The Biggest Gamma Ray Burst Ever Detected

Science • Views: 2,998

If this had happened a little bit closer to our solar system, we wouldn’t be worrying about the stimulus bill any more: Huge gamma-ray blast spotted 12.2 bln light-years from earth.

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The US space agency’s Fermi telescope has detected a massive explosion in space which scientists say is the biggest gamma-ray burst ever detected, a report published Thursday in Science Express said.

The spectacular blast, which occurred in September in the Carina constellation, produced energies ranging from 3,000 to more than five billion times that of visible light, astrophysicists said.

“Visible light has an energy range of between two and three electron volts and these were in the millions to billions of electron volts,” astrophysicist Frank Reddy of US space agency NASA told AFP.

“If you think about it in terms of energy, X-rays are more energetic because they penetrate matter. These things don’t stop for anything — they just bore through and that’s why we can see them from enormous distances,” Reddy said.

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474 comments
1 Bob Dillon  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:45:38pm

Ya! We would be toast.

2 lostlakehiker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:45:58pm

kill radius is 2500 light years.

3 Basho  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:47:18pm

Nooo! So much for my hopes to turn into the Incredible Hulk =(

4 sngnsgt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:47:30pm

Galaxy warming!

5 CIA Reject  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:47:33pm
“The spectacular blast, which occurred in September in the Carina constellation, produced energies ranging from 3,000 to more than five billion times that of visible light …”

That’ll leave a mark…

6 Bob Dillon  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:47:48pm

re: #2 lostlakehiker

kill radius is 2500 light years.

At what energy level?

7 Sharmuta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:47:50pm
Taking into account the huge distance from earth of the burst, scientists worked out that the blast was stronger than 9,000 supernovae — powerful explosions that occur at the end of a star’s lifetime — and that the gas jets emitting the initial gamma rays moved at nearly the speed of light.

Now that’s impressive.

8 Perplexed  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:49:03pm

Very impressive.

9 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:49:06pm

And the burst was sourced from… what?

10 lostlakehiker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:49:21pm

2500 light years=distance to galactic center. Oh maaannn.

Good thing this seems to be a thing that happens only in the first billion years or so. Those days are past.

11 Sharmuta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:50:00pm

re: #9 Walter L. Newton

And the burst was sourced from… what?

It was the collapse of an alien Congressional spending spree.

12 MandyManners  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:50:13pm

No gobular clusters?

13 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:50:41pm

re: #10 lostlakehiker

2500 light years=distance to galactic center. Oh maaannn.

Good thing this seems to be a thing that happens only in the first billion years or so. Those days are past.

I’m confused. They said it happened in Sept. 2008.

14 MandyManners  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:50:47pm

Aren’t there some who maintain that outer space is a fake?

15 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:50:50pm

12.2 billion year old event from our viewpoint, but the EMR got here instantaneously from it’s own perspective.

How old is the universe?

— Trick question.

16 lostlakehiker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:51:07pm

re: #6 Bobibutu

At what energy level?

an ordinary supernova would cause mass casualties at 25 light years. But not kill off humanity. So—-partial kill radius.

17 ParanoidPyro  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:51:14pm

I’m not a scientist, so maybe somebody more knowledgable can inform me…

If one of these were to take us out, there would be no warning, right? I know, comforting thought and all, but is that the case?

18 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:51:19pm

re: #11 Sharmuta

It was the collapse of an alien Congressional spending spree.

The is no such things as Congressionals.

19 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:51:25pm

re: #10 lostlakehiker

Past, and good riddance.

20 Fat Jolly Penguin  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:51:48pm

A magnetar, maybe?

21 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:51:58pm

In other astronomical news, the Lulin comet is set to make its closest approach on the 24th. In fact, it’s a once in a lifetime event since the orbit is 20 million years.

22 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:52:17pm

re: #15 Ojoe

12.2 billion year old event from our viewpoint, but the EMR got here instantaneously from it’s own perspective.

How old is the universe?

— Trick question.

I said above, I’m confused. They said it happened in Sept. 2008, not that it was detected in Sept. 2008.

23 lostlakehiker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:52:32pm

re: #13 Walter L. Newton

I’m confused. They said it happened in Sept. 2008.

The signal took 12.2 billion years to reach us.

24 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:52:50pm

re: #17 ParanoidPyro

I’m not a scientist, so maybe somebody more knowledgable can inform me…

If one of these were to take us out, there would be no warning, right? I know, comforting thought and all, but is that the case?

No, there would be a…

25 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:52:58pm

re: #20 Fat Jolly Penguin

A magnetar, maybe?

Nope. It was just the universe stunned by the possibility that Obama would have a shot at being President. It finally sank in, which is why we’re finding the x-ray emissions now. /

26 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:53:39pm

sorry to disappoint y’all—-that was just a burst from mikeydad after my meatloaf dinner tonight-t’was awesome! (the burst-not the meatloaf!)

27 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:53:45pm

re: #22 Walter L. Newton

Time by itself is complete rubber.

For instance, you cannot retrieve the previous second to slide it up next to the present second, to see if they are the same.

28 gclaghorn  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:53:48pm

We already have Obama destroying the country. Now we have to worry about this stuff?

29 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:53:52pm

Good Evening Lizards! It was another damp day in the Very Far Western Suburbs of Chicagoland.

I like the picture above. I love pictures of space. I wouldn’t mind going out there, but I don’t think I would survive the G-Force required to leave the atmosphere. Bad Joints. (yes, invitation for puns)

How are you-all?

30 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:54:12pm

The Vorlons deny they had anything to do with this.
— Ambassador Kosh of the Vorlon Empire.
So do the Shadows.
—- His Shadow

31 lostlakehiker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:54:18pm

Anything that happens a long ways away, by the time we see it, it’s been a long time since it happened. Anything that happened there now, we’d never see it. The universe is expanding fast enough that the distance between us grows faster than light, moving at the speed of light, can close it.

32 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:54:48pm

re: #28 gclaghorn

See No. 10

33 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:54:49pm

re: #23 lostlakehiker

The signal took 12.2 billion years to reach us.

IMHO, then the article is badly worded…

“ASHINGTON (AFP) – The US space agency’s Fermi telescope has detected a massive explosion in space which scientists say is the biggest gamma-ray burst ever detected, a report published Thursday in Science Express said.

The spectacular blast, which occurred in September in the Carina constellation, produced energies ranging from 3,000 to more than five billion times that of visible light, astrophysicists said.”

34 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:55:07pm

re: #13 Walter L. Newton

I’m confused. They said it happened in Sept. 2008.

It happened 12.2 billion years before Sept. 2008

35 Fat Jolly Penguin  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:55:20pm

re: #17 ParanoidPyro

I’m not a scientist, so maybe somebody more knowledgable can inform me…

If one of these were to take us out, there would be no warning, right? I know, comforting thought and all, but is that the case?

Sounds right to me. A gamma ray burst would travel at the speed of light, meaning that we wouldn’t be able to see it coming until after it hit us.

You see the problem.

36 Bob Dillon  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:55:26pm

re: #17 ParanoidPyro

I’m not a scientist, so maybe somebody more knowledgable can inform me…

If one of these were to take us out, there would be no warning, right? I know, comforting thought and all, but is that the case?

iirc it would take months for us to croak.

37 Basho  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:55:40pm

re: #31 lostlakehiker

I’ll have what he’s having…

38 gclaghorn  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:55:47pm

re: #32 Ojoe

See No. 10

I know. T’was all in jest. :)

39 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:56:02pm

re: #30 Kosh’s Shadow

Naw, it could have been the Replicators battling with the Ancients. Or maybe it was a galaxy long ago and far away where billions of voices cried out and were silenced in an instant.

40 SteveC  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:56:21pm

re: #30 Kosh’s Shadow

The Vorlons deny they had anything to do with this.
— Ambassador Kosh of the Vorlon Empire.
So do the Shadows.
—- His Shadow

Yet… Whoomp! There it is!
—- Tag Team

41 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:56:32pm

re: #38 gclaghorn

Gamma Gamma
Bo Bama
Banana Fanna …

42 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:56:44pm

re: #33 Walter L. Newton

IMHO, then the article is badly worded…

“ASHINGTON (AFP) – The US space agency’s Fermi telescope has detected a massive explosion in space which scientists say is the biggest gamma-ray burst ever detected, a report published Thursday in Science Express said.

The spectacular blast, which occurred in September in the Carina constellation, produced energies ranging from 3,000 to more than five billion times that of visible light, astrophysicists said.”

Yes, reporters don’t know science.
Nor do they know much else, other than how to suck up to the 0ne.

43 Fat Jolly Penguin  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:56:52pm

re: #39 lawhawk

Naw, it could have been the Replicators battling with the Ancients. Or maybe it was a galaxy long ago and far away where billions of voices cried out and were silenced in an instant.

It was Anubis. Again.

44 Basho  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:57:05pm

re: #39 lawhawk

Replicators. It’s always the replicators…

45 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:57:31pm

re: #39 lawhawk

Naw, it could have been the Replicators battling with the Ancients. Or maybe it was a galaxy long ago and far away where billions of voices cried out and were silenced in an instant.

Or the Ori. Nasty things. Think they’re gods.

46 Last Mohican  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:57:44pm

Millions to billions of electron volts? How do you detect a photon that energetic? Wouldn’t it be very difficult to stop one?

47 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:58:36pm

re: #35 Fat Jolly Penguin

Sounds right to me. A gamma ray burst would travel at the speed of light, meaning that we wouldn’t be able to see it coming until after it hit us.

You see the problem.

But Cincinnati wouldn’t know for another 10 years?

My brains hurts when we get to subjects like this.

48 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:58:40pm

re: #46 Last Mohican

Millions to billions of electron volts? How do you detect a photon that energetic? Wouldn’t it be very difficult to stop one?

is that like sperm to an egg?

49 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:58:46pm

re: #44 Basho

Replicators. It’s always the replicators…

Why do they have so much trouble figuring out who’s a replicator, when they contain neutronium, at a couple of tons per teaspoon.
There’s the replicator! The one who just fell through the floor!

50 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:59:30pm

re: #48 mikeymom
forgive me—its the nicotine gum.

51 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 6:59:30pm

I blame Bush.

/

52 gclaghorn  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:00:07pm

re: #51 ggt

I blame Bush.

/

It’s Halliburton ! ! ! ! 11 ! !

53 rumcrook  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:00:25pm

ok this is justy bulls**t man I mean really! what the f**K charles are you trying to scare me into a coronary? some people are afraid of heights some people are afraid of flying, or spiders, or flying spiders, or flying monkeys

im afraid of super volcanoes under yellowstone, and gamma rays blasting the life off the planet!

thankyou for sending me into a fetal postion tailspin on a friday night just as I geared up to drink some blue moon unfiltered wheat ale, and eat unshelled peanuts.

54 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:00:32pm

So long, and thanks for all the fish / So sad that it should come to this / We tried to warn you all, but, oh, dear / You may not share out intellect / Which might explain your disrespect / For all the natural wonders that grow around you / So long, so long, and thanks for all the fish! The world’s about to be destroyed / There’s no point getting all annoyed / Lie back and let the planet dissolve around you / Despite those nets of tuna fleets / We thought that most of you were sweet / Especially tiny tots and your pregnant women / So long, so long, so long, so long, so long! So long, so long, so long, so long, so long! So long, so long, and thanks for all the fish!/ If I had just one last wish / I would like a tasty fish!/If we could just change one thing / We would all have learnt to sing!/Come one and all / Man and mammal / Side by side / In life’s great gene pool!/ So long, so long, so long, so long, so long / So long, so long, so long, so long / So long, so long and thanks for all the fish!

55 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:00:47pm

re: #42 Kosh’s Shadow

The spectacular blast, which occurred in September in the Carina constellation, produced energies ranging from 3,000 to more than five billion times that of visible light, astrophysicists said.”

Notice that the reporter leaves out the area factor, energy per unit of area. You must specify that or the statement has little meaning.

The energy of visible light measured where? Just outside the Earth’s atmosphere? On the beach at sea level in LA in June?

&c. &c.

The most ignorant people are journalists these days.

56 Basho  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:00:50pm

re: #45 Kosh’s Shadow

Or the Ori. Nasty things. Think they’re gods.

Was it just me, or did the Ori and their followers symbolize radical Islam?

57 gclaghorn  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:01:08pm

Gamma rays? Charles, this is such anti-Gamma ray spew. Why do you hate Gamma rays? Why, Charles? Why?

/

58 HelloDare  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:01:27pm

My aluminum foil hat will protect me.

59 Last Mohican  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:01:51pm

re: #48 mikeymom

More like trying to stop a radio wave with a sheet of kleenex, I’m thinking. The radio wave goes on its way unharmed, and the kleenex is none the worse for wear.

60 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:02:00pm

re: #54 Walter L. Newton

So long, and thanks for all the fish / So sad that it should come to this / We tried to warn you all, but, oh, dear / You may not share out intellect / Which might explain your disrespect / For all the natural wonders that grow around you / So long, so long, and thanks for all the fish! The world’s about to be destroyed / There’s no point getting all annoyed / Lie back and let the planet dissolve around you / Despite those nets of tuna fleets / We thought that most of you were sweet / Especially tiny tots and your pregnant women / So long, so long, so long, so long, so long! So long, so long, so long, so long, so long! So long, so long, and thanks for all the fish!/ If I had just one last wish / I would like a tasty fish!/If we could just change one thing / We would all have learnt to sing!/Come one and all / Man and mammal / Side by side / In life’s great gene pool!/ So long, so long, so long, so long, so long / So long, so long, so long, so long / So long, so long and thanks for all the fish!


put down the bong walter-really

61 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:02:24pm

It is most gratifying that your enthusiasm for our planet continues unabated. As a token of our appreciation, we hope you will enjoy the two thermonuclear missiles we’ve just sent to converge with your craft. To ensure ongoing quality of service, your death may be monitored for training purposes. Thank you.

62 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:02:34pm

Any sci-fi network people listening?
I have ideas for a couple of shows:
1) Geeks and hippies unite to defeat a small group of aliens (let by Al Gore, oops, no) trying to destroy our technology and society. (Learn who is really behind the environmental movement). You can leave out the meteorite in the Kaaba being an alien mind control device if needed.

2) A spaceship, hundreds of years old, trades among human colonies on other worlds, dealing with their own conflicts between crew, traders, passengers, and residents; an ancient ship, and the long-isolated colonies they meet.
Heavy on scientific accuracy; probably too much for the sci-fi channel.

63 SteveC  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:02:36pm

re: #44 Basho

Replicators. It’s always the replicators…

Or Cylons. Usually the skinjobs.

64 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:02:59pm

re: #54 Walter L. Newton

Where’s my towel?

65 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:03:11pm

re: #45 Kosh’s Shadow

Hallowed are the Ori.

66 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:03:34pm

re: #56 Basho

Was it just me, or did the Ori and their followers symbolize radical Islam?

