Monster Vacation

A superbly written piece by Denise Chow, of SPACE[dot]com, based on Texas State researcher’s trip to Lake Geneva’s Villa Diodati (some vacation) that is — if you believe Mary Shelley actually wrote the novel Frankenstein — in the first place.

“…a long-standing controversy over whether the account is true, or if the author took some liberties…”

Many ‘modern scholars’ doubt Mary Shelley even wrote the Novel at all. This in spite of the fact it was submitted to the publishers in her own handwriting. The fact is; Mary was a gifted copyist, taking dictation from her literary parents, Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin.

True enough, the original text of Frankenstein is definitively in Mary Shelley’s handwriting, but this is no argument for her authorship, because she often acted as scribe for Percy Bysshe Shelley, her husband and probable author of the novel.

Ad to this the fact, that none of her other published works come even close to the genius of Frankenstein, and you have a greater mystery than — was the Moon shining through her window on the night of her supposed monstrous inspiration’s birth?

see also:  Frankenstein’s Moon

End Of The Line — Shuttle Program Concludes

Now that the Space Shuttle Program has concluded; ‘safeing‘ of the three remaining operational craft, Endeavour, Discovery, and Atlantis, (Columbia and Challenger suffered loss of vehicle and crew) (shuttle Enterprise, never flew into space) dismantling of the orbiters OMS pods, and storage of the vehicles occupies what’s left of the NASA shuttle workforce, and astronaut corps.

Also, in this photo: Mobile Launcher Platform, Crawler-transporter can be see. (upper left)

Questions.

Major questions remain; e.g., what is to become of the manned space program, Constellation, and the Ares I rocket?  Decommissioning and demolition of Launch Complex 39B, is already underway.

NASA is going ahead with plans to bring down the fixed and rotating service structures at pad 39B, even though the Ares I rocket and the entire Constellation program are being axed.

see also:  Kennedy Space Center – Google Maps

Uncertainty and criticism.

A combination of engineering obstacles and a trillion dollar budget short-fall, conspired to doom NASA’s Constellation program, including the Ares V, all effectively canceled, in October 2010, by the passage of the 2010 NASA authorization bill.

“It’s a very dynamic time, and a lot of folks aren’t real comfortable with all the uncertainties… None of us are.” –Peggy Whitson, Chief Astronaut, Johnson Space Center

Obama’s 2011 budget request eliminated the Constellation’s rocket, crew capsule, and the Ares I man-rated and Ares V heavy-lift vehicles. In their place it; funnels billions of dollars to ‘new spaceflight technologies‘, and outsources to commercial firms, the task of ferrying astronauts to low-Earth orbit.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.) says that under Obama’s strategy “America’s decades-long dominance of space will finally come to an end.”

The Lab, wonders about what NASA has already spent developing these new systems.

• $9 billion into the development of a new rocket, Ares I, and a new spacecraft, the Orion.
• Terminating the program and closing out contracts will cost $2.5 billion more.

Will the R&D transfer to private sector contractors or be shelved?

Elon Musk, an American engineer, and entrepreneur, is best known for co-founding PayPal, and SpaceX, and is the original investor in Tesla Motors.

“The problem with Constellation was that success was not one of the possible outcomes…”

Of course, he would say that. Musk, who funded the first viable production electric car–the Tesla Roadster–is designing a private successor to the Space Shuttle, designated the F9/Dragon.

Absent the shuttle, and budgetary realities aside, what if anything, has really changed? NASA will still oversee the astronaut corps, all-be-it with significantly reduced numbers of active duty astronauts. The space agency will still be in charge of outsourcing; something they’re all ready quite familiar with. True, the names of the spacecraft have certainly changed, but except for a slip in the time-line, the mission goals remain the same, i.e., regular trips to LEO, the ISS, developing new craft and technology, a manned mission to an asteroid, and then–on to Mars.

What have we learned?

Anxious astronauts and Washington politicos not withstanding; The Lab concludes; the US will remain a space-faring nation, but not before some much needed house keeping, and prioritizing.

Keep watching the skies!

[developing story... stay tuned]

see also: NASA Announces New Homes for Space Shuttle Orbiters After Retirement, 2 NASA Space Shuttles Meet Nose-to-Nose, Launch pad demolition paves way for uncertain transition, Astronaut Corps Shrink as Shuttles Stop

Vesta: revisualized

The ‘Lab’ was somewhat disappointed by early NASA’s Dawn spacecraft remote viewing image of protoplanet Vesta; viewed from a distance of 26,000 miles (41,000 kilometers); away from the 530 kilometers (330 mi) wide asteroid.

