Tuesday, January 31, 2012

GOP Candidates and Why a Moon Base and Space Exploration Such a Hot Topic

As a conservative and a space geek I find this subject very interesting: Just why are Mitt and Newt at arms about returning to the Moon and financing further explorations of our solar system?
If a GOP presidential candidate finds it important enough to have an opinion on the subject, then it must an important thing to their supporters and constituency.

This is as much a symbol of the Unite States as Old Glory itself
CNN's John Zarrella shares his insights into what's going on with politics and the space program:
Newt Gingrich got a lot of mileage out of his comments on building a moon colony by 2020. Whether you think that should get him a one-way ticket to the moon on the first flight or you believe his vision is an inspiration, he did accomplish one big thing.
Gingrich got the conversation started.
GOP and Space

Personally I think their is a simple explaination; we belong in space and the American people know this and resent Obama for ignoring this fact. I don't think he has the right.
Obama ignores NASA's mandate
"First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish."President John F. Kennedy, Joint Session of Congress, May 25, 1961.

Kennedy was a Democrat, Obama is a Democrat. The GOP didn't start it, but once commited to it they entend to follow through with Kennedy's legacy.
This is the only flag flown on more than one celestrial body, it should be flying all over the Solar System.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Death and the Agnostic

Earlier I said that my last post on agnosticism would be the final one on this subject. But I feel I need to revisit the concept.  Recently, I have lost a dear friend to an unexpected death. A shocking and terrible loss to all that knew him. My friend was thirty-four years old. A few days after coming home and starting his recuperation from a heart valve replacement operation he passed away in his sleep. Like anybody that was faced with this kind of surgery he was concerned, but not too fearful of something going wrong.
This is the year 2012, medical advancement in this field is at its peak.
How could this happen?
I personally am searching for a reason this could happen to such a great guy. The type of person that would unselfishly go out of his way to help even a stranger. He was loyal and loving toward his friends and his family.
The question arises: How is this justified by a god that is supposed to love us as much, if not more that his own son? It just don't add up in my mind. Why do good people die,why do innocent children suffer? Why would a loving, benevolent God allow this?

In most cases of death I, as an agnostic simply do not ponder this. In Bruce's own words, "It is what it is."
But, this time I just can't let it go. I am faced with pondering this once again.
Is it all over at death or is there really an afterlife? If you've read my recent posts on this subject then you know I don't fear this personally, I'll face that if and when it happens.
Still, I just can't see a man like Bruce(The Force) not being rewarded in an afterlife situation.
I simply can't see my Mother and Father(Christian) not reaping an afterlife reward.
I can't accept that my friend Shak(Muslim) is not enjoying an afterlife paradise.

My concern is not MY facing a judgement where I am to reap what I've sowed. But the world without these people is worse off without them in it. Maybe there is a God and maybe he just couldn't stand it without these people in his entourage. My feelings on this particular subject is causing me to waffle; everyone else I know is satisfied that the dead is not simply gone forever.
Still, with a portion of shame, I doubt.
With my whole heart I grieve.

Alan Sean 'Bruce' Boyett
rest easy my friend

Shakil 'Shak' Rahim-bux
My late boss pictured here donating time and work to the local rugby team.



Carlos Monroe Cox-father  LuLu 'Tooty" Cox-Mother
 in this picture Mom was 15 Dad was 21
Mom passed away in 2001. Dad followed in 2008.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Nemesis: The Sun's Evil Twin

The Nemesis theory postulates that there is a small dark star orbiting the sun about 95,000 AU* away.
Nemesis, every twenty six million years, jostles a few of the ten billion comets orbiting in the Oort Cloud causing a few to dislodge and come careening earthward.  This suggests that one of these comets could collide with earth causing an extinction event.  The rise of mankind could only have happened if the dinosaurs were removed, it is theorized that a comet dislodged from the Oort Cloud by Nemesis could have hit the Earth 63 million years ago. Should we be concerned that Earth could be hit by a dislodged comet this time removing humanity?
The paleontologists claim that, over the last 250 million years, life on Earth has faced extinction in a 26-million-year cycle. Astronomers proposed comet impacts as a possible cause for these catastrophes.
A PLOT OF DATA ON LIFE EXTINCTIONS

Humanity itself could owe its existence to this star's periodic relatively close orbit to the Oort Cloud. Nemesis is probably a red dwarf, the most common type of star in the galaxy (three-fourths of all the stars in the Milky Way are believed to be red dwarfs). Less than a third the size of the sun and about one one-thousandth as bright, Nemesis might travel in an elliptical orbit that at its perihelion (closest point) brings it within a half light year of the sun (one light year is about six trillion miles) and into the midst of the Oort Cloud. Right now, Nemesis may be at its aphelion (most distant point), nearly three light years away. The sun's closest known neighbor, Proxima Centauri, is about 4.25 light years distant.
 Stars with less mass than the Sun are smaller and cooler, and hence much fainter in visible light. Brown dwarfs have less than eight percent of the mass of the Sun, which is not enough to sustain the fusion reaction that keeps the Sun hot. These cool orbs are nearly impossible to see in visible light, but stand out when viewed in infrared. Their diameters are about the same as Jupiter's, but they can have up to 80 times more mass and are thought to have planetary systems of their own.
Size comparison of our Sun, a low mass star, a brown dwarf,
 Jupiter, and Earth.

