Sat July 26 : Meet Buzz Aldrin - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2014, 06:15:44 pm
content: Yes , THE Buzz Aldrin who left his footprints on the moon when he landed the Eagle module from the Apollo 11 flight.He is going to be on the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet , stationed at the Alameda, for the 45th anniversary of splashdown (the day Apollo 11 splashed down in the pacific and was retrieved by the USS Hornet )Saturday July 26You can get a book autographed by him. book NEEDS to be pre-ordered through the USS Hornet museum store. Buzz will NOT sign anything else.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2014, 06:45:37 pm
content: Shake his hand Vincent, one of the few very humble people around. Order yourself the book.

author: cimmo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 03:58:31 am
content: If that clown Bart Sibrel turns up, clock him one for me, before he gets anywhere near Buzz.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 04:01:39 am
content: Quote from: cimmo on July 03, 2014, 03:58:31 amNO! Please let Buzz smack him again, I could watch this all day long!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 04:02:57 am
content: The #1 person I'd like to interview.I'd settle for any remaining moon walker, but, you know, Buzz is Buzz

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 04:03:52 am
content: Awesome punch!

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 05:31:07 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 03, 2014, 04:01:39 amEscalating words to violence is not cool.

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 05:49:59 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 03, 2014, 05:31:07 amAnd everybody continues to live in a happy happy world, full of daisies and butterflies...Oh Joy!!!

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 06:33:51 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 03, 2014, 05:31:07 amPretending the Apollo missions never happened is not cool. Pick one or the other.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 07:00:04 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 03, 2014, 05:31:07 amThe world rejoiced when this happened.This loon has been stalking Buzz for years and it was totally coming to him.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 07:01:11 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 03, 2014, 04:01:39 amThat guy must be some religion nutjob or preacher or something, right? Sounds like it.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 07:05:48 am
content: Quote from: XOIIO on July 03, 2014, 07:01:11 amProfessional Whack Job:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Sibrel

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 07:11:46 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 03, 2014, 07:05:48 amMan, no kidding.Let's take him up to space, and leave him there.

author: Dajgoro
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 02:38:44 pm
content: What do I do when I find myself in a conversation that the moon landing was fake, and nobody wants to listen to reason?

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 03:55:02 pm
content: I dont understand why people insist that the first moon landing was a fake, I had an argument quite recently with someone who was convinced the landing was fake having seen something on you tube, when it happened you could see the orbiter craft with binoculars almost did not need them when the sun caught on a clear night.I watched the orbiter myself with binoculars as we did not have a TV at that time as my parents thought it would be a distraction from school work but the whole school watched it on TV the following day.Sometimes I feel like doing rather more than decking nutters like that, would have to get a book on medieval torture techniques out of the library.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 04:29:54 pm
content: Quote from: G7PSK on July 03, 2014, 03:55:02 pmPeople believe in talking serpents and alien landings so believing in fake moon landing is not that our there.However, escalating words to violence is not cool and walking on the moon is not a waiver.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 05:29:12 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on July 03, 2014, 04:29:54 pmTrue but even Sibrel ended up apologizing to Aldrin.From Sibrel's wikipedia entry:Quote

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2014, 07:03:36 pm
content: Quote from: G7PSK on July 03, 2014, 03:55:02 pmBamboo shoot through the back might work decently.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 05:09:53 am
content: 8 apollo astronauts during the 60's trying to get us to the moon. 3 in the CM fire, one in a car crash, and 4 in plane crashes associated with training missions. Buzz was close friends with all of them.Yeah, I say smack him again.I am all for being skeptical, but at a certain point, you are just being a contrarian, and that is clearly what this man is. Go back to your JFK assassination conspiracy.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 05:20:31 am
content: Quote from: Dajgoro on July 03, 2014, 02:38:44 pmPoint and laugh at them

