I See Everybody's Presidential Campaign Is Kicking It Up a Notch

I don't mean Trump or Hillary. No, those two nonstop public train wrecks are givens. Nope, I'm talking about the efforts of the glorious SMOD 2016. Don't tell me your PR guys didn't have something to do with this new headline, dude.

Absolutely Awesome: Solar Eclipse Seen From the Air

More delightful details here!

Today in History: Galileo Discovers 4 Jovian Moons

Using a homemade (!) telescope, Galileo discovered 4 moons of Jupiter on this day in 1610.  Today the moons Callisto, Europa, Ganymede, and Io are also called the Galilean moons in his honor.

Supermoon, Solar Eclipse, Vernal Equinox, March Madness, Starbucks Race Hustling, and Netanyahu Derangement Syndrome All In One Day!

Well, I guess the only thing I can do as commentary is post this Onion story. 

It's been a lunatic day, in which learning that Starbucks is actually encouraging its baristas to engage customers in discussions about race relations wasn't even the craziest thing that happened.  The inevitable backlash has, admittedly, provided its own form of Schadenfreudelicious entertainment. (Of course the incomparable Iowahawk has a quip.)

Elsewhere, my head is spinning from all the post-Israeli election howling from various people and quarters and media outlets.  I really can't take any more of it, because all the yelling and yammering has coalesced into one wordless collective shriek.  Maybe later I'll try to consider the fallout and talk about foreign policy again, but for now let's just call the furious reactions together "Netanyahu Derangement Syndrome" and let it go at that, mmmkay?

Finally, let me add: THANK GOD March Madness has finally started.  It's the only madness right now that makes any damn sense at all.  

(PS: Go, Anybody-But-Duke!)

Awesome: The Commencement Speech From Space

Take a look at what happened yesterday: "NASA Astronaut and UConn alum Rick Mastracchio '82 (ENG) delivers the 2014 UConn School of Engineering Commencement address from the International Space Station."

Glorious: Commander Hadfield's "Space Oddity"

The International Space Station's utterly delightful Canadian commander is set to come back home to Earth tonight, and he caps his months-long reign of awesomeness with this, the first music video from space:

New Canadian Currency Is Out of This World

Cmdr. Chris Hadfield has the bully pulpit from the ISS, and he's turned into Canada's best PR officer ever.  Check out his latest for the Bank of Canada.  As Geekosystem gushes, "The New Canadian Five Dollar Bill Has Space Robots on It, Makes Presidents Look Lame."  

Seriously, though, if you haven't been following Hadfield's exploits on YouTube and on Twitter, you've been missing out on all sorts of great stuff (like this exchange or this holiday-themed musical offering).

Geek Fun: Russian Astronomy

As a follow-up to yesterday's crazy news, here is this hilarity:

Space Invaders

Asteroids and meteors and crazy astronomy, oh my!  (Here's a bit of fun with that.)

Oh, and don't forget to check out this insane dash-cam footage from Russia:

 

Quote of the Day: Limitations

From XKCD:

But I've never seen the Icarus story as a lesson about the limitations of humans. I see it as a lesson about the limitations of wax as an adhesive. 

Here's the (fascinating) context.

Friday Fun Video: Helvetia By Night

Gorgeous Swiss landscapes in time-lapse photography done by Helvetia By Night.  My favorite moment begins around 2:35.  Amazingly beautiful.

Don't Be a Crazy Moon Landing Conspiracy Theorist, Or Buzz Aldrin Will Feed You a Knuckle Sandwich

You know, I really wish I didn't have to post things like this, but in the wake of Neil Armstrong's passing, a bunch of idiots are rehashing the moon landing conspiracy theory.  This is a huge collection of debunking, including the guys from Mythbusters and Buzz Aldrin himself, who proves himself an even bigger glorious badass than I had previously thought - a feat I had not thought was possible.  Note also: that conspiracy nut absolutely got what he deserved.  What, you go up to an American hero who trained like mad and put his life in jeopardy on Apollo 11 and proceed to accuse him of being a liar and a coward?  Idjit.  We love you, Buzz!

Requiescat in Pace, Neil Armstrong

Hail and farewell to an American hero and icon.  Neil Armstrong takes his final journey at age 82.

Friday Fun Video: "We're NASA and We Know It"

This delightfully goofy video parody of the LMFAO song and shoutout to NASA's Mars Curiosity mission has been making the rounds on the Internet this week, so here it is for your viewing/listening pleasure. Bonus: includes a tribute to Bobak.

Awesome: the Mars Curiosity Rover Lands!

Hooray for Curiosity!  Here is the first hi-res image that it sent back!  So, so exciting. UPDATE:  Delightful GEEK JOY!

Awesome: Olympic Moon and Tower Bridge

Notable Blog Post Title Du Jour: Solar Flares

Gawker has this hilarious headline:  "There’s a Decent Chance the Sun Will Fry the Entire Internet and Lay Waste to Civilization."   Well, it's better than zombies, right?

Awesome: Southern Lights

Take a look at the Northern Lights' cousin Down Under, the Aurora Australis.  This video from Melbourne, Australia, captures some stunningly beautiful images.  More info here.

Red Aurora Australis from Alex Cherney on Vimeo.

Kepler Telescope Discovers 11 New Solar Systems

Hooray!

Awesome: LEGO Man in Space

Check out what a couple of enterprising high school students from Toronto did with LEGO, a camera, and a helium-filled weather balloon!  Read all about it, and then watch this delightful (and beautiful) video footage.  Outstanding.