I thought they did, too. I really liked Stargate.

67 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:03:56pm

re: #62 Kosh’s Shadow

You can leave out the meteorite in the Kaaba being an alien mind control device if needed.

Plausible.

68 Cognito  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:04:16pm

re: #55 Ojoe

Notice that the reporter leaves out the area factor, energy per unit of area. You must specify that or the statement has little meaning.

The energy of visible light measured where? Just outside the Earth’s atmosphere? On the beach at sea level in LA in June?

&c. &c.

The most ignorant people are journalists these days.

I believe the story does address that, by expressing it as a range.

69 Bloodnok  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:04:23pm

re: #56 Basho

Was it just me, or did the Ori and their followers symbolize radical Islam?

Not Ori. But Balin and Gloin had some suspicious looking bruises on their foreheads.

70 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:04:31pm

(as the whale falls toward earth from outer space)

Ahhh! Woooh! What’s happening? Who am I? Why am I here? What’s my purpose in life? What do I mean by who am I? Okay okay, calm down calm down get a grip now. Ooh, this is an interesting sensation. What is it? Its a sort of tingling in my… well I suppose I better start finding names for things. Lets call it a… tail! Yeah! Tail! And hey, what’s this roaring sound, whooshing past what I’m suddenly gonna call my head? Wind! Is that a good name? It’ll do. Yeah, this is really exciting. I’m dizzy with anticipation! Or is it the wind? There’s an awful lot of that now isn’t it? And what’s this thing coming toward me very fast? So big and flat and round, it needs a big wide sounding name like ‘Ow’, ‘Ownge’, ‘Round’, ‘Ground’! That’s it! Ground! Ha! I wonder if it’ll be friends with me? Hello Ground!

71 albusteve  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:05:31pm

pffft…I use to have gamma bursts this big several times a week…no big deal

72 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:05:32pm

re: #60 mikeymom

Don’t Panic!

73 Dirk Diggler  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:05:44pm

Astronomy always makes me want to rock out to Pink Floyd.

74 esch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:05:53pm

re: #70 Walter L. Newton

Oh, no. Not again.

75 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:05:56pm

It’s an important and popular fact that things are not always what they seem. For instance, on the planet Earth, Man had always assumed that he was the most intelligent species occupying the planet, instead of the *third* most intelligent. The second most intelligent creatures were of course dolphins who, curiously enough, had long known of the impending destruction of the planet earth. They had made many attempts to alert mankind to the danger, but most of their communications were misinterpreted as amusing attempts to punch footballs or whistle for titbits. So they eventually decided they would leave earth by their own means. The last ever dolphin message was misinterpreted as a surprisingly sophisticated attempt to do a double backward somersault through a hoop while whistling the star-spangled banner, but in fact the message was this: So long and thanks for all the fish.

76 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:05:57pm

re: #70 Walter L. Newton

walter, i WAS considering meeting you for coffee/lunch—but—mow you are scaring me!

77 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:06:11pm

re: #61 Walter L. Newton

It is most gratifying that your enthusiasm for our planet continues unabated. As a token of our appreciation, we hope you will enjoy the two thermonuclear missiles we’ve just sent to converge with your craft. To ensure ongoing quality of service, your death may be monitored for training purposes. Thank you.

Where’s Slartybarfast?

78 MandyManners  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:06:13pm

re: #71 albusteve

pffft…I use to have gamma bursts this big several times a week…no big deal

Are we back to the blue monkey balls?

79 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:06:19pm

re: #74 esch

Oh, no. Not again.

Curiously the only thing that went through the mind of the bowl of petunias, as it fell, was, ‘Oh no, not again.’ Many people have speculated that if we knew exactly *why* the bowl of petunias had thought that we would know a lot more about the nature of the universe than we do now.

80 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:06:33pm

re: #56 Basho

Was it just me, or did the Ori and their followers symbolize radical Islam?

I thought the G’uaold did that pretty well!

81 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:06:36pm

Rethinking Plate Tectonics

When the Dylanologist took his Geology 101 back in college he was taught, just as everyone else has been since the mid-1960s, that the process of plate tectonics (or “continental drift”) explains the arrangement of the continents and the obvious matching coasts of Africa and South America. The continents were at one point all stuck together as Pangaea, and then, for some reason, they split right down the middle and were pulled/pushed apart from each other, riding right over ocean crust.


Yet, what we were never shown was this map, which shows that nowhere on earth are there seafloors older than 180 million years (blue is oldest, red youngest; by contrast continental rocks date back nearly 4.3 billion years). Not only that, but the fastest rate of spreading is in the Pacific, which is presumed to be shrinking from both sides… Geologists explain this conundrum by saying that all of the older seafloor has been “subducted” under to continents, and has vanished without a trace. Yet what is driving this activity? Are the ridges pushing the continents apart, or are the subducting seafloors pulling the ridges apart? If the push force is the driver, why is there so much spreading in the Pacific? If the pull force is stronger, how did spreading start in the first place between two connected continents? Geologists themselves don’t have a good answer, admitting that they have no clear explanation, and physics suggests that neither force is anywhere near strong enough to cause entire continents to slide across the planet, or to build up huge mountain chains.


What if the answer is much simpler? What if there is no seafloor older than 180 million years because, 180 million years ago, there was no seafloor?

82 Fat Jolly Penguin  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:06:45pm

re: #76 mikeymom

walter, i WAS considering meeting you for coffee/lunch—but—mow you are scaring me!

Have you never read Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?!

83 WhiteRasta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:07:00pm

Gamma rays? I spit on your stinking gamma rays…..

84 Ringo the Gringo  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:07:14pm
The spectacular blast, which occurred in September in the Carina constellation….

Pheew…close call!

The wife and I were going to have dinner at Carina that very night, but couldn’t get a sitter.

85 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:07:28pm

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy answers anything that could possibly come up in these science threads at LGF.

86 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:07:28pm

re: #58 HelloDare

My aluminum foil hat will protect me.

I thought it had to be tin. Or is that the same thing—technically?

87 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:07:32pm

re: #76 mikeymom

walter, i WAS considering meeting you for coffee/lunch—but—mow you are scaring me!

Read The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Walter is quoting it.
Don’t panic.
Don’t read any Vogon poetry.

88 lostlakehiker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:07:46pm

re: #46 Last Mohican

Millions to billions of electron volts? How do you detect a photon that energetic? Wouldn’t it be very difficult to stop one?

that’s still only 1 thousandth of one erg…and an erg boosts one gram to a speed of 1 cm per second. x-ray telescopes can cope.

89 albusteve  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:08:12pm

re: #78 MandyManners

Are we back to the blue monkey balls?

what?…I’m insulted…a multi colored rainbow if you need to know…that’s what I heard anyway

90 gclaghorn  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:08:40pm

re: #85 Walter L. Newton

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy answers anything that could possibly come up in these science threads at LGF.

Ooooh! Do the one about the towel.

91 rumcrook  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:08:42pm

re: #66 Kosh’s Shadow

I allways thought it was some writers inside joke that he will never divulge

92 HelloDare  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:08:52pm

re: #58 HelloDare

My aluminum foil hat will protect me.

Image: ronpaultinfoilhat.jpg

93 Pygmalienation  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:08:53pm

Wow! It’s just amazing the energies that exist “out there”… I read about this earlier today and was totally in awe thinking about how humanities ability to sense the micro/macro universe has evolved. Oops, there’s that “E” word again…

94 vr46go  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:08:55pm

It’s obviously the result of some greedy and selfish advanced civilization who went flying around some galaxy in their antimatter guzzling, gravity distorting spaceships sucking up all the natural resources. Next thing you know they throw off the delicate balance of the universe and BOOM! They fry everything within a few thousand light years! If only they heeded the wisdom of the Goreacle.

/

95 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:09:23pm

re: #68 Cognito

The story should have said “per photon” then.

96 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:09:24pm

re: #82 Fat Jolly Penguin

Have you never read Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?!

nope—and the only sci-fi movie i watched was 41 yrs ago-on our honeymoon—after we “consumated our marriage”, hubby nade me watch “the tingler”—also a johnson girl got married the same day—sad sad

97 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:09:31pm

The election is ancient history, Obama. If memory serves, you won, proving that good looks and charm win over brilliance and the ability to govern. And for the record? You *are* stupid.

(edited for clarity)

98 Last Mohican  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:09:40pm

NASA has a story about the big burst here. There are some nerds getting really excited about it.

Also, you can watch a compressed movie of eight minutes worth of gamma ray observations here (this downloads a .mov file). I don’t know, considering this is an event with the energy of a hundred bazillion supernovae, I think they could have jazzed up the pseudocolor a little bit. Maybe added some of those Star Wars-style “hyperspace lines.” It just doesn’t look that impressive.

99 albusteve  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:09:42pm

re: #94 vr46go

It’s obviously the result of some greedy and selfish advanced civilization who went flying around some galaxy in their antimatter guzzling, gravity distorting spaceships sucking up all the natural resources. Next thing you know they throw off the delicate balance of the universe and BOOM! They fry everything within a few thousand light years! If only they heeded the wisdom of the Goreacle.

/

leftists

100 WhiteRasta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:09:44pm

The answer to the ultimate question is, 47….

101 Kenneth  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:09:47pm

Big gamma rays are ripping us off!

( I had to say it)

102 Pygmalienation  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:10:34pm

re: #93 Pygmalienation

Matter became self aware…fantastic thing, that.

103 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:10:49pm

re: #80 ggt

I thought the G’uaold did that pretty well!

They were the pagan gods, like ba’al and others.

104 Basho  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:10:52pm

re: #80 ggt

I thought the G’uaold did that pretty well!

The G’uaold were more of the typical tyrants and dictators. But the Ori, with their convert or die attitude… idk… broke with the trend from previous seasons and seemed more relevant at the time.

105 gclaghorn  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:11:05pm

All your gamma rays are belong to us!

106 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:11:19pm

re: #90 gclaghorn

Ooooh! Do the one about the towel.

It is of course well known that careless talk costs lives, but the full scale of the problem is not always appreciated. For instance, at the very moment that Arthur Dent said “I wouldn’t want to go anywhere without my wonderful towel,” a freak wormhole opened up in the fabric of the space-time continuum and carried his words far far back in time across almost infinite reaches of space to a distant Galaxy where strange and warlike beings were poised on the brink of frightful interstellar battle. The two opposing leaders, resplendent in their black jewelled battle shorts, were meeting for the last time, when, a dreadful silence fell, and, at that very moment, the words, “I wouldn’t want to go anywhere without my wonderful towel” drifted across the conference table. Unfortunately, in their native tongue, this was the most appalling insult imaginable, so the two opposing battle fleets decided to settle their few remaining differences in order to launch a joint attack on our galaxy, now positively identified as the source of the offending remark. For thousands of years the mighty starships tore across the empty wastes of space and finally dived screaming on to the planet Earth - where, due to a terrible miscalculation of scale, the entire battle fleet was accidentally swallowed by a small dog. Those who study the complex interplay of cause and effect in the history of the Universe say that this sort of thing is going on all the time.

107 MandyManners  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:11:22pm

re: #96 mikeymom

nope—and the only sci-fi movie i watched was 41 yrs ago-on our honeymoon—after we “consumated our marriage”, hubby nade me watch “the tingler“—also a johnson girl got married the same day—sad sad

You watched Chrissy Matthews?

108 MandyManners  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:11:36pm

re: #100 WhiteRasta

The answer to the ultimate question is, 47….

42.

109 gclaghorn  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:11:52pm

re: #106 Walter L. Newton

*clapclapclap* :)

110 Kenneth  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:12:16pm

Quick! Somebody call the Discovery Institute… was that explosion in the intelligent design specs?

111 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:12:18pm

re: #100 WhiteRasta

The answer to the ultimate question is, 47….

But, WHAT is the Ultimate Question?

112 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:12:25pm

re: #100 WhiteRasta

The answer to the ultimate question is, 47….

BZZZT
42!
Put down the bong.

113 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:12:28pm

re: #100 WhiteRasta

The answer to the ultimate question is, 47….

Er, 42. You were close, but not for this galaxy.

114 WindHorse  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:12:46pm

hmmmmm….. “the US space agency’s Fermi telescope….”

That would be the nation full of cowards, right? Or - wait - possibly Iran?

…..no…. wait. I am confused.

115 Dirk Diggler  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:12:57pm

‘Who blew up da Carina constellation? Who!?’

116 Fat Jolly Penguin  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:13:03pm

re: #104 Basho

The G’uaold were more of the typical tyrants and dictators. But the Ori, with their convert or die attitude… idk… broke with the trend from previous seasons and seemed more relevant at the time.

It seemed to me that the Ori story was the one they had wanted to tell all along, because of the backstory they built up.

117 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:13:15pm

re: #96 mikeymom

nope—and the only sci-fi movie i watched was 41 yrs ago-on our honeymoon—after we “consumated our marriage”, hubby nade me watch “the tingler”—also a johnson girl got married the same day—sad sad

If, having ‘consumated our marriage’ you still hadn’t seen ‘the tingler’ then I certainly take my hat off to you for staying with the fellow 41 years.

118 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:13:17pm

re: #115 Dirk Diggler

‘Who blew up da Carina constellation? Who!?’

In the beginning the universe was created. This made a lot of people angry and has widely been considered as a bad move.

119 Basho  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:13:24pm

re: #115 Dirk Diggler

‘Who blew up da Carina constellation? Who!?’

Hurricane Catrina.

120 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:13:36pm

re: #107 MandyManners
nope MM- way before chrissy—but hubby has never let me forget the original tingler! (after 41 yrs, not as tingly anymore—but he tries!)

121 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:13:53pm

re: #106 Walter L. Newton

Do the one about the Bugblaster Beast of Traal.

122 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:14:28pm

re: #120 mikeymom

nope MM- way before chrissy—but hubby has never let me forget the original tingler! (after 41 yrs, not as tingly anymore—but he tries!)

The Point of View gun conveniently does precisely what its name suggests. That is if you point it at someone and pull the trigger, they instantly see things from your point of view. It was designed by Deep Thought, but commissioned by a consortium of intergalactic angry housewives, who after countless arguments with their husbands were sick to the teeth of ending those arguments with the phrase “You just don’t get it, do you?”

123 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:14:35pm

re: #115 Dirk Diggler

‘Who blew up da Carina constellation? Who!?’

I blame Bush.

/

124 WhiteRasta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:14:38pm

re: #108 MandyManners

42. Dammit, you are correct.

125 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:14:44pm

This should surprise no one. The death toll from the Operation Cast Lead school incident is 12 - not 42 as the Hamas/media/ngos claimed.

Oh, and of the 12, nine, NINE, were terrorists.

The incident at the UN school was a key case in point, said the CLA’s head, Col. Moshe Levi, since initial reports erroneously stating that the IDF had fired at the school, and putting the death toll at 42, were widely adopted at first by the UN and various NGOs. Earlier this month, the UN corrected its position and confirmed that the shelling and all of the fatalities had taken place outside the school compound.

