Farpoint Universe Continued. Space and Science News. The Imaginarium.

Hello Troops,

Today we continue reporting from the SGS Vanguard.  It's mission is to survey the Kepler 62 system for the future arrival of Fleet Station Farpoint.  This story is your continuing introduction to the new Farpoint Universe.  We have much to do as we explore and secure this system.  

Farpoint Station is currently in the imagineering phase.  Construction of the station will begin in a few months at the Renaissance Shipyards.  The station's modules will be carried to Kepler 62e by stardrive carriers and built in orbit of its final home.  It is an exciting, dangerous time.  We are  frontiersman.  We are far, far from home.  

Mr. W. 

Farpoint.  Installment 2
Read Installment 1

Report Filed 

SGS Vanguard

Kepler 62e

My position as a Troubadour reporter has taken me many places far and wide.  This year I'm assigned to the SGS Vanguard to cover their survey of the Kepler 62 system for next year's arrival of Farpoint Station.  Few reporters are granted the unconditional access given to me onboard a SpaceGuard Ship.  This is because the Government desires to inspire pioneering individuals and families to volunteer as settlers in soon to be established colonies deep in the Outlands.  These Colonies will put a human footprint far outside the safety of the Treaty Zone.  The government expects these new Outland Colonies will draw Olympian attention.  The Genetically Enhanced Humans (Genies) will respond in kind, if they haven't already done so - and many believe they have. Olympian Genies will move to build their own stations and colonies.  Conflicts are sure to follow, which is why the Farpoint Station is being installed at Kepler 62e, the home of the first Commonwealth Colony outside the Treaty Zone.  The SGS Vanguard and Voyager will be assigned to the Kepler Colony to provide additional protection.  The Vanguard is at location, the Voyager is still over one year out.  

Captain Villano called just before I went to supper, inviting me to tour the ship's bridge the following morning.  I left my studio cabin with Pad in hand at 0900 sharp.  The Crew of the Vanguard are generally cordial.  They know I'm a reporter, which makes some of them uneasy.  They know the importance of their mission, and don't want to be seen by me doing or saying anything which might make SpaceGuard look unprofessional.  So, I usually get the polite "Good Morning" if I say it first.  If not, I get the half smile or the casual nod tossed in my direction.  

The Vanguard's hallways are well lit with indirect lighting.  The walls are modular, made of panels which can easily be removed by pressing two recessed buttons in the top corners.  Every ten yards or so is a flashscreen portal, giving the user access to the Vanguard's intranet.  The floor is made of slightly cushioned rubber which provides a certain 'bounce' in the step.  The ship's Gravplates are beneath the flooring.  Artificial gravity is one of several inventions the Commonwealth stole from the Genies - all taken from a captured Olympian ship which failed to self destruct during the first months of the Galactic War.  

I approached the Lift.  The doors failed to open, meaning it was engaged.  

"Destination?" the computer spoke.

"Bridge." I replied.   

"Authorization?" the computer queried. The computer recognized my face but not my clearance to go to the bridge.   I turned to the Flashscreen next to the Lift door.  I tapped the black screen.  The Intranet menu appeared.  I tapped "Voice".  

"Working?"  the computer spoke.  

"I want to speak the the bridge."    A moment passed.  The screen changed showing the face of one of the bridge officers.  

"Yes?" she questioned.  

"Captain Villano wanted to see me on the bridge this morning."  

"Standby,"  She tapped her screen, the image froze.  A moment passed.  "You're good to come up," she smiled, the screen dissolved to the ship menu.  I turned back to the door.  

"Destination?" the computer spoke.

"Bridge," I replied.  

"Stand by.  Your wait will be 34 seconds."  I waited 34 seconds; the lift door opened.  I stood to the side to let two crew members exit before I entered.  "Prepare," the computer spoke, warning me to take hold of the railing.   The car moved sideways for several seconds before stopping to pick up another passenger, a young medical intern.  We gave each other the standard courteous transit smile.  The Lift rose several decks and stopped again to let the intern off.  The doors closed, the lift continued vertically to the top of the ship.  "Deck One, Bridge," the computer spoke. The doors opened.   

To be continued.....
I try to keep them short - I know the attention spans I'm working with  :)


Space and Science News

13 Unlucky Inventors Killed by Their Own Inventions

While some inventors enjoy fame and fortune thanks to their inventions, for a handful of inventors, their devices proved their own worst enemies. Here are 13 unlucky (and in some cases, foolhardy) inventors who perished thanks to their own creations.   Read More

"Visit Earth" is a series by Bri Hand. This series discusses a few characteristics about our planet and its place amongst millions (or billions) of alien planets located in our galaxy.

Of course, many of these planets could harbor intelligent life-forms. So Bri and her team recorded 5 audio files of things that are seemingly ordinary to those of us on Earth, but wouldn't be quite so ordinary to other sentient beings. These things that include the sound of a ticking clock, waves crashing against the shore, human language, Earth's atmosphere, and rain falling onto the top of a roof.

After recording these things, they complied all of the images seen here with the various sound clips, converted them into audio files, and made this video, which they sent off into space using radio waves and a helium-filled weather balloon -- in hopes of enticing aliens to visit Earth.

