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starkiller

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Join date
7-Nov-2003
Last activity
7-Mar-2008
Posts
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Post
#126935
Topic
Space Shuttle
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/126935/action/topic#126935
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: Switch Radic
I think that we've lost some of that exploartion drive in us as a race of beings because we don't put the resources into it that we should if we really want to go out there and do it.
There is a large part of society that has become too lazy and/or too materialistic for space to be a priority. They want to focus on acquiring stuff more than acquiring knowledge.
Post
#126699
Topic
Space Shuttle
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/126699/action/topic#126699
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
Mean either.

I did read somewhere that they're trying to make a "Solar Sail" device that will get something to Mars a lot faster than conventional rockets, though.
The Japanese have already tested one...in the last few months. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the end result of the experiment.

ric,
I believe you're right about how the current SpaceShipOne works.

I, however, think I would do it. I have a fear of heights (even looking off a 12-foot garage roof was troublesome), but airplane travel has never bothered me before.

Warbler,
from a CNN article about Bush's space plan announcement (Jan 2004):
...the United States will wrap up its current obligations on building the international space station by 2010, after which it will retire the remaining three space shuttles used to build and service the station, Bush said. Russia and 14 other countries are partners with the United States in the ISS.

The shuttles have been grounded since Columbia broke up while returning to Earth last February. The president said NASA will return the shuttles to flight for the remainder of the decade, based upon recommendations from the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

The board has told NASA that it would have to re-certify the space shuttles if it wanted to fly them beyond 2010 -- an onerous and expensive task the Bush administration opted to forgo.

The initial spurt of new funding will be used to begin work on what a "crew exploration vehicle," which O'Keefe said will "look totally different" from the space shuttle. It will be developed and tested by 2008 and will conduct its first manned mission no later than 2014. Lunar missions will begin between 2015 and 2020.

The new vehicle will be capable of traveling to the space station. It has not been determined whether the craft will be reusable, like the space shuttle, or a spacecraft like those on the Apollo missions, which were used just once.

Also, NASA will begin sending a series of robotic missions to the moon beginning in 2008 to conduct research and prepare for future missions, and research will be conducted on the space station on the long-term effects of extended space travel on human physiology.
Post
#126595
Topic
Space Shuttle
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/126595/action/topic#126595
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: PSYCHO_DAYV
I REALLY DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING. YOU HAVE TO BE IN TOP PHYSICAL SHAPE JUST TO MAKE THE TRIP OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN TOP PHYSICAL SHAPE AND ACTUALLY AFFORD TO TAKE A "SPACE" TOUR ???
I've never met the man, but remember that John Glenn, in his 80s, made a trip on the shuttle.
I'm sure he's in good shape, but how good a shape can you be in at that age?

Price will go down as more ships are created and more flights are made.
Post
#126520
Topic
Space Shuttle
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/126520/action/topic#126520
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: Arnie.d
Oh yes fossil fuels, very dependable. Until they've RUN OUT!!!!!!!!!
Not necessarily:


Just remember,


Now, before you get angry or anything, I'M MAKING FUN OF THE SUBJECT!
I care about the environment, but I'm not going to make grand sacrifices about it.
Do I recycle? Yes.
Do I conserve gas the best I can? Yes. I walk to work 5 days a week and my CR-V averages about 25+mpg.
Do I deface Hummers? No.
Do I like renewable energy sources? Absolutely. Do you own a crank-powered flashlight?

Got a couple little stories for you:
Once upon a time, there was a fat senator from Massachusetts. He listened to the tree-huggers when they demanded clean, renewable sources of power. So he wanted them too.
Then, he found out that a company wanted to place several wind turbines in the ocean off the coast of HIS mansion. They would spoil his view. He didn't want them now.

Once there was a President from Texas. Everyone thought he went to war to get more oil so that gas prices would go down. That's why oil is up over $60 a barrel (from a pre-war level in the $40s) and gas costs as much as $5 a gallon in some parts of the United States.
Post
#126516
Topic
Space Shuttle
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/126516/action/topic#126516
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: Arnie.d
America lost it's credibility when Bush was elected as president.
Freon is banned in most parts of the world but the worlds biggest pollutor: America, probably doesn't give a shit! Ever heard about Kyoto?
What does your president do? Starting an illigal war so you can burn more and more fossil fueles. All the billions of dollars pumped into america's war machine would be better spend in new clean technology. Does America care about the rest of the world or is she just busy "protecting the homeland"? I don't want to blame every american or something, I know you're deeply devided yourselfs (I'd say about 50:50). But you don't get the news from the world unbiassed on your tv screens.
Thank you, Mr. Moore for injecting the thread with politics.

Post
#126506
Topic
Space Shuttle
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/126506/action/topic#126506
Time
PSYCHO_DAYV,
To the best of NASA's knowledge (that they are releasing to the public anyway), the shuttle suffered no significant damage from falling foam. A few of the ceramic tiles on the bottom have small chips out of them, but that is perfectly normal on a shuttle mission.

