Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Two New NGC Premieres, Ride Of a Lifetime and Gumby



I'm going to take another break before I wrap up my China adventures to tell you of a couple of National Geographic Channel premieres coming this Sunday August 23rd at 9 and 10 pm EDT.

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First off at 9:00 pm EDT Alien Earths. Join a team of astronomers and leading scientists in the search for alien earths, another place we could call home. So far they have discovered around 350 planets, all of which you wouldn't want to live on. too hot, too cold, oceans filled with gas ect. With the aid of CGI animations you'll journey to these unbelievably strange and odd worlds, the stuff of sci fi. You'll also see what they are doing to hunt for worlds much like our own using Kepler, the first spacecraft of it's type able to discover earth size and smaller planets capable of supporting life as we know it. Of all the strange planets and oddities you'll discover my favorite is the Planemo, a poor little planet that has been thrown out of it's solar system into space. It wanders in the darkness of space, looking for a new home. I'm surprised no sci fi shows or books have been done using the Planemo as a story line, work with me on this one people.

A little planet gets the boot from it's solar system through a freak of gravity of a larger planet, gets captured by another system, maybe even a double star system, the planet develops a highly intelligent life form capable of light speed and they hear through the space grapevine a planet is being invaded by beings from the same planet that jostled them out of their solar system millions of years before, the planet being invaded is Earth. They come, rid us of the invading aliens and give us the technology to build holodecks.





Next at 10:00 pm EDT Hawking's Universe. Stephen Hawking is probably one of the most famous scientists in the word and you'll learn a little of his early life before he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease, meet his daughter, find out some of his major contributions to the field of astrophysics and learn of his quest to find the theory of everything. His goal in life, and I quote, "My goal is simple, it is the complete understanding of the universe, why it exists the way it is and why it exists at all". Hawking first put forth the theory that black holes are not completely black, that they give off radiation and are slowly evaporating through radiation, what we call "Hawking Radiation", named after him. His theory says that just before it goes into nothingness it gives off energy, depending on the size of the black hole, unspeakable energy, is this what caused the Big Bang? The preview dvds I received look real good, something you won't want to miss, again this Sunday starting at 9:00 pm EDT. Unfortunately these programs are only available in the US. Previous NGC shows I have mentioned here are slowly making their way to Canada through the Canadian Discovery HD Channel and the Canadian NGC, if you live in Canada just keep an eye open for them on those channels.


Now, I'd like to leave you with a video I took on my adventure in China, it is a ride on the Maglev, the worlds fastest railway in commercial use. We took the Maglev from the financial district in Shanghai to Shanghai's Pudong Airport, WOW, what a blast!! The 30 km distance took less then 7 minutes to cover, top speed 431 km and hour. Note at five and a half minutes into the ride a Maglev going in the opposite direction passes within feet of us scaring the crap out of me and a traveling partner, also notice at seven and a half minutes into the ride you'll see the Shanghai's 2010 World Expo mascot "Haibao". I'm thinking he looks a lot like Gumby, everybody thought I was crazy, especially the people that asked what a Gumby was, what do you think?

Real Gumby.


Haibao(Gumby wannabe).

50 comments:

Texas Travelers said...

Thanks for the reminders.

I have to go find my Gumby.

.
Since you are on my blogroll,
you know I like your blog.
I Like the great photos and writeups.

I am back blogging again.
I just started a new WordPress Blog, 'I C U Nature' for Nature Only!
Click here to see the blog.
It will take some learning to work out the differences between WordPress and Blogspot.
The new blog is bare bones right now, with just the masthead and two posts.

Come visit and tell me what you think,
Troy
.

Stephanie Barr said...

Those planets in the first one look fascinating!

betchai said...

the planet in the 2st pic looks so fascinating and enchanting, i don't know if i would want to call it home.

Moonshadow said...

Most of those shows you have to have cable or satellite for and I have neither. :( Those are the just the type of shows I like to watch, too. Hey, talking about fast rides, check out this link...
http://www.airtrainglobal.com/index2.html
This was the dream of a (now parted) friend and fellow member of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. His son continues the promotion.

