Ganymede: A Moon Like No Other

Ganymede: A Moon Like No Other - Far across the solar system, where Earth appears merely as a pale blue dot, NASA’s Galileo spacecraft spent eight years orbiting Jupiter. Newly resurrected data from Galileo's first flyby of Jupiter's moon Ganymede is yielding new insights.

Profound advice...

Profound advice... - Researchers found that people who were both successful and happy over the long term intentionally structured their activities around several major needs.

Here's a great article on how business has been 'gamed' into becoming unethical and counterproductive (even criminal, at times) by way of throwing experience and knowledge under the bus in favor of the almighty dollar. Reminds me of Jack and the Beanstalk...

Here's a great article on how business has been 'gamed' into becoming unethical and counterproductive (even criminal, at times) by way of throwing experience and knowledge under the bus in favor of the almighty dollar. Reminds me of Jack and the Beanstalk... - More and more companies, government agencies, educational institutions and philanthropic organisations are today in the grip of a new phenomenon. I’ve termed it ‘metric fixation’. The key components of metric fixation are the belief that it is pos...

Sooner or later, those 'country folks' are going to have to get with the program. The many signs are already apparent. It is easy to support mad men when you have little idea of what transpires in the city, little or no exposure to foreign culture and people and you can live in a bubble. The problem with exponential population is that it will never last. This is why we see things that were formerly accepted becoming unacceptable...things such as racism, ethnocentrism, bigotry, spousal and child abuse as well as sexual assault, etc. This is also why we see things that were formerly unacceptable becoming more widespread...things such as body art, neighbors in apartment complexes smoking dope like laws and policemen don't exist, EVERYONE (no matter how innocent and law-abiding you may think you are) breaking the speed limit, selfishly, and putting those around you at risk (which is not your right). Life is a compromise. People can travel and learn or they can sit out in the back 40 with their barbecue, beer and hatred...and be cut off from civilization and resources. They can adapt to modernity and connect with the rest of the world - and the resources (especially, educational ones) available to them. They can choose to be responsible while bitching about the irresponsibility of others or they can lead by example. I suspect the intelligent people (whether Ivy League or road scholar - Ford Pinto or Mercedes Benz) will make themselves known by way of their personal choices. You are what you do and say - what other people see - not who you think and feel you are. That is just a fantasy role-playing game running in your head; Often, an excuse for irresponsibility and bad behavior. For the record, I believe it is far more shameful to see well-educated, financially secure people demonstrating their ignorance by way of irresponsibility and selfishness. They cannot claim they didn't know - they do. When the judge comes calling, they will have no excuse. Those without such comforts are, at least, making an honest mistake if they never learned and should be the focus of those who do know - and the receivers of their help, rather than scorn. This article may provide some insight on what we have to face if we don't learn to understand the complexities that many people seem to disregard daily:

Sooner or later, those 'country folks' are going to have to get with the program. The many signs are already apparent. It is easy to support mad men when you have little idea of what transpires in the city, little or no exposure to foreign culture and people and you can live in a bubble. The problem with exponential population is that it will never last. This is why we see things that were formerly accepted becoming unacceptable...things such as racism, ethnocentrism, bigotry, spousal and child abuse as well as sexual assault, etc. This is also why we see things that were formerly unacceptable becoming more widespread...things such as body art, neighbors in apartment complexes smoking dope like laws and policemen don't exist, EVERYONE (no matter how innocent and law-abiding you may think you are) breaking the speed limit, selfishly, and putting those around you at risk (which is not your right). Life is a compromise. People can travel and learn or they can sit out in the back 40 with their barbecue, beer and hatred...and be cut off from civilization and resources. They can adapt to modernity and connect with the rest of the world - and the resources (especially, educational ones) available to them. They can choose to be responsible while bitching about the irresponsibility of others or they can lead by example. I suspect the intelligent people (whether Ivy League or road scholar - Ford Pinto or Mercedes Benz) will make themselves known by way of their personal choices. You are what you do and say - what other people see - not who you think and feel you are. That is just a fantasy role-playing game running in your head; Often, an excuse for irresponsibility and bad behavior. For the record, I believe it is far more shameful to see well-educated, financially secure people demonstrating their ignorance by way of irresponsibility and selfishness. They cannot claim they didn't know - they do. When the judge comes calling, they will have no excuse. Those without such comforts are, at least, making an honest mistake if they never learned and should be the focus of those who do know - and the receivers of their help, rather than scorn. This article may provide some insight on what we have to face if we don't learn to understand the complexities that many people seem to disregard daily: - Urbanisation might be the most profound change to human society in a century, more telling than colour, class or continent

"Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful." - William Shakespeare

"Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful." - William Shakespeare - Philosophers ponder the meaning of life. At least, that is the stereotype. When I risk admitting to a stranger that I teach philosophy for a living and face the question ‘What is the meaning of life?’, I have a ready response: we figured that out ...

Dividing Line

Dividing Line - NASA's Operation IceBridge successfully collected data over several glaciers, research sites, and some parallel coastal grid lines on April 26, 2018, as part of its Spring 2018 campaign.

Greece and the Aegean and Ionian Seas

Greece and the Aegean and Ionian Seas - This view from above the nation of Turkey looks out across the Aegean Sea, over Greece and onto the Ionian Sea where Sicily and the boot of Italy are barely visible. The sun's glint on the Mediterranean waters highlight the Greek islands while clouds cloak the island of Crete.

Celebrating National Park Week With a View of Mount Rainier

Celebrating National Park Week With a View of Mount Rainier - NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold captured this clear view of Mount Rainier National Park as the International Space Station orbited above, sharing the image with his followers on April 25 to celebrate National Park Week.

Behold the Northern Lights

Behold the Northern Lights - As our nearest star, the Sun bathes Earth in a steady stream of energetic particles, magnetic fields and radiation that can stimulate our atmosphere and light up the night sky, like the aurora borealis, or northern lights.

Gravity’s Rainbow

Gravity’s Rainbow - Saturn’s rings display their subtle colors in this view captured on Aug. 22, 2009, by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft.

Here's the Finale of Don Giovanni, where the statue of the man he killed comes to take him to Hell. I thought I'd share the video for anyone who's curious about it... ;)

Here's the Finale of Don Giovanni, where the statue of the man he killed comes to take him to Hell. I thought I'd share the video for anyone who's curious about it... ;) -

- A new case study by Harvard Business School asserts that U.S. politicians have rigged the system to such a degree that the U.S. is on its way to becoming a failed democracy. (photo credit: Youtube)

Finally, the day has arrived... 🤩🎭🎨🎼🌞 I've been waiting for this for several months. I'm talking the wife to go see Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' tonight at the Dallas Opera. Not only is the story a tale of karma befalling a womanizer who reeks of arrogance, but the music is exquisite. It was written after Leopold Mozart died (Wolfgang's father, who was very firm, intimidating and one of few people that had a critical effect on Mozart - his father was also a composer), so it is full of passion and drama. Needless to say, I am a huge fan of Mozart... It's going to be a great performance! 👏

Finally, the day has arrived... 🤩🎭🎨🎼🌞 I've been waiting for this for several months. I'm talking the wife to go see Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' tonight at the Dallas Opera. Not only is the story a tale of karma befalling a womanizer who reeks of arrogance, but the music is exquisite. It was written after Leopold Mozart died (Wolfgang's father, who was very firm, intimidating and one of few people that had a critical effect on Mozart - his father was also a composer), so it is full of passion and drama. Needless to say, I am a huge fan of Mozart... It's going to be a great performance! 👏 - Classic scene from the movie. I only wish I HAD a winged Helmet... It's wwaay cooool !!!!! Don Giovanni -- Act 2, Scene 24 -- Finale. "IL Commendatore" appea...

The Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands - "The Enchanted Islands of #Ecuador – the Galápagos," were photographed by NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold from aboard the International Space Station.

Celebrating 28 Years of the Hubble Space Telescope

Celebrating 28 Years of the Hubble Space Telescope - This colorful image, taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, celebrates the Earth-orbiting observatory’s 28th anniversary of viewing the heavens, giving us a window seat to the universe’s extraordinary stellar tapestry of birth and destruction.

Sounding Rocket Launches CHESS Mission to Study the Matter Between Stars

Sounding Rocket Launches CHESS Mission to Study the Matter Between Stars - The Colorado High-resolution Echelle Stellar Spectrograph, or CHESS 4, was successfully launched on a NASA Black Brant IX sounding rocket at 12:47 p.m. EDT, April 16 (4:47 a.m. local, April 17) from the Kwajalein Atoll in The Republic of the Marshall Islands.

- ╔ ೋღ☃ღೋ ╗ ☼ Life Is Good ☼ ╚ ೋღ☃ღೋ ╝

Seasons of Snow Cover in the West

Seasons of Snow Cover in the West -

- Mushrooms just might be able to cut down on cow farts, wash your clothes, treat PTSD, replace styrofoam and leather, fight cancer, and save the bees.

- Michelangelo would never feel comfortable being called an architect int his lifetime but his ability as one was second to none.

- Check this out! Everyone can use a little extra cash, eh? ;)

Feeling powerless?

Feeling powerless? - Imperial Chinese conscription shows how ordinary people exercise influential political skills, even in a repressive state

This is an outstanding article on the progress of philosophy:

This is an outstanding article on the progress of philosophy: - Science asks and answers its big questions, so why is philosophy taking its time? Because it’s only just getting started

NASA's TESS Mission Hopes to Find Exoplanets Beyond Our Solar System

NASA's TESS Mission Hopes to Find Exoplanets Beyond Our Solar System - The worlds orbiting other stars are called “exoplanets,” and they come in a wide variety of sizes, from gas giants larger than Jupiter to small, rocky planets about as big around as Earth or Mars. This rocky super-Earth is an illustration of the type of planets future telescopes, like NASA's TES...

The Aurora and the Sunrise

The Aurora and the Sunrise - Auroras are one of the many Earthly phenomena the crew of the International Space Station observe from their perch high above the planet.

Our Sun: Three Different Wavelengths

Our Sun: Three Different Wavelengths - From March 20-23, 2018, the Solar Dynamics Observatory captured a series of images of our Sun and then ran together three sequences in three different extreme ultraviolet wavelengths.

- A very good demonstration (pardon the language - not safe for work, but necessary to make the point): This is a perfect example of the duality (double standards) of people who claim be 'good'. If the issue is just an ideology, people will have a lot to say - even getting angry and downright assertive about their opinions. However, once it is time to actually back that talk up with action...well, they show their true colors (much like a great deal of 'religious people'...or Republicans...do). This is what everyone knows, nobody admits and none can claim is not true - especially when it is shown so clearly as it is here:

We Were There: 2018 USA Science and Engineering Festival

We Were There: 2018 USA Science and Engineering Festival - Attendees talk with NASA staff at exhibit booths during Sneak Peek Friday at the USA Science and Engineering Festival, Friday, April 6, 2018. At the festival, NASA showcased the future of human space exploration – including the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System rocket.

- "People try to live within their income so they can afford to pay taxes to a government that can’t live within its income." – Robert Half

Hubble Finds an Einstein Ring

Hubble Finds an Einstein Ring - These graceful arcs are a cosmic phenomenon known as an Einstein ring - created as the light from distant galaxies warps around an extremely large mass, like a galaxy cluster.

Gullies of Matara Crater

Gullies of Matara Crater - Gullies on Martian sand dunes, like these in Matara Crater, have been very active, with many flows in the last ten years.

- LoL! ;)

Memphis From Space

Memphis From Space - We honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who delivered the famous "I've been to the mountaintop" speech in Memphis, Tennessee fifty years ago, the day before he was assassinated on April 4, 1968. This image taken from the International Space Station shows a detailed view of the city of Mem...

Transforming Aviation

Transforming Aviation -

- Don't give up your goodness... A man saw a bug floundering around in the water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the bug stung him. The man still tried to get the bug out of the water, but it stung him again. On seeing this, his friend told him to stop saving the bug that kept stinging him. But the man said: "It is the nature of the bug to sting. It is my nature to love. Why should I give up my nature to love just because it is the nature of the bug to sting?"

- Here's a challenge... See if you can figure out how far back the Govt/Public School System seemed to have stopped even trying to educate the people about their rights. I don't think that would be a very easy task, but I can say that I was taught what was necessary and I believe the people who protested in the 60-70s did too. Maybe it started with Reagan. I think this video hits the nail squarely on the head. What do you think? ;)

This one still tears me up! :P

This one still tears me up! :P - Another human of note bites the dust... We suffer a big loss when these old-school guys pass on. Pretty soon, this skill will become a lost art - one that this guy excelled at. Rest in peace, Jack! ;)

- Profound wisdom...

Hangout in Space

Hangout in Space - NASA astronaut Drew Feustel seemingly hangs off the International Space Station while conducting a spacewalk on March 29, 2018.

April Fools from Google Maps: Where's Waldo? 🤪

April Fools from Google Maps: Where's Waldo? 🤪 - Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

- In light of the one-day 'holiday' (though, it may seem like a perpetual one, these days), here is some April Fools' Day Philosophy: