Tag: science

Failure to execute

12 November, 2008 (16:47)

So, I said that I would be trying to post more regularly, and I’ve obviously failed miserably. Unfortunately, I can’t hit on everything that’s happened since my last post, but I did want to mention two big things of importance in the last week. One of them is hopefully good, the other somewhat saddening.

The first is, as you’ve probably heard already unless living under the proverbial rock, the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States of America. While I am skeptical of any politician (and make no mistake about it, he is one), I feel this particular politician shows a great deal of promise.

Don’t let me down, Barack.

The second, sadder bit of news is that NASA has lost contact with the Mars Phoenix Lander. I’ve been following the little fellow on Twitter for months now, and I have to admit, I felt a little choked up when he sent out his last tweet. The long, cold Martian winter has cut off the lander’s power, and it is unlikely that he will survive until spring well enough to reactivate when the sun returns with sufficient strength to charge his panels. It’s wierd how some clever, talented woman working for NASA has been able to turn a little, unmoving robot into someone we all felt an attatchment to. And not just once, but four times.

Arthur C. Clarke dies at age 90

18 March, 2008 (21:56)

In what’s turning out to be a pretty rough month for us geeks, Arthur C. Clarke has passed away at the age of 90. He was best known for his science fiction work, including 2001: A Space Odyssey. He originated the idea of geostationary communications satellites, and was well known for his works of nonfiction as well.