The Chances of Anyone Going to Mars

bibliofile points us at this:

"The European Space Agency (ESA) on Tuesday called for applications for one of the most demanding human experiments in space history: a simulated trip to Mars in which six "astronauts" will spend 17 months in an isolation tank on Earth."

ESA's Call for Candidates has more information.

It does hold a certain appeal - though I can imagine that within a fortnight I'd be ready to kill for a fresh vegetable. I'd also have to lose 50 lb, and magically not be bothered by the presence of dairy in the pre-prepared food...

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

Just been out for my first bicycle ride of the summer! It's a nice quiet afternoon, there's a car number 317 half a mile away, so an ideal time to get the bike out for some practice.

The ride lasted 40 seconds, and now I need to learn how to pump up the tyres. They looked fine till I sat on the bike!

EDIT: I did find the pump and the valves, but couldn't connect them, even with the flexible tube thing. The Internet tells me I have Presta valves, so I might have to nip up to the cycle shop with my pump and wave it feebly and ask if it ought to connect and I'm just being dim, or if I need a special connector connector.

EDIT II: Cycled 15 minutes. Am knackered and my bum hurts. Is comfy sofa taim nao plz?