Link Roundup June 2009

Here is a list of a couple great articles I found this past month:
10 Ways to Find People on Twitter – Mashable
How to Build Sturdy Basement Shelves
- Art of Manliness
Spec-Ops TSA-Compliant “Better BDU” Belt
– Practical Hacks
50 Great Non-Fiction Adventure Books
– Art of Manliness
Broil Your Way to Perfect Pizza Crust
– Lifehacker
How to Conquer Fear
– Art of Manliness
Coffee Drinks Illustrated
– Lifehacker/Lokesh DhakarKeep Firefox Open When Closing the Last Tab – Lifehacker
RunPee Iphone App – Mashable
Get a Straight Razor Shave - Art of Manliness
Top 10 Productivity Basics Explained – Lifehacker
Add Invisible Ink to your Spycraft Arsenal – Lifehacker
Start a Book – Art of Manliness
Nine Great Uses for Binder Clips – Lifehacker
Feed Your Family for Five Bucks Without Going to Taco Bell – The Consumerist
Is Your Handwriting up to Snuff? – Lifehacker
Synchronize Tomboy Notes with Dropbox – Lifehacker
15 Excellent Web Apps for Managing Your Finances – Dumb Little Man
Whip Up Homemade Bread Without Using a Bread Machine - Simple Productivity Blog
How to have a Persuasive Handshake – Wikihow
Five Ways to Get More from Boxee – Lifehacker
7 Basic Knots Every Man Should Know – Art of Manliness
How to Feel Motivated at Work – Dumb Little Man
TV-Browser – Online Didgital TV Guide for Ubuntu – Ubuntu Geek
Improve Your Posture -  Lifehack
6 Motivation Tips When You’re Feeling Depressed - Pick the Brain
First Draft Secrets – Write to Done
How to Write a Paper to Attract Clients – Dumb Little Man
Beware of these Speed Ticket Myths - Dumb Little Man
5 Ways Twitter Can Save You Money – Mashable
A Powerful Guide to Active Listening – Pick the Brain
Everything You Need to Take Better Breaks – LifeDev
10 Awesome Tools To Get More Out of Wikipedia - Dumb Little Man
Creatinga Budget – Art of Manliness
The Lifehacker Cookbook - Lifehacker
Some Motivation from George Washington - Art of Manliness
Outfitting a Minimalist Kitchen – Unclutterer
Make your Brown Bag Lunch More Appealing - Lifehacker
6 Amazing Techniques to Staying Happy During a Stressful Project – Zenhabits
Channeling Your Innter Entrepreneur – Pick the Brain
3 Critical Time Management Techniques – Dumb Little Man
Five Must-Have Tools For Any Kitchen – Lifehacker
The Best U.S. Airport Restaurants - Practical Hacks
Table of Condiments - Lifehacker
The Power of Paper for Everyday Life
– Dumb Little Man
How to Tie a Tie – Art of Manliness
Saving Desk Space with Serious Magnets – Lifehacker
12 Tricks Your Brain is Playing on You - Dumb Little Man

Thats it Link-wise for this month. Please come back during the Month of July for more posts. The next Link Roundup will be posted July 31st.

Shuttle Launch Scrubbed Due to Same Leak

Fixing the Leak

Tuesday’s launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour was scrubbed due to the same hydrogen leak that scrubbed the first attempt to launch this past saturday. The second attempt to lauch the shuttle for it’s STS-127 mission was supposed to take place at 5:15 am EDT Wednesday morning. The team decided to scrub the launch at 1:55am wednesday morning. The next attempt to launch will be on July 11,2009 at 7:39pm EDT, so that two lunar probes can launch and do their missions.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Updated LRO and LCROSS Launch Information

Because of the rescheduled launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour, the launch of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) will be delayed to Thursday at the earliest. The launch of Endeavour was delayed on Saturday due to a hydrogen leak and is rescheduled for Wednesday at 5:15 am EDT. If Endeavour launches on Wednesday, the two orbiters will launched either on Thursday or Friday. If the Shuttle launch is scrubbed again, the orbiters will launch on Thursday.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

LRO. via Wikipedia

LRO. via Wikipedia

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is a robotic spacecraft that will be placed in an orbit around the Moon.
Mission Objectives:

  • Selenodetic global topography
  • Characterization of deep space radiation in lunar orbit.
  • study of the lunar polar regions, including water and ice deposits.
  • High-res mapping to help with the selection of future landing sites.
  • Provide first pictures of leftover Apollo equipment.

