Mar 4, 2025Watch Firefly land on the Moon! After identifying surface hazards and selecting a safe landing site, Blue Ghost landed directly over the target in Mare Crisium. Our Ghost Riders have since downlinked our landing footage for the world to see — a historic moment on March 2 we’ll never forget. We have Moon dust on our boots!
Well, I have clearly been out of the loop because, until yesterday, I had no idea any of this was going. I saw a quick blurb about Firefly Aerospace was going to attempt a landing, and I was like, who? what?
If you want to know more, here is their website: Firefly Aerospace, and a lot more videos here.
***
For about six weeks in the gloom of late winter, I listen to Zydeco music, awaiting spring. So here’s a bit of a musical interlude, too
Consider this a late-night distraction so you can sleep thread. Maybe talk about other good news?
War for Ukraine Day 1,104: Another Night of Drone Storms
Layer8Problem
Thank you, TaMara!
cain
The only firefly I know is this one! Browncoats assemble!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_(TV_series)
YY_Sima Qian
IIRC, this is the 4th organization, after NASA, the USSR’s Luna program, & CSA (Chinese Space Agency), to successfully soft land a spacecraft on the moon.
prostratedragon
From another Carnaval, Medley from Black Orpheus, arranged and performed by Bola Sete. Orpheus loses his beloved during Carnaval in Rio, and goes to the underworld to bring her back.
mvr
That’s a nice record. This is the first time I think I have heard that one.
Many years ago I used to go to Jazz fest in NOLA for the first weekend where the bands tended towards the local genres & figures. I remember one morning in one of the small tents with Allan Toussaint giving a demonstration of different styles of New Orleans Piano. And an evening show with David Bartholomew’s band backing I want to say Fats Domino. This record reminds me a bit of that. I wound up liking Zachary Richard who was a Zydeco artist and going to see him a couple of times in New York as a result. These were wonderful events and I hope to get there again some day.
NotMax
Brought up and linked to in multiple previous comment threads.
WTFGhost
Ooooh, yeah, other good news! Like, I hear-tell there’s some *fine* weather around this great country of ours (not sure if it’s where any Jackals are living, nor whether they are in this country of ours, or in another country, which is okay, I mean, it’s not like I’d get overly wordy because I feel all awkward with at least one FPer posting from the UK, and all), and, OMG, that local sports team is *on fire*, for some local sports team that is doing well, or in need of extinguishing. And… oh, you meant, like, actual news.
Um. (picks up pieces of paper, throws them away, where they fly away quickly and make amusing “fwit!” noises) “No, that’s only good news to the torturers and Donald Trump; no, that’s only good news to the fraudsters, and Donald Trump. No, that’s only good news to the “let ’em die!” caucus and, you guessed it, Donald Trump.”
Um. Sorry. I tried.
NotMax
@prostratedragon
Obligatory Gilberto Gil.
Bonus Carmen Miranda.
;)
Gloria DryGarden
I had absolutely no idea this was going on. Wow. This is very exciting, somehow, and inexplicably moving. My jaw has been dropped for half an hour while I perused firefly’s website.
that’s a very pretty lander, too. At least as beautiful as some of the dresses worn to the Oscars Sunday.
It’s so sweet to be filled with wonder for a time.
Gloria DryGarden
I forgot how much I like zydeco music. Impossible not to dance to, even sitting down. I think I’ll create a pandora station just for zydeco, so I can rock out, even if I’m being blue and lazy. Thanks!
prostratedragon
@NotMax:
They are always obligatory!
“Madalena,” Gil
“Magdalena,” Macedo and Moret
JaySinWA
Goodish news maybe?
I’ve been meaning to replenish my emergency rations, I had been working through old stuff, but hadn’t been buying replacements. The trade war threats got me out to pick up some canned vegetables, meat, and seafood before things get scarce. I prefer canned goods for long term storage in relatively convenient sizes without the need to add water.
It’s quite possible that this threat will blow over in the next few hours, days or weeks like a fart in the wind, with T. declaring meaningless victory. But I feel better prepared for whatever comes whether it’s a natural or political-economic disaster.
NotMax
@prostratedragon
A. shall we say, paler version of South American Way.
(Unfortunately a tad too easy to mishear “jewel” as “Jew.”)
;)
prostratedragon
@JaySinWA: Every time I try to eat my stuff down they pull me back to ordering more!
prostratedragon
@NotMax: Yipes! See what you mean by that soft “el.” But pleasant anyway.
NotMax
@prostratedragon
Me likey.
thruppence
I was going to comment about something else, but I’m older, and I’ve learned that it is often better to keep my mouth (and keyboard) shut. Hope everyone had a good Mardi Gras.
NotMax
@thruppence
Apparently heavy rains in NOLA.
