Near Hits and Misses

Debris

Russian escape pod.

It was interesting to read that this is not the first time the space station crew had to take cover in the Russian escape pod. It reminds me that there was no escape pod, until the Russians sent one up. The American escape pod is still not ready to go. The original space station plan was to get an American escape pod up there by 2015! Call me overly cautious, but I would put the escape pod up in space first.

Self Healing Paint

Just park in the sun and scratch heals in 1 hour.

"We have developed a new macromolecule," said Marek Urban, who, along with Biswajit Ghosh, wrote the paper. "When the polymer is damaged and exposed to sunlight, it is capable of repairing itself, and could be applied to many systems." The Whole Story

Only Thinking Of Themselves

A sunny day in Bejing.

For the past 20 years, scientists and researchers have been studying changes in plants, insects, and the animals that eat them, in the areas of the planet that are affected by global dimming. Life forms have shown changes in growth, flowering, and reproductive behavior. Because there is less light, plants flower and go to seed at a different time than the insects and birds that pollinate and propagate them. This has been cause for alarm among researchers for nearly 10 years, but it is just now getting attention. This is because it is affecting industrial output. To hell with the birds and bee's, this could cost money!

I found it interesting, in the article, that parts of Europe, that have had controls on using sulfur in coal, have shown brightening in their skies.

The Story

Floating School Closed
Due To Hungry Crocodiles

What caught my eye in the story was the floating school.
How cool would that be?
"Sorry I was late, but a crocodile ate my homework."
Fox Crocodile Story

Protected By Dark Matter

Dwarf Galaxies and dark matter. (photo-Hubble)

Over time, most galaxies get torn apart by gravitational forces, but these old dwarf galaxies have been protected by a shield of dark matter.
Story Here

Friday the 13th

Let the day begin...3/13/09

The patron saint of, "Sleeping In", seems to have taken the day off, today. Either that, or there was a special at the wood chipper rental place, "1/2 off if returned by noon".

I gave sleeping through it, an attempt or two, but I guess my heart wasn't in it, so I got my camera and went to see where the noise was coming from.

Wood Chipper Serenade

New neighbors and chipper.........3/13/09

Video

Today's Relatively Appropriate Song;
Good Morning

Serenity

Extended Evenings Ahead

Time Change

Newly adjusted time and temperature.

It seems like we just did this time changing thing last year. I even wrote a piece explaining the origins and historical events pertaining to, "time".
You can see that post by doing this;

Or you can click HERE
if you wish to read about time.

What A Day

It was a perfectly good day for pictures...3/7/09

I am glad I had my camera with me when I went to the music store to return a couple of microphones. I have been trying out various condenser microphones to add to my recording equipment. I got a new AT Pro37 mic, last month and I really enjoy the improved quality in my recordings. So I have been looking for another condenser mic to enhance the overall texture of my productions. The ones I tried the other night were not up to the task, and I will keep looking.

While I was out, Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen kept appearing at every turn in the road. They begged to be photographed, so I obliged them. I am glad I did.

You can see a little slide show I made with Picasa, and uploaded to You Tube. Just click HERE

I Just Saved A Bundle!

The lizard was right. I saved a lot by switching to Geico.

I was just about to write a check for my regular car insurance, when I saw the Geico commercial I got in the mail. I had set it aside just for this moment. I figure it's worth checking out, so I filled out the stuff for a free quote. I am glad I did. The premium for Geico was a little over half of what I was paying to Farmers. I signed up right away, in the middle of the night. It took about 15 minutes.

On the 15th, I switch from the farmer, to the lizard.

I Like This Stuff...

Leonardo Da Vinci
invented the scissors.

I Sure do enjoy the fun and informative e-mail you send me.
This was part of an e-mail I got from my neighbor.
Thanks Jo Anna.

Sunny Day At The Park

Picturesque day at the park...3/8/09

Your table is ready...

What a beautiful day. I went to a couple of meetings* and on my way back home, I stopped at the park for a few minutes. How nice.

