Visualizing the Milky Way

Several months ago I discovered Astroterm, a terminal-based astronomy program that can draw the night sky with ASCII characters. It’s fun. Open it up on a workspace, let it run, and when I need a mental recharge I can kick over to it and see where the planets and major stars are. One really neatContinue reading “Visualizing the Milky Way”

Cold Enough to Exterminate Your Winnebago

A pretty day today. Pity about the bloody cold. The streets have been sprayed with chemicals, so there’s apparently more wintry precipitation on its way. Joy. A few months ago, while looking for Doctor Who desktop wallpapers, I found this amusing wallpaper — iExterminate. It is, exactly as you see above, a Dalek, wearing earphonesContinue reading “Cold Enough to Exterminate Your Winnebago”

Where Is He Going? What Is He Doing?

Yesterday, Facebook served me an ad for a trip through Ireland and Scotland. A 10 day cruise! Visits to Dublin! Glasgow! Edinburgh! The Isle of Skye! Wait. What the frell is going on with that map?!? Let’s get this out of the way. It’s pure AI slop. Done. Dublin is in about the right place.Continue reading “Where Is He Going? What Is He Doing?”

“When That Man Is Dead and Gone”

Something I saw on YouTube today. A Los Angeles swing/jazz band, Lizzy & the Triggermen, resurrected an old Irving Berlin anti-Hitler song from 1941, “When That Man Is Dead and Gone.” It’s got swing! It’s got pep! I thought I’d share it. No particular reason. I’m going to have to investigate this band more. BuyContinue reading ““When That Man Is Dead and Gone””

Somehow the Frost Giants Survived

Legend tells that in ancient times the mighty Odin slew the Frost Giants and brought to an end an unceasing age of cold and darkness. Somehow the Frost Giants survived. I don’t know how much snow and ice fell yesterday, though I’ve seen that the official total for Red Lion (ie., a town next doorContinue reading “Somehow the Frost Giants Survived”

Trump Makes His Ultimatum

A week and a half ago I wrote my Congressman, Lloyd Smucker (R-Toady), about standing up to the president on acquiring Greenland by force. Yesterday, the president sent a letter to European embassies and the Norwegian prime minister stating, to sanewash his incoherence into something eloquent, “You, Norway, denied me the peace prize. Therefore, IContinue reading “Trump Makes His Ultimatum”