Uncategorized. « The HabitableZone

Recent posts

the June ice report ER July 10, 2025 7:34 pm (Space/Science)

A Taste of Armageddon RobVG July 2, 2025 8:00 am (CurrentEvents)

We've got company ER July 2, 2025 7:50 am (Space/Science)

All Along the Watchtower ER July 1, 2025 9:13 pm (CurrentEvents)

Birthright Citizenship RobVG June 29, 2025 3:34 pm (CurrentEvents)

To be blunt, NASA is now dead RL June 27, 2025 11:56 am (Space/Science)

Musk trashes his own AI after it chose a liberal worldview. RobVG June 23, 2025 9:56 am (CurrentEvents)

Psyche keeps its date with an asteroid BuckGalaxy June 22, 2025 5:21 pm (Space/Science)

Just for the record... ER June 22, 2025 8:59 am (CurrentEvents)

The Three Unknowns After the U.S. Strike on Iran BuckGalaxy June 22, 2025 12:58 am (CurrentEvents)

There are only nine meals between mankind and anarchy. BuckGalaxy June 22, 2025 12:29 am (Flame)

Not ready for prime time BuckGalaxy June 19, 2025 12:18 pm (Space/Science)

Why we need less democracy by TB September 26, 2011 7:13 pm

Another view along these lines. by TB 2011-09-27 13:33:08

And we wondered what is wrong with our education system? by Eri September 26, 2011 4:11 pm

So that's why I had trouble with math Senior year! Let me explain. One major problem with the textbook I ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-27 22:09:42
The Mad, Mad World of Textbook Adoption by TB 2011-09-26 21:02:15
- Interesting. I've read some of it; will go back and read more (I hope! Got some writing revisions to ... by Eri 2011-09-26 21:33:32
Wait till we start seeing the textbooks that give "fair and balanced" treatment to both the theory of evolution AND ... by ER 2011-09-26 18:01:03
- Yeah, that's a lot more important than having every other damn thing in the books wrong. by TB 2011-09-26 19:11:59
  - They are businesses, TB. They don't educate kids. They sell books. by ER 2011-09-26 19:34:30
    - Who would you have writing and printing our textbooks? by TB 2011-09-26 19:39:08
      - Private businesses should print the books. Government-hired educators should write them. by ER 2011-09-26 20:09:00
        
        Who decides who gets hired to write them? Who do you think writes them now? by TB 2011-09-26 20:23:11
        
        It's a business, Tom. Companies lobby and court educators. Probably bribe, them, too. You guys even have a ... by ER 2011-09-26 20:38:53
        
        "It’s an ugly system, and it needs to be fixed. But the ideological content of the books must be determined ... by TB 2011-09-26 20:51:27
        
        Okay, so what would you suggest? by ER 2011-09-26 21:01:21
        
        Local control scares me quite a bit because in Kansas and Texas, the textbooks would have taught about creationism and ... by Eri 2011-09-26 21:45:32
        
        You've got two choices: by TB 2011-09-27 06:52:55
        
        You're absolutely correct, of course. Honest, I agree with you. It's just that competition and free choice is not what capitalists ... by ER 2011-09-27 07:48:59
        
        You don't get it. It's the regulatory system, exploited, that creates this monopoly. by TB 2011-09-27 08:48:19
        
        Monopoly existed long before there was regulation. And the seminal anti-monopoly legislation, Republican Teddy Roosevelt's "bust the trust" movement ... by ER 2011-09-27 12:21:13
        
        That's like the fourth post where you just sat down and made up your own facts. From experience, there's ... by TB 2011-09-27 12:56:55
        
        What I've always suggested. by TB 2011-09-26 21:11:48
- David Broder wrote a book about failures of the media by offering 'fair and balanced' reporting. For instance, providing ... by bowser 2011-09-26 18:53:05
  - One of the consequences of aggressive Reich-wing patrols of the media has been a reluctance of most media outlets to ... by ER 2011-09-26 19:32:48
    - Of course, since you have officially declared there is no "Left" in America, you might not be the most accurate ... by TB 2011-09-26 19:38:07
      - There are no influential leftists in America. Oh sure, there's a few pinko writers and professors here and there ... by ER 2011-09-26 20:19:04
        
        "No influential leftists in America?" Anybody else agree with that? Just trying to get a line on things ... by TB 2011-09-26 20:28:52
        
        So tell me, TB. Who do YOU think would be an "accurate meter"? And who would you describe ... by ER 2011-09-26 20:50:44
        
        Oh, I'm a conservative, no doubt about it. by TB 2011-09-26 20:59:37
        
        "I have a specific set of political and economic principles founded on more basic fundamentals of individual rights. They’ve served ... by ER 2011-09-26 21:17:20
        
        We might have different ideas on what "individual rights" means. by TB 2011-09-27 06:54:56
        
        I don't know what you mean by deep political philosophy Tom....but I do know that you and I come from ... by Jody 2011-09-27 09:04:26
  - Fortunately, we're technologically way past the point where Better and Wiser people can decide what information we should have or ... by TB 2011-09-26 19:32:13
Excellent article. by TB 2011-09-26 16:35:16

Bring your own dip by Eri September 26, 2011 3:34 pm

What hath we wrought? by Eri September 26, 2011 3:20 pm

You gotta admit, it beats pummeling Iran's nuclear facilities with bombs. by TB 2011-09-26 15:38:27
- I'm afraid it'll bite US in the butt, newly reconfigured for our power plants, etc. by Eri 2011-09-26 16:06:31
  - Assuming the U.S. created it, Rule Number One is never create a virus you don't have a vaccine for. ... by TB 2011-09-26 16:20:53
    - Even if we have a vaccine, if someone reconfigures it, our vaccine might not work. by Eri 2011-09-26 16:30:34
      - I think it was the Israelis. by ER 2011-09-26 19:47:30
        
        That was my first thought. My second was a partnership between US and them. by Eri 2011-09-26 21:50:48
        
        There is one reassuring thought. Apparently our enemies are just as stupid as we are. They have given the same ... by ER 2011-09-27 13:27:43
        
        Seconded. When handling sensitive files, you don't let it out of your sight. EVER. You also don't ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-27 22:16:46

Auroral Activity Tonight? by podrock September 26, 2011 3:12 pm

I don't understand... by Jody September 25, 2011 7:51 pm

Ron Paul has a very dedicated group of followers (of which I am definitely not a member) who have a ... by TB 2011-09-25 20:59:13
- Just what does bombing online polls mean? by Jody 2011-09-25 21:10:32
  - Thanks Tom. by Jody 2011-09-26 03:38:48
  - If you have a powerful social network setup (and many famous people and organizations do, not just politicians), it's pretty ... by TB 2011-09-25 21:16:41
Something fishy in GOP land but, hey, this is Fox news. If the owner of Fox likes Romney, he'll ... by Eri 2011-09-25 20:47:58
- Fox News CEO Roger Ailes is repositioning the network away from the extreme nut cases on the far right. ... by BuckGalaxy 2011-09-26 11:08:39
  - When I lived in Port Charlotte, I used to buy my ammo at a little gunshop run by a real ... by ER 2011-09-26 19:46:41

Two more articles on Greece by TB September 25, 2011 7:09 pm

Comic book wealth by TB September 25, 2011 9:28 am

That's easy! Superheroes are created by artists and writers, individuals who are by and large anti-business and anti-entrepreneurial, like all intellectuals. ... by ER 2011-09-25 14:17:01
- Well, you're definitely on a roll! by TB 2011-09-25 15:18:33
  - ...just deconstructin' the subtext. by ER 2011-09-25 15:37:47
    - Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. by TB 2011-09-25 17:02:41
      - Cigar my ass. That was an exploding stogie, a real Tijuana surprise. You, of all people, didn't drag us all into ... by ER 2011-09-25 20:10:23
        
        My goodness, aren't we sensitive. by TB 2011-09-25 20:32:11
        
        Yeah, it's really annoying, isn't it? by ER 2011-09-25 20:39:01

Playing *fort* this morning by Jody September 25, 2011 8:47 am

Ribbet. by ER 2011-09-25 10:56:07
- Ya ole' vocal sac you...;) by Jody 2011-09-25 14:53:42

