#272: Summer Movie Roundup

Podcasts Galactic Watercooler
#21

Okay Campers! Just so everyone is clear on Mars Rovers and the Transformer toy “Roller” that Sean was talking about, here’s some info.

Here’s a link to a picture of Roller, in silver:

This 1984 Silver Roller came with the 1984 Hasbro Optimus Prime Transformer Toy:

I’ve got my Roller around here somewhere. When I find it I’ll post a pic on it too.

Aside from the two failed Russian Mars rovers of the 1971 era, the United States has sent three rovers to Mars with another one planned.

In 1997 the United States sent the rover Sojourner to Mars as part of the Mars Pathfinder mission. Sojourner failed about 2 1/2 months after landing. (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/mesur.html & http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=MESURPR)

In January 2004 the United States landed the Rover pair Spirit and Opportunity on Mars as part of the Mars Exploratory Rover Mission. Spirit was the Rover stuck in the trench in 2009 that Juan was referring to on the cast and NASA officially ended this mission to try to free it in late may of 2011 (this week) after losing communication with the rover since March 22, 2010. Originally scheduled for a 90 day mission, this rover actually served for just under 6 years 3 months. (http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/spirit_mission/)

Opportunity continues to operate on the Mars surface, long surpassing it’s 90 day mission and it’s mission buddy Spirit. (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/)

Later this year (2011) NASA will send the rover Curiosity to Mars as part of the Mars Science Laboratory Mission. (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html)

Also, the European Space Agency is planning to send the rover Exo-Mars in cooperation with NASA in the 2016-2018 time frame. (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ExoMars/index.html)

So that about raps up the rovers, both Transformers and Scientific. I just think it’s cool either way.

~Shooter Out

#22

Regarding Juan’s news segment:

For those (like Audra) interested in exactly what the “Cosmic Ray Detector” that the Space Shuttle Endeavour crew installed on the International Space Station or what Cosmis Rays actually are, I highly suggest you check out the official NASA wepage for the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer -2 AMS-2 here: http://ams.nasa.gov/about.html

Similar sorts of research is being conducted UNDERNEATH the surface of the Earth in Soudan, Minnesota. Several ongoing projects including attempts to detect dark matter (CDMS II) and attempts to detect neutrino emmissions from Fermilab (MINOS) are under way in the old mine. You can check out the Soudan Underground Laboratory on their facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Soudan-Underground-Lab/134608299885272

or at their organizational webpage here: http://www.soudan.umn.edu/

If you are ever in the Minnesota/Wisconsin area in the summer months, I’m sure I could arrange a relaxing weekend at the family lake home coupled with a tour of the Soudan facility. It’s awesome.

~Shooter Out

#23

You may regret that offer! It sure does sound awesome and I had considered a summer vacation in Minnesota next year.

#24

Yeah…wasn’t expecting that at the end…nearly jumped out of my chair. And who’s voice was that? Poor, poor Solai.

And agree on more FSL! Woot…I’m keeping Team Cougar. :smiley:

#25

Yeah, time to break out the inflatable donut to sit on. :oops:

#26

Spirit was the Mars rover that got stuck. And now all attempts to communicate with it after the Martian winter have failed. The little rover that did much more than expected…is now at mission end. Letter from the JPL/NASA Mars Exploration Rover Project Manager to the project team about it: http://blogs.jpl.nasa.gov/2011/05/a-heartfelt-goodbye-to-a-spirited-mars-rover/

Funds to support that rover are being reallocated for the Curiosity and the Mars Laboratory Mission to be launch later this year.

#27

I’d loan you one but(t)… :smiley:

#28

Thanks Gryper! I kinda sorta already thought I had said what you did. :wink: But I guess it can’t hurt to give more information. Besides, that jpl blog is great.

~Shooter Out.

#29

You sure did, sorry to repeat some of it. Just got to listen to the cast today. And found that blog looking for more information about whether they got the communications back with Spirit or not.

#30

WHAT?!?!?!? you mean you don’t recognize the dulcet tones of ISIS agent Lana Kane?!?!?!

that clip was generously made by the lovely Aisha Tyler after an improv show she performed in at Meltdown Comics in L.A.

She is charming, kind, and very funny

#31

I knew it sounded familiar! Bwahahaha!

#32

Okay, I hate to sound critical here, however…four “unrepentant sci-fi geeks” and none of you realized (or recollected) that Cosmic Rays are what gave the Fantastic Four their powers? Whatsupwitdat? I hope that any astronauts installing that equipment will have the proper shielding.

#33

Truth be told, I have to go with you on that one. Then again, it is easy to fall into the trap of assuming geek = all knowing of all things. I was a comic geek for a while so I know the Fantastic Four origin story. Can’t judge another geek for not having the same 101 knowledge across all categories.

#34

Word.

A while back there was a thing called ‘the geek code’ that you’d stick in your email sig to let everyone know exactly what kind of geek you were. There have been efforts to revive it, but the problem is that there’s so many kinds of geekdom out there that it becomes cumbersome to even enumerate them.

#35

Thanks GWC it’s 12:28 and now I’m committed to watching
//youtu.be/Ps0ZV_Fut48
for the next half hour.

=D

#36

Spreadin’ the Love for Titusville and Merritt Island but no Love for Rockledge? Boo! :smiley:

In the 80s they’d allow you to get closer for a launch. Can personally remember parking on the causeways on one of the properties.

#37

I’d been catching up with the podcasts, so I can’t remember which one it was when the crue talked about the Hong Kong 3D porno. But anyway, in case anyone’s interested:

So yep, totally watched it a while ago just to see what the fuss is all about, like many people who watch it (and you know, we’re pervy, and we like 3D?)

Some history:
It’s actually a sort of sequel to a somewhat “classic” porn movie in the 80s, of which I’m told was a much better porn movie primarily because the focus is on the porn portion of it, so it’s actually way more risque and porn-ish (with all the scenes you’d think a porn would have to have) than this newfangled 3D one. I’m also told the “acting” is better as well, but maybe that’s more of a nostalgia thing as well. It’s a historical porn (set in some era Qing or Ming or some dynasty, I don’t know which), which is a pretty typical genre of porn/erotica here.

Anyway, the movie. Well, I suppose it is a bit fun to see a dong all 3D-fied in a movie theatre (especially when one of the characters sort of whips it around and you see the full effect of a dong being whipped left and right right in your face, and you’re like, oh, yeah, I see the 3D effect). But it’s not really a straight up porn - the main characters (i.e. the actors with the supposed “star power”, but it’s not like I’d know) you don’t see the actual frakking in 3D, you just see a whole lot of expressions and reaction and of course nudity and whatnot. But it’s no ping pong balls, that’s for sure. So, boo on that, for porn enthusiasts. Ultimately the film is a comedy with nudity more than anything else (see above re: 3D dong, and also this particular hilarious scene of a female character 3D bosoms all heaving and walking down some stairs all 3D-esque, and everyone in the showing we went to all laughed in unison), or then you suddenly have these moments where it’s like a Chinese action movie (with nudity), with 3D knives flying in your face and whatnot. It’s a pretty weird mixed bag of a movie that I’m not sure I would consider to be porn.

ETA: ok, that’s definitely the most number of times I’ve used the word “porn” in a post.

#38

Vote for your favorite GWC Podcast #272 quote!

http://forum.galacticwatercooler.com/showthread.php?t=13662

#39

Night Shuttle launch as seen from Ponte Viedre, FL.