• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

T R E 4 5 O N

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Consistently wrong since 2002

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

Mobile Menu

  • Winnable House Races
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Balloon Juice 2023 Pet Calendar (coming soon)
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • War in Ukraine
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • 2021-22 Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Nature & Respite / Respite Open Thread: Well, This Probably Won’t End Well

Respite Open Thread: Well, This Probably Won’t End Well

by TaMara|  August 6, 201910:45 pm| 45 Comments

This post is in: Nature & Respite, Something Good Open Thread, WTF?

FacebookTweetEmail

So…this happened:

From the realm of seriously, you can't make this stuff up! Crashed Spacecraft Spilled Tardigrades on the Moon | WIRED https://t.co/ZTOSJFIvfb

— Neil Gemmell (@ProfGemmell) August 7, 2019

Next time you make a mistake in lab, just remember: at least you didn't spill Tardigrades on the moon.

— Susanna L Harris (@SusannaLHarris) August 7, 2019

Tardigrades on the Moon – great band name.

So…let’s recap. A craft carrying Tardigrades AND human DNA crashes on the moon. Nothing to see here, I’m sure they all perished on impact…right? RIGHT?

Sounds like the logline for a great Scifi movie…or the future invasion of earth.

Respite open thread

 

 

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « My Brother’s Kittens Update and Bruised Peaches
Next Post: Late Night Open Thread: An Armed Society Is A Polite Society! »

Reader Interactions

45Comments

  1. 1.

    laura

    August 6, 2019 at 10:53 pm

    Something something Morlocks. . . . .
    I dread this Elon Musk remake.

  2. 2.

    A Ghost To Most

    August 6, 2019 at 10:57 pm

    I for one welcome our new moon tardigrade overlords.

  3. 3.

    Adam L Silverman

    August 6, 2019 at 10:59 pm

    Since TaMara isn’t going to include this, I will:

  4. 4.

    TaMara (HFG)

    August 6, 2019 at 11:05 pm

    @Adam L Silverman: Ok, I laughed.

  5. 5.

    Adam L Silverman

    August 6, 2019 at 11:05 pm

    @TaMara (HFG): This is pretty much obligatory whenever writing about the Israeli space program.

  6. 6.

    sm*t cl*de

    August 6, 2019 at 11:08 pm

    Sounds like the logline for a great Scifi movie…or the future invasion of earth.

    “When the ship’s crew recover a crashed Soviet spacecraft entombed in a block of ice that is infected with alien Tardigrades, they are attacked by shapeshifting alien monsters.”
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbinger_Down

  7. 7.

    Jeffro

    August 6, 2019 at 11:09 pm

    Since this is an Open Thread…

    I think it’s interesting that both Joe Scarborough and Joaquin Castro (no, not the Castro brother running for president) both went big in the past 24 hours trying to list/shame trumpov 2020 donors. They noted the corporations/rich folks/San Antonio-area donors who were getting on board with trumpov 2020 and noted that said donors were essentially supporting white supremacy and its attendant violence. GOOD.

    Naturally, the GOP is flipping out about this, with clowns like Cornyn and McCarthy saying it’s “targeting” their supporters for “retaliation” and “violence”. (Yes, really!). I mean, it’s no hit list of abortion providers or billboard with ‘The Squad’ in the crosshairs but hey…

    Interesting how this hits a real sore spot for them, doesn’t it? Kinda hard to prop up a minority government when the funds ain’t there…what are they going to do, door-knock for volunteers and donations?

    I wonder if D folks are starting to learn how to do this here politics thing…

  8. 8.

    mrmoshpotato

    August 6, 2019 at 11:13 pm

    Tardigrades on the Moon? It’s no Whalers on the Moon.

  9. 9.

    Cheryl Rofer

    August 6, 2019 at 11:13 pm

    Tardigrades are adorable. Most likely, they will go into their inactive state and will be recovered by some future Moon astronauts (lunanauts?).

  10. 10.

    BruceFromOhio

    August 6, 2019 at 11:22 pm

    @A Ghost To Most: was coming in here to offer that, nicely done.

  11. 11.

    Jay

    August 6, 2019 at 11:37 pm

    Sad to see so many San Antonians as 2019 maximum donors to Donald Trump — the owner of ⁦@BillMillerBarBQ⁩, owner of the ⁦@HistoricPearl, realtor Phyllis Browning, etc⁩. Their contributions are fueling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as ‘invaders.’ pic.twitter.com/YT85IBF19u— Joaquin Castro (@Castro4Congress) August 6, 2019

  12. 12.

    Frankensteinbeck

    August 6, 2019 at 11:40 pm

    @Cheryl Rofer:
    As I suspect you know, they can’t last more than a few days (that they can last a few days is insane) in those conditions. But wouldn’t that be the most heartwarming thing?

  13. 13.

