Curiosity

06 Aug

Erin Shanendoah |  August 6th,2012 | Science, Software |  Comments Off

Curious about Mars? So is most of NASA, and last night, the new Curiosity rover arrived on Mars safe and sound after 8 months of travel. Just like a good teenager, it texted it’s safe arrival back home and shortly after landing posted some sight seeing pictures.

The plan is for Curiosity to be working and sending back data for two years, though scientists hope it will last longer than that. And they have good reason to hope. The Spirit andOpportunityrovers landed in 2004. Spirit stopped working after 6 years.Opportunityis still sending data home.

Congratulations NASA.

Blog Feature: Pittieful Love

04 Aug

Erin Shanendoah |  August 4th,2012 | blogging, Dogs, Pets, Writing |  Comments Off

I love Pit Bulls. I do not currently have one, but I still love them. have never met a Pit that didn’t respond to me kisses and head butts. This is one reason I love Pittieful Love. They are dedicated to helping get the message of how great these dogs are out to the wider world. Besides blogging, they also foster, and, of course, have their own Pittie love.

This year has been a rough year for the family, losing their first dog, but they have found a new member of the family, and this week, he gets Squeeky Clean.

Your Money Friday: Who Pays for a Disbabled Child?

03 Aug

Erin Shanendoah |  August 3rd,2012 | Finances, Healthcare, Politics, Relationships |  Comments Off

This is a tricky situation, one that is more complicated than any of us can really understand from news articles. This week on Your Money, we have been discussing how much a private organization (in this case, the Girl Scouts) should be required to pay to accommodate a disabled child and how much of that accommodation should be the responsibility of the parents of the disabled child.

If the parents are not wealthy, should their child not be allowed to participate in non-publically funded activities? Should families with healthy children be forced to help pay for disabled children to participate?

Mars

02 Aug

Erin Shanendoah |  August 2nd,2012 | Software, Technology |  Comments Off

Humans can’t go to Mars just yet. We have to settle for sending rovers to the surface and living through pictures taken by telescopes (like the picture in this post from the Hubble spacecraft). But even if we have to visit Mars vicariously, this week we can still do it “live”. The Slooh Space Camera is webcasting live views of Mars August 1 through 3. The webcasts will include commentary from NASA scientists.

Of course, on Sunday, the newest Mars Rover will land on the planet, and the hunt for water will begin again. It’s called “Curiosity” for a reason.

Meanwhile, in Turkey

01 Aug

Erin Shanendoah |  August 1st,2012 | Science |  Comments Off

Once again, an exciting find by archeologists that makes me vaguely regret my decision not to go into museum studies. (Only vaguely because there are very few museum jobs out there.) InTurkey, an international team uncovered a giant human statue that they believe marked a gate on the border between the worlds of the human and the divine. The figure is most likely one of a king, as they played the important role of guiding their subjects between the two realms. The Suppiluliuma statue is over 2,500 years old, and beautifully preserved, with the head and torso still intact.

A Walk in the Garden

31 Jul

Erin Shanendoah |  July 31st,2012 | Marriage, Relationships |  Comments Off

Yesterday was exactly one month before our 9th wedding anniversary. C and I took a walk around the Kubota Japanese Gardens where we got married. This is only the 3rd time we’ve been back since the wedding, which is a shame, as we live not very far away.

The gardens have changed a little bit since we were there last, but we walked to the terrace where our wedding ceremony was performed, and then we got a little lost hunting for the moon bridge in the historic garden, next to the reflecting pool, where the best wedding picture was taken.

Summer Olympics

30 Jul

Erin Shanendoah |  July 30th,2012 | Games, Television |  Comments Off

I love the Olympics. Love them. I spent the weekend watching fencing, archery, beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, diving, swimming, cycling, and gymnastics. We watched via television programming, online video, and even a live stream or two.

We are not huge sports fans in our house, especially not my husband. But something about the Olympics makes me want to watch things I’d never otherwise watch. (Okay, I totally watch gymnastics and beach volleyball if I come across them, but I don’t go looking for them.)

Anyway, I love the Olympics and am looking forward to two more full weeks of competition.

Blog Feature: Sustainable Life Blog

28 Jul

Erin Shanendoah |  July 28th,2012 | blogging, Finances, Writing |  Comments Off

C and I try to be as environmentally responsible as possible. We often make decisions between multiple products based on the environmental impact. Because of this, I love reading about other people who are doing the same thing (often better than we are). Naturally I am choosing the time frame while Jeff is on his honeymoon (Congratulations Jeff and H!) to highlight Sustainable Life Blog, but I always enjoy reading his take on things.

And this week, his review of his Greensmart bag is making me interested in looking that direction next time I need to replace an all-purpose bag.

Your Money Friday: College Costs

27 Jul

Erin Shanendoah |  July 27th,2012 | Finances, School |  Comments Off

Think college is expensive now? Imagine what it will be like in 18 years, if the current trends continue. An MSN article believes state colleges could cost upwards of $40,000/year.

Over an YM, some are hoping it’s a bubble that will burst before their kids reach college age. Others are burying their heads in the sand and hoping “something” happens that will help them help their children afford college without a lifetime of debt. There’s also the theory that the rising cost of college will force enough people off the college path that more non-degree career paths will open up.

The Temple of the Night Sun

26 Jul

Erin Shanendoah |  July 26th,2012 | Science |  Comments Off

It’s not the name of a song, movie, or book. It is an actual Mayan temple, recently discovered in the midst of the Guatemalan jungle. TheTemple of the Night Sun was part of the El Zotz Mayan kingdom, and had faces of the sun god, painted red, carved into the sides. Archeologists have been working at the site for close to three years but just recently announced the find. It is one of the best preserved Mayan sites, and many specialists hope that it will be able to prove or disprove theories about their view of the sun god.

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