Sunday, August 11, 2013

Spaceport America, Meteors and Golden Retrievers



Good Afternoon, Don! It’s been a busy week getting everything caught up and put away. But, I think I’m almost done. A single last load of sheets, some folding to do and I should have the house back in order. School is progressing, we are already at midterms! I got the grading done late Friday, and midterm grades posted. It’s been lots of rush to get things done, but I think I’m finally under control! On top of everything, I squeezed in an edit for the next Transport – the second episode of The Search by Lisa Manifold. She changed up the story some – I’m anxious to read what she does with the rest of it.

I enjoyed you pictures of Woody! Beautiful dog! And your description of him as a George Clooney or Cary Grant is most appropriate. Personally, I am either a dog or a cat person. Right now we are dog people as my husband and our daughter are allergic to cats. Our son, however, is very much a cat person. He has two and I promise you, they are his children. And if given a choice as to who save, his wife or his cats – he would be hard pressed to decide.

Just after I admired your pictures of Woody, I stumbled into a story about the Guisachan Gathering in Scotland, the home of the Golden Retriever breed. There was a breed reunion this summer and over 220 dogs and their owners from around the world participated. There was a picture of over 180 dogs in the same frame. Incredible!

I read a lot of science articles this week, but the most impressive were HydrolnfraTechnologies and Spaceport America. Hydrolnfra Technologies is a Swedish company that has apparently discovered Hydro Nano Gas which neutralizes carbon fuel pollution emissions. Those are the emissions that come out of coal stacks, hydro plants, cars, engines of any kind.  If the reports are true, and cost is effective, maybe we have a chance of turning the tide on greenhouse emissions.

Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space, Sir Richard Branson’s brain child. Located in New Mexico and completing testing in the Mojave Desert, the space port should be ready for customers within the year. New Mexico is a bit closer to me than Florida – maybe I’ll get to see a spaceship take off yet! That would be a rush! As I’ve said previously, I’d love to go into space, but for now the cost is a bit prohibitive. I’m not sure they’ll let me go on the installment plan. But I can watch!

My last bit of news is about the Perseid Meteor shower. When I first read that you could watch through a webcast, I was a bit fickle – why don’t people just get up off their duffs and go and watch it! Are we that lazy and tied to our technology that we can’t experience something first hand? About that time a thunderstorm settled in and we had clouds most of the night. Looks like tonight will be cloudy too. Webcast? Not such a bad idea! Did you know that the shower is dust particles, most the size of a dime, from the Swift-Tuttle comet?

Onto the Riddle Cave!

You were correct! Lightning was my last riddle.

I’m still looking at yours. If we ever do anything with the riddles, yours will be listed as: only accomplished linguists need attempt. I have no idea! I’m thinking favorite band/famous people on a tee-shirt? But I’m not totally sold on that answer.

Struggle to get tall

Tend toward gangly

Finicky about moisture

Need heat to produce

Cool nights turn me make me blush

 

Have a great week everyone!

Carolyn

 



 All images downloaded from Google images except for figure 2.
Fig 1 – Curiosity
Fig 2 – “222 Golden Retrievers Frolic in field in Scotland” by Gordon Richardson. Sponsored by Scotland Golden Retriever Club.
Fig 3 – Spaceport/Virgin Galactic retrieved from www.virgingalactic.com
Fig 4 – Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Sunday Night retrieved from www.patriotledger.com  
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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