Sigh.

Okay, a science update. Pssh. You already know where this is going.

So the Cassini spacecraft has detected a thin layer of oxygen around the Saturnian moon Dione. If you are into these sorts of things, that is interesting news.

If you are not into these sorts of things, this really is not awesome news. Oxygen is a generally common atom found around the universe, but this really is the first time we have found it on another world without it being poisoned by other deadly gases.

In fact, if you were somehow placed on Dione, and did not die instantly from freezing, you would find yourself suffocating from a lack of oxygen in a few seconds. There’s oxygen there, all right, but so little that you would find more if you dunked your head under water.

This will, of course, not stop the news media from reporting that scientists have found oxygen just like earth on another world, and whether or not Dione could support life.

Wait and see. Meanwhile, the Czar will polish off a great bottle of wine he opened last night.

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.