Also see:

*AU astronomical Unit - about the distance from the Earth to the Sun 93 million miles. Making Nemesis 95,000 times that distance away. About 8,835,000,000,000 miles (eight trillion,eight hundred thirty five billion miles) 

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Study Shows Facebook Users have Lower than Average Self-esteem

Study shows the more time people spend with Facebook, the less happy they are.

I don't necessarily believe this to be true; my friends and family are all very happy, satisfied, and positively opinionated. My religious friends and family are happy to share their faith and religious drive. Most of my hundreds of friend have a great sence of humor. I don't know where this negativeness is coming from...
You want to be miserable? Check out My Space.

Russia’s Space Agency, Roscosmos Takes Lead to Create Perminant Moon Base

Russia takes the lead in constructing a perminant Moon Base on the surface and in low orbit around the Moon. It would be a collective effort by the world's top three space agencies.
 Roscosmos chief, Vladimir Popovkin-"We are now discussing how to begin exploration with NASA and the European Space Agency."
Russian researchers have planned on starting a 12-year-long moon exploration programme (2025-2036), which will have several stages with first being a placement of an orbital station on a near-moon orbit, and the last – construction of a permanent base on the surface of the Earth’s natural satellite.
Lunar orbital station can be built within two years of 2025 and 2026. A second-stage lunar base is scheduled to appear in 2035-2036.
This first lunar base will start using lunar resources and prepare for industrial use of the many natural treasures of Earth’s large moon.

Artist's rendering of Moon Base nestled in a crater.
I will be a dottering old man by then, but I may live long enough to see this happen.
This brings one question to mind: Will we be the first to return or will China or some other group, be it governmental or a private company, beat us to it? This could be very interesting to observe. Let the colonization begin!

Monday, January 23, 2012

When Galaxies Collide: Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies on Collision Course

 In the near cosmic future the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies will collide. What will happen?
Careening toward each other speeding at a million miles an hour! On a galactic scale, this is going to happen very soon!

This WILL happen in just a mere three billion years from now!
How it may look from the Earth
Hubble  photogragh of two galaxies colliding.

Two Massive galaxies colliding; they will merge into a new super galaxy!

History of the Soviet and Russian Space Program

The Russians have been at this a long time and they are good at it. Their history in space has not always been available to the public. The Russians can't be blamed or critisized for any secrecy they held in their programs back then; it was their business and we were involved a cold war space race. It was a wise decision back in the early sixties to turn the cold war race from nuclear armament to racing for the moon. Space exploration got a kick start and we never got around to destroying each other. As long as we support our Russian counterparts and share with them, both countries could only do better in any endeavours we may have in space.

I personally do not care who pioneers and colonizes space from Earth just so long as man expands off of the planet.
Having all of your eggs in one basket is not a good idea for the human race, we must spread out off the planet or risk going the way of the dinosaur.
Extinction events are rare, but absolutely not unheard of.

We are not sure if these extinction events were caused by asteroids, comets, volcanoes, quasar gamma blasts, collision events or what, but if it happened before it will happen again.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Congress puts brakes on SOPA and PIPA anti-piracy bills

Well now, it seems that all that on-line protesting and boycotting may have worked. On Wednesday protests blanketed the Internet. The protest had quick results: several sponsors of the legislation, including senators Roy Blunt, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, John Boozman and Marco Rubio, have withdrawn their support of the bills.
Congress' reaction to online protests
Technology companies are concerned the laws would undermine Internet freedoms, be difficult to enforce and encourage frivolous lawsuits.
Concerns are that freedoms of speech could easily be compremised if these two bill s became law.

Friday, January 20, 2012

String Theory: Why does our universe look the way it does?

The laws of the very little and the laws of the very large have never been combined into one set of rules that encompass both. This is science's most complicated enigma. The laws of physics start to break down and/or not apply when you get down to the atomic sizes and measurements of matter in turn some individual particles may not be strictly bound buy the laws of physics.
Superstring theory tries to tie it all together.

A quote from my favorite scientist

“It is often stated that of all the theories proposed in this century, the silliest is quantum theory. In fact, some say that the only thing that quantum theory has going for it is that it is unquestionably correct.”
Michio Kaku, Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the Tenth Dimension


The only problem with this theory is that the math and formulas allow things to get a little weird and in some cases a lot weird! The strangest thing is that these concepts and equations all could be true and right.
It seems that the more I look into this 'meshing of quantum theory and Einsienian physics' the more confused I get. Most things scientific can be explained in the layman's terms we all understand if the orator has a vivid imagination and the ability to express themselves.
The late Dr.Isaac Asimov was this kind of Novelist and instructor. Asimov wrote over 300 novels and short stories, little known he also wrote at least that many college books, manuals, and school lab instruction books. But I'm afraid even Isaac couldn't explain it to where the common man can get it. Well, here is a site that kinda explains things.


