Awesome, in the pure meaning of the word.

That is very cool!

It's fake. Obviously a sound stage in Hollywood.

Great shot, Kid! That was one in a million.

Here's a neat photo.

[Link: www.flickr.com...]

But does anyone else besides me think that Phoenix was a bad name choice?

Yeah, yeah, the rebirth thing, but dang, do you name a spaceship after something that dies in flames?

The unprecedented image, taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter as a result of careful planning and good luck, shows the small probe dangling beneath its parachute.

Well, no wonder--men are from Mars...;)

Fantastic! Thanks for posting

"Researchers were shocked to fine both water and tiny, simple proteins, but not at all surprised to find a Starbucks and at new Super Target."

Can you imagine the uproar had the satellite and the new probe crashed into each other?

Mars lander? Haha. Right.

/Beldar Conehead

I've always liked space photos.

Charles, is there any way you could pick a Mars photo a day during June?

But then- I think NASA always gets great pictures.

re: #10 song_and_dance_man

Cool.

I hope they find a rock that says made by God.

Stop it! Don't you know that rocks evolved?

re: #6 Silhouette

But does anyone else besides me think that Phoenix was a bad name choice?

Yeah, yeah, the rebirth thing, but dang, do you name a spaceship after something that dies in flames?

Could have named it the "Hillary"...

Martians have not yet expressed a preference for Obama.
It would be racist to discover them until they declare for Barry.

re: #13 Dianna

Here, Dianna- you'll love this.

Fake! This is supposedly happening in outer space, right, and there's no AIR in outer space, so what would the parachute do?! This would be the first time in history that a parachute melted vacuum! Tonkin Gulf! Google it, people!

/

Science!

Apparently, the 80's song was right: "Mars. Needs. Women."

For Dianna:
Worldwide Telescope

re: #19 song_and_dance_man

Dirt is my cousin?

Yep, someday that grain of sand will grow an eyeball.

Good night, Lizards. Take care.

re: #19 song_and_dance_man

Dirt is my cousin?

You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

In the right place at the right time; those NASA techs are incredible. The lander photos look good too.

re: #24 DesertSage

No, a pearl.

Wow, Polygonal Cracking?!

re: #21 Killgore Trout

Science!

Careful - it can blind you!

Poetry in motion...

Good night, Lizards

re: #28 Ma Sands

No, a pearl.

Pearl is my aunt, not my cousin.

re: #29 Thanos

Wow, Polygonal Cracking?!

More coverup!
Word has it that those are old foundations of ancient buildings.
You can see the Temple outline in the far upper left.

I still think that this mission to Mars is to explore for oil.
That Cheney is a tricky devil.

I do like that this landing is happening on Memorial Day weekend. What better way to salute the fallen who protected this country? Per aspera ad astra.

That's really cool. Although it almost looks like a black-and-white photo of a coniferous forest they're descending onto. Halliburton's super-top-secret-Martian-strip mine operations must still be working their way over to that side of the planet.
/

re: #6 Silhouette

Hmmm, dies in flames. But it was born on a pillar of flame for it's flight to the war god. ;)

re: #35 Occasional Reader

So, you question the timing?

The unprecedented image, taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter as a result of careful planning and good luck, shows the small probe dangling beneath its parachute.

Well that's pretty neat.

re: #32 Silhouette

Yeah, I guess you wouldn't find pearls in an oil well.

One American spaceship taking the picture of another -- as it lands on another planet. As a science fiction guy, this is the coolest of the cool.

Alas, Heinlein and others imagined that there would be crews. Oh, well, you can't have everything!

Sweet, and it's about to land on a giant rug.

It doesn't move.

/what good is it?

re: #6 Silhouette

But does anyone else besides me think that Phoenix was a bad name choice?

Yeah, yeah, the rebirth thing, but dang, do you name a spaceship after something that dies in flames?

The original Mars Polar Lander crashed. This is a replacement, using instruments for another mission that was canceled while they figured out why the first one crashed. So it rose from the ashes of two earlier missions.

re: #33 Capitalist Tool

More coverup!
Word has it that those are old foundations of ancient buildings.
You can see the Temple outline in the far upper left.

Wrong:

The polygonal cracking is believed to have resulted from seasonal freezing and thawing of surface ice.

Martian global warming! We can't just drive as many rovers around Mars as we want, and expect that other countries are going to say, "okay". That's not leadership!

re: #38 song_and_dance_man

If god wanted us on Mars he would have miracled our asses there.

Another 400 million mile 'hole in one shot'.
Amazing! Simply mind boggling.

re: #44 Killian Bundy

We could have helped sss many poor innocent Africans in Zimbabwe instead of this enormous waste.

Just think of the trees we could have planted...

re: #33 Capitalist Tool

More coverup!
Word has it that those are old foundations of ancient buildings.
You can see the Temple outline in the far upper left.

Watch it, or the Muslims will claim it as the foundation for a Mosque.
Actually, they probably won't do anything unless Jews try to move there.

re: #34 DesertSage

I still think that this mission to Mars is to explore for oil.
That Cheney is a tricky devil.

Cheney's already there, overseeing the operation.

Here are some arctic polygons on earth, for comparison:
[Link: arctic.fws.gov...]

re: #47 Killgore Trout

If god wanted us on Mars he would have miracled our asses there.

