Old tales

I listen to audio books on my lunch time walks and on the long commute home from work.  I enjoy the books immensely and have been able to be caught up in a number of books, including the Game of Thrones series, The Hunger Games and Gone Girl.  I especially enjoy book series that involve continuing characters.  My favorites include Lee Child's Reacher novels, Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series,Michael Connely's Bosch and Linclon Lawyer books and the multiple series created by David Baldacci.

I have also been able to re-read (or listen to) some of my old favorite Sci-Fi authors.  I recently finished Isaac Asimov's I, Robot and just listened to Arthur C. Clarke's masterful Childhood's End.  I think both of these books have held up well and the blend of actual science and engaging story lines reminds me how these tales first captured my imagination.  I wish more of the old Sci-Fi books were available from my public library's audio collection.  I would love to be able to re-visit more of my old friends.

Scientific Integrity

The White House has issued a memorandum calling for scientific integrity instead of placing ideology ahaead of scientific fact. Radical idea!

Some excerpts:

"The public must be able to trust the science and scientific process informing public policy decisions."

"Political officials should not suppress or alter scientific or technological findings and conclusions."

"The selection of scientists and technology professionals for positions in the executive branch should be based on their scientific and technological knowledge, credentials, experience, and integrity."

See the full memorandum here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Memorandum-for-the-Heads-of-Executive-Departments-and-Agencies-3-9-09/

How I feel sometimes

out of the loop

Inauguration Speech Word Cloud

Here is a word cloud of Obama's inauguration speech. The most frequently used words are displayed the largest. Make your own word clouds at http://www.wordle.net/

Hoping for a Beautiful 2009

Here is a just released true-color image of Saturn and its rings. May your coming year bring you as much beauty.

Farewell to Phoenix

The Phoenix lander that has been investigating the North Polar region of Mars has completed its mission and succumbed to the dark and cold of Martian winter. Dust and lack of sunlight have reduced the amount of power that the lander was able to produce, leaving it to eternal slumber. This was expected, and Phoenix was still able to exceed its 90 day planned mission before shutting down.

The lander sampled the soil of the Martian tundra and confirmed the presence of water ice, and other interesting elements. The data form the many experiments, readings and photos taken by Phoenix will keep scientists busy for years to come.

So long, Phoenix. We hardly knew ya.

http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/

Life's A Song

Life's A Song

By John Hadley & Sean Locke

Lately I've been countin' up all my days good and bad

I found that joy has more than doubled all the trouble I've had

From now on I'm not gonna worry about what might be

I know I'm part of something a whole lot bigger than me

*
Life's a song we're all singing

Life's a song that never ends

We pass it on to sons and daughters and it starts all over again

*
We're all one big family like the stars in the sky

When we fall all the others shine on through the night
Life's a song we're all singing

Life's a song that never ends

We pass it on to sons and daughters and it starts all over again

*

For Dad.