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Privitizing Space Travel

I remember laying in the floor at Daddy's feet on my stomach with my chin in my palms watching the moon landings on TV listening to Walter Cronkite telling us how amazing it was; I agreed, it was amazing. Daddy proclaimed that it was a wonderful time to be alive; I also agreed with that, I was eleven and in my mind Dad was right about absolutely everything.
Todays space exploration and low orbit technology however, makes that time in history look like horse and buggy.
We are only a few years from routine private space travel and on the brink of populating the solar system; now that is amazing. We(the human race) have dozens of probes, rovers, orbiters, telescopes, robots, and surveyors all over the solar system as our front line, inspecting and preparing us for the next step; man once again leaving low Earth orbit and doing business in space.
This time out though, we will pioneer and colonize the near planets & moons and just stay out there. These up and comming generations are going to do truely amazing things.
Virgin Galactic is well on the way to going into space, check out this webpage!
Tickets are alredy on sale.
Even the president sees the potentual of going back to space, he pledges to go forward with a Mars landing mission in the mid 2030's. Obama says he supports the privatization of space travel and tourism.
(about time he does something I like)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Buster Stories

My Grandfather
William (Buster) Cox

      A few stories about my grandfather William (Buster) Cox. Buster died in the last week of 1980, he was seventy years old, I was twenty-three. Still his presence in my life helped define me as who I am. Buster never missed a Sunday going to ring the bell at the church, he was buried wearing his one, five, ten, twenty, and thirty year attendance pins awarded him from the church. Among other things he taught Sunday school, hid Easter Eggs, and opened and closed the church buildings anytime they were used. Buster was injured in a coal mining accident and was retired in his late forties. One of the consequences of being trapped, pinned, and broken in the mine cave-in was a perpetual shake. When he was comfortable his hand, then his arm would begin to shake, getting more and more intense it would become fast long stokes along his side as if he was brushing something from his rib cage or 'quick-drawing' over and over again. This is how my young mind saw it. As he needed to reach for something or shake a man's hand he could stop and control the shake for a brief time. When I was a really young child I suspected all grandfathers earned a right to have a cool shake like that. Buster was married to a saint, my grandmother Grace, she was an infinitely patient woman, she had to be, she was Buster's better half!

Pistol Handles

When Buster found out that I had taken a job in a near by town as a city policeman he came to visit me. He smiled seeing me in my uniform and reaching out with his shaking hand he firmly patted my shoulder. He gave me a good looking over.
"Ya look alright...that a real gun?"
"Yes, Papaw, it's a .38 police special." I was 21 years old and proud of my get-up.
"Would you stop me for speeding through your town, boy?" Buster had that mischievous look in his eye, standing there slightly bobbing up and down.
"No, Papaw, I could never do that to you."
"Well, you better not or I'll have to stick that gun up your rear and kick the handles off!"
I stood there my mouth agape as he turned, gave me a hard wink, climbed back into his car and drove slowly away.

Hoop Snakes

As visiting grand kids running and playing and generally disrupting Papaw's place, he was always warning, watching, and helping us. He kept the boundaries so that none of us would get off and get hurt. One place we were not allowed to go was up on the hill behind the house. (W.Va. Mountains are very steep and overgrown). A kid could get hurt messing around up there so Papaw told us the story of the Appalachian hoop snake to keep us away.
"You can't out run a hoop snake." Said Buster as we kids, wide eyed, stood listening to him explain.
"They'd be crawlin' around the ground and when they spot you they raise up, take their tale in their mouth and roll down the hill at you and when they catch you they bite you. That'll be the last of ya, you die!"
He sternly looked at us.
"Promise me ya won't go up there, ever."
"We promise, Papaw! We all chorused, I looked at the hillside for hoop snake sign, no way I'd ever go up there!
"See that you don't."

As the years passed I grew older and (I thought) a little wiser. As a young teenager I found myself in Papaw's back yard watching him attend to his grapes. He grew concords on his homemade grape rack, Mamaw was supposed to save money canning them, I don't ever remember having any homemade grape jelly, though.
"Papaw, can I ask you somethin'?"
"Sure, boy what's on your mind?"
"About those hoop snakes, are there really any on that hill?"
Buster turned to me, set down his snips and grinned, got up and dusted his knees.
"Not anymore, son."
"There never was any hoop snakes, were there." I said knowingly.
"Oh yea, they were hoop snakes."
"Then why'd I never see one?"
"They died out."
"How?"
" Cause when those snakes jumped up, grabbed their own tails in their mouths and roll down the hill if they didn't catch anything they'd just keep eating their tail, swallowing, and swallowing until ( snapping  his fingers) they just disappeared into nothin'."
I groaned and grinned.
He laughed and turned back to his pruning.

