David S. F. Portree, writing for Wired, tells the story of how Neil Armstrong’s lunar descent was almost aborted.

Apollo 11′s flight plan called for Armstrong to let the computer do the flying until Eagle was about 500 feet above the moon and 2000 feet east of the touchdown point. He would then take manual control and descend almost vertically to the surface. The veteran civilian test-pilot quickly realized, however, that Eagle‘s computer was steering it toward a boulder-strewn crater the size of a football field. This was later identified as West Crater, located at the far western limit of the Site 2 ellipse.

I found the details of how exactly the abort – remember, this is 1969 – would have gone down.

If an abort were initiated, then the LM’s descent stage engine would shut down. Nearly simultaneously, four explosive bolts linking the descent stage with the ascent stage would fire. A fifth pyrotechnic device would drive a guillotine that would cut the wiring umbilical linking the two stages. The ascent stage engine would then ignite to propel the astronauts toward lunar orbit. The abandoned descent stage meanwhile, would fall to the lunar surface.

(via my tumblr)

(via my tumblr)

I admit that I normally take 2-3 paper towels, but not anymore. Shake. Fold. Done.

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Here are the boys on Letterman last night playing their new song Roadie:

Also, if you’re not familiar, listen to The D’s original album Tenacious D. (One thing – all of these albums are absolutely filthy.)

(via my tumblr)

(via my tumblr)

(via my tumblr)

Old Jews Telling Jokes is my new obsession and this one from Norman Stiles (who wrote for Sesame Street and has eight Emmys) seems to be the best of the best. It’s called: Sperm Bank.

This episode of The Golden Girls aired on January 12, 1991. Over twenty years ago.

(thx, RSM)

– Seth Rogen