I found the problem Infinite123Lifer is talking about on your Starstryder menus. When you put your mouse pointer on the “Astronomy” menu the dropdown menu appears and the first item in the Astronomy dropdown, “Astrophysics” appears right over the top of the “Technology” menu (Technology on the same level as Astronomy). Besides making it messy, so you can’t really read either Astrophysics or Technology, the Technology link interferes with the Astrophysics submenu, making it hard to get to the menu topics below Astrophysics by moving the mouse. I was able to get to the other items by using the scroll wheel on my mouse, but it is certainly annoying. I’m using Firefox 10.0.

By the way, I do a lot of driving, and so have been spending my time listening to multiple podcasts of Astronomy Cast for sometimes hours on end. You’ve got a great voice for it. While now in the telecom/fiber optics field, when I was young I must have been as interested in Astronomy as you were, so the work you and Fraser do is much appreciated.

Thanks.

I can’t reproduce your problem. What browser are you using? On Chrome + OS X, they are just normally functioning menus.

I hope you’re enjoying the 219th meeting.

Well, it is my fault, I know, but only two days ago I heard about and read your so good blog. I’m sorry, but, at least, now I’m here to say that the section I like most is “Environment”. As you are so intelligent, I would like you have a “Cosmology” section, my prefered science. But I keep “Environment”, mainly because I don’t agree with most of what is written about that, elsewhere, what I take as a challenge to my ignorance.
I am an old Brazilian journalist who would love to have a conversation with someone young, like you, and, if you agree and wont cut me out, let me start saying that, in my opinion, every day is more difficult to believe that humanity will remain two thousand years more of the “Christ Era”, here, on Earth. In my sense, it is not the fact that this world rejects us, subjecting us to a life confined to some few places on its surface, and responding with the fury of malaria, ebola, AIDS etc., whenever we put a shy finger on its forests. Earth, yes, as you know, treats us badly, but nothing indicates that it will throw us out. And, either, I’m not writing about the case of the threat that we will destroy ourselves, depleting our life chances. This danger, of course, exists, but we wont succeed. So, the best chance is that, if we’re not going to stay here forever, it will be due to our own desire. Before being killed by diseases or by a big disaster, we will dismiss this world, voluntarily. As we will not be extinguished, Earth will stay healthy, turning in its space, as it always did. But will be useless to us. Do you agree?

I think that this is the most logical thought we are led to, whenever we examine the history and dynamics of development of human beings, without passion for catastrophes. When we do this with serenity and based on good evidences and facts, we can predict a successful future for humanity. And we are driven by the results of our achievements, by the addition and multiplication of a positive knowledge accumulated since ancient times. And, as, today, we have begun to awaken to the practice of energy conservation and environmental respect, further, we will build awareness of the need to preserve, not just some individuals or species, for example, the elephant, but rather the biosphere at large. And we will live very well in our last years of hosting. In the same sense, as our progress seems to be inevitable, the other best idea is that, in year 1000/1500, 100% of the diseases that afflict us today will have already been banned. It is true that others may come, because, in this order, the inventory of virulence of the Earth seems to be far from exhausted. But, at the same time, what we call the sanitation, environmental hygiene, will also no longer be just a privilege, but so widespread that its benefits will join the discoveries of new chemical drug, to extend to we all the reach of a lucid longevity, beyond 150 years old. What you think? Am I right?

As I’m not a dreamer, within what is reasonable to imagine, all of which was related above is predictable and can be reached. Yes, but there will always remain an anxiety, because the search for perfection is the only real perpetual motion of mankind. Then there will be a time when our worries about the future will be more advanced, with a focus on achievements and rewards too far from the mindset of today. Let me tell you a good example: We will be alert to possibilities for further development of our species, fueling expectations that the geological conditions of the Earth – that reproduce and evolve, yes, but taking an irritating slowness, in total disagreement with the urgency that we will desire – will not satisfy us, entirely. The Earth can always be so fertile and reproductive as we humans can be. But this does not apply to the power of transmutation that living organisms, like us, use to achieve better forms of life, which, in that future, will need to be appropriated by humans with more urgency than Earth can provide. It may be truth that, around this time, we’ll have won all stages of adaptation and of the knowledge of extraction of the reserves that the Earth’s environment offers. Of course, the planet will not have exhausted its sources of natural resources, since it can not be accused of negligence or misconduct. Nature, people say, is wise. But we will have refined our biology and our technology to the point we start to demand assets unavailable in terrestrial nature. This is the way humanity goes, driven by the relentless indifference that is dedicated to us, considering the benefits offered by the planet to other animals. For these ones, Earth provides all the natural means necessary for survival. They are born knowing where to get food, what to eat or not, do not poison voluntarily and instinctively know the way to find water. We, on the contrary, from nature, have only primary products that we have to manufacture, which, within a certain time ahead, will be insufficient, considering the degree that we will achieve in the animal scale. Earth forces us to develop an entire knowledge, through a time consuming and tedious human effort – a sacrifice that many people still attaches to that original biblical curse. So, thanks to the evolution provided by our effort, there will be a time when we’ll begin to suspect that, like Earth’s geography, also our physical constitution will appear to us as a difficulty to a major development, based on the “miracle” of transmutation. Today, we present ourselves as more body than mind, fighting for the sustainability of flora and fauna, as well as the ozone shield and several other physical challenges. In that future, we will be more mind than body, with our health, thinking and feeling organized, and our eyes will be turned into ourselves, to our internal environment. Well, then, inevitably, we’ll have to look for new places in the universe, other regions of the cosmos, more tolerant and generous, where the limitations that are imposed on us in this world – among them the weakness of gravity, the small amount of matter, the tight organization of atoms, mass, weight and… the rejection – do not act to prevent our march to a different nature, more ethereal, bordering on the immaterial and, therefore, more docile and flexible, less painful. As for the part concerning to us, Earth will have more than fulfilled its role, and will continue with its creative work in other terms and directions, without our presence, engendering new life forms unimaginable to us today. Look: when this happen, the designations of “Earthlings” or “human” will not make sense anymore. The more correct to call us will be “Celestians”. Oh, no,it is not what you’re thinking. It is not that we’ll claim to be heavenly, in a religious sense, but because, for the people who, by chance, already live there, and for those who will be our descendants from then on, we will no longer originate from clay, but, rather, from the sky.
If you – who, like me, doesn’t have sympathy for the calamity – agree with me; I mean, if our and Earth’s future will really be glorious, can you, please, explain to me, with reasonable, acceptable arguments, why should I contribute to the preservation of the environment and rare animals? My point is: nothing extinguishes nature more than nature. Remember that it was not human beings who eliminate the dinosaurs. Remember that 99% of the life that existed long before us, in ancient times, have already been destroyed… by nature! Of course, we must not contribute to destroy, on the contrary, but look: every month a language disappears from Earth. A language is not a fish, or a bird, or a monkey, but represents a cosmology of a people, a knowledge, it is history, our history. And where are we reading about that? Who cares? So, consider that the fight for the preservation of environment and animals may be a diversion of effort, because Earth can take care of them and of itself. Now, tell me: wouldn’t it be much more correct to let Earth be in peace, doing its very good, millennial work of destruction and reconstruction of life, in which it already has proved to be wise and very well succeed, even though its destiny is to end like Mars, while we start, seriously, taking a deep look at our intimate, internal environment? Well, I’m asking you, just to have a conversation, because I know why this is impossible.
Thank you,
Italo Ramos.
PS: Please, write me to: iramos@tavola.com.br – if you want.

