Something rather extraordinary has been discovered. On Wednesday the 7th of October a huge new ring around Saturn was discovered. It is located about 8 million miles from the planet, some 50 times further than Saturn's other rings, and it lies in a different plane. The ring is so huge that it is 3 million miles wide. The ring is invisible to the telescopes as well as the naked eye, but if it were visible, the ring would appear twice the size of the full moon in the night sky. It is thought that the ring was formed by dust being thrown up from Saturn's moon Phoebe after small impacts and the dust gravitates towards the planet where it is then picked up by Iapetus.
Full story here.
The theme of today's post is space and the Solar System, so I shall keep in line with that. NASA have sent a rocket segment smashing into the moon's south polar region in order to lift some dust from the surface, and a probe is to follow right after, hoping to pick up and detect water molecules which are expected to be in the lunar craters, hidden in the permanently dark corners of the craters. If the probe is successful in detecting water, it could pave the way for future plans for long term stays by astronauts on the surface of the moon. The up thrown dust was expected to reach altitudes of several miles but failed to reach even close to this, possibly due to more solid material below the lunar surface, however the analysis of the dust continues.
Full story here.
Russian space research institute, IKI, based in Moscow hosted an international conference aimed at luring scientists from Europe and possibly other countries such as the US into an ambitious project to send a craft to the surface of Venus, officially scheduled for launch in 2016. The idea of the conference was to determine what approaches would be best suited to getting the craft through the dense acidic atmosphere of Venus in an attempt to explore the planets surface.
Full story here.
9 October 2009
2 October 2009
Oasis and Noel Gallagher
Okay, so I know it is relatively old news that Noel Gallagher has left Oasis, but I just wanted to say my part, as I haven't done so yet.
Noel left the band because he could not take the constant fighting between his brother Liam and himself, and to be honest, it was only a matter of time before someone left.
Noel was basically the backbone of Oasis, a band which I am a fan of, so it was quite upsetting to hear the news. He was the chief lyricist, chief composer as well as the lead guitarist. On top of this he has a good singing voice, himself. I don't know what will happen with Oasis, but I do hope that Noel Gallagher will continue with a solo career, because it would be very interesting to hear some solo stuff.
Noel left the band because he could not take the constant fighting between his brother Liam and himself, and to be honest, it was only a matter of time before someone left.
Noel was basically the backbone of Oasis, a band which I am a fan of, so it was quite upsetting to hear the news. He was the chief lyricist, chief composer as well as the lead guitarist. On top of this he has a good singing voice, himself. I don't know what will happen with Oasis, but I do hope that Noel Gallagher will continue with a solo career, because it would be very interesting to hear some solo stuff.
1 October 2009
Okay, I Have Slacked
Admittedly I have slacked a bit during September, but it was a pretty busy month to be honest. Job interviews, courses, training, family and friends to see to, astronomical societies and lots of general procrastination.
I thought I might just start with a quick catch up. Four weeks ago today, my dad and I started attending meetings at the Loughton Astronomy Club in Theydon Bois, Essex. The group meet every Thursday night from 8pm to 10pm and it's been very interesting to see every one's collection of images of space, eclipses, galaxies and their own theories of the universe. On the first week, after the meeting was over, a few of the blokes had a telescope set up outside and we managed to see Jupiter, in great definition, a long with the four best known moons. We also saw the ISS pass over us, Andromeda galaxy (2.2 million lightyears away) and even saw star clusters from our own galaxy. It was quite breath taking.
I had a job interview for Game, the video game company, but I am still waiting to hear from them as they said they will contact me this week... Still, one more day and I shall assume the answer is a "no".
I see Labour are losing supporters, and well to be honest, they have been for some time... Personally I don't adhere myself to a specific political party, just vote for who has the right policies at the right times. Even so, I think Labours 12 year reign of terror and corruption over the UK has come to an end and I doubt we will see it for some time...
For now, though... I'll leave you alone and I will see you later. Peace x
I thought I might just start with a quick catch up. Four weeks ago today, my dad and I started attending meetings at the Loughton Astronomy Club in Theydon Bois, Essex. The group meet every Thursday night from 8pm to 10pm and it's been very interesting to see every one's collection of images of space, eclipses, galaxies and their own theories of the universe. On the first week, after the meeting was over, a few of the blokes had a telescope set up outside and we managed to see Jupiter, in great definition, a long with the four best known moons. We also saw the ISS pass over us, Andromeda galaxy (2.2 million lightyears away) and even saw star clusters from our own galaxy. It was quite breath taking.