Tracks

After Sunday school was over Buster would, using a whittled branch for a walking stick, walk along the railroad tracks on his way back home. In W.Va. most communities were nestled between two mountains, Whitman Creek was no different; there is the hillside, a creek, a row of coal camp houses, the road, the railroad tracks, and then the other hillside.
Buster would amble along enjoying the early afternoon sun and pick up marbles or any coins he may find along the abandoned tracks. He would speak by name and wave to any and all the folks that would be sitting out on the front porches across the road as he passed.
They'd all call back, "Whadaya say, Buster!"

 One afternoon during all this walking and greeting, right in mid sentence, Buster stopped, dropped his walking stick and quickly unbuckled and dropped his trousers right there on the railroad track across from  little old ladies having coffee, men whittling their sticks, and kids running and playing.
They all stopped in mid sip, whittle, and run to watch Buster remove his pants and begin to shake them out right there in front of God and everybody. There was a collective gasp.
Taking life as it was dealt to him, Papaw, as he finished shaking out his trousers called out only one word of explanation.
"Lizard!"
Everyone gave out a knowing reply and returned to whatever. Buster put his trousers back on, buckled his belt, retrieved his walking stick and continued on up the tracks toward home.
Whenever this tale was told the response was normally, "Well, that's Buster for ya'!”

Harmonica

Buster was in his Lazy Boy chair dosing there beside the fireplace and I was on the couch coloring in a coloring book when Mamaw and about a half a dozen other women from her church group came in the house, the wind was cold and the snow was blowing. They began gathering in the dining room talking, laughing and commenting about how nice and warm it was in the house compared to all that blowing snow outside.
Papaw opened on eye and grunted at the noise, he was now fully awake and just slightly irritated.
The talking and bantering continued.
Finally Buster kicked the foot rest back, got up, went to the mantle took his harmonica from its resting place and loudly began blowing the snappiest version of 'John Henry' that I'd ever heard. The house went totally attentive as he wailed out the classic tune, patting his foot along with the rhythm of the upbeat song.
When he stopped everyone was silent.
Turning to me he said, "Play it like that boy, and you can call yourself a harmonica player."
With that he sat back down, kicked up his foot rest, and closed his eyes.
Mamaw put a finger to her lips and led her group into the kitchen.
Papaw, mumbled under his breath, "Cluck,cluck,cluck."
I took it all in stride and returned to coloring.

Playing Dog
Years ago we grandchildren-at least a dozen of us-were all at Papaw & Mamaw's house in Whitman. We ran, laughed and played; we cousins loved to be around each other on holidays. We were romping in the front yard destroying Mamaw's pretty, delicate lawn just by being on it-but she loved us and tolerated any collateral damage- when Papaw Buster stepped onto the porch, we turned to his attention and he asked, "Whatch'all doing?"
We all chorused, "Playin'!"
Papaw grinned his devious grin and said, “I got a game for ya ,you all ever play dog?"
Oh, we kids just loved the idea of pleasing Papaw, and again we all answered him," Dog? ...play dog? ...howya play!?  Ok!  I wanna play! ...me too!"
In his gravely voice, tending his constant shake he directed us to all line up in a circle; we did so.
"Now get on your hands and knees like yer a dog," again we did so vying for our positions of choice. When we were lined up in a circle, happily awaiting what was next.
Papaw then instructed, “Now sniff the butt in front of ya!"
Groaning and giggling we realized as we got to our feet that ole' Papaw - standing there with a silent laugh on his face - done collectively got us all again! We shoulda known...!

On Politics

Whenever asked if he loved one of us Papaw always replied that he loved all his grandchildren, this is the only time that he told me specifically he loved me.
My father was a Democrat, as was his father; my Papaw Buster. Papaw's father was a Democrat and so was his father before him. On the day that Buster heard that I had registered Republican so I could vote for Ronald Reagan, he showed up at the Car dealership where I worked. Buster walked up to the parts counter I was manning and said, "Boy, you are a Cox not a Republican no matter how fancy you think it is to be different."
Papaw wasn't mad as I just knew he would be, instead, he acted like the joke was on me and he was going to let me in on it.
He gave me a very long stare and began," You'll see one of these days..."
Buster stopped there.
"Doesn't matter either way." he said as he turned to leave," Republican or not I still love you."
"I love you,too Papaw."
He stopped, looked back to me," You got a funny way of showing it, boy."












Monday, January 16, 2012

NASA: More Earth-like planets discovered

There are over 700 newly discovered exo-planets in our galaxy. They have also discovered that most other solar systems are double sun systems. Our solar system is rare having only one sun.
Space agency officials said the latest batch of planets was discovered using the Kepler space telescope, which is responsible for a number of newly discovered planets.



