I was really taken in by the Galactic Center series. In the ocean of night was good, but Across the sea of Suns was epic. Some of the tropes in the books are a bit overused nowadays, but at the time, I don't remember ever reading any sci-fi so straining-at-the-seams with interesting ideas.

Two-bucket system? People do that? Does it work? I can't imagine trying to rinse my car with a such a pitiful amount of water.

What's interesting is this is exactly the sort of thing NASA should be doing, but some private firm is doing it instead. How the heck do they make any money? Or is this a collaborative effort for the Good Of All Mankind? Selling the data to NASA or academics, one would assume.

I agree. The R class has a taller stance, but I have one for hauling the spawn around in because we needed a van, but didn't want A VAN.

What? All these years I thought I was the only bozo who really dug Far Cry 2. I had so much fun booby trapping areas around compounds, sneaking in to pick off as many as I could quietly, then once they caught on, doing a mad dash trying to create as much havoc and deliberate fire as possible, then retreating back to…

Ok, not the same, but it's the first image that popped into my head.

In my garage sits a Jeep I bought 19 years ago with money saved up hauling hay, a late model BMW 3 series coupe, and a partially-rehabilitated dry-rotted, abused cur of a 1981 Ferrari BB512i and a pink barbie power wheels.

Thank you very much Captain Correction but the two terms are, for all intents and purposes, interchangeable. I think you think you know more than I think you actually do.

What? Safest day ever! While you are paddling for the breakers, rest easy in the knowledge that every shark for miles and miles around is totally packed full of whale blubber.

Anyone else like the weirdness that is Grape-Nuts?

Yes. That shit IS awesome.

Thanks for saving me the effort.

Spectography of nebulae reveal amino acids floating around freely in interstellar space. Take water, ammonia, methane, and hydrogen, seal it in a vial, warm it and add synthetic lightning (simple electrical spark) and within a day you have organic molecules, within 2 weeks, you will have 20-some-odd different amino…

This isn't a new finding. We've known for years that CT scans produce high levels of radiation, we've known for years that children are more susceptible to the effects of radiation. We already try not scan kids unless absolutely necessary - and I still have to deal with angry parents that DEMAND I run their kid…

There was a fascinating article in, of all places, Men's Health I think, that outlined how these salmon farms operate. They put the pens at the mouth of waterways, that way the growing fish can be fattened up with the fry of natural-borne salmon (Free protein!), cannibalizing the ocean's free fish stock. They are fed…

I second that.

I think few books were as formative on my young mind as "The Martian Chronicles". The melancholy latter stories especially.

Thanksgiving. Identical twin corvettes in Woodlands, TX at a stop light. Carnage ensues. Both cars destroyed.

It's a lovely state. But then it's governing bodies drive me crazy. Case in point: [blogs.scientificamerican.com]

Why would we need new refineries? The ones we have are not running at full capacity. And the Keystone XL won't lower the price of gas, that whole project exists solely to get oil to the gulf ports so it can be shipped overseas, where profits are greater.