The Science in Science Fiction or Beam me up Scotty

Mercury’s exosphere is a tenuous atmosphere of atoms and ions derived from the planet’s surface and from the solar wind.

Taken from an article I was reading about the Messenger Probe. A space craft destined to orbit and study the first of our inner planets, Mercury. Reminds me of a book I read long ago by Arthur C Clarke titled "The Wind From the Sun." A collection of short stories, the title story is about space craft with giant sails to collect power of movement, much like a wind sail; from the light of the sun. I find it odd, the first time I read the book was in Middle School as a leisure read and later in high school was a subject read in a class called "the science in science fiction." I have been a space buff for most of my life and the only mention of "solar wind" was in this science fiction short story. Only recently have I been reading of this phenomenon in scientific accounts. In class it was discussed as a theory, I admit I read more about space now, with the internet at my disposal. I do find it interesting how science fiction does seem to become fact. Jules Verne's writings of nuclear submarines, and the cell phone of old does resemble the "communicator" from the old Star Trek series. Just a thought. How long before we can transfer matter into energy and back into matter?

another one bites the dust

The Oxyclean guy is gone, what should we do? I can't beleive this is true, my oxyclean guy is gone, kaput, to shout no more. This is a travesty, a disaster and a real bummer. Without the Oxyclean commercial how am I to pick myself up from the muck and the mire to go on cleaning this or that or the next?
Well so long Billy, I know there are bigger and better things out there for you, and you will find them... Oxyclean Inc appreciates your dedication and hard work. Thank you.

I really will miss him.

2am

well can't sleep again, so I sit up late night blogging. One thought I had a while back, if apples are indigenous to the north American continent, doesn't this make the Genesis story a myth or symbolic.... unless there has been some translation mistake? Forbidden Fruit ie Forbidden Apple? As the Bible was written by men, in the Middle East, was god created by man? Or is god a being? a presence, or "the force"? Maybe George Lucas is on to something here. To say as a Christian that Buddha is not the truth, do I also say Christianity is false also? As was said once, who's right if everybody's wrong? I'm figuring if we are all "star stuff" is the universe god? I really wouldn't be surprised to meet Zeus on my day of dying.

this is why

lets learn

for the very curious

Its coming soon

This slime mold I have seen hundreds of times in my lawn care experience. Its largest danger is that it prevents sunlight getting to the leaves and thus prevents the plant from forming food through photosynthesis. If left unchecked will bring a pale color (turf in my case) . Not a lawn disease requiring fungicide. You can simply sweep the dust off of the turf. I have seen it in small areas, about fist to open hand in size; a square foot is a large area of turf grass slime mold. I usually come across this beast in unshaded areas early to mid summer. Also notice the tip of the grass blade; this is caused by a dull mower blade, important to keep the blades sharp so the mower will cut the grass rather than rip or tear it. Once a year you should take the blade off to sharpen on a grinder. Once or twice in the mowing season it would be good to drag a metal file across the blade 5-10 times, much like honing a steak knife.
Avoid mowing when the grass is wet, alternate mowing patterns weekly, side to side one week, front to back the next (I always preferred diagonal lines corner to corner) looks more professional.

Another lawn disease known as Red Thread
Early spring, end of March is the time to watch for this disease. An application of Round 2 (late spring application) fertilizer abundant in nitrogen will clear this mess up.

The numbers on the fertilizer bag or analysis is in order, N-P-K nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Phosphorus has been reported to leach into the ground water and most lawn care programs leave this macro nutrient out of the fertilizer. We use one application in our 6 app program containing phosphorus. The analysis on a fertilizer to clear up Red Thread would be some thing close to 24-0-4

or you can just hire a professional like me :)

Methane on Mars

this is a very interesting video. As another blogger stated either direction the fact goes: created biologically, or a force of geologic processes we will be that much less ignorant. Ignorance is a bad thing. We should always strive to attain knowledge. Knowledge is after all the most valuable of all resources.

being natural

need I remind you this is called a KILLER whale?

sleeping

well of course you won't find pictures of sleeping Giraffes, its about as
exciting as watching the grass grow.

who in the world would turn the station to watch Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom to watch Sleeping Giraffes? Now if you don't mind I am going
to smoke an herbal cigarette. Thank you

got me googleing

1947-1952: In the rival All-American Football Conference, Baltimore is granted a franchise after the Miami Seahawks fold. The team would be named Colts in honor of Baltimore rich history with racing, and breeding of horses. The Colts would incur moderate success in the rival league before becoming one of 4 teams to join the NFL in 1950. However the team could not make money, and folded after just 1 season. Meanwhile the New York Yankees another former AAFC team that had joined the NFL in 1950 also was having problems, and was about to be sold to Baltimore inventors in 1951. However, the league bought the team instead and had them playing Dallas. The Texans were a miserable failure, and by the middle of the season were operating out of Hershey, PA, and playing all their games on the road. The league would fold at the end of the season. However, it would open the door for Baltimore to get a 2nd chance and to replace the Texans; Baltimore was granted a franchise that would pay homage to the former team by caring the name Colts.

and so it goes, a comment on my post about NFL team names sent me googleing. So half right, name was not a "name the team contest" but rather for the horse racing town they were in. And here I thought Seahawks were a Seattle thing. (I know a sentence should not start with and)

Mid East unrest ??

Israeli troops 'move into Gaza'

Hamas leaders have warned Israel against launching a ground offensive

Israeli ground troops have begun to enter the Gaza Strip, Israeli military officials have confirmed.

Palestinian witnesses said a small column of vehicles had crossed the border near the town of Beit Lahiya.

Earlier, Israeli artillery and tanks massed near the border bombarded the territory for the first time since the campaign against Hamas began last week.

In one raid, at least 13 people were killed when a missile hit a crowded mosque in Beit Lahiya, medics said. original source


If you really think about it, regardless of how old you are,
the Middle East has always been a crisis, back to and before
the Roman Empire and Christ.

Dinner

I just can't see eating a worm. In fact I have heard the Cicada is a tasty snack and they are plentiful here in the midwest. I just can't see eating an insect though. Mopane worms are consumed by humans in South Africa.

Remember when

Eartha Kitt aka Catwoman dies at 81

I used to watch Batman without fail, me and my brother would watch and when getting along, I was Batman, he was Robin, so freakin many years ago. If I remember we had a b/w tv, an RCA I think. Eartha also had a wonderful voice. Very sexy sultry and mystical