Kepler field of view looking into the galaxy




Sunday, January 15, 2012

Iran sends Washington a letter of Condemnation

The West says Iran's nuclear programme is aimed at building a bomb. Tehran says it has the right to peaceful nuclear power. Why would an oil rich country like Iran want or need nuclear power? Iran's state television network says that Iran has proof that the CIA was involved in the killing of their top nuclear scientist  32-year-old Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan.
"We have reliable documents and evidence that this terrorist act was planned, guided and supported by the CIA," the Iranian foreign ministry said in a letter handed to the Swiss ambassador in Tehran, state TV reported. The Swiss embassy represents U.S. interests in a country where Washington has no diplomatic ties.


The CIA does not conduct terrorist acts, they conduct covert military actions that eliminate threats to the safety, freedom, and rights of the people of the United States and her Allys.
Iran just recently condemned an American to death for spying for the CIA. They plan to block oil shipments through the Gulf.
It seems that if there is any crap involved they run to get a stick in which to stir it.
The spokesman for Iran's Joint Armed Forces Staff, Massoud Jazayeri, said: "Our enemies, especially America , Britain and the Zionist regime (Israel), have to be held responsible for their actions."
This goes both ways; Iran needs to re-evaluate their position on the world stage.
The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the nuclear dispute.
Iran says it would retaliate if attacked.

Personally, I think Iran should take a good look at their neighbors on both sides of them. This is what could happen to them if they cause any conflict.


Saturday, January 14, 2012

Dumbest Barack Obama Quotes of All Time

Because of his ability to 'open mouth and insert foot' Obama seems to spend a lot of time apologizing!

''No, no. I have been practicing...I bowled a 129. It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something.''—Barack Obama, making an off-hand joke during an appearance on ''The Tonight Show,'' March 19, 2009 (Obama later called the head of the Special Olympics to apologize)
 
''What I was suggesting -- you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith...''—Barack Obama, in an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, who jumped in to correct Obama by saying ''your Christian faith,'' which Obama quickly clarified


''I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances.''—Barack Obama, after saying he had spoken with all the living presidents as he prepared to take office, Washington, D.C., Nov. 7, 2008 (Obama later called Nancy Reagan to apologize)

''It was also interesting to see that political interaction in Europe is not that different from the United States Senate. There's a lot of -- I don't know what the term is in Austrian, wheeling and dealing.''—Barack Obama, confusing German for ''Austrian,'' a language which does not exist, Strasbourg, France, April 6, 2009

''In case you missed it, this week, there was a tragedy in Kansas. Ten thousand people died -- an entire town destroyed.''—Barack Obama, on a Kansas tornado that killed 12 people

''I've now been in 57 states -- I think one left to go.''
—Barack Obama, at a campaign event in Beaverton, Oregon

''The reforms we seek would bring greater competition, choice, savings and inefficiencies to our health care system.''—Barack Obama, in remarks after a health care round table with physicians, nurses and health care providers, Washington, D.C., July 20, 2009

''It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.''—Barack Obama, explaining his troubles winning over some working-class voters

''One such translator was an American of Haitian descent, representative of the extraordinary work that our men and women in uniform do all around the world -- Navy Corpse-Man Christian Brossard.''
—Barack Obama, mispronouncing ''Corpsman'' (the ''ps'' is silent) during a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, Washington, D.C., Feb. 5, 2010 (The Corpsman's name is also Christopher, not Christian)


''The Middle East is obviously an issue that has plagued the region for centuries.''—Barack Obama, Tampa, Fla., Jan. 28, 2010

Friday, January 13, 2012

Election Year: time for some president jokes!

I poke fun at more than one president here,but I'll have to admit the Democrats are taking a good hit, especially Bill Clinton...he's hilarious!


Hilary Clinton was interring the White House when she noticed a snow bank with a message on it written in urine. It said,"Hilary is a whore!"
She angrily searched out the White House chief of security and demanded to know who was responsible for this outrageous insult.
The President had left for Arkansas that morning for a political rally and was not there to witness her anger.
"Hilary is a Whore!" written in yellow snow! She was mad as hell! She stomped off to her office to await the results.Heads were gonna roll!
That evening the head of security was standing before the first lady with a folder in his hand.
"Well?" demanded Hilary.
"Yes,Ma'am, I have the results right here.We ran some tests and can identify the culprit."
"Go on."
He opened the file and read,"The writing was Monica Lewinski's hand writing,"
"That bitch!" exclaimed the first lady.
"Yes,Ma'am, the urine sample belongs to Bill Clinton."

After losing his bid for reelection in 1992 George Bush Sr. and the new President Bill Clinton somehow ended up at the same barbershop. As they sat there, each being worked on by a different barber, not a word was spoken.
The barbers were both afraid to start a conversation, for fear it would turn to politics. As the barbers finished their shaves, the one who had Clinton in his chair reached for the after shave.
Clinton was quick to stop him saying, "No thanks, my wife Hillary will smell that and think I've been in a whorehouse."
The second barber turned to Bush and said, "How about you?"
Bush replied, "Go ahead, my wife Barbara doesn't know what the inside of a whorehouse smells like."