A large file was discovered on the Wikipedia entry for Vesta, but it lacked that snappiness. Into Photoshop it went and out came this ‘enhanced image. ‘

For your comparison: the original, not enhanced image.

Image of Vesta taken by the Dawn spacecraft from orbit on July 17, 2011.

After processing by Frankensteam’s Lab.

computer enhanced image--click to enlarge

In the words of Richard C. Hoagland, of Enterprise Mission fame:

• The amazing visions of  “an artificial Vesta”
• game changer
• geometric shapes that indicate ruins
• station built by a Type 2 civilization

see also:   NASA — All Eyes On Vesta, 4 Vesta, Another Fuzzy Dawn Image

Space Shuttle Enterprise: Test Flight

The space shuttle prototype Enterprise glides toward a landing on the bed of Rogers Dry Lake after being released from NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft during the third free flight in the Approach and Landing Tests in September 1977. (NASA photo)

see also:  The Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests

2011 UFO Contact at the ECETI Ranch

A new video shows a UFO that appeared to witnesses “as bright as a second sun” crossing the skies over the ECETI Ranch in Trout Lake Washington on the evening of Monday, June 27, 2011. The event was just one in a series of ongoing sightings that occurred during the previous four nights, captured in both visible light and infrared night vision using a stereo camera imaging system. The video also shows lights on Mt. Adams accompanied by mysterious flights over the peak, a UFO that disappears in mid-air while flying in clear skies, witnesses using lights to engage luminous vehicles, orbs swarming around a low-flying UFO and incredible acceleration when what appears to be an inter-dimensional spaceship makes a rapid exit.
–Examiner.com

London UFO ‘Mothership’

London UFO–is it real?

A new viral video making the rounds on the Internet purports to show what’s been dubbed a “mothership” and at least three separate smaller alien spacecraft filmed in the skies over London.

The most famous video (which was taken anonymously and is one of two or three versions in circulation) shows a large glowing white oval moving in and out from behind clouds over the course of about 20 seconds, and then zooming off, with three white dots also making an appearance. — Space.com

 

see also:   Is the UFO  Mothership Over London Video Real?

UFO Sightings–World

Last updated July 13th, 2010.

Sighting location:

Northern China, East China’s Zhejiang Province, provincial capital Hangzhou.

Time of sighting:

2200 local time, Wednesday, July 7, 2010.

Type:

Physical evidence in the form of digital photography compels an initial categorization of CE-II (close encounter of the second kind). Object appears to possesses cabin lights, a super-luminous undercarriage, and forward looking landing lights, giving it the appearance of a three-dimensional material ‘nuts-and-bolts’ craft in the shape of a tube or elongated rectangle. Video evidence is purported to exist in addition to numerous eyewitness accounts.* Following sighting, a ‘ground-stop’ of commercial air traffic, occurred for approximately 3 plus hours. A public statement was issued by media quoting an un-named source, “authorities had learned what the UFO was after an investigation… But it was not the proper time to publicly disclose the information because there was a military connection…” and it was further stated–an official explanation would be forthcoming.

Photo Analysis:

Ground level sighting, time-lapsed digital image, about 1.5 seconds worth of exposure, under a night-time, overcast sky, in the urban environment. Atmospheric haze reduces primary object resolution by approximately 45% making exact determination of object, difficult to impossible. Relative motion of central object is slow in comparison to commercial aviation aircraft;  such as 757 or DC-9, although there is some impression given of a tubular or flattened rectangle suggesting cabin or navigation lights, and lighted undercarriage.

Conclusion:

Pending further information the most likely conclusion is a mis-identification of terrestrial aircraft, possibility experiencing mechanical difficulty, such as engine fire, engine blow-out, bird strike or less likely, other exotic airframes (e.g. ARJ21-700, J-10 multi-role fighter aircraft), under unusual atmospheric conditions; inversions, street lighting, virga rain or fog.

*unsubstantiated rumor/hearsay

see also:  Flights diverted, delayed as UFO detected hovering, British fighter jets chasing UFO?, ‘UFO’ in skies over Urumqi suspected to be American guided missile,

see also:  Live MUFON Event Report Feed

An Approaching Summer Storm

When you hear a thunderous roar coming from directly overhead it’s only natural to look up, isn’t it? Well, anyway, that’s what I did. At first all you could see was a gray-colored cloud all boiling like–churning in the sky. Thunder? The roaring just got louder and louder. An approaching Summer storm, perhaps? No, wait! What the…what is that? Something was beginning to emerge from within the cloud. Out loud I said, looks like an aircraft carrier, but [it] was inverted, and massive. I think I held my hands over my ears, or maybe just raised them over my head in astonishment–unbelievable–my eyes must be deceiving me. How does something that big just hang there? I’d seen big planes before–the Space Shuttle on it’s 747 transport–even seen the Antonov 225–it’s a big-bad-boy, but this–this was 10 times that size. They’re here! The hair on my arms was standing straight up, and my ears popped. That’s no typical airplane–it’s–must be a-l-i-e-n, Alien, I reasoned! Ya don’t see that every day.*

The aliens had gone public (we would later learn just how long they’d secretly been here), and in the days following the first landings, the World had gone ‘ape-shit’ with fear over the uncertainty of what might be coming next. The doomsday cultists ranted and raved; churches filled to overflowing, the militaries of the World were mobilized–poised ready to defend the Earth, but the bombs never fell, nor did death-rays burn the flesh from the bones of Mankind; instead, the lights stayed on, there was plenty of food and gas; they had, after all, come in peace, and with one simple message to the people of Earth. The Universe, the aliens would tell us; was teaming with life of all kinds; sentient, living breathing biological life; impossibilities of unimaginable strangeness, some nothing more than what you would call smoke, some large as planets, some were what you might call robots–yet alive just the same.

As the weeks following the alien revelation of their presence ticked by; the ant pile of frantic people quickly calmed down, and a media feeding frenzy of sorts settled in on the Aliens. At first, they were referred to as Invaders–later–Space Brothers by the press–and their amazing technology. WOW! Did they have tech; like we never dreamed of.  It was along about that time that they became known as “Them.” Not that They were gonna share everything they knew with us–we still had some growing up ta do–given our penchant for wars and callus disregard for the Earth and all–oh, no! All, in due time.

First thing They did, was… {redacted} {see security directive 1947.2-Mj-12:<0}

Special representatives of the Human Race where invited to function as liaisons between Them and us. Selected by lottery, 144,000 women and men, representing all nations and races, joined the Alien Introduction Liaison And Education Program. I agreed to interact with (even travel to their planets (they had more than one)) with Them. Yeah, I saw that episode of the Twilight Zone, “To Serve Mankind” where the foolish trusting humans fall for the alien propaganda, only ta be duped into traveling back to their planet to be eaten. I know, I know–all my friends said don’t do it–it’s a trick. Never in my life had I ever won anything–all those Lotto tickets–and not a cent ta show for it. I figured–sometimes you just gotta say “what the heck.” The next thing I knew, I was in training to go…when we lifted off…the last time I’ll ever see my home star…time travel or was it inter-dimensional? Maybe both. I don’t know. Shit I’m just  guy from…what do I know…mind-blowing…Feynman was right, all along…and the answer was: 4.2…All that Summer, the fires in the Gulf, burned…sort of like the holodeck on…Looking down I started to laugh ’cause I had realized this was the first time I had taken a leak on another planet…wait till they get a-lotta this…on the return journey…it’s true, they did wear a lot of black… You don’t say! …Who knew? …Something wonderful!

I had just had an all-expense-paid vacation to the most beautiful planetary system anyone could ever imagine; even learned ta speak Their language. Saw wondrous thing I’d never dreamt of, all that, and lived ta tell about it. Not bad I thought, for a guy with just a high school education. I felt mighty proud talking into one of those gizmos they gave me to record my reflections on Them. Heck, maybe I could even write a book some day–be on that radio show. With that guy–what’s his name? George Bell?

Mankind had grown up, maybe even been saved from self-destruction, by the knowledge that other creatures had survived their own technological developments; over came their urge towards violent behavior, and then come here; with love and peace in their hearts (actually, They have two of ‘em–hearts, that is), to the little ol’ Earth; to tell us that if They could do it, so could we. I considered it a great privilege and honor to have been lucky enough to participate in the Evolution of Humanity. We had become, Us.

*Inspired by a recent dream.

see also: National Dream Center Database, An Approaching Summer Storm, Long-Term Government Covert Educational Program on Alien Visitors

Travis Side

One of the staples of Frankensteam’s Lab is the theme of the anomaly.

