Monthly Archives: December 2007

From an article in yesterday’s Los Angeles Times, The tiny, mighty transistor: A little electronic device that triggered one of the most dramatic technological explosions in history turns 60 on Sunday. The humble transistor and its descendant, the semiconductor chip, … Continue reading →

Today is Arthur C. Clarke’s 90th birthday. So today’s quote comes from him: If we have learned one thing from the history of invention and discovery, it is that, in the long run — and often in the short one … Continue reading →

Apparently Newsweek agrees with Columbia University, that giving anti-Semitic, anti-democratic, misogynistic, authoritarian dictators a forum is a good thing. The current issue has a “Special Guest Commentary” by the thug running Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. I suppose they will allow the … Continue reading →

According to GlobalSecuity.org, Boeing has been busy creating invisible directed energy weapons: The Advanced Tactical Laser can place a 10-centimeter-wide beam with the heating power of a blowtorch on distant targets for up to 100 shots. The Advanced Tactical Laser … Continue reading →

Sir Arthur C. Clarke turns 90 years old on Sunday, December 16. He has given a video message: Send to Kindle

As I listen to certain pundits and politicians commenting upon other pundits and politicians that they don’t like, some of their criticisms remind me of a certain quote: If you give me six lines written by the hand of the … Continue reading →

Xcor Aerospace in Mojave, California has been busy: XCOR Aerospace and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) completed tests on a methane-burning rocket engine for NASA. This engine could help return America to the Moon and allow astronauts to tap extra-terrestrial sources … Continue reading →

At Man Conqueres Space, some space enthusiasts have imagined what things could have been had Von Braun’s visions, as they were shown in the Collier’s Magazine articles from 1952-1954, had actually happened. A longer and better quality trailer is available … Continue reading →

The Geminid Meteor Shower peaks tonight. Just look East when the sky is dark. Mars is in Gemini, so the constellation is easy to find. The meteors will seem to radiate from that constellation (hence the name). Up to 120 … Continue reading →

A man is a fool not to put everything he has, at any given moment, into what he is creating. You’re there now doing the thing on paper. You’re not killing the goose, you’re just producing an egg. So I … Continue reading →