What do you think the last 4 billion years were all about?

re: #6 Silhouette

But does anyone else besides me think that Phoenix was a bad name choice?

Yeah, yeah, the rebirth thing, but dang, do you name a spaceship after something that dies in flames?

Actually, the Phoenix was reborn.

re: #47 Kill gore Trout

If god wanted us on Mars he would have miracles our asses there.

If we could solve the radiation problem, we'd already be there.

/and it's God

re: #45 Kosh's Shadow

The original Mars Polar Lander crashed. This is a replacement, using instruments for another mission that was canceled while they figured out why the first one crashed. So it rose from the ashes of two earlier missions.

Thank you for that. Now it makes sense.

re: #53 jaunte

Here are some arctic polygons on earth, for comparison:
[Link: arctic.fws.gov...]

Anyone that's ever been around a drillin' rig will tell you that those are classic "drillin' mud" pits

re: #47 Killgore Trout

If god wanted us on Mars he would have miracled our asses there.

Who says He didn't?

I think that the free country that made this possible is a miracle.

God Bless America

This imagery highlights the Bush junta's blatant disregard for the rights of Martians to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.....seven years later, we are finally reaping the poisonous fruits of the Patriot act and non-stop Martianaphobia by the Haliburton controlled media! Stop the militarization of outer space!

/Cindy sheehan can see her house in that photo

Dianna- Here's the Hubble gallery.

Cool. very cool.

re: #47 Killgore Trout

If god wanted us on Mars he would have miracled our asses there.

Mars art not the kind of place to raiseth of thy progeny;
in fact, it art cold as hell
And there's no one there to raiseth of them,
if thou diggeth

--Book of Elton 3:12

I put this in the spinoffs 7 hours ago - only 101 clicks.

/Location, location, location.

God bless Mars and my American friends.

I wonder how many in the, umm, "Middle East" would recognize what an achievement this is. Oh, that's right. They're still resting on their laurels. Nothing else comes close to what they WERE. Sigh.

re: #64 Occasional Reader

Elton John or Elton from the Iron Chef?

Crab Nebula.

re: #68 WriterMom

Elton John or Elton from the Iron Chef?

"Iron Chef"?! BURN THE WITCH!

Okay, I got here late, but am I the only one that thinks that picture looks like a flare coming down over a tree farm?

re: #61 Fenway_Nation

You don't understand....there's oil up there!
Screw the Martian rights!

re: #70 Occasional Reader

HUH? Whachoo got against food Pr0N?

re: #71 USBeast

Okay, I got here late, but am I the only one that thinks that picture looks like a flare coming down over a tree farm?

I see two elephants making love to a Mens' Glee Club.

(apologies to Woody Allen)

re: #71 USBeast

Okay, I got here late, but am I the only one that thinks that picture looks like a flare coming down over a tree farm?

It looks a lot like a pine tree forest, doesn't it?!?

ululululululu

re: #72 DesertSage

What's out oil doing under their Mars?

Is it true that little green men have little green hands?

I agree! COOL !

America does something right...for a change !

Ooops !

Did I say CHANGE ?

Stunning.

*our

PIMF

re: #74 Occasional Reader

I see two elephants making love to a Mens' Glee Club.

(apologies to Woody Allen)

I'm talking about the picture, not what's happening in your back yard.

re: #78 MandyManners

Is it true that little green men have little green hands?

and play with little green footballs?

re: #68 WriterMom

Elton John or Elton from the Iron Chef?

It's Alton Brown from the Iron Chef. Also star of "Good Eats"

/real food pr0n. :)

re: #78 MandyManners

Is it true that little green men have little green hands?

We know what you're gettin' at...
Can't fool us!

Pallywood ?

No,seriously, it's awesome.

re: #75 wolfie

re: #71 USBeast

Okay, I got here late, but am I the only one that thinks that picture looks like a flare coming down over a tree farm?

It looks a lot like a pine tree forest, doesn't it?!?

Ahh, crap... they missed Mars, and hit the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Oh, well, third time's the charm, like they say.

re: #75 wolfie

It looks a lot like a pine tree forest, doesn't it?!?

Yes, it does.

The Orion Nebula

re: #9 Silhouette

"Researchers were shocked to fine both water and tiny, simple proteins, but not at all surprised to find a Starbucks and at new Super Target."

the wal-mart is on the female planet. Venus

re: #78 MandyManners

Don't
Go
There

HAHAHAHAAH

re: #75 wolfie

It looks a lot like a pine tree forest, doesn't it?!?

Or a close- up of Hillary's thigh.
/cottage cheese

re: #84 BlueCanuck

I know..I love Alton.

re: #84 BlueCanuck

It's Alton Brown from the Iron Chef. Also star of "Good Eats"

/real food pr0n. :)

Alton Brown rocks.
He's a food genius.

re: #6 Silhouette

Sounded better than "Tucson", the home of the science team

re: #42 Mardukhai

One American spaceship taking the picture of another -- as it lands on another planet. As a science fiction guy, this is the coolest of the cool.

Alas, Heinlein and others imagined that there would be crews. Oh, well, you can't have everything!

There will be crews, the only question is how long it will take.

Every time I see NASA pull off something like this, I feel a deep sense of pride for America. I don't see any other country reaching out and touching the stars.

Brillo pad.

re: #96 song_and_dance_man

They must answer to the Creator and for them who deny Him that is most uncool.

I feel confident God will forgive me for not believing in him.

/swiped from Matt Groening

re: #92 Capitalist Tool

Or a close- up of Hillary's thigh.
/cottage cheese

OMG-why did you have to evoke that visual.

We are being watched.

re: #93 WriterMom

re: #94 ted

Find him on youtube. There are complete seasons up to eight.

/no cable at home but I do have a high speed internet connection.
//priorities, priorities. :)

re: #96 song_and_dance_man

And all that is pretty warming to the cockles of one's heart.....until the end, when it gets kind of heated.....

Another thing to keep in mind, which makes the picture even more incredible: The distance between the orbiter that took the picture and the lander/parachute combo was 300-400 miles.

re: #100 Occasional Reader

I feel confident God will forgive me for not believing in him.

/swiped from Matt Groening

and if not,he is far too petty to believe in in the 1st place..

Capitalist Tool (#11),

Can you imagine the uproar had the satellite and the new probe crashed into each other?

No need to imagine.

re: #92 Capitalist Tool

Or a close- up of Hillary's thigh.
/cottage cheese

Cruel and unusual! :D

I wonder if there's oil on Mars?

If there is, how long until the enviros protest drilling for it?

The Eye of Sauron?

re: #17 opnion

Martians have not yet expressed a preference for Obama.
It would be racist to discover them until they declare for Barry.

As I explained yesterday we sent warlord o'bamamama to Uranus

re: #98 Maximu§

Every time I see NASA pull off something like this, I feel a deep sense of pride for America. I don't see any other country reaching out and touching the stars.

Ditto here. I watched the NASA feed last night and the replay this morning. Got dewy eyed each time.

Back to the Moon, on to Mars.

re: #103 BlueCanuck

re: #94 ted

Find him on youtube. There are complete seasons up to eight.

/no cable at home but I do have a high speed internet connection.
//priorities, priorities. :)

Cool.

Thx for that info.

re: #89 Sharmuta

The Orion Nebula

Hamsters to Orion

Cool! Can't wait to see what shakes out from this one.

re: #98 Maximu§

Every time I see NASA pull off something like this, I feel a deep sense of pride for America. I don't see any other country reaching out and touching the stars.

I agree 100%. Americans can do anything we put our minds too, and it makes me proud to be an American.

But why can't we build a good dirt bike?

Luck? I question the timing....

re: #110 Sharmuta

Those pictures are just beautiful, Sharmuta!

re: #109 rorschach

How about them whining we are polluting outer space with satellite nuke reactors?

/yeah I have heard of that.

re: #109 rorschach

I wonder if there's oil on Mars?

If there is, how long until the enviros protest drilling for it?

Well, we know there's oil in ANWAR.

/and it won't cost a billion dollars a barrel to bring it to market

From an email:
A couple of days ago I (a doctor) was running on my treadmill, watching a DVD by Louie Giglio...and I was BLOWN AWAY!

He (Louie) was talking about how our universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) .....and I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork. I remember so many times thinking....'How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this?'

Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart...how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.

And then I lost my breath. And it wasn't because I was running my treadmill, either!
It was because he started talking about laminin. I knew about laminin. Here is how wikipedia describes them :'Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.' You see....laminins are what hold us together....LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already. But what I didn't know is what laminin LOOKED LIKE.

But now I do. And I have thought about it a thousand times since (already)....
Here is what the structure of laminin looks like...AND THIS IS NOT a 'Christian portrayal' of it....if you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see...
[Link: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...]
This definition of laminins is from
[Link: www.fasebj.org...]
'Globular and rodlike domains are arranged in an extended four-armed, cruciform shape..'

Now tell me that our God is not the coolest! Amazing.
The glue that holds us together....ALL of us....is in the shape of the cross.
Immediately Colossians 1:15-17 comes to mind.

'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth , visible and invisible,whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;
all things were created by him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things HOLD TOGETHER. '
Colossians 1:15-17

Call me crazy. I just think that is very, very, very cool.
Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together...one cell to another....by the cross.

You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything other than the mark of a Creator who knew EXACTLY what laminin 'glue' would look like long before Adam breathed his first breath!

re: #110 Sharmuta

The Eye of Sauron?

Ever read "The Mote in God's Eye" by Niven and Pournelle?

re: #114 Thanos

LOL!

re: #118 wolfie

I love space pictures. God Bless the Hubble Telescope.

Do not forget: Obama has promised to cancel all such programs as well as DARPA, the F22, the Thunderbird, and the construction of new weapons systems. Since Bush has reduced Naval and Airforce acqusitions to the lowest levels in either those services histories, we may be in serious trouble. Obama lives in a make believe world along with his wife and pastor.

WriterMom (#91),

Don't
Go
There

You know what they say: Big hands, ... big, ... gloves.

re: #106 joecitizen

re: #100 Occasional Reader

I feel confident God will forgive me for not believing in him.

/swiped from Matt Groening

and if not,he is far too petty to believe in in the 1st place..