Anomalous objects in the sky–the ground has truth but–fly [me] away to worlds unknown–let [me] see their truth from the vantage point of [my] youth.

So without further ado–I give you Travis and “Side.”

[the band is]named…after the Harry Dean Stanton character Travis Henderson from the film Paris, Texas.

Travis isn’t paranoid are they–but the director of their video “Side” obviously is? In the video, which is  reminiscent of The X-Files, ends with the band abducted by aliens out in the desert.  The lyrics written by Fran Healy, to the Travis song Side in part go:

Well I believe there’s someone watching over you. They’re watching every single thing you say–they’ll set you down and take you through. You’ll realize one day that the grass is always greener on the other side. We all live under the same sky… There is no wrong, there is no right. The circle only has one side…

see also:  Travis, Side, Francis Healy

four-point-two

Last updated:  June 19th, 2010

One.

The teacher posed the question in the form of a mathematical equation…I struggled to understand…took notes in a little notebook he handed me…after some thought I reasoned an approximation was the closest I could get to ciphering his riddle…with somewhat less than complete confidence in my conclusion, I wrote…and the answer was: 4.2…but to ad to my frustration, the notebook in which I had done my problem solving, was nowhere to be found. Thinking 5 to be excessive, I stood by my answer. 4.2 it is.

In the above mentioned dream; the place or setting (from now on refer to as the “dream landscape”), is subservient to the basic narrative. What happens when the dream landscape is central to the narrative? J ust what exactly is a dream landscape? This ‘ll do nicely.

Joseph told his brothers two dreams which clearly portended his future elevation over them all, but which, for the present, simply caused them to hate him all the more (Genesis 37:1-11). In this frame of mind, they seized upon the first opportunity to get rid of the one of whom they spoke [of] as “the dreamer”.

Two.

We found ourselves…outside of our native lands–in Modern day Russia…hungry, tired and alone…cold and bleak, was the terrain…after stealing state secrets, the KGB was hot on our trail… some of the local folks could be depended upon for help…you struggled to learn a handful of phrases in an attempt to “blend in.” The journey, was fraught with danger…two tough young turks, attempted to waylay us…I produced a long stiletto knife,  stabbed and killed one…the other…ran off…the days were long and the nights were cold…stolen cars, trains and buses were our homes.

We are such stuff  as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep–or so says Prospero, in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

There is in sleep something mysterious which seems, from the earliest times, to have impressed man and aroused his curiosity… But the mystery of sleeping is enhanced by the phenomenon of dream[s] which accompanies it.

Three.

The pantry being bare–necessitated a trip to the store…in addition to groceries there was  a small deli…outside, in the grounds existed a greenhouse and shed full of old tools…surrounded by what appeared to be loaves of bread piled up around it…literally growing up around it…the gardener was at hand and I ask what this strange thing was growing all around his shed. I was told it was a fungus not unlike the biblical “manna” the Israelites  fed upon in the wilderness…the gardener offered me some of this to eat…It was quite tasty, having the texture and smell of fresh baked bread…immediately, I suggested this would make a good sandwich–being so much like the real thing…and inquired as to the price…an answer was not forthcoming…vague…frustrated, I went into the deli repeating my question…no such luck…became apparent they had no desire to sell me any of this wonderful food…some secrets, have no price.

The dream unfolds.

We walk, run, fly and float through strange landscapes. Characters appear and turn into different people. Objects are transformed. A rope becomes a snake. Uncle Harry turns into a Tibetan monk and it all makes sense in some screwy, dreamlike way.

You’re getting sleepy.

The dreaming brain employs all of the same systems and networks,… but with a few critical differences. Input from the outside world is screened out. Self-awareness ceases. The body is paralyzed. And everything that the dreaming brain sees, hears or feels is generated from within.

I get this one a lot. A little musical interlude is in order, I think. I give you Travis.

Exactly my bloody question–could it be  ’cause you live in Scotland?

You can wake up now and log your prophetic or unusually vivid dreams here, for free.

see also:  4.2_Google_trends, 4.2_Google_video, 4.2_Wolfram|Alpha, 42_WIKI, Psalm_42, Clues to the Irrational Nature of Dreams, How Lucid Dreaming Works, Visions & Dreams, Lucid-Dictionary, Such stuff as dreams are made on, sleep paralysis , dream landscape, Bora-Bora: Over and under, The National Dream Reporting Center