Weekly Rundown

First off, sorry for going AWOL. It's kind of hard to let people know anything, when nothing works. Everything is now back online, and I am back again. Sorry about that folks. I really need to start buying top of the line equipment, AND stop dumping drinks where they do not belong. Nuff said on that. Again, sorry about being missing there for those couple weeks without notice. Had to wait for payday to be able to even get back on here. And now, back to normal again. Well, as normal as I will ever be anyway.  One question, anyone know if those spill proof keyboards are really spill proof. Or is that just another way to make me spend more for something I am apparently determined to trash anyway somehow. I realize there is no such thing as a spill proof computer, but frankly I should probably have one of those as well. Turns out that Root Beer happens to be quite a nasty substance when it gets mixed in with computer electronics.Now you know where I've been. On to the rundown.

KEPLER DIES, AND WE ACT LAZY

            The Kepler space telescope and it searching for extraterrestrial planets has come to an end, due in a large part to cheapness, and laziness.  Apparently the positioning system cannot be repaired. Anything that is not exploded can be repaired.

            Kepler was launched in 1990 to search for earth sized worlds in what we consider to be a habitable zone, and ones with water that we assume is needed for life. In May, it lost the equipment needed to keep it steady and focused on what area without moving. The stability is achieved through a combination on three wheels that keep it pointed and balanced basically in one direction at one point for the time needed to check for a planet around a star.

            Kepler has found 135 planets so far, with around 3500 possible waiting for confirmation.

            The system must remain pointed at the exact same spot for years in order to be sure of a planetary body within the system. Here is why folks. Say it was another species doing this, and looking toward sol for a planet like our Earth. Well, that in all accuracy could take over a year to prove we were here. It takes us a year by our count to go around our sun. Therefore, just to find earth with this system would take a year basically just to show there could be a planet here. Then another year basically to gather more info and prove we are here. Finding planets doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a long drawn our process, and we need Kepler. And now we get to my point about sheer cheapness and laziness.

            Kepler is about 40 million miles from Earth. That’s it. 40 million miles. Yet they are saying it is too far to send a repair crew, or even a robotic repair system. Bull. That is barely farther than Mars at its closest, and we are talking constantly about a manned mission to Mars. Give me a ship, give me the bloody parts, and I’ll go fix the damn thing myself.

            You know, if we would stop[ screwing around with solid fuel bombs under our peoples butts, we might actually get somewhere. Leaving Kepler up there in only a partial usable state is just wrong by me. If that is the case, then lets head her back to Earth, pick  her up, and museum her. If we sent it up, we can bring it back. This is why we need a moon base or a huge station. It would be the perfect places for a museum for all things space, (spacey), pick one of those words, whichever sounds better to you. 

http://news.yahoo.com/nasa-calls-off-attempts-fix-kepler-space-telescope-204816633.html 

VOYAGER 1; WHERE IS IT?

            Yeah it’s still there, and we can find it. However, the question is this. Has it left the system yet, (as in solar system). NASA is still waiting for it to depart the system, but another study says that it left our system and hit interstellar space last year. According to the new study, she left our system on July 27^th of last year. According to NASA, she is still in the system, though just barely.

            The lead author of the paper, Marc Swisdak had this to say about this. "It's a somewhat controversial view, but we think Voyager 1 has finally left the solar system, and is truly beginning its travels through the Milky Way.” He and his co-authors, Merav Opher and James Drake also of the university of Maryland, are not mission scientists. And the conclusions they have reached fly in the face of the conclusions NASA has reached.

            According to NASA, they think that Voyager 1 is now flying through a strange transition zone of the heliosphere at the edge of our system. And this is where the two teams start to disagree on their conclusions. The new study has come to the conclusion that the heliosphere boundary is a porous and multilayered structure, and not the homogeneous style that we have been considering it to be for ages now. And both Voyager 1 and 2 are now in that area picking up information.

            To make this all simple, basically it is this. Voyager 1 has now detected a large jump in cosmic rays, and a severe drop of solar particles. Solar comes from our star, while the high energy cosmic rays are interstellar space. 

            Reading this article, it could be that both sides are actually correct, in a fashion. It is quite possible, that the heliosphere is not even out there. But at places stretches farther, and in others it is not stretched out as far. In this case, it very well could have left what would be considered the solar system, yet still be within a part of the heliosphere that stretched outward beyond the average point. Yeah, that was my 2 cents worth there folks. Check out the article and pick a side. Or join me in my musings which could also be correct.

http://www.space.com/22386-voyager-1-spacecraft-interstellar-space.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+spaceheadlines+%28SPACE.com+Headline+Feed%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

HOW TO FEED AN ASTRONAUT

            Six scientists have just completed a four month mock mission to Mars. Any of us could have done this simulation with ease, though I am sure my recommendations would never be taken. In other words, lots of crawfish on board.

            They spent 118 days on the mission and ate a wide variety of instant foods, as well as foods they cooked themselves from shelf stable ingredients. They then rated all of the meals they ate along with keeping detailed accounts of their moods, feeling of body, weight, etc. This was done in order to aid our astronauts on long voyages, such as to Mars. They are working on ways to better keep our men and women happy and healthy out there.