Bill Clinton dies and is on his way to Hell. At Hell's gates he meets Satan. Satan tells Clinton that Hell is full, but that Clinton will be replacing one of the current inhabitants, and he will be given the choice of who he will replace forever in Hell.
Three doors appear before Clinton. The first door opens. Behind it is Newt Gingrich. He's being forced to pound big rocks into little rocks. Upon seeing Newt in this predicament, Clinton cringes and says, "I feel his pain! I don't think so."
The second door opens. Behind it is Ted Kennedy. He is bobbing for automobile parts in a large pool of dirty water. Grimacing at the filthy scene, Clinton says, "Not for me."
The third door opens and behind it is Ken Starr. He's naked and bound hand and foot. Kneeling before him is Monica Lewinsky, doing what she does best.
"I can handle that!" Clinton proclaims enthusiastically.
"Very well," says Satan. "Monica, you may go."

Four United States Presidents got caught up in a tornado and off they whirled to the land of OZ.
They finally made it to the Emerald City and went to find the Great Wizard...
"What brings the four of you before the great Wizard of Oz?"
Jimmy Carter stepped forward timidly: "I've come for some courage."
"No Problem," said the Wizard. "Who's next?"
Richard Nixon stepped forward, and said: "Well, I think I need a heart."
"Done," says the Wizard. "Who comes next before the Great and Powerful Oz?"
Up stepped Bush and said: "The American people say that I need a brain."
"No problem," said the Wizard. "Consider it done."
Then there is a great silence in the hall. Bill Clinton is just standing there, looking around,

"Is Dorothy Here?"


Presidential trivia: In the last 110 years there has been 20 presidents, but only four that have served exactly one term; no more, no less.
Taft 1909-1913
Hoover 1929-1933
Carter 1977-81
Bush Sr. 1989-1993

HOPEFULLY WE CAN ADD OBAMA'S NAME TO THIS LIST AND THAT"S NO JOKE.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Iran's Top Nuclear Scientist Assassinated

Iran says US and Israelites conspires to thwart nuclear program...Ya Think?
Do the Iranians think that they can threaten the free world with jihad and distruction AND build a nuclear weapons program without sparking just a little concern?
The president of Iran declares that his country is doing nothing the west should worry about...right, we know they are good for their word by their past peace record in the middle east.
In my personal opinion if Iran gets a working nuclear weapon the Israelis will be the very first to experience a modern day nuclear attack. If they can get one on American soil we would be the next.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Agnosticism is a State of Confusion, Not a Religion

This will be my third and last installment on the subject of being Agnostic.

Agnosticism is not a badge to proudly wear; it is a thorn in one's side, a conundrum to be solved, enduring sleepless nights, and outside contempt. It is a state of indecision due to a lack of satisfactory personal confirmation. It is not a way of life, nor is it a religion,cult, or life discipline. An Agnostic is a realist faced with doubts that he can not satisfy in his own mind.
For me the proof of God cannot come from ancient texts, tomes, or scrolls written by man or from man's interpretation of natural events. Like the laws of nature, or the laws of gravity, or E=MC squared, the proof must be unilaterally accepted and infallible.
Looking at the 'God question' from a contrary point of view though, I got to ask myself, "What if I am completely and miserably wrong? What if the Bible was totally correct? What could possibly prove me wrong?
The most obvious proof that a realist could grasp as confirmation that God exists would be the ascension of the risen dead during the prophesied rapture event. If this came about there could be no denial with all that rising and praising going on!
No matter the personal outcome, I would welcome the confirmation.

The three things I am sure of:
1) Someone or something started the clockwork of the universe.Whether they are a he or a she or they, mechanical, biological, or spiritual, still alive, or dead, or the biblical god; that's who I'd consider to be God.
2)Jesus Christ was, at the very least, the profit of goodness.
3) Along with ghosts, goblins, witches, demons, vampires, trolls, werewolves, fairies, angels, aliens, or any other thing that goes bump in the night; I do not believe in Satan either.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Would God have a sense of Humor?

No matter my beliefs I do not speak from a point of ignorance. Out of personal curiosity I have studied and investigated religious philosophy since I was thirteen years old. Here is a philosophical question I will ask again: Does God have a sense of humor?
Here is a comical, fictitious interview authored by Dave Beauchamp,an eclectic commentator on the often ignored or misinterpreted obvious.
I hope you can accept this in the spirit in which it is offered, enjoy.

Sporting News Interview with God
News you never see. For a reason.by Dave Beauchamp on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 6:47am

God Admits Saints win was his doing. Says He just doesn’t like the Colts.
In a rare interview the Christian God admitted Sunday night to intervening on behalf of the New Orleans Saints in order for them to win the SuperBowl. When questioned about his actions the Lord said "Well look at it. Who else should I have helped? The name of the team is the Saints for my son’s sake! I know that there are going to be a lot of unhappy Colts fans out there who are going to be disappointed in me, and as far as I am concerned they can go to Hell. I never cared much for them anyway."

