Milky Way Panorama 2.0

Science • Views: 5,838

Astrophotographer Axel Mellinger of Central Michigan University has created a new panoramic image of the Milky Way galaxy. You may have seen version 1.0 of Mellinger’s panorama; it’s even for sale as a poster at Amazon.

Version 2.0 is an order of magnitude more detailed. It was assembled from more than 3,000 individual images of 70 star fields taken with a special large format CCD camera in South Africa, Texas and Michigan. And there’s a very cool zoomable Mercator projection, that really gives a sense of the incredible vastness of our tiny little corner of the universe. (Click the image to go to the zoomable page.)

Jump to bottom

252 comments
1 Kragar  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:07:43pm

But where are the globular clusters?

2 albusteve  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:08:49pm

see that bluish dot over to the left and up a little?...that's us!

3 DaddyG  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:09:12pm

My God... it's full of stars!

BBL

4 DaddyG  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:09:46pm

re: #1 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

But where are the globular clusters?

I think you can find those in gas stations in the south. Don't they make them with pecans and caramel? /

BBL - really

5 abolitionist  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:10:28pm

re: #1 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

In a thread long ago, and far far way.

6 Kragar  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:11:44pm

re: #5 abolitionist

In a thread long ago, and far far way.

Photoshopped.

7 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:12:06pm

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

8 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:12:55pm

I saw the Big Dipper this morning.

Can't find it on that image.

9 wee fury  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:13:02pm

Beautiful.

10 SeaMonkey  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:13:31pm

Man, astrology is a wonderful science. I wish I'd studied harder on those microscopes back in school.

11 Stuart Leviton  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:15:25pm

Whoever darkened the photo so as to make it a richer photo did a great job. Too bad it also removes Axel Mellinger's name. Hope that photo doesn't get around the Internet without giving proper credit (and am glad lgf properly credited Axel).

12 Gearhead  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:16:06pm

I think I speak for us all when I say:

Oooohhh

13 karmic_inquisitor  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:16:35pm

Looks like a globular cluster to me.

/

14 6pat6  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:17:09pm

I can see my house from here! Really!

15 albusteve  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:17:20pm

space music

Youtube Video
16 Summer Seale  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:18:24pm

I am blown away a the quality of this. It's totally gorgeous...

17 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:19:52pm

Not to sound cliché, but that is truly awesome.

18 karmic_inquisitor  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:19:59pm

There is an animated flash of the milky way expanding here

19 6pat6  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:20:12pm

I love pics from the Hubble and such. The immensity and vastness of space never ceases to amaze me. Who says God could not have created the Universe! Twelve billion years and change later, it just keeps going on and on and on! Simply beautiful. And this is just ONE galaxy! Of billions!

20 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:20:27pm

New desktop!

21 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:21:55pm

Whenever life gets you down, Mrs. Brown,
And things seem hard, or tough,
And people are stupid, obnoxious, or daft,
And you feel that you've had quite enough,

Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving
And revolving at nine hundred miles an hour,
That's orbiting at nineteen miles a second, so it's reckoned,
A sun that is the source of all our power.
The sun and you and me and all the stars that we can see
Are moving at a million miles a day
In an outer spiral arm, at forty thousand miles an hour,
Of the galaxy we call the 'Milky Way'.

Our galaxy itself contains a hundred billion stars.
It's a hundred thousand light years side to side.
It bulges in the middle, sixteen thousand light years thick,
But out by us, it's just three thousand light years wide.
We're thirty thousand light years from galactic central point.
We go 'round every two hundred million years,
And our galaxy is only one of millions of billions
In this amazing and expanding universe.

The universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding
In all of the directions it can whizz
As fast as it can go, at the speed of light, you know,
Twelve million miles a minute, and that's the fastest speed there is.
So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure,
How amazingly unlikely is your birth,
And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space,
'Cause there's bugger all down here on Earth!

22 Gearhead  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:22:19pm

He cropped out the turtles.

23 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:22:37pm

Is that Space Jesus there over there?

24 Kragar  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:23:45pm

re: #23 Rightwingconspirator

Is that Space Jesus there over there?

No thats Space Jose. He gets that a lot though.

25 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:26:43pm

re: #21 rwdflynavy

Whenever life gets you down, Mrs. Brown,
And things seem hard, or tough,
And people are stupid, obnoxious, or daft,
And you feel that you've had quite enough,

Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving
And revolving at nine hundred miles an hour,
That's orbiting at nineteen miles a second, so it's reckoned,
A sun that is the source of all our power.
The sun and you and me and all the stars that we can see
Are moving at a million miles a day
In an outer spiral arm, at forty thousand miles an hour,
Of the galaxy we call the 'Milky Way'.

Our galaxy itself contains a hundred billion stars.
It's a hundred thousand light years side to side.
It bulges in the middle, sixteen thousand light years thick,
But out by us, it's just three thousand light years wide.
We're thirty thousand light years from galactic central point.
We go 'round every two hundred million years,
And our galaxy is only one of millions of billions
In this amazing and expanding universe.

The universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding
In all of the directions it can whizz
As fast as it can go, at the speed of light, you know,
Twelve million miles a minute, and that's the fastest speed there is.
So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure,
How amazingly unlikely is your birth,
And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space,
'Cause there's bugger all down here on Earth!

Here you go.

Youtube Video
26 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:28:04pm

When I was a girl, I would spend time in the summers with my grandparents in rural Wisconsin. We we far from light pollution, and I would spend hours outside at night to watch the stars... one night I watched an entire lunar eclipse from start to end out there. That was the summer my grandpa took me to Chicago to visit the museums. We went to the Museum of Science and Industry, and Natural History, but we also stopped by the aquarium and planetarium- and that was my favorite part of the whole day.

I think there is just something about us as a species that when we look beyond this rock, we gain a sense of perspective and awe nothing else can provide. And the more we've learned of space, the more that perspective and awe grow- how truly amazing is Life.

27 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:28:52pm

My favorite part of camping is the view from my sleeping bag. Straight up.

28 Kragar  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:28:56pm

And to think its all just 5,000 years old.

29 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:29:22pm

re: #20 Rightwingconspirator

New desktop!

Hell, it wouldn't look bad on the wall over the sofa!

30 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:29:25pm

re: #28 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

And to think its all just 5,000 years old.

Don't be silly. It is all of 6,000.
//

31 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:30:20pm

re: #30 rwdflynavy

But that's in Dog Star years right?