Shalimar
@NotMax: It poured for 4-5 hours in Mobile, but they started the last parade an hour early to get it done before the storm.
TBone
WuTang Is For The Children (with video)
https://bsky.app/profile/wutangforchildren.bsky.social/post/3ljlyklq2zs2h
TBone
@TBone: also WuTang with video
https://bsky.app/profile/wutangforchildren.bsky.social/post/3ljjejd4n7k2w
TBone
Not sure it’s good, but it’s certainly news…
BlackRock on Tuesday announced the purchase of the ports at the Panama Canal that President Donald Trump raised security concerns regarding their connections to China.
BlackRock announced the $22.8 billion deal with CK Hutchison’s subsidiary Hutchison Port Holdings, which will see the firm acquire the Panama ports of Cristobal and Balboa, which are located at the Atlantic and Pacific ends of the canal, respectively. It will also acquire Hutchison’s controlling interest in 43 ports in 23 other countries.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/blackrock-inks-23b-deal-for-panama-canal-ports/ar-AA1Af6Tb
The world’s largest asset manager will partner with Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) to operate the ports in concert with the BlackRock subsidiary Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
“This agreement is a powerful illustration of BlackRock and GIP’s combined platform and our ability to deliver differentiated investments for clients,” BlackRock chairman and CEO Larry Fink said. “These world-class ports facilitate global growth. Through our deep connectivity to organizations like Hutchison and MSC/TIL and governments around the world, we are increasingly the first call for partners seeking patient, long-term capital. We are thrilled our clients can participate in this investment.”
Betty Cracker
The line of storms that disrupted Mardi Gras is heading our way later today, and the tree frogs know it! Thousands of them singing right now.
Via YouTube, the Balfa Bros classic: La Danse de Mardi Gras.
sab
@Betty Cracker: I was going to go to work today ( Tax season!!!) but I decided I am too old to drive with Medina County Ohio crazies in the pouring rain. Not mild rain. Severe rain.
I can make the time up later. I have lots of stuff to do at home.
My husband took his best friend to colonoscopy yesterday. Then he came home and our house also had a colonoscopy ( camera down looking at the plumbing. Looking for why are things backing up.)
Plumber not doctor but basically the same. Camera down the tube.
ETA: Friend and house came out as all clear.
Betty Cracker
@sab: Good results!
sab
@Betty Cracker:Yes so much!!!
The house was fixable no matter what. BFF not so much. So both good. I admit I trust the doctors more than the house guys. Just this time.
YY_Sima Qian
@TBone: Li Ka Shing made bank w/ the sale, US$23B is higher than the market cap of his entire conglomerate. Getting out of Trump’s cross-hairs? So much the better.
Whether the ports will remain well run under BlackRock, we shall see. CK Hutchinson never did give Chinese shipping lines preference, Li being the quintessential capitalist plutocrat. I doubt the ports under BlackRock will disadvantage Chinese shipping lines.
As I wrote in the other thread, this development will not reduce the hyperventilation by US China Hawks who sees a PLA Navy base & PLA Rocket Force staging ground in every PRC (including HK) owned civilian port in any part of the world.
WereBear
Baron at WaPo said Bezos is caving to Trump because he fears him.
And why? Isn’t he too rich to let this happen?
Perhais this is fear of Trump because he can send someone who DOES scare you.
Losing money will motivate most corporations. But these slaphappy boy-kings need to fear us in other, but legal, ways.
Baud
@YY_Sima Qian:
I saw an article about this sale and it said that Blackrock runs about
70ports around the world. I can’t speak to his well they’re run, but this is something they do.ETA got my number wrong
YY_Sima Qian
@Baud: BlackRock is just your Wall Street investment firm looking to make a quick buck. The consortium partner MSC/TIL is the experienced port operator.
lowtechcyclist
@cain:
When this was mentioned in one of yesterday’s threads, “you can’t take the sky from me” was my immediate response.
I’ve got a T-shirt with Mal’s quote, “May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.” Appropriate these days.
NotMax
Hm. Internet went out from about 12:15 – 1:15 a.m.
Heckuva time to switch out the hamsters.
;)
Trivia Man
@JaySinWA: i am helping mom prepare to move this week, her food storage is extensive. As a devout Mormon now in her 90’s, she was diligent.
but she is moving in with my sister across the country and she already has storage. (She used to own a prepper supply store)
The highlight is 30 sealed metal cans of Hard Red Wheat. About 30# each.
cope
@Betty Cracker: The Balfa Brothers used to visit my small Illinois college when I was a student there. Their concerts were great but I really lucked out when I got invited to an after concert house party where they were staying. The Sun was rising when I finally staggered back to my dorm room.
Tenar Arha
@Trivia Man: Wow. That’s a lot of wheat. I don’t know what you’d do with that much all at once. Sell, donate ?