Chris Penn, Actor in Films, Is Dead at 40!

Posted on January 27th, 2006 by Richard Catto 1,269 views

Chris Penn, Actor in Films, Is Dead at 40 – New York Times

I’m in shock! I can’t believe this! Chris Penn was found dead on Tuesday, January 24 2006 in his bed at home in Santa Monica.

I especially remember him from the film, Reservoir dogs, in which he played Nice Guy Eddie.

This quote comes from the link below:

Nice Guy Eddie: Did you see that daddy? Guy got me on the ground and he tried to fuck me.

Mr. Blonde: You wish.

Nice Guy Eddie: Listen Vic, I don’t mind what you do, but don’t try to fuck me in my father’s office, I don’t think of you that way. I like you a lot man, but I don’t think of you that way.

Mr. Blonde: Eddie, if I was a butt cowboy, I wouldn’t even throw you to the posse.

Nice Guy Eddie: Of course not, you’d keep me for yourself, you sick bastard. Four years of fuckin’ punks up the ass you’d appreciate a piece of prime rib when you see one.

Rest in Peace, Chris. You were a great actor, one of the best of our generation, and I will miss you.

Chris Penn links:
Chris Penn’s bio at IMDB.com
Memorable quotes from Reservoir dogs

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New ION drive may take us to Mars and back, perhaps to the Stars!

Posted on January 24th, 2006 by Richard Catto 1,351 views

The ESA (European Space Agency) in The Netherlands has developed a new ION drive prototype that is 10 times more efficient than the current design. It is also 4 times faster than a newer prototype.

So how do ION drives work? Well essentially, they accelerate a stream of (positively charged) ions which exit the rear of the ION drive. At that point, Newton’s Third Law of Motion kicks in (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction). The stream of accelerated matter going out the back produces thrust which propels the spacecraft forward.

Unlike conventional rocket engines, ION drives keep up that thrust, and you get a slow and steady acceleration over time which makes the spacecraft really shunt!

So how do you get those ions to play ball and speed out the back? Well, the prototypes use electrical grids with varying voltages. The original ION drive design hit the wall at a voltage differential of 5000V, because at that level, the grids started to get damaged. The new improved grid design allows voltage differentials of up to 30 000V. [ touches ION drive ] hmmmm, slight tingle.

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