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Apollo 15, The notable and not so notable firsts
Designed as "an expeditionary force for a geologic assault1" on the Moon’s Hadley Rille, Apollo 15 was a groundbreaking lunar mission. Designed to be devoted entirely to scientific exploration, it included a number of notable firsts: first to land outside of the lunar mare; first 3 day stay on the moon; first use of the Lunar Rover by Commander David Scott and Lunar Module Pilot Jim Irwin; first use of the Scientific Instrument Module, used by Command Module Pilot Al Worden to study the moon from lunar orbit; and first launch of a subsatellite, used to map the plasma, particle and magnetic fields of the moon. On top of that, Scott gave a visual proof of Galileo's theory of objects in gravity fields in a vacuum, showing gravity acts equally on all objects regardless of their mass. Scott and Irwin also discovered of the Genesis Rock, a piece the moon's primordial crust, formed only 100 million years after the solar system itself.
The mission was a spectacular success, publicly called "One of the most brilliant missions in space science ever flown". The crew was lauded and their future with NASA seemed assured.
Then the stamps hit the fan and Apollo 15 became the first US space crew that was ever fired.
The mission was a spectacular success, publicly called "One of the most brilliant missions in space science ever flown". The crew was lauded and their future with NASA seemed assured.
Then the stamps hit the fan and Apollo 15 became the first US space crew that was ever fired.
A Modest Proposal
Gearbox Software helps a fan with a modest proposal. (with some help from Borderlands' Claptrap and Anthony from "Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin'?"
Did any company in SF ever sell out and have to share profits with their landlord?
Back in the year 2000 during the tech boom, business space was in HUGE demand and landlords in San Francisco's SOMA district used to ask for very long leases and even a % ownership stake in your startup. I'm wondering, ten years later, did any property owner rent out their space to a successful startup and end up getting a payday when they flipped?
Why are my ovaries trying to make me cheat?
Why are my ovaries trying to make me cheat?
How can I learn more about Down's Syndrome?
My newborn niece has Down's Syndrome! Help me learn more about this.
Chocolate Covered Salt and Vinegar Chips
Any of you ever try to make chocolate covered potato chips? What about chocolate covered salt and vinegar chips?
Japanese pro team football teams versus 100 schoolboys.
We previously debated How many five year olds could you take in a fight? - mefi discussion.
Now in a related event professional J. League football team Cerezo Osaka take on a team of 100 Japanese primary school children.
Part 1 (including pre-match analysis in Japanese - kick off at 5 min 50) Part 2 Part 3.
There was a winner - but who?! Direct links to the goals 1 2 3 4 5
Part 1 (including pre-match analysis in Japanese - kick off at 5 min 50) Part 2 Part 3.
There was a winner - but who?! Direct links to the goals 1 2 3 4 5
Help me remove my bike lock from my bike.
How do I remove my £30 Kryptonite D- (or U-) lock from my £200 bike? The lock wouldn't open, I over-turned the key and the key sheared off inside the lock. I still have the spare key but obviously can't insert it.
"One of you will betray me with a self link before the cock crows thrice"
Some time ago, I did a post about parodies of "The Last Supper". Little did I know at the time that the Greatest Spoof Ever would feature MetaFilter's Own Jesus H. Shatner (although in retrospect, it seems obvious). Ladies and Gentlemen, a masterpiece by leonardo pjern, "The Last Round"
"it's complete pants".
Bank Machines owes Metafilter a nod: Just look at this ATM screen design.
User problems with the browser cache
A commercial Web-based product our university purchased to provide student account summaries and collect tuition payments works well for 98%+ of the users. It only works for the rest, however, if they first clear their browser cache.
What is the best free online document management for academic use?
What is the best free online document management solution with the intended use by a few individuals for academic purposes?
Does a hierarchy exist among fast food/chain restaurant workers?
Does a hierarchy exist among fast food/chain restaurant workers, but on a inter-restaurant level?
Down By (Copyright) Law
Why is Nina Paley depressed? Her debut feature film, Sita Sings the Blues — which she animated herself in Adobe Flash — screened to general acclaim at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. It won the best feature-film award at this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival and best American feature at the Avignon Film Festival. Oh, wait, here’s the problem — she can’t find a distributor willing to take a chance on her unconventional, very personal film. (This is a bad year to be shopping an indie.) Because she doesn’t have “synch rights” to the compositions underlying the Annette Hanshaw songs that inspired the story — and now constitute its backbone — she can’t give the film away. Having invested so much in striking prints of the film for festivals and making screener DVDs for press, she’s too broke to pay the $220,000 it would take to clear the 11 songs for distribution. (Don’t miss the spreadsheet showing exactly how much the various players expect her to pay to clear each 80-year-old song.) And now she notes, with tongue maybe half in cheek, she may be on the hook for felony copyright infringement. Also, she’s newly homeless. What’s an indie animator to do? Previously discussed here and here.
Monster
Dear Monster Lawyers,
Let me begin by stating, without equivocation, that I have no interest whatsoever in infringing upon any intellectual property belonging to Monster Cable. Indeed, the less my customers think my products resemble Monster's, in form or in function, the better.