32 Kragar  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:30:23pm

re: #30 rwdflynavy

Don't be silly. It is all of 6,000.
//

You're right. My bad.

33 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:31:15pm

re: #31 Rightwingconspirator

But that's in Dog Star years right?

Are you Sirius?

34 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:31:32pm

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened."

-Douglas Adams

35 Right Brain  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:31:44pm

Anybody besides me just get an Apple Magic Mouse? Yowsa!

36 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:31:45pm

re: #28 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

And to think its all just 5,000 years old.

4004 years B.C. + 2009 years A.D. = 6013 years since creation.

/Y.E.C. Bishop Usher groupie

37 bosforus  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:31:51pm

Milky Way Panorama anagram:
Wanly Myopia Karma

38 ryannon  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:32:52pm

I know you all secretly love him: LGF's eponymous mascot, singing We Are All Made Of Stars:

Youtube Video
39 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:33:11pm

re: #33 rwdflynavy

We could sing it A Capella

40 Kragar  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:34:18pm

re: #38 ryannon

I know you all secretly love him: LGF's eponymous mascot, singing We Are All Made Of Stars:

[Video]

Kill it with fire.

41 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:34:31pm

We need to explore space...Somewhere out beyond us in the heavens is a 10 foot basketball player with hops and a beautiful jump shot...
/ My luck he'll sign with the Lakers and date Hollywood starlets

42 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:35:05pm

re: #41 HoosierHoops

We need to explore space...Somewhere out beyond us in the heavens is a 10 foot basketball player with hops and a beautiful jump shot...
/ My luck he'll sign with the Lakers and date Hollywood starlets

He's got hops! I love hops!!

43 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:36:19pm

I hate study halls.

44 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:36:50pm

re: #36 ausador

4004 years B.C. + 2009 years A.D. = 6013 years since creation.

/Y.E.C. Bishop Usher groupie

Oops, I forgot that some also believe you have to add either 32 or 33 years to that to account for the time Christ lived.

/nitpicking delusional beliefs, why, I dunno?

45 Kragar  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:37:51pm

re: #44 ausador

Oops, I forgot that some also believe you have to add either 32 or 33 years to that to account for the time Christ lived.

/nitpicking delusional beliefs, why, I dunno?

Don't forget to offset for the Magna Carta.

46 MittDoesNotCompute  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:38:20pm

re: #40 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Kill it with fire.

To borrow a Internet meme, Moby can just go die in a fire...

///

47 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:39:22pm

"A sad spectacle. If they be inhabited, what a scope for misery and folly. If they be not inhabited, what a waste of space."
-- Thomas Carlyle

48 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:40:06pm

re: #27 Rightwingconspirator

My favorite part of camping is the view from my sleeping bag. Straight up.

My favorite part is ordering room service at midnight.

49 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:40:13pm

re: #40 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Kill it with fire.

"Kill him a lot."
-Amilyn

50 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:40:32pm

re: #46 talon_262

To borrow a Internet meme, Moby can just go die in a fire...

///

'Twas he who said that one of the awful things about 9/11 was without it Bush would have been a one term president.

51 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:41:16pm

re: #48 MandyManners

Why the hell would anybody sleep outside who doesn't have to?

52 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:42:16pm

re: #51 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Why the hell would anybody sleep outside who doesn't have to?

To me, roughing it means staying in a hotel without room service at midnight.

53 Kragar  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:42:27pm

re: #27 Rightwingconspirator

My favorite part of camping is the view from my sleeping bag. Straight up.

I thought your favorite part of camping were the showtunes.

54 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:42:53pm

re: #41 HoosierHoops

Lakers. Meh.

55 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:43:15pm

re: #51 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Why the hell would anybody sleep outside who doesn't have to?

Because it was there

56 Fenway_Nation  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:44:29pm

Oh look! I can see my home from there...

/Also- just a reminder. Boston College takes on the Central Michigan Chippewas at Chestnut Hill tomorrow afternoon.

57 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:45:03pm

re: #51 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Why the hell would anybody sleep outside who doesn't have to?

According to a character in Torchwood, who should know, humans are the only species in the universe that goes camping.

58 reine.de.tout  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:45:09pm

re: #51 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Why the hell would anybody sleep outside who doesn't have to?

Particularly when you can have a room with a fridge and CAKE.

59 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:45:36pm

re: #53 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I thought your favorite part of camping were the showtunes.

CLANG CLANG CLANG WENT THE TROLLY!
DING DING WENT THE BELL!
ZING ZING ZING WENT MY HEARTSTRINGS!

60 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:46:04pm

re: #57 SanFranciscoZionist

According to a character in Torchwood, who should know, humans are the only species in the universe that goes camping.

"Embrace your heritage!"

61 MittDoesNotCompute  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:46:11pm

re: #51 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Why the hell would anybody sleep outside who doesn't have to?



For views like this...

62 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:47:00pm

re: #52 MandyManners

To me, roughing it means staying in a hotel without room service at midnight.

When I want greenery, I order the spinach.

63 Spare O'Lake  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:47:29pm

re: #7 MandyManners

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

re: #51 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Why the hell would anybody sleep outside who doesn't have to?

The best part about camping is not going and then it rains.

64 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:47:44pm

re: #61 talon_262


For views like this...

I don't wanna sound all Sarah Palin & stuff, but I can see that from my house.

65 Fenway_Nation  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:48:12pm

re: #59 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

NEXT!

66 SixDegrees  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:48:30pm

re: #51 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Why the hell would anybody sleep outside who doesn't have to?

Sometimes, there's S'mores. Which are a lot like cake.

67 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:48:53pm

re: #61 talon_262


For views like this...

I've been hotels with those views. All I had to do was open the blinds.

68 Kragar  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:48:57pm

re: #59 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

CLANG CLANG CLANG WENT THE TROLLY!
DING DING WENT THE BELL!
ZING ZING ZING WENT MY HEARTSTRINGS!

Eat an apple every day,
Get to bed by three,
Oh, take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!

Be careful crossing streets, ooh-ooh,
Cut out sweets, ooh-ooh,
Lay off meat, ooh-ooh,
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum!

69 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:49:03pm

After my grandparents retired, they spent several years travelling the U.S. in a motor home, camping at Thousand Trails rest stops. They enjoyed themselves quite a bit. Theoretically, it was just going to be one year, but they somehow expanded it. I think after seven they parked in San Diego, but they kept going places for quite some time after that.

