Raoul F. Duke
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"Be specific if you order the mushrooms!"
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« on: August 06, 2012, 12:05:45 AM » |
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I don't know if you can get it in China or not, but if you can it might be interesting to watch the Curiosity rover land on Mars. The event is being streamed live by NASA (The US space agency) and is generating some buzz on this side. The NASA Television link is http://www.nasa.gov/ntv The landing is expected at 2:31pm on August 6 China (Beijing) time (1:31am August 6 US Eastern time) but the broadcast starts up a couple of hours before. The rover has been hurtling towards Mars for 8 months. It's around the size and weight of a large car, and instead of using parachutes or balloons the landing will utilize some kind of newly developed rocket-powered crane. I just saw an NBC News reporter ask a NASA official a great question about the landing: "Is it risky?"  |
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"Vicodin and dumplings...it's a great combination!" (Anthony Bourdain, in Harbin)
"Here in China we aren't just teaching...
we're building the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads of tomorrow!" (Raoul F. Duke)
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Fozzwaldus
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« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2012, 01:07:50 AM » |
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here's a (very well-constructed) wiki about the whole thing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curiosity_roverI love how the US rovers are called things that appeal to humanity on a broad sense like 'curiosity' or 'oppurtunity' etc., not 'Baby Jesus on a Bald Eagle Watching Nascar Ultimate American Victory Pod' or something similarly parochial and nationalistic |
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两只老外， 两只老外，跑得快，跑得快，
一个是老酒鬼，一个是老色鬼，真奇怪， 真奇怪
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Escaped Lunatic
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Finding new ways to conquer the world
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« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2012, 01:52:13 AM » |
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I love how the US rovers are called things that appeal to humanity on a broad sense like 'curiosity' or 'oppurtunity' etc., not 'Baby Jesus on a Bald Eagle Watching Nascar Ultimate American Victory Pod' or something similarly parochial and nationalistic
Shhhhh.... NASA is desperate for funding and if you post stuff like that, they'll start selling rover naming rights. |
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I'm pro-cloning and we vote!
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Escaped Lunatic
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Finding new ways to conquer the world
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« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2012, 06:21:12 AM » |
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Ummm... looks like maybe that's 1:31 pm, Big Silly time. It's about to hit the atmosphere.
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I'm pro-cloning and we vote!
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Raoul F. Duke
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"Be specific if you order the mushrooms!"
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« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2012, 06:25:26 AM » |
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Woop, you're right. I figured the current time difference from US Central time instead of Eastern...  But there's still time to tune in! Anyone without a Very Passable Nicety know if the stream is accessible from China? |
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"Vicodin and dumplings...it's a great combination!" (Anthony Bourdain, in Harbin)
"Here in China we aren't just teaching...
we're building the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads of tomorrow!" (Raoul F. Duke)
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teacheraus
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« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2012, 06:50:28 AM » |
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It is accessible from China.
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Sometimes it seems things go by too quickly. We are so busy watching out for what's just ahead of us that we don't take the time to enjoy where we are. (Calvin and Hobbs)
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Raoul F. Duke
Lovable Rogue
Despot in Absentia
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"Be specific if you order the mushrooms!"
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« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2012, 06:54:23 AM » |
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...aaaand Curiosity has landed safely. Signal strengths high and Mars images received.  A historic moment. A huge advance in rover technology. A totally radical new delivery system. Space exploration rocks.  I'm glad to hear it's accessible in China. Apparently images will continue to be streamed for some days to come.  |
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"Vicodin and dumplings...it's a great combination!" (Anthony Bourdain, in Harbin)
"Here in China we aren't just teaching...
we're building the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads of tomorrow!" (Raoul F. Duke)
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Escaped Lunatic
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Finding new ways to conquer the world
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« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2012, 06:55:24 AM » |
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They've enhanced the first image.  |
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I'm pro-cloning and we vote!
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Raoul F. Duke
Lovable Rogue
Despot in Absentia
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Posts: 9577
"Be specific if you order the mushrooms!"
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« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2012, 06:57:15 AM » |
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What?!? No Starbucks?  |
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"Vicodin and dumplings...it's a great combination!" (Anthony Bourdain, in Harbin)
"Here in China we aren't just teaching...
we're building the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads of tomorrow!" (Raoul F. Duke)
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Escaped Lunatic
Global Moderator
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Finding new ways to conquer the world
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« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2012, 06:59:51 AM » |
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I'm pro-cloning and we vote!
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Escaped Lunatic
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Finding new ways to conquer the world
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« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2012, 05:03:15 AM » |
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I'm pro-cloning and we vote!
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fox
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« Reply #11 on: August 17, 2012, 03:20:53 AM » |
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i quite liked this one ...
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regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value.
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Stil
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« Reply #12 on: August 17, 2012, 04:04:27 AM » |
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My internet has slowed to a crawl and they are sending fuckin' pictures from Mars!
And where the hell is The Great Gazoo!
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Fozzwaldus
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« Reply #13 on: August 17, 2012, 11:25:23 AM » |
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两只老外， 两只老外，跑得快，跑得快，
一个是老酒鬼，一个是老色鬼，真奇怪， 真奇怪
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ericthered
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« Reply #14 on: August 19, 2012, 09:11:43 AM » |
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You know...at some point the technologically superior civilization that lives beneath the surface of Mars is going to be rather violently miffed that we keep dropping weird-looking cars on their roof...
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"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination." Oscar Wilde.
"It's all oojah cum spiffy". Bertie Wooster.
"The stars are God's daisy chain" Madeleine Bassett.
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