Where should we go in Scotland?
Where should we go in Scotland?
Tort against third party recipients of the proceeds of theft?
Hypothetical legal question: My father stole a horse from SomeCorp, which rented horses for profit. My father subsequently made his money by renting out the horse and later the horse's progeny. All my dad's money was made off that horse, or its progeny, or off of money derived from money made off that horse. When he died, my dad left his money to me. Can SomeCorp successfully sue me, a third-party recipient of the proceeds of the theft? What laws and precedents would be the basis for SomeCorp's suit against me?
Looking for an inexpensive suit in Chicago
Where can I buy a reasonably priced suit in Chicago that I need to wear on Monday and Tuesday?
Is there anything else I can get you, Master?
A recent conversation with my boyfriend brought up some weird, unexpected, slightly misogyenistic feelings on his part and I don't really know how to respond.
Two practical questions about North Korea.
Two related questions about North Korea: (1) Can anyone point me to a distributor, collector, or other source of North Korean films, either on DVD/VHS or (ideally) on film? (2) How would I go about directing a letter there?
cost of having a prenup
My fiance has asked that I sign a prenuptial agreement.
Should I buy fancy underwear? WHAT KIND?
Besides the glaringly obvious, what might a soldier home on leave like to do?
Political Theory
Political filter: Question about libertarian belief and the government vs big business
How to get rid of bad dreams?
My partner reports consistently having bad dreams. She would like to be able to either (a) have good dreams instead, or (b) just not remember them anymore. What techniques/practices are there that can help her achieve this? I'm at a loss to help her, because I've never had the problem.
Nuthin' Up My Sleeve...
What Are The Logistical Challenges of Carrying a Concealed Firearm On A Daily Basis?
David Simonize me
What can I do to learn more about crime (without becoming a criminal)?
I'm just a lonely geek...lonely in blue...
What's the percentage of MeFites who have no one nearby? I just moved away from Vancouver (in the interior, Quesnel, to operate my hosting/computer services biz where I actually WANT to live) and suddenly, after updating my long. and lat., I'm all alone!
Best grilled cheese sandwich?
What cheese combination makes for the best grilled cheese sandwich?
Is there a US City within Canada?
I remember reading a year or two ago about a city that's fully contained within Canada, but is a US territory. It shares no land border with the lower 48 and it's not part of Alaska. Does anybody know what I'm talking about? I can't find it via google. Thanks.
working abroad
What is it like working for an International company in Europe. (ie. an American company in Spain or a French company in the UK).
Where do Metafilter people meet their mates online?
Where do Metafilter people meet their mates online?
Dentist recommendations in Chicago
Please recommend a dentist in Chicago for a standard annual cleaning and general dental check-up. Prefer office location in Loop, Gold Coast, or River North. Thank you!
How can a US citizen travel to Cuba?
How easy and how smart would it be for a U.S. citizen to try to go to Cuba?
"I'm not interested in having an orchestra sound like itself. I want it to sound like the composer." -- Leonard Bernstein
Help me discover some great orchestrated pop music.
What to do with found guns?
What should my friends do about the three guns (one possibly Russian) they found in their new apartment?
I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again.
We're planning a ten-day jaunt in Central America. Recommendations for the best scenic, jungly country to visit?
Where can I get a specific gene tested for mutations/polymorphisms?
Where can I get a specific gene tested for mutations/polymorphisms?
I don't want my pussy to taste like rain! I want my pussy to taste like pussy!
Connoisseurs of Cunnilingus: What does it taste like to you?
Any other men had a blocked lymphatic vessel in their penis?
So recently I've been having a lot of "vigorous" heterosexual, um, sex. Yay me; yay my partner.
However, my penis is now sporting a little more backbone than usual. Of course there's...->
Where to buy high-tech outdoor FABRICS in Lima, Peru?
In Lima, Peru for 3 days. Where to buy FABRIC for high-tech outdoor gear? Stuff like Polartec Fleece, Schoeller (Soft-shell), Waterproof (Gore-tex?, etc.), or the like. Brand names in this case are important...but probably only for quality issues.
Variations on "Ottawa, Kingdom of the Netherlands".
People born in administratively unusual places?
How do I say hello to a King?
I've been invited to a state dinner and am just starting to freak out about it. How do I keep myself from looking like an idiot?
Weird optics
Let's say I find a shiny spherical object and under point lighting, I move it very close to my eye. I then focus on the bright spot, but focus at a distance of 1-2 feet until the patterns are in focus. At this point, it looks like a bad microscope. Am I looking at part of my own eye? Is this a documented phenomenon I could read about?
Bargain tours to Europe?
Can you suggest any tours from U.S.A. to Europe (including plane fare, transportation between European cities, and hotel accommodations in each visited city) that do not involve doing activities with a tour group?
Uncovering the "human side" of historical figures
I'm composing a list of major political and/or spiritual leaders, past and present, who had a positive and lasting influence on society... but who had disruptive idiosyncrasies and/or disorders that drove people close to them absolutely bonkers.
How did massive ships embark from the pier?
Before there were motors, how did Tall Ships leave port?
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