Showing posts with label mars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mars. Show all posts

Monday, July 20, 2009

The Moon Landing Anniversary & More for Monday, July 20, 2009

We admit, we have been inundated - like you - by the broadcasting and re-broadcasting of the 40th Anniversary of the Moon landing, and the passing of the late, great Walter Cronkite (& his coverage of the same). But, we think a message has been lost here to the public at large. What we're missing is the coverage of the Moon Base, the Mars Colony and the L5 Station. What you say? We don't have any of those things? Yes, we don't. We ask, why, after 40 years we are not even close to having any of those things?

Instead, our flawed media circus has chosen to focus on the hero worship of the late Mr. Cronkite (which we understand, is more than necessary...) and the glorification of the landing that happened 40 years ago. Instead, they should also be covering the reasons why we have not had more moon missions (yes, we know that there have been other moon missions and the shuttle) and even missions to Mars since then. Why is this media circus so myopic? Has journalism truly become a subjective exercise and not the objective enterprise it was once meant to be (as in during the Cronkite-era of journalism)? Is this why so many of our newspapers are folding (pun intended), due to the loss of great journalism and the failure of the human species to meet two of its most basic drives - the need to know and the need to explore? Is it because we are truly getting dumber - as a species? (See the link: Kids' lower IQ scores linked to prenatal pollution ).

True, we have had the Space Shuttle program. But it has not been without its disasters (Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster and Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster). But, these disasters have served to educate us on the dangers and risks inherent in space travel and colonization. We think its very, very important to all (all life on earth, that is...) that we definitely relocate to more remote locations. For reasons of safe haven from potential further disasters and economic reasons. True, we may be a little late in delivering our little homily, but not many will pay heed to this message - until it is too late.

The potential for worldwide disaster is too often overlooked by our regular media. So is its connection to space travel and colonization. This is why we find the media's attention to past glories - decades ago - so troubling, so fatuous, so vacuous and so vapid - as if it were all over. But it shouldn't be. The arguments for safe passage to space and colonization should be as fast and furious as any other important topic of the day. This is one more reason we miss Cronkite and his kind. We need the message delivered by great people. It is vital, it is current, it is topical and it is now.

Moon astronauts urge Mars mission

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8158519.stm

Buzz Aldrin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzz_Aldrin

Michael Collins

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Collins_(astronaut)

Mars Colonization

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_colonization

L5 Society

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L5_Society

Gerard K. O’Neill

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_K._O%27Neill

Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster

Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia_Disaster

First Look At The Apollo Landing Sites

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090717150244.htm

Apollo 11 Moon Rocks Still Crucial 40 Years Later, Say Researchers

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090717150254.htm

India's first unmanned moon probe malfunctions

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre56g1pz-us-india-space/

The Coming Space-Based Economy?

http://americanpoliticalhandbook.blogspot.com/2009/01/coming-space-based-economy.html

He sold you subprime loan, now he hawks fix

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32007521/ns/business-the_new_york_times/

Stimulus Funds Spent, but Where Are the Jobs?

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=8122651&page=1

RNC Chair Attacks Obama on Health Care

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/20/politics/main5173848.shtml

Geothermal To Deliver Clean Power Generation?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090716113356.htm

Geothermal Energy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_Energy

Newsweek: How coal ruined one Tennessee town

http://www.newsweek.com/id/207445

Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_Fossil_Plant_coal_fly_ash_slurry_spill

TVA

http://www.tva.gov/

Clean Coal?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_coal

U.S. halts uranium mining at Grand Canyon

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32004574/ns/us_news-environment/

Uranium Mining in Arizona

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium_mining_in_Arizona

Western Reservoirs Could Be Dry By 2050

U.S. recession easing but likely not over: survey

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090720/sc_livescience/westernreservoirscouldbedryby2050;_ylt=AgfOknqrW9wxp8ezQ_ox_54PLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTNvbzdxcmI1BGFzc2V0Ay9saXZlc2NpZW5jZS8yMDA5MDcyMC9zY19saXZlc2NpZW5jZS93ZXN0ZXJucmVzZXJ2b2lyc2NvdWxkYmVkcnlieTIwNTAEcG9

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre56j0or-us-usa-economy-recession/

Late 2000s Recession in the Americas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_2000s_recession_in_the_Americas

White House creates climate job

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31970467/ns/us_news-environment/

In the year 2040 - 1.3 billion senior citizens

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32007564/ns/health-aging/

US 'seeks Afghan prison overhaul'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8158528.stm

