- Awesome stuff! ^_^ (y)

- This is profound! A must-read... (y)

- Here's a very cool art project I believe everyone can appreciate. :) (y)

- Life is Balance...and here's a great explanation! Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Life & Literature (Introduced in a Monty Python-Style Animation) Watch this 14-minute, Monty Python-style animated primer from Alain de Botton’s School of Life and read the accompanying article from The Book of Life. Even apart from those years in Siberia, the man “had a very hard life, but he succeeded in conveying an idea which perhaps he understood more clearly than anyone: In a world that’s very keen on upbeat stories, we will always run up against our limitations as deeply flawed and profoundly muddled creatures,” an attitude “needed more than ever in our naive and sentimental age that so fervently clings to the idea – which this great Russian loathed – that science can save us all and that we may yet be made perfect through technology.”

Space Station's View of Florida at Night

Space Station's View of Florida at Night -  

Things that make you go 'Hmm'...

Things that make you go 'Hmm'... - Three men investigating a company in China that produces Ivanka Trump brand shoes are missing, according to Li Qiang who runs China Labor Watch, a New York-based labor rights group.

I have been paying pretty close attention to this subject, since I was (understandably) unhappy with the choices we, as Americans, were left with during the Presidential election, which is why I chose not to cast my vote. What I find to be most interesting is that, despite my close attention to the subject, I had no idea about several of the things listed in this chronological history. Despite my reluctance to put faith in the media or either side of the political fence, for what should be obvious reasons, I have to appreciate the relatively thorough job Mother Jones did putting this article together. It seems relatively impossible to believe there is nothing to be concerned about and, the further I read into this history, the more troubling it looked for the current President. I suppose a lot of people are looking for more information on this matter and are unsure what to believe, at this point. The verdict is still out on the matter, but it may be useful for people to take a look at this article if they are unsure of what to believe.

I have been paying pretty close attention to this subject, since I was (understandably) unhappy with the choices we, as Americans, were left with during the Presidential election, which is why I chose not to cast my vote. What I find to be most interesting is that, despite my close attention to the subject, I had no idea about several of the things listed in this chronological history. Despite my reluctance to put faith in the media or either side of the political fence, for what should be obvious reasons, I have to appreciate the relatively thorough job Mother Jones did putting this article together. It seems relatively impossible to believe there is nothing to be concerned about and, the further I read into this history, the more troubling it looked for the current President. I suppose a lot of people are looking for more information on this matter and are unsure what to believe, at this point. The verdict is still out on the matter, but it may be useful for people to take a look at this article if they are unsure of what to believe. - Here's the timeline you need to keep track of the controversy.

Interesting perspective...

Interesting perspective... - Once upon a time, a child was born into wealth and wanted for nothing, but he was possessed by bottomless, endless, grating, grasping wanting, and wanted more, and got it, and more after that, and …

The real test is analyzing who the fans are and who the foes are - and why. True, some of the fans may be more focused on negativity than ethics and some of the foes may be less focused on ethics and blinded by loyalty, but if there's anything keeping this country on a straight path, it probably includes the efforts of this employee and his department.

The real test is analyzing who the fans are and who the foes are - and why. True, some of the fans may be more focused on negativity than ethics and some of the foes may be less focused on ethics and blinded by loyalty, but if there's anything keeping this country on a straight path, it probably includes the efforts of this employee and his department. - Walter M. Shaub of the Office of Government Ethics is an unassuming government employee, but he has a reputation as a fighter.

- This is called 'Progress'... I'd sure like to see the US follow examples like this! ;) (y)

Space Station's EarthKAM Sees the Grand Canyon

Space Station's EarthKAM Sees the Grand Canyon -  

The importance of studying history...

The importance of studying history... - We owe them the courage and the wisdom to prevent the next war.

Just a head's up... ^_^ To all who gave their lives, your battle is over. Rest n Peace... The rest of us will continue the struggle!

Just a head's up... ^_^ To all who gave their lives, your battle is over. Rest n Peace... The rest of us will continue the struggle! - Memorial Day and Veterans Day each commemorate different people in the U.S. armed services.

