Quora

[Drewid]

Quora seems to have a low level of HB presence, Mostly the same-old-same-old, (no stars, fluttering flag) but there are a couple of interesting characters.

There's a wonderfully hardcore Jack White desciple, who does an amusing line in comedy insults:
http://www.quora.com/How-many-photos-were-taken-on-the-surface-of-the-moon-during-the-six-Apollo-missions/answer/Ken-ONeill-3/comment/12303503

and another who is at least asking for math
http://www.quora.com/Did-the-Lunar-Module-of-Apollo-11-have-enough-technology-and-propelling-system-on-board-to-dock-with-the-Command-Module-in-lunar-orbit/answer/Drew-Northcott/comment/12496925?__snids__=1306226010&__nsrc__=4#comment12496925

I've not done any math like this but it doesn't look too tricky. The thing I'm not sure about is the energy density of the fuel and the volume of the tanks and how that relates to the specific impulse. 

I'm quite happy to admit it's a bit beyond me without some help,  that sort of thing isn't my field really.  Anyone want to join in?

[Zakalwe]

and another who is at least asking for math
http://www.quora.com/Did-the-Lunar-Module-of-Apollo-11-have-enough-technology-and-propelling-system-on-board-to-dock-with-the-Command-Module-in-lunar-orbit/answer/Drew-Northcott/comment/12496925?__snids__=1306226010&__nsrc__=4#comment12496925

Its the old argument from disbelief in action though; "The fuel storage units look remarkably human sized, and therefore it seems that it could barely push the lunar module up a few hundred meters". I can't understand, and won't make any effort to understand, therefore it must be fake.  Throwing maths at a person like this is useless because 1) they won't understand them; 2) they won't admit to their lack of understanding; 3)they are trying to make you do the hard work, which they invariably will hand-wave away due to points 1 and 2.

[bknight]

...

and another who is at least asking for math
http://www.quora.com/Did-the-Lunar-Module-of-Apollo-11-have-enough-technology-and-propelling-system-on-board-to-dock-with-the-Command-Module-in-lunar-orbit/answer/Drew-Northcott/comment/12496925?__snids__=1306226010&__nsrc__=4#comment12496925

I've not done any math like this but it doesn't look too tricky. The thing I'm not sure about is the energy density of the fuel and the volume of the tanks and how that relates to the specific impulse. 

I'm quite happy to admit it's a bit beyond me without some help,  that sort of thing isn't my field really.  Anyone want to join in?

Bob B. has a webpage that gives most of the information for A17, along with the calculations.

http://www.braeunig.us/apollo/LM-ascent.htm

[onebigmonkey]

I'm agog at the regurgitation of the 'photographs on the footpad' nonsense.

How can he not see the large piece of foil in the background that is gold on one side and silvery on the other?

[bknight]

I'm agog at the regurgitation of the 'photographs on the footpad' nonsense.

How can he not see the large piece of foil in the background that is gold on one side and silvery on the other?

It was Jack, what more need any rational person say.

EDIT:  It looks to me like the "head" of the man is actually a reflection of the LM leg.  And Jack "couldn't understand" why NASA never wrote back!!!

[Bob B.]

Bob B. has a webpage that gives most of the information for A17, along with the calculations.

http://www.braeunig.us/apollo/LM-ascent.htm

That article was written specifically to debunk the "the fuel tanks look too small to me so it must be fake" argument.  It is by no means a new claim.

[smartcooky]

Bob B. has a webpage that gives most of the information for A17, along with the calculations.

http://www.braeunig.us/apollo/LM-ascent.htm

That article was written specifically to debunk the "the fuel tanks look too small to me so it must be fake" argument.  It is by no means a new claim.

These are all very common memes of the Apollo Hoax / Ancient Aliens / Junk Archaeology / NASA fakery community

[bknight]

I've seen him on UFO/Ancient aliens programs.  But I didn't listen that close nor pay attention to his claims.  I put him right in line with Stanton Friedman.

[Bob B.]

I can't bring myself to watch Ancient Aliens.  It only takes about 10 minutes before I want to start throwing stuff at the TV.

[bknight]

I can't bring myself to watch Ancient Aliens.  It only takes about 10 minutes before I want to start throwing stuff at the TV.

Exactly, that's why I don't remember this guys name, but the hair do is a dead give away.

[smartcooky]

I can't bring myself to watch Ancient Aliens.  It only takes about 10 minutes before I want to start throwing stuff at the TV.

Well, you should try watching "America Unearthed". In it, the host Scott Wolter (a self proclaimed "Indiana Jones" type character) travels the length and breadth of America, unearthing supposed legends, myths, stories and artefacts and reaching extraordinary, and far-fetched conclusions from the  flimsiest of evidence, and sometimes, from no evidence at all.

When I first saw the programme a few episodes into Season 1, I made the mistake of taking it seriously, but when I couldn't see how he came to some if his conclusions I decided to do a bit of on-line research, and came across a guy called Jason Colovito, a debunker of junk science and revisionist history. It didn't take long for me to realise that I had been fooled, and realised that "America Unearthed" was just junk archaeology of the worst kind.

http://www.jasoncolavito.com/america-unearthed.html

I have now become a regular reader of Jason's blog. He is to Junk Archaeology what Jay is to Apollo Hoax Belief, and Phil Plait is to Junk Science; a voice of reason in an ocean of stupid!


ETA: handy hint



If you see either of these two people interviewed in a TV programme you are watching, you can pretty much stop right there..


If you see this person being interviewed, then proceed with caution and a large pinch of salt.

[smartcooky]

I can't bring myself to watch Ancient Aliens.  It only takes about 10 minutes before I want to start throwing stuff at the TV.

Exactly, that's why I don't remember this guys name, but the hair do is a dead give away.

be careful not to get him mixed up with this guy

[raven]

Ze ambassador for ze Centauri Republic iz most offended to be compared to zat, zat foolish human!
For one, ve are much snazzier dressers!

[Bob B.]

^^^ This dude.

I saw a few episodes of a show he use to be in, UFO Hunters, I think.  It was always the same thing.  They'd go out and investigate an alleged UFO incident, find absolutely no evidence whatsoever to support the story, and his final conclusion would be... "Since we found no evidence to disprove it, it's still possible it really happened."

[bknight]

I can't bring myself to watch Ancient Aliens.  It only takes about 10 minutes before I want to start throwing stuff at the TV.

Exactly, that's why I don't remember this guys name, but the hair do is a dead give away.

be careful not to get him mixed up with this guy

Oh come on now my eyes aren't that BAD.