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has been working to compile its own data on the number and nature of all the Gaza casualties, “to gain clarity” on the controversial issue, a UN official said earlier this week.

Levi said nine Hamas operatives and three noncombatants died in the incident near the school. The seven names newly released by the CLA were: Ranin Abdullah Sameh, 12, Hadifa Jihad Kahloud, 17, Faris Mahmoud Faraj Allah, 21, Nafed Abu Abid, 22, Abed Muhammad Kadas, 25, Ayman Ahmad el-Khourd, 35, and Basem Abdel Gabin, 40.

126 jimmyk  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:14:52pm

re: #42 Kosh’s Shadow

Yes, reporters don’t know science.

Well, maybe they meant that it happened in September of the year 12.2 billion B.C. Or rather, 12199997992 B.C.

127 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:14:57pm

re: #121 ggt

Do the one about the Bugblaster Beast of Traal.

Vogons. They are one of the most unpleasant races in the galaxy. Not actually evil, but bad-tempered, bureaucratic, officious, and callous. They wouldn’t even lift a finger to save their own grandmothers from the ravenous Bug-Blatter Beast of Traal without orders signed in triplicate, sent in, sent back, lost, found, queried, subjected to public inquiry, lost again, and finally buried in soft peat for three months and recycled as firelighter. On no account should you allow a Vogon to read poetry to you.

128 Ringo the Gringo  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:15:08pm

Of course this is all Bush’s fault.

129 Dirk Diggler  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:15:36pm

Kenneth,

Quick! Somebody call the Discovery Institute… was that explosion in the intelligent design specs?

It must have been G*d winking at us.

130 Kragar  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:16:34pm

re: #45 Kosh’s Shadow

Or the Ori. Nasty things. Think they’re gods.

Obviously it was the C’tan and the Necrontyr. The Hive Fleets dont go in for big bangs like that.

131 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:16:52pm

re: #127 Walter L. Newton

Vogons. They are one of the most unpleasant races in the galaxy. Not actually evil, but bad-tempered, bureaucratic, officious, and callous. They wouldn’t even lift a finger to save their own grandmothers from the ravenous Bug-Blatter Beast of Traal without orders signed in triplicate, sent in, sent back, lost, found, queried, subjected to public inquiry, lost again, and finally buried in soft peat for three months and recycled as firelighter. On no account should you allow a Vogon to read poetry to you.

The value of having a towel if you happen to run into the ravenous Bug-Blatter Beast of Traal. Do that one.

132 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:16:53pm

re: #122 Walter L. Newton

i DO remeber deep throat—-“how would you like it if your clitorus was in your throat?” oh jeez

133 WhiteRasta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:17:15pm

Life. Don’t talk to me about life!

God, I’m depressed.

134 Kenneth  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:17:20pm

re: #115 Dirk Diggler

‘Who blew up da Carina constellation? Who!?’

Well, it just so happens, that morning 12.5 billion years ago, all the Joooos called in sick for work…

////

135 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:17:54pm
In short gamma-ray bursts, stars simply explode and form supernovae, but in long bursts, the enormous bulk of the star leads its core to collapse and form a blackhole, into which the rest of the star falls.

As the star’s core collapses into the black hole, jets of material blast outward, boring through the collapsing star and continuing into space where they interact with gas previously shed by the star, generating bright afterglows that fade with time.

Did someone say black hole?

Youtube Video
136 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:18:06pm

re: #132 mikeymom

i DO remeber deep throat—-“how would you like it if your clitorus was in your throat?” oh jeez

You’re er, a bit frisky tonight, aren’t you?

137 Kenneth  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:18:25pm

re: #127 Walter L. Newton

Now Klingon love poetry, that’s another matter…

138 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:18:26pm

re: #131 ggt

The value of having a towel if you happen to run into the ravenous Bug-Blatter Beast of Traal. Do that one.

Don’t have a quote available. I could make something up?

139 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:19:00pm

re: #134 Kenneth

Well, it just so happens, that morning 12.5 billion years ago, all the Joooos called in sick for work…

////

What to do if you find yourself stuck with no hope of rescue: Consider yourself lucky that life has been good to you so far. Alternatively, if life hasn’t been good to you so far, which given your present circumstances seems more likely, consider yourself lucky that it won’t be troubling you much longer.

140 Sharmuta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:19:15pm

No no no- this is Charles Darwin’s fault!

Damn scientists and their Godless gamma ray explosions- ruining America!

141 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:19:19pm

Did I roger the thread?

142 Last Mohican  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:19:19pm

re: #129 Dirk Diggler

Kenneth,

It must have been G*d winking at us.

But it was a sudden burst of energy, not a sudden cessation of energy.

I think He was spitting at us. Razzing us, to be precise. He’s starting to get really annoyed by all the radical Darwinist fundamentalism.

143 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:19:21pm

re: #136 Walter L. Newton

You’re er, a bit frisky tonight, aren’t you?

it’s the nicotine gum i tell you! did i ever tell you my mom in law story about—umm-down there?

144 rumcrook  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:19:54pm

oh ho she knows caprica six is preggers…..

145 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:20:49pm

re: #143 mikeymom

it’s the nicotine gum i tell you! did i ever tell you my mom in law story about—umm-down there?

Yes you have. It’s enshrined somewhere on LGF forever.

146 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:21:14pm

How many (we have no way of knowing) civilizations died because of that explosion?

147 Last Mohican  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:21:19pm

re: #88 lostlakehiker

Yeah, apparently they’re all over this:

LAT is an acronym for Large Area Telescope; the LAT detects individual gamma rays using technology similar to that used in terrestrial particle accelerators. Photons hit thin metal sheets, converting to electron-positron pairs, via a process known as pair production. These charged particles pass through interleaved layers of silicon microstrip detectors, causing ionization which produce detectable tiny pulses of electric charge. Researchers can combine information from several layers of this tracker to determine the path of the particles. After passing through the tracker, the particles enter the calorimeter, which consists of a stack of caesium iodide scintillator crystals to measure the total energy of the particles.

148 Colonel Panik  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:21:49pm

re: #9 Walter L. Newton

And the burst was sourced from… what?

Vorlon Planet Killer

149 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:21:55pm

re: #145 Walter L. Newton

Yes you have. It’s enshrined somewhere on LGF forever.

WOOT! want my autograph? i do want yours on one of your screen plays, my man!

150 Dirk Diggler  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:22:05pm

It was a controlled demolition! The Carina gamma burst was an inside job!11!

151 Basho  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:22:06pm

re: #116 Fat Jolly Penguin

I was always expecting one of those Priors to walk into a crowded Jaffa market and shout “hallowed are the ori” before blowing himself up…

152 WhiteRasta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:22:40pm

A Rabbi, a Clergyman and an imam walk into this bar.

The bartender says, “Hey! Is this some kind of a joke?”

153 Bloodnok  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:22:51pm

re: #146 pre-Boomer Marine brat

How many (we have no way of knowing) civilizations died because of that explosion?

Approximately seven and a half.

154 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:23:35pm

re: #153 Bloodnok

Approximately seven and a half.

… a half?!?!

Good comeback!

155 WhiteRasta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:23:48pm

re: #153 Bloodnok

BZZT.. Nope, 42.

156 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:24:01pm

re: #146 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Maybe none, if these events occur early in the history of the Universe, before civilizations evolve. I think God is kinder than to let these events happen around conscious beings.

BBL

157 Haverwilde  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:24:17pm

Hey, What is Charles thinking. That gamma ray burst is OLD news. It happened over 12 billion years ago. So why the big deal now? Huh?
///
Hmm but it does add to the foolishness of earth being created 6000 years ago.

158 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:24:31pm

re: #138 Walter L. Newton

Don’t have a quote available. I could make something up?

There are many reasons to always know the location of your towel. Not the very least of which is a chance encounter with The Ravenous Bug-Blatter Beast of Traal. A creature so mind-boggingly stupid it believes that if you can’t see it, it can’t see you. So if you encounter a Bug-Blatter Beast of Traal, all you have to do is wrap your towel around your head and it will leave searching for it’s repast elsewhere.

(generous paraphrasing license taken)

159 Kenneth  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:24:33pm

re: #129 Dirk Diggler

Actually, it’s stuff like this that makes me feel the awe and wonder of the universe and confirms my belief in God. For this reason I am scornful of the ID mentality which lowers the divine to some kind of master draftsman. Sorry, dude, God is bigger than that.

160 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:24:36pm

re: #156 Ojoe

Maybe none, if these events occur early in the history of the Universe, before civilizations evolve. I think God is kinder than to let these events happen around conscious beings.

BBL

Good excellent point!

161 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:24:55pm

re: #139 Walter L. Newton

What to do if you find yourself stuck with no hope of rescue: Consider yourself lucky that life has been good to you so far. Alternatively, if life hasn’t been good to you so far, which given your present circumstances seems more likely, consider yourself lucky that it won’t be troubling you much longer.

wrap your towel around your head?

162 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:24:59pm

re: #149 mikeymom

WOOT! want my autograph? i do want yours on one of your screen plays, my man!

You can always click on my name, email me and request a copy, just tell me which one(s) you want. I’ll email them to you.

163 Bloodnok  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:25:11pm

re: #154 pre-Boomer Marine brat

… a half?!?!

Good comeback!

That half is either one really lousy civilization destroyed or one really great civilization merely inconvenienced for a few weeks.

164 WhiteRasta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:25:21pm

re: #156 Ojoe

G-d has volcanoes and earthquakes destroy people all the time.

165 Sharmuta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:25:22pm

re: #157 Haverwilde

Hey, What is Charles thinking. That gamma ray burst is OLD news. It happened over 12 billion years ago. So why the big deal now? Huh?
///
Hmm but it does add to the foolishness of earth being created 6000 years ago.

Lies! It’s all Darwinian LIES!

166 Kenneth  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:25:34pm

re: #139 Walter L. Newton

Life: it sure beats the alternative.

167 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:25:47pm

re: #157 Haverwilde

Hmm but it does add to the foolishness of earth being created 6000 years ago.

From my viewpoint the Universe is 59 years old.

Back Later !

168 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:26:03pm

It’s snowing outside. I’ve been having so much fun here, I didn’t even realize it. I guess I should put some pants on?

169 Last Mohican  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:26:10pm

re: #153 Bloodnok

Approximately seven and a half.

Sucks to be that “and a half” one. I’ll bet all of their satellite TV dishes all went on the fritz simultaneously. Nobody is able to watch soccer matches outside of their home countries anymore.

170 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:26:16pm

re: #164 WhiteRasta

Yes that is true.

171 rumcrook  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:26:50pm

re: #146 pre-Boomer Marine brat

wow man two unfiltered blue moons and a handfull of unshelled peanuts into the night and your a total existential bummer.

172 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:26:55pm

re: #166 Kenneth

Life: it sure beats the alternative.

someday, i’ll debate you on that

173 Last Mohican  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:27:06pm

re: #168 Walter L. Newton

It’s snowing outside. I’ve been having so much fun here, I didn’t even realize it. I guess I should put some pants on?

Why ruin your night just when it’s starting to go so well?

174 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:27:35pm

re: #168 Walter L. Newton

It’s snowing outside. I’ve been having so much fun here, I didn’t even realize it. I guess I should put some pants on?

Why? You going to go outside and make snow angels? Then yes - put pants on.

175 MandyManners  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:27:41pm

re: #157 Haverwilde

Hey, What is Charles thinking. That gamma ray burst is OLD news. It happened over 12 billion years ago. So why the big deal now? Huh?
///
Hmm but it does add to the foolishness of earth being created 6000 years ago.

Don’t the YECers maintain that all this is nonsense?

176 albusteve  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:27:49pm

THIS is a rock and roll band…you’ll thank me


Youtube Video
177 Bloodnok  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:28:00pm

re: #169 Last Mohican

Sucks to be that “and a half” one. I’ll bet all of their satellite TV dishes all went on the fritz simultaneously. Nobody is able to watch soccer matches outside of their home countries anymore.

And all those lucky bastards with solar panels…

178 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:28:09pm

re: #148 Colonel Panik

Vorlon Planet Killer

That didn’t look vorlon to me. Our, or their, ships look like giant squids.

179 3 wood  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:28:31pm

Good evening.

In market news, well, hang on and look out. When Obama said he was the candidate of “hope” he was not kidding. Now you just hope that it is not 1930 all over again.

The market has run out of patience that Geithner will find a clue and acutally deal with the toxic asset issue. I have posted here several times before how I believe the situation could be effectively handled with about half the up front cost and would greatly improve the economic situation overall, so I won’t bore you with the details again here.

So the market has gotten fed up with Obama’s Marxist approach, amd has given up hope the Geithner has two brain cells holding hands.

The blood bath in the financials today was due to the assumption that the Fed’s will nationalize some banks over the weekend, so the stockholders dumped out early to avoid losing it all. Ther is also a clear grasp now that the “stimulus” package did nothing but address long standing left wing wish list items and will do very little to encourage economic growth and actually is punishing those who have done things “right”.


I look for the Dow to drop another 20% or so and end up at around 6000

180 WhiteRasta  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:28:37pm

It’s not that life is so short, but that death is for such a long time.

181 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:29:42pm

re: #168 Walter L. Newton

It’s snowing outside. I’ve been having so much fun here, I didn’t even realize it. I guess I should put some pants on?

EEK!

182 3 wood  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:29:52pm

By the way, the Dow is down 11% and the S&P is down 10% since the Messiah took office.

183 Kenneth  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:30:01pm

re: #156 Ojoe

This particular event occurred 12.5 billion light years away, which means it happened 12.5 billion years ago. The same processes are going on now, but the chances of it happening near by us, and therefore recently, is very, very tiny… which is why we probably won’t ever see one up close and personal. Thankfully.

184 Kragar  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:30:55pm

re: #178 Kosh’s Shadow

That didn’t look vorlon to me. Our, or their, ships look like giant squids.

Nope, that was the Vorlon Planet Killer. The Shadow had the death cloud.

185 Kenneth  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:31:02pm

re: #168 Walter L. Newton

I’ve been having so much fun here, I didn’t even realize it. I guess I should put some pants on?

Let’s not go there.

186 Ringo the Gringo  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:31:05pm

Now listen to this.

187 leereyno  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:31:34pm

but….
but…
but…

How could this have happened 12 billion years ago when the universe is only 6000 years old?

Must be that darned old devil shining those gamma rays at our telescopes again!

Dang that devil, dang him to heck!

188 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:31:40pm

Walter, all this time/space explanations make me feel like I’m reading Umberto Eco. Do you get the same feeling?

189 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:32:29pm

re: #179 3 wood

thanks for the update 3 wood! the par-tay was just getting going here!

190 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:32:46pm

re: #179 3 wood

Good evening.

