Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket for Defense

Sent in by chief analyst Joe Petersen, from breitbart.com:

A journey from Earth to Mars could soon take just 39 days, cutting current travel time nearly six times, a rocket scientist who has the ear of the US space agency NASA has said.

Former astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says reaching the Red Planet could be dramatically quicker using his high-tech VASIMR rocket -- now on track for lift-off after decades of development.

The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket -- to give its full name -- is quick becoming a centerpiece of NASA's future strategy as it looks to private firms to help meet the astronomical costs of space exploration.

Spring practice just a week away

David Hale's Twitter feed was pretty fantastic today.

And then there was this:

Bobo: Logan will take 1st reps with No. 1 offense but all 3 QBs will get equal looks with first group.

I'll take obvious wastes of everyone's time for $2,000, Alex.

Update: Of course, this takes pressure off Mettenberger and Murray, and that's not lost on me. Letting the lesser talented quarterback play remains a bit of a sore spot for me, though.

Bratkowski, you just made the list

Former All-American UGA quarterback Zeke Bratkowski had better watch it. From ESPN:

Tebow has been tutored in a pro-style way by working with a coaching team that includes former NFL offensive coordinator Zeke Bratkowski, Montreal Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman, Arizona State's new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone and former NFL head coach Sam Wyche.

Bratkowski has concentrated on getting Tebow to raise the football to where it now does not dip lower than his shoulder. The delivery that allowed Tebow to complete over 67 percent of his passes at Florida but the one that also was roundly questioned during and after the Senior Bowl has begun to be made over at the pre-draft workouts in Nashville.

Much of the work has started with Tebow's feet, which were accustomed to working out of a shotgun offense. Bratkowski and others have drilled Tebow on the requisite footwork that he will need to become a successful NFL quarterback.

"You're not looking at the same quarterback," said Bratkowski, who has worked with quarterbacks such as San Diego's Philip Rivers, Philadelphia's Michael Vick and Boomer Esiason. "To say we're there 100 percent where we want to be, no. But we'll be more improved come pro day than we are at this point in time now."

Bratkowski, when you start talking about how well "we" are doing and Tim Tebow is part of that "we," you're on some thin freaking ice.

I heart Richard Samuel

From Marc Weiszer at The Banner-Herald:

In a game against Adairsville, a referee told Samuel not to hit so hard because he was going to hurt somebody.

The streets of Rome, are filled with rubble

Suitable interlude.

Bacarri Rambo via David Hale: going to knock fire from you

Welcome, welcome to the freshman class of 2010.

From The Telegraph's David Hale's signing day live blog:

9:39 AM -- Brett Favre's nephew officially signs with Mississippi State. Wonder if Dan Mullen will get a few more games on ESPN now.

9:42 AM -- Add one more for UGA... running back Ken Malcolme. I think he'll be an interesting guy to watch this fall. If he ends up being the only RB Georgia signs -- and it sure looks that way ...

9:50 AM -- Finally some good news for UGA fans. Mike Thornton has chosen Georgia

9:57 AM -- It's official ... Da'Rick Rogers is headed to Tennessee.

He's afraid of Rantavious Wooten

10:09 AM -- Courtesy of Facebook: "Bacarri Rambo: I'm telling you now when I catch you on the field I'm going to knock fire from you."

10:52 AM: Last year freshmen stats:

Washaun Ealey (717 rush yards, 3 TDs in nine games)
Orson Charles (23 catches, 374 yards, 3 TDs)
Branden Smith (14 tackles, 279 return yards, 208 rush yards, 2 TDs)
Rantavious Wooten (10 catches, 197 yards, 2 TDs)
Abry Jones (eight tackles, one sack)
Montez Robinson (five tackles, two sacks)

11:36 AM -- Richt says Richard Samuel will move to linebacker. Says he was "anxious to make that move."

Starnes: We signed a 5 star linebacker who's been on the field in the SEC for two years.

11:38 AM -- Mike Thornton's LOI is officially in.

11:40 AM -- Alec Ogletree is "Tree" while Alexander Ogletree is "Zander" Richt says. Also says Alec will be at safety and coaches expect big impact. Richt also said that his son, Jon, is engaged.

12:49 PM -- No LOI yet, but word is Georgia will also land wide receiver Lonnie Outlaw from Wilcox County. He's a two-star guy.

We did. His name is awesome.

3:55 PM -- Mentioned this on Twitter, but spring practice is scheduled to open on March 4. The Dawgs won't hold their second practice until March 16 though -- then one practice every two days or so until G-Day on April 10.

Todd Grantham via Richard Samuel and Bacarri Rambo: Destroy.

The Goal Line Stalker: Still human, but barely

Watching Herschel Walker's MMA debut on the DVR Sunday simply reconfirmed what I've known for a long time: The man is a step forward in human evolution.

If aliens show up one day and say "give us your best, so we can judge you," humanity should put Herschel Walker in a spaceship.

"This is a man I do not want to face in a fight. Anybody who teaches himself how to read and write has an iron mind."
- Fight announcer, and MMA fighter, Frank Shamrock.

If you missed the fight, there are several versions of it on youtube. Quite honestly, I though Herschel could have beaten this man much, much worse.

But he took it easy on him.