I had a job interview for Game, the video game company, but I am still waiting to hear from them as they said they will contact me this week... Still, one more day and I shall assume the answer is a "no".
I see Labour are losing supporters, and well to be honest, they have been for some time... Personally I don't adhere myself to a specific political party, just vote for who has the right policies at the right times. Even so, I think Labours 12 year reign of terror and corruption over the UK has come to an end and I doubt we will see it for some time...
For now, though... I'll leave you alone and I will see you later. Peace x
30 August 2009
The Top 100 Greatest...
There are many "Top 100 Greatest..." lists when it comes to music. These lists, when referring to rock music, typically cover the basics: guitarists, bassists, drummers and vocalists. I have seen the odd one or two listing the top 100 bands of all time as well.
The lists are usually based on technique, creativity, versatility and influence on the world of music and you usually see the same names making the top places every time, and these names are typically “big” or famous names that are not at all that good at their particular instruments. Most people would not consider these artists worthy of being in the top 100... This makes me believe that this is somewhat more of a contest of popularity than a contest of genuine ability.
To some extent I usually agree (aside from the occasional dispute) with the top 5 or 10, but as for the rest of the lists, I get really concerned as to what is happening. Call me biased but many of my favourite guitarists for example, get left out of the top 20. These include David Gilmour, John Frusciante and Mike McCready who are all epic guitarists.
To many, they might not be considered some of the best of all time but I couldn't disagree more. With their technical skill, emotive playing, passion for the music and wealth of experience, along with the critical acclaim they have garnered, the adoration from fans, critics and industry insiders alike and their massive influences on the present generation definitely harbour very high rankings, indeed. I think they are some of the best guitarists I have ever heard in my life.
This also stretches into my favourite drummers. Chad Smith is considered by many to be one of the best living drummers, yet he frequently ranks in the lower ends of the “Top 100 Drummers” lists. If there are many people out there who highly rate Chad Smith, why is he being placed so low in the tables? He has great technical ability, speed, influence, groove and love for drumming, but it may be because he is a quiet and reserved guy at the back of the huge stage with three massive personalities resonating at nearly a million hertz in front of him. Either way, the guy deserves to be in at least the top 20.
Everyone loves Dave Grohl. It’s a well-known fact that he is one of the nicest and most adored men in all of rock music as well as one of the most famous drummers to have ever lived, yet he is another who ranks low in the “Top 100 Drummers” lists. Dave Grohl first came into the public eye with Nirvana with 1991’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and has continued to increase his fan base even to this very day. His hard-hitting, Bonham-influenced technique and massive influence of his own over modern audiences, along with a passion for the drums and an emotive playing sense deserve to push this drumming heavy weight higher up the “Top 100 Drummers” rankings.
Basically to sum it all up, lists of “Top 100 Greatest” lists are in effect, a pile of shit because all that matters is your own personal opinion. Very rarely will you find a list that includes all of your personal favourites and in the right orders, as today it seems like a popularity contest and less of a legitimate list ordering people in order of talent, technical ability, influence, creativity and versatility.
24 August 2009
Ever Had A Sudden Realisation?
*** Excessive use of profanities ***
It's been a while since I last wrote something here, but this isn't a catch up... This is an emotional release. Other than my sister visiting, which I thoroughly enjoyed, the last few weeks have been a bit of a cunt.
I have recently come to the realisation that people are cunts… They are only out to fuck you and get what they want from you, even family. Family are there when it suits them and they will stab their own blood in the back if it means getting what they want out of it. I come to that realisation long ago, and it has only just hit home… This is not to say that I don’t love my family, because I do… It’s unconditional, but I still hate most of my family.
The hatred and sadness built up earlier as I was thinking about it all, and I started to cry, as you do when things get overwhelming. But I can’t cry properly. I get upset and tears form in my eyes but there is no emotional release that let’s me know that I am crying, so I started to get REALLY frustrated at the fact that crying wasn’t releasing my emotion. All the emotion turned into anger and in the end I almost popped a blood vessel in my head and was literally seconds from smashing the shit out of the bathroom before I realised that it would do no good.