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 05:25:25 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 03, 2014, 04:29:54 pmYes it is when clowns like this stalk you for years, it's the only way to shut them up.The police and prosecutors agreed.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 05:32:19 am
content: Quote from: calexanian on July 04, 2014, 05:09:53 amMore than that. The point at which after years stalking someone, and then deliberately set up a meetup under false pretenses where you approach them and physically stand over them and verbally abuse them, you have become a bully and a thug. At that point you are inviting, almost demanding physical retaliation upon yourself.The law agreed in this case, Aldrin was within his rights to physically defend himself.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 07:10:24 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 04, 2014, 05:25:25 amApparently walking on the moon has its privileges. Others are sent to jail for much less than that.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 07:39:55 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 04, 2014, 07:10:24 amYou have to take it on a case-by-case basis. He was stalked for years by this guy which is not a normal case, he was lured into an altercation under false pretenses by the perpetrator, and then cornered and physically intimidated and verbally abused.Not saying his name didn't have anything to do with it, but you can't just go around throwing general comparisons.He didn't just punch some random dude in the street who hurled verbal abuse at him.

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 07:53:28 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 04, 2014, 05:25:25 amYes, agreed, but zapta's words are the politically correct ones...

author: ampdoctor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 07:57:38 am
content: Sorry but you're very wrong here! Punching somebody is NEVER acceptable outside of defending yourself from bodily harm. I can't count the number of times some asshole got up in my personal space and pissed me off. If your significant other says something to piss you off is it ok to punch them? How bout your kid, or your boss?If the man was stalking him for years why didn't he get a restraining order or do something else that deal with it inside the boundaries of the law? If you think what this guy did was physical intimidation or verbal abuse you ain't seen nothing yet! Aldrin could have turned around and walked away at any moment. Hitting punching and physical violence used to deal with a stressful situation fall within the domain of the barbarian, children, and those who are emotionally underdeveloped and can't control themselves. As much as I admire the man, they should have tossed him in a jail cell for the weekend and given him a hefty fine.

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 08:00:51 am
content: Like with anything, people can be absolutely convinced of something wrong by playing to the "gut", and giving them a gut feeling that either the truth is a lie, and/or that something incorrect makes them feel better or worse, depending on your need.Boiling things down, the brain thinks in two ways. Analytically, and not.Analytical thinking is the kind we're all familiar with. Book-smarts. Thinking through a problem, collecting facts, experiment, fact-based conclusion.Non-analytical thinking is very useful when you're in danger and you need to decide to fight or run instantly. As such, the quickness inherent to this type of decision leads to a lot of incorrect decisions. Ever been startled? You reacted however you reacted that made everyone laugh because of that fight or flight thing.Turns out that quick fight or flight mechanism can be very easily used to convince someone of whatever you want. Just make them feel it in their gut. Make what you want them to believe feel like truth, and they will believe it's true far beyond the point where they've been given the evidence to the opposite.The gut feeling is powerful. Learn to speak to it and you can make anyone believe anything.Politics, sales, and marketing all rely on this phenomenon very heavily. Religion too, at least some of them.

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 08:12:54 am
content: Quote from: ampdoctor on July 04, 2014, 07:57:38 amDon't say you're sorry when you're not.Absolutes like that don't really exist. There are times where physical intervention can prevent worse outcomes, and in those cases the law and morality side with the person that hits first and neutralizes the situation.If a robber breaks into my home, grabs my daughter as hostage, and tries to use her as a shield, are you saying that I should wait until he kills her before I kill him?People who are harassed, as Buzz was by this person, feel the same threat I would feel in the above scenario after that much harassment. I feel it was well within Buzz's right to sock the dude.Restraining orders are only valid in a single jurisdiction, because the courts that issue them have limited reach. This guy followed Buzz all over the Earth. And, usually, one must be the victim of a violent attack in order to attain a restraining order, anyway, so Buzz probably would never have been able to even get one. Buzz had used words, and asked nicely that the fella to go away many times. The guy wasn't hearing him, so Buzz used a language the guy COULD hear, which is the language of I'll Break Your Fuckin' Nose, Asshole, Now Leave Me Alone!And hey, the guy leaves him alone, now.Magic.

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 08:20:50 am
content: By the way, I don't condone violence and I don't own a gun. I do feel that there are times where violence is indeed a valid solution to a problem.I also feel that those problems are rare, in reality, at least for adults.For schoolchildren, I think those problems are quite common, and I will always side with anyone that stands up to a bully in any way, whether in defense of themselves or another. The effects a single bully has can last decades.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 08:28:32 am
content: Well it is also the blame of governments, people in power having closed societies and meetings that for ages have kept the crowd stupid and misinformed or non-informed by classifying documents as top secret or other bullshit.This has been going on for ages and some of this stuff now finally comes out and people find themselves betrayed and ask what's more we don't know yet?I mean why in hell would a government put a 60+ year embargo on some documents if they have nothing to hide? Everybody with a clear mind could only come to the conclusion that there must be something outraging in those documents? Why else keep it secret? And who gives them the autorithy to keep it secret from everybody?On topic: Concerning the moonlanding, how more open and well informed could you make it? It was broadcasted live on tv with everybody watching for pete sake?No conspiracy there, how else would all those hundreds of kg's of moonrock ended up here in laboratories and musea?

author: ampdoctor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 08:35:38 am
content: Quote from: Rigby on July 04, 2014, 08:12:54 amThat argument is ridiculous! You're groping around trying to find some situation to justify broken logic. If you can't tell the difference between the two situations then you're an idiot. Of course you can use violence to protect your daughter from a robber or hostage taker. That's clearly defense of a life threatening situation.

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 08:37:46 am
content: Quote from: Kjelt on July 04, 2014, 08:28:32 amThere are lots of good reasons to obscure that stuff.Usually it is because of a tiny bit of information included that could give a spy enough information to draw a connection between X and Y that could not be made otherwise. Sometimes it is because technical procedures or processes are referred to or mentioned by name which could also be used to help a nation learn to build nuclear weaponry. There are lots of valid reasons.Quote from: Kjelt on July 04, 2014, 08:28:32 amIt doesn't matter how much evidence you provide. Someone that knows deep down that they were fakes will not be swayed by ANY evidence to the contrary. You could literally fly a moon landing denier to the moon and they would not change their opinion. "Oh sure we can do it NOW, that's easy." You could show them all the gear left behind and they would just claim you planted it all yesterday.Logic is not a valid approach. I don't know that there is a valid approach to these people, honestly.

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 08:41:35 am
content: Quote from: ampdoctor on July 04, 2014, 08:35:38 amNot MY life. You specifically mentioned harm to self. It should not require a precise example to convey to you that there are times when violence IS the answer. Like I said, those times are rare, and I think you're being a little naïve to think of it in absolutes. Life is one giant shade of gray.I don't like violence, I think violence is unnecessarily used about 99.9999% of the time, and I think there are times when violence is the only answer.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 09:15:07 am
content: Quote from: Rigby on July 04, 2014, 08:37:46 amI am not talking about military or science secret documents, those documents are never closed for the public for xxxx years, for the public those documents do not existI am talking about the investigations around JFK for instance, only to be opened at 2029What's in there that is soo secret we can not know about it? Probably nothing, all the extremely embarrassing stuff is deleted so what's the point in still holding it a secret. The same in my country, we had a queen in the 60's that relied on a psychic for advice and she was married to a man that sold out to weapon dealers and sold public stuff from the royalty, just a big scumbag but those documents are also closed.My personal opinion no matter how bad the information really is what is inside those documents, by declaring it a secret and withholding the information from the public, that same public is making stories and fantasies that are ten times worse.