During his post-game press conference God admitted to also being involved in several other sporting event outcomes over the past several years. "Sure, I get involved. Remember the ’69 Mets? That was me. How else do you think that they were labeled the Miracle Mets?" When questioned about other teams, like the 2004 Red Sox unimaginable comeback from three games down in the ALCS, the Lord responded "That wasn’t me. I was busy paying attention to little Bobby Smith’s Spelling Bee when that happened and The Devil seized the opportunity to show off what a prankster he can be. Everyone knows that the Red Sox suck."

The Almighty also took time to address some of his concerns about trends that he has been noticing that have been disturbing him. "I have to say that I am getting a little tired of all of these players down here who seemingly go out of their way to thank my son for everything. His skill set is not that polished yet when it comes to sports. He is working on it, but right now I only leave him in charge of monitoring the Chicago Cubs. I am the one that makes all the decisions. Maybe when I am gone and my boy takes over the family business you will see some things change; however, for now, send your thanks to me. By the way, a lot of these players should also start taking some credit for what they accomplish because of the work that they put in. I mean, wow! Have you seen how hard some of these athletes train during workouts and drills?"

"Overall, I’m just glad I could make it to the game today," the omnipresent deity continued. "It was good to see the half-time show with The Who. I was a fan of theirs while growing up. I would have liked to have seen a couple of Hail Mary passes thrown just for a giggle; but hey, even I can’t have everything. I just hope that this win today by the Saints helps make up for that little snafu back in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina. Honestly, I had been testing some new sacramental wine and overdid it a little. I really thought that everyone down here was going to be okay because I thought the government was going to step in. Um, sorry about that."

The divine being then closed out his interview with a few comments that he read from a prepared statement citing memory issues for reading off of a script. "I’d like to tell all of you that I am sorry for a lot of my past behaviors. The anger management classes that I have taken seem to have helped. I know that I have not been as interactive with all of you over the past 2,000 years or so causing some of you to question whether or not I am dead. Well, I am obviously not dead. I have been busy with another group of beings in another section of the Universe and honestly have not had that much time for you. Get over it. You have been here for hundreds of thousands of years and really need to start standing on your own.

"I must say that I am disappointed in a lot of you for following these charlatans who claim to be speaking on my behalf. Listen. I don’t need your money! I don’t want your money! What makes you think that I could possibly need something as trivial as cash? Do you know who I am? If I needed money, I could make my own. I’m all powerful, remember? These crooks are taking you to the cleaners!
"To make matters worse they also have perverted a major amount of my philosophy. Do you remember that whole love thy neighbor thing? Try doing that! I never said love thy neighbor unless your neighbor happens to be gay, divorced, belongs to another political party, or prefers hanging out with another god, or no god at all. These scumbags have made a career out of lying to you in my name and it needs to stop. I’m going to let a lot of you narrow-minded people in on a something: I created homosexuality to!

"Are you going to be able to get along with everybody? No. Some people are just real jerks. What I am saying is just don’t hate them because they have different colored skin or sexual preferences than you. Dig a little bit deeper than the surface and you may find a good reason to not like someone.
"As far as that book that has been circulating about me and my son that a lot of you like to quote, please stop that. It is an unauthorized biography that we were not consulted on. I am very disappointed that many of you could even believe half of that stuff really happened. Go ahead and go back and reread that thing with a critical eye and ask yourself if most of what is in there passes the laugh test.

"One final word. My son requested that I pass along to you that he is extremely uncomfortable with many of you wearing crosses around your neck. He would like for you to stop. While he appreciates the sentiment, he would also like to remind you that he was once nailed to one of those things and left there to die. Its kinda creeping him out, so knock it off. I don’t want to send him to therapy."
 

 

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Apollo Astronaut Lovell's sale of Apollo 13's logbook contested by Nasa

The quiestion is; does the Apollo 13 logbook belong to Jim Lovell, NASA, or the American people?
Apollo 13 commander James Lovell gives reporters details in April 1970 of his crew's harrowing return to Earth after their spacecraft was damaged on its way to the moon. Next to him is astronaut Fred Haise.
Lovell, now 83, auctioned off this mission log book below from the legendary mission.
Astronauts were not paid as much as one would think; they got paid their military rank and hazardous duty pay only for going to the moon.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Faith and the Agnostic