*We had a, "special", board meeting to replace the president who quit. It was an instructive and entertaining event. During the meeting, the vice-president quit. He wanted me to be the president, but it seemed that the secretary would be happier being president than me. Now we had two seats to fill. We discussed our options, and came up with a satisfying solution. Positions were filled and we continue to function.

Today's Relatively Appropriate Song;
Why Cant We Be Friends

Providence

The Skies Are Clearing

The Lake is Half Full

How it looked today...........3/6/09

Half Full Video


Last September

How it looked September 28, 2008

What a difference some rain makes.

My Tank is Half Full

$20 will make it half full.....3/6/09

This is one cute baby animal.


Happy Dogs

Where Earthlings Came From?

The distant world Ceres, the smallest known dwarf planet in the solar system, lies within the asteroid belt. It was called a planet after its discovery in 1801, then later downgraded to asteroid status. With the latest planet definition from the International Astronomical Union, the round object is now considered a dwarf planet. Is there a chance that this exotic world is home to extraterrestrial organisms?

Some scientists think it's possible that life on Earth came here on bits and pieces that have fallen off Ceres and entered our atmosphere in meteors. The basis of this theory, is that Ceres seems to have escaped catastrophic collisions that caused past mass extinctions on earth and other planets in our solar system. We will know more when Dawn reaches Ceres in 2015.

Lucky Chimes for The 17th

A sunny afternoon on my balcony...3/6/09

Kepler Takes Off

Still from launch video...3/6/09

Still from Launch video....3/6/09

Read the whole story and watch the video HERE.

Once it's settled into an Earth-trailing orbit around the sun, Kepler will stare nonstop at 100,000 stars near the Cygnus and Lyra constellations, between 600 and 3,000 light years away. The telescope will watch for any dimming, or winks, in the stellar brightness that might be caused by orbiting planets.

Today's Relatively Appropriate Song;
The Air Car, (2003).
The rest of the world has had these cars for 6 years!

Life Can Be Magical

Talent and Faith

Survivor Skills

I read somewhere that 99% of what we know, is learned. I agree. Sure, I create art, music, and stories, but the skills to do so have been learned.

Some studies suggest that 1/2 of what we know as an adult, we learn by the time we are 4 years old. How we walk, talk, and behave are established in those first few years.

What I was exposed to then, shaped my tastes for life. The stories that were read. The songs that were sung. The food we ate, and how we ate it. What part of the country. What social strata. Manners and respect. How I perceived myself. How I felt others perceived me. Living conditions at home.

Physical traits; Big, small. Happy, cranky. Cute, ugly. Sweet, mean. Smart, slow. Coordinated, clumsy. Gifted, dull. Pale, dark. Eye color, hair color. Fit or frail. perfect or flawed.

The list is quite long when you get right down to it. The rest of life is pretty much just how we use those attributes.

Prior to 1950, a home entertainment center was a piano and a radio. We would gather around the radio and listen to, "The Voice of Firestone", "Suspense", and a few other selected programs. No one knew how to play the piano. My sister took lessons, but she wasn't very good. I didn't care much for lessons in anything. I found them slow and boring. I would wait for inspiration to teach me.

In the early 1950's, we had a grand piano in the living room. We were not allowed to touch it. On rare occasions, my parents would have a party where one of the guests might play a couple of tunes. There was an upright grand, player piano in the recreation room that we kids, were allowed to play. I liked making sounds with it, but avoided learning to play properly.

Up, Up And...Oh Crap!

The Co2 measuring satellite lifts off.

I was reading Tom's Astronomy Blog , this morning, (4AM), and the Orbiting Carbon Laboratory didn't go as planned. The satellite protective cowling failed to separate and the extra weight prevented orbital speed. The OCL people will announce later this morning whether it will be more orbiting space junk, or?*

Video of the launch is available at this BBC news site; LAUNCH.

*It's a, "Or". The satellite crashed in the ocean.

Google Mail

Gmail. Always growing and adding more features.

I didn't notice, but Google mail was down for a time today. That's what I get for reading the BBC news at this time of the morning. It's hours before sunrise here, and they are already finishing up lunch.
I did find out that I am one of 113 million people who use Gmail worldwide.


What A Day

Enjoying the morning by the river. 2/24/09

What a day, indeed. I met with Dr. Grady this morning to plan our next move toward repairing my hernia. After my appointment, I went to the lab for another CBC to check my white blood cell count. This is key to moving forward with surgery.

On my way home, I stopped along the river to enjoy a few moments of sunshine.

Turtle Bay, Buick, and the Sundial. 2/24/09

I even found a goose,
basking on the marina parking lot.

Goose in a parking space. 2/24/09

I came back home and edited pictures and music for a couple of hours, until I got a call from the doctors office. The lab report still showed a high white blood cell count. Somewhere, I have an infection. I guess the tooth has got to go. I had hoped to wait until I got approval for a partial appliance that would put a tooth in place of the one that's being removed, but a letter in yesterday's mail, informed me that payment for a fake tooth was denied. So, time to set aside my vanity and get an appointment to have it pulled. Whee.

My tooth, (maybe 2), will be leaving it's home in my mouth, Thursday morning.

Ah, well, things change.

Our President Speaks

I was proud and reassured in my country's future.

What a relief to hear and see an intelligent, articulate, compassionate, American president. I am feeling confident and hopeful about our future.

One thing that strikes me as weird, is the childish, angry, irresponsible, attitudes of the republicans. They got us into this mess with their greed and arrogance, but they don't want to pitch in and fix the stuff they have broken.

I also didn't understand why the governor of Louisiana was on TV, making a campaign speech for the next election, rather than pledging his support for America.

Today's Relatively Appropriate Song;
Olive Oyl for President


Smile

Just Roll With It

Things Change

Happy Phil on Friday....................2/20/09

Expecting the future to be just like you planned it, doesn't always work out. Like the weather forecast, our expectations can be met with a different reality.

One of the things I have finally learned to incorporate into my day to day existence, is to accept change with a smile, adjust my expectations, and move along. I used to get upset because the world wasn't doing what I expected it to do. "That guy turned left without a signal, grrrr!", "They, him, her, is,(are), out to make my life miserable!", "Etc.".

For the most part, it's just life. It's not a personal attack, don't take it so seriously. The future simply didn't satisfy the terms of my expectations.

I got a call from Dr. Grady, last evening. My lab tests revealed a high white blood cell count. My operation wont be on Monday as planned. I will go to his office Tuesday morning and we will try to figure out what is going on. An existing infection is dangerous when having surgery. He was thinking it could be the tooth that I am waiting to have pulled. (I am waiting for DentiCal to approve a, "partial", to fill the gap, before they pull my broken tooth.)

I could argue that the pain from my cracked tooth is not as intense as the pain from my inguinal hernia, and I want it fixed now, but what would be the point? Instead, I will find some fun stuff to occupy my time until Tuesday morning when I will see the doctor.

I could be upset all weekend, unhappy and angry, blaming this and that because things aren't working out the way I wanted.

Or, I could enjoy myself.

Happy Phil today.....................2/21/09

I choose happiness.

Comet Watch

Comet Lulin, imaged from space. (Photo credit-NASA)

Lulin from Arizona backyard. (Photo credit-Sid Leach)

The NASA photo is from 2007. The Sid Leach picture was taken January 27, 2009. It will be at it's closest point on February 24, so you should be able to see it for the next few nights, if the skies are clear.

Look To The East
Around 10PM

Binoculars might help from city locations.

There is the possibility of clouds and rain here in Redding, but one never knows.

Mount Shasta Cam

This is cool.

I was reading about an avalanche warning for Mount Shasta, and I found a link to the Mount Shasta Cam. That is so cool. I can look on the computer to see what conditions are like for photographing Mt. Shasta, before I step outside and look. Ha, ha, ha, really. I like it.



Dawn Voyage Video

Fun voyage of the Dawn Spacecraft video

I Like Popeye

Ahoy.

In the 1950's, I had a subscription to Popeye comics. I really enjoyed the stories, especially the ones with the Sea Hag, or the Little Poor Girl.

Things were different then.

