Lunar Space Race
Posted on October 24, 2007 by Brian under News.
I have been reading in the news that China, Japan and soon India are all sending probes into space to be the first to colonize the Moon. China wants to build a space defense platform on the Moon that will be what they believe there shining monument in there Military. Personally I think they watched Austin Powers too much and think that if they put a weapons platform on the moon that the other countries will bow before there superiority. I think they have not thought this through. It’s going to take years of effort and trillions of dollars (that they do not have) to build a defense platform on the moon. Not to mention that if they choose to launch something offensively, it will take 3 days or more for it to reach earth, with all the orbital satellite’s that detect foreign object heading toward earth it will be like watching a bug hit your window in slow motion. Japan has also launched a probe to the moon. This one is a little more ambitious. They are looking to map the surface and plan on future exploration of the moon for “various” reasons. One such reason that is speculated is mining the planet for the known and unknown metals that are deposited there from the millions of years of meteor impacts. It was found years ago that there are large sources of Iron ore that have been impacted on the surface and covered over by years of silt. This could be a big boom to the Japanese economy if they can find an economic way to mine, refine and transport the ore to the planet. They themselves are in a financial bind as there space program has been delayed for years due to budget cuts, errors in equipment and overall failure of the program itself. This launch was supposed to happen four years ago but because of a scuttled launch then a series of costly failures it was postponed. Between China and Japan I would like to see who gets the claim on the Moon first, will this start an international incident that will force the United States to interfere and forcibly settle the possible dispute between the two countries! Or will America step up once the countries do make steps to colonize and tell them that they cant since we were technically the first one’s on the Moon and stake a claim for themselves and tax the crap out of any country that wants to turn it into a resource. Oh! Let’s not forget India. They will be heading to the moon soon as well, but it is unclear at the moment why. The only thing that I can think of is that they have to ride on the coat tales of other countries when it comes to the space race. So since China and Japan are going they have to go or they will look inferior to the rest of the other countries. I think it’s funny that these countries are just now headed to the moon and we are working towards Mars. I hope this drives the United States to pick up the pace and start the colonization of Mars and get a foot hold on the planets that can be used as resources. I told a friend of mine that we should just build a penal colony on Moon and send all of our life prisoners there. There is no chance of escape and in order to survive they would need to farm animals, veggies and what not. Its like Australia, it was originally a penal colony that was comprised of convicts, Marines and the Marines families. The convicts would have to farm there veggie, fruits and animals for consumption. They could be regulated and even mine the interior for minerals and metals that would be used to sustain the facility. They would learn a trade expand the facility and in the end have the ability to prove there worth as a valued member of society. Something that they can not do here on Earth. On Earth they just sit in a cell and wait to die.
I think I will draw up some pictures of my idea for a Lunar Penal Colony and see what everyone thinks. Stay tuned for more on this.
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Flint Hills National
Posted on October 21, 2007 by Ching under Life, Wishlist.
Holy cow! This $1.4 million dollar house is probably the highlight of our 2007 fall parade of homes adventure. You haven’t seen amazing until you’ve seen this house. It was breathtaking!
Let’s start with the fountain in the front patio/courtyard area. The front courtyard (I don’t want to call it a front porch because it is so much more than that in size and design, specially with the beautiful fountain) is accessible from the kitchen and the formal dining and the front door. On a nice summer day, you could easily just leave all of the French doors open when you’re entertaining.
When you walk in, you are greated by this really expansive great room, “great” is an understatement. You could fit our entire house in the great room. It is so big that it has two fireplaces, one on either end. The covered deck has vaulted ceiling and spans the entire width of the house. The kitchen has a huge island, bigger than Australia.
All of the bedrooms have attached bathrooms. The most of the bathrooms are strategically located in between two bedrooms so they are shared. These are not accessible from the hallway because these are specifically for the bedrooms. The house has several half baths just for visitors. The shower in the master bath could literally fit half a dozen people.
The huge bar in the basement boasts granite counter tops. Actually, I think all of the counters (including the bathrooms) were all solid surface, granite or marble. The walkout basement also has a fireplace. It is truly an amazing house.
Brian and I felt out of place and out of our element. We are these poor schmucks who would never have set foot in such a beautiful house if it weren’t for it being part of the parade of homes. It makes me wonder what kind of people can afford to live in such homes. I don’t think I’d ever own a house like that in my lifetime, not even if we won the lottery.
I love checking out these amazing houses in the parade of homes. It makes you go ooh and ahh. Sometimes it is depressing, but I find visiting parade homes more fun than depressing so Brian and I go check them out anyway.
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Let’s Chismis
Posted on October 18, 2007 by Ching under Web.
I’m not really one to follow Pinoy celeb chismis but when I found this on Pinoyblog.com I thought I would share. Anyway, these are likely not real. It’s supposedly some advert photo shoot or something, but the Pinoy chismosos and chismosas are having a hey day. Specially in the wake of the Gretchen Barretto and John Estrada “kissing” photo scandal.
It’s amazing that Gretchen continues to be chismis fodder considering she hasn’t been in the Philippine show business for many years. I guess some people are just naturally controversial personalities.
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Mom’s Choclate Cake!
Posted on October 17, 2007 by Ching under Sponsored Post.
I was talking to some friends the other day and we were discussing recipes that are handed down from our families. You know, the good old favorite that your mom taught you, and her mom taught her and her mom and so on. So I told them about this choclate cake that my mother used to make for me every year on my birthday. It was a choclate cake that was so light and fluffy and it had a rich chocolate ganache that was the frosting. It was the greatest! I remember that she used this old Hamilton Beach® Mixer you know the one that had the Professional 2-way rotating head for thorough hands-free mixing and 12 settings that offered more mixing flexibility and precise control and I can never forget that 4.5 qt stainless steel locking bowl with handle, I used to stare at my reflection in that thing while Mom poured all the ingreadients in to it. Man, that Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer brings back some good memories, and the best part is that they still make that mixer today. I use an Eclectrics® Mixer now to make that same cake for my family and friends. I have a feeling that it will be a part of our family for years to come, just like my mom’s coclate cake recipe!
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Ching Wants a New Bag
Posted on October 17, 2007 by Ching under Wishlist.
I want a new bag! I want a new bag! I want a new bag!
Why are bags so expensive? I found this bag at Franklin Covey which I thought I liked, but it’s freakin’ ginormous! It looks like luggage. They did have this nice business tote, though. But I already have a laptop bag.
They have a whole bunch of bags at 60% off right now because the new bags are coming in January. Maybe Brian will surprise me with a new bag. Hint, hint.
Kidding aside, I have the best work group ever! They gave me a couple of gift cards, a boquet of flowers, and a musical card for Boss’ Day. It felt like Christmas! The musical card was a challenge to read because everytime you opened it, it played that “All Star” song from the Shrek movie really, really loud. I love getting musical cards for others, too. I just never realized how bad it is when you’re trying to be quiet. LOL.
Anyway, it was very, very sweet and generous of them. I told Brian I feel really bad because I have been so swamped and stressed out lately. With everything going on, I haven’t had the time to spend with each person that I want to; I set some aggressive goals this year based on last year and I haven’t done as well at achieving them. It’s just one thing after another after another that you have to work on. Since there’s only so much of you, things get accomplished at the cost of other things. Right now, my team is getting the short end of the stick and I feel terrible.
Brian they just want to do something nice for me, so I should be happy instead of feeling bad. And I am happy. Thanks to my work group I might just get a new bag!
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