigee after they answer.
Used tags: astronomy, moon, space
Wow
So, according to MacNN, after the stock rise following the quarterly financial result announcement, Apple's market cap exceeded IBM and Intel. Not bad at all.
Used tags: apple
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
Yet More Dave-Friend Book-Pimping
I've finished reading Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington, D.C.
, by Jesse Holland, my former editor at The Daily Mississippian, but, per Dave-standard, it will take me a little while to get a review online.On somewhat of a cool note, the reviews of Francis French and Colin Burgess' Into That Silent Sea and In the Shadow of the Moon
, the first two books of the Outward Odyssey series, on Amazon now include a brief bit by Mercury nurse Dee O'Hara.Also, the worlds in a grain of sand blog has a post about the Outward Odyssey series.
Used tags: apollo, books, history, media, mississippi, moon, nasa, ole_miss, outward_odyssey, space, writing
For Better Or For ... Nah
Per Editor & Publisher:NEW YORK As "For Better or For Worse" moved into "hybrid" mode this week with a look back at how Elly and John Patterson met, few readers of Lynn Johnston's partly autobiographical comic knew that her real-life husband left her this April.
The news that Rod Johnston had met someone else was a devastating shock to Lynn, whose millions of fans thought her long marriage -- like the long marriage of Elly and John -- was "storybook" in nature. "It shows our family was as vulnerable as anyone," she said during a phone interview with E&P.
But there's a silver lining of sorts in the breakup of the marriage, which will probably officially end in divorce next April. Johnston, who's feeling much better about the separation than she did this spring, has been devoting more time to her hybrid comic than initially planned. And she intends to continue doing so -- meaning there'll be more "new" in the new-old "FBorFW" than anyone could have expected.
"The sudden change in my life has given me a lot more need to focus on my work," said Johnston, who noted that one reason she had wanted to stop doing "FBorFW" was to share retirement with Rod, who had ended his career as a dentist.
Obviously, this news could be seen to have exciting implications for the future of Hatbag. But it doesn't. Sorry.
Ares Approaching
According to a report by Florida Today, NASA is working on a Constellation schedule that would see astronauts flying to the International Space Station on an Ares-launched Orion capsule in 2013. Which would be really cool.
Used tags: ares, constellation, launch_schedule, nasa, orion, space
Another Good Quarter
Highlights of Apple's latest quarterly results, per MacRumors:- Apple shipped 2,164,000 Macintosh computers, representing 34 percent growth over the year-ago quarter and exceeding the previous quarterly record for Mac shipments by 400,000.
- Apple sold 10,200,000 iPods during the quarter, representing 17 percent growth over the year-ago quarter.
- Quarterly iPhone sales were 1,119,000, bringing cumulative fiscal 2007 sales to 1,389,000.
- Over 50% of Macs sold in Retail stores were sold to individuals who had never owned a Mac before.
- Over 40,000 iPod Distribution locations, 8,700 Mac Distribution locations.
Used tags: apple, iphone, ipod, macintosh
STS-120 Update
Things are Go right now, but the situation is too dynamic for me to write anything about the launch (still scheduled for 10:38:19 CDT) that would be meaningful when you read it. Instead, you can go to Spaceflight Now's Mission Status Center for the latest updates.And, of course, you can watch live launch coverage on NASA TV, already underway.
Used tags: international_space_station, launch_schedule, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Monday, 22 October 2007
Hailing Discovery
As part of the promotion that involves the launch of Luke's lightsaber on the upcoming STS-120 mission, you can send a message to the crew of Discovery while the astronauts are in orbit (they won't get it while they're in orbit, apparently, but that's beside the point). Be sure and tell them "May the Force be with you," 'cause I'm sure nobody else will come up with that.
Used tags: nasa, space, space_shuttle, star_wars, sts_120
Great Value
Michael Dell's recommendation to Steve Jobs that "shut down (Apple) and return the money to shareholders" ten years ago has become increasingly preposterous. At the time, Dell had a market value of $4 billion to Apple's $700 million, but the Cupertino company's market value has since skyrocketed to $150 billion, more than double that Dell's current valuation. In fact, Apple has now surpassed Hewlett-Packard in market capitalization for the first time ever. Bloomberg reports that Apple may reveal annual revenues of more than $20 billion for the first time in the company's 31-year history when fourth quarter results are issued on October 22nd.Part of that, of course, is the fact that Apple not only makes computers, they also sell things like the fourth-most-popular cell phone in the country, which is not bad at all considering the price point.
Used tags: apple, computers, iphone, macintosh
STS-120 Update
Per NASA:At the STS-120 Launch Readiness News Conference Sunday morning, LeRoy Cain, launch integration manager, pointed to the weather as the only question mark for the launch week ahead. He reported all is "ready to move forward to launch on Tuesday."
Weather officer Kathy Winters called Tuesday's weather "promising" at 60 percent favorable. She explained that they continue tracking a frontal boundary that may now arrive on Wednesday, earlier than previously predicted. The front should be out in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, but the timing of the front's arrival could cause problems for a Wednesday launch attempt should Tuesday's launch not occur. Weather should improve once the front passes through the area. There is still only a 10 percent chance that weather could prohibit tanking for Tuesday's liftoff.
And, in other news:
The Expedition 15 crew members have returned home.
After bidding farewell to the Expedition 16 crew Saturday night, the Expedition 15 crew, Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov, boarded their Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft for the return to Earth. They undocked from the station around 3:14 a.m. EDT Sunday and landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan at 6:36 a.m.
Used tags: international_space_station, launch_schedule, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Friday, 19 October 2007
Celebrity Collage
Halley's Pieces
Per Space.com:A junior version of the famous Perseid meteor shower is scheduled to reach its maximum before sunrise on Sunday morning, Oct. 21. This meteor display is known as the Orionids because the meteors seem to fan out from a region to the north of Orion's second brightest star, ruddy Betelgeuse.
Weather permitting and under very dark skies away from light pollution, skywatchers could see several meteors per hour. Rates will be significantly lower in cities and suburban areas.
Interestingly, this year, brilliant Mars is nearby and the apparent source of these meteors, called the radiant, will be positioned roughly between Mars and Betelgeuse.
...
Expect to see few, if any Orionids before midnight – especially this year, with a bright waxing gibbous Moon glaring high in the western sky.
But moonset is around 1:30 a.m. local daylight time on Sunday, and that's a good time to begin preparing for your meteor vigil. At its best several hours later, at around 5:00 a.m. when Orion is highest in the sky toward the south, Orionids typically produce around 20 to 25 meteors per hour under a clear, dark sky.
...
The Orionids are thought to result from the orbit of Halley's Comet; some of the dust which has shaken loose from this famous object as it runs its gigantic loop from the Sun out to Neptune, ram our atmosphere to create the effect of these "shooting stars."
STS-120 Update
The crew is now in Florday, and the official countdown begins tomorrow at 1 p.m. CDT for Tuesday's STS-120 launch of the space shuttle Discovery.
Used tags: launch_schedule, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Trek XI Update
You know, I'm not getting too worried over the conflicting rumors as to whether or not Shatner will be in the movie, but I'm very glad to know that the Enterprise will look like the Enterprise.
Used tags: movies, rumors, star_trek, star_trek_xi
Thursday, 18 October 2007
A Decent Interval
This week's new Hatbag strip is now online. Go check it out.For those ATW readers who don't follow the weekly Hatbag link, a brief explanation -- Hatbag is a weekly webcomic Lain and I create; following two old college buddies as they adjust to sort-of grown-up life. If you read ATW, take a few extra seconds to go read Hatbag. Please? Please?
Used tags: comics, funny, hatbag
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Next-Generation Spaceflight Update
Like I said, get used to the posts about the Garriott family, 'cause you're going to be seeing them frequently over the next year. Just wait 'til, say, August.Anyway, Discovery Channel has a Q&A with Richard Garriott online in which he talks about his desire to fly into space, and about his family. My favorite bit: "Kids at school would go 'Hey, your dad was an astronaut who's been in space, what was it like?' and...I'd go home and ask him, and his answers were commonly things with liberal use of the word 'nominal,' which was a common word in my household."
Sadly, that's a word that pops up in my own speech with increasingly frequency. Got some more Kool-Aid?
Used tags: altspace, collectspace, garriott, history, international_space_station, outward_odyssey, roskosmos, skylab, soviet, soyuz, sputnik
STS-120 Update
Per NASA:NASA senior managers Tuesday completed a detailed review of space shuttle Discovery’s readiness for flight and selected Oct. 23 as the official launch date. Commander Pam Melroy and her six crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 11:38 a.m. EDT on the STS-120 mission to the International Space Station.
...
"After a thorough discussion and review of all current engineering analysis, we have determined that Discovery's panels do not need to be replaced before the mission,” said Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier.
The 14-day mission includes five spacewalks – four by shuttle crew members and one by the station’s Expedition 16 crew. Discovery is expected to complete its mission and return home at 4:47 a.m. EST on Nov. 6.
Used tags: launch_schedule, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Planetary Protection
Despite the fact that it's space-related, I'm not including this Giuliani bit from The AP in my Space Race '08 series:During a town hall meeting in Exeter, a young questioner asked the former New York mayor about his plan to protect Earth.You know, I think if I knew for sure that extraterrestrials were going to attack during the next presidential term, I very well might vote for Giuliani on that issue.
"If (there's) something living on another planet and it's bad and it comes over here, what would you do?" the boy asked.
Giuliani, grin on his face, said it was the first time he's been asked about an intergalactic attack.
"Of all the things that can happen in this world, we'll be prepared for that, yes we will. We'll be prepared for anything that happens," said Giuliani, who spent the day campaigning in key early voting state.
Used tags: funny, politics, space
STS-120 Update
Per Space.com:Top NASA officials will decide today whether to proceed with the planned launch of the space shuttle Discovery next week or to stand down and replace several heat shield panels lining the orbiter's wings.
Mission managers and engineers are meeting at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Cape Canaveral, Florida in a Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for Discovery's planned Oct. 23 launch toward the International Space Station (ISS).
Among the chief topics under discussion is whether to haul Discovery off its launch pad and replace three of the 44 heat-resistant panels along the orbiter's wing leading edges. NASA's independent Engineering and Safety Center recommended the panels be replaced, which would prompt a lengthy delay for Discovery's planned STS-120 mission, due to slight defects to their exterior coating, the space agency said.
"The decision has obviously not been made," NASA spokesperson Kyle Herring, of the agency's Johnson Space Center, told SPACE.com Monday. "The FRR tomorrow will determine whether we fly as is and pick Oct. 23."
...
NASA will hold a press briefing no earlier than 3:00 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) on NASA TV to discuss today's Flight Readiness Review meeting for Discovery's STS-120 shuttle mission.
Used tags: launch_schedule, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Trek XI Update
Meet James T. Kirk.
Used tags: movies, star_trek, star_trek_xi
Crouching Leopard
OK, for the Mac users in the audience: Leopard is coming on Oct. 26. Will you be getting it anytime soon? Why or why not?
Rumors Of The Force
AICN has a bunch of rumors about the live-action Star Wars television series that's too long for me to summarize here, so, if you're interested, go read it. Frankly, it had little impact on my anticipation of the series -- there were some things that could be really cool, and some things that have the potential, at least, to be really not.
Used tags: movies, rumors, star_wars, television
Friday, 12 October 2007
Trek XI Update
OK, I totally dig my iPhone.I also am all about the dry rub that Corky's puts on their ribs.
But I'm not going to, you know, put dry rub on my iPhone.
AICN has an ecstatic post about the fact that Simon Pegg is the new Scotty.
And, see, I like the Simon Pegg. And I like the Star Trek.
But, together? Hmmm. I just don't know.
In fact, it's a bit worrisome to me that both of the latest casting announcements involve comic actors in major ensemble roles. I hope that's not indicative of tone.
Used tags: hot_fuzz, movies, shaun_of_the_dead, star_trek, star_trek_xi
What Hath Zod Wrought?
OK, so here's the question for the ATW audience: would you want to see Terrance Stamp return as Zod in the next Superman movie?
Used tags: comics, movies, superman
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Space Race '08
Another installment in my series of posts about space-related comments by presidential candidates:Democrats
Barack Obama
“I’m inspired by the idea of going to Mars,” he replied, projecting friendly sincerity. “I’m also mindful of the budgetary constraints. So I won’t give you an answer right now.”
-- Space Politics, 10 October 2007
It joins the previous entries:
Republicans
Rudy Giuliani
"He said he supported continuing to aggressively pursue space exploration." -- The Tallahassee Democrat, 5 April 2007
Newt Gingrich
"...he said he would ... offer a $20 billion reward for the first private company that successfully completes a Mars mission. 'Somebody would be there and back about 40 percent of the way into the NASA process.'" -- Boston.com, 9 June 2007
Mitt Romney
"Regarding NASA's plans to return to the moon and Mars, he said he hadn't decided if that was the exact plan he'd pursue, 'but I have no reason to change that at this point.'" -- Florida Today, 7 August 2007
Democrats
Hillary Clinton
"But in a telephone interview afterward, she said that in the short term she would subordinate Bush administration proposals for human exploration of the Moon and Mars to restoring cuts in aeronautics research and space-based studies of climate change and other earth science issues.
Travel to the Moon or Mars 'excites people,' she said, 'but I am more focused on nearer-term goals I think are achievable.'"
-- The New York Times, 5 October 2007
Bill Richardson
"He did say that he sees space as 'a bona fide area of economic growth and opportunity'..." -- Space Politics, 4 June 2007
John Edwards
"I am a strong supporter of our space program. It reflects the best of the American spirit of optimism, discovery and progress.
We need a balanced space and aeronautics program. We need to support solar system exploration as an important goal for our human and robotic programs, but only as one goal among several. And we need to invite other countries to share in a meaningful way in both the adventure and the cost of space exploration." -- A Blog Around The Clock, 9 July 2007
Various
Dodd said that “we’re doing okay” and left it at that. Biden professed his support for robotic programs, and when asked about human spaceflight, said, “With clear leadership we can do anything, good luck.” Kucinich said he would double spending “across the board on civilian projects and privatize where we can”, and gave a shout-out for NASA Glenn Research Center, in his district. Richardson said spaceflight was “important” and added that “we should also encourage private companies”, as he has been doing in New Mexico. -- Space Politics, 28 September 2007
STS-120 Update
From Spaceflight Now:The shuttle Discovery's crew strapped in for a dress-rehearsal countdown today to clear the way for launch Oct. 23 on a critical space station assembly mission. NASA managers, meanwhile, met for a program-level flight readiness review but were unable to reach a consensus on whether to replace three suspect wing leading edge panels or to launch Discovery as is.
Replacing the panels would require moving Discovery off the launch pad and back to its hangar for repairs, work that likely would delay launch for weeks if not longer. A decision on how to proceed is expected next week, after a headquarters-level flight readiness review Tuesday.
The issue involves a protective silicon-carbide coating on the shuttle's reinforced carbon carbon nose cap and wing leading edge panels.
Used tags: launch_schedule, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
O MrGuy Do U Wrt
We'll now take a break from not blogging to tell you that this week's new Hatbag strip is now online. Go check it out.For those ATW readers who don't follow the weekly Hatbag link, a brief explanation -- Hatbag is a weekly webcomic Lain and I create; following two old college buddies as they adjust to sort-of grown-up life. If you read ATW, take a few extra seconds to go read Hatbag. Please? Please?
Used tags: comics, funny, hatbag
Monday, 8 October 2007
Editorial Note
This week promises to be packed, and possibly pivotal, professionally and personally.So it's not even so much that I won't have time for blogging, but I doubt I'll even have time to know what's going on in the world to blog it.