            One of the problems with instant food is that it has been processed to the point that they are lacking in fiber for one thing, so they also ate a lot of wheat bread, rye crackers, nuts, and dried fruit.

            They did also venture out of the habitat once a week, in space suit, to do geological  and microbe detection studies. All in keeping with the concept of it happening on Mars of course. These aren’t the only ones working on the food category for this. As I mentioned awhile back, NASA also has awarded a $125,000 grant to a group working on developing a 3D printed pizza. There is also one of those vote things at the end of the article you can choose. Basically would you sign up for a year’s-long space mission. You all can pretty well guess where my vote went.

http://www.space.com/22360-mars-food-mock-space-mission-hawaii.html

 FUTURE TRANSPORTATION OF THE PAST

            Not for us though. These are things that were considered and though up in the past, and it is pretty cool to check out. Basically it is a list of pics with a short explanation, but the cars they thought up then are worth the look for them alone if nothing else. That’s about all there really is to say on this part. Check out the pics, especially you younger people to see what we older ones grew up seeing what they were lying to us about.  

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/transport-of-the-future-a-look-back-1376505177-slideshow/

And now, on to the sci-fi part of which there seems to be quite a bit this week. That’ll happen when you are not around for awhile. But there are numerous things happening, and I will try and cover what I consider the top ones. There’s even a Doctor update that i will not say yet if I am happy with or not.  But lets start with some anime here.

KORRA IS RETURNING IN SEPTEMBER

            For all you airbender fans out there, book 2 is looking pretty good. The link will take you to the trailer, though they haven’t much at all to say there yet. But the trailer looks pretty good. Personally, I like Korra a whole lot better than I ever did Ang. Actually, I like a lot of the characters in this better than I ever did the original, and i am a fan of the original as well.

http://moviepilot.com/posts/1076246-legend-of-korra-book-2-trailer-will-blow-your-korra-loving-mind

 SOMEONE NEEDS A BEATING

            And this time, it isn’t that shamadingdong person for once. They are saying that a Futurama Simpsons crossover is going to happen. Seriously people? What is wrong with these people.  So apparently Planet Express is coming to Springfield somehow. I personally think this is a horrible idea. These dinks must be taking advice from that shamadink or something. It’s bad enough there is going to be a family guy Simpsons crossover, but this is just going too far in my book. This is just too disgusting to even discuss actually, at least for me. Here’s the link folks. Go check it out for yourselves. Apparently these ding dongs are taking advice or ideas Shamadink. Doesn’t say so, but what other ding dong could come up with something for an idea that is this bad. Especially when the Simpsons are already a confirmed TV show in Futurama. Just an all-around bad idea I say. We need to keep Futurama, and send the simpsons packing like they should have done 300 years ago after season 987. Or so it seems to me anyway that it has been around that long. Don't get me wrong here. First few seasons of the Simpsons were great, and then down hill it went faster than even the Mach 5 could keep up. I'm just disgusted even talking about this, so here's the link folks. Make sure you haven't eaten anything before reading it if you feel like I do. 

http://moviepilot.com/stories/1058916-the-simpsons-and-futurama-universes-will-collide-in-cross-over-episode

Now on to much less disturbing sci-fi news.

GOTTA LOVE COULSON

            Yeah, I’m talking about the new shield television series, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Now this series has so much potential, all depending on who has the rights to what here. I mean, anyone from Marvel, and basically everyone in Marvel, has at one time or another had a team up, or more than likely a problem with S.H.I.E.L.D. (from here out in this segment being written as just shield). There isn’t much of an article here either. Basically it just says that the resurrected Coulson and his team will be tackling new and unclassified cases. The trailer looks pretty good actually, so lets hope that it doesn’t follow the normal route of this channel. It is premiering on September 24^th, and universes help us, it’s going to be on the Already Been Canceled channel. Yep, ABC folks.  Well, I guess that’s probably better than the former sci-fi channel having it. Seriously, if they had it, we’d probably get versions of characters that would force us to tear down their studios finally. But this show has so much it could do, so let’s hope it goes well, and they don’t destroy one of our universe here. Check out the trailer folks, it’s worth it. In the words of our favorite little ninja Naruto, Believe It. I am seriously waiting for this one. But then, I think like everyone else out here, I fell in love with Coulson also. The guy is just so cool. And the actor portraying him is amazing in that roll. I honestly didn’t see any difference between the one on the Avengers movies, and the one from the new anime like spidey. Pretty much exactly the same guy. Coulson has become a very loved character, so lets hope they don’t screw this up big time.

http://moviepilot.com/stories/1078296-agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-gets-slick-new-featurette

 WELCOME THE FALCON

            Not the millenium one people. The hero one. Looks as though in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, my man The Falcon is going to be there as well. Or at least make an appearance. I  know this has been out there for a while now, but it finally was actually confirmed fully. Amazingly.