American Expansion of Pul-e-Charkhi Prison

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pul-e-Charkhi_prison#American_expansion

Mumbai suspect changes plea to guilty

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8158741.stm

Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajmal_Kasab

Khatami calls for Iran referendum

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8158692.stm

Mohammad Khatami

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Khatami

Spain, Portugal open nanotechnology research center

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre56g5ur-us-portugal-spain-nanotech/

Higher Speed Limits Cost Lives: Study

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090716164339.htm

260 Car Pile-Up on Germany’s Autobahn

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8159096.stm

Autobahn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn

Alarming Africa male gay HIV rate

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8158469.stm

Tourists warned of Thailand airport scam

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8154497.stm

Bangkok International Airport(s)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok_International_Airport

Zig-zag Scam
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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The Tragedy that is Dana Rohrabacher vs. the Promise that is Paul Ryan and More for Wednesday, May 20, 2009 (2nd posting for this date)


"WI: Rep. Ryan and Bruce Barr of IBT" image licensed under Creative Commons by aflcio2008



Yesterday, we hypothesized the potential (but unlikely) formation of a joint Israel-Palestine state and have a little bit more to say about it. In light of the successful Iran missile test-launch , wouldn't there be some advantage to the formation of a joint Palestine and Israel state? Would Iran dare attack such a state with nuclear weapons? Would not the rest of the Arabic and Muslim world howl in outrage if such an attack were to take place? We think they would...






A little bit on the "up-and-coming" US Rep Paul Ryan who appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe". The man gave a very smart and not-at-all boring analysis and assessment regarding the facts and data needed in developing a comprehensive US health care plan. Joe and crew instantly identified Mr. Ryan as an "up-and-coming" star in the Republican Party. Even though we were caught off guard by his "unexpected appearance" on this morning show, we think they are right. Our senior editor (who is a registered Democrat) is thinking of a sidebar link to Mr. Ryan's official website.

Image licensed under Creative Commons by woodleywonderworks







The tragedy that is Dana Rohrabacher. We witnessed Mr. Rohrabacher's arguments against global warming and climate change and putting a cap on gaseous emissions (Hardball with Chris Matthews on MSNBC). To paraphrase that lemonade commercial, "Dana, Dana, Dana. Whooot!". Mr. Rohrabacher made the rather ridiculous argument against temperature shifts on our planet (due to global warming) are comparable (???) by/to comparing them to temperature shifts on other planets (e.g., specifically Mars and Jupiter...). We have some data for Mr. R.. A Wolfram Alpha query gave us a surface temperature range of 12°C to 22°C (284° K to 297° K and/or 50°F to 76°F) for our home planet. We know the range is much wider and are making further inquiries and adjustments to the same to the search engine...






Now, for Mars, the results were - 91°C to - 3°C ( 181° K to 271°K and/or - 134°F to 30° C), oh yes, that seems almost livable!!! For Jupiter, we have to combine the Wolfram Alpha data (a range was not given to our query - perhaps because Jupiter has no surface) with the Nasa web page on Jupiter. The results were - 108° C to - 148° C ( - 163° F to - 234°F, sorry we didn't bother with degrees Kelvin here...). Those temperatures are not livable - at least not under our current scientific definitions and understanding.






Now Mr. R. may be very smart, but the comparisons just aren't fair nor scientific. Mr. R. would have done well to have presented his hard data during his argument (following the example of another Republican, Mr. Paul Ryan, above) but he did not. First of all - he is comparing our planet with planets that are respectively 166% more distant from the Sun (Mars) and about 545% more distant from the Sun (Jupiter). And, second - their atmospheres and environments (Mars and Jupiter) are completely different from ours. (Click on the hyperlinks to more data from Wolfram Alpha on this topic...).






Now we know Mr. Rohrabacher is a degreed individual, but we don't think he has a degree in atmospheric sciences. (Our apologies in advance if he does). Hey, how about it Mr. R.? Thinking of taking a few years off to further your education? We could all benefit from it. It would have been a great sucker coup if the politically brilliant Mr. Matthews could have presented these data points out of hand at the time...






That takes us to the Michael Steele speech. Could he, too, benefit from a little more education? Is that the real issue with the popularity problem with the Republican party? Messrs. Steele, Rohrabacher, Gingrich and their kind are all very highly intelligent people. Like Mr. Ryan, could they benefit from emphasizing more on the Big E vs. the Big I? We certainly hope so - we think we could all benefit.
































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