About LCROSS

LCROSS. via Wikipedia

LCROSS. via Wikipedia

The Lunar Crater Observation and sensing satellite will be piggy-backing on the launch of LRO. The LCROSS was designed to watch as the launch vehicle’s upper stage strikes  a permanently shadowed region of the moon’s south pole. After the impact, LCROSS will analyze the plume which will help confirm preliminary findings of water and ice. After this, LCROSS will, then, fly through the plume and crash into a different part of the crater. The amount of time inbetween the two impacts will be approxamately four minutes.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

STS-127 Launch Update

153212main_127-rss-425

*Update* Mission managers at NASA have rescheduled the launch for Wednesday.  If Endeavour doesn’t launch, LRO/LCROSS will launch instead.

Today, NASA will make the decision on a new launch date for Endeavour after scrubbing the launch attempt on Saturday. The launch was scrubbed early on, before suit up, because of a leaky gaseous hydrogen venting system. If there is no delays in repairs, the launch is more than likely going to be rescheduled for Wednesday. If there is going to be a launch attempt on Wednesday, the LRO/LCROSS launch will have to be delayed to the 19th or 20th.

Launch Status Page

STS-127: 29th Mission to the International Space Station

sts-127crewSTS-127 will be the 29th mission to the ISS and the 23rd mission for Endeavour. This mission’s objectives will be primarily to continue the building of JAXA’s JEM (Kibo) as well as bringing up regular equipment to perform regular maintenance to the station.

Launch:July 11 7:39pm EDT (23:39 UTC)

June 17 5:40am EDT (9:40 UTC)

June 13 7:17am EDT (11:17 UTC)

Landing: June 29 12:40am EDT (4:40 UTC)

PositionCrew Member Flight #
Commander Mark L. Polansky3
PilotDouglas G. Hurley1
MS 1Christopher J. Cassidy-EV3
1
MS 2Julie Payette - CSA*2
MS 3David A. Wolf
Lead Spacewalker-EV1
4
MS 4Thomas H. Marshburn-EV41
MS 5Timothy Kopra-EV2-Launching
Koichi Wakata-JAXA**-Returning
1
3

Mission Priorities:

(As listed in the Press Kit P.18)

  • Crew Rotation: NASA astronaut Tim Kopra to exchange places with JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata
  • Transfer of water from shuttle to ISS
  • Transfer of stow critical items
  • Installation of JEM-EF(External Facility) to JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module)
  • Install ICC (Integrated Cargo Carrier) to POA (Payload Orbital Replacement Unit Accommodation)
  • Install ELM-ES (Japanese Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section) onto JEM-EF
  • Replacement of six P6 batteries
  • Install Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s ICS (Inter-satellite Communications System) to POA
  • Install ELM-ES (Exposed Section) onto JEM-EF(Exposed Facility)
  • Install All-Sky X-Ray Images (MAXI)  and Space Environment Data Acquisition equipment -Attached Payload (SEDA-AP) on JEM-EF using the JEM’s robotic arm [Worded strangely, no clue what it means. I shall find out.]
  • Return ELM-ES to shuttle’s payload bay.
  • Perform crew handover of 12 hours.
  • Transfer of remaining cargo items.
  • Install/Activate/Checkout JEM-EF forward camera
  • Deploy ANDE an DRAGONSAT payloads (Post undocking)
  • Perform ISS payload research operations tasks
  • Transfer of nitrogen and oxygen from Shuttle to ISS airlock high-pressure gas tanks. [In order to fulfill requirements to have them full for Shuttle retirement]
  • Perform Detailed Test Objective (DTO) 701, DragonEye
  • Perform DTO 695, Thrust Oscillation Seat
  • Perform program-approved spacewalk get-ahead tasks:
    • Deploy S3 Upper Inboard PAS [STS-133]
    • Install Wireless Video System External Transceiver Assembly (WETA) No. 3
  • Opening of Node 1 Port Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) center disk cover flap.
  • Perform HTV readiness tasks:
    • Install/Activate JEM-EF aft camera
    • Open Node 2 Zenith CBCS center disk cover
  • Daily ISS payload status checks (as required)

Tasks scheduled but may be deferred if EVA(s) are behind Schedule:

  • Removal of grounding tabs on JEM’s robotic arm end effector.
  • Deployment of Port 3 Nadir Unpressurized Cargo Carrier Attach System (UCCAS) [for STS-129]
  • Deployment Starboard 3 Upper Outboard PAS [for STS-129]
  • Zenith 1 Patch Panel reconfiguration
  • Installation of 6 Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS) floating power connector grounding sleeves.
  • Deployment of Lower Inboard PAS and open target cover [for STS-133]
  • Tuck down Lab/Node 2 cables
  • Install JPM spacewalk handrails and worksite interfaces.
  • Install gap spanner to replace Harmony handrail
  • Reboost station (if needed)
  • Perform imagery survey during fly around
  • Perform an additional four hours handover per rotating crew member
  • Perform Maui Analysis of Upper Atmosphere (MAUI), Shuttle Exhauster Ion Turbulence Experiments (SEITE), and SIMPLEX (payloads of opportunity – not during docked operations)
  • Perform Station Detailed Test Objective 1300-U, ISS Structural Life Validation and Extension during Shuttle Mated Reboost and undocking.



Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

STS-125 Final Trip To Hubble

These seven astronauts take a break from train...
Image via Wikipedia

Launch: May 11,2009 2:01PM EST (18:01 UTC)
Landing: May 22,2009 11:41AM EST (15:41 UTC)

STS-125 is the fifth and final mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. This mission is one of the more risky missions ever taken on using a Space Shuttle. The main reason why this is risky is because the shuttle will be unable to dock with the International space station in the event that something does happen. Because of this, it will be required that a backup shuttle be placed on launch pad 39B. In this mission astronauts will:

Crew:
Scott Altman – Commander
Gregory Johnson – Pilot
Michael Good – Mission Specialist 1
K. Megan McArthur – Mission Specialist 2
John Grunsfeld – Mission Specialist 3
Micael Massimino – Mission Specialist 4
Andrew Feustel – Mission Specialist 5

To View Live Coverage of STS-125 Visit SpaceVidCast

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Mozilla Introduces Prism Beta

Mozilla Prism's LogoMozilla prism is a program that can take your everyday web applications straight to the desktop. Prism is already in use by Yahoo! for their Zimbra suite and is now open to end users to use for their favorite web applications.

When I first used Prism, I first thought it was pointless since it seemed like a simple web browser that opens a URL shortcut on your desktop. But Mozilla does make a great point on the Prism website:

“Unstable applications can slow down or crash your entire browser.”

How many times have we all been writing a paper, either for work or school, using Google Docs or Zoho Writer and listening to Pandora at the same time when Flash decides to stop working? This usually requires a restart of Firefox and the retyping of several lines. With Prism, it allows all those apps to work separately from the browser thus taking a few weights off your browser’s back. If Flash decides to take a dump, only Prism will be effected. Unfortunately for you, you will have no excuse to stop working. I hope you enjoy my little demo below (it was on an older slow computer)!

Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Mozilla Prism can be downloaded at prism.mozilla.com

The Mozilla Prism logo is © Mozilla, Inc. and  is being used for news reporting under fair use.

Chris Pirillo on Cinco de Mayo

Looking for a Good Cologne

We are setting out to find a good cologne… not because we stink. I went to Macy’s today and I did notice that there were saleswomen that seriously looked like prostitutes. You couldn’t distinguish them from manequins. Besides the salespeople, I did notice a calogne called “Element” from HUGO BOSS. I swear, It smells like a scene from Disneyland’s and Walt Disney World’s Sorin’. It smelled like the orange groves/ forest. mmmm brings back memories.

Review: Pepsi & Mountain Dew Throwback

mountain dew and pepsi throwback
Image by ehfisher via Flickr

For those of you who grew up before the 80s may remember when Pepsi and Coca-Cola used real sugar in their sodas. Unfortunately many of us that were born afterwards weren’t so lucky to taste this sugary goodness, well, unless you lived next to a convenient store that got it’s imports from Mexico.

Just this past week Pepsi introduced Pepsi Throwback and Mountain Dew Throwback. Both Contain real sugar just like it was before they screwed it up. I was lucky enough to get my hands on both Mountain Dew and Pepsi Throwbacks yesterday, and I could really tell the difference. Both are much sweeter than their “Today” versions. I must say, I really wish both Pepsi and Coke would just return to their roots just like they did back in the day. Go out and buy a couple and try them out before their gone. The Throwbacks will be gone sometime in early June, since this is a test run. If Pepsi sees significant numbers in sales, they could possibly switch back or even add Pepsi and Mountain Dew Throwbacks onto their list of permanent products, So go out there and try it! I highly recommend it!

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]