Chaltab,
1. see above.
2. IF there is damage that could cause trouble on reentry, I think they would be willing to send up a second shuttle as a rescue vehicle, while the Discovery would be remote-piloted from the ground.

ChainsawAsh,
I'm simply going on what I heard. Perhaps there is a freon ban on NASA, given how much they would have to use for the shuttle. Maybe there never was a ban, but NASA was forced into the change by the Clinton administration, who was getting ideas from the environmentalists.
My point is, they made the change and I don't see a reason why they couldn't change back. They obviously used freon for 16 years (1981 to 1997) without serious repercussions, and since the shuttle is getting phased out, why not bring it back to remove the threat from foam?

Personally, I wish they hadn't scrapped the X-34 project (it was like a mini-shuttle). That design was far newer and was designed for this kind of thing (rescue/ trips to the space station).
Post
#126431
Topic
Space Shuttle
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/126431/action/topic#126431
Time
You will forgive me, but I need to rant a tiny bit. Hope you understand.

As some/all of you may have heard, all the shuttles have been grounded (well, except Discovery) because the foam trouble they spent 2 years and $1.4 billion to fix, didn't get fixed. The numerous cameras around the shuttle spotted several pieces of insulating foam falling off the external fuel tank on lift off.

I learned this week that the reason that foam is used, is that in 1997, Freeon (sp?) gas was determined a ozone hazard or something and practically banned. Previous to then, Freeon was used to keep the tank cool.
(So, if you like to jump to conclusions, you could technically blame the Columbia disaster on Environmentalists, the EPA, Bill Clinton or any combination of the three).
Other things affected when Freeon was banned include refridgerators and car air conditioners. How are these things cooled now? Freeon substitutes that have less impact on the ozone layer.

Well, if we have a Freeon substitute, why the heck are we NOT using it on the shuttle now???

Thank you for permitting this rant. Perhaps you'd like to join in it, or offer perspective on anything related?
Post
#126365
Topic
CAFTA - The Beginning of the End
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/126365/action/topic#126365
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: JediSage
CAFTA passed the American House by two votes the other day. This is pretty much the end for America as it once was. We are now on the road to becoming like the EU, with Canada and Mexico.

Article
Actually...
Boy, I wish I could find it...

I saw a US government PDF file I saw on Glenn Beck website that basically discusses that very thing.
Ahh, here it is:
Building a North American Community
"We propose a community based on the principle affirmed in the March 2005 Joint Statement of the three leaders that “our security and prosperity are mutually dependent and complementary.” Its boundaries will be defined by a common external tariff and an outer security perimeter within which the movement of people, products, and capital will be legal, orderly, and safe. Its goal will be to guarantee a free, secure, just, and prosperous North America."

Separate issue:
I do want to point something out...Canada and Mexico are not involved with CAFTA. They are part of NAFTA and that has been around for almost a decade.
Post
#125393
Topic
BSG
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/125393/action/topic#125393
Time
Originally posted by: yanksno1
Meaning you preferred the original to the new one? I've caught a few of the old series eps on SciFi reruns and thought it was pretty bad. I personally think the new one is one of the best shows on TV (with Lost and 24 being my other favorites). BSG should have been nominated for some emmy's and was robbed. If this season is as good as the 1st season was and doesn't next year, it'll only confirm my belief's that all award shows are fixed.
If DAYV is like me, we were so used to the original storyline that the huge departure that was made from the original was, at the very least, hard to deal with.

Imagine that Star Wars was reimagined by George Lucas so that Darth Vader hung out with Luke and the gang, and they didn't know he was the bad guy (assuming Baltar is a bad guy).
Imagine that Han was redone as female (i.e. Starbuck).
Imagine that R2 shot Luke at the end of A New Hope, while an identical R2 was busy fixing vaporators on Tatooine.
See what I mean?
Post
#125301
Topic
Knights of the Old Republic & the Sith Lords scores...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/125301/action/topic#125301
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: mikemccool
How do you rip them?
I figured this out with KotOR 1.

1: Download dbPowerAmp Music Converter. Free, nice program.
2: Take the music files and copy them to a new location (best that you not mess up the game files).
3: files are named .wav. Change the extension to .mp3.
4: Convert the file from an MP3 to a Wav file using the dbPowerAmp.
5: Enjoy.

I actually turned off the music as I played. Easier to pick out sound effects that way. I used this technique to isolate HK-47 lines, which are among the best in any video game I've played.
Post
#125111
Topic
terror in london
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/125111/action/topic#125111
Time
I've heard 5 in the head and torso.

The facts as I know them:
1. He was wearing a heavy padded coat (during the summer).
2. He failed to stop when the police asked him to stop.
3. British police have been given authorization to shoot to kill since shortly after 7/7.
4. He came out of a house that was under police observation.
5. I've heard nothing about his nationality.

Last, I really wish you'd get off the "Blood for Oil" thing Ric. Oil/Gas is more expensive now than its been any time in the past. The arguement does not make any sense.
Post
#124887
Topic
MAC or PC
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/124887/action/topic#124887
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: Switch Radic
wouldn't it depend on what that something was though starkiller?
Not really. Let me see...

3D modeling- Truespace 3.2
Video editting- I rarely do ANY video editting, but for the small things I do, Microsoft Movie Maker built in to WinXP does the job just fine for me.
Sound editting- Again, like with video, I rarely do it, but when I do, Cool Edit is all I need.
Graphics- I use Paint Shop Pro 6 and it works just great for my needs.
Programming- I own Visual Studio 6. All the programming I need for both standalong apps and web.
Desktop Publishing- I do this less than video editting, but when I do, I use Publisher on a PC at work.
Gaming- My PC will run practically any game I throw at it (except Command and Conquer...for some reason). A substitute teacher I had once told a story that he had to get a Mac emulator FOR HIS MAC to run a kids game for his granddaughter.

I've never found a situation where I EVER said to myself Boy, I wish I had a Mac here to do this better. or A Mac would have been easier to learn to do this on.
No Mac I've ever been on performed any task better than a PC.
A high school Online Journalism class was my last long-term contact with anything Mac. I've never used a more tempermental computer. It would crash doing any number of things (including as my cursor was on the shut down menu choice) and it was not very fast doing anything.
Post
#124859
Topic
MAC or PC
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/124859/action/topic#124859
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: Switch Radic
who even uses floppy drives anymore?
Well, when the comic was originally drawn, it was a big deal.

I kind of wish Jason had also mentioned how adding more than 96MB of memory to one of those original iMacs would void its warranty, even if you have an Apple authorized installer put it in for you.

I had a coworker (it was a part-time summer job and I rarely saw the guy) once try to convince me that Mac was better by showing me how fast his mac laptop could boot into Windows 95 through emulation.

I just sat and said, "Ok" politely, not wanting to point out that he should have factored in the Mac's power up time as well, which would have shown it not to be as fast.

Honestly, I can use Macs (meaning I can get around one if I need to), but they would not be my first choice if I needed to work on something.
Post
#124162
Topic
BSG
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/124162/action/topic#124162
Time
One of my hopes about the series has been revealed...

SciFi Wire
Galactica Will Encounter Pegasus

David Eick, co-creator and executive producer of SCI FI Channel's original series Battlestar Galactica, offered SCI FI Wire a few more details about the introduction of the Battlestar Pegasus, a returning element from the original series, which co-creator Ronald D. Moore revealed in a panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego. "This really came out of a conversation Ron and I had early on about the episodes we had seen of the original show and what felt like they might be well served by a fresh interpretation," Eick said in an interview. He added: "The storyline that we thought was interesting was the Battlestar Pegasus. And so, naturally, we put a pretty unexpected and, I think, pretty subversive spin on it. But it's definitely going to be a fixture for a while." The Pegasus appears beginning in the 10th episode of the second season.

The arrival of the Pegasus will launch a complex story arc inspired by current events, Eick said. "It stands to reason that in a show that's all about how we're all trying to survive this horrific attack by this inhuman enemy, that the thing that we're really exploring is not that threat from without, but how it turns itself inward and how it becomes insidious and internal, and how it begins to break us down from inside ourselves," he said. "And what better way to take that idea to the next level than to introduce another human being who, on the face of it, is going to help us defeat the Cylons, defeat that third outside enemy, once and for all, but in reality serves to only remind us once again that the biggest enemy is really us?"

Eick also hinted that the Pegasus will be involved in a multi-episode arc, though its crew may not be around as long. "It's not going to go away as quickly as people might think," he said. "That's not to say that the folks involved in bringing the Pegasus to us are going to remain indefinitely. But for sure it's going to be a fixture for some time." Battlestar Galactica airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
A while ago, I said I hoped they would "copy" just one or two of the original series episodes. I think I actually mentioned the Pegasus episodes in particular.

So, I'm happy to see the Pegasus showing up. I have no touble it will turn out different, but at least its there.

Now...can I get Gun on Ice Planet Zero??
Post
#124183
Topic
Holiday Special Download
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/124183/action/topic#124183
Time
It was intentional.

I actually did not realize it until a few months ago when a patron here at the library asked about it. He couldn't think of the name Barbwire, just that it was Casablanca, in the future, with a blonde.
The more I think about it, the more I see the connections.

I think I failed to catch the resemblance because Bogart's Rick was much more subtle about the help he tried to provide.
Plus, Barbwire isn't a movie you really think much about as you watch it...if you get my meaning.