Did the Satellite get any of you? by Eri September 24, 2011 6:31 pm

No, but apparently the Great Pacific Garbage Patch just received another member by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-29 23:13:17

They're fighting back. by Eri September 24, 2011 6:17 pm

I love animals also Eri and I have never hunted. The only way I would hunt for food is if ... by FrankC 2011-09-26 00:12:29
- It broke my heart to put down a pet who was gravely ill with FIV/AIDS and unable to even clean ... by Eri 2011-09-26 09:51:46
  - Your cat may not have met a bad end. Often, a lost cat is simply adopted into a new ... by TB 2011-09-26 09:59:26
    - The reason I don't think Tobias could have been "adopted" is that he would not get near any human other ... by Eri 2011-09-26 15:14:58
      - There are two "outdoor" cats around here who enthusiastically crap in my yard. When the older one is sunning ... by TB 2011-09-26 15:19:31
        
        Years ago, I used to let Whiskers, now deceased, out in the fenced back yard. He was not a jumper ... by Jody 2011-09-26 18:00:13
- Oh Frank...how I agree. by Jody 2011-09-26 03:40:04
That's part of the risk. Predators get a shot at you too now and then. You have to admit that ... by TB 2011-09-24 20:35:32
Somehow, I can't help but think that if another species had risen to sentience on this planet beside us, somewhere ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-24 19:56:33
- Truthfully, I've been thinking about becoming a vegetarian with a little fish thrown in. The only thing is, I don't like ... by Eri 2011-09-24 23:44:42
  - Hmmm.... Do any of the vegetables on this list seem appealing to you? by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-25 00:39:44
    - Many do, some I've never had, some I've never heard of. Many I have no idea how to fix ... by Eri 2011-09-25 07:53:01
      - The only solutions I see here are to guilt trip your relatives into either cooking for you or paying for ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-25 12:07:14
        
        That would be great if I had any relatives near! Unfortunately, since my sister died, I'm all alone in ... by Eri 2011-09-25 16:43:44
        
        Bummer to hear. I guess the only solution besides THAT is to guilt trip your neighbors; maybe blackmail them ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-25 22:09:03
        
        You trying to get me put in jail? I wonder if they DO vegetarian? Heh, the neighbor on the left ... by Eri 2011-09-26 09:57:23

The Truth can be ugly and painful, or Why America doesn't count for much anymore. by bowser September 24, 2011 2:52 pm

Q.E.D. freedom by FrankC 2011-09-26 01:19:27
- V for Vendetta? ;) by Jody 2011-09-26 03:47:46
See my post on CE under "They're Fighting Back." I no longer think much of the human race. We deserve ... by Eri 2011-09-24 18:23:56
Ugly things happen in wartime. Torture is not the only one. Some torture to routinely intimidate and terrorize ... by ER 2011-09-24 16:54:45
- Help me understand then - what separates the good guys from the bad guys? Since the US no longer ... by bowser 2011-09-24 23:08:07
  - There is only one good, and that is survival. Everything else is two bit semantics created by people to make them ... by Lee 2011-09-26 17:00:41
  - There are no good guys or bad guys. Some guys are just better than others. Evil in America did not start ... by ER 2011-09-25 05:25:05
    - (Withdrawn) by TB 2011-09-25 09:18:42
    - Some interesting points, and they don't answer the question. If there is not "liberty and justice for all", if ... by bowser 2011-09-25 08:36:26
      - You're not the first honest man to be blindsided by the bottomless well of self-serving hypocrisy represented by the jingoists ... by ER 2011-09-25 09:24:41
        
        You're right, of course. My current attitudes mirror those of my youth, when I believed the "jingoists and chauvinists ... by bowser 2011-09-25 18:17:11
        
        VERY POWERFUL BOWZ! Wish more people could read you! The ones I chat with elsewhere would LOVE to hear your ... by Lindy 2011-09-25 19:21:08
        
        Hi again Lindy. Good that our paths crossed when they did. I have posted only rarely here in ... by bowser 2011-09-27 21:44:22
        
        Well, it appears we once again have someone here to serve as a counter to TB's right wing posts. I ... by ER 2011-09-25 20:26:22
        