 

NASA's Ion Engine

 When NASA sends a rocket out to tow an asteroid into Earth orbit, it'll be ion propelled.
Ion propulsion engines harness magnetic fields to create thrust, instead of depending on chemical explosions the way chemically fueled engines do. NASA engineers are developing such an engine for the agency's plans to bring an asteroid into Earth's orbit and then send astronauts there to study it. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden went to see a prototype engine yesterday at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the Associated Press reported.  Read More

➤ Rewriting Memories: http://is.gd/JYlapy
➤ Limb Regeneration: http://is.gd/RndLTv
➤ 3D Printed Breathing Device: http://is.gd/cWhG0s
➤ Quantum Link: http://is.gd/u8QIBk
➤ Alzheimer's Molecular Trigger: http://is.gd/ujEg6u
➤ Universe's Light: http://is.gd/4tywM8
 

A Smile

Get it?  If not, email me for the answer (spacecamputah@gmail.com).


The Imaginarium
On today's menu, Ordinary stew made Extraordinary.

His mother said she's be right back, she only had to pick up a few things (like we all haven't been in this situation before). 

 

This one has experience with the law.



Designer Shoes

Gamers of the World, Unite!

Email me if you need need help  :)

The Only Candle a Real Man Would Ever Buy :)

One creative idea for a Eiffel Tower roller coaster

Not exactly the recipe to success....

Now that's art I can appreciate.

One way to keep cool

My Last Missions as Space Center Director. Retirement. A New Sci-Fi Space Show. The Imaginarium

Hello Troops,
Ahhhhh, a three day weekend and Ahhhhhhh, no more retirement open houses.  Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate the kindness and work that went into them.  I appreciated seeing friends, old friends, really old friend, nearly dead friends, staff, old staff, very old stall, nearly dead staff and of course volunteers.  I enjoyed catching up with life stories.  I enjoyed it all - but glad its over.  It's torture standing there talking nonstop while everyone around you is sitting and enjoying brownies, mint chocolate brownies, mini-cinnamon rolls, donut holes, Costco cookies, Costco cake, chocolate mints, etc.

Here is the rest of my check list before I turn in my Space Center keys and exit my Alpine School District life:

1.  Shelley Elementary Field Day
2.  Central Elementary Dance Festival.  I "get" to MC the event.
3.  Central Elementary 6th Grade Graduation.  I heard a rumor that I'm up for graduating myself.
     Imagine having gone to 29 sixth grade graduations and on my 30th I GET TO GRADUATE
     MYSELF.
4.  Enjoy the last day staff luncheon.  Say my final good bye to the teachers at Central.
4.  Finish my check out check list, pack up my things, load them into the Battlestar, walk to the
     office, turn in my check list, have it signed, turn in my keys and talk one last walk down the
     long hallway to the south doors and step into the sunshine.

I have it all thought out and calculated to the second.  I don't know what my final parting words will be to the old Central building.  We've got history that old school and I.  The teachers and students have all come and gone, but that old building has been a hugh part of my life for 30 years.

I'll think of something.


MY LAST MISSION AS FOUNDER / DIRECTOR OF THE CHRISTA MCAULIFFE SPACE EDUCATION CENTER

I did my last mission as the Director of the Space Center on Friday.  Mrs. Riley's class from Central School did The Children of Perikoi.  I worked 2nd chair for the first mission and Bridge Supervisor for the second.  It was the best way to sign out because my very first mission in at the Space Center in November 1990 was with Central Students,  and Central students took me out at the end.

My last day's A.M mission.  Central 5th Grade.

My P.M. Mission.  It is 1:40 P.M.  We just finished The Children of Perokoi

I stopped to snap this picture as Zac Hirschi was getting the kids ready to leave the Magellan.
He gave me a final salute as Space Center Director. Andrew McCord is sitting at 2nd Chair

 And Finally........




And Finally, Finally




And I'm Off to Farpoint, where I'll take the mic in hand once more and venture back into the unknown because.......  Well, let me let Isaac Asimov say it for me:

The Influence of Science Fiction on Science Fact......
The Chicken or the Egg.  An Essay

Science fiction, we can’t escape it. It’s quite literally everywhere we look. Whether it is the warp drive from “Star Trek” or the artificial intelligence from “I, Robot,” science fiction provides inspiration and information. It helps us to see the possibilities, and helps us to better understand current technology. More importantly, scienc...e fiction offers us a glimpse of where science is (or could be) heading.

One question that has plagued many individuals is, which preceded which? Did science fact beget science fiction? Or is it the other way around? In truth, I suppose it is a silly question because the answer is forever changing. Sometimes people will imagine fantastical things and, hoping to bring their imaginings to life, conduct scientific research that corresponds to this idea—whether they are interested in invisibility cloaks, force fields, transporters, photon torpedoes, flying cars, 3D printers, or any other number of things. In such cases, science fact springs from science fiction. Conversely, individuals may study science for years and conduct advanced research that gives them a solid basis upon which to build their ideas. Then, once they have acquired enough knowledge, these individuals may step away from research to focus on their fanciful imaginings. In these instances, science fact breeds science fiction.

