Can't Wait to Make My Space Popcorn to View the Aquila Flyby

This is why I love NASA, or at least the geeks who work there. In its online listing of "Upcoming Planetary Launches and Events," NASA's calendar lists (and read the whole thing):

2014 May-November - Rosetta - ESA mission reaches Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko
2014 November - Philae - ESA Rosetta Lander touches down on Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko
2015 February 1 - Dawn - Goes into orbit around asteroid 1 Ceres
2015 July 14 - New Horizons - NASA mission flies by Pluto and Charon
2015 August 15 - BepiColombo - Launch of ESA and ISAS Orbiter and Lander Missions to Mercury
2016 March - InSight - Launch of Mars Lander
2231 April 5 - Pluto - is passed by Neptune in distance from the Sun for the next 20 years
4,000,000 - Pioneer 11 - NASA flyby of star Lambda Aquila

I can't wait for 4 million; the media coverage of that is going to be awesome. As long as our alien insect overlords let us stay up late to watch it on the holovid.

Catch Me on the California Channel

WATCH US ON THE CALIFORNIA CHANNEL: Tonight at 9 p.m. (PT), catch the first program in The Commonwealth Club's weekly series on the California Channel.

Tonight: my Week to Week Political Roundtable, featuring panelists Carla Marinucci, Dr. Larry Gerston, and Debra J. Saunders. In upcoming weeks: Economic forecasts, Randi Zuckerberg, Robert Reich, and more!

You can find The California Channel on your cable system by checking these listings: http://www.calchannel.com/local-listing/

Commonwealth Club programs will also air at various times throughout the week on that channel.

Atlanta, We Have a Problem

So, apparently some people think the snowstorm over Atlanta consisted of fake snow. For reals.

I wonder how far our species could advance if we didn't have to spend so much time doing mass remedial science education and debunking crazy claims.

The State of the News Quiz

My fellow Americans, I am proud to tell you tonight that the state of the news quiz is healthy, and its best days are ahead of it.

Take the quiz

Next Galaxis Issue Is Preparing for Launch ...

In case anyone was wondering, the fourth issue of my free digital science fiction/science magazine, Galaxis, is nearing completion and will be available within weeks. Filled with indie SF such as Europa Report, Artemis Eternal, and The Cosmonaut, as well as classics such as Star Trek (new and old), fiction, reviews, future science, and more.

Try to contain your anticipation.

And Now for an Unspecial Unthanksgiving News Quiz

It pays to pay attention to these things.

Here's my latest Week to Week News Quiz, on Huffington Post San Francisco.

Special Thanksgiving W2W News Quiz

What'll he do with all of his time now?

Why are Hassan Rouhani, US Airways, and Popcorn thankful? Take my special Thanksgiving Week to Week News Quiz on Huffington Post San Francisco and find out.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Government Shutdown and Debt Ceiling Blues: Free audio

Here is the link to the streaming audio of my Week to Week political roundtable program from last night, with great panelists Lisa Vorderbrueggen, Josh Richman, and Debra J. Saunders. There was, as you'd expect, much talk about the parallel disasters facing us: Debt ceiling, government shutdown, Obamacare rollout, and BART strike.

People can also download it as a free podcast if they either go to their iTunes Store and search for "commonwealth club" or if they go to the iTunes web page.

Take My News Quiz and Win a Nobel Prize!

Did I say Nobel Prize? I meant win no prize. Typo. My bad.

Okay, this isn't even remotely what the
Nobel medal looks like; but that is a
copyrighted design, and this image is in
the public domain. It's a trophy. You get the
point.

Nonetheless, take my latest Week to Week News Quiz on Huffington Post and see how much you know about the week's news. It's fun. It's short. Did I mention the prize?

Take the quiz

Where Fake Scientists and Beanie Babies Meet

What includes a government shutdown, beanie babies, and fake science?

Why, my latest Week to Week News Quiz on Huffington Post, that's what.

Take the quiz