The artist Bob Sagendorf, drew and signed a poster sized cartoon of Popeye for my 2nd wife, Kathy, and me in the early 1970's. I wonder if she still has it?

Today's Relatively Appropriate Song;
Come On Get Happy
One guy sings close 4 part harmony

Things Change

Welcome Rain in Redding

Rainy Tuesday and Wednesday

Sundial bridge in the rain...............................2/10/09

There was an article in the local paper about the cost of replacing the glass panels on the Sundial Bridge.

Laminated, 3 layer, 160 lb., $416, glass panels. 2/10/09

City to Spend $10,000
For New Glass Panels

Picture from Redding Record Searchlight....2/10/09

Some people were outraged and submitted their grumpy comments.

I just had to reply;

Posted by HappyPhil on February 10, 2009 at 3:41 p.m.

Wow! Some people love to complain. I enjoy reading the comments. I can see that, over time, the complainers lives don't seem to get any better, but they do make the positive comments shine like beacons of commonsense.

My camera doesn't show the cobwebs when I take pictures of the bridge, unless I am really up close looking for them as pieces of natural art.

I like to imagine that the impacts that break the panels are from the seasonal meteor showers.

I wonder if the old panels can be used to repair potholes, or turned into something like "Sundial Bridge" magnifying glasses.

After reading the article, I am confident that Dan Cannon will do the right thing.

Rainy days are picturesque and magically moody down at the Sundial Bridge, too.

To read the article and comments, click HERE .

I went to The Bridge

I shot some video in the rain.....................2/10/09

I took some pictures in the rain.........................2/10/09

Mt. Seymour
Mountains named after Governors, named Seymour.

Mount Seymour

I got an e-mail from my brother, Jerry, with a picture of a store called; Spirits of Mt. Seymour. It's in Vancouver. I figured if there is a Mt. Seymour, it's probably on a Google map. Yep, and in Google images too.

Mount Seymour
To get the latest snow report and event calendar;
http://www.mountseymour.com/today/snow
They have a valentines weekend ski special.

Hiking, fishing, camping and skiing, oh my!

Mount Seymour-BC

I did a Google search for Mount Seymour and got 438,000 results! Who knew? (Well, obviously, at least 438,000 people).

Wikipedia says; Mount Seymour is most commonly identified for its ski area of the same name, and as a popular hiking area. It is named in honour of Frederick Seymour, second governor of the Colony of British Columbia.

While I was reading about the Canadian mountain, I came across another Seymour mountain in New York.

Seymour Mountain

This one in New York is named after Horatio Seymour.

Seymour Mountain is a mountain located in Franklin County, New York, named after Horatio Seymour (1810–1886), Governor of New York (1853–1854, 1863–1864). The mountain is part of the Seward Mountains of the Adirondacks.

That's enough of the family name for this post, but it is fun to find stuff like this. Mountains named after Governors named Seymour.

Neutron Star is Video Star

To see the video of SGR J1550-5418, click HERE

The Swift satellite's X-Ray Telescope captures an apparent halo of X-ray light expanding outward from SGR J1550-5418. This gigantic star is 40 times greater mass than our sun, and is located 30,000 light-years away in the constellation Norma.


February 11th is my 3rd ex-wife's birthday. Also, it's our anniversary. We don't exchange presents or pleasantries these days, but we had a good time while it lasted. Have a happy day, Vicky, wherever you are.

Interesting Coffee

Fancy coffee was on sale at Raleys................2/11/09

Interesting Book

I found this in the Library's new releases section.

The rehearsal with my new band went well today. We should have a lot of fun at Thursdays Valentines show. We play from 8 to 9.

I stopped at the store on my way home for a few items and saw there was a sale on coffee. Tanzanian sounded like an adventure, so I got some. I think it will go well with the book I am reading, which is mysterious and adventuresome. It somehow ties together Cain and the story of superman. It's 5:30PM, it's raining, the temperature is 40 degrees, and my easy chair is calling to me.

Today's Relatively Appropriate Song;
Sing a Simple Song
-Sly and the Family Stone

Peace is Good