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 09:38:27 am
content: Quote from: Kjelt on July 04, 2014, 09:15:07 amThere is actually a lot of evidence now that LBJ (Kennedy's Vice President and successor) had him killed. He was that type of guy, too.I agree about being open. Individuals should have the right to privacy, and governments should have a duty of publicity, as in an obligation to make things public. Saying something is sensitive information that should be classified solely to hide ones own mistakes should be grounds for immediate dismissal from any government employment.Quote from: Louis Brandeis

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 09:47:54 am
content: Well we definitely are witnesses of an era where secrets can no longer remain secrets, because individuals have the moral sense to share them among the public

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 09:51:27 am
content: Quote from: ampdoctor on July 04, 2014, 07:57:38 amSurely they didn't try hard enough? There has to be something that would make you punch a guy straight in the face. A punch was the best message possible to help the impertinent guy comprehend quickly: "stop that now". Yes all the politically correct shit is cool in theory, but in the real world this is a proven solution that works well...Do you really think any kind politically correct words from Buzz would have worked so well? I doubt it, the guy was clearly bullying him, is that the kind of person that attends to educated reasons? That's a well deserved punch, in my opinion.

author: kolonelkadat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 11:19:51 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 04, 2014, 07:10:24 amIn my country, (well, in my area of the country), the retard would be guilty of misdemeanor and Mr. Aldrin would be considered to have acted in self defense. Gotta love the 'fightin words' laws.QuoteIf you watch the full video, you can even see Mr. Aldrin try to escape from the retard's trap on several occasions, only to be corralled by the retard and his hired goons. To my eyes, that is enough to invoke self defense.Quote

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 12:00:21 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 04, 2014, 07:39:55 amIn my opinion,Doctor Aldrin's reaction was understandable after being "monstered" by this bloke,who clearly would not be discouraged by words.Obviously,the Authorities agreed!Most law enforcement regimes look very much askance at younger,larger,men who harass elderly gentlemen.

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2014, 01:13:14 pm
content: Quote from: cleaningOut on July 04, 2014, 01:08:47 pmAs a tiny dot of light?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 01:20:50 am
content: Quote from: ampdoctor on July 04, 2014, 07:57:38 amLudicrous comparisons. I won't dignify it with a response.QuoteOk, lets assume he did. Doesn't stop the guy coming up and doing exactly what he did anyway.Total non-sequitur to what happened.QuoteIt's not a "stressful situation" he saw coming and was somehow building up the rage to do.An 80 year old man was lured into a trap, cornered, no doubt startled, and physically towered over and verbally abused by someone he only then realised was stalking him?And you say it's not ok for him to hit the guy in heat of the moment/fear?Sorry, but I disagree.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 01:28:46 am
content: Quote from: Rigby on July 04, 2014, 08:20:50 amExample in point of a video that went viral, and it just so happens to be from the same high school that I went to:The poor fat kid had been picked on and teased for years by these other kids, and he finally had enough. He had every right to smash that little punk onto the ground.