In market news, well, hang on and look out. When Obama said he was the candidate of “hope” he was not kidding. Now you just hope that it is not 1930 all over again.

The market has run out of patience that Geithner will find a clue and acutally deal with the toxic asset issue. I have posted here several times before how I believe the situation could be effectively handled with about half the up front cost and would greatly improve the economic situation overall, so I won’t bore you with the details again here.

So the market has gotten fed up with Obama’s Marxist approach, amd has given up hope the Geithner has two brain cells holding hands.

The blood bath in the financials today was due to the assumption that the Fed’s will nationalize some banks over the weekend, so the stockholders dumped out early to avoid losing it all. Ther is also a clear grasp now that the “stimulus” package did nothing but address long standing left wing wish list items and will do very little to encourage economic growth and actually is punishing those who have done things “right”.

I look for the Dow to drop another 20% or so and end up at around 6000

I don’t know why, but every time you give us a “overview” of those mysterious and wonderful “markets,” it always comes out like you are stating the fucking obvious.

Or is it just me?

I’ve said it over and over, I barely understand shit about big finance, but, I understand shit real well, and that’s all that is coming out of all this.

191 Euler  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:33:01pm

The current best esimate of the age of the universe is 13.7 billion years. See Table 7, Cosmological Parameter Summary, p. 45, of the linked pdf. There, the age is quoted as t0 = 13.72±0.12 Gyr, to be precise. The Gamma Ray Burst occured 12.2 billion years ago (because the burster is 12.2 billion light years distant). That is only 1.5 billion years after the big bang. And that makes sense, because these huge objects can’t long endure.

192 Dirk Diggler  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:33:19pm

Kenneth,

Actually, it’s stuff like this that makes me feel the awe and wonder of the universe and confirms my belief in God. For this reason I am scornful of the ID mentality which lowers the divine to some kind of master draftsman. Sorry, dude, God is bigger than that.

It is certainly awe inspiring.

193 Salamantis  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:33:30pm

Islamofascists maintain that female hair rays are even worse!

194 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:33:35pm

re: #184 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Nope, that was the Vorlon Planet Killer. The Shadow had the death cloud.

Maybe the clip was too short. All I saw was the saucer thing.
But then, I haven’t watched the series in a while; have to get back to it now.

195 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:33:41pm

re: #182 3 wood

By the way, the Dow is down 11% and the S&P is down 10% since the Messiah took office.

Be patient. It takes some time to totally destroy an economy as large as the US economy.

196 Kenneth  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:33:56pm

re: #172 mikeymom

someday, i’ll debate you on that

I have some real life experience on the topic. This is what I’ve learned.

197 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:34:21pm

re: #188 ggt

Walter, all this time/space explanations make me feel like I’m reading Umberto Eco. Do you get the same feeling?

Who’s Unberto Eco? And no, there’s no secret. Which is of course, what you would expect me to say if there was a secret.

198 [deleted]  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:34:45pm
199 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:35:00pm

re: #186 Ringo the Gringo

Now listen to this.

very good!

200 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:35:13pm

re: #179 3 wood

I look for the Dow to drop another 20% or so and end up at around 6000


Ouch. In all this stimulus talk I haven’t heard anyone mention putting the Glass-Steagal act back in place or reinstating the uptick rule about shorting financials. Are they going to put these things back in place?

201 rumcrook  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:35:35pm

re: #191 Euler

noooo wrong. it wa s 5,000 years ago when my great greatr great x10 grandfather rode around on a dinosour yelling yabba dubba doo.

he was a straightman for a little guy named kazzoo

202 Lynn B.  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:35:36pm

re: #179 3 wood

Good evening.

In market news, well, hang on and look out. When Obama said he was the candidate of “hope” he was not kidding. Now you just hope that it is not 1930 all over again.

The market has run out of patience that Geithner will find a clue and acutally deal with the toxic asset issue. I have posted here several times before how I believe the situation could be effectively handled with about half the up front cost and would greatly improve the economic situation overall, so I won’t bore you with the details again here.

So the market has gotten fed up with Obama’s Marxist approach, amd has given up hope the Geithner has two brain cells holding hands.

The blood bath in the financials today was due to the assumption that the Fed’s will nationalize some banks over the weekend, so the stockholders dumped out early to avoid losing it all. Ther is also a clear grasp now that the “stimulus” package did nothing but address long standing left wing wish list items and will do very little to encourage economic growth and actually is punishing those who have done things “right”.

I look for the Dow to drop another 20% or so and end up at around 6000

“end up” when? Are you predicting a bottom? Or something else?

203 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:35:36pm

re: #176 albusteve

My most highly rated, internationally popular video. :D

Youtube Video
204 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:35:58pm

anyone see glen beck tv show? i dont watch it- but hubby told me—future view of 2014—civilian militias and markets at 2500-2700—and i quit smoking to live longer? oh joy!

205 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:36:22pm

re: #197 Walter L. Newton

Who’s Unberto Eco? And no, there’s no secret. Which is of course, what you would expect me to say if there was a secret.

my brain hurts all over again.

206 6pat6  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:36:27pm
If you think about it in terms of energy, X-rays are more energetic because they penetrate matter. These things don’t stop for anything — they just bore through and that’s why we can see them from enormous distances,” Reddy said.

Farkin’ Congress and Il Duce only WISH they had that much power!

207 albusteve  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:36:36pm

re: #190 Walter L. Newton

I don’t know why, but every time you give us a “overview” of those mysterious and wonderful “markets,” it always comes out like you are stating the fucking obvious.

Or is it just me?

I’ve said it over and over, I barely understand shit about big finance, but, I understand shit real well, and that’s all that is coming out of all this.

it’s just you…many here really appreciate these updates and insights…your’re right that sometimes you dont understand shit

208 6pat6  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:37:07pm

re: #204 mikeymom

Beck has been pretty dead-on so far…!

209 Kenneth  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:37:23pm

re: #152 WhiteRasta

A Rabbi, a Clergyman and an imam walk into this bar.

The bartender says, “Hey! Is this some kind of a joke?”

And the Italian priest says to the Rabbi,

“At least when I break my vow, it’s a lot more fun than a ham sandwich.”

And then the imam pulls out a scimitar…

210 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:37:37pm

re: #196 Kenneth

my nic is blue—i dont want to live long enuf to end up in nursing home—and my condloences on the loss of your mom recently-

211 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:37:44pm

re: #179 3 wood

That reminds me - need to stock up on canned goods, bottled water, and - need a gun.

212 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:37:49pm

re: #204 mikeymom

anyone see glen beck tv show? i dont watch it- but hubby told me—future view of 2014—civilian militias and markets at 2500-2700—and i quit smoking to live longer? oh joy!

“My doctor told me that if I quit smoking, drinking and having sex, I’ll get very old and die. “

—Rodney Dangerfield

213 albusteve  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:37:57pm

re: #203 Catttt

My most highly rated, internationally popular video. :D


[Video]

thanks for that…

214 Summer Seale  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:38:06pm

It’s amazing…it’s an explosion we can see from, literally, the dawn of the Universe. There are so many variables at play with why we see greater energy releases the further we go back in time. In a sense, if you take the curvature of space and the expanding space dynamic into account, this happened far closer to the center than we are seeing it now. But to think about it, you really have to wrap your head around a more than three dimensional space fabric. =) As the universe expanded, the “location” of the blast “moved” with it as well.

I think…. =)

I wonder what the redshift was on that explosion. Probably some insane number. =)

215 6pat6  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:38:24pm

re: #182 3 wood

Indeed. And, curiously, the media doesn’t notice anything about that.

216 Bloodnok  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:38:34pm

re: #204 mikeymom

anyone see glen beck tv show? i dont watch it- but hubby told me—future view of 2014—civilian militias and markets at 2500-2700—and i quit smoking to live longer? oh joy!

Did he also say the sky would be falling, the sky would be falling?

217 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:39:11pm

re: #207 albusteve

it’s just you…many here really appreciate these updates and insights…your’re right that sometimes you dont understand shit

Hey, I said it was me, not 3 wood. I don’t know shit about markets, don’t understand them, but, I do understand context and content, and every financial “expert” I listen to has ALL the answers, and then when all the answers go south, they start stating the obvious.

A lot like a preacher.

218 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:39:16pm

re: #214 Summer

It’s amazing…it’s an explosion we can see from, literally, the dawn of the Universe. There are so many variables at play with why we see greater energy releases the further we go back in time. In a sense, if you take the curvature of space and the expanding space dynamic into account, this happened far closer to the center than we are seeing it now. But to think about it, you really have to wrap your head around a more than three dimensional space fabric. =) As the universe expanded, the “location” of the blast “moved” with it as well.

I think…. =)

I wonder what the redshift was on that explosion. Probably some insane number. =)

42

219 freedomplow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:39:16pm

While hanging out in the Link Viewer area (that is my fav) I missed the new thread.

How to know if there is a new thread in the Link Viewer area without having another window open?

Have so many questions. Like if this is so far away what year did it happen.

Here is a Solar System Distance Calculator.

220 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:39:16pm

re: #212 ggt

“My doctor told me that if I quit smoking, drinking and having sex, I’ll get very old and die. “

—Rodney Dangerfield

THATS what i’m talkin’ about! cerally!

221 Dragonwolf  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:39:21pm

And all I can wonder is where I can get such a flash for my digital camera…..

Oh the pictures I could take!

222 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:39:58pm

re: #216 Bloodnok

nope—just that your neighbor may come shoot ya!

223 Haverwilde  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:40:12pm

re: #165 Sharmuta

Lies! It’s all Darwinian LIES!


I guess the Young Earthers are just going to have to say that Darwin lied about E=mc2, and the limitation to the speed of light and a whole bunch of physics, as well as evolution.
Something about ‘webs’ and deceit, ….

224 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:40:27pm

re: #183 Kenneth

re: #187 leereyno

The spectacular blast, which occurred in September in the Carina constellation, produced energies ranging from 3,000 to more than five billion times that of visible.

Last september…..They waited ‘till after the election to report this? …Must be pro-Bush x-rays.

225 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:40:37pm

re: #218 ggt

42

LOL. Like I say, that movie (and books) have all the answers you need to explain almost anything.

226 albusteve  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:41:25pm

re: #217 Walter L. Newton

Hey, I said it was me, not 3 wood. I don’t know shit about markets, don’t understand them, but, I do understand context and content, and every financial “expert” I listen to has ALL the answers, and then when all the answers go south, they start stating the obvious.

A lot like a preacher.

Michael Valentine Smith

227 Summer Seale  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:41:30pm

re: #223 Haverwilde

I guess the Young Earthers are just going to have to say that Darwin lied about E=mc2, and the limitation to the speed of light and a whole bunch of physics, as well as evolution.
Something about ‘webs’ and deceit, ….

Young Earthers claim (and I am not making up the following…but they are) that the light was created five or six thousand years ago - in transit.

Yes, that’s their…”explanation”.

228 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:42:33pm

re: #221 Dragonwolf

And all I can wonder is where I can get such a flash for my digital camera…..

Oh the pictures I could take!

It would kind of rays hell with your subject material.

229 Lynn B.  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:42:53pm

re: #207 albusteve

it’s just you…many here really appreciate these updates and insights…your’re right that sometimes you dont understand shit

Well that may be but, for purposes of this thread, Walter was the one who pointed out, more or less, right from the start, that the news report was ridiculously wrong in stating that this event “occurred in September.” So at least he understands more shit than the AFP (although to leave it there would surely be damning with faint praise).

230 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:43:09pm

re: #227 Summer

Young Earthers claim (and I am not making up the following…but they are) that the light was created five or six thousand years ago - in transit.

Yes, that’s their…”explanation”.

Like what? G-d and Gaia are members of the mile-high club?

231 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:43:19pm

re: #226 albusteve

Michael Valentine Smith

That works, pick any preacher.

232 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:43:24pm

re: #228 pre-Boomer Marine brat

It would kind of rays hell with your subject material.

gonna make popcorn—anyone want some?

233 6pat6  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:43:27pm
Young Earthers claim (and I am not making up the following…but they are) that the light was created five or six thousand years ago - in transit.

I’m guessing the whole speed-of-light thing isn’t comprehensible to that bunch!

234 Bloodnok  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:43:34pm

re: #222 mikeymom

nope—just that your neighbor may come shoot ya!

Not Mrs. Weatherbee on the 3rd Floor! :0

235 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:43:43pm

If it happened 12 billion years ago, and they know it occurred in September…..now, that’s akurasy!

236 [deleted]  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:44:03pm
237 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:44:20pm

re: #232 mikeymom

gonna make popcorn—anyone want some?

heh, I know there’s a joke in there, but I don’t get it.

238 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:44:39pm

re: #213 albusteve

:D It’s actually kinda cool - I get thank yous for that video from all over the world. Too bad music lovers aren’t in charge of international relations.

239 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:44:55pm

re: #234 Bloodnok

Not Mrs. Weatherbee on the 3rd Floor! :0

its called the ‘bubba syndrome’ or something like that—

240 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:45:14pm

re: #229 Lynn B.

Well that may be but, for purposes of this thread, Walter was the one who pointed out, more or less, right from the start, that the news report was ridiculously wrong in stating that this event “occurred in September.” So at least he understands more shit than the AFP (although to leave it there would surely be damning with faint praise).

Lynn, Steve was talking about my dumping on 3Wood and his financial “updates.” Not about the topic of this thread. And Steve is correct, but my opinion about financial advice stands.

Thanks.

241 [deleted]  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:45:28pm
242 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:46:02pm

re: #237 pre-Boomer Marine brat

dragonwolf is here—great fun! extra butter?

243 Dragonwolf  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:47:54pm

re: #228 pre-Boomer Marine brat

It would kind of rays hell with your subject material.

Make ‘em look like a blast from the past?

244 Summer Seale  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:47:55pm

re: #233 6pat6

I’m guessing the whole speed-of-light thing isn’t comprehensible to that bunch!

It is…their “explanation” gets around the speed of light. They claim that the light was created 6,000 years ago at the creation of the universe, precisely in transit to hit us now.

Did you ever see the Truman Show? Remember when everyone would freeze on set before the start of a new scene for a few seconds and then start mid-way through their conversations as Truman arrived to make it look as if everything had been happening normally in a linear fashion since before he got there?

That’s what they believe about the entire universe.

Yes, they’re that fucking stupid.

245 Kragar  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:48:13pm

re: #194 Kosh’s Shadow

Maybe the clip was too short. All I saw was the saucer thing.
But then, I haven’t watched the series in a while; have to get back to it now.

Just finished about 2 weeks ago.

246 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:48:32pm

Moonbats vs Jewish Science….
Activists pressure UK museums to drop Israeli exhibitions

Liveleak Video

I guess they could offer an exhibit of modern Islamic contributions to science as an alternative.

