It amazes me how well they're doing finding planets. I remember reading a book on the subject a number of years ago, where the methodology involved, essentially, observing the doppler shift of a star caused by the orbit of a smaller planetary body. It seemed to require an amazing amount of accuracy, just to find Jupiter-sized objects. I'm more than a little curious how they get information on Earth-sized bodies. (The story seemed to indicate that the planet needed to be closer to the star in order to be detectable.)

20.5 light-years, huh? Let's get going. (Although this is probably a problem worthy of optimal slacktitude.)

...unfortunately it's in ... Libra. that's a long drive away.

Tay, Grand Arms tech is still several generations off. Otherwise we would be there by now.

Apparently nobody on myspace cares about this, so I'll share it here instead:

This is cool. Astronomers have discovered a planet which would be potentially habitable for humans. This is the first planet we have discovered where this looks like it could be feasible. Bear in mind however that current technology is nowhere near the point where we can say anything for sure about this planet. But as it stands, it is the only known planet which is BOTH the right size (only 50% larger than earth), AND the right distance from the sun (surface temperatures estimated to be between 0 and 40 degrees celcius). It would be interesting if scientists could determine whether or not it has a largely nitrogen-based atmosphere such as our own.


Anyway, read the full story here:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2007/1906138.htm



PACK YOUR BAGS. LET'S GO THERE.

Cool:

While we're detailing activities, a reminder of ye olde-fashioned roade hockey this Sunday. From Pleasure Motors's announcement:

What: HOCKEY!!!! (Road/Street)
Where: Hockey courts behind the Yardbird Suite (About 103st & 85 ave)
When: 1pm on Sunday, April 29
RSVP to coveredinpleasure (at) gmail dot com or jfranchuk (at) gmail dot com

So, details for paintball

Paintball Action Games, May 5th
Start at 1PM, try to get there at 12:30 cause it takes a while for everyone to get set up
It's south of beaumont, map on the website
www.paintballaction.ca

theoretically, I am DONE!... and will never have to take another class again ever in my life. we'll see how long that holds true!


and now comes the hard part of writing the damned thesis...

Happy administrative professional day!

that sort-of takes the oomph right out of the Hippocratic Oath, doesn't it?

it scares me that America has such skewed values. drugs vs weapons or violence charges. the most a druggie does is stimulate an underground economy that the government doesn't benefit from (do you think the legalisation and then taxation of narcotics would change that?), meanwhile violent criminals pose an actual threat to society and they're back on the street in 5-8.

i think the doctor has a valid point... that he wanted to care for his patients even if they were potentially abusing his treatment. i dunno, maybe he tends to treat low-lifes... but all the same, as a physician, i though you were required to treat your patients for their benefit and to improve their well-being. ... mind you, America is also moving towards abolition of abortion and the criminalization of abortion procedures even extreme cases of rape, incest and threats to the mother's health... so it's pretty obvious the law makers in the states have different priorities than ensuring the health and wellbeing of their people.


(sorry if this seems scattered, i'm running near empty and have a stats exam to write tomorrow. so i'm not thinking in sentences any more, i'm thinking in sound bites and statistical programs, whee!)