Jackie said...

oh my I haven't thought of Gumby in ages. I use to watch him every Sunday morning when I was very young.

He came on very early in the morning and I just loved him.

I will try my best to locate the wonderful shows you mentioned here.

You we my first commenter and get some link love. I just think to have you as first commenter on that post is s so appropriate.

Thanks for stopping in. I'm off to grab your card and get you linked up.

Then it's bed time for this girl!!
Jackie

mmfiore said...

As an alternative to Quantum Theory there is a new theory that describes and explains the mysteries of physical reality. While not disrespecting the value of Quantum Mechanics as a tool to explain the role of quanta in our universe. This theory states that there is also a classical explanation for the paradoxes such as EPR and the Wave-Particle Duality. The Theory is called the Theory of Super Relativity and is located at: Super Relativity
This theory is a philosophical attempt to reconnect the physical universe to realism and deterministic concepts. It explains the mysterious.

Bob Johnson said...

Hey Troy, good luck finding Gumby, I will take a look at your new site, let me know how wordpress works out for you I have been thinking of changing.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Hey Stephanie they have some real interesting looking planets in the show, to think they may actually exist is cool.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Hey betchai, probably not, maybe a flyby,lol.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Cool Moonshadow I will pop over to take a look, too bad about not getting the stations.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Hey Jackie, me too watched Gumby every Sunday morning, and thanks for the link love.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks for dropping by mmfiore, I have heard of Super Relativity,very cool concept, maybe CERN and the LHC will settle some long standing questions about the grouping of GR and QM, I'm thinking it will.\m/\m/

Priyank said...

Hey Bob, the train ride video was very good! I am still trying to digest 2 Steven Hawkins's books I got. :)

Unknown said...

those shows do sound like a must see! i will definitely try to remember that.

gumby...hehehe...that was a sunday morning thing when all the other channels had church on. i agree with you that looks like a gumby wannabe. lol!

notedscholar said...

I hope our future on other planets is not as depressing as Battlestar Galactica.

NS

Texas Travelers said...

I still haven't found my Gumby, still looking though.
.
You commented on the mystery #1,
for my new WordPress Nature Blog.
'I C U Nature' for Nature Only!
The answer with photos is available.

Click here to see the Answer.

Come visit and tell me what you think,
Troy
.

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Priyank, I hear you about the books,he does a fairly good job of trying to simplify complex concepts but it is still a lot of info to comprehend.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

PJ, finally someone who agrees with me,lol.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Lol NS.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Troy, cool.\m/\m/

Cruiselife & Co said...

I guess I could take a break from all the archaeology videos and take a look at the universe. Sometimes my brain needs a break. Thanks Bob

AngelBaby said...

Wow, you did it again, just amazing. I loved the pictures and the preview for the upcoming shows. I have them marked on my calender so I won't forget.

I loved the ride on that train - wow! I watched it twice! LOL! I want to get one of those!

Have a wonderful day!

Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby

AngelBaby said...

Oh brother, now I have to go find my Gumby! I just love that little guy - so cute! What was his horses name? Was it todow or something like that? I can't remember anymore.

Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby

Daisy said...

That must be Gumby's cousin!

kRiZcPEc said...

Don't know when will these programmes telecast in HK. Can't wait to see those planets!

Bob Johnson said...

No problem Dr. Lauren, sure you'll enjoy the shows.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks AngelBaby, you'll like them, and what a ride, the feeling of acceleration was something else.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Lol, AngelBaby, hope you find your Gumby, the horse's name was pokey.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Lol Daisy, could be.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Hey kRiZ, I have no idea when or if they ever will show in HK, too bad if they don't.\m/\m/

Swubird said...

Hey, thanks for the reminder to watch those TV programs. Now if I can only remember. I've taken to sticking Post-Its all over the house. Also, I love the videos.