As an Agnostic I feel that to worship an entity should only come from knowing that there truly is a God and he really does have a plan (fate) that I am required to follow.
Six billion people on this planet faithfully believe this.
It is said that God's plan will culminate in either a grand reward or in total disaster. As a realist I look at this concept and cringe. What is man's real destiny? Did we evolve into the supreme beings on this planet out of random circumstance and only we can raise ourselves up and expand off of the planet to populate this grand universe? Or is our future ordained and will be taken from us by a Creator that has his own agenda?
Let's cut to the chase here; I am not talking about if the bible is right or not. I'm not talking about which religion is correct and will get you into heaven. I'm saying that religion and the concept of a divine entity is, from my point of view, a total waste of man's potential.
If a person could stop worrying about what happens to himself and those he cares for after they die, that person may find that the preservation of the species is a much more grand and fulfilling idea than blindly worshiping any deity and earning the right to live forever.
For some that would be enough,but as we know, it is punctuated with the threat of punishment or the hope of reward.
I personally find this concept of punishment or reward to be relative. I don't anticipate finding pleasure in  spending eternity praising a God(I yawn at the prospect). I don't fear the threat of 'burning forever' in hell either; as a scientifically inclined type of fellow I would be totally amazed at the fact that I couldn't be consumed, my curiosity would make it bearable. Eventually, being only human, I would either get used to it or go crazy(that crazy person would no longer be me) if fiery consumption was not possible.
Eternity is a very long time!
How is it that all the God believing people on this planet find it necessary to worship an entity in the first place? Out of fear? Out of love? Of what? Do they really want an entity guiding their every step, channeling their lives to suit an unknown godly plan? 
I don't hesitate to say it , I personally resent the whole idea!
Why would the Creator of this phenomenal universe, the author of the laws of physics, want to play these head games of mystery and vague premises of right and wrong? One would think that a Creator of this caliber and precision would simply make his existence a natural fact.
It is said that through faith we are saved and will live forever in the house of God. There's that word again, faith.
I must know in my heart that there is a God or I will feel that I've wasted what little time I have on this planet believing in a fairy tale.
OK, there is another way to go about it, I guess. An Italian philosopher from the 19th century named Pasquele once said, " There may or may not be a god. I may or may not believe in him. If I do not believe in him I will die, if I do believe in him I'll be rewarded in the afterlife. So...I choose to believe in him and cut my downside loses."
Is THAT the definition of faith? 

Friday, January 6, 2012

Heart Valve Replacement Surgery

This is a subject that I have recently become interested. I had two stents placed in my heart last year; this is a simple procedure compared to valve replacement.

heart valve system

NASA and current politics

How does the President and the GOP candidates view the future of NASA and this country's presence in and exploration of space? It seems that all the front runners are all very opinionated about the subject.
Has Obama's administration turned its back on our nations leadership in space exploration and exploitation?
How do the GOP candidates suggest we move forward?

NASA astronaut free styling space walk. We are experts at this stuff, why would we stop now when we are on the verge of realizing a profit from these endeavours.
List of companies making money doing space business
There are at least fifty companies on this list! Their adresses and business phone numbers are listed for your convenience.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Obama: The thrill is gone

Obama claims that he has kept all of his promises, was anybody really listening to what he had to say back in 2008? I wonder. Personally I think he was elected because he was a novelty; if he had not run for president I believe Hilary Clinton would be the President that we conservatives would be trying to limit to just one term in 2012.
Out of 128895517 votes Obama got a little over half of the popular vote. He won by 9700277 votes. I don't blame the Democrats for electing their candidate; I blame the Republicans for not taking him as a serious threat and not coming out in droves to stop him from being elected.
Let us all take him seriously  this year and get him out of office.
For those of you that are not American citizens that read my blog- I know that the rest of the world loves Obama, but he is no John F. Kennedy. The comparisons scare the bejesus out of us that have to live under his domestic rule. Remember, Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
Obama seems to think that government support and government 'parenting' of the American citizen is the way to do things.
 Start here for bills passed by Obama administration
It just goes to show you that the main difference between a democrat and a republican is that left wingers believe in symbolism over substinance.
B.H.O.

  

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

U.S. Navy to remain in Persian Gulf

I think Iran assumes we are still the America of Jimmy Carter's era; I suggest they walk softly here or they may be the next to feel our wrath.
Here is Iran's navy training in the Persian Gulf, where are their missiles? ASROC's?, SUBROC's?, Big guns? Submarines?, Aircraft Carriers?, Airforce?, Marines? M'thinks they are biting off much more than they can chew.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Blues back-tracking videos

Do you play guitar or harmonica? Do you dig the blues? If so, if you haven't already done it, I think you should check out these blues backtracks. They really help, I am a much better guitarist and I can now play the blues on the harmonica!

And for those of you that prefer good old Rock & Roll, here is a backtrack for you!


Sunday, January 1, 2012

2012: is this the year it all ends?

I'm a sceptic. I think it will pass by with no unusual problems just as did Y2K, but who really knows? The Mayans thought they knew. They are gone now but their prediction still remains; the world ends on December 21st 2012 or at least that is when the Mayan calender runs out.

Christians pray everyday for the return of their Lord and Savior which will supposedly bring resurection, tribulation, Armageddon, judgement and the eventual end to life as we know it. 

Then their is the unexpected, like asteroids, sun flares, quasar bursts, collisions and other extra-planetary disasters.

And then their are the unpredictable, but plausible on-planet natural disasters; earthquakes, volcanoes, super hurricanes and the like.
Natural Disaster

Then their is us, the rulers of the planet; we could annihilate ourselves very efficiently with our warring; nuclear, dirty bomb, gas, or maybe a viral attack upon mankind.
These manmade calamities are the ones I most fear when I ponder these things.