Pale Blue Dot

In 1991, the planetary explorer Voyager 1 reached the edge of our solar system. As it did, ground controllers were able to turn the craft around to snap a photo of the planet of its origin. The resulting images so moved the scientist who requested the maneuver, that he wrote one of the most beautiful and profound essays ever written. And now icecorescientist has compiled a stunning video that illustrates the words of Dr. Carl Sagan.

Tip of the hat to Dr. Phil Plait.

Technorati tags: cool stuff, philosophy, sagan, belief, pale blue dot, bablog, youtube

Deco Redux

Gentle curves of the terminal ceiling at Charleston/Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia.

Technorati tags: travel, charleston, west virginia, airport, architecture

Mother Said You Would Have Days Like This

This is the view of the airplane I was to take from Huntington, West Virginia to Cincinnati this morning, en route to Milwaukee and home. If it were only that simple.

The day started on the wrong foot before I even left the hotel (which, due to a travel schedule foul up, wasn't expecting me for another day) when I couldn't find my rental car keys. I practically tore up the room looking for them until, upon removing my shoe from the suitcase, I remembered the keys were in the shoe. Luckily, I allowed 15 minutes for finding lost keys, so no jeopardy there.

But I had difficulty finding the car. It was very, very foggy. Things didn't auger well.

Checked in at the airport, I passed through security and sat to wait in the cattle pen known as the boarding area. And waited. And waited. The nice young lady at the counter said that while they will delay the flight (Cincinnati was shut down due to the same fog), it won't be canceled. During the wait, the nice folks at Delta proactively rebooked my connection from Cincinnati to Milwaukee since the original flight was canceled there, too. (One thing Delta is very good at is proactive rebooking.)

A weak wi-fi signal gave me temporary entertainment during the wait until the moment came when the crew deplaned and closed the boarding door. I didn't need an announcement, I hustled over to the gate agent to get rebooked once again. Now I will be flying US Airways through Charlotte and then to Milwaukee, arriving at 5:30 this afternoon, or eight hours after my originally scheduled time.

They have a nice little cafe here. I think I'll have lunch. Last time I was through here, my flight was cancelled, I was booked through Charlotte and waited there for 3 extra hours due to thunderstorms. I may just need some good greasy nourishment to get through this one.

Technorati tags: travel, weather, delays

1911 Model B

Creation of the Wright Brothers, this example is a restored version of an actual example. Franklin Institute, Philadelphia.

Technorati tags: franklin institute, philadelphia, airplane, wright brothers, museum

Lighted Tree

I must admit I studied this tree for quite a while. It was intricately lit, and the lights changed colors all in phase. Quite remarkable. Aspen, Colorado.

Technorati tags: aspen, colorado, travel, tree, night

Pendulum Staircase

Franklin Institute, Philadelphia.

Technorati tags: franklin institute, philadelphia, stairs, museum

Self Portrait Aspen

A sixteen second exposure with the moon providing the only light. The blurs in the background are grooming machines on Buttermilk Mountain, over a mile away.

Technorati tags: aspen, colorado, travel, snow, selfportrait, night

This Post Dedicated to Christine Merrill

Chris, this is a test. If this post doesn't throw your writing style completely off, then you will be successful. Good luck!

Despite the vast differences it their ages, ethnicity, and religious upbringing, the sexual chemistry between Roberto and Heather was the most amazing he had ever experienced; and for the entirety of the Labor Day weekend they had sex like monkeys on espresso, not those monkeys in the zoo that fling their feces at you, but more like the monkeys in the wild that have those giant red butts, and access to an espresso machine.

More at the link below. A tip o' the hat to Mark Horvath.

Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest 2006 Results

Technorati Tags: humor, pulp fiction

Why I Stopped Watching Televised News Long Ago

This really has been a disgusting circus. Is this how the television news services get their viewers? Why can't ONE of them be different?

NBC’s Nightly News devoted 14 seconds to Iraq compared to 3 minutes and 13 seconds to Anna Nicole. CNN referenced Anna Nicole 522% more frequently than it did Iraq. MSNBC was even worse — 708% more references to Anna Nicole than Iraq.

Think Progress » VIDEO COMPILATION: Anna Nicole Smith And Our National Media Embarassment

Technorati Tags: hype, celebrity, death, tvnews, tvnews, jarvis

Python Trek

I have readers who are Monty Python fans, and I have readers who are Star Trek fans. Well, this video is for none of you.

Old Steam

Once upon a time, steam locomotives ruled the rails. But these days all we have to remind us of the golden age of steam are pages of prose to bring these behemoths back to life, if only in our minds. This is a static display of the Baldwin 60000 locomotive on permanent display at the Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia.

Technorati tags: franklin institute, philadelphia, steam, train, museum

What The Fuss In Boston Was All About

So this is what the fuss in Boston was all about. A movie. With a milkshake, a large ball of meat, and a box of fries. Funny stuff by the way. I'm a huge fan.

I watched only a little of the coverage cycle, and I was quite bemused. The marketing folks placed dozens of the little signs (showing Ignigknokt flipping the bird) in nine cities, and it seemed none of the other cities had a real problem with it. Yet here we see the mayor of Boston, in a crass play of the fear card, demanding terrorist charges against the men who placed the signs in his city. Who's to blame for the panic? Was it Turner Networks (parent of Cartoon Network)? Or was it the failure to accurately assess what turned out to be no threat at all? What will they do next, ban the movie?

Meantime, I wish I were at the staff parties at the production company. They just hit the goldmine of publicity. And at a terrific discount.

Technorati tags: athf, boston, news, scare, youtube

What About Down Syndrome?

Believe it, or not?

To check out the whole series, click here. Really good stuff.

Technorati tags: mr deity, humor, belief, youtube

The Appointed Rounds

A letter carrier's trusted companion on his route in Aspen, Colorado.

Technorati tags: aspen, colorado, travel, dog, mail