I am the kind of person, who once I get emotional, I start to think of everything, and today that “everything” was the fact that I am open book and have always been an open book. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I am a genuinely kind person. Too kind for my own good, perhaps. A friend once told me that people take kindness for weakness, and being as kind as I am, people must take me for an absolute cunt.
It all got me thinking… I open up too easily and I let people into my heart and they fuck me over, right away. People take the opportunity to get what ever they can from someone by what ever means necessary and they usually jump when someone shows vulnerability. Being the open book that I am, I am always left vulnerable to such attack and I can’t take it anymore. Something’s got to give and I wont let it be my well-being.
There may be other genuinely nice people out there who don’t stab people in the back for their own gain, but life has taught me that most people are cunts and that I can’t go on living my day-to-day with my heart on my sleeve because people take advantage of it. So from now on, I have taken my heart off my sleeve and I am no longer opening up to anyone, regardless of who they are. Fuck people, they can’t be trusted. From now on I am going to be nice whenever I want to be, and not because I feel that I have to be.
Consider this the last time that I open up and let people know what is really going on, on the inside...
It's been a while since I last wrote something here, but this isn't a catch up... This is an emotional release. Other than my sister visiting, which I thoroughly enjoyed, the last few weeks have been a bit of a cunt.
I have recently come to the realisation that people are cunts… They are only out to fuck you and get what they want from you, even family. Family are there when it suits them and they will stab their own blood in the back if it means getting what they want out of it. I come to that realisation long ago, and it has only just hit home… This is not to say that I don’t love my family, because I do… It’s unconditional, but I still hate most of my family.
The hatred and sadness built up earlier as I was thinking about it all, and I started to cry, as you do when things get overwhelming. But I can’t cry properly. I get upset and tears form in my eyes but there is no emotional release that let’s me know that I am crying, so I started to get REALLY frustrated at the fact that crying wasn’t releasing my emotion. All the emotion turned into anger and in the end I almost popped a blood vessel in my head and was literally seconds from smashing the shit out of the bathroom before I realised that it would do no good.
I am the kind of person, who once I get emotional, I start to think of everything, and today that “everything” was the fact that I am open book and have always been an open book. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I am a genuinely kind person. Too kind for my own good, perhaps. A friend once told me that people take kindness for weakness, and being as kind as I am, people must take me for an absolute cunt.
It all got me thinking… I open up too easily and I let people into my heart and they fuck me over, right away. People take the opportunity to get what ever they can from someone by what ever means necessary and they usually jump when someone shows vulnerability. Being the open book that I am, I am always left vulnerable to such attack and I can’t take it anymore. Something’s got to give and I wont let it be my well-being.
There may be other genuinely nice people out there who don’t stab people in the back for their own gain, but life has taught me that most people are cunts and that I can’t go on living my day-to-day with my heart on my sleeve because people take advantage of it. So from now on, I have taken my heart off my sleeve and I am no longer opening up to anyone, regardless of who they are. Fuck people, they can’t be trusted. From now on I am going to be nice whenever I want to be, and not because I feel that I have to be.
Consider this the last time that I open up and let people know what is really going on, on the inside...
31 July 2009
Josh Blue The Disabled Comedian
So last night I was browsing all of my usual comedians on YouTube like Russell Howard, Frankie Boyle, Stephen K Amos, Ed Byrne and the likes, when I came across a new comedian who I found very funny indeed. His stand up included your every day life stuff and much of his stand up was based around being disabled and getting through life. The comedians name is Josh Blue and he has Cerebral Palsy and such, a lot of his comedy comes from experience.
Josh Blue first made his appearance in the American TV show Last Comic Standing and instantly became favourite and he eventually went on to win the show, with little surprise. His guts and daring coupled with his ability to turn his Cerebral Palsy into something for comedy is remarkable and he is a true inspiration for everyone. He doesn't feel sorry for himself and doing stand up, he obviously doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for him either. Otherwise, why would he do stand up?
Check him out here. This is his first legendary appearance on Last Comic Standing. A must see!
