STS-141, Discovery Returns America to Space!!

Did you all the fantastic space shuttle launch of Discovery this morning? Did you see that amazing video from those new cameras?

NASA placed cameras on various parts of the shuttle to watch for any falling debris that might strike the orbiter. A camera placed on the external tank captured a beautiful video image of the launch from the pad all the way up into orbit, including shots of the external tank separating from the spacecraft, and you could even see the shuttle firing its thrusters as it moved up and away from the tank. It was the first time moments like this had ever been seen, and it was pretty awesome. Industrial Light and Magic might make it look as good, but this time this stuff was REAL!

Congratulations to everyone at NASA for a perfect picture launch, and here's to a very successful mission and a safe return home.

Time and baseball

Just got back from UF/Gainsville, visiting with Alyssa. I can't believe the summer is nearly over. One moment we were worrying about her going away, then worrying about HOW LONG she'd be away, and now she has been there for four weeks already and will be coming home in two! Then home for almost two weeks, then back for the fall term. Man did that fly by quickly.

MARLINS REPORT: They win one, look good, like they are waking up, then they lose two to some scrub team. Then they win one. Then lose one, and look bad doing it. Just can't figure them out.

James Doohan, 1920-2005

The word is given, Mr. Scott......thank you. For everything.

James Doohan was best known as Scotty (Montgomery Scott) the chief engineer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, in the original Star Trek series. He passed away on July 20, 2005 at his home in Redmond, Washington.

Here's to ya, lad.

NASA Hits Comet

This is so cool! NASA has rammed a rocket probe into a comet, to try and stir it up and see what's inside!!


http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=907118

Future stuff

There's this book recently published "Citizen Cyborg" (Westview Press, $26.95) by James Hughes explains his vision, as executive director of the World Transhumanist Association, where in the next 50 years the worlds of flesh is fused with mechanics and brains with circuitry. It talks about Transhumanism, which "envisions a "post-human" phase where technology will bring us beyond human capabilities. Intelligence-boosting brain chips, extended life spans and even immortality are all part of this vision."

I love this; Sci-fi coming to reality!

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/health/sfl-621transhuman,0,322252.story?page=1&coll=sfla-news-health

But it's people like this "political scientist" Francis Fukuyama (who, according to the article, recently nominated transhumanism as the "world's most dangerous idea." What a jackass) who would drag the world back to leeches and ground-up tea leaves if he could. I'll bet he also He probably believes that 'if god had meant man to fly....' you know the rest of that.