How much success would you have trying to fly a Cessna 172 on other planets and moons within the solar system? Not a great deal, but you probably would have known that already. Better then to walk, or drive. If, of course, that is possible.

Update: not to spoil the fun, but here’s a scientific response regarding the likelihood of flying a Cessna 172 about various bodies of the solar system.

Last week I alluded to the possibility of a Star Trek/Star Wars crossover given J.J. Abrams will be directing the next film in the “Star Wars” franchise. Well, what more can I say then?

This collection of trival police reports throws the spotlight on perhaps some of the lesser known aspects of police work.

A resident reported that someone had knocked on their door and then left in a vehicle. An officer responded and found that a delivery service had left a package at the door. There were no problems.

Anyone else feeling nostalgic for the good old days, being the 1990s, of Internet Explorer?

No, I didn’t think so.

The US has decided not to consider constructing a Death Star, a move that, needless to say, pleases the Galactic emperor, Palpatine, according to Grand Moff Tarkin:

The overwhelming military superiority of the Galactic Empire has been confirmed once again by the recent announcement by the President of the United States that his nation would not attempt to build a Death Star, despite the bellicose demands of the people of his tiny, aggressive planet. “It is doubtless that such a technological terror in the hands of so primitive a world would be used to upset the peace and sanctity of the citizens of the Galactic Empire,” said Governor Wilhuff Tarkin of the Outer Rim Territories. “Such destructive power can only be wielded to protect and defend by so enlightened a leader as Emperor Palpatine.”

While just a little more time than was really necessary is devoted to Mr Data, this clip showing characters from the early episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) filming wardrobe and make-up tests is still quite… amusing.

And who else, by the way, thinks Geordi La Forge must have been beamed up to the twenty-fourth century from the 1980s?

HAL, the supercomputer of 2001: A Space Odyssey fame, talks about the making of the film in a reasonably frank interview at Mother Jones.

That’s easy. Trying to learn the dialogue. I was supposed to say this line: “I’ve just picked up a fault in the AE35 unit. It’s going to go 100 percent failure in 72 hours.” I just kept screwing it up: “A3E5 unit,” “A53E unit.” I mixed it up every way you can imagine. Keir Dullea, who was a good friend of mine, was laughing so hard he popped a blood vessel in his eye. Eventually they had to unplug me and let me cool down for a few minutes. When they booted me back up, I nailed the line.

30 teachers decided to release 2000 ping pong balls in zero gravity conditions during a flight on a reduced gravity aircraft, also known as a “weightless wonder” or “vomit comet”, primarily to see what would happen I guess.

A zero gravity flight is something I wouldn’t mind trying, though I can see that you need to watch out for that re-gravitation thing…

Well if, and only if, the rail tracks in question are no longer in use, and I have to say some of the tracks featured here look to be in pretty good condition considering they’re meant to be disused, then rail riding with a go-kart specially adapted for use on train lines, looks like a fun way to while away a lazy summer’s afternoon.

Aside from trains, or just maybe other go-karts approaching from the opposite direction, you also need to be mindful of obstructions such as rocks or branches along the track, though mowing down overgrown weeds looks like it would add to the excitement.

By the way, there’s a wee bit of coarse language in case you’re watching this at work.

Pink Floyd is Pink Floyd, the Bee Gees are the Bee Gees, and never the twain shall meet, right? Not unless you overlay “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, with Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2”, as video producer and musician Wax Audio has.

Not sure what Pink Floyd and Bee Gees purists will think though.