author: electrophiliate
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 01:29:17 am
content: Pow right in the kisser! If Aldrin didn't punch Sibrel in the face back then, he would probably still be getting periodically harassed today by Sibrel.Conspiracy theories often give conspirators too much credit.I tend to suspect that governments are too incompetent to keep something so huge and public like that secret for over 40 years.Considering how many civilians were involved, someone would have talked by now (with real evidence).Did the USSR ever say "you lying bastards are faking it, we will do it for real!"? No, they conceded the race to the USA.The common reasons for doubting the moon landing fail hard.e.g. No stars in the background in photos on the moon? Photography 101.How does a moon landing denier explain the mirror on the moon which scientists use to bounce lasers off?Did it get there the same way as the (faked photo of) WW2 bomber on the moon?! Hehe.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 02:00:51 am
content: I think Aldrin had every right to punch the guy. He stalked him relentlessly, and then lured him to an event which was completely different to what he expected. Finally, he verbally insults Aldrin, and appears to physically threaten him.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 02:19:22 am
content: Quote from: Kjelt on July 04, 2014, 08:28:32 amWhat documents?Quote from: Kjelt on July 04, 2014, 08:28:32 amAre you surprised that some people do not accept something that is so obvious to you? I am sure people on the other side think the same about your. There are X billions people in the world and we come with different wirings and experiences.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 02:31:02 am
content: Quote from: Rigby on July 04, 2014, 08:41:35 am+1I'm a pacifist.But 15 years ago as I watched my younger(11 yr old) son get lower and lower in self-esteem, then not want to go to school, it was time to act.All the PC shit failed, teacher's would not care.So I schooled him on how to throw a decent punch(wrist straight, thumb outside his clenched fist) and gave him instruction on how to lure this bully away from his mates to somewhere private. He was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs that he might stuff it up and come off second best.He knew he had one shot and had to make it count.Well 3 days later we got a call from the school...... me lad had carried out the suggestions with stunning effect.He was suspended from school and we had a little chat with the HM.My boy has walked tall from that day forth, was never bullied again, has (to my knowledge) never had to fight again and the best bit, taught that little a-holethere are consequences for your actions.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 03:13:16 am
content: Quote from: tautech on July 05, 2014, 02:31:02 amWas the bully physical with him before this assault?Why do you call yourself pacifist if you advocate violence in certain situations? Isn't it a contradiction? Even non pacifist don't use violence most of the time.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 03:18:20 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 05, 2014, 01:28:46 amThis was on local TV here and is a good example IMO for justified use of violence (by the fat kid). Aldrin's case is different because the stalker was not physical with him. BTW, I learned about Aldrin's incident in this thread from your post and it reduced my appreciation of Aldrin.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 04:39:47 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 05, 2014, 03:13:16 amQ1. What do you think?My post was enough of an essay without the fine detail!I will add both the boys were similar skinny 11 yr olds.A re-read will reveal "his mates" meaning a gang of boys.Q2. Well, the school had a duty of care to protect my child and was failing!Explanation: refer to post.I had recommended to "turn a blind eye" or walk away, all attempts to defuse had failed.Could I have turned up in the school to sort it out, maybe but tensions would have remained.End result was as predicted.As the song goes: you have to know when to hold them, know when to fold them.....Q3. Of course it's a contradiction. OK call me a "peace loving person" instead.But this was about the welfare of my family, and that's different!We would all benefit from the lesson:there are consequences for your actionsand that is pertinent to most of the content in this thread.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 06:59:02 am
content: Quote from: cleaningOut on July 05, 2014, 04:44:46 amSibrel, is it you?

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 07:07:02 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 05, 2014, 06:59:02 amEdit: @cleaningOut, the info is at the OP on page one.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 08:06:35 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 05, 2014, 03:18:20 amSo what? There are many forms of non-physical abuse, that in some cases can be far worse than physical abuse. In this case, (years worth of) stalking, physical intimidation, verbal abuse, and continuing to harass and get in the Aldrin's face when he tried to walk away several times already.This is why the law sided with Aldrin, this is why we have stalking laws (at least in Oz), and this is why non-physical abuse is widely recognised as a huge problem facing society. Aldrin did the right andonlything remaining available to him to shut this guy up. It worked, and the law agreed.Aldrin also had every right to think that things could have escalated after already having tried to walk away several times in this incidentPut yourself in Aldrins shoes and its very likely you would have ultimately done the same thing as he did. And if you didn't, well congratulations for you, a lifetime worth of future stalking and the same shit over and over. Have fun with that.

author: bookaboo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 08:53:43 am
content: - He was followed and harassed repeatedly (in and out of a lobby)- Was polite and attempted to disengage- Larger guy in your face being aggressive despite a neutral 3rd party attempting to prevent him- Repeated and constant insults by someone not in control of their emotions.- Verbal warnings given and ignoredThe only thing Buzz did wrong here was to not follow up with a few more punches, solid right hand though

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 09:09:14 am
content: Quote from: bookaboo on July 05, 2014, 08:53:43 amPretty good for an 80yo!

