Daily Loaf

I’ve lived in Florida for most of my life and aside from killer sunsets or the splendor of seeing dolphins frolic in the bay, being able to actually witness the launch of the Space Shuttle — the fire of the engines and the vapor trail, from nearly any corner of the state — has always been one my favorite things.

Ever since I took residence in the Sunshine State way back in 1987, I’ve always wanted to witness a launch from the Kennedy Space Center, but could never seem to make it happen.  Whether it be… well, the weather, my schedule or an unwillingness to wager a three-hour drive for a 60% liftoff probability, I just couldn’t find my way over there.

Well, that all changed this past Friday. (Video after the break.) Read the rest of this entry »

March 10: Cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov and astronaut Mike Fincke work on the exterior of the International Space Station during a spacewalk (NASA photo).

Crew members climb into a Soyuz TMA-13 escape capsule, of course. A chunk of errant space junk almost clipped the International Space Station today, sending two astronauts and one cosmonaut into the escape capsule just in case. Fox News has the report:

That was a close call.

The two astronauts and one cosmonaut aboard the International Space Station had to duck for cover Thursday as space debris passed perilously close to the orbiting platform.

Crew members Sandra Magnus, Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov were ordered into one of the Soyuz TMA-13 escape capsules at 12:35 p.m. EDT.

In case the space station were to be hit, the astronauts could have undocked and headed back to Earth.

The window of danger passed at 12:45 p.m., and left the capsule and reentered the space station.

NASA said the offending object was most likely an old motor from the space station itself.

The debris was was about one-third of an inch in width, said NASA spokesman Josh Byerly.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

What would The Matrix have been like if the machines were Windows users? Click play to find out (and watch out for the paper clip!)

• McCain says to leave Sarah Palin out of it.
• Alaska locates missing and uncounted ballots equaling ONE-THIRD of the total votes cast.
• Obama turns a cold shoulder on the lobbyists.
• Up next on the extortion bailout schedule: the auto industry.
• Google starts crossing the “don’t be evil” line, one flu search at a time.
• Exactly how stupid are Americans? This stupid.
• R.I.P. NASA’s Mars rover.
• Cat fight!

Joe Biden gives ‘em a little hell after leaving not a dry eye in the house. Tonight, Barack finally takes the stage.

• Former President Clinton passes the torch.
• Hurricane Gustav approaches the Gulf.
• Russia finds itself in the international doghouse.
• Sarasota’s pursuit of the Red Sox makes its way into the NY Times.
• Ok, who’s surfing for porn on the International Space Station?
• R.I.P. Del Martin.
• Crash into the gate of the Playboy mansion once, it’s an accident. Do it twice and you’re just a boob.
• You can’t handle the truth: Aaron Sorkin (!) is writing a movie about Facebook.