You are absolutely right, Joe. Trouble is, it doesn't do you a bit of good unless you personally accept that forgiveness..... :)

Moonmen vs Martians? Who wins?

re: #107 Geepers

Capitalist Tool (#11),

No need to imagine.

re: #122 Thanos

No- but I have a feeling my reading list is about to be extended again.

re: #121 newsjunkie_ky

Wow! I love it!

re: #96 song_and_dance_man

I find creation most fascinating and if some want to discovery and wade into the nature of its complexity and propose answers for it that's cool. And if they find objection to God then that is cool as well. They don't have to answer to me, and that is most cool. They must answer to the Creator and for them who deny Him that is most uncool.

Oh well - Rockets

I have little use for militant atheists, despite being a very skeptical agnostic/atheist. Don't know how to categorize myself. Anyway, I don't deny him, and I think there are compelling arguments out there for a "first cause", I'm just not sure that this first cause resembles in anyway the stories of our religious lore. Anyway, I'll trust in his forgiveness.

re: #98 Maximu?

I don't see any other country reaching out and touching the stars.

The ESA, U.S., and Japan all sent payloads to Mars during the 2006 window. The US put the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit (the one that took this picture). The Europeans put Mars Express in orbit, but their lander (Beagle?) either crashed, or failed after landing. I believe the Japanese probe failed before arrival, and missed Mars.

Is this satire, or does the Brit seriously not recognize the martian is really "bigfoot" from the 1967 footage?

re: #121 newsjunkie_ky

Amen. :)

re: #21 Killgore Trout

God!

re: #106 joecitizen
re: #100 Occasional Reader

I feel confident God will forgive me for not believing in him.

/swiped from Matt Groening

"and if not,he is far too petty to believe in in the 1st place.."

*slowly backs away from joecitizen*

re: #129 Sharmuta

No- but I have a feeling my reading list is about to be extended again.

Well worth your time. Moties, Crazy Eddie....

re: #131 Psaturn
Isn't that just the coolest thing?
I WAS blown away when I read that.

If only our diplomacy was as precise and beautiful in execution as a NASA mission to Mars. God help us, and God Bless America.

C'mon folks it's not like the Vatican landed this thing. It was NASA.

re: #138 Thanos

I'll add it to the list. Thanks.

OT: Reverend Phelps.....
WBC burns the Koran!
No comment.

re: #102 Sharmuta

We are being watched.

That eyeball thing looks like a giant mood ring in "happy yet slightly pressured" mode.

re: #133 Opilio

The ESA, U.S., and Japan all sent payloads to Mars during the 2006 window. The US put the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit (the one that took this picture). The Europeans put Mars Express in orbit, but their lander (Beagle?) either crashed, or failed after landing. I believe the Japanese probe failed before arrival, and missed Mars.

China just sent a Lunar probe, or they are sending a probe, I forget which.

Here's a good site to keep track of that as well as private efforts:

[Link: www.spacemart.com...]

From Hubble's "Exotic" page.

/Settle down, fellas.

Kids, this is NOT the place for religious flame war.

So as a peace offering, allow this atheist to offer a Bible passage that I think is appropriate to the occasion noted in this thread:

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet

-Psalms, 8:3-5 (KJV)

the vatican still hasn't returned the stolen jewish books & art in its vaults.

re: #145 Intrepid

I thought it was creepy.

Shar, The Mote in God's Eye is a very good book. Very good indeed.

re: #147 Sharmuta

I really enjoy those galaxy interaction shots.

Whoops, make that Psalms 8:3-6 (duh)

re: #151 pat

Shar, The Mote in God's Eye is a very good book. Very good indeed.

They still have chaplains in the 31st Century.

re: #144 Killgore Trout

OT: Reverend Phelps.....
WBC burns the Koran!
No comment.

rev phelps is still a assmunch

I give you- the Universe.

re: #142 Killgore Trout

C'mon folks it's not like the Vatican landed this thing. It was NASA.

Actually, it was JPL, but your point remains valid.

re: #83 joecitizen

and play with little green footballs?

Good one!

You really need to be careful we are armed!

Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator

Great for clearing obstructions between mars and venus

re: #126 Ma Sands

You are absolutely right, Joe. Trouble is, it doesn't do you a bit of good unless you personally accept that forgiveness..... :)

I've charmed some hardcore sonsabitches in my day,Ma..and if,when I die,I'm hauled before God and discover I was wrong all along,he will find it impossible to deny me,as I denied him..I think that's a pretty good strategy and I don't have to spend my life being judgemental or holier than thou etc...I live a righteous life and if that's not good enough,so be it..

re: #157 Sharmuta
Galaxies like grains of sand, in 10 billion year old light.

re: #148 Occasional Reader

It is very appropriate. Thank you.....does my heart good to come across His words no matter where or how. :)

re: #156 yochanan

Indeed.

OR..nice words.

Lizards-don't flame this thread...what a shame that would be. If you are celebrating NASA or crediting God-it's just a wonderous sight. Just enjoy it forcryingoutloud.

re: #85 Capitalist Tool

We know what you're gettin' at...
Can't fool us!