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 09:41:20 am
content: Quote from: cleaningOut on July 05, 2014, 04:44:46 amsaturday july 26th aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in Alameda California (opposite side of the bay from san francisco)He is there for splashdown 45. The 45 th anniversary of the return on earth of the apollo mission.He will be signing books as well.I am going. I met Buzz 5 years ago for the 40th anniversary, we chatted a bit. People were following me afterwards wanting to know how i knew this guy.He was in the maldives in 2001 to do the ribbon cutting for a new deeps space comms groundstation. On his few extra days he was scubadiving .. And that's how we met.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 02:37:50 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on July 05, 2014, 09:41:20 amVince, can you buy a book and get Buzz to autograph it and send it to Dave?I am sure we could crowdfund the cost of a copy or two for that purpose. If so you can put out your Paypal address for the payment.I would love one, but better for Dave to get it.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 03:13:17 pm
content: My daughter was teaching school in Carnarvon WA last year.The previous year,her year 2/3 students went on an excursion to the Carnarvon Space Museum & met Buzz Aldrin who was visiting.The kids never stopped talking about it!Carnarvon played a big part in the Apollo missions,as there was a NASA tracking station there.The building later became the Transmitter site for Radio Australia,but after that,sadly,was demolished.The Space Museum is at the old OTC comms site next door.The OTC site was instrumental in allowing WA TV viewers to see the Moon Landings real time.(The East-West Microwave system was not yet completed at that time.)

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2014, 04:59:05 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on July 05, 2014, 02:37:50 pmOne book per person, and you have to be present to get it signed. The reason is that people flog these things on Ebay afterwards... That is why Buzz never signs anything anymore apart from these special events , and then only under the above rules.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2014, 09:20:54 am
content: Pity, wonder if we could crowdfund a airline return ticket for Dave to the USA to be there for a single day? He would be away for 3 in Aus, but most of the time would be spent in a 747 flying cattle class.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2014, 11:12:07 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on July 06, 2014, 09:20:54 amErr, yeah, you couldn't pay me to do that!Flying almost anywhere overseas from Australia is not pleasant.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2014, 11:18:31 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on July 05, 2014, 02:37:50 pmI'd rather have one of Alan Beans awesome paintings:http://www.alanbean.com/available_originals.cfmA surprise Mailbag item would be gladly accepted

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2014, 11:26:41 am
content: Even better, he accepts commissions:http://www.alanbean.com/commission_painting.cfmThe $210 perk could be that a real moonwalker would write your name on the back in 1 square inch!

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2014, 04:14:45 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 06, 2014, 11:18:31 amLooks like commercialized kitsch to me:His early works are more authentic:I worked once with an Astronaut. Not a moon walker but a real astronaut that was in space. He was one of the nicest and humble guys I know. Once at lunch somebody asked him how he became and astronaut and his answer was 'I applied'.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2014, 12:24:32 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 06, 2014, 11:12:07 amNext time try a knee defender ;-)http://www.gadgetduck.com/goods/kneedefender.html

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 07, 2014, 12:38:29 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 06, 2014, 04:14:45 pmThe great thing about being an artist is that you can do whatever you want to do and not give a toss what other people thinkHere he is in his shop. He gave up flying the shuttle to be a full time artist

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2014, 01:03:39 am
content: Bean, the lightning guy,A really interesting group of people.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 07, 2014, 01:12:45 am
content: Quote from: pickle9000 on July 07, 2014, 01:03:39 amThere was probably only one person in the world who knew what SCE to AUX was:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_AaronAnd only one guy in the capsule who happened to know were the SCE switch was!