247 Timbre  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:49:11pm

“Gammagram for Mongo!” BOOM

248 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:49:47pm

re: #204 mikeymom

anyone see glen beck tv show? i dont watch it- but hubby told me—future view of 2014—civilian militias and markets at 2500-2700—and i quit smoking to live longer? oh joy!

A couple of weeks ago, I had one of those weird dreams that made me go “uh oh.” Chaos, disorder, uprisings - little fires all over the map, and really crappy living conditions as well, I might add. Hope that was just angst on my part.

249 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:49:47pm

re: #246 Killgore Trout

there isnt a room big enough—would take weeks to tour/

250 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:50:17pm

re: #242 mikeymom

dragonwolf is here—great fun! extra butter?

Ah, if you’re remembering the Missouri Creation Bill thread, … things changed a helluva lot down near the end. Dragonwolf happened to stumble into his first posting attempts, and unwittingly landed himself in between two trolls.

He’s okay. He’s no troll. The situation’s a great deal like Lincolntf’s was.

251 Lynn B.  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:50:35pm

re: #217 Walter L. Newton

Hey, I said it was me, not 3 wood. I don’t know shit about markets, don’t understand them, but, I do understand context and content, and every financial “expert” I listen to has ALL the answers, and then when all the answers go south, they start stating the obvious.

A lot like a preacher.

I know a very little bit about markets and I find 3 wood’s credentials and opinions to be pretty impressive. It’s actually the mark of a superlative analyst when he can not only hit the nail on the head but can do so in a fashion that is intelligible to those lacking his level of expertise. If his conclusions appear “obvious” to the layman, all the better.

Does that mean he’s right? No. But it probably does mean he’s got a better chance of being right than most of the people out there making predictions.

Not at all like a preacher.

252 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:50:42pm

re: #243 Dragonwolf

Make ‘em look like a blast from the past?

or “blasted”

253 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:51:20pm

re: #248 Catttt

A couple of weeks ago, I had one of those weird dreams that made me go “uh oh.” Chaos, disorder, uprisings - little fires all over the map, and really crappy living conditions as well, I might add. Hope that was just angst on my part.

ohh my—i thought my dreams were bad—always trying to flee and not having enough suitcases for my stuff-

254 The Shadow Do  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:51:43pm

re: #179 3 wood

Awfully bleak outlook. I do appreciate your posts and, in fact, start my day looking back for you in the dead thread over my first cup of coffee. You are very good at describing in comprehensible terms the tough economic reality that one instinctively wants to avoid.

I am really pissed, and probably not alone in this. I have always had a healthy cynicism about government, but never felt it was actively focused on screwing me…until now.

I’m 62, my savings are trashed, and my job is at risk.

And we elected a fool who insulates his deficiencies by surrounding himself with well polished thieves, poseurs and nincompoops. As bad as things are I suspect we haven’t hit ‘real ugly’ …yet.

Hoo boy…

255 Dragonwolf  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:51:43pm

re: #242 mikeymom

dragonwolf is here—great fun! extra butter?

Can it be the stuff with a hint of brimstone?Huh? Pleeeeezzzz?

256 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:51:55pm

re: #249 mikeymom

The British National Museum opened a new Islamic art section a few years ago and it really sucks. It’s all wahabi approved crap, just geometric designs. Very dull.

257 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:52:01pm

re: #243 Dragonwolf

Hear you had a little trouble there, pardner. Gave you an upding to get you out of the karma hole. :D

258 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:52:44pm

Magpul Industries SHOTSHOW 2008 Part 2

259 Salamantis  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:52:47pm

It ain’t kewl here to defend lies for ‘the cause.’ Some people learn that. Some never do. And some don’t care.

260 Lynn B.  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:52:48pm

re: #240 Walter L. Newton

Lynn, Steve was talking about my dumping on 3Wood and his financial “updates.” Not about the topic of this thread. And Steve is correct, but my opinion about financial advice stands.

Thanks.

I know. But I thought you deserved credit for your comments on the thread topic. And this seemed like an opening …

As you can see, I’m lagging behind the flow here. Probably won’t manage to catch up, either.

261 esch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:52:56pm

re: #244 Summer

Never understood their emotional motivation for believing why an infinite creator would indulge in such childish Potemkin village type games with reality. To ‘test’ their faith?

262 albusteve  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:52:58pm

re: #240 Walter L. Newton

Lynn, Steve was talking about my dumping on 3Wood and his financial “updates.” Not about the topic of this thread. And Steve is correct, but my opinion about financial advice stands.

Thanks.

it does….no offense

263 Haverwilde  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:53:09pm

re: #244 Summer

It is…their “explanation” gets around the speed of light. They claim that the light was created 6,000 years ago at the creation of the universe, precisely in transit to hit us now.

Yes, they’re that fucking stupid.


Guess they never understood old Occam’s Razor.

Now why would a loving God try to fool mankind that way?
‘Fucking studid’ is a damned understatement—(Cuz usually after sex your mind returns to its normal abilities.)

264 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:53:13pm

re: #257 Catttt

Hear you had a little trouble there, pardner. Gave you an upding to get you out of the karma hole. :D

:D

265 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:53:19pm

re: #256 Killgore Trout

The British National Museum opened a new Islamic art section a few years ago and it really sucks. It’s all wahabi approved crap, just geometric designs. Very dull.

Not if you know what is hidden in those designs.

266 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:53:27pm

re: #255 Dragonwolf

Can it be the stuff with a hint of brimstone?Huh? Pleeeeezzzz?

nope-just extra garlic powder-lol

267 Steffan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:54:22pm

OT, sorta: Ralph Peters has a compelling op-ed about European Disunion.

THE European Union faces its first existential crisis. The EU worked well in the good times, when dissenting voices could be bought off, but worsening hard times threaten to knock it apart.

Half of Europe is broke (but still putting on the dog), while the other half tries to shun its spendthrift neighbors. Not long ago, the Europeans smugly lectured the US on our financial incompetence. Now it looks like their mistakes were worse.

Emphasis mine, btw. Go read the whole thing.

268 Dragonwolf  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:54:29pm

re: #252 pre-Boomer Marine brat

or “blasted”

Depends on which cosmic cocktail was served to convince them to pose…..

Perhaps a Carina Cranberry Crash?

269 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:55:06pm

re: #265 Walter L. Newton

I like some of the calligraphy but I have pretty limited appreciation for geometry.

270 Jetpilot1101  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:55:11pm

Good evening Lizards, how are we all doing?

271 Summer Seale  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:55:29pm

re: #261 esch

Exactly. They think it’s to test their faith or, even better, just don’t seek to question God. To do so is heresy. You can’t ask why - ever. They don’t allow rational thought.
re: #263 Haverwilde

Very true. They’re insulting to everyone with their “explanations”. Then again, when have fundamentalists ever encouraged rational thinking and exploration? It’s always the opposite with them.

272 Dirk Diggler  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:55:45pm

3 wood,

By the way, the Dow is down 11% and the S&P is down 10% since the Messiah took office.

Since the election of “The One” the market has already crashed, IIRC.

This may be old news, but look who else in the Obama administration didn’t pay his “fair share” in taxes.

If, as Vice President Joe Biden said, paying taxes is a “patriotic act”, then the members of the Obama administration certainly don’t seem very patriotic.

273 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:55:46pm

re: #253 mikeymom

ohh my—i thought my dreams were bad—always trying to flee and not having enough suitcases for my stuff-

Lol. When I was moving next door (my apartment flooded, and I moved to the next building), I dreamed about moving. Then I dreamed about storage. Now that I’m moved and stored, I have more mundane dreams, except for the occasional apocalyptic prophetic dream, and the occasional nightmare where my ex appears.

274 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:56:32pm

The Suspense is Killing Me!

Is Obama EVER going to get around to picking out a dog? He’s been dithering about this since last JULY! I thought he was a man of action?

What’s taking so long?

Rejected as “insufficiently bipartisan”.

* Technically, the job of White House bitch is already taken.

* Still finalizing the contract for new reality series: “Odogma: Picking the Presidential Pooch”.

* Threatening to not get a dog is the only leverage he has to make Sasha & Malia clean their rooms. Not giving THAT up anytime soon.

* Can’t afford it until he gets that $13 tax cut.

* Doesn’t want his picture taken with something that can do “sad wittle puppy eyes” better than he can.

* Splash is gonna need a new home soon. Obama is prepared to wait.

* Just being abundantly cautious this time. Remember that urban legend about The Mexican Pet? Yeah, that was Obama.

* As a result of promises made to certain “interest groups” during the campaign, he can only adopt an openly gay labradoodle, a breed famous for its extreme reluctance to come out of the closet.

* And no, putting a collar on Barney Frank doesn’t count as “close enough”. Obama already asked.

* Decided he’s not ready for a dog, since he can’t even keep Biden from piddling on the carpet.

* Sadly, every dog he’s looked at turned out to have had issues with “federal revenue remittance punctuality”.
Any other reasons for the delay that YOU’VE heard about?

275 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:56:42pm

re: #272 Dirk Diggler

3 wood,

Since the election of “The One” the market has already crashed, IIRC.

This may be old news, but look who else in the Obama administration didn’t pay his “fair share” in taxes.

If, as Vice President Joe Biden said, paying taxes is a “patriotic act”, then the members of the Obama administration certainly don’t seem very patriotic.

That’s not the only way they don’t seem patriotic.

276 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:57:05pm

re: #254 The Shadow Do

well that is sad—my hubby is 61-getting ready to be laid off-voluntarily—we hav e NO debt-mucho savings-but im also scared—for my kids—who voted for the ONE—dumbasses-i really am sorry for folks in your position—as a nation, we are screwed big time

277 Dragonwolf  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:57:11pm

re: #257 Catttt

Thank you very much, though I earned that hole by not taking the time to state my premise well. Only fair that I have to work on climbing out.

278 Salamantis  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:57:17pm

re: #261 esch

Never understood their emotional motivation for believing why an infinite creator would indulge in such childish Potemkin village type games with reality. To ‘test’ their faith?

If they think it’s okay for their God to lie to them in the Book of Nature, maybe they figure it must be okay for them to lie to others in that God’s behalf.

Creationist taqiyyah.

/What Would Yahweh (as we conceive of Him) Do?

279 3 wood  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:57:28pm

re: #254 The Shadow Do

Thank you for the kind words.

I think going forward, retirement will be come very rare. Wealth has been destroyed for a lot of people nad Obama is going to punish those who have been successful to get even for his low life pals who hate this country.

280 albusteve  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:57:44pm

it’s just a shot away…


Youtube Video
281 [deleted]  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:58:13pm
282 greenmiler  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:58:35pm

I think it was Ronald Reagans head exploding after reading the stimulus bill

283 esch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 7:59:39pm

re: #274 razorbacker

The Suspense is Killing Me!

* Technically, the job of White House bitch is already taken.

OUCH!

/Oh no you di’nt!

284 HelloDare  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:00:09pm

re: #86 ggt

I thought it had to be tin. Or is that the same thing—technically?

tin·foil also tin foil

NOUN:

A thin, pliable sheet of aluminum or of tin-lead alloy, used as a protective wrapping.

285 Dragonwolf  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:00:20pm

re: #266 mikeymom

Well a nanosecond too long in the Carina Microwave and we would be able to taste the difference anyway :-(

286 spaceman  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:00:39pm
Observing the massive explosions could also lift the veil on more of space’s enigmas, including those raised by the burst spotted by Fermi, such as a “curious time delay” between its highest and lowest energy emissions.

To those paying attention … Stay tuned …

287 Dar ul Harb  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:01:02pm

re: #81 razorbacker

Plate Tectonics: Teach The Controversy

/

288 Kragar  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:01:10pm

Nothing like ripping surgical tape thru arm hair to wake you up

289 [deleted]  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:01:27pm
290 Haverwilde  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:01:31pm

re: #288 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Nothing like ripping surgical tape thru arm hair to wake you up


OUCH!

291 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:02:06pm

re: #277 Dragonwolf

Thank you very much, though I earned that hole by not taking the time to state my premise well. Only fair that I have to work on climbing out.

And partly because of where you were stating it. As Naso Tang pointed out (before you and he began conversing at the end), you were appearing to be using some of the DI’s modus operandi. It was superficial only, appearing to be so because of the context.

292 UncleSam  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:03:20pm

re: #21 lawhawk

In other astronomical news, the Lulin comet is set to make its closest approach on the 24th. In fact, it’s a once in a lifetime event since the orbit is 20 million years.

I have plans that day.
I’ll catch it next time around.

293 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:03:37pm

re: #290 Haverwilde

OUCH!

try it in your nether regions-

294 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:03:46pm

re: #276 mikeymom


Co-worker voted for Obama, and then invested heavily in gold….Is that cagey, or what!

295 Idle Drifter  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:03:47pm

re: #256 Killgore Trout

The British National Museum opened a new Islamic art section a few years ago and it really sucks. It’s all wahabi approved crap, just geometric designs. Very dull.

Googled Islamic Art, I must agree it’s nothing but geometric designs and Arabic writting with a lot of “Allah” written into the designs. I only found a few examples depicting people.

296 Colonel Panik  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:04:34pm

re: #274 razorbacker

The Suspense is Killing Me!

Is Obama EVER going to get around to picking out a dog?

He’s already picked out a dog, or should I say, the dog has picked him?

297 esch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:05:06pm

re: #279 3 wood

I think going forward, retirement will be come very rare.

I’ve been telling people for years that retirement is going to cease to exist. It was only kind of feasible when people lived 2-4 years after retiring.

For about 10 years, I’ve laughed at people who try to strike up conversations about 401(k)s, IRA’s etc. I’ve told them ‘a huge pile of money lying around will ALWAYS be looted. Don’t put all your eggs in that basket’. They often get pissy or angry.

None of them have come to talk to me lately.

298 calcajun  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:05:36pm

Well, that could have cast a damper on the weekend.

299 3 wood  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:05:38pm

re: #190 Walter L. Newton

I don’t know why, but every time you give us a “overview” of those mysterious and wonderful “markets,” it always comes out like you are stating the fucking obvious.

Or is it just me?

I’ve said it over and over, I barely understand shit about big finance, but, I understand shit real well, and that’s all that is coming out of all this.

I have had many folks here contact me and tell me that they appreciate my market updates and anaylsis.

Apparently you do not.

I also repectfully request that you do not swear at me. I don’t cuss you, so please do not cuss me.

300 Rich H  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:06:30pm

re: #191 Euler

“That is only 1.5 billion years after the big bang. And that makes sense, because these huge objects can’t long endure.”

Too bad we can’t say that about the US budget deficit.

301 Dragonwolf  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:07:15pm

re: #21 lawhawk

In other astronomical news, the Lulin comet is set to make its closest approach on the 24th. In fact, it’s a once in a lifetime event since the orbit is 20 million years.

re: #292 UncleSam

I have plans that day.
I’ll catch it next time around.


What channel is that? I’ll TiVO for those who are busy.

