Skip to main content

Marvin the Martian

Image result for marvin the martian

I don't want to go to Mars. I find that I just have very little interest in going someplace that far away. I do like exploring, but I'll stick around my own planet, thank you very much. However, geek that I am (and I know you are too!) I find myself fascinated by our efforts to get to the red planet. I love the pictures that we've seen and wondered when we'd take the first human selfie from the surface (or even the orbit) of Mars... I loved Matt Damon in The Martian, which was not at all what I was expecting (way better!).

So today I'm worried about the Schiarparelli lander. Like the earlier attempt by the European Space Agency (ESA) at landing on Mars (the Beagle 2), there appears to have been a mishap and they've lost communication with the lander. Here's hoping things are OK and they can repair or restore communications...

Here's an image showing the successes and failures of missions to Mars:


It appears a little incomplete (the Beagle 2 isn't mentioned, for example, although the Mars Express portion - the Mars orbiter - is mentioned as a "success"). What's apparent is that going to Mars is not an easy proposition, and landing on the planet is even more iffy. So I'll watch to see that they were successful. And I will enjoy watching folks grow spuds on Mars.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Baptism

Yesterday Ellie was baptized. She turned eight on January 27, 2020, and she made the decision to be baptized. I want to tell you a little bit about Ellie. I have never met a child that is quite like Ellie. She is full of life and fire and joy and light. She knows no fear and is infectious in her passion for life and for goodness and for FUN!!! Above all things, she seeks the joy and fun in life. She is also wickedly clever and funny, she’s a delight to be around and makes everyone feel so good. Because she is happy, she wants everyone else to be happy. I first met sweet Elizabeth in 2018, and on the day I met her she was not feeling well. We decided that a movie would be a fun thing for a sick little girl, so I brought one of my favorites to share with her - The Neverending Story. When I got to the house, I picked her right up. It had been a very long time since I was able to pick up a girl, and she snuggled right into my arms. Her poor sick body was warm, but I was more impressed ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Excommunication

My heart is heavy this morning. I read that Kate Kelly and others are being brought up on Church disciplinary action. For those who are unfamiliar with the process/proceedings of LDS Church discipline, it can be a bit mystifying. There are several levels of censure that the Church may impose. These range from a simple removal of some privileges for a short period of time to the most severe action - excommunication. When one is excommunicated, the person's membership in the Church is terminated. It is a very extreme measure, and for the faithful it can be a very difficult thing to consider. What people don't understand - what is nearly impossible for someone outside the proceedings to understand - is the amount of love felt. It's discipline. It's intended to be harsh (at times). And it's intended to be unpleasant. But it is done with love and care for the person. Since excommunication is such an extreme measure, it is really only very rarely applied. There are ...
18 comments
Read more

Ephesus

Paul got around. Ephesus is right on the Aegean Sea, on the coast of present-day Turkey. Yesterday he was in Galatia, which was much more towards the middle of Turkey. And when he actually wrote these letters, he was in Rome... So the man could travel. He probably walked. Today's item of interest comes from chapter one in Ephesians. Verses 18 and 19 are particularly interesting: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power This is not the first time Paul talks about an inheritance. In Galatians he talks about the inheritance that comes of being part of the Abrahamic Covenant. He notes that we are joint-heirs through and with Christ. In Ephesians, he uses the word "adoption" - that we are adopted as the Children of Jesus Chris...
7 comments
Read more