The space shuttle Atlantis is currently docked with the International Space Station (sort of an orbiting "see if we can do it" Winnebago), meaning any overflights by the space station should be even more impressive to the Earth-bound human eye. It's been cloudy and snowy here the last two nights, but there are still opportunities to see it pass over for a minute or three in the nights ahead.
"Seen 2 great passes this evening ... firstly an almost overhead 3 minute pass at 70 degrees across from W to E from 17:42 hrs ... then one to the south (max 22 degrees above horizon) for about a minute at 19:17 ... with this pass, the ISS appeared so so bright at first as the 250 long solar panels reflected huge amounts of sunlight, then ever so rapidly it dimmed immensely and disappeared from view almost due south ... the earlier pass was fantastic with the ISS in view for ages, even as it dropped towards the eastern horizon, it was still so very bright... it really stands out...
Wooh, I hope I get a clear sky and a look-see.
'In an interstellar burst, I am back to save the universe ...'
Also coming to St. Louis, a little later: Radiohead. Their U.S. visits this summer have been announced, and they're coming to St. Louis Wed., May 14. Too bad it's at the [Insert Telco or Bank Here] Riverport Pavilion, but if we score the pit tickets we had last time there (2003?), it will be quite a giddy treat.
Their sometimes inaccessible art-rock plays very well live. When you have that many musicians on stage, all who know what they're doing, playing complementary parts, it's hard not be entranced.
Without getting into some sort of hero worship, this is a swell interview with Thom Yorke, shedding some light on the pick-your-price album download move, enjoying music, and the benefit of being free from a record label contract. Pretty sensible, straight-forward stuff (in other words, he sounds pretty grounded), without much toe-gazing artist B.S.
'I woke up this morning didn't realize where I was aaaaa-aat ...'
Finally, this is not quite Radiohead, but it must be seen to be believed. To each their own. "We play what we play," indeed.
As you may have noticed, the site has changed. Sampa, the free-site host, did a version 2 of some sort.
Despite an FAQ that made it sound like allowing one's site to go through v.2 surgery would be okay, there were several flexibilities that surprisingly disappeared with the click of a button. (e.g. I cannot believe sidebars like this one are even narrower than before.)
And I'm told -- miraculously! -- that the conversion cannot be undone. Truth be told, I'm actually quite pissed. But free is free. Sampa has otherwise been good to me.
So I need to sort through site "features" to see how I can make do. Except that I don't have the time at the moment, in the middle of graduate classes and Lighthousehockey.com. (btw, I've removed that Lighthouse RSS feed so that you're not clogged with random Islanders hockey gibberish).
But I promise to touch up the accessories when I get a chance, and return to irregularly scheduled blogging.
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December, 2007