302 Last Mohican  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:07:29pm

re: #284 HelloDare

Apparently they used to make actual tin foil, out of tin. But aluminum replaced tin, starting in 1910, because aluminum is cheaper, more durable, and doesn’t impart a tinny taste to the food that it’s used to wrap.

And yet, all these years later, we still keep saying “tin foil,” even though most of us have never even seen actual tin foil.

[is there anything that Wikipedia doesn’t know, or at least claim to know?]

303 jaunte  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:09:16pm

re: #302 Last Mohican

Wikipedia is People!

Youtube Video
304 3 wood  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:09:24pm

re: #200 Killgore Trout

At this point, I don not think this crew understands the uptick rule, enforcing naked short selling, or mark to market in the least. Most of these people have never made a real trade or worked a day as a professional investor. I have. You can very quickly tell when you are dealing with amateurs. These guys are amatuers.

That is why the market has been dumping out of the financials.

305 Lynn B.  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:09:53pm

re: #279 3 wood

Thank you for the kind words.

I think going forward, retirement will be come very rare. Wealth has been destroyed for a lot of people nad Obama is going to punish those who have been successful to get even for his low life pals who hate this country.

There will be a period of adaptation and there will be those who won’t survive it. Economically, as least. And then the pendulum will swing back. I honestly do believe that Obama will prove to be the death knell of socialism in this country because every day he’s in office, the American Dream itself is dying. It WILL become apparent over the next four years (or even sooner) that those who aspire to wealth and prosperity will never reach it under this administration. That’s the American birthright. It’s one of the reasons so many have been attracted to our shores.

Today, the message is that if you work hard and live right you, too, can keep on struggling while your tax dollars support those who don’t. It’s only a matter of time before those multitudes who were previously standing on the brink of their dreams will figure that out.

306 ConservatismNow!  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:09:55pm

OT: Missus CM got her Lizard’s cookbook today and she loved it! She laughed really hard at the 101st Airborne Beer Cheese Soup and at the comments in the back. The soup reminded her of some of the MRE concoctions I came up with when I was in the Marines. I’m sure I’ll be enjoying some of these recipes very soon. Thanks guys!

307 Dar ul Harb  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:10:06pm

re: #191 Euler

The current best esimate of the age of the universe is 13.7 billion years. See Table 7, Cosmological Parameter Summary, p. 45, of the linked pdf. There, the age is quoted as t0 = 13.72±0.12 Gyr, to be precise. The Gamma Ray Burst occured 12.2 billion years ago (because the burster is 12.2 billion light years distant). That is only 1.5 billion years after the big bang. And that makes sense, because these huge objects can’t long endure.

So, are the Gamma Ray Bursters responsible for the fact that matter apparently predominates over antimatter in the later Universe? Are these explosions what got rid of most (or all) of the antimatter?

(From what I recall, a matter-antimatter annihilation yields a high-energy photon - a gamma ray.)

308 sphincter  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:10:13pm

3wood

Let it go. Walter is a focus and attack poster. Most of the time, he’s pretty amusing.

You provide information that anxious people want to discuss based on knowledge and experience.

With everything going on, we would rather hear your insights than Walter’s insults.

309 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:10:36pm

re: #302 Last Mohican

Apparently they used to make actual tin foil, out of tin. But aluminum replaced tin, starting in 1910, because aluminum is cheaper, more durable, and doesn’t impart a tinny taste to the food that it’s used to wrap.

And yet, all these years later, we still keep saying “tin foil,” even though most of us have never even seen actual tin foil.

[is there anything that Wikipedia doesn’t know, or at least claim to know?]

Did you know that Alcoa closed lower today than anytime since 1988?

310 3 wood  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:11:15pm

re: #202 Lynn B.

“end up” when? Are you predicting a bottom? Or something else?

Over the next 2 months or so I think we will see the market keep dropping.

There was the early signs of infation starting up in January. This is going to be a real mess.

311 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:11:51pm

re: #294 swamprat

Co-worker voted for Obama, and then invested heavily in gold….Is that cagey, or what!

i dont pretend to understand the markets and all-but—we were married in 67-20 and 18 yrs old—bought our first house in 80 in ny-had two kids-paid the mortgage in 92—-moved to co in 95,much bigger house. paid 30 yr mort in 97. and that was one 1 salary. have many good investments and coins and stamps too. have helped our 2 grown sons get theri own condos. i’m not bragging here- but it is possible to do well on middle class income—we never bought more than we could pay off right away-and thats what we’ve taught our kids—i will not pay for losers that buy on credit

312 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:11:52pm

re: #277 Dragonwolf

The made-for-TV movie ‘Day One’ (about the Manhattan Project) was noted for its accuracy. There’s a scene, early on, of a lecture hall debate between Leo Szilard and Lord Rutherford. Szilard is saying atomic power might be possible. Rutherford (a scientific capital-I Icon of the day) is utterly disparaging and condescending — in essence saying, “believe it because I say so.”

It’s one of the things I thought of today, in line with what you were complaining about yesterday.

313 3 wood  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:12:32pm

re: #308 sphincter

3wood

Let it go. Walter is a focus and attack poster. Most of the time, he’s pretty amusing.

You provide information that anxious people want to discuss based on knowledge and experience.

With everything going on, we would rather hear your insights than Walter’s insults.

Thank you.

That is much appreciated and will do.

314 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:13:02pm

re: #302 Last Mohican And marsh mallows were made from a plant.

315 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:13:16pm

re: #304 3 wood

You can very quickly tell when you are dealing with amateurs. These guys are amatuers.

That is why the market has been dumping out of the financials.

Sometimes I do that too. If you’re not sure which way to spell it, spell it both ways and let them take their pick.

316 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:13:44pm

OT

This is so cool

Sky Factory

I want some for my retirement hovel.

317 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:13:59pm

re: #284 HelloDare

tin·foil also tin foil

NOUN:

A thin, pliable sheet of aluminum or of tin-lead alloy, used as a protective wrapping.

thank you for the clarification.

318 3 wood  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:14:23pm

re: #236 taxfreekiller

3-wood

If Obama does as his history shows, he will now over play more,
he will work to cheat the commie way into power.

He and the other commies like La Raza think that an amnesty and the borders still open will do the job. They know of the greed of those using the wage slaves and Obama will use that weakness to cheat in more commie votes.

I suspect his next step will be to inflate the debt and damage the dollar a lot. That is why you see gold jumping.

319 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:14:26pm

re: #311 mikeymom

-i will not pay for losers that buy on credit

Really? To which country do you plan to move?

320 UncleSam  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:14:34pm

re: #204 mikeymom

anyone see glen beck tv show? i dont watch it- but hubby told me—future view of 2014—civilian militias and markets at 2500-2700—and i quit smoking to live longer? oh joy!

Beck strikes me as being a nutball blowhard.

321 abolitionist  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:14:37pm

12.2 bln light-years from earth means it’s very remote, about 90% of the way to the edge of the known universe.

Closer to home,
re: #21 lawhawk

In other astronomical news, the Lulin comet is set to make its closest approach on the 24th. In fact, it’s a once in a lifetime event since the orbit is 20 million years.


Cosmic Stage Set for Comet Lulin Show

On the night of Feb. 23, now virtually at its peak brightness, the comet will be sitting just 2-degrees south-southwest of the planet Saturn, which you can use as a benchmark to locate the comet.

Newfound Comet Lulin to Grace Night Skies

photo of comet Lulin on Feb. 18, 2009. Image © Jack Newton

322 Rich H  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:14:39pm

re: #281 Iron Fist

“I don’t think the human mind deals well with things on that kind of scale. “

I know. If you took all the money in the spendulous bill and divided that by the number of galaxies in the universe, you would get a number that, er, well I don’t have my calculator….

323 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:14:46pm

re: #311 mikeymom

Very similar here.

324 Syrah  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:15:00pm

re: #179 3 wood

Frankly, I am getting a little freaked out.

Our existing government contracts look like the only thing that we can count on for the remainder of the year. Other government contracts that we have worked for nearly a decade were lost this year to a competitor who bid for them at a loss. We know that the winning bidder will lose their shirt on the project. They are going to get creamed.

Where we used to bid against 4 and 5 other competitors for new projects, we are now finding that we are bidding against 20 and 30. There is no more reality to the bids anymore. To many of our competitors are bidding for the projects at a loss. Its a frenzy. A panic.

Soon, the only thing left for us to do will be to argue over the arrangement of the deck chairs.

325 Last Mohican  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:15:04pm

re: #310 3 wood

Okay, so when inflation gets out of control, the Fed normally starts raising interest rates, right? And that suggests that maybe I should put what’s left of my money into bonds. Or even just a money market account, if we’re going to get really astronomical interest rates.

But this time, the porkulus is going to result in out-of-control inflation AND a shrinking economy, which as I recall is called stagflation. In that setting, the Fed would have to refrain from raising interest rates, right?

326 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:15:27pm

re: #313 3 wood

Thank you.

That is much appreciated and will do.

Amen to the suggestion.

327 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:15:42pm

re: #319 razorbacker

aruba? they have casinos there!

328 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:16:22pm

re: #302 Last Mohican

Apparently they used to make actual tin foil, out of tin. But aluminum replaced tin, starting in 1910, because aluminum is cheaper, more durable, and doesn’t impart a tinny taste to the food that it’s used to wrap.

And yet, all these years later, we still keep saying “tin foil,” even though most of us have never even seen actual tin foil.

[is there anything that Wikipedia doesn’t know, or at least claim to know?]

I was thinking along those lines as well, but now it is a generic term, I guess.

329 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:16:29pm

re: #320 UncleSam

Beck strikes me as being a nutball blowhard.

yes- i really dont watch-but hubby tied me to the bed and made me watch-

330 [deleted]  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:17:13pm
331 Dirk Diggler  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:17:22pm

Uncle Sam,

Beck strikes me as being a nutball blowhard.

Glenn Beck strikes me as a man that needs Lithium.

332 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:17:45pm

re: #308 sphincter

3wood

Let it go. Walter is a focus and attack poster. Most of the time, he’s pretty amusing.

You provide information that anxious people want to discuss based on knowledge and experience.

With everything going on, we would rather hear your insights than Walter’s insults.

Your correct. And I have said so myself. I view financial advise like religion, it works for some it doesn’t work for others. Some people promise miracles, some promise famine, but, in the long run, the financial advisors always come out ahead, because they are always selling the product. If the product fails, they still win some and they go on to the next product.

So, I have my problems with that sort of stuff. I shouldn’t dump on 3 wood, but I do. Sorry, I’ll try not to.

333 newsjunkie_ky  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:17:55pm

re: #320 UncleSam

Beck strikes me as being a nutball blowhard.


I’ve tried watching his show, but just can’t tolerate him. I miss John Gibson. They were probably in talks with Beck back when Gibson was still on at 5pm EST.
Bring back John Gibson.

334 Unakite  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:18:20pm

re: #15 Ojoe

12.2 billion year old event from our viewpoint, but the EMR got here instantaneously from it’s own perspective.

How old is the universe?

— Trick question.

Depends on your frame of reference…and whether you believe in accelerated decay.
//

335 UncleSam  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:18:24pm

The Tinfoil Hat Song.
This is really funny.
[Link: eclectech.co.uk…]

336 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:18:37pm

re: #331 Dirk Diggler

Uncle Sam,


Glenn Beck strikes me as a man that needs Lithium.

he’s in recovery from alcoholism—so no drugs at all-

337 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:18:41pm

Gamma rays schmamma rays.

I’m worried about the 0-bamma rays.

338 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:19:36pm

re: #327 mikeymom

Isn’t that one of the places that Mr. Stanford ((?) The Texas multibillionaire thief, as opposed to the NYC, FL, MS, et. al. ones) is supposed to have looted?

339 Unakite  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:19:39pm

re: #34 Kosh’s Shadow

It happened 12.2 billion years before Sept. 2008

relatively speaking.

340 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:19:52pm

I’m sure Bono’s sunglasses would have protected him.

341 UncleSam  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:20:05pm

re: #329 mikeymom

yes- i really dont watch-but hubby tied me to the bed and made me watch-

Ooh, kinky!
Not the tying to the bed part, but being forced to watch Glen Beck.

342 HelloDare  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:20:21pm

re: #302 Last Mohican

Apparently they used to make actual tin foil, out of tin. But aluminum replaced tin, starting in 1910, because aluminum is cheaper, more durable, and doesn’t impart a tinny taste to the food that it’s used to wrap.

And yet, all these years later, we still keep saying “tin foil,” even though most of us have never even seen actual tin foil.

[is there anything that Wikipedia doesn’t know, or at least claim to know?]

My mother used to refer to aluminum foil as tin foil.

343 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:20:35pm

re: #338 razorbacker

Isn’t that one of the places that Mr. Stanford ((?) The Texas multibillionaire thief, as opposed to the NYC, FL, MS, et. al. ones) is supposed to have looted?

dont know—i’ll have to go check it out!

344 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:21:13pm

re: #340 So?

I’m sure Bono’s sunglasses would have protected him.

So we need a nut-kicking ray.

What kind of star do I have to explode?

/Britney?

345 Last Mohican  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:21:19pm

re: #314 swamprat

Wow, who knew?

And here’s something else that just blew my mind… apparently, when you’re toasting marshmallows, you can either just eat the whole marshmallow that you’ve just toasted, or you can eat the outer layer, and then put what’s left back in the fire, toast it some more, and eat the outer layer again.

Wikipedia

346 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:21:22pm

Precursor to 2012?

347 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:21:31pm

Iron Fist.

Go to the link in #258.

Wipe the drool off your face before returning, please.

348 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:22:05pm

re: #341 UncleSam

Ooh, kinky!
Not the tying to the bed part, but being forced to watch Glen Beck.

yeah, its either glen or greta—/

349 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:22:19pm

re: #330 Iron Fist

There are things I know, somethings I know very well, but nobody knows everything. The scope of knowledge is simply too large for anyone, no matter what their intellect, to know it all.

Isn’t that the gist of the I Pencil

350 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:22:20pm

re: #342 HelloDare

My mother used to refer to aluminum foil as tin foil.

So did I, young ‘un.

351 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:22:48pm

re: #344 OldLineTexan

So we need a nut-kicking ray.

What kind of star do I have to explode?

/Britney?

Any song with more than 2 chords will do the trick.

352 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:23:20pm

re: #345 Last Mohican

Wow, who knew?

And here’s something else that just blew my mind… apparently, when you’re toasting marshmallows, you can either just eat the whole marshmallow that you’ve just toasted, or you can eat the outer layer, and then put what’s left back in the fire, toast it some more, and eat the outer layer again.

Wikipedia

We marshmallow burners have been doing that for years. So we are prepared for the Bushbama economy.

/taking a CENTRIST position

353 Unakite  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:23:26pm

re: #79 Walter L. Newton

Curiously the only thing that went through the mind of the bowl of petunias, as it fell, was, ‘Oh no, not again.’ Many people have speculated that if we knew exactly *why* the bowl of petunias had thought that we would know a lot more about the nature of the universe than we do now.

