Russia's Federal Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos) is planning a simulation of a manned flight to Mars. But this test will not be performed just on the computer using simulation models. To analyze the human aspect of the mission, 6 men are placed in a very tight space for 500 days - the time the journey would take.
This sounds extremely like an extreme version of the TV reality show Big Brother. But in this case, no one will be voted out - it would also be a little harsh to let someone go if it was a real Mars trip.
The 6 men (I guess, the fact that no women will participate makes it less attractive for a typical reality show audience) will have a bedroom, a kitchen, and a lab in the small "apartment". Outside communication will be very limited.
I just wonder who would volunteer for such an experiment unless the survivors will also be paid the usual reality TV amount of $1 million after 500 days.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Kids in Virginia Better Stop Wearing Underpants
The House of Delegates in the state of Virginia voted on Tuesday to impose a $50 fine on anyone found wearing pants low enough that a substantial portion of undergarments is showing. With 60 to 34, it wasn't even a close call.
Algie Howell, the author of the no-underpants-bill, believes that the law will make people more attractive to prospective employers and therefore less likely to be become criminals. Yeah right, because without that law, everyone would show their new boss the underwear during the job interview.
The law seems to be targeted at both, the rapper-like baggy pants wearer with the boxer shorts peeking out, as well as the low-waist tight pants wearing girls with the exposed thong.
This whole thing makes me wonder whether it would be ok if the kids did not wear any underwear at all. How much naked butt are you allowed to show in the state of Virginia? There must be some flexibility - otherwise all the plumbers working under the sink in the kitchen with their pants sliding down and exposing the hairy butt would be broke. And believe it or not: Not all plumbers have the looks and the money like the one on "Desperate Housewives".
Algie Howell, the author of the no-underpants-bill, believes that the law will make people more attractive to prospective employers and therefore less likely to be become criminals. Yeah right, because without that law, everyone would show their new boss the underwear during the job interview.
The law seems to be targeted at both, the rapper-like baggy pants wearer with the boxer shorts peeking out, as well as the low-waist tight pants wearing girls with the exposed thong.
This whole thing makes me wonder whether it would be ok if the kids did not wear any underwear at all. How much naked butt are you allowed to show in the state of Virginia? There must be some flexibility - otherwise all the plumbers working under the sink in the kitchen with their pants sliding down and exposing the hairy butt would be broke. And believe it or not: Not all plumbers have the looks and the money like the one on "Desperate Housewives".
Monday, January 10, 2005
Tsunami in California
After the shocking destruction of the tsunami from the 12/26/2004 earthquake off Sumatra, many people living at or close to an ocean coast ask, if soemthing like that can happen in their area.
Living in California, I gave it some thought as well. Although, Palo Alto would probably not be much affected, a tsunami of that magnitude could have huge effect on cities close to the ocean, like Santa Cruz and even San Francisco. Even the regular high tide caused some flooding in San Francisco this week.
The human casualties of a tsunami, however, are likely to be considerably lower in North America than they were in South Asia. This is mainly because there is an early-warning-system in the Pacific. Although, that wouldn’t help much if the earthquake or submarine landslide causing the waves is very close to the coast.
But there is no reason to have bad dreams now - at least not about deadly waves. After all, it is probably more dangerous to drive on Highway 101 than to walk on the beach.
Living in California, I gave it some thought as well. Although, Palo Alto would probably not be much affected, a tsunami of that magnitude could have huge effect on cities close to the ocean, like Santa Cruz and even San Francisco. Even the regular high tide caused some flooding in San Francisco this week.
The human casualties of a tsunami, however, are likely to be considerably lower in North America than they were in South Asia. This is mainly because there is an early-warning-system in the Pacific. Although, that wouldn’t help much if the earthquake or submarine landslide causing the waves is very close to the coast.
But there is no reason to have bad dreams now - at least not about deadly waves. After all, it is probably more dangerous to drive on Highway 101 than to walk on the beach.
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