Xena: Pluto's bane

There is a vote of astronomers coming up in Prague on whether to officially add a tenth planet to the solar system. It is expected to get the nod. Officially it would call in to question Pluto's status as a planet as Pluto is much small than Xena. However Pluto is the only planet ever discovered by an American and so it is thought that as it holds cultural and historical significance, it will be allowed to stay.

My thoughts though surround the fact that such a big deal was made over man landing on the moon in 1969 and nearly 40 years later there is still no base on the moon. The moon would make a wonderful launching pad for exploring the rest of the solar system. I think that as humanity we have dropped our game a bit. To me it seems that the motivation for landing on the moon was far more miltary and political than scientific- an outcome of the cold war. At least there is a new super power rising in China and their space exploration, this may get the race going again.

We have a duty to explore God's creation, it is part of our worship to him.

My family

Merging technologies

I had these ideas floating around my head months ago, but many of them have leaked out. I suppose I will record just a few of them here and build on them when the ideas come back to me.

Prediction 2015: We will all carry little communication devices. We will no longer call a computer a computer. Our cell phones, computers, television and all means of communication and media will be merged into one device.

This device will connect in to a wireless internet. Video conferencing will be very common and very cheap. If you so desire you will be able to talk to someone face to face from Mt Bogong to the Ural mountains.

The devices will project an image in the air and will thus not require screens.

You will be able to record all of your thoughts through speech. This raises questions about literacy, but a new kind of literacy will develop. It would still be possible to have a keyboard projected by laser on to any flat surface for typing.

You will be able to record your data on to cards if you so choose or an a server at your own home or on a server owned by an ISP, the choice will be yours.

The communication device will be handy in giving multimedia, powerpoint type presentations. You will simply be able to put the device on a table and project your images on to a wall.

Developments possible but not included in 2015:

Running the electricity from the charge in your body, you will never need to recharge batteries again.
Technology that can read your brain waves would enable you to simply think your commands to the device.
This same technology will be further developed to allow you to receive messages from the device. it will have to be your choice whether to have this feature turned on, just as it will be your choice if the device itself is switched on.

Prediction 2050-2100:
The device will have incorporated the above features. An individual on one side of the world will simply think "I would like to say hello to my brother in Brazil." At that direct thought a message is sent to his device to ask him if he wants to speak. Upon his reception of the "call" a virtual face to face conversation could be held, with or without the use of voices.

This is the potential of the technology we already have today.

Nostalgia or Novelty?

So I'm 32 years old now. The other day someone a fair bit younger than me told me they had never heard of Soundgarden. I thought "Man, now I know that I'm getting old!" I'm caught in this place where I desire to know what is new and creative in the world of music. I still enjoy music that I have listened to for years but I don't want to be stuck with it alone. I want to be able to relate to the music that my kids will listen to one day.

The above is nostalgia for me. Gretchen goes to Nebraska by King's X, one of the greatest records of all time. See if you can find it, If you, I hope you enjoy it. If you have taken the time to discover this side project blog, then please take the time to tell me what you are listening to, especailly of you are excited by it.