Category Archives: Discursive Detours

A catch-all category

Porphyrion: Black Hole Jets on a Cosmic Scale

We’ve known about “black hole jet systems” for some time, but never one as big as Porphyrion: a 23,000,000 light-year giant. I’ll be talking about that today, along with how astronomers have been studying it, a plausible explanation for its … Continue reading

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Minnesota is Not Burning

I’ll be talking about something else this week, but I’ve noticed that the stalking specter of climate change has shifted from California to the east coast. Meanwhile, here in central Minnesota, we’re under a Red Flag Warning. In other words, … Continue reading

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Radian Aerospace PFV01, Remembering Max Valier

It’s not what I’m writing about this week, but an article in TechCrunch about a prototype space plane got my attention. And reminded me of a promising development of the 1920s that didn’t work out. About a century back, someone … Continue reading

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SpaceX Polaris Dawn Spacewalk: It’s a Big Deal

I watched this 9:09 video, showing part of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn spacewalk, while eating lunch. Includes a quotable sound bite. Continue reading

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A Cursed(?) Diamond’s Story: The Koh-i-Noor

Last week, I said I’d have “…tales of cursed gems, glow-in-the-dark diamonds, diamonds from outer space…” ready this week: “barring the unexpected”. Then the unexpected happened. But I do have most of the Koh-i-Noor’s story ready for you. I pieced … Continue reading

Posted in Being Catholic, Diamonds and Gems, Discursive Detours, Series | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments