Chaosbutterfly » astronomy

The National Space policy

timechick — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:44:23 +0000

I haven’t had time to read this yet but here it is: The new National Space Policy!

I may upload it to the phone and give a comment when I get home. Tonight, I sit at home and watch TV. This month has been crazy between my mom being in the hospital and the Cons and my squire getting knighted, and all the other stuff I’ve been very obligated and willing to do, I’m tired and I need a break. But no, no… I’m going to read the space policy… I’m a glutton for punishment.

Cassini: Possible evidence for life on Titan

timechick — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:08:05 +0000

Cassini: Making Sense of the News.

This is a very technical article on the subject of possible life on Titan written by an Astrobiologist. Warning, it goes into a little basic organic chemistry. It is a very interesting read on how they are determining this by measuring the various chemicals on Titan and discovering things are not what should be there if nothing was alive eating all those hydrocarbons.

Astronomy Picture of the Day

timechick — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:22:00 +0000

Astronomy Picture of the Day.

OMG it’s a TARDIS!

Moonbeam

timechick — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:00:20 +0000

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Pope’s astronomer: “There are too many people who are afraid of science.” | SciGuy | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle

timechick — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:46:49 +0000

Pope’s astronomer: “There are too many people who are afraid of science.” | SciGuy | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle.

It is great to read an interview showing that yes, science and religion can co-exist and do co-exist. This is an interview with the Vatican Astronomer Brother Guy Consolmagno on how nuns taught him about Evolution amongst other things and how the Catholic Church studies science to learn about God.

Happy Saturn Equinox

timechick — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:26:24 +0000

The planet Saturn is enjoying its own equinox today and if you are into that sort of thing, look through a telescope tonight and for the next few days you will not be able to see its rings. They are perfectly aligned with the Sun right now and completely invisible from Earth. However, the Cassini Spacecraft is taking some rather cool pictures of these on edge rings as the little bits that make them are now casting shadows as long as planets are wide.

The chaos continues.. tragically

timechick — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:53:00 +0000

I just found out that the admin for my old website www.chaosbutterfly.com has died. Ron will be missed very much. I’ve worked with him on Chaosbutterfly for the past 10 years or so if not longer.

I was trying to figure out what had been wrong with my email for the past week or so when I finally tried to find Ron. The problem is that the hosting service he used at The.Planet here in Houston won’t release any data and has shut down all the servers that Ron used. This includes mine. I don’t know if I will be able to get it back up and running anytime soon. I’ll need to find a new host and admin for it.

The Medina

timechick — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:23:00 +0000

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Relic Quest and other stuff

timechick — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:50:00 +0000

I lead too busy of a life. I keep trying to cut back, but alas, I am still driven to do more crazy stuff. All my Saturdays for the next few weeks will be taken up by Elissa Sail Training and preparation for Harvest Moon. This leaves little time for other stuff like Relic Quest coming up at the end of the month on Sunday the 30th. However, I’ve been writing up stuff like crazy for it.
This Saturday, I was at the ship all day pulling on lines. It was an off day for the regular class, I would call it the ‘advanced’ class day in that it was all us 2nd year and longer people out there reviewing. And we all need review. Really. The weather was great and we got a lot done. However, we had a few things like some rigging problems we had to work out but all in all, I think we are going to be ready for the regatta. Afterwards we all got a free trip on the Seagull harbor tour boat and I took a few pictures I may post later when I get a chance.
Sunday it was laundry day and gawdz, I didn’t think I could cram that much clothing on a little sailboat. Got about half done and went out to Amtgard to hopefully talk to Elora about getting my dues paid up. Wound up shooting a few rounds with my new arrows I bought from back at PSIII and tried to work out why I keep shooting off to the right. Thanks to Hobbibobbit, I think I made a lot of progress there.
Anyway, I’ve got a lot of crazy stuff written for Relic Quest and I have more rolling around in my head just begging to be put down on paper. I was originally doing a group of Intergalatic Hitchhikers ala Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but Luke kept putting us down as Time Lords. So after the last time I said screw it, we are apparenlty going to be Time Lords so I started writing.

And here it is! Stuff for Relic Quest written so far (Amtgard Rules of Play 7.0):

Time Lord

Humanoid

Time Lords appear as regular humans in all ways but internally. They are smug, highly intelligent beings that have conquered space and time long before most planets formed in the Universe. They often think of themselves as above the local law and that all other beings are barbaric savages.

Garb: Time Lords are notoriously bad dressers. Think ostentatious and gaudy, with a fondness for pockets, long coats and large rings and odd hats and other outrageous accessories.

May use any weapon (Time Lords are very quick learners)

May wear up to 3 points of armor but usually doesn’t bother being over confident

One life
Serial Immortality as per Darklord but limited to only 12 times
Immunity control
Immune to poison
Death Magic works as Stun on Time Lords
+1 point natural armor on the chest only (two hearts!)

Additional Magic like abilities (choose two)

Charm 2 per life
Telepathy (as per messenger spell)
Confidence 1/L
Tinker*
Fear/Awe 1/L

* Tinker: May mend any object, disarm traps, operate any device after 150 count of studying said object.

And don’t forget to chose your Time Lord Name: http://rumandmonkey.com/widgets/toys/namegen/5678/

Sonic Screwdriver
(relic)
The Sonic Screwdriver is a most versatile device. No intergalatic time traveler should ever leave Gallifrey without one.

The sonic screwdriver is non-magical and will work in an anti-magic zone.
Must have a set of two 6 sided dice to operate the sonic screwdriver

Open doors – will open doors on a roll of 9 or higher.

Destroy object
- will destroy a magical device on a roll of 11 or higher
- will destroy a non magical device on a roll of 8 or higher.

Will unscrew something on any roll.

A Time Lord with the Tinker ability can perform it in half count (75 sec instead of 150) if he also has a Sonic Screwdriver

For all you evil Time Lords out there…

Tissue Compression Eliminator

(relic)

Appears as a small black wand with a rounded end and one black spell ball.

As per the Sphere of Annihilation spell. 3 charges per game.
(Optional: May only be used by characters with a tech level of 10 or higher as per GURPS rules.)

This is going to be fun.

It’s official

timechick — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 21:13:00 +0000

We’ve went and broke the planet.