            Anthony Mackie will be playing the role. Now I don’t think he is quite the right choice, as his upper arms don’t look big enough, even though Falcon isn’t huge, though he does sort of have but I have been so wrong about these things before it isn’t even a laughing matter. Except for my friends who got to point and laugh at me when i had to admit I was wrong, thereby suffering great and tremendous agony to myself. I hate my friends.  

            Falcon was one of the first black heroes to actually be in main stream comics. Not counting Black Panther here of course. Personally, if I had the choice, I would rather have Cage and Iron Fist, but I always loved The Falcon as well. I even stole his uniform colors once to use for a character of my own in the marvel RPG game universe. So I am actually excited about him showing up finally, more than I am about the second Captain America movie.

            Also, according to IMDB, he is listed, (though it is said to still be rumor only) as being in The Avengers: Age Of Ultron due in 2015.

            Now since he is going to be a part of Shield here, and is a tactician, I see no reason why he could not also show up in the series on TV, along with so many others like I mentioned earlier.

I hope they go with the Red and White uniform for him. I have no idea how that might look on screen, but some of the uniforms actually do cross over to live action without a problem. Here’s the link for you fans of The Falcon.

http://moviepilot.com/posts/1083809-the-falcon-to-team-up-with-captain-america-in-winter-soldier

 THOR SPOILER

            BUT NOT HERE.

            I have thought about this since last night, and have decided not to post it here. The article where it is doesn't even come up till you scroll your mouse pointer over it. So here is what I am going to do for us. I am going to put in the link, and if you don’t want to know about a spoiler, don’t read it. If it doesn't bother you to know, then follow the link and see what it is. I don't get that choice myself. I have to know what it is so I know if it is worth putting up here. Alan Taylor is the director, and he is basically called when they want to kill people. He admits this. His exact words, Part of them anyway, are as follows. “I just get called in to murder people’s favorite characters.”

This is simply the easiest way to get it out there, and yet not get it to those that don’t want to know about it yet. So make your own choice here folks. 

http://moviepilot.com/stories/1081935-thor-the-dark-world-director-confirms-scary-spoiler

DOCTOR UPDATE

            Okay, I don’t know what to say here. The new Doctor for those that don’t know has been cast. Just not sure what i think about this guy. Peter Capaldi will be playing the 12^th Doctor. From what I know of him, umm, no. One, he is too old for today’s Doctor. Sorry, that’s how it is. If you look at things, in the beginning, the doctor was old. But younger in more recent regenerations. What they should have done was do it with someone more unknown, and younger. I just don’t know about this guy being the Doctor. He seems to have the ability to bring the charisma, but not sure about the rest. There is an 11 second video of him at the link that makes me think he might be able to do it, but still. They may be heading in for a rough ride with this guy. I’m seeing a lot around the net where people aren’t happy with this. I’m not, but this is the Doctor, and I will wait and see before I make my decision. Of course, I’m not entirely happy with the darker direction that the series has taken either, but I will always be there regardless. Until the day they turn the Doctor into an underwear model vampire teen idiot, I will be there travelling along with the rest of you.

            Now I have nothing against an older Doctor. But you need someone that is actually in excellent shape, and seriously, in that show, someone that stays in shape by running. My problem here is this. I would love to see more enhanced technical aspects in the show, and more of him concocting things like he used to do back in the days of numbers 1-4. However, they have turned this into an action adventure show all the way now, and that is how the new generation that has come into it knows it. Especially here in America. We have always had a problem getting the Doctor here to begin with. (The smegs haven’t even shown the new season of Red Dwarf here yet.)

In all honesty, this could kill the series here. And here is why. I know so many people that have come to the Doctor recently, and then when they go back and watch the old ones, they don’t like them. Nothing ever really happens is one of their main complaints. Or the effects crap complaint. It seems like anymore all anyone is interested in in shows and movies is constant vulgarity, rapes, killings, murders, massive explosions, etc etc etc. Okay, I like a lot of that myself at times in ceratin movies that are that, I admit that. But this is the Doctor, and like Star Trek (or MacGyver) is supposed to do, he uses his mind first. He isn’t one of us. He doesn’t see something he doesn’t understand and so decides the answer to the question is blowing it up.

            But we shall see what happens here. Hopefully he brings the same energy to the character, and the same how to say this, exuberance, cheer, something. Watch the 11 second video and you’ll see what I mean. In some ways he reminds me a bit of my Doctor, Tom Baker in the way he smiles and moves.

            I have some hope, (and I doubt I’d leave anyway even if he was horrible as I have been with the Doctor for most my life). I refuse to be one of those that scream because we are getting a new Doctor. That’s what happens. Time Lords regenerate. And like most, I hate seeing the doctor be replaced, especially now that it is finally proven that that one really does die.

\           Hopefully this guy brings the power that is needed to the part. All we can do is hope for the best. Here’s the link folks.

http://moviepilot.com/stories/1075015-why-casting-peter-capaldi-as-the-12th-doctor-who-was-a-great-choice