        Nope. You Da Man, ER. Your endless patience and unerring logic carries the day. While I regard ... by bowser 2011-09-27 22:31:25
        
        I believe that capital punishment should be reserved solely for corporate crimes. by ER 2011-09-28 06:46:25
  - You got it. The bad guys is us. All of us. The actual period of time when ... by Eri 2011-09-24 23:54:02
- Very deep perspective as always, ER. My answer to that would be to look for alternative methods of finding info. ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-24 20:16:18
  - I'm sorry, VRB. But there is no easy fix to this moral dilemma. There is no technological solution ... by ER 2011-09-25 09:45:34
    - I suppose then, that living with sin is as much a part of life as living with virtue. ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-25 12:17:31
      - Well, living with sin is certainly more fun. One of the really nasty things about getting old is finally realizing just ... by ER 2011-09-25 15:48:14
        
        It does give you the opportunity of seeing the aftermath of your decisions played out decades later. I guess ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-25 22:12:24
        
        The people who do the torturing always define the crimes of the tortured. And they always define them in ... by ER 2011-09-26 05:09:27
        
        Then the only cure is constant revolution. Or at least a open government (US doesn't count). by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-26 21:52:13
  - >"Cheney and his gang were loathesome and foul creatures." Hey ER, I agree with you. Nice to see some things haven't ... by Lindy 2011-09-24 21:20:52
    - Hey there, Lindy, delighted to see you 'round the Zone. Haven't seen you since the jump to HZ-Wordpress. When longterm ... by podrock 2011-09-25 14:15:57
      - Thanks for Editor status, whatever that is. I don't want it or need it, so I can never be accused ... by Lindy 2011-09-25 15:41:27
        
        In my continually annoying scientific bent, yearning always for new experiments, I long ago decided that anytime I am in ... by podrock 2011-09-25 21:26:12
        
        Well, you know I'm in the gorge and there's plenty of neat places to sit out and watch the time ... by Lindy 2011-09-26 17:46:48
        
        Is this a different house than the one you had before (the one you showed pictures of out the windows)? ... by TB 2011-09-25 17:48:02
        
        Just logging back in, this place looks unfamiliar already to me, now that I can edit posts. I like SIMPLE. ... by Lindy 2011-09-25 18:01:48
        
        You've probably done a smart thing moving out there. You want to do what you can to make it ... by TB 2011-09-25 18:34:02
        
        Hey Tom, yes... getting self sufficient is one of my goals....having a garden, being closer to local tailgate markets and ... by Lindy 2011-09-25 19:14:45
        
        Is your propane piped in or do you have a tank? Do you have some idea how much power ... by TB 2011-09-25 19:19:48
        
        I have a propane tank and hopefully enough to get me through the winter. The fireplace is vented, but I'm ... by Lindy 2011-09-25 20:02:22
        
        You can get propane powered backup generators that will automatically switch over when power goes out. Don't know how ... by TB 2011-09-25 20:14:57
        
        We have a propane-powered Honda 11,000 watt generator at the farm which kicks in when the water turbine can't keep ... by bowser 2011-09-28 07:56:13
    - Hi there. Nice to read you. Did you know there was a dance named after you? Arf by bowser 2011-09-25 08:38:10
      - Yeah, of course...before me tho. I see there a few new posters, and a few of the old ones are ... by Lindy 2011-09-25 11:01:43
        
        Ummmm..... ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-25 12:13:15
        
        I though VCB was was your shortform abbreviation. Don't tell me there's a VCB here as well? by Lindy 2011-09-25 15:42:46
        
        Actually, we use VRB for Velociraptorblade. He is a very welcome newby, just off to his Frosh year at ... by Eri 2011-09-25 16:49:10
        
        The OLD MSNBC Space Science board had a poster there by the same name....Velociraptorblade. I thought this might be ... by Lindy 2011-09-25 18:05:31
        
        VRB would have been maybe 4 or 5 years old so I doubt it. He's precocious but not THAT ... by Eri 2011-09-26 10:05:20
        
        I'll have to read his posts....odd he would pick the same name. The original was WAAY in the loop.... by Lindy 2011-09-26 17:50:47
        
        Wait.... He had the exact same tag as me!? This is something I've gotta see. The odds have ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-26 21:53:49
        
        I'm sure Robert has DamnTikiWiki archived but to my knowledge, we don't have access to it. Lindy, if you click on ... by Eri 2011-09-27 11:58:37
        
        Quick question: Does anyone remember what URL the MSNBC Space Science board was? by VelociraptorBlade 2011-09-30 18:58:04
        
        Clicking a name takes you to what is basically that user's blog page, with all the posts they have made ... by podrock 2011-09-27 13:44:05
        
        Clicking on the user name on the main page creates what is actually a pretty cool layout - kind of ... by TB 2011-09-27 14:01:14
        
        I'd like to see that page individualized, with your own blogroll, title graphic, etc. by podrock 2011-09-27 14:51:34
        
        Nothing loopy about VRB. ;) He's got a good head on his shoulders. by Eri 2011-09-26 21:52:19
      - You remember Lindy. She was always one of your biggest fans! by TB 2011-09-25 09:11:50
        
        Yeah, glad to see the old dog is back! LOL Biting at your heels..... by Lindy 2011-09-25 11:02:27
    - Welcome back. You have indeed been missed. I realize I had my own share of good natured fun ... by ER 2011-09-25 05:30:31
      - Wow, ER....what a statement coming from you! I know most of your taunts were good natured. You're highly intelligent, but ... by Lindy 2011-09-25 11:08:42
        
        No tan calvo que se le vean los sesos. I'm afraid you're still a ways ahead of this crowd. You ... by ER 2011-09-25 12:13:50
        
        >"You know us We already have all the answers.." Funny! Thanks. by Lindy 2011-09-25 15:44:53
    - Hi Lindy. Nice to see you. by Eri 2011-09-24 23:50:48
      - DITTO!!! Of course I see you all the time...;) by Jody 2011-09-25 14:54:47
      - Hi Eri, haven't even had ONE martini since we last spoke, but I still watch Max Keiser and think he's ... by Lindy 2011-09-25 11:15:04
        
        Well, pull up an olive and have one with me! I don't drink very often any more but I'll ... by Eri 2011-09-26 15:23:44
        
        I'll let you know when I decide to have one, usually saved for special occasions or trying days...maybe have two ... by Lindy 2011-09-26 17:54:17
        
        Oh, and, Lindy, how's your kitty? You had lost a couple last time we had e-mailed but then you ... by Eri 2011-09-26 15:26:00
      - Ditto! Sit down and raise a few. by TB 2011-09-25 08:54:59
        
        Hi TB, hope you and yours are doing well; yes I may drop in again... by Lindy 2011-09-25 11:13:17
        
        I might add that I may ONLY on post on Flame, because I don't like being censored or having to ... by Lindy 2011-09-25 15:51:17
        
        Hi, missed you and I have thought of you from time to time, usually when some idiotic story came up. ... by FrankC 2011-09-26 00:58:43
        
        1984 redux? by Eri 2011-09-26 21:57:10
        
        Heh....well, at least I'm not boring. Oh, and all those people heading for Washington after they finish off Wall Street? ... by Lindy 2011-09-26 17:42:44
        
        Note that there is a "Mysteries of the Multiverse" board that was specifically designed for "off the beaten path" speculative ... by TB 2011-09-25 17:05:14
        
        Where is it? by Lindy 2011-09-25 18:02:56
        
        Found it, I'm just running around inside here, clicking on buttons and finding out where they take me. Can you ... by Lindy 2011-09-25 20:03:53
        
        We've all gotten used to the new interface, but for the first few weeks onboard we were still knocking our ... by podrock 2011-09-25 20:36:38
        
        To be a bit more specific, he means the software update link at the top that says "Wordpress 3.2.1 is ... by TB 2011-09-25 20:46:54
        
        Thanks, TB, I could have been more clear about that! by podrock 2011-09-25 20:54:39
        
        The posting function allows you to link to online pictures as usual. The comment function on the main page ... by TB 2011-09-25 20:10:28
        
        I'm assuming Podrock will snap you into editor mode if he hasn't already. If you go to "habitablezone.com" you ... by TB 2011-09-25 18:40:55

Page 855 of 936«1...853 854855856 857...936 »