    Chetan Murthy

    August 6, 2019 at 11:41 pm

    @Jay: What I found surprising was that Scarborough is also calling this out: Scarborough Issues Warning To Trump 2020 Donors ‘Funding’ White Supremacy

    “For those of you funding Donald Trump’s reelection campaign, you may want to take note: Because you keep writing checks to this president, it’s on you,” he said. “It really is, it’s all on you because you are funding this white supremacist campaign, CEOs. You really are. Business people, millionaires and billionaires, it’s your money that is funding this white supremacy because you won’t tell him to stop.”

    For sure, Castro’s great, and I’m glad he’s doing this. But it’s somewhat of a “dog bites man” story. Scarborough, though — that’s a “man bites dog” story, I think. And that’s surprising.

    I wonder if Mika convinced him to take this step — I have *some* difficulty imagining him doing this all on his own.

  14. 14.

    Jay

    August 6, 2019 at 11:48 pm

    Acclaimed playwright and culturalist Stephen Chifunyise has passed away. ?? https://t.co/b9x5gaaHkD— OkayAfrica (@OkayAfrica) August 6, 2019

  15. 15.

    Jay

    August 6, 2019 at 11:49 pm

    @Chetan Murthy:

    Hard to say, Gilroy to Dayton has shocked a lot of people out of being quite so numb.

  16. 16.

    HalfAssedHomesteader

    August 6, 2019 at 11:51 pm

    @Jay: The nice part is if the rethugs tried to retaliate in kind I’d be like, “Oh yeah, totally gave to Warren. My only regret is I can’t give more.”

  17. 17.

    Jay

    August 6, 2019 at 11:52 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    They were cryofrozen, so as long as the container wasn’t breached, they will remain in hibernation.

    They are also the greatest extremophile on the planet, are known for colonizing new environments, and now have access to human DNA with which to build a Zombie army.

  18. 18.

    LunarG

    August 6, 2019 at 11:59 pm

    The Moon is the Promised Land for the Chosen Tardigrades? Well, if you say so

  19. 19.

    Baud

    August 7, 2019 at 12:00 am

    Baud!/Tardigrade! 2020!

  20. 20.

    jl

    August 7, 2019 at 12:00 am

    ” They are also the greatest extremophile on the planet, are known for colonizing new environments, and now have access to human DNA with which to build a Zombie army. ”

    Damn straight. I been saying for a while the future belongs to the tardigrads (though I call them water bears).
    Go tardigrades, go!

    What I wonder is, after global warming wipes out humans, and the tardigrades take over here, what will happen when the moon tardigrades meet the earth tardigrades?

  21. 21.

    Jay

    August 7, 2019 at 12:04 am

    @jl:

    Interracial marriage and full LGTBQ rights.

  22. 22.

    kindness

    August 7, 2019 at 12:04 am

    Duh Oh! I clicked the link to the crashed lander and found I used 1 of my 3 free Wired articles for the month. Then in that piece I clicked a link and ended up using my 2nd free article all for the one paragraph I wanted explained more. I don’t really read Wired all that much but am bummed losing my ability to do so this early in a month.

  23. 23.

    Jay

    August 7, 2019 at 12:07 am

    @kindness:

    Just clear your browser.

  24. 24.

    hells littlest angel

    August 7, 2019 at 12:09 am

    If I had to pick one Earth lifeform that might survive on the Moon, it would be the tardigrade.

  25. 25.

    Mary G

    August 7, 2019 at 12:09 am

    I had no idea what tardigrades are and they are fascinating. Some were frozen and forgotten for 30 years, once thawed they were fine. They are thought to have survived all four major extinction events on earth. So we know who will be on earth after we humans kill ourselves off ignoring climate change.

  26. 26.

    Jay Noble

    August 7, 2019 at 12:11 am

    Umm . . . Star Trek: Discovery is embroiled in a big plagiarism case over tardigrades. Maybe this incident is how they get their space faring powers???

  27. 27.

    Jay

    August 7, 2019 at 12:13 am

    Here it is.This site is owned/run by a leading GOP digital operative. He runs systems on servers physically located in Russia, and advertised it.Mitch McConnell is a client. Ben Carson is a client. Gingrich is a client. And many more.Tell the world.@fbi @fbi @fbi pic.twitter.com/B3cysInrsJ— Chris Vickery (@VickerySec) August 5, 2019

  28. 28.

    kindness

    August 7, 2019 at 12:15 am

    @Jay: Yea I know. Just don’t have to do that too much. Usually the only one that gives me problems is the NY Times. The Maddowblog links to them all the time and I forget to check where the link goes before hitting it. I think they give us 10. Nothing against Wired, just don’t really care to subscribe. The NYT on the other hand. Not one thin dime.

  29. 29.

    Jay

    August 7, 2019 at 12:26 am

    everyone: remember, if they have one, to cancel your parents new york times subscriptions when you go back home for the holidays this year https://t.co/H2yJqMwod2— BAKOON (@BAKKOOONN) August 7, 2019

  30. 30.

    Jay

    August 7, 2019 at 12:31 am

    gun girl getting robbed deserved a happier news cycle than the one it got. feel good story of the year— Lauren (@LLW902) August 5, 2019

  31. 31.

    Ladyraxterinok

    August 7, 2019 at 12:38 am

    @Jay: I’m lost. What is the context? Significance?

  32. 32.

    prostratedragon

    August 7, 2019 at 12:55 am

    @jl: Are you ready for some football?!!

  33. 33.

    Aaron

    August 7, 2019 at 1:21 am

    Tardigrades? In space? Ummm Star Trek: Discovery anyone?

  34. 34.

    Paul T

    August 7, 2019 at 1:33 am

    In a couple hundred years, when the Moon is a hellhole of whatever a Tardigrade is, the Woke World of 2525 will blame Neil Armstrong because he got there first and ruined it forever.

  35. 35.

    oatler.

    August 7, 2019 at 2:33 am

    @Paul T: The Moon is, like, really a harsh mistress.

  36. 36.

    sukabi

    August 7, 2019 at 2:39 am

    @Jay: think this is the list they’re worried will get out…

    https://twitter.com/Mr_Electrico/status/1158941402157453313?s=20

  37. 37.

    sukabi

    August 7, 2019 at 2:41 am

    @Paul T: well yeah, they left a bunch of shit up there.

  38. 38.

    J R in WV

    August 7, 2019 at 3:17 am

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    Tardigrades are adorable. Most likely, they will go into their inactive state and will be recovered by some future Moon astronauts (lunanauts?) Lunatics!

    I too fine Tardigades amazing… hope they become well established and evolve to use lunar sun for energy.

    Why was any of the biological material on the spacecraft??

  39. 39.

    Amir Khalid

    August 7, 2019 at 3:50 am

    @prostratedragon:
    The English Premier League 2019/20 season starts Friday night: Liverpool vs Norwich City at Anfield. You’ll Never Walk Alone!

  40. 40.

    Jason Consolidation

    August 7, 2019 at 4:56 am

    @Jeffro: I really believe they are and almost nobody believes me!

  41. 41.

    daveNYC

    August 7, 2019 at 5:50 am

    I remember some articles worrying about private spacecraft possibly contaminating other planets (I think there was even some worry that Musk’s Tesla hadn’t been properly sterilized) and now it turns out that the Israelis just up and launched a pile of actual lifeforms and some DNA at the moon.

  42. 42.

    J R in WV

    August 7, 2019 at 6:25 am

    @J R in WV:

    OK, Now I’ve read the article, all part of a documentation scheme.

    Poor tardigraves, used for someone’s scheme without their consent!

  43. 43.

    low-tech cyclist

    August 7, 2019 at 7:57 am

    ‘Beresheet’ is of course the transliteration of the first word of Genesis in the original Hebrew; it means “In the beginning.”

    Genesis on the moon, folks! This was the plan all along, I betcha – start new life from tardigrades and human DNA, roll the dice and let God take care of the rest, amirite?

  44. 44.

    stardus614

    August 7, 2019 at 10:24 am

    I knew it. There is life on the moon.

  45. 45.

    TomatoQueen

    August 7, 2019 at 11:04 am

    @Amir Khalid: So it does. Meanwhile TOON’s boycott of Arsenal on Sunday appears to be fizzling, as the secret signings continue to be revealed, Rafa sends us forlorn yet gracious long goodbyes, but there are a substantial number of unrenewed season tickets available. I can’t figure out how an overseas fan participates beyond hashtags, but Howay the Lads and #AshleyOut!

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

Fundraising 2023-24

Wis*Dems Supreme Court + SD-8

Recent Comments

  • H.E.Wolf on What Happens Next? What Does the Future Hold? (Mar 26, 2023 @ 2:28pm)
  • Omnes Omnibus on Walter’s Fund – Calendars – Pet Postcards (Open Thread) (Mar 26, 2023 @ 2:28pm)
  • James E Powell on What Happens Next? What Does the Future Hold? (Mar 26, 2023 @ 2:28pm)
  • raven on Walter’s Fund – Calendars – Pet Postcards (Open Thread) (Mar 26, 2023 @ 2:27pm)
  • NotMax on What Happens Next? What Does the Future Hold? (Mar 26, 2023 @ 2:25pm)

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
We All Need A Little Kindness
Classified Documents: A Primer
State & Local Elections Discussion

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)

Twitter / Spoutible

Balloon Juice (Spoutible)
WaterGirl (Spoutible)
TaMara (Spoutible)
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
TaMara
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
ActualCitizensUnited

Join the Fight!

Join the Fight Signup Form
All Join the Fight Posts

Balloon Juice Events

5/14  The Apocalypse
5/20  Home Away from Home
5/29  We’re Back, Baby
7/21  Merging!

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!