Hmm...who are the REAL heroes here? Is it the military veteran with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan who tried to defend the two Muslim women from this ass-hat racist hater who murdered him? Is it the American graduate student who was respected in his community who stepped in to defend these two women against the idiot and was also murdered? Is it the poet who, barely escaping with his life after being knifed in the throat by this subhuman excuse for an American, also tried to protect these two women who were doing nothing at all to be treated in such a disturbing way by an obvious psychopathic, bigoted, criminal? Two people who were a benefit to this country lost their lives and one is in critical condition for trying to protect others...while a criminal, racist, mentally disturbed bigot, probably born and raised in America, is in jail for two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder...and the Muslim women who were doing nothing wrong - but will now have to suffer the pathetic memories of this obvious criminal psychopath - are just fine. If you want to know what the problem with this country is...it is people like this criminal. It is not only people who do what he does but people who support the rhetoric, the hatred, the bigotry and the inability to see all people as human, regardless of their cultures, origins and/or appearances. It is people who fail to understand the very nature and foundation of the United States - a cultural melting pot. It is ignorance... This man gets to spend the rest of his life (assuming he is not executed) realizing how his actions totally backfired and failed. His life is over. That is what happens to people who cannot manage their hatred and biases. Don't be an idiot. Be a human being... That is the American Way. Happy Memorial Day...

Hmm...who are the REAL heroes here? Is it the military veteran with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan who tried to defend the two Muslim women from this ass-hat racist hater who murdered him? Is it the American graduate student who was respected in his community who stepped in to defend these two women against the idiot and was also murdered? Is it the poet who, barely escaping with his life after being knifed in the throat by this subhuman excuse for an American, also tried to protect these two women who were doing nothing at all to be treated in such a disturbing way by an obvious psychopathic, bigoted, criminal? Two people who were a benefit to this country lost their lives and one is in critical condition for trying to protect others...while a criminal, racist, mentally disturbed bigot, probably born and raised in America, is in jail for two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder...and the Muslim women who were doing nothing wrong - but will now have to suffer the pathetic memories of this obvious criminal psychopath - are just fine. If you want to know what the problem with this country is...it is people like this criminal. It is not only people who do what he does but people who support the rhetoric, the hatred, the bigotry and the inability to see all people as human, regardless of their cultures, origins and/or appearances. It is people who fail to understand the very nature and foundation of the United States - a cultural melting pot. It is ignorance... This man gets to spend the rest of his life (assuming he is not executed) realizing how his actions totally backfired and failed. His life is over. That is what happens to people who cannot manage their hatred and biases. Don't be an idiot. Be a human being... That is the American Way. Happy Memorial Day... - The victims in Friday’s attack were an Army veteran, a recent college graduate and a poet who spoke out against anti-Muslim prejudice.

I suppose this is the pitiful last resort for those who seek glory, rather than enlightenment and experience, but who are unable, unwilling or too fearful to earn it. Unfortunately, it often becomes apparent and has a highly negative karmic effect. "If you silence truth and bury it under the ground, it will but grow and gather to itself such explosive power that, the day it bursts through, it will blow up everything in its way." - Emile Zola

I suppose this is the pitiful last resort for those who seek glory, rather than enlightenment and experience, but who are unable, unwilling or too fearful to earn it. Unfortunately, it often becomes apparent and has a highly negative karmic effect. "If you silence truth and bury it under the ground, it will but grow and gather to itself such explosive power that, the day it bursts through, it will blow up everything in its way." - Emile Zola - Honesty may be the best policy, but scheming and dishonesty are part of what makes us human.

Fascinating... ^_^

Fascinating... ^_^ - Last year, a Yale-led research project produced an innovative dataset that mapped the history of urban settlements.

Very sound advice that has helped me for decades: 1) If you can resolve it - do it...now! No more worries... 2) If you can resolve it, but not until later - plan your approach and be patient until the time arrives. No sense worrying - you've got a plan. Follow through when the time arrives... 3) If you can't do anything about it - let it go! No sense torturing yourself over things out of your control. If you feel like revisiting it later, when the situation changes, go back up to step 1.

