Hubble Saved!

*Squeeee!*

It's official, there's going to be one more mission to service Hubble in 2008!

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/oct/HQ_06343_HST_announcement.html
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/10/31/hubble/index.html
http://www.hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2006/53/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6102690.stm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15489217/

As I described in more detail elsewhere, there's a few things that I feel are crucial to a useful mission:

1. Boost the telescope's orbit


2. Replace the dying batteries


3. Replace the dying gyroscopes

Things like upgrading cameras are a bonus. Also, keep in mind that this mission does NOT solve the issue of what to do when it "dies" - re-enters the atmosphere. Parts of the main mirror will probably survive re-entry (that is, not burn up), and it's been estimated that there's up to a 1 in 700 chance of human fatality from an uncontrolled descent. NASA still has not addressed that concern.

x-posted

Happy Halloween!

I forgot to dress up at work today. But I got a balloon and put a sign on the door and lights in the stairway, and I'm waiting for Trick-or-Treaters. I doubt I'll get any. I haven't for the last two years.

OH MY GOODNESS! I just got four kids, and they're the most adorable little things ever! One of them was a tiny two-foot tall dragon. :-D I'm so happy. ^_^

AND A FROGGIE! *glee!*

Okay, the real reason I was writing this post was to give a link to a Halloween story by Neil Gaiman in the NY Times. I'm only halfway through, so I'm not sure yet if it's real, or realistic fiction, or fantasy, or what. We'll see.

But kiddies! Yay the balloon worked. *glows*

New bag!; Gender issues

( I transfered my stuff over to my new bookbag... )

( Halloween costumes )

( TMI )

For a timely chuckle,

Stambovsky v. Ackley (NY 1991)

Plaintiff sues defendant for selling him a house without disclosing the existence of a poltergeist on the premises. Whether the ghost actually exists or not is only briefly mentioned, and only in the dissent. The decision is full of bad puns (in addition to the obligatory legalese I don't entirely get).

(Thanks to "Foxtrot" for the link.)