Little green mittens.

re: #152 jaunte

They are really cool- and in billions and billions of years- it will be happening right here as Andromeda is on a collision course with our Milky Way.

re: #154 song_and_dance_man

Truce. And best wishes to you fellow lizard. :)

re: #142 Killgore Trout

C'mon folks it's not like the Vatican landed this thing. It was NASA.

How many of those in the control room, who landed the thing, do you figure are atheists?

/answer: very few if any, keep senselessly jabbing away

re: #157 Sharmuta

Ooh nice, how about the antenna galaxies?

Is NASA a beauracratic nightmare with many faults...yes
Is it a government agency that waste`s money...yes
Has it made dumb moves that (in hind site) cost lives that could have beeen avoided...yes
Has it wasted 28 years in low earth orbit with the shuttle program...in my opionion ...yes
----------
Name ONE government agency that dosen`t, and for the 17 billion dollar budget they operate on that delivers more bang for the buck and more national prestige and more pure can do know how...I can`t think of one that comes close!

All your Mars landers are belong to us.

Here's another one for you Jaunte.

re: #167 Sharmuta

I hope we get to see it!

re: #158 Opilio

Actually, it was JPL, but your point remains valid.

I stand corrected. My mom and step dad (both catholic) were consultants at NASA for many years.

re: #158 Opilio

Actually, it was JPL, but your point remains valid.

Actually, JPL is a NASA facility.

But nobody said that God landed this thing in the first place. Somebody's just very sensitive.

re: #137 Shaky Louie

re: #100 Occasional Reader

"and if not,he is far too petty to believe in in the 1st place.."

*slowly backs away from joecitizen*

wuss...heh

re: #167 Sharmuta

They are really cool- and in billions and billions of years- it will be happening right here as Andromeda is on a collision course with our Milky Way.

Andromeda Strain (the remake) is on TV right now.

re: #121 newsjunkie_ky

From an email:
A couple of days ago I (a doctor) was running on my treadmill, watching a DVD by Louie Giglio...and I was BLOWN AWAY!

He (Louie) was talking about how our universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) .....and I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork. I remember so many times thinking....'How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this?'

Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart...how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.

And then I lost my breath. And it wasn't because I was running my treadmill, either!
It was because he started talking about laminin. I knew about laminin. Here is how wikipedia describes them :'Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.' You see....laminins are what hold us together....LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already. But what I didn't know is what laminin LOOKED LIKE.

But now I do. And I have thought about it a thousand times since (already)....
Here is what the structure of laminin looks like...AND THIS IS NOT a 'Christian portrayal' of it....if you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see...
[Link: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...]
This definition of laminins is from
[Link: www.fasebj.org...]
'Globular and rodlike domains are arranged in an extended four-armed, cruciform shape..'

Now tell me that our God is not the coolest! Amazing.
The glue that holds us together....ALL of us....is in the shape of the cross.
Immediately Colossians 1:15-17 comes to mind.

'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth , visible and invisible,whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;
all things were created by him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things HOLD TOGETHER. '
Colossians 1:15-17

Call me crazy. I just think that is very, very, very cool.
Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together...one cell to another....by the cross.

You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything other than the mark of a Creator who knew EXACTLY what laminin 'glue' would look like long before Adam breathed his first breath!

re: #170 BlueCanuck

It's stunning, isn't it? I'd change my desktop image, if I didn't love the picture I have on it now so much.

re: #142 Killgore Trout

C'mon folks it's not like the Vatican landed this thing. It was NASA.

how many spaceships hath the pope?

re: #169 Killian Bundy

How many of those in the control room, who landed the thing, do you figure are atheists?

I ventured a guess on the thread last night. IIRC it was 70% Christian, 20% Jewish. I had a poll of scientists religious beliefs sorted by field but I lost the link. If anyone finds it let me know.

re: #173 Sharmuta

Excellent. I hadn't seen that one before.

re: #182 joecitizen

"Open the Vatican bay doors, HAL"

re: #142 Killgore Trout

C'mon folks it's not like the Vatican landed this thing. It was NASA.

I'm not a Catholic so, why would I attribute this to the Vatican?

re: #173 Sharmuta

Looks like a Van Gogh. Wow!

re: #148 Occasional Reader

Kids, this is NOT the place for religious flame war.

So as a peace offering, allow this atheist to offer a Bible passage that I think is appropriate to the occasion noted in this thread:

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet

-Psalms, 8:3-5 (KJV)

THANK YOU, OR!

re: #157 Sharmuta

I give you- the Universe.

Did you read the caption that accompanies that picture? In part, it read:

The HUDF (Hubble Ultra Deep Field) observations began Sept. 24, 2003 and continued through Jan. 16, 2004. The telescope's ACS camera, the size of a phone booth, captured ancient photons of light that began traversing the universe even before Earth existed.

Wrap your brain around that.

Well, well. Surprise:

Iran withholding info, UN nuke outfit starts to notice.

just figured out dogs are smarter than people, clicked the new comments button a number of times and no responce, pavlovs dog would have lost interest before i did.

re: #121 newsjunkie_ky

Thanks for sharing this, copied it and emailed it out to friends and family.