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2014, 06:04:16 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 07, 2014, 12:38:29 amUnless if you take $30,240 per square feet pre orders ;-) It's sad that these heroic figures are commercialized this way but I guess they also need to make a buck.BTW, I am not a moon walker but took once a Zero G flight and experienced also moon gravity. You lay on your tummy, do pushup with one hand and stand. Pretty neat.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 07, 2014, 06:44:44 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 07, 2014, 06:04:16 amHe'd be lucky to get a couple a year.It's not sad, he's found a way to make a living doing what he loves, well into his retirement too.You'd be a fool to not make use of your name for being lucky and brave enough to be one of twelve moonwalkers.Making art is also a way of continuing to share his unique experience using a medium no other human has or is capable of doing.I give him huge props for dropping out of the Shuttle program to make a go of art full time.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2014, 05:36:25 pm
content: Quote from: cleaningOut on July 07, 2014, 06:46:26 amIf they find qualified employees at this price than this is a fair market value. Apparently there is a great demand for those positions.

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2014, 07:41:57 pm
content: Most astronauts are still in the military, which means they are paid according to their pay grade.It's not free-market pricing, it's determined by pay grade + years of service.Civilian astronaut wages are not disclosed, not publicly, anyway. Probably because they're very low or very high.http://www.universetoday.com/41252/astronaut-salary/

author: corrado33
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 02:41:56 pm
content: I would love to talk to any of the moonwalkers, especially "Jack" Schmitt. As a scientist myself I would love to talk to him about his time up there. Even the non scientist astronauts had a bit of knowledge of geology (at least the later ones did). Aldrin and Armstrong didn't really have the best scientific method for collecting samples. You should read about the process they made the later moonwalkers go through to collect samples. Multiple pictures with something for reference before and after they moved the rock, must have taken forever. But then again, they had the rovers.Anyway, not to derail the thread further, but I think there is a time for "violence". People today are way too uptight and PC. As soon as their precious child gets touched (slapped, punched, pushed) by another child they call in the freaking calvary. I support what Aldrin did as well as what one of the previous posters did in this thread. Teach your kids to take care of themselves and there would be much less bullying in schools today (as well as much more confident children). Certainly less "verbal bullying" and "cyber bullying," (which prey on low self esteem children) which schools are terrible at enforcing rules for anyway. There are times when a person has to stick up for themselves instead of running for mommy and daddy. A quick punch can end a conflict much faster than weeks of arguing by parents and administrators. I got in a few fistfights when I was younger to no ill effect.What happened to the days when parents went and talked to other parents instead of using school resources to settle disputes between their children?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 03:18:37 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 06, 2014, 11:18:31 ammeh; it's just novelty art! ;-)

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2014, 09:29:48 am
content: Mission accomplished...

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2014, 09:32:55 am
content: Well done Vincent!

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2014, 06:21:12 pm
content: It was a fun event. I managed to get up in front since I can still pass as a child. I got most of the speech recorded as well as a signed copy of the book!

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2014, 06:48:21 pm
content: so you were like 3 rows away from me. I was standing left of him next to the hangar door under all the mission badges.I've known Buzz since 2001. I was scubadiving in the Maldives. I got pictures of him underwater. Ace diver.I was on the hornet 5 years ago for Splashdown 40 as well.another 5 years and it will be the big one. ( that's what Buzz says )He was funny. [dramatic voice] Dr Rendez-vous.. and the location location location joke.he showed up for 2 seconds first for a teleprompter check and the entire crowd went nuts. when he came back 5 minutes later the crowd went wild again. The story of the mission unrolling was very interesting. Since you recorded the speech you should post it.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2014, 07:09:13 pm
content: images from splashdown 40 , 5 years ago

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2014, 07:26:55 pm
content: He wears more jewelry than Elton John. Are these some Nasa ring and bracelet?

