Most systems go

Robonaut as cool as I'd hoped

In light of our recent Space Chat, this article from USA Today's "Drive On" automotive blog is worth noting. Far fetched? Check out this gripping lead.

With the Obama administration axing a proposed manned space flight back to the moon, this could be just the right time for a robot that's also an astronaut. Far fetched? Check out what NASA and General Motors just created. Chris Woodyard/USA Today

 

  The GM/NASA "Robonaut." Explores the universe, gently cups your balls.

Boom. Robonaut. Like we just thought it into existence.

Sadly, the author seems more concerned with joking about the Robonaut's physique than providing any actual details (or fact-checking, for that matter).

Full Article

Space Chat 1

EG: How much money have you sent to Haiti?

SH: none.

EG: You don't want to know how many times I've texted Haiti to 9099.

SH: what? explain, please.

EG: Michelle Obama keeps telling me to text Haiti to 9099 to automatically donate ten bucks to Haiti.

SH: Yeah, I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm not pleased with Obama.

EG: You haven't heard about the fucking "Text Haiti to 9099 on your phone to donate money to Haiti campaign?"

SH: no. i had heard about texting donations to haiti. but i don't recall anything about that number. nor has mrs. mendacity of hope asked me to donate.

EG: Wow. Mendacity of hope. That's a good one.

SH: not mine

EG: I'll have to start forwarding you the emails that I get from my office mates.

SH: my complaints are very specific. chiefly, he is trying to destroy my space program. that and his habeas corpus promises, but they come in a distant second.

EG: What habeas corpus promise?  What happened with the NASA budget proposal?

SH: he promised to restore habeas corpus for pows. long story. regarding nasa, if his budget proposal is apporved by congress, the u.s. government will no longer fly its own astronauts. ever. we have already spent about $9 billion on the replacement program for the shuttle. his budget cancels that program completely, instead gives some money to private companies that might be able to build astronaut-carrying rockets for nasa. we'd buy tickets, in other words.

SH: honestly, i might not have a huge problem with that strategy if not for the pathetic amount of money he's offering: just $50 million. that's $50 million for private companies to build us a human space travel system after we spent $9 billion over the past five years working on the program he's canceling. he promised me during the campaign he would remain fiscally committed to a human space flight program.

Cornbread

Smarthand sent me a picture of some cornbread that he made over Thanksgiving. He called it serrano onion garlic bacon grease cheddar cheese corn bread. I was pretty jealous, though my grandmother did teach me to make scratch biscuits over the holidays. 

Notice the jalapeno "X."