70 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:49:57pm

re: #69 SanFranciscoZionist

I think that would be a fun way to spend retirement- seeing America.

What could be better?

71 freetoken  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:50:10pm

A thought: around one of those stars revolves another planet with life and intelligent beings... who have built a society in which their own version of the DI and Sen. Inhofe are right now denying that we exist here on Earth...

72 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:50:18pm

re: #68 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I love that song. You just gave me whistful smile, and I thanks ye.

73 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:50:42pm

re: #69 SanFranciscoZionist

After my grandparents retired, they spent several years travelling the U.S. in a motor home, camping at Thousand Trails rest stops. They enjoyed themselves quite a bit. Theoretically, it was just going to be one year, but they somehow expanded it. I think after seven they parked in San Diego, but they kept going places for quite some time after that.

Did they have a dog named Charley?

74 spinmore  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:52:06pm

When a "law" exceeds (1)one page, it becomes less of a law with each additional page.

(off topic)

75 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:52:19pm

You belong to me!re: #68 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

76 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:52:43pm

re: #69 SanFranciscoZionist

After my grandparents retired, they spent several years travelling the U.S. in a motor home, camping at Thousand Trails rest stops. They enjoyed themselves quite a bit. Theoretically, it was just going to be one year, but they somehow expanded it. I think after seven they parked in San Diego, but they kept going places for quite some time after that.

I remember to this day, the bright red Georgia clay
And how it stuck to the tires after the summer rain
Will power made that old car go, a women's mind told me that's so
Oh how I wish we were back on the road again

Me and you and a dog named Boo
Travelin' and livin' off the land
Me and you and a dog named Boo
How I love bein', a free man

I can still recall, the wheat fields of St Paul
And the mornin' we got caught robin' from an old hen
OMacDonald he made us work,
But then he paid us for what it was worth
Another tank of gas and back on the road again

Me and you and a dog named Boo
Travelin' and livin' off the land
Me and you and a dog named Boo
How I love bein', a free man

77 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:53:37pm

re: #70 Sharmuta

I think that would be a fun way to spend retirement- seeing America.

What could be better?

They loved it. Saw everything, collected knick-knacks. My grandpa was physically incapable of sitting around the house, so he did the driving, and the maintenance on the motor home. One winter they stopped somewhere in the Smoky Mountains and got jobs, stayed about six months. Moved on when they felt like it. It was a wonderful experience for them.

78 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:54:29pm

re: #73 MandyManners

Did they have a dog named Charley?

The dog was a bichon frise named Mignon. Spoiled rotten.

79 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:54:54pm

Wonderful work Axel!

80 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:54:58pm

re: #76 HoosierHoops

I remember to this day, the bright red Georgia clay
And how it stuck to the tires after the summer rain
Will power made that old car go, a women's mind told me that's so
Oh how I wish we were back on the road again

Me and you and a dog named Boo
Travelin' and livin' off the land
Me and you and a dog named Boo
How I love bein', a free man

I can still recall, the wheat fields of St Paul
And the mornin' we got caught robin' from an old hen
OMacDonald he made us work,
But then he paid us for what it was worth
Another tank of gas and back on the road again

Me and you and a dog named Boo
Travelin' and livin' off the land
Me and you and a dog named Boo
How I love bein', a free man

Youtube Video
81 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:55:28pm

"They're made of stone. I'm not fighting something ya can't eat, that's... perverted".

82 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:55:34pm

re: #78 SanFranciscoZionist

The dog was a bichon frise named Mignon. Spoiled rotten.

They needed another one, named "Filet".

83 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:56:31pm

re: #77 SanFranciscoZionist

They loved it. Saw everything, collected knick-knacks. My grandpa was physically incapable of sitting around the house, so he did the driving, and the maintenance on the motor home. One winter they stopped somewhere in the Smoky Mountains and got jobs, stayed about six months. Moved on when they felt like it. It was a wonderful experience for them.

Sounds like fun, and I'm sure they earned it. :)

84 bosforus  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 2:59:24pm

re: #82 MandyManners

They needed another one, named "Filet".

Well done, filet, mignon.

85 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:00:31pm

I guess you don't have to worry about the MPG in one of these.

86 Fenway_Nation  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:00:39pm

What the...? I'm sure I'm reading this wrong, but BC is 5 point underdogs to Central Michigan tomorrow.

I know CMU is 7-1...but they're a Mid-America Conference team. How good can they be?

87 Diamond Bullet  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:01:03pm

It looks to me like the Sakkras and Psilons are tangled up in the eastern quadrant. If we can play them off against one another long enough, all the secrets of Orion may finally be ours.

88 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:01:57pm

OOOoooOOOEeeeOooo

Youtube Video
89 MittDoesNotCompute  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:02:20pm

re: #64 wrenchwench

I don't wanna sound all Sarah Palin & stuff, but I can see that from my house.

re: #67 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I've been hotels with those views. All I had to do was open the blinds.

I somehow doubt you'd have a view like this from very many hotels...

;-P

90 albusteve  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:06:41pm

re: #89 talon_262

I somehow doubt you'd have a view like this from very many hotels...

;-P

I see stuff like that every time I leave the bunk house...30 min out of ABQ is breathtaking wilderness...of course not everybody can live in NM

91 Kruk  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:11:34pm

re: #34 WindUpBird

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened."

-Douglas Adams

Oh, frack. That just reminded me of a creepy short story I read years ago, about an order of monks who wanted to know all the possible names of God, and bought a super computer to list every combination of letters possible. Just as they finish, God steps in and begins winding up the Universe, beginning with the stars. I can't remember the name of it (though I think it was by a pretty famous SF writer) and it's going to bug me all day now.

92 Racer X  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:11:44pm

Oh shit. I think i see a Vogon deconstruction fleet heading this way.

93 Stuart Leviton  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:12:42pm

re: #78 SanFranciscoZionist

The dog was a bichon frise named Mignon. Spoiled rotten.

Mignon would be a tasty name for a philly.

94 MittDoesNotCompute  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:13:17pm

re: #90 albusteve

I see stuff like that every time I leave the bunk house...30 min out of ABQ is breathtaking wilderness...of course not everybody can live in NM

You get a gold star for that, Steve, because that is NM (Philmont Scout Ranch outside Cimarron)...that last pic is off the top of Baldy Mountain.

;-P

95 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:14:37pm

re: #91 Kruk

Oh, frack. That just reminded me of a creepy short story I read years ago, about an order of monks who wanted to know all the possible names of God, and bought a super computer to list every combination of letters possible. Just as they finish, God steps in and begins winding up the Universe, beginning with the stars. I can't remember the name of it (though I think it was by a pretty famous SF writer) and it's going to bug me all day now.

Oddly enough: The Nine Billion Names of God. Author to follow.

96 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:16:03pm

re: #91 Kruk

The Arthur C Clarke story?

97 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:16:40pm

Clarke, 1954 Hugo winner.

98 anubis_soundwave  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:16:52pm

Arthur C. Clarke, per The Wiki.

99 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:19:32pm

Had to check a paper book on a wooden bookshelf. Then again, I still
own a round parachute and a '73 Landrover.

100 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:20:17pm

Best short they never did on TV. I always wanted to grab some area film biz friends and do one of those "student" films just for the hell of it.

101 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:20:17pm

re: #97 Decatur Deb

Clarke, 1954 Hugo winner.

One of my favorite sci-fi quotes of all time is Clarke:

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

102 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:21:32pm

re: #99 Decatur Deb

Had to check a paper book on a wooden bookshelf. Then again, I still
own a round parachute and a '73 Landrover.

That is VERY Jalopnik. Awesome 8-)

103 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:21:55pm

re: #89 talon_262

I somehow doubt you'd have a view like this from very many hotels...

;-P

My house is in this photo. Don't worry, I blurred the license plate.

104 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:23:11pm

re: #103 wrenchwench

My house is in this photo. Don't worry, I blurred the license plate.

Is that you in the blue t-shirt?

105 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:24:01pm

re: #102 WindUpBird

It was too old for CfC. Not that I would.

106 lostlakehiker  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:24:54pm

That's really cool. In fact, the cosmic background microwave radiation is cooling. I remember back when it was so hot you could see it naked eye. Dang, like to have toasted me.

The Universe is cooling. So much for global warming.

/silly season

107 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:25:17pm

re: #104 Sharmuta

Is that you in the blue t-shirt?

That's my sister. She looks a lot like me.

108 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:25:54pm

re: #105 Decatur Deb

It was too old for CfC. Not that I would.

I have no room to store extra vehicles, else I would have held onto my dirtbag yellow 1975 Firebird I had in high school. Ahh, mem'ries...

109 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:29:32pm

re: #108 WindUpBird

I have no room to store extra vehicles, else I would have held onto my dirtbag yellow 1975 Firebird I had in high school. Ahh, mem'ries...

I love it when telemarketers offer me extended warranties w/ roadside
assistance.

110 Athens Runaway  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:29:47pm

For some reason I can't upding anyone. The only button that works is the "report" button.

111 Thor-Zone  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:31:13pm

I feel so small...

112 Mocking Jay  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:32:22pm

re: #111 Thor-Zone

I feel so small...

You're even smaller that you feel.

113 Mocking Jay  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:32:48pm

re: #112 JasonA

You're even smaller that you feel.

Er... than you feel.

114 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:32:59pm

re: #111 Thor-Zone

I feel so small...

Really? I thought it would be bigger. ///

115 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:34:01pm

re: #110 Athens Runaway

For some reason I can't upding anyone. The only button that works is the "report" button.

Save keys to open doors! Shots do not hurt other players...yet!

You need to post more, posts earn you dinging abilities. (I think. Does karma enter into that?)

116 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:34:07pm

re: #112 JasonA

You're even smaller that you feel.

That was just painted by Chronos on a crystal sphere to fool us.

117 Mocking Jay  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:34:31pm

re: #116 Decatur Deb

That was just painted by Chronos on a crystal sphere to fool us.

Is he the one who planted dinosaur fossils, too?

118 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:34:37pm

re: #110 Athens Runaway

Did you try refreshing the page?

119 albusteve  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:35:05pm

re: #94 talon_262

You get a gold star for that, Steve, because that is NM (Philmont Scout Ranch outside Cimarron)...that last pic is off the top of Baldy Mountain.

;-P

heh...I don't need a star, just happy that you appreciate NM too...right on bro

120 Athens Runaway  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:36:43pm

re: #118 Sharmuta

Did you try refreshing the page?

Musta been a glitch in the Matrix. Works now.

121 Mr. Crankypants  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:40:42pm

re: #7 MandyManners

That was my Dad's favorite hymn...

Mine, too for that matter.

the more I know about science, the more I believe in God.

122 Mr. Crankypants  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:41:42pm

re: #115 WindUpBird

You get an upding for the Gauntlet reference. If I had all the quarters I fed that game, I would be able to retire, I swear.

123 MittDoesNotCompute  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:42:56pm

re: #119 albusteve

heh...I don't need a star, just happy that you appreciate NM too...right on bro

Other than my home here in Tennessee, I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be...

124 Mr. Crankypants  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:43:06pm

re: #91 Kruk

Was written by Arthur C. Clarke. And I believe it was called the 9 Billion Names of God.

125 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:44:04pm

re: #122 PT Barnum

You get an upding for the Gauntlet reference. If I had all the quarters I fed that game, I would be able to retire, I swear.

I was a Star Castle man myself.

126 Mr. Crankypants  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:44:05pm

re: #124 PT Barnum

Never made sense to me since for the visible light from the stars to go out at that precise moment, the stars themselves would have had to be snuffed several million years earlier. Or maybe I'm just over thinking things.

127 freetoken  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:45:06pm

Since our sun is in the plane of the galaxy we only see a tiny fraction of the galaxy... dust clouds in the galaxy obscure our view of many objects.

I wonder... if our sun had been well off the plane of the galaxy, and thus when we would look up into the night sky we would be able to see the the full nature of the Milky Way (and it would have filled our sky), if our entire civilization would be different?

128 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:46:57pm

re: #127 freetoken

Since our sun is in the plane of the galaxy we only see a tiny fraction of the galaxy... dust clouds in the galaxy obscure our view of many objects.

I wonder... if our sun had been well off the plane of the galaxy, and thus when we would look up into the night sky we would be able to see the the full nature of the Milky Way (and it would have filled our sky), if our entire civilization would be different?

Might have invented the wheel earlier.