HHGTTG on speeed dial?

354 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:23:32pm

Remember the old lead foil Christmas icicles? The poisonous ones? They were great.

355 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:23:36pm

re: #350 pre-Boomer Marine brat

the refigerator was the ice box

356 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:23:58pm

re: #342 HelloDare

My mother used to refer to aluminum foil as tin foil.

My brother refers to it as a “hat.”

357 BatGuano  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:24:10pm

re: #350 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Mine too, young ‘un.

358 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:24:31pm

re: #355 mikeymom

the refigerator was the ice box

The radio was Plato.

359 3 wood  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:24:38pm

re: #325 Last Mohican

Okay, so when inflation gets out of control, the Fed normally starts raising interest rates, right? And that suggests that maybe I should put what’s left of my money into bonds. Or even just a money market account, if we’re going to get really astronomical interest rates.

Whoa there!

Inflation is going to jump through the roof here, it has to. When that happens, the market value of fixed income instruments like bonds and treasuries are going to plummet through the floor. Unless you plan on holding those bonds to maturity, be very careful tying up a lot of your savings in bonds or treasuries.

I’d go with short term CD’s that are FDIC insured and ride the intererst rate wave up.

360 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:24:46pm

re: #345 Last Mohican

That is way cool.

361 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:24:54pm

re: #354 Catttt

Remember the old lead foil Christmas icicles? The poisonous ones? They were great.

did you put them on one by one? or throw them by the handful?

362 Sarge1984  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:24:57pm

re: #355 mikeymom

And a “jif” was a measurement of time?

363 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:25:01pm

re: #345 Last Mohican

Wow, who knew?

And here’s something else that just blew my mind… apparently, when you’re toasting marshmallows, you can either just eat the whole marshmallow that you’ve just toasted, or you can eat the outer layer, and then put what’s left back in the fire, toast it some more, and eat the outer layer again.

Wikipedia

No. *Razorbacker, once again into the breach*

You do eat the outer layer. That part is true enough. What you do with the gooey remainder is stir it into your hot chocolate. Stir in enough of them and you have a pancreatic nightmare, sure, but one that tastes good.

364 lostlakehiker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:25:09pm

re: #55 Ojoe

Notice that the reporter leaves out the area factor, energy per unit of area. You must specify that or the statement has little meaning.

The energy of visible light measured where? Just outside the Earth’s atmosphere? On the beach at sea level in LA in June?

&c. &c.

The most ignorant people are journalists these days.

What he was trying to say was that the color of the light was extra super blue. As in, ordinary photons from our sun are yellow or green, for the most part. That frequency. Some red and some blue. But the photons we’re getting from that event, coming to us through the Carina constellation but from a far distant galaxy, are not blue. They’re not UV. Red to Blue to UV is two factors of 2 in frequency. Now you have to upshift the frequency, doubling it repeatedly another 30 times. So, this is UVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUV colored light. And enough of it to be 9 kilo-supernovas worth of energy.

One such photon carries little enough energy. You’d need nearly a trillion of the little suckers to amount to the food value of 1 (kilo)-calorie. But there were a lot of photons coming out of this event.

Cut the journalist a bit of slack, though. It’s not easy to write this so that the eyes of the non-lizard reading public don’t glaze over.

365 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:25:15pm

re: #351 So?

Any song with more than 2 chords will do the trick.

So London’s Burning is right out, then.

Dang.

366 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:25:32pm

re: #354 Catttt

Remember the old lead foil Christmas icicles? The poisonous ones? They were great.

Did you ever lick one?

367 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:25:43pm

re: #361 mikeymom

did you put them on one by one? or throw them by the handful?

One by one - I helped my mom. She was really good at one by one icicles.

368 Shug  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:25:49pm

1. I am drunk as a skunk
2. I love LGF
3.
I posted this story on the overnight links but I dont want a hat tip so refrain from the downdings haters since I am not asking for one
4. Charles is #1
5. Iron fist says I am out so I am

369 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:26:03pm

re: #362 Sarge1984

And a “jif” was a measurement of time?

WHAT? walter, cue the music!

370 Randall Gross  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:26:08pm

re: #354 Catttt

Remember the old lead foil Christmas icicles? The poisonous ones? They were great.

Tasted good too.

371 3 wood  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:26:21pm

Time to go.

Good night everybody.

372 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:26:27pm

re: #355 mikeymom

the refigerator was the ice box

And did you ever come running when Mom was opening a fresh quart of milk … so you could get the cream on your bowl of cereal?

373 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:26:29pm

re: #361 mikeymom

did you put them on one by one? or throw them by the handful?

AND - we took them off and put them back in the box and stored them for the next Christmas. They lasted for years.

374 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:26:37pm

re: #358 Walter L. Newton

The radio was Plato.

Let’s leave cartoon dogs out of this.

/

375 UncleSam  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:26:42pm

re: #348 mikeymom

yeah, its either glen or greta—/

Watching Greta is an exercise in masochism.

376 Shug  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:26:50pm

PS: updinag 368 I want the karma

377 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:26:57pm

The Universe is both magnificent and extremely violent.

378 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:27:36pm

re: #374 OldLineTexan

Let’s leave cartoon dogs out of this.

/

No, I’m really old. We didn’t have radio’s yet. All we had was dudes like Plato. They would walk around and, well, talk about things.

379 Unakite  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:27:55pm

re: #81 razorbacker

Rethinking Plate Tectonics

“What if the answer is much simpler? What if there is no seafloor older than 180 million years because, 180 million years ago, there was no seafloor?”

Jumping in way late and don’t know if you are serious or anyone else has commented, but are you effin’ kidding?

380 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:27:56pm

re: #370 Thanos

Tasted good too.

But they hurt your teeth if you try to chew them.

Anyway - the cats seemed to think so. Who hasn’t seen a tinseled cat? I know - dangerous - but funny.

381 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:28:18pm

re: #368 Shug

1. I am drunk as a skunk
2. I love LGF
3.
I posted this story on the overnight links but I dont want a hat tip so refrain from the downdings haters since I am not asking for one
4. Charles is #1
5. Iron fist says I am out so I am

3. is BIG PROFITS!

382 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:28:43pm

re: #368 Shug

Was that a “hic” up on the thread?

383 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:29:03pm

re: #372 pre-Boomer Marine brat

re: #373 Catttt

yes and yes—remember when milk vending machines were introduced 25 cents in and out came a quart of milk

384 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:29:04pm

Kim ILL Jong II has plans to bring the moon to North Korea. Check out the video I posted in the spinoff links. Humor section.

385 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:29:08pm

re: #378 Walter L. Newton

No, I’m really old. We didn’t have radio’s yet. All we had was dudes like Plato. They would walk around and, well, talk about things.

I went to school with the Walrus and the Carpenter.

386 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:29:10pm

re: #366 So?


Caught hell for using the pump, and not putting any water in the coffee can to prime with for the next user. (This may be too obscure and dated for some of you.)

387 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:29:11pm

re: #375 UncleSam

Watching Greta is an exercise in masochism.

I enjoyed her interviews with Todd Palin. :D

388 Unakite  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:29:27pm

re: #100 WhiteRasta

The answer to the ultimate question is, 47….

42

389 Last Mohican  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:29:52pm

re: #359 3 wood

Well, that’s what I meant (I think). As interest rates rise, the value of existing fixed income instruments falls, so you don’t want to be holding them. But if you keep buying new short-term instruments (say, by putting your money in a short-term bond mutual fund or a money market fund), then your return basically rises with the interest rate, irrespective of what the interest rate used to be. Do I have that right?

But it seems to me that if the economy is shrinking, the Fed wouldn’t use an interest rate increase to slow inflation, because, while it would have the desired effect on inflation, it would make the economy shrink even more. So in the current situation, interest rates aren’t going to rise so much.

So what’s gonna happen?

390 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:30:04pm

re: #379 Unakite

“What if the answer is much simpler? What if there is no seafloor older than 180 million years because, 180 million years ago, there was no seafloor?”

Jumping in way late and don’t know if you are serious or anyone else has commented, but are you effin’ kidding?

Tut, tut, my friend. You have to read the link.

391 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:30:26pm

re: #368 Shug

1. I am drunk as a skunk
2. I love LGF
3.
I posted this story on the overnight links but I dont want a hat tip so refrain from the downdings haters since I am not asking for one
4. Charles is #1
5. Iron fist says I am out so I am

I think I was your first upding on that story - I know I updinged someone’s gamma rays story. Cool story.

392 jaunte  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:31:20pm

re: #388 Unakite

42


Some insist on 43, but that’s Petty.
Image: 43petty2.jpg

393 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:31:57pm

re: #383 mikeymom

re: #373 Catttt

yes and yes—remember when milk vending machines were introduced 25 cents in and out came a quart of milk

No, but when I was in grade school, the milk man would come right in the kitchen, yell “Milk man!” and then put the milk in the fridge.

394 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:32:12pm

re: #383 mikeymom

re: #373 Catttt

yes and yes—remember when milk vending machines were introduced 25 cents in and out came a quart of milk

Remember when there were no electric guitars!

395 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:32:31pm

and sicne the next thread is one i care not to participate in, i will go to my cave, chew another piece of nicotine gum and pray i will not smoke tomorrow. g-nite all and god bless and keep you all.

396 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:32:43pm

re: #394 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Remember when there were no electric guitars!

No. :D

397 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:32:43pm

The black hole in the middle of our milky way galaxy eats an enormous amount of planets and stars each day. Good thing we’re on the outer edge.

398 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:33:04pm

re: #395 mikeymom

Take some niacin.

399 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:33:21pm

re: #393 Catttt

No, but when I was in grade school, the milk man would come right in the kitchen, yell “Milk man!” and then put the milk in the fridge.

My wife’s grandfather delivered milk in a horse-drawn wagon, along with yogurt and ice cream. The horse’s hooves were wrapped in old blankets to muffle them.

400 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:33:36pm

re: #393 Catttt

No, but when I was in grade school, the milk man would come right in the kitchen, yell “Milk man!” and then put the milk in the fridge.

in glass bottles.

401 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:33:56pm

re: #396 Catttt

No. :D

me neither

402 outsidephilly  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:34:06pm

re: #398 swamprat

Do you read the Daily Times — Delco Times?

403 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:34:44pm

re: #366 So?

Did you ever lick one?

I may have possibly perhaps maybe accidentally tried to chew one once.

404 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:35:00pm

So what’s gonna happen?

How should I know?

405 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:35:06pm

re: #339 Unakite

relatively speaking.

Good point. The gamma ray photons felt no time pass at all.

406 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:35:10pm

I, too, had forgotten Ike’s second warning.

Ike’s Not So Famous Second Warning

On Saturday January 17, 2009, during the Fox 4 0′clock news hour, Shepard Smith recalled the anniversary of President Eisenhower’s famous 1961 farewell address to the nation, but he only mentioned one of Ike’s threat warnings, the one that reminded us to beware of the “Military Industrial Complex.” This warning came from a military man, so it’s been a turn of phrase that slobbers off the lips of suspicious lefty infants shortly after they’re forced to abandon the nipple and accept Marx. So I shouted at Shepard, “What’s wrong with threat number two, you big beautiful blue eyed capitalist! What’s wrong with Fox News and your staff? There are only two warnings in that speech for God’s sake, if you’re going to honor a historical document maybe somebody could at least read it, and maybe for once in almost fifty years remind us of Ike’s second warning: “…that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.” Does anything come immediately to mind when you read that? Ike goes on, “…Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity.” And, “The prospect of domination of the nation’s scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present - and is gravely to be regarded.”

I see no relevence to anything that may or may not be happening in D.C. today.

Do you?

407 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:35:11pm

re: #398 swamprat

Take some niacin.

tried that for some other thing—made me flush even tho it was the ‘non-flush’ stuff- used the patch before w/limited sucess—gum seem to be working so far

408 outsidephilly  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:35:18pm

re: #395 mikeymom

and sicne the next thread is one i care not to participate in, i will go to my cave, chew another piece of nicotine gum and pray i will not smoke tomorrow. g-nite all and god bless and keep you all.

I like your determination! Take it one day at a time and you’ll do just fine…..

409 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:35:23pm

re: #395 mikeymom

and sicne the next thread is one i care not to participate in, i will go to my cave, chew another piece of nicotine gum and pray i will not smoke tomorrow. g-nite all and god bless and keep you all.

Hang tough!
You can do it!

410 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:35:46pm

re: #402 outsidephilly

Nope. But I knoow that oxidised nicotine is niacin.

411 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:35:50pm

re: #399 OldLineTexan

My wife’s grandfather delivered milk in a horse-drawn wagon, along with yogurt and ice cream. The horse’s hooves were wrapped in old blankets to muffle them.

That beats me - but my best friend’s family had a cow. When I stayed over, we had fresh milk for breakfast.

412 albusteve  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:36:44pm

the FNDT used to be at time to put all the politics and animosity aside…I used to look foreward to an evening of jest and mirth…music and oddball links and joking between friends…alot has changed since those times eh?…personally I get sick to death of bad news and BO the, the failing economy and nukes in Iran….things change but not always for the better….

413 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:37:33pm

re: #411 Catttt

That beats me - but my best friend’s family had a cow. When I stayed over, we had fresh milk for breakfast.

I will spare you the puns. I’m tired.

414 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:37:45pm

Galaxies are ripping each other up to shreds as we type. So the gamma phenomena doesn’t surprise me. There are probably thousands if not millions of things going on out there we’ve never even heard of. Or ever will.

415 outsidephilly  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:37:52pm

re: #410 swamprat

Nope. But I knoow that oxidised nicotine is niacin.

Once in awhile I see a blogger named ‘swamprat’ in the Times — just wondering if it was you.

Good suggestion, that niacin!

416 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:38:28pm

re: #399 OldLineTexan

My wife’s grandfather delivered milk in a horse-drawn wagon, along with yogurt and ice cream. The horse’s hooves were wrapped in old blankets to muffle them.

Well, my father did remember a blacksmith shoeing horses at the fire stations, in Boston.

417 mikeymom  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:38:30pm

thanks all for your support—been puffing for 45 yrs—this is my 4th or 5th attempt—and i think this is the one—dont really want to live longer so as to end up in nursing home like many relatives—but—aw shit—what the hell

418 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:38:37pm

re: #411 Catttt

That beats me - but my best friend’s family had a cow. When I stayed over, we had fresh milk for breakfast.

My paternal grandfather raised beef until the Dust Bowl wiped him out. He had a dairy farm for a while, and never gave up the last milk cow. I never personally had any of the milk. My grandmother threw out the cream separator as “junk” in the ‘70’s, then learned it was an “antique” in the ‘90’s. ;)

My maternal grandfather was raised on a family dairy and left ASAP. ;)

419 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:38:53pm

re: #415 outsidephilly

No, and one of the swamprats is a real lefty.