Very sound advice that has helped me for decades: 1) If you can resolve it - do it...now! No more worries... 2) If you can resolve it, but not until later - plan your approach and be patient until the time arrives. No sense worrying - you've got a plan. Follow through when the time arrives... 3) If you can't do anything about it - let it go! No sense torturing yourself over things out of your control. If you feel like revisiting it later, when the situation changes, go back up to step 1. - God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,Courage to change the things I can,And wisdom to know the difference.This is the Serenity Prayer, originally written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr around 1934, and commo...

"The program intends to build and fly a novel class of hypersonic aircraft to reinforce national security by offering short-notice and low-cost access to space."

"The program intends to build and fly a novel class of hypersonic aircraft to reinforce national security by offering short-notice and low-cost access to space." - DARPA and Boeing are working on the XS-1 program, a next-generation spaceplane that can potentially fly towards the edge of space.

Not the dream you think, but the dream you experience when you sleep...

Not the dream you think, but the dream you experience when you sleep... - Embrace dreams as a counter to the naive realism of politics today, and they could become a potent democratic force

- Surrounding myself with animals to feel less alone was a mistake: The greatest comfort is in knowing their lives are not about us at all.

Close-up View of Neutron Star Mission's X-Ray Concentrator Optics

Close-up View of Neutron Star Mission's X-Ray Concentrator Optics -  

- Don't forget about me! I've got quite a few battle scars... =o) Hiring Book Smart vs. Street Smart Consultants -

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- #9 The Vasa Museum

^_^ (y)

^_^ (y) - #RedNoseDay is on a mission to end child poverty, one nose at a time. Join us this year on May 25! Learn more at http://rednoseday.org.

I think everyone can agree that nether the AHCA (Obamacare) nor the proposed 'Trumpcare' will be a positive solution. Maybe that is because reform is not focused in the right places. This is what needs to happen to get healthcare back on track...

I think everyone can agree that nether the AHCA (Obamacare) nor the proposed 'Trumpcare' will be a positive solution. Maybe that is because reform is not focused in the right places. This is what needs to happen to get healthcare back on track... - The Senate should consider these 4 changes to the health care bill

This is incredibly awesome...and the best kind of karma there is! ^_^

This is incredibly awesome...and the best kind of karma there is! ^_^ - “Mom who went to every class with her quadriplegic son gets a graduation day surprise: Her own MBA. Story: https://t.co/jVnXp5XqGB https://t.co/2lXdlFQOdE”

Sequence of Juno Spacecraft's Close Approach to Jupiter

Sequence of Juno Spacecraft's Close Approach to Jupiter -  

I never get tired of watching this video. I think it is not only because it basically puts an end to a ridiculous controversy / conspiracy theory but also because it is so easily applicable to many people's cognitive biases that we still seemingly have to deal with every day (especially in political affairs). I can only imagine how much the human race could achieve if we didn't have to waste time and / or productivity arguing with people who clearly see things the way they want to, in spite of overwhelming probability, and could all move forward together. This video is well worth watching. Whether or not you are interested in or suspicious of the moon landings, it's great for the philosophical / psychological value.

I never get tired of watching this video. I think it is not only because it basically puts an end to a ridiculous controversy / conspiracy theory but also because it is so easily applicable to many people's cognitive biases that we still seemingly have to deal with every day (especially in political affairs). I can only imagine how much the human race could achieve if we didn't have to waste time and / or productivity arguing with people who clearly see things the way they want to, in spite of overwhelming probability, and could all move forward together. This video is well worth watching. Whether or not you are interested in or suspicious of the moon landings, it's great for the philosophical / psychological value. - I noticed that this article was being passed around again, so I watched the video once more. I forgot how amazingly good it is—so here it is again for your viewing pleasure: The definitive proof of why the moon landings could have never been faked:

- I'd like to think there are still many people in society that care about the following subject (and the number seems to be growing daily), which I find profoundly interesting and valuable. Unfortunately (and due to the current political climate), I doubt many people have either the interest or motivation to read through this brilliant article. Some things, though, are well worth reading. We tend to fling 'labels' around...but it's a wise idea to better understand those labels if we're likely to use them. This article, in my opinion, accurately explains why it's not necessarily correct (and, in fact, may be a tragic mistake) to refer to those who are humanist and democratic, as opposed to religious and conservative, as 'liberals'. With regard to me and my own perspective, it'd be a mistake. I actually find it quite offensive for people to call me a 'liberal' (very often, the behavior of conservative theists). I suppose this is the common routine of certain humans among us who feel a need to label and compartmentalize things in order to more easily understand them but, for their efforts, are actually doing themselves a disservice. At any rate, if you have the diligence (it's a rather long read), interest, mental acuity (not for the weak of mind), patience & tolerance (an open mind is a free mind) and/or even just curiosity to read what is, to me, an article of critical importance which includes a wealth of information on a wide variety of subject matter, take a look at the article below... ...and please don't 'label' me - or others. People are as diverse as fingerprints and many people defy labels, which I believe to be a wonderful thing. If I had to be branded with a label, I'd probably choose 'progressive'. After all, if you're not trying to make progress...what are you actually doing? I am certainly one of those people who is... ^_^ (y) ______________________________ #Liberalism #Liberal #Humanism #Humanist #Conservatism #Conservative #Theism #Theist #Religious #Political #Politics #Education #Learning #Society #Progressive #Progressivism

- How to operate the 'character detector'... ^_^

- Something enlightening for you to read... ^_^

- Great stuff to check out! :P (y)

May 24, 1962 - Scott Carpenter on the Way to Mercury-Atlas 7 Launch Site

May 24, 1962 - Scott Carpenter on the Way to Mercury-Atlas 7 Launch Site -  

- [No appropriate comment comes to mind...]

- Wide open awesomeness! (y)

- I'm way ahead of this game... ;) (y)

NASA’s Mars 2020 Rover Artist’s Concept

NASA’s Mars 2020 Rover Artist’s Concept -  

- 'Rust In Peace' - Nick Menza... (Another one gone so young!) See you on the other side! (y)

Slim Crescent of Ice

Slim Crescent of Ice -  

- I am one of the few African-American aerospace engineers who helped design the Apollo spaceships that took men to the Moon. My great-grandfather was a slave in Claiborne, Alabama, who used primitive tools to work the land. My father was born in Al...

- How much did Plato know about behavioural economics and cognitive biases? Pretty much everything, it turns out

- Autocrats shouted, cursed, and bullied, while American revolutionaries used politeness as a tool of radical politics

- One day in 1995, a large, heavy middle-aged man robbed two Pittsburgh banks in broad daylight. He didn’t wear a mask or any sort of disguise. And he smiled at surveillance cameras before walking out of each bank. Later that night, police arrested ...

- Gotta' love that Common Core education! :P (y)

CubeSats Deployed Outside Station's Kibo Lab Module

CubeSats Deployed Outside Station's Kibo Lab Module -  

For your learning pleasure... ^_^

For your learning pleasure... ^_^ - Philosophers, technologists, and futurists spend a good deal of time obsessing about the nature of reality.

This speaks volumes about what a great guy Chris Cornell was. I'm really having a tough time dealing with the loss. I suppose I'm not the only one. He was truly an incredible human - far more than just an artist. You will be missed, brother! ^_^

This speaks volumes about what a great guy Chris Cornell was. I'm really having a tough time dealing with the loss. I suppose I'm not the only one. He was truly an incredible human - far more than just an artist. You will be missed, brother! ^_^ - Chic disco legend Nile Rodgers pays tribute to his friend Chris Cornell, frontman of Soundgarden and Audioslave

No need to even take this test... I already knew the result before I started. ;)

No need to even take this test... I already knew the result before I started. ;) - For the longest time, experts have categorized people into two distinct groups: extrovert and introvert. Typically speaking, the introverted types are known for being deep-thinking homebodies, shy and reclusive, while extroverts are known for being outgoing party-animals. But, of course, people are…

- It's odd how these things seem to be fairly accurate...since I never really put much faith in them. I know I'm not the most attractive man, but that doesn't seem to limit my options and I'm fairly sure that's because I read a scientific study somewhere that said many women are attracted to confident men. I don't know whether or not that's true, but it's probably better to ask most women...than it is to ask a scientist. :P

- Throw the ball, Daddy...I'll go get it! (Lake Livingston)