Today’s word, from wordsmith.org:
legerdemain. noun. slight of hand
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Ariel Gore recently posted an excerpt from Comics and Serendipity’s blog, entitled “Please Don’t Bomb the Moon” – a letter to NASA about their intentions to do just that.
Bomb the moon?! That’s right. I googled NASA and bomb and moon. The first hit links to an article from Scientific American (NASA’s mission to bomb the moon) describing the expedition as “spectacular” and a blast “so powerful.” NASA already has a rocket in route, and there’s nothing we can do about it. I’m not a scientist, but I assume they’ve researched the possible after-shocks and effects of sending explosives towards a celestial body. However, the article from Scientific American doesn’t really list any negative backlash. It does, however, suggest a large projectile chunk of debris will be visible in the viewer of your layman’s telescope. Cool.
Even more interesting, October 15th is Blog Action Day, when well over 2500 bloggers will unite to post on one topic – climate change – in support of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (December 7-18, 2009). In Copenhagen, international leaders will gather to negotiate a global climate agreement. But by December, the damage on the moon will be done. Maybe the bombing effects will be minuscule. Maybe not. Either way, NASA’s blow to the moon takes climate change to a much higher level. International leaders might have to focus on changing tides and changing pressure, along side carbon footprints and global warming.
Even if you don’t write a blog, go to Blog Action Day’s website for more information on what you can do. Click the links to other sponsors (like 350) and find out what events are happening in or around your area on Oct 24th, International Day of Climate Action.
For more information on NASA’s moon project, click NASA Ames Research Center in the news.
