Visit from Anonymous

Just before I took off for Florida and the SDO launch, we were lucky enough to get a weekend visit from everybody's favorite anonymous blog commenter, down from the Canadian tundra for some time off in CA.  We had a good time playing board games and poker.

Unlike last time he visited, Ari did not take all our money in poker (on the contrary, actually).  It wasn't all bad though, he did win $1 for accepting a whimsical challenge to drink a gulp of sludgey beer yeast trub.  Apparently it wasn't as completely and utterly disgusting as it looks.  I guess.  I didn't taste it.  Are you kidding?

Banjo definitely was happy to see Ari, so I guess he forgives you for taking him on walks in Frisco last December when it was less than freezing outside and he was forced into the indignity of wearing those booties.  Thanks for visiting us, Ari!  Sorry if I blew your cover.

SDO Launch!

Belated but still interesting - the Solar Dynamics Observatory, with two instruments I worked on (HMI and AIA), finally launched last week from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  I got to see it in person with the parents and many other Lockheed folks, and despite the one-day delay it was quite an exciting experience!  It worked out great for me, as I got to visit parents, grandparents, and my aunt and uncle, not to mention catch the final night launch of the shuttle ever*.  Here's a couple photos and links to many more:

 

  

  

* - Final shuttle launch in July may well end up being a night launch if it gets delayed more than a couple days.

Links:

Official launch video (Media Player)

Youtube showing cloud ripples from shockwave blasting away sundog

Spaceflight Now page
SDO NASA page