Category: Items of Interest

A dry eyed goodbye to the Space Shuttle

Point the first: I think NASA should have more funding; but, like everyone else, I’m not going to bother saying what programs I’m going to raid to fund my pet programs.

Point the second: I kind of wish we’d been spending all that money we spent putting people into space on the unmanned, scientific instruments that have actually been illuminating our solar system, our galaxy, and our universe. That is not to say that I really regret the manned space flight program, as I’m not sure all those unmanned scientific instruments would have been built without the big goals associated with manned space flight (e.g., walking on the Moon). I’m just not particularly sad that the shuttle is being retired, nor I am particularly upset that there is no replacement ready to go. Continue reading “A dry eyed goodbye to the Space Shuttle”

Chimeric tweets

Oh how I wish these two tweets were one:

Well, if you want something done right, do it yourself.

@NASA: Great story by Reuters about Space Shuttle Spinoffs, including fly-by-wire technology, heart pumps, and dare I even mention the fanny pack?

Hey, that is even under 140 characters.

Puppets, outside the box

A while ago, The Frogger returned from a story-time/art project event with two puppets, of which she was understandably very proud. One she created under her own creative direction, with technical assistance from SuperMom. The other was created with the assistance of an adult helper, who “helped” her make a puppet. Can you guess which is which?

To my eye, both puppets have a recognizable face, but they are not equal. Continue reading “Puppets, outside the box”

Camouflage

If this rabbit were being hunted by my iPhone 3GS, I like its odds.

What? You don’t think iPhone’s hunt cute, fluffy bunnies? Then, why do you think its battery is always so low in the morning?

Look!

To my American eyes, the media reporting and political discussion around the Bailey[1] Sexualization Report pretty much looks like this:

Which is pretty much the same way the US media and politicians treat issues that don’t involve making hard decisions about national direction and goals.

NOTES

  1. Who knew that mothers were unionized here in the UK? Shhh, don’t tell Dr. Mrs. Rugbyologist.