Goodbye Pioneer 10

They've stopped listening to Pioneer 10, or rather, Pioneer 10 is unable to respond. It's power cells are going strong, but the bits that convert heat into energy and power the little probe have deteriorated.

Last contact was on January 22, and even then they could barely hear it. Now they can't hear it at all.

I feel a bit sad about that. It's only a machine, and it's not doing anything useful, but I'm still sad.

Out of the Ashes

The hills have only a hint of black now with the tree trunks and fenceposts the most obvious reminder of the fireball that engulfed us. A light dusting of moss green now covers the otherwise bare earth, following the gentle curves of the hills and the harsh slashes of eroded earth.

To see such green where once was black seems to mock the harsh brown of the unburned areas, as if showing that out of adversity can come triumph, even in the midst of a drought.