Neil Armstrong, RIP

In a way it is fitting that I learned about Neil Armstrong's death while dropping off one of the Troglotykes (#2) at college. In addition to my father, there was no greater influence and inspiration for my becoming an engineer than the Apollo program. Actually, it was probably as much how it influenced my father on that July night in 1969 as to how it influenced me.

My recollection of it was recorded first in Troglotyke #2's baby book. I wrote a poem about it nine years after that. A couple years after that, seven years ago, I published my memory of that night:

NASA image

A long day of mild amusement for a two-year old, filled by waiting for anyone I know, holding vigil on the back steps of the farm house, toy tractors in hand. Then lots of people my folks knew were looking for my little brother. The funeral for my aunt, my Dad's brother's wife, was over, but I didn't know that. He was looking at cows. They were big and interesting, and he didn't want to play with me on the big, scary steps.

It was getting dark when we got home. People our folks knew were there, too. Something was happening. They were quiet; kind of like before. It was big.

Dad was carrying my brother and told me to follow him outside. The night was warm. Above shined clear the moon. Men were there, but we couldn't see them. We waved anyway. (I think we did that for my brother's sake.) Barely I caught the look in Dad's eyes. Not a question, more a simple command, "See what we can do."

It was the anchor of that night, the vision of wanting to be able to make things like that happen. I didn't go into the aerospace field when I graduated because it was on the front edge of a major contraction as an industry, but I've enjoyed a high tech career where I've been able to make some pretty cool things happen, invent a few things, and learn a bit more about the world. And I've had a career successful enough (so far) for my being able to send my children to the kinds of schools they are attending to dream their own dreams and seek out their own paths to truth. I know my father would have seen that as a fitting thing. I think Mr. Armstrong was from a similar camp.


Link to video.

Godspeed, Mr. Armstrong, as you make this next small step and giant leap. May the angels lead you to paradise. Rest in peace.

Livestream of Curiosity Mars Rover Landing - UPDATED

Update:

Wheels down on Mars. Receiving images. Follow the progress of the mission with JPL.

Early images from Gale Crater, Mars. Curiosity's wheel is clear in lower right corner of  image on the left; the right image shows Curiosity's shadow. (Images: NASA/JPL)

Livestream from JPL:



Live Video streaming by Ustream

Curiosity's 7 Minutes of Terror [JPL Video]

Really the terror is for the folks at JPL. The show begins Monday, just after midnight CST.



Link to video.

Curiosity: Hoping to Stick the Landing [JPL Infographic]

While I am increasingly skeptical of government-funded research, this is still pretty cool:

Image: J. Moore/JPL

HHT: Holy Kaw!

Life is Beautiful

Here is a classic example of why I like TED. This is more than a fair trade for the nuttery it sometimes propagates.

From the INK Conference in December 2010, image-maker Alexander Tsiaras shares a powerful medical visualization, showing human development from conception to birth and beyond.

Even though I am a mathematician, I look at this with marvel of how do these instruction sets not make these mistakes as they build what is us? It's a mystery, it's magic, it's divinity.

Link to video.

(HHT: Judd)

3 ½ Time Outs

A Day Late and Still not a Flying Car Edition

Hosted by Acts of the Apostasy.

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Link to video.

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I've heard it said that if aspirin were created today, it would be called a super drug. In a similar fashion, toothpaste may be a super cleaner.

From Gizmodo:

11 Other Uses for Toothpaste

Besides keeping your teeth sparkly, toothpaste offers a wide range of cleaning, cosmetic—even healing abilities around the house. Just be sure to use the white pasty stuff, not gel. And for any of these tips that call for an actual toothbrush, just consider that tool off-limits for the mouth from here on out.

1. Perfume your palms - Cutting onions, cleaning fish, or handling garlic can leave a strong odor on your hands. Wash them with toothpaste to remove the smell.

2. Clean your Jewelry - Use a soft toothbrush with a tiny amount of toothpaste to brush dull metal jewelry, then rinse and polish it to a shine with a soft cloth. Soak seriously grungy metal in a cup of water with dissolved toothpaste. Don't use it to get a pearly white finish on actual pearls—toothpaste damages the surface.

3. Put paste on a damp sponge to wipe crayon off painted walls

4. Defog goggles - The mild abrasive in toothpaste is perfect for removing the crud that causes your sporty eyewear to fog up. As a preventative measure, just lightly rub toothpaste inside a diving mask, motorcycle goggles, or on a hockey helmet face guard. Wipe and rinse the surface clean. (Note: YMMV—toothpaste can remove special coatings like anti-glare treatments.)

5. Clear zits - Cover pimples with a dab of toothpaste before you hit the sack, then wash your face clean in the morning. This works for bug bites and bee stings too—just remove the stinger first. The paste will dry out and shrink your offending blemishes.

6. Do your nails - Toothpaste works on toenails and fingernails like it does on teeth. Clean your nails with a toothbrush and paste to make them strong and shiny.

7. De-funk a bottle - Wash baby bottles with toothpaste and a bottle scrubber, making sure to rinse them very well with water. The paste will get rid of that nauseating sour milk smell.

8. Remove soap scum - Rub a glass shower door with a damp sponge and a squirt of toothpaste. For heavy scum and soap stains, let the toothpaste sit on the door for several minutes before rinsing it off.

9. Polish chrome faucet fixtures

10. Hide drink rings - If you aren't fanatical about putting coasters under your drinks, then you probably have water rings on your wooden furniture. Rub them off with toothpaste and a soft cloth.

11. Remove stains - Scrub a carpet stain with toothpaste on an abrasive brush, then rinse with water. Tough stains require a couple of scrubbings. Toothpaste can also remove stains in cotton clothes, but it doesn't work for all types of fabric.

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Link to video.

-3 ½-

And about those flying cars that should only be three years away if life imitates art:



Link to video.

They may be closer than you think.

Un/Underemployment Rate Hits 50% for New College Grads

There is welcome news of sorts for Troglotykes #1 & #2, who will be both be in college this fall with academic interests that align with current employer demand. However, on average, a college degree isn't worth what it once was. Like with most everything, the value of a diploma follows supply and demand. From USA Today:

While there's strong demand in science, education and health fields, arts and humanities flounder. Median wages for those with bachelor's degrees are down from 2000, hit by technological changes that are eliminating midlevel jobs such as bank tellers. Most future job openings are projected to be in lower-skilled positions such as home health aides, who can provide personalized attention as the U.S. population ages.

Taking underemployment into consideration, the job prospects for bachelor's degree holders fell last year to the lowest level in more than a decade.

Take into account the spiraling costs, and the easy access to student loans to cover them in the short term, and, with the earning power shrinking with declining demand when exiting college, it is easy to conclude we are blowing up another economic bubble. The question will be whether we ignore it until it pops, or have the will to try to deflate it. It also means the Troglodytrix and I likely will have to counsel against any potential changes in college majors.

3 ½ Time-outs Tuesday

Hosted by Acts of the Apostasy.

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Real men pray the rosary. Cowboy up.

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I'm all in for Rick Santorum. To the convention. I caucused for him in February. I voted for delegates to our CD and state conventions that support him. For the first time, I've given money to a presidential candidate's campaign during the primary. Yes, I've committed a lot of chips. And I realized it doesn't matter what cards come up next Tuesday, or next month, I would just keep calling to the end. I still like my hand, so I'm pushing them all in, to the point that I'm a micro-bundler. I don't buy the early "unity" argument for the fall, or that there's damage in "dragging it out." Respect the process; play it out.

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An early indicator that Facebook may have just peaked. Of all things, a QR code? Really?

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I really don't know what all happened with Trayvon Martin. And neither do you. Respect the process; let it play out.