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alas, it seems that spirit is stuck in a ditch. another wheel gave out and operators gave up trying to move it; instead focusing on how to keep the rover alive and doing research.

it is worth remember that, at mission outset, NASA was hoping the rovers would last for 90 days. that was 6 years ago. really, this has to have been one of the most successful NASA missions ever. even stuck, if spirit can get a charge from its solar panels, it can keep studying the spot it is in. if you’re wonder what these bots have been up to, head here for the latest.

UPDATE: awwww…poor spirit. let’s go pick him up.

particularly your dumping of tons of snow in arizona (and yes, i know it’s northern arizona, mountainous and thus snowy, but still…arizona!) but hitting CT with near record warmth and a bunch of rain.  it should not be anywhere near 60° in january.  ever.

 UPDATE:

seems the weather gods were moderately pleased with my sacrifice.  alas, i am out of goats.

coffee is a beautiful thing.

in the abstract, i knew there was a “loquacious” switch located somewhere within the toddler brain.  still, the actual flicking of that switch to on is quite an experience.  in other words, macduff has undergone the change from stoic and (mostly) silent to a proper chatterbox.  quite entertaining actually and good that he’s finally able to speak his mind, feverishly racing though it be.

 all this is to say that i now know there is a dinosaur in the downstairs bathroom.  you can hear him when the heat kicks on.

 oh, christmas photos!  soon (er, eventually).  also, new washer and dryer!  hooray for appliances!

two weeks out of pocket:  blissful, but now, sadly ended.  in a just world, i’d be helping dinosaurs attack a train, instead of sitting in front of this damn screen.