129 Mr. Crankypants  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:47:12pm

re: #125 rwdflynavy

I never played that one...may have to download MAME and see if I can find the ROM...

Lots of cool games available. Some of them ones that I was totally addicted too. Nice to be able to play all the way through and not go broke in the process. Sinistar was always a favorite but one of the most difficult games ever made.

ROBOTRON...YEAH!!!

130 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:47:28pm

re: #126 PT Barnum

If the stars and their light ceased to exist at that moment...

131 Mr. Crankypants  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:48:46pm

re: #130 Rightwingconspirator

Okay...I can buy that...

Actually my favorite Arthur C Clarke story was about the haunted space suit which turned out to be a stowaway kitten.

132 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:48:54pm

re: #128 Decatur Deb

And streetlights later?

133 Achilles Tang  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:49:38pm

re: #126 PT Barnum

Never made sense to me since for the visible light from the stars to go out at that precise moment, the stars themselves would have had to be snuffed several million years earlier. Or maybe I'm just over thinking things.

How does that thinking differ from the YEC crowd that believe the light just came on, as we see it with Hubble and all, some 6000 years ago?

Arthur Clark however was not of that vein, needless to say, but I think he was playing with the same theme that Sagan did in Contact (the book, not the movie).

134 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:49:46pm

Here's a cool video on space- If We Had No Moon

Youtube Video
135 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:49:48pm

re: #131 PT Barnum

Oh gosh I had forgotten about that one! I used to read Bradbury a lot too. Larry Niven...Asimov of course.

136 sngnsgt  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:49:55pm

re: #120 Athens Runaway

Musta been a glitch in the Matrix. Works now.

Bushs' fault, everything is. /

137 Mocking Jay  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:50:17pm

Cell Size and Scale

This is incredibly cool. It let's you zoom in from a coffee bean down to the size of a carbon atom. I feel so geeky right now.

138 Achilles Tang  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:50:29pm

re: #133 Naso Tang

And to add, the theme is what does it take to make the concept of gods falsifiable?

139 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:50:58pm

OT: Warning, weapons grade crazy ahead...

This is part of an anti-halloween article by Kimberly Daniels that was published and then removed from the CBN site but can still be found elsewhere.


During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.

(snip)

The word "occult" means "secret." The danger of Halloween is not in the scary things we see but in the secret, wicked, cruel activities that go on behind the scenes. These activities include:

Sex with demons
Orgies between animals and humans
Animal and human sacrifices
Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood
Rape and molestation of adults, children and babies
Revel nights
Conjuring of demons and casting of spells
Release of "time-released" curses against the innocent and the ignorant.
Another abomination that goes on behind the scenes of Halloween is necromancy, or communication with the dead. Séances and contacting spirit guides are very popular on Halloween, so there is a lot of darkness lurking in the air.

Google cache link here:

[Link: 74.125.47.132...]

140 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:51:10pm

re: #130 Rightwingconspirator

If the stars and their light ceased to exist at that moment...

IIRC, the story was not that consistent. There was some progressive extinction of the stars. Note also that Clarke's was a 1954 "supercomputer".

141 Kruk  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:51:27pm

Many thanks for finding the name and author of The 9 Billion Names of God for me, all. I used to read a lot of classic SF (Clarke, Asimov, Norton etc) when I was in my teens and early twenties. Now that I'm a *cough* grown up, my reading tastes seem to have devolved back to pulp fiction.

142 Mr. Crankypants  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:52:07pm

re: #135 Rightwingconspirator

I'm re-reading "The Flying Sorcerers" now. It's a real hoot. Lots of inside jokes on the science fiction pantheon.

Asimov and Heinlein are my favorites.

I've been haunting our local used book stores looking for the Keith Laumer Retief stories and picking up the books in Stephen King's Dark Tower series piece by piece.

143 Mr. Crankypants  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:54:41pm

re: #137 JasonA

If I could give you multipile updings for that I would..that was mega cool.

144 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:54:52pm

re: #140 Decatur Deb

You are right. I think it was written while the steady state universe held sway. Hoyle and all that.

145 Mr. Crankypants  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:55:55pm

re: #139 ausador

That was frightening, and not because I am afraid of demons. I'm afraid of the people who believe in demons.

146 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 3:57:25pm

re: #139 ausador

Here in Lower Alabama we live with this crap every year. A few years
ago we got almost no Trick-or-Treaters. There have been more
recently. Perhaps the crazy has moved on (MN?).

147 Mr. Crankypants  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:00:54pm

re: #146 Decatur Deb

Michelle Bachman is a demon..

148 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:01:49pm

re: #137 JasonA

Cell Size and Scale

This is incredibly cool. It let's you zoom in from a coffee bean down to the size of a carbon atom. I feel so geeky right now.

Clearly coffee beans are more of a threat than carbon atoms!

/

149 Mocking Jay  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:02:55pm

re: #148 wrenchwench

Clearly coffee beans are more of a threat than carbon atoms!

/

I don't think I could live without either of them.

150 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:03:51pm

re: #145 PT Barnum

That was frightening, and not because I am afraid of demons. I'm afraid of the people who believe in demons.

Whatever she is smoking...
Do. Not. Want!

151 Mocking Jay  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:05:47pm

re: #150 ausador

Whatever she is smoking...
Do. Not. Want!

I find Scientology more plausible than that.

152 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:06:48pm

re: #139 ausador

OT: Warning, weapons grade crazy ahead...

This is part of an anti-halloween article by Kimberly Daniels that was published and then removed from the CBN site but can still be found elsewhere.

She'd fit right in with David Icke.


Google cache link here:

[Link: 74.125.47.132...]

153 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:08:56pm

re: #139 ausador

OT: Warning, weapons grade crazy ahead...

This is part of an anti-halloween article by Kimberly Daniels that was published and then removed from the CBN site but can still be found elsewhere.


Google cache link here:

[Link: 74.125.47.132...]

She'd fit right in with David Icke.

154 freetoken  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:09:06pm

re: #134 Sharmuta

'When worlds collide..."

Heh... Velikovsky would be proud!

155 Ian MacGregor  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:11:17pm

On to the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

[Link: www.lsst.org...]

156 sattv4u2  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:13:19pm

OT

Anyone hear from Walter in the last 3-4 hours?
Last he wrote he was heading outside to
A) try to find his car
B) attempt to shovel it out
C) attempt to drive to town

157 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:14:32pm

re: #156 sattv4u2

OT

Anyone hear from Walter in the last 3-4 hours?
Last he wrote he was heading outside to
A) try to find his car
B) attempt to shovel it out
C) attempt to drive to town

He got eaten by a cold pissed off Bear..
/

158 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:15:02pm

re: #153 MandyManners

She'd fit right in with David Icke.

Reptilian...witches?

Image: panic.gif

159 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:15:07pm

re: #155 Ian MacGregor

On to the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

[Link: www.lsst.org...]

If they want 5 bucks of my taxes for that thing, I would tell them
to take 10. Astronomy is the climax of the entertainment industry.

160 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:16:53pm

re: #156 sattv4u2

OT

Anyone hear from Walter in the last 3-4 hours?
Last he wrote he was heading outside to
A) try to find his car
B) attempt to shovel it out
C) attempt to drive to town

I've been worried about him today.

161 freetoken  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:17:26pm

re: #159 Decatur Deb

Speaking of telescopes... the Kepler Mission is starting to send back data:

[Link: kepler.nasa.gov...]

We should start to see papers about newly discovered planets in a few months...

The Kepler data will be made available to the public, so amateur astronomers can plot the data they are interested in.

162 sattv4u2  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:18:19pm

re: #160 MandyManners

I've been worried about him today.

He was here a few hours ago when I was still at work.

Wasn't checking LGF the last hour or so while I was there, drove home and waiting for dinner to finish in the oven so I thought I'd check

163 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:18:48pm

re: #159 Decatur Deb

If they want 5 bucks of my taxes for that thing, I would tell them
to take 10. Astronomy is the climax of the entertainment industry.

You said "climax". Heh. Heh.

164 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:19:11pm

re: #154 freetoken

'When worlds collide..."

Heh... Velikovsky would be proud!

It's actually a pretty interesting program. And how can I resist Patrick Stewart's voiceover?

165 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:19:46pm

re: #162 sattv4u2

He was here a few hours ago when I was still at work.

Wasn't checking LGF the last hour or so while I was there, drove home and waiting for dinner to finish in the oven so I thought I'd check

It takes guts or insanity to live up there.

166 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:21:17pm

re: #165 MandyManners

It takes guts or insanity to live up there.

Or a woman he fell in love with...I'm happy for him...

167 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:21:21pm

re: #164 Sharmuta

It's actually a pretty interesting program. And how can I resist Patrick Stewart's voiceover?

Sexiest bald man around.

168 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:21:24pm

In 3 of 5 of 'If We Had No Moon', we learn the moon is a giant climate regulator.

Youtube Video
169 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:22:19pm

re: #161 freetoken

(snip)

The Kepler data will be made available to the public, so amateur astronomers can plot the data they are interested in.

Cool. A while ago you could buy a "credit" card that gave people some
online control of a retiring major 'scope. It was in the Azores, I think.
Will look for link.

170 Racer X  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:22:26pm

re: #165 MandyManners

It takes guts or insanity to live up there.

I refuse to live where it gets colder than my freezer.

171 sattv4u2  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:22:27pm

re: #164 Sharmuta

It's actually a pretty interesting program. And how can I resist Patrick Stewart's voiceover?

Especially if Worf is backing him up!

"Yes sir, Mr Worf. I'll sit still and be quiet through the entire presentation. Don't go all Klingon on me! "

Wesley: Are you telling me to go yell at Salia?
Worf: No! Men do not roar. Women roar. Then they hurl heavy objects. (dreamily) And claw at you.
Wesley: What does the man do?
Worf: He reads love poetry. (Coming back to reality) He ducks a lot.

172 sattv4u2  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:23:30pm

re: #168 Sharmuta

In 3 of 5 of 'If We Had No Moon', we learn the moon is a giant climate regulator.

[Video]


The SUV's on the moon are affecting our climate !?!?!?!
//

173 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:23:52pm

re: #164 Sharmuta

Did you see the latest "capture" moon theory? Some scientist thinks he has it worked out. Bu they don't have Patrick Stewart! :)

[Link: www.grantchronicles.com...]

174 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:24:20pm

re: #170 Racer X

Simple wisdom indeed.

175 sattv4u2  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:25:04pm

re: #165 MandyManners

It takes guts or insanity to live up there.

I've lived in New Hampshires White mountains during the winter

Tranquil ,,, a very different style of life than in the city!

176 theheat  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:25:10pm

re: #139 ausador

Consider the source (Charisma). First article today is "Why I Celebrate Halloween". The Second is "Why I Don't Celebrate Halloween". From there, more religious paranoia about how Obama's modified anti-hate crime bill will step all over their religious right to pretty much hate on homosexuals, and how they need to pray harder than Muslims to set a better example, 'lest they be taken over by them, etc. blah blah.

It's off the rails crazy paranoid fundie crap, like dozens of similar crazy paranoid fundie sites. Oh, poor us, poor us, poor us, everyone's against us, everyone's a sinner, here's a list of people to hate and why, are you hating enough yet?, OMG they're taking away our right to hate, poor us, poor us, poor us

Fortunately, I celebrate Halloween enough to make up for all the people too skeert to do so. I do the heavy lifting, so peeps like this don't have to get their hands dirty with all this sinful scary demonic monsters stuff. Then, they pick up the torch and carry it on through Christmas.

177 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:25:13pm

re: #173 Rightwingconspirator

I believe I linked a capture theory story in the spinoffs. It's interesting stuff, that's for sure.

178 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:26:31pm

I watched Where the Wild Things are this afternoon, Very ambitious little movie. The allegory is clear without spelling it out for the dimmest members of the audience. Some might find it unsatisfying because it doesn't have a cliche hamfisted moral lesson that they beat into your head. It's a movie about childhood more than a movie for children. Artsy young adults or teens might like it.

179 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:28:05pm

re: #177 Sharmuta

Whats the trick? Speed reading?
I can barely absorb the thread, let alone the spin offs. Funny today I found a link I needed for Ludwig on FISA. Only about 18 hours late to a nearly dead thread. And that's the last guy you want to be missing your references with. Sharpie.

180 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:29:50pm

re: #166 HoosierHoops

Or a woman he fell in love with...I'm happy for him...

Love is a strong force.

181 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:30:47pm

re: #180 MandyManners

Love is a strong force.

But prone to disturbances.

182 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:30:51pm

Why Solar power still isn't quite ready for prime time:

[Link: atomicinsights.blogspot.com...]