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2014, 08:59:04 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on July 27, 2014, 06:48:21 pmHe's quite a character. I will post the speech onto YouTube. My camera crapped out in the middle (I was holding up the Canon up front) and I had to change battery and memory cards so some of the speech is missing.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2014, 09:37:30 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on July 27, 2014, 07:26:55 pmprobably his MIT ring and a NASA ring . he wears two watches. the bracelet i don;t know. I know he used to be an alcoholic ( he explained that in his previous book) and has been sober for like 30 years now. That bracelet probably has a meaning.Don't make fun of the guy. None of us stand a chance walking in his footsteps... literally and figuratively.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2014, 10:15:40 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on July 27, 2014, 09:37:30 pmYes, he did heroic things but don't make him a god either. He looks very dandy in that picture.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2014, 11:07:04 pm
content: Quote from: echen1024 on July 27, 2014, 06:21:12 pmGoing to share the video?I can host it on the EEVblog2 channel if you like.Great pics BTW, worth putting those on Wikimedia Commons.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2014, 01:59:59 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 27, 2014, 11:07:04 pmYea, I definitely will. I'll post it onto YouTube, and you can put it on EEVBlog2 if you like.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2014, 04:21:55 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 27, 2014, 10:15:40 pmwell, he is 84 years young ...

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2014, 04:53:38 am
content: Only 3 years younger than my mother, and looks a lot more chipper.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2014, 06:41:50 am
content: I have heard that people who have looked down on the earth from orbit, or even sub orbit no longer have the capacity to understand how petty we really are. It was once said if everybody on earth had that experience, and knew exactly what it took to get up there, we would all understand each other. Many people would probably freak out though by being forced to understand how insignificant we all really are in the grand scheme of existence, but buzz and a few others have the perspective of being able to hide the entirety of humanity behind their thumb.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2014, 03:49:16 pm
content: Quote from: calexanian on July 28, 2014, 06:41:50 amWith the exception of The Diaper Astronauthttp://www.denverpost.com/sitemap/ci_5167528;-)

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2014, 04:25:42 pm
content: she wasn't wearing diapers, though. there were adult space diapers in the trunk of the car, and she wasn't wearing them when caught...somehow to the press this means she wears diapers... makes for good headlines, i guess. too bad the "diaper wearing" part isn't true, at least not as far as the incident in question is concerned. All astronauts wear diapers in space, I believe, so it's true in that respect, I guess.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2014, 07:18:11 pm
content: Quote from: Rigby on July 28, 2014, 04:25:42 pmIs this a known fact or a claim by her or her lawyer?Wikipedia: "Early police reports indicated she wore space diapers during the trip, but she later denied wearing them".

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2014, 03:45:15 am
content: My understanding is that the police believed her to be wearing them, and that when the police saw them in the trunk, they asked if she wore them. Being astronaut diapers and her being an astronaut, she said yes. The police took that to mean that she was currently wearing one.That's what I heard at the time. I have no clue what is true.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2014, 04:44:38 am
content: I'm in Seattle now, and the internet is dog slow at my rental. I will post it overnight when im back in CA, even though in interwebs speed isn't all that much better (0.3Mbps up)

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2014, 04:55:35 am
content: Quote from: Rigby on August 01, 2014, 03:45:15 amI wonder if Buzz Aldrin wear diapers when he strolled the moon. This could be an awesome piece of memorabilia.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2014, 05:56:44 am
content: he was the first guy to pee on the moon.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2014, 06:52:51 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on August 01, 2014, 05:56:44 amOr was it on his leg?It explains the traces of water on the moonhttp://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/may/09/traces-water-moon-earth-study

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2014, 07:12:33 pm
content: You do know water is pretty much the third most common thing in the universe aside from Hydrogen and Helium. Then you get iron, which is pretty much what most stars will end up made from if they do not blow themselves up at end of main sequence. You might have some made from more exotic forms of matter, but those will be rare. Smaller stars might be mostly made up of carbon with an iron core when they finally stop fusing, with an atmosphere of water and helium on top.