I remember watching the episodes though got bored watching the same approaches and barrel rolls of colonial fighters. I remember seeing the racks of Tektronix test equipment. Front panels of that gear was real "space age" (though trying to find power switch the o-scopes was always a challenge, other controls were easy). I wonder if the company got extra business with so much of the gear "advertised."

When they did the remake, I found it amusing the only Battlestar that survived massive Cylon attack was Galactica because it was an old vintage ship (captained by an old guy with old school military thinking) with PDP-11 computers, Tektronix gear, Mocom-70 communications systems, etc. stuff that lack network systems so they were not hacked.

Getting back to Larson, I wonder what other ideas he had that never made it to the TV? Maybe they will find some story ideas, probably much better than typical remakes of decades old genres.

What also impresses me is him and Morley were wondering how fast Earth was moving through space during the times of cowboys and indians. Because their mirror set kept producing same c, they continued to build more elaborate sets (which were more complex engineering feats).

in 25 years will we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ames Research Center or celebrate 25th anniversary of Google International Airport? People criticize NASA for screwing things up by saying they used to do all kinds of really great stuff years ago. But then NASA doesn't have the budget or resources like they had years ago. People should know what NASA does, it is written in the Space Act, and they (should) serve the people. If not, then complain or complain to elected representatives. Google doesn't have to say what they do, they serve themselves and shareholders. Nothing wrong with a business serving themselves within reason as long as customers pay money, But govt agencies and private businesses are two different thigs (it gets confusing i.e. private companies performing government functions like police services).

not really, from what I heard that was intended but to do research flights then instrumentation and other mods would void their FAA certification (135 I think) for using commercial airports. And other things like carrying passengers.

uh, capitalism is where man exploits man. With communism, it's the other way around.

Excellent post, you also illustrated wars are decided by a few politicos and not common folk. What is your analysis of the 2003 movie "Goodbye Lenin!"?

A movie made about fall of Berlin Wall where the mom awakened from a coma but doctor tells son his mom must not get too excited. However, while she was in a coma the wall came down so he has make it convincing things are still the same (their resident was on the east side). He gets help from friends including one who wires up a TV set to a VCR and they create various programs from East Germany. There's a few things he has to mitigate like explaining the big Coca Cola billboard that appears in her window view. An interesting film that also illustrates some German culture of the time. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt03...

though nice to see lower gas prices, but all things considered from global politics to increasing CO2 content in atmosphere plus fracking and crises in middle east in addition to this year's elections. I find it somewhat scary why prices are lower and wonder if they will jump way up. Govts are seeking revenue (they get less from the rich) there are plans to tax mileage so with lower prices more car traveling which working smucks that have long commutes will bear more of the burden. Oh well, my morning gripes.

"they sell the product to Amazon.com customers, they get a false sense of success, the customer puts the product in a drawer and never uses it,"

So the product goes unused, doesn't seem false to me (ok, so I didn't RTFA like everyone else). It reminds me what my cousin said. Sales and marketing has been so successful is why we see good business in storage places and huge consumer debt. The S and M convinced millions to go into debt buying stuff they don't need.

However, some other kind of paradigm can come in and *poof* Amazon goes bust or becomes irrelevant.

There was a thread of this title on a article about they should get into some aspects of calculus instead of endless arithmetic problems that become more like punishment like in the army (long repetition of menial work). I gotta go back and find that article (like everybody else I didn't fully read it). Although arithmetic is important, having lots of "drill and kill" tests are not. I think they should get into drawing curves on graphs, figure out the areas under the curves, slopes of lines, etc. and this will also be fun with art.

"The new national sport of space geeks, unbridled speculation based upon the flimsiest of information.

We saw how that worked out for the engine hysteria didn't we . . ."

I dunno, it seems the extremely high cost of living and horrible traffic (it's become really bad in past few years). Apple, FB, and Google has immense influence. All have billions and billions at their disposal, I don't see how measly guvmint is standing in their way.

they also PO'ed their liberal base for staunchly supporting NSA and other such activities.

I was wondering the same. I see lots of LORAN receivers on ebay (some look ubercool industrial), low cost because nobody uses LORAN anymore. But wait, I think it is still operational on certain coastal regions, too lazy to check.

I need the person, not the camera (got lots of those). I dunno, maybe it's me. Whenever I ask someone they either don't have the time or don't want to be responsible (too scared of getting sued).