420 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:39:37pm

re: #416 Kosh’s Shadow

Well, my father did remember a blacksmith shoeing horses at the fire stations, in Boston.

To me, it is amazing how much things have changed and how fast, compared to the centuries before.

421 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:40:23pm

re: #414 So?

Galaxies are ripping each other up to shreds as we type. So the gamma phenomena doesn’t surprise me. There are probably thousands if not millions of things going on out there we’ve never even heard of. Or ever will.

Obama will get them to live in peace with one another.

422 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:40:59pm

re: #420 OldLineTexan

To me, it is amazing how much things have changed and how fast, compared to the centuries before.

And I’m sure you remember those centuries like they were yesterday.

423 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:41:40pm

re: #421 swamprat

Obama will get them to live in peace with one another.

Will he restore America’s stature amongst the Greys, the Kzin, the P’tath, the Klingons, the Romulans, the Puppeteers, …

424 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:41:44pm

re: #418 OldLineTexan

My paternal grandfather raised beef until the Dust Bowl wiped him out. He had a dairy farm for a while, and never gave up the last milk cow. I never personally had any of the milk. My grandmother threw out the cream separator as “junk” in the ‘70’s, then learned it was an “antique” in the ‘90’s. ;)

My maternal grandfather was raised on a family dairy and left ASAP. ;)

In my hometown, when my daddy was growing up there, pretty much everyone in the town kept chickens, and some had cows also, just for the family’s use. However, I had an aunt and uncle with a ranch. We’d always have fresh chicken and awesome veggies and chocolate cake I’d kill for when we visited Uncle Bill and Aunt Fannie. Ahhh, memories.

425 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:41:52pm

re: #364 lostlakehiker

Too bad physics is not better known, or even explained in the media.

They could hire you, though.

Amazing to think of the breadth of the EMR spectrum.

426 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:42:36pm

re: #418 OldLineTexan

My paternal grandfather raised beef until the Dust Bowl wiped him out. He had a dairy farm for a while, and never gave up the last milk cow. I never personally had any of the milk. My grandmother threw out the cream separator as “junk” in the ‘70’s, then learned it was an “antique” in the ‘90’s. ;)

My maternal grandfather was raised on a family dairy and left ASAP. ;)

My in-laws kept a milch cow until their health forced otherwise. When we went through the belongings after they passed, we found two of the newfangled butter churns (that have a crank, and paddles in a glass jar) and several of the old-fashioned butter churns that you work the dasher up and down by hand with.

427 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:43:09pm

re: #422 pre-Boomer Marine brat

And I’m sure you remember those centuries like they were yesterday.

Somewhere along the line, they invented these things called “books”.

At first, we used them like Sears catalogues. But we evolved, LOL.

/

428 abolitionist  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:43:23pm

re: #55 Ojoe

Notice that the reporter leaves out the area factor, energy per unit of area. You must specify that or the statement has little meaning.

The energy of visible light measured where? Just outside the Earth’s atmosphere? On the beach at sea level in LA in June?

&c. &c.

The most ignorant people are journalists these days.

Photons are quantized, and each conveys an amount of energy according to its frequency (or wavelength). A visible light photon’s energy is in the ballpark of that required to eject an electron from an atom. Imagine a billion or so times that much.

429 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:43:44pm

re: #423 OldLineTexan

Will he restore America’s stature amongst the Greys, the Kzin, the P’tath, the Klingons, the Romulans, the Puppeteers, …


Give a Kzin a ball of rope and he will not know why he is fascinated.

430 outsidephilly  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:43:49pm

re: #419 swamprat

It was a real sad day in philly, today.

Officer Pawlowski was laid to rest … . , no doubt, Wyatt is feeling pretty down.

Let’s all remember to pray for Mrs. Pawlowski, she’s 5 months pregnant with their first child. And of course, please pray for Wyatt and his district, they’ve lost several of their officers in the last year.

431 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:44:38pm

re: #377 So?

It is amazing what a shelter this Earth is. Every night we peacefully go to sleep, while only a few miles above our heads is an almost complete vacuum, and intense cold, and radiation.

“This most excellent canopy, the Air.”

— Willie the Shake

432 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:44:45pm

re: #424 Catttt

In my hometown, when my daddy was growing up there, pretty much everyone in the town kept chickens, and some had cows also, just for the family’s use. However, I had an aunt and uncle with a ranch. We’d always have fresh chicken and awesome veggies and chocolate cake I’d kill for when we visited Uncle Bill and Aunt Fannie. Ahhh, memories.

For us, it was Aunt Annie, actually my grandmother’s baby sister. Funny, huh? Maybe there’s a natural law …

433 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:44:57pm

re: #427 OldLineTexan

Sears catalogues?
Yeah, my paternal grandmother had an outhouse.
/*recycling*

Damn, I’m tired.
Have a good evening. I’m gonna crash.

434 [deleted]  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:45:00pm
435 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:45:02pm

re: #428 abolitionist

Thank you.

436 swamprat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:45:18pm

re: #426 razorbacker


Wife still flinches at the sight of a butter churn handle. That was her moms’ paddle.

437 ConservatismNow!  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:45:33pm

re: #394 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Remember when there were no electric guitars!

the rock was always there. You don’t need no electric guitar to rock. Rock is a state of mine, man. *cue AC/DC’s Let There Be Rock*

438 outsidephilly  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:45:42pm

re: #433 pre-Boomer Marine brat


g’night

439 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:45:54pm

re: #423 OldLineTexan

Will he restore America’s stature amongst the Greys, the Kzin, the P’tath, the Klingons, the Romulans, the Puppeteers, …

I’d love to see him try. I’d bring a camera.

440 UncleSam  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:46:18pm

re: #387 Catttt

I enjoyed her interviews with Todd Palin. :D

Now, that’s kinky.

441 Unakite  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:46:29pm

re: #390 razorbacker

Tut, tut, my friend. You have to read the link.

I apologize if I was hasty, and have not read the link (but will do so). I may have been trying to catch up too quickly.

442 So?  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:46:38pm

In other extraterrestrial news…

[Link: www.theonion.com…]

443 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:46:58pm

re: #432 OldLineTexan

For us, it was Aunt Annie, actually my grandmother’s baby sister. Funny, huh? Maybe there’s a natural law …

I know. “Aunt Fannie” sounds so made up, but she was real, God rest her soul.

444 Catttt  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:47:16pm

re: #440 UncleSam

Now, that’s kinky.

He’s hot. I can’t help it.

445 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:47:50pm

re: #437 ConservatismNow!

the rock was always there. You don’t need no electric guitar to rock. Rock is a state of mine, man. *cue AC/DC’s Let There Be Rock*

Just sayin’, before I pull the plug … I’d quit listening to rock and roll before the Beatles came on the scene.

Good night. … (-:

446 OldLineTexan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:48:32pm

re: #439 Catttt

I’d love to see him try. I’d bring a camera.

I think Obama could negotiate with The Hindmost; don’t you?

/

447 Unakite  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:50:26pm

re: #390 razorbacker

Tut, tut, my friend. You have to read the link.

If you return, got it. I was hasty because I have a (more than) passing interest in geology and plate tectonics. They’re effin’ nuts.

448 itellu3times  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:51:46pm

re: #4 sngnsgt

Galaxy warming!

Actually it’s waaaaaaaaay outside the galaxy, too.

449 [deleted]  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:52:21pm
450 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:58:03pm

re: #429 swamprat

Give a Kzin a ball of rope and he will not know why he is fascinated.

Lasers are great weapons. Just the laser pointers are enough. They follow the spot all day.

451 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:58:09pm

re: #447 Unakite

No worries.

The thing is, folks with alphabet soup behind their names spout one thing, they someone with just as many letters behind their names goes, ‘P-shaw, it’s actually ……’

And the fact is, you don’t know.

Part of this is, in my not at all humble opinion, the fault of our adversarial style of news. If I invented a cure for cancer today, the news would be sure to have someone on to say how horrible it was all going to be for the hospital industry and morticians worldwide, just to provide the ‘balance’.

So, what do you do? All you can do is try to pick the most logical stance and be prepared to change your stance as new facts become known.

452 itellu3times  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 8:59:07pm

re: #190 Walter L. Newton

I don’t know why, but every time you give us a “overview” of those mysterious and wonderful “markets,” it always comes out like you are stating the fucking obvious.

Or is it just me?

I’ve said it over and over, I barely understand shit about big finance, but, I understand shit real well, and that’s all that is coming out of all this.

I agree with both 3 wood and you.

I’m working now at one of those banks that may be nationalized like right now, along with a few hundred shares I bought at much higher prices. As of Monday I may be a citizen-corporal in Obama’s Green Corps, finance division, left coast, southern squadron, platypus platoon, in charge of troubled assets d thru f, to be ground up and added to peanut butter for handout to all homeowners in foreclosure. Yesssir!

453 razorbacker  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 9:01:02pm

re: #449 Iron Fist

It is a thing of beauty, ain’t it?

Way better than those belt buckles with the tiny little revolvers in them that folks had back in the ’80s.

454 pingjockey  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 9:03:08pm

re: #446 OldLineTexan

Hah! Just got done reading Neutron Star. The Hindmost would do to obambi what they did to Beowulf Schaeffer. Rip him off to a fare thee well.

455 Hard Right  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 9:03:51pm

That gamma ray burst does not compare to me eating mexican food!
///

456 pingjockey  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 9:04:36pm

Super Novae are industrial accidents.

457 Kenneth  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 9:05:49pm

re: #210 mikeymom
I dont know what your situation is but
please take care of yourself

458 Unakite  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 9:08:41pm

re: #451 razorbacker

No worries.

The thing is, folks with alphabet soup behind their names spout one thing, they someone with just as many letters behind their names goes, ‘P-shaw, it’s actually ……’

And the fact is, you don’t know.

Part of this is, in my not at all humble opinion, the fault of our adversarial style of news. If I invented a cure for cancer today, the news would be sure to have someone on to say how horrible it was all going to be for the hospital industry and morticians worldwide, just to provide the ‘balance’.

So, what do you do? All you can do is try to pick the most logical stance and be prepared to change your stance as new facts become known.

Thanks. Let me offer this for your entertainment (if you have not seen this already). Accelerated radioactive decay is how creationists reconcile a 6,000-year-old earth with 4.5-billion year-old radiometric age dating.

459 Sloppy  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 9:12:47pm

I drank warm milk right out of the cow, as a boy on the farm. I despised it, and when I reached the age when I could choose, I quit drinking milk of any kind. Haven’t had a taste in maybe 60 years.

460 Euler  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 9:16:28pm

re: #307 Dar ul Harb

So, are the Gamma Ray Bursters responsible for the fact that matter apparently predominates over antimatter in the later Universe? Are these explosions what got rid of most (or all) of the antimatter?

(From what I recall, a matter-antimatter annihilation yields a high-energy photon - a gamma ray.)

It is my understanding that the CP-symmetry (charge conjugation/parity symmetry) was broken, and nearly all of the baryon/anti-baryon annihilation took place in the first 10^-6 (0.000001) fraction of a second of the universe. It took a few hundred thousand years for the universe to cool to the point where electrically neutral atoms predominated and matter was decoupled from radiation (We see the remnant of the prior plasma state as the microwave background radiation).

Here is a blurb on the Sakharov conditions needed to explain the matter/anti-matter imbalance.

461 Etaoin Shrdlu  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 9:35:11pm

re: #88 lostlakehiker

that’s still only 1 thousandth of one erg…


What’s an erg?

The sound of a dyne centimetre.

462 lifeofthemind  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 10:20:14pm

Ah the Universe. There is no getting around it.
Why I loved to go out to the Signal Bridge after the Midwatch.
[Link: antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov…]

463 wiffersnapper  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 10:30:08pm

Astronomy ftw

464 Steffan  Fri, Feb 20, 2009 11:17:02pm

re: #434 Iron Fist

IF, I really don’t know what to tell ya.

I’m looking at a snubnose .357 in stainless. I’m sorely tempted, especially considering what the next four years will be like….

465 Cato  Sat, Feb 21, 2009 5:16:39am

Some simple questions:

1) Does the strength of the Gamma ray burst decrease in accordance with the inverse square law?

2) Do the bursts affect the distribution of dark matter?

3) What happens when a Gamma ray burst encounters a super massive black hole?

466 Kenneth  Sat, Feb 21, 2009 6:28:00am

re: #465 Cato

Answers,

1) If the gamma burst is coming from a uniform spherical source, then yes. If the source is directed or focused, then the intensity has a different crossection, like a focussed beam.

2) the black hole would absob all the energy which passes the event horizon. Light, including gamma rays, which only pass nearby the black whole would be subject to gravitational lensing.

467 [deleted]  Sat, Feb 21, 2009 7:06:51am
468 Just_A_Grunt  Sat, Feb 21, 2009 7:46:48am

So, like how many M80 firecrackers is that equal to?

469 meh130  Sat, Feb 21, 2009 8:18:52am

NYT Headline: Huge gamma-ray blast spotted 12.2 bln light-years from earth. Women and minorities hardest hit.

Huffpo Headline: Bush’s Fault: Huge gamma-ray blast spotted 12.2 bln light-years from earth.

DailyKos Headline: Huge gamma-ray blast spotted 12.2 bln light-years from earth. This has Karl Rove’s fingerprints all over it!

Seriously, if it happened 12.2 billion light-years from Earth, and we are just now seeing it, then the universe is at least 12.2 billion years old.

So much for “Young Earth” creationism, or is God just f—-ing with astronomers?

Call me an “Old Earth” creationist. God created the universe 14 billion years ago, and the Earth 9-1/2 billion years after that.

470 Zeus66  Sat, Feb 21, 2009 9:37:51am

I remember reading a couple of years ago that there was a theory predicting that the speed of light was possibly not constant. Can’t remember the details, but it was being taken seriously by some in the field. Anyone know the latest?

Re: this story, obviously it didn’t happen in September… unless they meant a Sept. 12.2 billion years ago. Wonder what caused it.

471 LC HOGHEAD  Sat, Feb 21, 2009 9:54:45am

AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! My eyes, MY EYES !

472 hellosnackbar  Sat, Feb 21, 2009 5:17:02pm

It’s Allah’s lads at it again; far out!

473 Solomon2  Sun, Feb 22, 2009 10:19:02am
If this had happened a little bit closer to our solar system, we wouldn’t be worrying about the stimulus bill any more


That’s why we spend billions on gamma-ray and x-ray astronomy, to keep the world from blowing up: On Gamma-Ray Astronomy and Nuclear War

474 ErislDysnomia  Sun, Feb 22, 2009 11:56:34am

The spectacular blast, which occurred in September in the Carina constellation

No, it happened around the year 12.2 billion B.C., which is about 7 billion years before there was an Earth.

Maybe this was …. Praxis?

Or Project Arcturus?

Or maybe just a run of the mill supernova colliding with a supermassive black hole. Or something.


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