If anybody's got any ideas, though, feel free to share.
Used tags: blog
Friday, 5 October 2007
Conceived In Liberty ... From Gravity
Per Novosti:Russian scientists are expecting two cockroaches, who returned from space onboard the Foton-M bio satellite, to give birth to the first creatures ever conceived in space, the research supervisor said.
"In the next few days we are expecting two female 'cosmonauts' to give birth to the world's first offspring conceived in microgravity," Dmitry Atyakshin said.
He said the two expectant mothers are being kept in a separate tank under constant expert monitoring. All space cockroaches feel well, but their behavior and physical condition has changed dramatically.
Space Race '08
Another installment in my series of posts about space-related comments by presidential candidates:Democrats
Hillary Clinton
"But in a telephone interview afterward, she said that in the short term she would subordinate Bush administration proposals for human exploration of the Moon and Mars to restoring cuts in aeronautics research and space-based studies of climate change and other earth science issues.
Travel to the Moon or Mars 'excites people,' she said, 'but I am more focused on nearer-term goals I think are achievable.'"
-- The New York Times, 5 October 2007
It joins the previous entries:
Republicans
Rudy Giuliani
"He said he supported continuing to aggressively pursue space exploration." -- The Tallahassee Democrat, 5 April 2007
Newt Gingrich
"...he said he would ... offer a $20 billion reward for the first private company that successfully completes a Mars mission. 'Somebody would be there and back about 40 percent of the way into the NASA process.'" -- Boston.com, 9 June 2007
Mitt Romney
"Regarding NASA's plans to return to the moon and Mars, he said he hadn't decided if that was the exact plan he'd pursue, 'but I have no reason to change that at this point.'" -- Florida Today, 7 August 2007
Democrats
Bill Richardson
"He did say that he sees space as 'a bona fide area of economic growth and opportunity'..." -- Space Politics, 4 June 2007
John Edwards
"I am a strong supporter of our space program. It reflects the best of the American spirit of optimism, discovery and progress.
We need a balanced space and aeronautics program. We need to support solar system exploration as an important goal for our human and robotic programs, but only as one goal among several. And we need to invite other countries to share in a meaningful way in both the adventure and the cost of space exploration." -- A Blog Around The Clock, 9 July 2007
Various
Dodd said that “we’re doing okay” and left it at that. Biden professed his support for robotic programs, and when asked about human spaceflight, said, “With clear leadership we can do anything, good luck.” Kucinich said he would double spending “across the board on civilian projects and privatize where we can”, and gave a shout-out for NASA Glenn Research Center, in his district. Richardson said spaceflight was “important” and added that “we should also encourage private companies”, as he has been doing in New Mexico. -- Space Politics, 28 September 2007
Yet Another Dave-Friend Book-Pimping Update
More reviews:
There was an article about Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington, D.C.
, by Jesse Holland, my former editor at The Daily Mississippian, recently in Roll Call, and you can read it here.And there's a nice two-for-one review of Francis French and Colin Burgess' Into That Silent Sea and In the Shadow of the Moon
, the first two books of the Outward Odyssey series, at Washington University's Student Life.
Used tags: apollo, books, history, media, mississippi, nasa, ole_miss, outward_odyssey, soviet, space
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Today In History
On this date 50 years ago, the world changed.
Used tags: history, soviet, space, sputnik
A Vote For Gore
Not only is this week's new Hatbag strip now online, but we added a little bit of extra behind-the-scenes material. Go check it out.For those ATW readers who don't follow the weekly Hatbag link, a brief explanation -- Hatbag is a weekly webcomic Lain and I create; following two old college buddies as they adjust to sort-of grown-up life. If you read ATW, take a few extra seconds to go read Hatbag. Please? Please?
Used tags: comics, funny, hatbag, writing
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
"Mr. Sputnik"
Another Richard Garriott post, but one that has nothing to do with his spaceflight next year.collectSPACE originally broke the story, but The New York Times now has an interesting feature about the spare Soviet Sputnik that Garriott has in his collection. The article also talks some about how Sputnik had a very direct relationship with his father's astronaut career, a story that's told in next year's Homesteading Space.
The article also mentions something I hadn't seen before (though perhaps I just missed it): That Richard Garriott is pursuing the possibility of going on a spacewalk during his trip to the station next year. (OK, so I lied, this post did mention his flight. Sorry.)
Used tags: altspace, collectspace, garriott, history, international_space_station, outward_odyssey, roskosmos, skylab, soviet, soyuz, sputnik
Second Verse, Same As The First
The new Zunes are out, and Cult of Mac is underwhelmed. (OK, so admittedly it's potentially a biased venue.) Basically, his point is that, while there are improvements over last year's Zunes, they've only scaled, at best, proportionately to how iPods have improved, remaining relatively lackluster.And, hey, no more brown.
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Bohemian New Orleans
Finally, the second in my series of reviews of books that came out this year by people I know. Today we have Bohemian New Orleans: The Story of the Outsider and Loujon Press, by Jeff Weddle, a friend of mine from Ole Miss and Indianola. Jeff was the director of the county library system in Sunflower County, Miss., while I was working at the newspaper there.Toward the end of "Bohemian New Orleans," Jeff Weddle includes an ironic quote from a letter from poet Charles Bukowski to Jon Webb, who with his wife Louise ran the Loujon Press, which published, among other things, the Outsider literary magazine. Bukowski, who's career was made by the devoted attention paid him by Outsider, encouraged the Webbs to write a memoir. "I'm sure that there has never been a press and a time like yours," Bukowski wrote, "and I think that it would be a shame and an error if it were not recorded, because someday somebody is going to do it and they'll get it all WRONG."
The Webbs never wrote that memoir. And now, somebody, in the form of Jeff Weddle, has done it. But, while only those involved know for sure, it seems unlikely he got it all WRONG.
In his preface, Weddle acknowledges that Bohemian New Orleans is, essentially, a love story. It's the love story of a couple alike to each other by being unlike anyone else, whose devotion to each other made possible their against-the-odds publishing adventure. It's the love story of the Webbs for the Outsider and the other Loujon Press labors of love, and for the outsider literary community they supported.
But, reading the book, it's clearly a love story in another way. A decade ago, I was quite aware of Weddle's love for the work of Charles Bukowski (Says I, "Who?"). And that love has clearly carried over to the story of the small press that played a huge role in introducing the world to Bukowski. If, in fact, Bukowski was right, and the story has been told all WRONG, it's not from lack of care and dedicated effort on Weddle's part.
The book is a tale of determination, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the struggles that went into the publication of the Outsider and the amazing specialty-crafted books printed by Loujon. And the most important word in that last sentence is, without question, struggles -- there was nothing easy about the history of Loujon, nor the lives of Jon and Louise. The author is perhaps a bit kind about the fact that some of those struggles they brought upon themselves; but his job is not to pass judgment, merely to relate the facts.
And that Weddle does, almost to surfeit. My one possible complaint about the book is, truth be told, probably more professional jealousy. The level of detail Weddle provides, particularly in the early chapters that set up the story, is superhuman. The amount of research it must have required boggles the mind. "The Webbs lived in an apartment on A Street, just down the block from the home of B, who was a poet who wrote C, which was published in D, run by E, and whose home Hemingway once visited." At times, one finds oneself struggling to keep up, but, afterwards, realized what an amazing tapestry Weddle has woven, giving the reader a solid feel for the community, both physical and literary, in which the Webbs lived.
The Webbs failed to take Bukowski's advice to tell their own story, and the reader gets a feel for what a pleasure it must have been for Weddle to have the privilege of being the one to tell it. And, as a result, his handiwork is likewise a pleasure to read. (more)
Used tags: books, magazines, media, mississippi, ole_miss
A Spider-Man And A Woman Update
From IMDB:U2 rocker Bono is confident the Spider-Man musical he is currently working on will dazzle audiences, because it will be "something the likes of which no-one has seen or heard". The singer is creating the Spider-Man production with his band mate The Edge and director Julie Taymor, whose new film Across The Universe he has a cameo in. The U2 stars and Taymor are currently hunting for a New York theatre big enough to house their project, and Bono is already warning audiences to expect the unexpected.
He says, "If we pull off what we're trying, it will be something the likes of which no-one has seen or heard. It should be a hallucinogenic experience for theatergoers. You have the visual energy she (Taymor) brings. The myth of the arachnid and the elasticity of these characters - you can turn theatre upside down." And Bono and The Edge plan to bring a wide range of music to the production. Bono adds, "We've got some punk rock in there and some beautiful opera."
Used tags: comics, music, spider_man, u2
Eclipse
From my college roommate, et al. More here.
Used tags: funny, ole_miss, youtube
Monday, 1 October 2007
Next-Generation Spaceflight Update
Just get used to the fact that you're probably going to be seeing a lot on this blog about Richard Garriott's upcoming spaceflight before it actually happens just over a year from now. Sorry.Anyway, Cosmic Log has an interesting article about the flight, with a slightly different focus about one of the unique elements of this flight; the commercial element of his mission. (That, though, relates to one of the questions I have -- Greg Olsen originally planned to have his Soyuz flight be more business than pleasure, but ended up having the work-related payload he wanted to fly canned. I'm assuming that Space Adventures has worked out whatever those issues were before announcing that Garriott will be flying experiments, but I'd like to see some sort of acknowledgement of that.)
Used tags: altspace, garriott, international_space_station, roskosmos, skylab, soyuz, space
The Simplest Satellite
As ATW readers may or may not know, Thursday marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of the space age, as heralded by the launch of Sputnik. Online observances of the occassion have already begun, such as collectSPACE's Top Ten Sputniks.One of the more interesting ones I've seen so far, though, is this Space.com article about a Russian space engineer's recollections of Sputnik:
But 50 years later, it emerges that the momentous launch was far from being part of a well-planned strategy to demonstrate communist superiority over the West. Instead, the first artificial satellite in space was a spur-of-the-moment gamble driven by the dream of one scientist, whose team scrounged a rocket, slapped together a satellite and persuaded a dubious Kremlin to open the space age.
Used tags: collectspace, history, soviet, space, sputnik
STS-120 Update
Discovery is now on Pad 39A, in preparation for the NET Oct. 23 launch of the STS-120 mission.
Used tags: launch_schedule, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Another Bride
It's been a total of one year since the matching his and hers DVD editions of The Princess Bride, and already they're going back to the well again for The Princess Bride (20th Anniversary Edition)
.I bought the original no-frills edition way back in the day, and then they got more of my money with the first special edition a bit later. I skipped last year's DVDs, and don't know if I'll go for this one or not.
I do like The Princess Bride, though.
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Satellites Of Love
With new announcements, there are now three separate MST3K splinter groups. (Read Entry)
Paste And Pay
Magazine lets you pick your own price. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
NASA assesses torn solar array. (Read Entry)
iComet
Comet looks vaguely familiar. (Read Entry)Tuesday, 30 October 2007
"Rhett Butler's People"
Sigh (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
P6 has been relocated. (Read Entry)
iPhone In Six Colors
Casemod goes Apple-retro. (Read Entry)
Free Taco
At Taco Bell, thanks to MLB promotion. (Read Entry)
Koolickle
Never heard of this. You? (Read Entry)Monday, 29 October 2007
Regular Richie Feature
Recent search strings on ATW. (Read Entry)
Another Dave-Friend Book-Pimping Update
Review of Shadow, Jesse on radio. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
Truss stuff. (Read Entry)
Leopard
Got it Friday. (Read Entry)Sunday, 28 October 2007
Space Question
Star Wars and collectSPACE team to let you ask a question of astronauts. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
Kicking butt and taking names. (Read Entry)
Kowal Portable Typewriter
Coolest casemod ever! (Read Entry)Friday, 26 October 2007
Paying For A Ride
Bigelow ups the ante for commercial spaceflight. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
Spacewalk is underway. (Read Entry)
Trek XI Update
New rumors regarding plot. (Read Entry)
Razor's Edge
Good and bad news for BSG fans. (Read Entry)Thursday, 25 October 2007
STS-120 Update
Discovery arrives at station. (Read Entry)
Editorial Note
Personal News (Read Entry)
Herbert Was My Valley
The week's Hatbag strip is now online. (Read Entry)Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Cultural Diversity
We're in a book. (Read Entry)
Popular Location
Chang'e 1 is on its way to the moon. (Read Entry)
Big Moon On The Rise
This week's full moon will be largest of year. (Read Entry)
Wow
Apple market cap exceeds IBM. (Read Entry)Tuesday, 23 October 2007
Yet More Dave-Friend Book-Pimping
Just random stuff this time. (Read Entry)
For Better Or For ... Nah
Divorce will be good for FBOFW (Read Entry)
Ares Approaching
Reported launch schedule would see crewed Ares launches in 2013. (Read Entry)
Another Good Quarter
Apple announces good news in conference call. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
Things are Go as of this writing. (Read Entry)Monday, 22 October 2007
Hailing Discovery
You can send a message to the crew. (Read Entry)
Great Value
Apple more than doubles Dell's market cap. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
Weather is concern for tomorrow. (Read Entry)Friday, 19 October 2007
Celebrity Collage
Who I look like. (Read Entry)
Halley's Pieces
Orionid meteor shower peaks Sunday. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
Countdown begins tomorrow. (Read Entry)
Trek XI Update
Enterprise will look like Enterprise. (Read Entry)Thursday, 18 October 2007
A Decent Interval
The week's Hatbag strip is now online. (Read Entry)Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Next-Generation Spaceflight Update
Discovery Channel has Q&A with Richard Garriott online. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
Discovery is Go! (Read Entry)Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Planetary Protection
Giuliani reveals anti-ET thoughts. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
FRR will determine launch date. (Read Entry)
Trek XI Update
Chris Pine is Kirk (Read Entry)
Crouching Leopard
OS X 10.5 is coming soon. (Read Entry)
Rumors Of The Force
Supposed info about upcoming Star Wars TV series. (Read Entry)Friday, 12 October 2007
Trek XI Update
Pegg is Scotty. (Read Entry)
What Hath Zod Wrought?
Will Stamp return to role? (Read Entry)Thursday, 11 October 2007
Space Race '08
Mars Society quizzes Obama. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
NASA examines RCC issues. (Read Entry)
O MrGuy Do U Wrt
(Read Entry)Monday, 8 October 2007
Editorial Note
Light posting this week. (Read Entry)Friday, 5 October 2007
Conceived In Liberty ... From Gravity
Cockroaches to have space baby. (Read Entry)
Space Race '08
Hillary chimes in. (Read Entry)
Yet Another Dave-Friend Book-Pimping Update
Even more reviews of Shadow, Capitol. (Read Entry)Thursday, 4 October 2007
Today In History
Sputnik launched fifty years ago today. (Read Entry)
A Vote For Gore
The week's Hatbag strip is now online. (Read Entry)Wednesday, 3 October 2007
"Mr. Sputnik"
Richard Garriot owns spare Sputnik. (Read Entry)
Second Verse, Same As The First
Microsoft releases new Zunes. (Read Entry)Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Bohemian New Orleans
Finally, my review of Jeff Weddle's book. (Read Entry)
A Spider-Man And A Woman Update
Bono says musical will set new standards. (Read Entry)
Eclipse
What if the sun doesn't come back? (Read Entry)Monday, 1 October 2007
Next-Generation Spaceflight Update
Cosmic Log has an interesting article about Richard Garriott's flight. (Read Entry)
The Simplest Satellite
Chertok shares history of Sputnik. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
Discovery is on the pad. (Read Entry)