Thought For The Day

Keep true to the dreams of thy youth.
- Friedrich von Schiller -

Thought For The Day

That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
- Neil Armstrong -, On the first moonwalk, July 20, 1969

The Space Elevator

A new space race is officially under way, and this one should have the sci-fi geeks salivating

The project is a "space elevator," and some experts now believe that the concept is well within the bounds of possibility -- maybe even within our lifetimes.

Indeed, if successfully built, the space elevator would be an unprecedented feat of human engineering. A cable anchored to the Earth's surface, reaching tens of thousands of kilometers into space, balanced with a counterweight attached at the other end is the basic design for the elevator.

It is thought that inertia -- the physics theory stating that matter retains its velocity along a straight line so long as it is not acted upon by an external force -- will cause the cable to stay stretched taut, allowing the elevator to sit in geostationary orbit. The cable would extend into the sky, eventually reaching a satellite docking station orbiting in space.

Engineers hope the elevator will transport people and objects into space, and there have even been suggestions that it could be used to dispose of nuclear waste. Another proposed idea is to use the elevator to place solar panels in space to provide power for homes on Earth.

Thought For The Day

Freedom is that instant between when someone tells you to do something and when you decide how to respond.
- Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein -

Live Free Or Die

The words "Live Free or Die," written by General John Stark, July 31, 1809, is the official motto of the state of New Hampshire

It was the 1945 Legislature that gave New Hampshire its official motto and emblem, as World War II approached a successful end. The motto became "Live Free Or Die," as once voiced by General John Stark, the state’s most distinguished hero of the Revolutionary War, and the world famous Old Man of the Mountain was voted the official state emblem.

The motto was part of a volunteer toast which General Stark sent to his wartime comrades, in which he declined an invitation to head up a 32nd anniversary reunion of the 1777 Battle of Bennington in Vermont, because of poor health. The toast said in full: "Live Free Or Die; Death Is Not The Worst of Evils."

Thought For The Day

Don't sell your soul to buy peanuts for the monkeys.
- Dorothy Salisbury Davis -

OFFICIAL Football Top 25

1. Oklahoma - Scoring machine at Baylor Sat., Texas next.
2. LSU - Bye week, then at Florida. No easy games in the SEC.
3. Missouri - 15 game losing streak at Nebraska ends Saturday.
4. Alabama - Huge win at Georgia. Hosts Kentucky Saturday.
5. Texas - Averaging 49.5 points per game. At Colorado.
6. BYU - Has outscored opponents 103-0 last 2 weeks.
7. Penn St. - Impressive win vs Illinois. At Purdue Sat.
8. Texas Tech - Tough Big 12 road game at Kansas State.
9. Florida - Party boys lost to Ole Miss 31-30. At Arkansas.
10. Georgia - Lost at home to Alabama. Bye week.
11. Southern Cal - Disappointing loss at Oregon St. Hosts Oregon.
12. South Florida - 5-0. Hosts Pitt to open Big East schedule.
13. Ohio State - Beanie is back for key Big Ten game @ Wisconsin.
14. Utah - Hosts USC killer Oregon State on Thursday.
15. Auburn - 4-1. at upset-minded Vanderbilt on Saturday.
16. Wisconsin - Upset at Michigan. Hosts Ohio State next.
17. Fresno State - 3-1 Bulldogs host Hawaii Rainbows Sat.
18. Virginia Tech - Beat Nebraska. Cupcake game vs W. Kentucky.
19. Connecticut - 5-0. Big test at North Carolina Saturday.
20. Boston College - Visits old coach Tom O'Brien at NC State.
21. Massachusetts - Hosts Joe Biden's Delaware Blue Hens.
22. Framingham State - 2-2 Rams homecoming game vs Wor. St.
23. Saint Anselm - Competitive Hawks host strong AIC Sat.
24. Natick High - 4-0. Beat Dedham 27-7. At Braintree Fri. night.
25. Dennis-Yarmouth - 2-1. Hosts powerful Marshfield Friday night.

Thought For The Day

This country has come to feel the same when congress is in session as when the baby gets hold of a hammer.
- Will Rogers -

Thought For The Day

Weather forecast for tonight: dark. Continued dark overnight, with widely scattered light by morning.
- George Carlin -

Hurricanes in Maine

This weekend, Maine had it's first hurricane watch in 17 years. However, over the years Maine has had visits from quite a few hurricanes. They are usually either minimal hurricanes or just tropical storms by the time they reach the cold waters off the Maine coast. Here's a list of past hurricanes to reach Maine.

New England Hurricane of 1938
Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944
Hurricane Carol of 1954
Hurricane Edna of 1954
Hurricane Donna of 1960
Hurricane Gloria of 1985
Hurricane Bob of 1991