This is interesting. Google kicked in money to fund a $30 million award to the first private group to land a robot rover on the Moon. The rover must be equipped with high-definition cameras, must roam 500m, and must do this before the year 2012. Google is teaming up with the Ansari foundation, sponsors of the X-Prize, to manage the award, officially called the Google Lunar X Prize.
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September 2007
Then they fight you, then you win
Hmm. Must be politics day here at MT.Net. Someone I don’t know sent me this trash about Barack Obama. Guess who I just decided will get my vote?
Update 17 Feb 2016: Looks like the original link has been taken down, but the Internet Archive saved a copy. Here’s the text to the post, too, in case IA loses it:
The most radical and despicable of the Right WingNuts have a peculiar habit of trying to rub their propaganda in the faces of their Democratic acquaintances and relatives. My family is no exception to this participular form of attempted intimidation and brainwashing.
When you are ready, and particularly when supporters of Barack Obama have prepared themselves for a particularly infuriating experience, go ahead and read the “Extended Post Text.”
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Democracy in U.S. not a U.S. priority
Forget about Pakistan, we don’t even have democracy here. A peaceful citizen was refused entry to Tuesday’s Petreaus testimony, gang-tackled, and had his leg broken, all without apparent provocation. Watch how Rev. Lennox Yearwood is refused entry for unexplained reasons, then hauled to the floor, tackled, and arrested. See if you can spot the alleged “assault of a police officer” because I sure can’t.
I’ve asked Speaker Pelosi’s office for an explanation but I’m not holding my breath.
That’s democracy for you, folks. Outrageous.
(h/t Cristobal)
Phone phisher pileup
The “Tuscany Industries” group (rumored to be Great Atlantic Warranty) isn’t the only one who is dialing for dollars. For the past few nights, we’ve received calls with CallerID info of 206-415-9148. A look at the ever useful 800notes.com shows that calls claiming to be from this number are designed strictly to leave messages on answering machines. Visitors to 800notes.com note that if the call is answered by anything other than an answering machine, the caller hangs up.
The message tells the recipient (or rather the recipient’s answering machine) that they’ve won two free airline tickets and to call 800-514-1363 with a reference number.
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Democracy in Pakistan not a U.S. priority
I just love how we’re bringing democracy to the Middle East. It’s the same old story: dictators are cool as long as they’re our dictators.
Heck of a job, Bushie.
MarkAnywhere?
I’ve been thinking more of the IvanAnywhere idea of a roaming office camera. Sure its Star Wars-ish, but it also makes sense. It costs a tremendous amount of money for an employee to travel somewhere for a few-day trip. Figure $150/night, minimum for a hotel, $70/day for a rental car, $40/day for food, and $400 or so for airfare. For a three-day trip, that’s almost $1200!
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Glade
Glade
The Connells
Any day, you’re gonna throw it all away
you see you got it to just throw away
Now hear you whine
how its coming in from all sides
you got it coming right in on you
this is what we should do
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Reunions
One of the drawbacks of moving so often as a kid was leaving behind friends. Since my own 20-year high school reunion is approaching, I decided to look up the Class of 1987 from the other places I’ve lived.
I discovered a lot of old friends on the Class of 1987 websites of Spring Valley High School (Columbia, SC) and South Mecklenburg (Charlotte, NC). Even though I don’t have much in common with them anymore its good to know they’re still out there.
As for my own reunion, the Herndon High School Class of 1987 will be meeting again next month. Should be fun.
Fuel Cells
So, where is my fuel cell? Ten years ago they were supposedly ten years away.
I could deal with the drought two ways with a fuel cell. I could (quietly!) generate electricity for my air conditioner, heat my hot water, and produce my own water (though probably not enough to whet my lawn’s thirst). Sadly, without using hydrogen as a fuel the cell would produce carbon dioxide in the process, so it wouldn’t otherwise help on the green front.
So, why aren’t residential fuel cells on the market yet?
Anita Roddick
Just found out that Anita Roddick, founder of the Wake Forest-based, eco-friendly Body Shop store chain, died yesterday of a massive brain hemorrhage. Roddick, dubbed the “Queen of Green,” was a long-time eco-activist who also maintained a frank and entertaining blog.
A few connections to Roddick and The Body Shop: I applied for an IT job at The Body Shop a few months ago, one of her books was published by Kelly’s former publishing company (Charlesbridge), and my mom once interviewed with Roddick for a job as Roddick’s administrative assistant. My mom called it a memorable interview and I can see why!
Roddick was quite a woman.