It can get there, but it's going to take more work.

183 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:32:12pm

re: #181 Decatur Deb

But prone to disturbances.

It can get messy. Oh, wait. That's sex.

184 sattv4u2  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:32:39pm

re: #182 Thanos

Why Solar power still isn't quite ready for prime time:

[Link: atomicinsights.blogspot.com...]

It can get there, but it's going to take more work.


This is the energy source for my house

Youtube Video
185 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:32:50pm

I see that Glenn Beck had Lord Monckton and John Bolton on today to discussing the New World Order. I never liked Bolton anyways.

186 sattv4u2  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:32:52pm

re: #183 MandyManners

It can get messy. Oh, wait. That's sex.

in bed

187 sattv4u2  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:33:24pm

re: #185 Killgore Trout

I see that Glenn Beck had Lord Monckton and John Bolton on today to discussing the New World Order. I never liked Bolton anyways.


He's always spoken fondly of you though!

188 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:34:01pm

re: #139 ausador

Prayed over by witches! Necromancy! This lady is AWESOME.

189 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:34:02pm

re: #184 sattv4u2

This is the energy source for my house


[Video]

Sex?

190 sattv4u2  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:34:49pm

re: #189 Decatur Deb

Sex?

Thanks for asking, but I have a headache!

191 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:35:02pm

re: #187 sattv4u2

I find it embarrassing that he won the last anti-idiotarian award on LGF. I lobbied against him.

192 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:37:06pm

re: #191 Killgore Trout

That reminds me: Weblog Award Nominations Open Monday, Nov. 2, 2009

I suggest we nominate LGF for the design award this year.

193 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:37:10pm

re: #188 WindUpBird

Prayed over by witches! Necromancy! This lady is AWESOME.

You young kids and your necromancers! In my day it was haruspices
or nothing.

194 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:38:23pm

re: #182 Thanos

Isn't there a problem with a sheer lack of wattage at ground level? Even if solar panels captured more as electricity it's not a lot. I forget exactly but its a lot of square yards to power a blow dryer.

195 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:39:52pm

re: #192 Killgore Trout

That reminds me: Weblog Award Nominations Open Monday, Nov. 2, 2009

I suggest we nominate LGF for the design award this year.

Although it would be funny to run for Best Conservative Blog again.

196 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:41:19pm

re: #195 Killgore Trout

Although it would be funny to run for Best Conservative Blog again.

It is.

197 Dancing along the light of day  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:41:55pm

re: #192 Killgore Trout

What categories would LGF be eligible for?
Can we put nominations in for all of them?
IIRC, it's a daily vote per person...

198 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:42:05pm

re: #195 Killgore Trout

re: #196 Decatur Deb

With competition called Small Dead Animals? PETA will torch the place...

199 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:46:55pm

Off for a while. I've got a Small Live Animal to walk.

200 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:47:34pm

re: #197 Floral Giraffe

Proposed Categories For The 2009 Weblog Awards
I recall that the nominations are done by just comments on an open thread that they put up. The actual voting is one vote per day for a week or two.

201 Dancing along the light of day  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:48:42pm

re: #200 Killgore Trout

Thanks, I looked, but couldn't see that!

202 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:50:28pm

Hey they do not have best moderated blog! Too bad. LGF is a cinch.

203 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:51:55pm

re: #202 Rightwingconspirator

There's also no category for centrist blogs. Not enough of them around I guess.

204 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:52:03pm

re: #199 Decatur Deb

heh

205 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:52:31pm

Off to my commute home. Happy Halloween Everyone!!

206 Ian MacGregor  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:52:34pm

re: #169 Decatur Deb

The FGST data is also being made publicly available.

207 Dancing along the light of day  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:56:26pm

Tearjerker of a story...
[Link: www.mlive.com...]

God Bless our troops!

208 sngnsgt  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:57:47pm

A little light reading, all 1991 pages of it, somebody has to read it.

209 Dancing along the light of day  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 4:58:41pm

re: #208 sngnsgt

Walter has slogged through a lot of it, as has Lawhawk.
Bless them!

210 SixDegrees  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:00:39pm

re: #194 Rightwingconspirator

Isn't there a problem with a sheer lack of wattage at ground level? Even if solar panels captured more as electricity it's not a lot. I forget exactly but its a lot of square yards to power a blow dryer.

At best, a square meter patch of ground receives around 600 watts. At best. Averaged over 24 hours, it's more like 125 watts. Solar panels are somewhere in the neighborhood of 10% - 15% efficient, so at best you're going to average around 25 watts per square meter - about enough to run a nightlight. You'll do better at high noon - on a clear day in summertime you might be able to pull 100 watts per square meter - better, but still nowhere near enough to run your hair dryer.

And who needs a hair dryer at noon? Which points up a larger problem: storage, which is enormously inefficient and expensive at the moment, with no good solutions in sight.

Solar makes for a useful supplement to some other form of power that's actually cheap and reliable, but you're correct: there just isn't enough wattage per square meter to make it viable as an electricity source. It's best use, at least on a residential level, is as a heating supplement. Solar heating systems, particularly passive ones, can make a significant dent in external energy consumption.

But you're still going to need a source of electricity that's actually workable.

211 sngnsgt  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:04:38pm

re: #209 Floral Giraffe

The thing that gets me about the whole damn thing, I'm disabled on Medicare, that shoves me into Barry-care like it or not. I have no choice.

212 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:07:21pm

The HC has on a show about chocolate so I'm sitting here with a mixing bowl full of ice cream and a bottle of Hershey's syrup. I feel my butt getting big as I sit here.

213 Achilles Tang  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:08:14pm

re: #134 Sharmuta

Here's a cool video on space- If We Had No Moon


[Video]

Need to watch at least the first 2 1/2 episodes to improve IQ.

214 Aye Pod  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:09:05pm

You’re Fired!

[Link: www.hurryupharry.org...]

Well, I can understand why he has been sacked. You can’t have government advisers openly calling ministers idiots.

Ideally, however, the Government shouldn’t be (a) hiring the top scientific advisers to help formulate a sensible drugs policy and then (b) completely ignoring their advice, in order to play to the Daily Mail.

215 Achilles Tang  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:10:18pm

re: #160 MandyManners

I've been worried about him today.

He's a mountain man. Still your heart woman.

216 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:16:51pm

re: #213 Naso Tang

Need to watch at least the first 2 1/2 episodes to improve IQ.