Speaking of Stephen Hawking, I have a little story. My Queen knows how much I like Steven, so way back when he came out with his book, A Brief History of Time, she bought me a copy for Christmas. It was all rather nice and she had written a few loving words inside of the cover. Great. I loved it. But then the very next year she had forgotten that she had already bought me the book and gave me another one for that Christmas too. And, of course, she had written a few loving words inside the cover. The kids and I got a big laugh. But I still loved it. I can't get too much of Stephen Hawking.

Happy trails

Cashmere said...

Wow! That train ride is really fast.. It's like a roller coaster ride! When that other train came, it seems a bit scary. lol!

Bob Johnson said...

Lol, that is too funny swubird,hey it's always great to have a backup book in case you loose the first one, plus what a story with visual aids to pass down to the grandkids.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Hey Cashmere, the second train caught us off guard, especially me with the train coming from the opposite direction, thought something had hit us.\m/\m/

RW said...

All good stuff Bob! You have a very cool life my friend.

Bob Johnson said...

Het Roger thanks for dropping by.\m/\m/

Nature Nut /JJ Loch said...

Beautiful post, Bob!!! I don't have cable TV or Satellite and am praying I do have one or the other soon!!! Am missing all the planet action.

You excite me about space like no other before you. You should write a book on it because you have the perfect voice for it.

My FIL had a stroke so I am just now playing catch up.

I love Stephen Hawking too!!! Think there was news of his being ill a couple of months ago.

Hugs, JJ

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks a lot JJ if I ever write a book, you get my first copy,lol. Hope your father in Law is doing better. Stephen has been seeing better times, hope he finds his answers before he has to depart from us.\m/\m/

Astro-Nuts said...

Cool stuff Bob. I only wish I had the NGC channel. This is really neat stuff. I wish we had the Star Trek technology of warp speed, transporters, etc and exploring would be so much easier. And while I don't necessarily believe there's life on other planets, it would be spectacular to visit anyway.

Reel Advice said...

Wow! When would this show in NGC Asia?

Max Coutinho said...

Hey Bob!

I like Hawkins' theory: as strange as it may sound, it makes utter sense to me (I also believe that nothing is in fact everything; yet it is nothing in a way to keep balance in the universe...complex, I know). I will be waiting for this program to be on in Europe.

Yes, Haibao looks like gumby (no doubt about it)!

Wow...30km in 7 minutes only? I want that too! lol
The video is amazing: it gradully goes faster and faster...wow! Awesome, I must do some research on this...thanks, Bob!

I wish you a perfect week ahead, my friend!

Cheers

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Colin, too bad you don't have the NGC, I have seen a few shows on the discovery channel if you have that one, you could borrow my DVDs if you like.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Have no idea Reel Advice, I'd just keep an eye open for it, never know.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Max, cool you like Hawkins theories. The ride was awesome, on our ride from the airport to our hotel when we first arrived it took us 3 hours to cover the distance, terrible traffic during rush hour. Have a great week too Max.\m/\m/

Lynda Lehmann said...

Wow, you rode the mag-lev! Here in the USA, we can go to the moon, split atoms and build weapons that can end all life, but we can't provide medical care to all or build a mag-lev!

I have always had a place in my heart for Gumby! Since I was a babe... Gumby and Winky Dink, and now that I think of it, Howdy Doody!

Wish I could see those specials. I love NatGeo and also would love to hear what Hawking has to say. But the curtains close on THIS stage, at sundown. Till the next day's round of work...

Bob Johnson said...

Lol Lynda, better to get your rest for your next days activities. I watched Gumby all the time when I was a kid, no wonder they wanted someone like him to be their mascot,lol.

TatianaV said...

Thanks for sharing the awesome beauties of the Universe here Bob, of what is available to you in Canada... And I so wish to be able to viewe these here too, but no such luck unfortunately for the residents of EU

myonlyphoto said...

Hey Bob thanks for the update. Wow 350 planets I didn't know about, lol. So you have imagination, so cool, may be you should write the story line for next Star Wars movie, lol. And I do to like Stephen Hawking, an amazing mind. Bob you are funny, but I think it does look a bit like Gumby, lol. Anna :)

masini said...

This is brilliant . Thanks.

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