This just in. Apparently the Umah has claimed Mars as their own due to the fact that Mohammed once dreamed of flying around on a horse and seeing similar Polygonal Cracking. The Phoenix is of course nothing more than a zionist colonial tool. Right now the UN is considering once again redefining the term refugee to ensure that all muslims are deemed Martian refugees.

re: #183 Killgore Trout

I ventured a guess on the thread last night. IIRC it was 70% Christian, 20% Jewish. I had a poll of scientists religious beliefs sorted by field but I lost the link. If anyone finds it let me know.

So that leaves 10% for atheists.

/whee does the Vatican come into play?

re: #188 wolfie

Nature is an incredible artist, is she not?

re: #194 petero

This just in. Apparently the Umah has claimed Mars as their own due to the fact that Mohammed once dreamed of flying around on a horse and seeing similar Polygonal Cracking. The Phoenix is of course nothing more than a zionist colonial tool. Right now the UN is considering once again redefining the term refugee to ensure that all muslims are deemed Martian refugees.

CAN I SUGGEST SENDING THEM ALL THEIR.?

re: #148 Occasional Reader

Kids, this is NOT the place for religious flame war.

So as a peace offering, allow this atheist to offer a Bible passage that I think is appropriate to the occasion noted in this thread:

-Psalms, 8:3-5 (KJV)

I see the stars!

re: #161 joecitizen

re: #126 Ma Sands

You are absolutely right, Joe. Trouble is, it doesn't do you a bit of good unless you personally accept that forgiveness..... :)

I've charmed some hardcore sonsabitches in my day,Ma..and if,when I die,I'm hauled before God and discover I was wrong all along,he will find it impossible to deny me,as I denied him..I think that's a pretty good strategy and I don't have to spend my life being judgemental or holier than thou etc...I live a righteous life and if that's not good enough,so be it..

Well, He is very good at giving you all the time you need. :)

re: #71 USBeast

Okay, I got here late, but am I the only one that thinks that picture looks like a flare coming down over a tree farm?

Yes, and just below the frame is the ammo dump where the explosives left over from the 9/11 blast have been stored by Haliburton.

re: #156 yochanan

rev phelps is still a assmunch

And, he's not a Christian!

Sorry to arrive so late, I have been troubleshooting and fixing a network "issue" or problem with a user. We were successful so now its miller time! What an incredible photo. I have been giving NASA hell over their incompetance but I must say this last mission has helped retore some of NASA's credibility, at least for me...

re: #198 MandyManners

I see the stars!

It's not my favorite but, I like the video.

From collections of galaxies to the insides of cells, it is a wonder-filled world.

Glad to see y'all enjoying the Rev Wrong/Numa Numa video I found.

I couldn't stop laughing.

re: #196 Sharmuta

MISOGANDRIST, charles the term for male hating is not in your spell check

OT: What is it with snObama's verbal gaffes lately?!

[Link: www.powerlineblog.com...]

"On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience here today -- our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."

Fallen heroes in the fecking AUDIENCE?!?!

OK, sometimes people say stupid things on autopilot when they're over-tired, but if this had been Bush, the media would be all over it...

re: #207 Former Belgian

OT: What is it with snObama's verbal gaffes lately?!

[Link: www.powerlineblog.com...]

"On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience here today -- our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."

Fallen heroes in the fecking AUDIENCE?!?!

OK, sometimes people say stupid things on autopilot when they're over-tired, but if this had been Bush, the media would be all over it...

Lame.

re: #180 Sharmuta

My work desk top has a view of the curve of the earth from orbit as the background. Never forget where we are from.

re: #206 yochanan

forgot the i am just joking tag. sorry be bad

Great that this should take place on this Day. And I think, because it is still Memorial Day this would be appropriate:

“Something has been bothering me, so I thought I might talk it over with you.
I remember some time ago people lined up on both sides of the street to watch the parade and naturally, I was leading every parade, proudly waving to all. When your daddy saw me coming, he immediately removed his hat and placed it over his heart.... REMEMBER? And you, I remember you too. Standing there straight as a soldier. You didn’t have a hat but, you were giving me the right salute. Remember your little sister? Not to be outdone, she was saluting the same as you, with her right hand over her heart.... REMEMBER..?
WHAT HAPPENED? I’m still the same OLD FLAG. Oh, I have a few more stars since you were a young boy. A lot more blood has been shed since those parades of long ago.
But now I don’t feel as proud as I used to.
When I come down your street, you just stand there with your hands in your pockets and I may get a small glance, then you look away. I see the children running around and shouting... They don’t see to know who I am.... I saw one man take off his hat and then look around. He didn’t see anybody else with theirs off, so he quickly put his back on. Is it a sin to be patriotic anymore? Have you forgotten what I stand for and where I have been... Anzio, Guadalcanal, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf.
Take a look at the Memorial Honor Rolls sometime, of those who never came back, to keep this republic free.... FOR FREEDOM IS NOT FREE... One Nation Under God... When you salute me, you are actually saluting them. Well, it wont be long until I’ll be coming down your street again. So, when you see me, stand straight, place your hand over your heart.... And I’ll salute you, by waving back... And I’ll know that... YOU REMEMBERED!
Some people call me Old Glory, others call me the Star Spangled Banner, but what ever they call me, I am your Flag, the Flag of the United States of America.

--Author Unknown

Well, I'm sorry, Mrs. Obama, but I'm proud as I ever was of my country!

re: #196 Sharmuta

Nature is an incredible artist, is she not?

Indeed.

I was wishing that Van Gogh could see those photos!

re: #202 LoFlyer

has helped retore some of NASA's credibility
------
They have a way of doing that...!

You know what? If the Dar al-Islam were in charge, this would never be possible. NO islamic-led nation can acheive anything like we have in our short history. They are still stuck in 682 A.D., thye just have better weapons now!

Ain't freedom and America great?

re: #207 Former Belgian

OT: What is it with snObama's verbal gaffes lately?!

Drugs?

/five months to go

re: #208 Cognito

Lame.

just like the media was all over John McCain statement about sunni/shitte terrorists.

re: #197 yochanan

CAN I SUGGEST SENDING THEM ALL THEIR.?

Let's give them a state!

re: #207 Former Belgian

OT: What is it with snObama's verbal gaffes lately?!

[Link: www.powerlineblog.com...]

"On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience here today -- our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."

All the candidates are tired, we will see more gaffs as we get closer to November....

Fallen heroes in the fecking AUDIENCE?!?!

OK, sometimes people say stupid things on autopilot when they're over-tired, but if this had been Bush, the media would be all over it...

Good night.

re: #207 Former Belgian

OT: What is it with snObama's verbal gaffes lately?!

[Link: www.powerlineblog.com...]

"On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience here today -- our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."

Fallen heroes in the fecking AUDIENCE?!?!

OK, sometimes people say stupid things on autopilot when they're over-tired, but if this had been Bush, the media would be all over it...

The wounded fall in battle, they just get back up sometimes.

re: #199 Ma Sands

Well, He is very good at giving you all the time you need. :)

inshalla,Ma!

re: #177 joecitizen

wuss...heh

LOL!

re: #22 Wyatt Earp

this one?

re: #193 Inquisitive
You are welcome. I thought it was awesome. I sent it to my email list as well. Had a lot of people responding.

I took a college course on 'death and dying' and in the book where pictures of various headstones. One of my favorites was for an atheist: "All dressed up and nowhere to go".

re: #207 Former Belgian

"On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience here today -- our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."

Do we really expect anything remotely smart about the Obamessiah? The man is friggin' dangerous, that's all that can be said.

re: #206 yochanan

It's "misandry". And no- I'm not a misandrist- I love men.

re: #191 Cognito

Well, well. Surprise:

Iran withholding info, UN nuke outfit starts to notice.

An in a related story:

"UN IAEA OFFICIALS ALL FOOLED BY IRAN'S STRATEGIC PLAYING OF "I GOT YOUR NOSE" - EL BARADEI REACHES FOR HIS FACE"

re: #216 yochanan

just like the media was all over John McCain statement about sunni/shitte terrorists.

Eh.

I can't stand Obama's politics, but getting huffy over this...

"On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience here today -- our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."

... is just a bit much, in my opinion.

The guy says plenty wrong when he's speaking correctly -- no need for picking apart goofy slips. Again, that's just my opinion.

re: #189 MandyManners

When he knittith you together in your mother's womb, he must have been in a feisty mood.

re: #219 Occasional Reader

Good night.

Sweet dreams!

re: #92 Capitalist Tool

Ewwwww!

re: #195 Killian Bundy

So that leaves 10% for atheists.

I'd guess that 10% is assorted atheists and Hindus. Maybe a few Buddhists and a Muslim or two.

re: #221 joecitizen

Because of the reputation of who uses the Islamic words nowadays, I don't like to use them........I think that one means "If God is willing."?

If so, the one and only One, is.

:)

re: #227 Intrepid

An in a related story:

"UN IAEA OFFICIALS ALL FOOLED BY IRAN'S STRATEGIC PLAYING OF "I GOT YOUR NOSE" - EL BARADEI REACHES FOR HIS FACE"

Yeah. It seems to have reached some critical point, though. Iran can only pretend that up is down for so long.

Great picture. I'm so proud of JPL.

How are all of the lizards this evening?

re: #207 Former Belgian

OT: What is it with snObama's verbal gaffes lately?!

[Link: www.powerlineblog.com...]

"On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience here today -- our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."

Fallen heroes in the fecking AUDIENCE?!?!

OK, sometimes people say stupid things on autopilot when they're over-tired, but if this had been Bush, the media would be all over it...

Obama's just confirming what we already knew. A lot of the fallen vote Democratic.

re: #228 Cognito

the point was not that he mispoke but the point is the MSM, AND LIBS ACT LIKE A GOP GAFFE IS IMPORTANT.
BUT THERE'S DON'T COUNT

OBAMA MADE A BIG FUSS WHEN JOHN MCCAIN MISPOKE IN IRAQ

re: #206 yochanan

MISOGANDRIST, charles the term for male hating is not in your spell check

The correct neologism (I doubt this is in any "official" dictionary yet) would be misandrist. (misein = "to hate", "andros"=man/human male, "gyne" = woman)

I take that back, it's in Merriam-Webster:

[Link: www.merriam-webster.com...]

re: #176 DesertSage

Actually, JPL is a NASA facility.

But nobody said that God landed this thing in the first place. Somebody's just very sensitive.