Josh Blue first made his appearance in the American TV show Last Comic Standing and instantly became favourite and he eventually went on to win the show, with little surprise. His guts and daring coupled with his ability to turn his Cerebral Palsy into something for comedy is remarkable and he is a true inspiration for everyone. He doesn't feel sorry for himself and doing stand up, he obviously doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for him either. Otherwise, why would he do stand up?
Check him out here. This is his first legendary appearance on Last Comic Standing. A must see!
29 July 2009
Union Jack Ruled As 'Offensive'
It has been in and out of the news a lot over the last few years, that the Union Jack is deemed 'offensive'. I reject that statement. It's a fucking flag for fucks sake! The people calling this flag 'offensive' are the Neo-fascist Political Correctness brigade and far-right Islamists and Extremists living in this country, stating that it is "offensive to Muslims and non-British".
Now I may be old fashioned here, but doesn't going to another country mean that you should accept their culture and their traditions? -- I mean, you made the decision to go there right? And all this PC bullshit is beginning to fuck me off as well. The PC cunts responsible for turning this country into a bunch of submissive pussies are the typical "Yes let's bring the foreigners over here, it is their right as much as it is ours... But don't bring them into the suburbs where we live, oh God no" Upper-classes and everyone is fucking listening to them and letting them control this country through this cancer called Political Correctness.
Something that I read in today's London Lite newspaper which inspired me to write this post: Met Police Chiefs have banned their force from wearing Union Jack badges on their uniforms in support of out troops overseas dubbing it as "offensive" and not being "part of the dress code". The paper says "The row started last month when 200 officers at Heathrow were told that the badges were in breach of the Met's dress code. The order is believed to have come after a member of the public complained that the symbol was 'offensive'".
Many units within the Met have ignored the order to remove their badges despite disciplinary action and have all joined the revolt, and good on them, too! By giving in and removing the Union Jack from clothes and even in extremes, car and house windows, we are sending a very important message to people everywhere else in the world. That message being "Come to our country and complain that everything is offensive to you and your traditions and we will do what ever we can to change this because we are a bunch of submissive PC-conscious cunts".
Seriously, though... I am not a racist but if we start off with something as petty as a flag on a badge, where will it end? Changing our traditions and our langauge and our culture to suit every single minority coming over here and abusing their un-fairly given rights to contradict a country in which that has given them a second chance at life?!
It is fucking ridiculous and people claiming the Union Jack is offensive should be ashamed of themselves. After all it is their heritage, their country (whether they are born and bred here or not, they live here now) and it's JUST A FUCKING FLAG!
Now I may be old fashioned here, but doesn't going to another country mean that you should accept their culture and their traditions? -- I mean, you made the decision to go there right? And all this PC bullshit is beginning to fuck me off as well. The PC cunts responsible for turning this country into a bunch of submissive pussies are the typical "Yes let's bring the foreigners over here, it is their right as much as it is ours... But don't bring them into the suburbs where we live, oh God no" Upper-classes and everyone is fucking listening to them and letting them control this country through this cancer called Political Correctness.
Something that I read in today's London Lite newspaper which inspired me to write this post: Met Police Chiefs have banned their force from wearing Union Jack badges on their uniforms in support of out troops overseas dubbing it as "offensive" and not being "part of the dress code". The paper says "The row started last month when 200 officers at Heathrow were told that the badges were in breach of the Met's dress code. The order is believed to have come after a member of the public complained that the symbol was 'offensive'".
Many units within the Met have ignored the order to remove their badges despite disciplinary action and have all joined the revolt, and good on them, too! By giving in and removing the Union Jack from clothes and even in extremes, car and house windows, we are sending a very important message to people everywhere else in the world. That message being "Come to our country and complain that everything is offensive to you and your traditions and we will do what ever we can to change this because we are a bunch of submissive PC-conscious cunts".
Seriously, though... I am not a racist but if we start off with something as petty as a flag on a badge, where will it end? Changing our traditions and our langauge and our culture to suit every single minority coming over here and abusing their un-fairly given rights to contradict a country in which that has given them a second chance at life?!
It is fucking ridiculous and people claiming the Union Jack is offensive should be ashamed of themselves. After all it is their heritage, their country (whether they are born and bred here or not, they live here now) and it's JUST A FUCKING FLAG!
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