But regardless of the path that is taken, the main point remains: The best scientists, and the best writers of science fiction, have a firm understanding of scientific principles and a large knowledge base; they also have the ability to envision a myriad of possibilities--they see that the universe is littered with opportunities that just need to be articulated.

So it’s not too surprising that many of the most famous science fiction writers started their careers in science...neither is it surprising that many scientists started their careers reading science fiction. The two are irrevocably intertwined.

Perhaps one of the most successful individuals to unite science fiction and science fact was Isaac Asimov. Throughout his career, Asimov wrote nearly 500 texts. He wrote books about the Bible, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, Shakespeare, Gilbert and Sullivan, ancient and modern history, and many other subjects. He wrote mystery novels, children’s texts, and (of course) science fiction. Over the course of his career he won five Hugos and three Nebula Awards (and several other literary honors).

Star Wolf.  A New Fan Generated Television Show??




Leonard Nimoy and other big names in the sci-fi arena have endorsed a new project from original Stark Trek writers David Gerrold and DC (Dorothy) Fontana and producer David C. Fein that's aiming to raise funds via Kickstarter.

The trio are using the crowd-funding platform to raise money to shoot and create a new science fiction adventure series titled The Star Wolf. So far, they have raised $52,000 of their $650,000 goal.

Read More


Science News

Micrometeorites In Your Rainwater!

Every day the Earth is bombarded by literally millions of meteors per day (some estimate as many as 25 million). Only a very few of these are large enough to survive the intense heat of entry into our atmosphere (maybe a few hundred per year). The remainder (usually between the size of a grain of sand and a pea) are evaporated.
But if you stop and think about it, much like water will condense back into a liquid form after evaporation, so too will the evaporated iron (and other metals) which make up the meterorites condense after cooling. In solid form, these "micrometeorites" then fall to Earth.

People with higher scores on intelligence tests are better able to filter out unnecessary background distractions, according to researchers who report the brains of people with high IQs filter out non-essential information better than average.  In the study conducted by a team at University of Rochester, 53 people were given a simple visual test (see below) that asked them to identify the directional movement of black and white lines. The exercise measured unconscious ability to filter out visual movement. Some images were small and filled only the center of the screen, while other clips were much larger. The test subjects were asked to simply state whether the lines were moving to the right or left. Each study participant was also given a standard intelligence test.  The researchers found that the people with the highest IQ did the worst at detecting any movement on the larger clips and noticed movement on the smaller images faster than participants with lower IQ scores.  Read More

What you’re looking at is the first direct observation of an atom’s electron orbital — an atom's actual wave function! To capture the image, researchers utilized a new quantum microscope — an incredible new device that literally allows scientists to gaze into the quantum realm.


And Just For Your Information

Thou shalt not pass flatulence in an effort to dissuade discourse.

And 11, 12 or 13 Thou shalt not get louder simply to overwhelm the voice of the other side. ("Megaphone Fallacy")

Thou shalt not enter into debate with morons .

There's only way "If you cannot convince them at least confuse them"

Monarch Butterflies Show Where Ancient Mountain Once Stood

Monarch butterflies are some of the toughest insects in the world. Their migration takes them from southern Canada to central Mexico. The journey is so long and difficult that it outlasts the butterfly's lifetime. Monarchs lay eggs at different stages through the journey. No one generation makes the whole trip.

Along this journey are several sites that have become local treasures and tourist attractions. The monarchs, flying in swarms, group together to rest in small areas, covering the trees like bright orange leaves. But although these sites are the most showy part of the journey, they're not the most amazing.

The amazing part of the journey is the sudden eastward turn that monarchs take over Lake Superior. Monarchs fly over the lake, necessarily, in one unceasing flight. That alone would be difficult, but the monarchs make it tougher by not going directly south. They fly south, and at one point of the lake turn east, fly for a while, and then turn back toward the south. Why?  Read More

What is a Higgs Boson You Ask?  You Should Know, Because Without the Higgs Boson, You wouldn't Exist.

The Imaginarium

Ordinary, Made Extraordinary by Ordinary People

Circuit Board Prom Dress

Captain of the Ladybug Quidditch Team

The Watch of the Future?

This Russian Kid is Nuts.  All of this done without protective equipment

A Brilliant Idea.  Lights in the ceiling telling you where parking is available

What Every Parent of Young Children Dream For

This Candle burns 140 hours

A futuristic bike Lamp

We Celebrate Our Friend Logan

This morning we learned of the death of Logan Hulick,  a long time Space Center volunteer.  Logan was a student at Pleasant Grove High School.  Logan was a dedicated volunteer who loved spending time at the Space Center.  He was a joy to work with.  His can do attitude was contagious.  He had a smile for everyone and worked to make sure our campers had the best experience of their lives.

I will miss Logan very much.  He was one of God's brightest spirits who, with his quiet manner and broad smile, made all feel welcomed and valued.  Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
The Space Center Community celebrates Logan's life and remembers him for who he was and what he did for us and the hundreds and hundreds of students he worked with.

God Bless you Logan.

Mr. Williamson