JPL calls itself a federally funded research and development facility staffed and managed by the California Institute of Technology for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and they do do some work on non-NASA sponsored projects. But I guess I shouldn't split hairs. I take it back Killgore, NASA landed the thing on Mars.

re: #160 Mars Needs Neocons

Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator

Great for clearing obstructions between mars and venus

Or, for cleaning out Uranus, when necessary!

re: #237 yochanan

the point was not that he mispoke but the point is the MSM, AND LIBS ACT LIKE A GOP GAFFE IS IMPORTANT.
BUT THERE'S DON'T COUNT

OBAMA MADE A BIG FUSS WHEN JOHN MCCAIN MISPOKE IN IRAQ

And it was weak then, too.

re: #237 yochanan

Using the occasion to make campaign promises was pretty tacky too.

re: #229 Widow'smight

When he knittith you together in your mother's womb, he must have been in a feisty mood.

It was DNA. Totally.

re: #234 Cognito

Yeah. It seems to have reached some critical point, though. Iran can only pretend that up is down for so long.

Wondering here if this is another "strongly worded letter" occasion or if it's of more urgency.

re: #226 Sharmuta

It's "misandry". And no- I'm not a misandrist- I love men.

It's Rainin' Men,Shar

re: #13 Dianna

Dianna, and anyone else interested in astronomy pictures. You may be interested in this site. I've been going there for a couple of years and the deep-space stuff usually makes me just stare in amazement. When I see an image of a far away galaxy and then see in the background tens of even more distant galaxies I get a sense of what they mean by "The universe is REALLY BIG."

My personal preference is the Archive link which is updated daily.

re: #232 Killgore Trout

I'd guess that 10% is assorted atheists and Hindus. Maybe a few Buddhists and a Muslim or two.

/looking at that control room, I would bet $10K, with or without odds against

re: #238 Former Belgian

IF I KNEW HOW TO SPELL IT I WOULD NOT HAVE USED THE SPELL CHECK

mis·an·dry
Pronunciation: %u02C8mi-%u02CCsan-dr%u0113
Function: noun
Etymology: mis- (as in misanthropy) + andr- + 2-y
Date: circa 1909
: a hatred of men
— mis·an·drist -drist noun or adjective

BESIDES I WAS ONLY JOKING ANYWAY

Is there any video available from Mars?

re: #246 joecitizen

It's Rainin' Men,Shar

LOL- lucky me. Can I invite Mandy over?

re: #248 Killian Bundy

Just a guess. I'd still love to find that poll of scientists religion sorted by field of study.

re: #233 Ma Sands

Because of the reputation of who uses the Islamic words nowadays, I don't like to use them........I think that one means "If God is willing."?

If so, the one and only One, is.

:)

yes that's basically it and I've always found it a beautiful word and thought...I determined to appropriate it often after 9-11..screw the jihadi bastards..

re: #245 Intrepid

Wondering here if this is another "strongly worded letter" occasion or if it's of more urgency.

Mmm... I've never really seen the UN feel urgency beyond a strongly worded letter, except when it's too late (hello, Rwanda!).

But -- and this is a big but -- a report like this one will make it mighty hard to condemn Israel and/or America when they drop a big booger on Iran's facilities. So the report is, at least indirectly, a big deal, and I'm sure the Iranians are concocting a nasty denial in reaction as we speak.

re: #247 uncleFuzzy

Fantastic stuff. Thanks!

re: #250 bosforus

No videos just stills. There's really not much up there moving anyways.

The Mars Science Laboratory is the next mission to Mars and it is BIG

re: #256 Killgore Trout

No videos just stills. There's really not much up there moving anyways.

Yeah, but it'd still be sweet to see a panoramic sweep.

Styx: Come Sail Away

re: #247 uncleFuzzy

Thanks for the link! I own a 10 inch dobsonian that has seen little use lately due to light pollution around my area. Here's a image that shows how big and dangerous the galaxy really is. Glad we live in a "good" neighborhood

Colliding galaxies

Just doing a driveby so may post more tomorrow, but my paper yesterday had a full page add for the "the national conference for media reform", holding something at the Minneapolis convention center. Speakers are:

Bill Moyers
Adrianna Huffington
Dan Rather (YES!)
And assorted others.

freepress.net/conference

Among other things, it includes "rousing speakers....enlightening films.."

re: #256 Killgore Trout

LOL!

re: #251 Sharmuta

LOL- lucky me. Can I invite Mandy over?

I'd either hide in the alcove or run away, screaming.

re: #253 joecitizen

Often, He lets us know things for sure......what would the word be, minus the idea of "if"?

re: #251 Sharmuta

LOL- lucky me. Can I invite Mandy over?

I think it would be wrong of you not to..film at eleven!

re: #183 Killgore Trout

I ventured a guess on the thread last night. IIRC it was 70% Christian, 20% Jewish. I had a poll of scientists religious beliefs sorted by field but I lost the link. If anyone finds it let me know.

52 percent of scientists surveyed said they had no religious affiliation, compared with only 14 percent of the general population.

re: #207 Former Belgian

What do you mean by "lately"? He's been exercising his right to prove his ignorance since forever and a day... have to agree it's the MSM in bed for him that covers it up for him though while attacking any GOP person for gaffes (and even twisting things out of context to make mountains out of not even molehills).