Astronomy Citizen Science Entertainment Environment Meetings etc…

all the way until Technology falls directly below the Astronomy…thingy(block?, word? not a link? aargh). Thus when the ?quick menu? (when you slide your pointer onto the word Astronomy) comes up for the Astronomy thingy you get like little subtitles starting with Astrophysics (i think, cannot read it because it is written over the Technology thingy) then Cosmology then Exo Solar Systems then Galaxies…etc. Well, that is the problem, once that quick menu for Astronomy comes up and I start to scroll down the list it immediately launches me into the Technology quick menu because it is in the same line of sight as the Astronomy ?sub-headings?. omg facepalm

Maybe this is designed to be tricky, maybe keep out the rift raft, i dunno, but I doubt it. Being really smart you probably already know, although usually being really smart entails being really busy as well So just thought I would let you know, BTW I figure there is easily another way to access the headings under Astronomy rather than just by scrolling onto Astronomy and then scrolling down to desired topic (such as Planets and/or Stars) however I am writing this email instead, I ll be back later to browse around.

Thanks

[It shouldn't let me type unicode if it's not going to serve it.]

First, I would like to thank you for the hours and nights I have fallen asleep listening to you and Fraser on astronomycast.com. The candid approach you take to educatung people about the cosmos is truly remarkable and very relaxing for the mind.

I have always been interested in the questions of “how” and “why”, but only in the past five or so years since I graduated from school have really taken in an depth (borderline obsessiveI interest in astrophysics, astrobiology, quantum mechanics etc… Unfortunately, as a financial adviaor who is about to get my mba in finance, whatg I love isn;t what I do for a living. As much as I would love to do what you do, financially and professionally it makes no sense for me at this point. My question for you, as I am sure you are asked this all of the time, how can I become more involved with what you do. It all interests me…research, observation, calculations, education, media…I just would like an organized way to gain exposure to your world. Keep up the great work and if you our any of your followers have suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Mike

I say that the person can choose not to look at your cross if she believes it to be a symbol of hate. Please put it back on, and wear it to let the world know that _some_ brilliant scientists actually have _faith_, which by definition means believing something you can’t prove. There’s another dimension to mankind, and that is the dimension of the soul. You either get it or you don’t. If you do, well, then you are a one or two. If you don’t, you are a six or 7. I say there are no 3′s, 4′s, or 5′s.

Peace on Earth to Men of Good Will, and Merry Christmas

David

On the year I left, I was snapped up by a university as a researcher, involving travel in remote areas. Then, another teacher quit at an institution, and I was asked by a friend to take the job for just one year. Then my replacement came in for the next year and they fired him. I was there to keep a subject going and thus remained for one more year.

From a handful of stories, one comes to mind: a co-worker emailing me (not a boss, not a line-manager) with the message that she expected me to be checking my email continually whilst I was on sick leave, and to be in the next day. The same one who passed off classes to me, unpaid, so she could have ‘family time’ that she said she wouldn’t have otherwise.
I rarely find encouragement or acknowledgement when I donate my time, money and resources to skeptical communities I interact with online or in person and have lost count of the number of times I’ve been ostracised or attacked for trying to be a part of things or for questioning the status quo. Yet it’s that field that has brought me significant enjoyment, despite the prevailing “We don’t want you involved, period” attitude.
In 2012 I’m not working. Bets on how long that lasts? I hear the world will end then, just my luck.

Your story (and mine, and others) reminds me of this: http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/24/magazine/something-s-got-to-give.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm

Happy birthday and here’s to a future where we can turn off our phone once in a while and the world doesn’t end because of it.