I watched all of them, and I really enjoyed it until the ending. The last video, they forgot to edit out some commercials, and it got a little hokey with nuclear powered interplanetary travel stuff. Other than that- some really interesting stuff, and I hope other lizards check it out.

217 Cheechako  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:17:17pm

Question: Are we allowed to attach a photo from our personal PC to to a post? I'd like to brag about the view from my back yard.

218 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:18:57pm

re: #217 Cheechako

hmmm, you have to uplaud it to a webpage and link to it. You could load the pic to your avatar.

219 Aye Pod  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:19:20pm

re: #217 Cheechako

Question: Are we allowed to attach a photo from our personal PC to to a post? I'd like to brag about the view from my back yard.

The way to do it is host the pic on photobucket or similar and link to it here.

220 sngnsgt  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:20:03pm

re: #217 Cheechako

Upload it to a site like Photobucket and post a link from there.

221 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:20:08pm

re: #215 Naso Tang

He's a mountain man. Still your heart woman.

I'm not as worried about him as I am about the roads.

222 sngnsgt  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:20:29pm

re: #219 Jimmah

GMTA...

223 Cathypop  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:21:09pm

WOW! We are so tiny! This is a good reason for me to buy new glasses today. Can't wait to turn all the lights off and enjoy the sky at night. WOW!!!

224 enoughalready  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:22:10pm

A still more glorious dawn awaits indeed.

So much out there to see and still we spend our time and energy on crap. Time for humanity to grow up, stop behaving like a spoiled teenager and start looking at what lies beyond.

225 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:24:06pm

It's Friiiyayayaydaaay!

Youtube Video
227 solomonpanting  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:26:14pm

re: #223 Cathypop

WOW! We are so tiny! This is a good reason for me to buy new glasses today. Can't wait to turn all the lights off and enjoy the sky at night. WOW!!!

Did you find the area that says "You are here"?

228 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:26:28pm

New Jimmy Wahlsteen:

Youtube Video
229 Aye Pod  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:26:39pm

Nice video someone has put up using scenes from the movie "Contact" and the Cocteau Twins "Eperdu". Galactic Dreams :

Youtube Video
230 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:26:49pm

re: #208 sngnsgt

A little light reading, all 1991 pages of it, somebody has to read it.

Except Congressmen.

231 PhillyPretzel  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:27:31pm

Oh my. That is one beautiful collections of photos.

232 Cathypop  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:27:57pm

re: #227 solomonpanting

Did you find the area that says "You are here"?

Yup! And it's my very own special place called home.

233 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:28:01pm

re: #228 Thanos

Very nice.

With that, I'm off for a bit. Have fun, Lizards!

234 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:28:32pm

re: #227 solomonpanting

Did you find the area that says "You are here"?

Believe it or not I have the t-shirt...

[Link: www.thinkgeek.com...]

235 solomonpanting  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:30:00pm

re: #234 ausador

Believe it or not I have the t-shirt...

[Link: www.thinkgeek.com...]

Where's Waldo?

236 Gus  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:30:44pm

It's as if though the Milky Way is hovering over a bed of stars. It adds to a feeling of depth.

237 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:31:16pm

Heroes the Freddy Mercury Tribute version

Youtube Video
238 Cheechako  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:32:31pm

O.K. Here's my first try:

The view from my backyard

239 Gus  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:34:36pm

BTW way you can get very large format images from the Hubble here. The jpeg is 48MB.

These are from September 9, 2009 so they are post upgrade.

240 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:34:45pm

re: #238 Cheechako

O.K. Here's my first try:

The view from my backyard

I got a nose bleed just looking.

241 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:34:56pm

re: #238 Cheechako

O.K. Here's my first try:

The view from my backyard

Wow! Nice!

242 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:35:17pm

re: #238 Cheechako

O.K. Here's my first try:

The view from my backyard

Very pretty shots, makes me a little sad not to be in Anchorage anymore.

243 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:36:20pm

re: #242 ausador

Very pretty shots, makes me a little sad not to be in Anchorage anymore.

Anybody want to see pictures of Cornfields?
Didn't think so

244 Aye Pod  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:36:49pm

re: #238 Cheechako

O.K. Here's my first try:

The view from my backyard

Lovely!

245 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:37:06pm

re: #237 Thanos

Here's a vid I love that uses footage from that concert with Freddie Mercury's audio and video:

Youtube Video
246 Cheechako  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:38:32pm

In the interest of fair reporting, I only get to see this view four or five times each winter.

247 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:38:53pm

re: #243 HoosierHoops

Anybody want to see pictures of Cornfields?
Didn't think so

I do!

248 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:40:24pm

re: #226 The Sanity Inspector

OT: Cambridge University allows Muslim students to wear burkas under their mortar boards at graduation

Well, it would look really silly if they wore their burkas over their mortarboards. It would give the impression that the ladies had flat heads.

249 solomonpanting  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:40:54pm

Sunday morning,

A priest decided to do something a little different.
He said 'Today, in church, I am going to say a single word and you are going to help me preach. Whatever single word I say, I want you to sing whatever hymn that comes to your mind -- the pastor shouted out
'CROSS.'
Immediately the congregation started singing in unison, 'THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.'
The pastor hollered out 'GRACE.' The congregation began
to sing 'AMAZING GRACE, how sweet the sound.'
The pastor said 'POWER.' The congregation sang 'THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD.'
The Pastor said 'SEX' The congregation fell into total silence.
Everyone was in shock. They all nervously began to look around at each other afraid to say anything.
Then all of a sudden, way from in the back of the church, a
little old 87 year old grandmother stood up and began to sing
'MEMORIES.'

250 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:44:09pm

re: #245 Dark_Falcon

Youtube Video
251 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:53:06pm

re: #250 Thanos

Youtube Video
252 Daniel Ballard  Fri, Oct 30, 2009 5:58:46pm

re: #210 SixDegrees

I thought it was something like that. It takes 50 roofs to power a house. Maybe only 25 at the equator. Thanks!


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
The Pandemic Cost 7 Million Lives, but Talks to Prevent a Repeat Stall In late 2021, as the world reeled from the arrival of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus, representatives of almost 200 countries met - some online, some in-person in Geneva - hoping to forestall a future worldwide ...
Cheechako
3 days ago
Views: 120 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ...
Cheechako
2 weeks ago
Views: 282 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1