Booknotes: In a Land of Strangers
1 day ago
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Year...
The Mariner float in the Tournament of Roses Parade. (NASA/JPL photo)
As we kick 2008 out on its tuchus, let's welcome in 2009. A year that will begin with some historic events.
Oh and...
GO NITTANY LIONS!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Merry Christmas!
Well, the Christmas shopping is done. A Very Nickish Christmas VIII has come and past.
Now I leave you with this:
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens via Project Guttenberg
Monday, December 01, 2008
Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday....
Parliament of the UK photo
December 3, 2008, one of the more interesting events in the United Kingdom takes place; The State Opening of Parliament!
WOOOOOO!!!
It's a pretty cool ceremony full of historical symbolism, one that I make time to watch on C-Span every time it's on.
You can find out more information HERE.
WOOOOOO!!!
It's a pretty cool ceremony full of historical symbolism, one that I make time to watch on C-Span every time it's on.
You can find out more information HERE.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A little late for Veteran's Day but a little early for Christmas...
Britain vs Germany the REMATCH!
I was listening to AVNC VI (The first one that I've put on my iPod) and "Christmas in the Trenches" came on. So I went and poked around online and found the neat article above about a soccer game rematch that commemorated the original game in 1914.
I have to say, this is one of the reasons I really like Britain. They DO care about history.
I was listening to AVNC VI (The first one that I've put on my iPod) and "Christmas in the Trenches" came on. So I went and poked around online and found the neat article above about a soccer game rematch that commemorated the original game in 1914.
I have to say, this is one of the reasons I really like Britain. They DO care about history.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
A photo that has been a long time coming...
This is my grandfather on my Mom's side, Pop Pop Albert. He was in the Army during WW2 and spent most of it at Fort Irwin, CA. During that time he heard Gen. Patton speak and on weekend passes would ride the Southern Pacific into town.
Man I miss him.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Holy freaking cow...
Look at what these guys found in a garage and look at what they did with it!
http://www.moonviews.com/
Politics
Handy use for WD-40
AND...
I believe Barney was trying to tell the reporter that, "For the last goddamn time! I have no comment about the election results!!!"
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
I wish...
I wish Dr. King, Rosa Parks, A. Phillip Randolph, Jack Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were here to see this.
Update:
How about we add Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington too.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Monday, November 03, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
My goal...
When I was little, after the explosion of the Challenger, I wanted to be a Mission Controller instead of being an astronaut (as I had wanted to be for the past two years.) I admit that I got scared of being blown up on the way to orbit. (A valid fear for a 7 year old.)
So, it was Aerospace Engineering and then Mission Control. At least that was the plan...(Yes, I had "life plans" already in elementary school. I really was an older child than my years even back then.)
Until Calculus.
So, I opted for the subject I was best at and had the most fun with, History. I decided to shelve my dream of becoming an engineer involved with the space program and planned on becoming a history professor. Well, the history job has evolved into a library job at a NASA Contractor so, I've moved kinda back towards my original career path. But still, I never thought I'd get to be in Mission Control.
Until this past Tuesday that is.
That's me at the Apollo Era Mission Control Flight Director's Console. That's right. THE Console in THE Room where it all happened. This was the room that, filled with smoke and nervous engineers and astronauts, monitored Armstrong and Aldrin's descent to the lunar surface, and radioed the instructions that helped save the crew of Apollo 13 from dying of carbon dioxide poisoning.
I tell ya, it was the best day of work in my life. Especially when, as this photo was being taken, our guide said my pose was "Kranz-ian."
(Update-10/31/08): Now that I'm reflecting about this picture today and not as excited, I wanted to thank some people for helping me get where I am. Seriously, I've wanted to be in that room for 23 years. First, my family for being really supportive, especially the home made astronaut costume my mom and dad and grandparents (who had bought a toy race car driver's helmet that wound up being covered in foil and becoming an astronaut's helmet) made for me in 3rd grade. It was cool. They never stopped supporting me, (trips to Air & Space, Florida to KSC for the family vacation to Disney World), even when I made that hare-brained decision to go for a history degree. (Yeah, I can get a job with history, no sweat!) I'm glad it's worked out in the end, even I got worried for a while. Next, at Kemptown Elementary, the principal and my teachers in 4th Grade let me be part of a special program for the 5th Graders when a NASA person came to visit. I thought it was the coolest thing ever and loved every minute of it. It really helped stoke the flames of my passion for working at NASA. Now, all of my teachers and professors, especially my math and science teachers. While I didn't go into the field, I still learned a lot, and in my job I actually do use it. And finally, my friends. Thanks for sticking with me and suffering through one of the most nerdy blog posts ever.
So, it was Aerospace Engineering and then Mission Control. At least that was the plan...(Yes, I had "life plans" already in elementary school. I really was an older child than my years even back then.)
Until Calculus.
So, I opted for the subject I was best at and had the most fun with, History. I decided to shelve my dream of becoming an engineer involved with the space program and planned on becoming a history professor. Well, the history job has evolved into a library job at a NASA Contractor so, I've moved kinda back towards my original career path. But still, I never thought I'd get to be in Mission Control.
Until this past Tuesday that is.
That's me at the Apollo Era Mission Control Flight Director's Console. That's right. THE Console in THE Room where it all happened. This was the room that, filled with smoke and nervous engineers and astronauts, monitored Armstrong and Aldrin's descent to the lunar surface, and radioed the instructions that helped save the crew of Apollo 13 from dying of carbon dioxide poisoning.
I tell ya, it was the best day of work in my life. Especially when, as this photo was being taken, our guide said my pose was "Kranz-ian."
(Update-10/31/08): Now that I'm reflecting about this picture today and not as excited, I wanted to thank some people for helping me get where I am. Seriously, I've wanted to be in that room for 23 years. First, my family for being really supportive, especially the home made astronaut costume my mom and dad and grandparents (who had bought a toy race car driver's helmet that wound up being covered in foil and becoming an astronaut's helmet) made for me in 3rd grade. It was cool. They never stopped supporting me, (trips to Air & Space, Florida to KSC for the family vacation to Disney World), even when I made that hare-brained decision to go for a history degree. (Yeah, I can get a job with history, no sweat!) I'm glad it's worked out in the end, even I got worried for a while. Next, at Kemptown Elementary, the principal and my teachers in 4th Grade let me be part of a special program for the 5th Graders when a NASA person came to visit. I thought it was the coolest thing ever and loved every minute of it. It really helped stoke the flames of my passion for working at NASA. Now, all of my teachers and professors, especially my math and science teachers. While I didn't go into the field, I still learned a lot, and in my job I actually do use it. And finally, my friends. Thanks for sticking with me and suffering through one of the most nerdy blog posts ever.
Prep for tonight...
(NASA Photo)Okay, see that guy with the white vest and white shirt and buzz cut in the photo?
That's Gene Kranz, NASA Flight Director. (And played by Ed Harris in the movie Apollo 13.) The guy in charge. He can override the president if he feels the order/request will endanger the crew or mission he is directing. This shot was taken during the flight of Apollo 13 in the Mission Control Center in Houston, TX.
Why does this matter?
You will see shortly.
1 vs 6 Billion....
Or at least as many people are voting on this.
Astronaut Greg Chamitoff who has been on the Inernational Space Station and beating the ground stations, is now taking on the world.
Thanks to the US Chess Federation and the Stevenson Chess Team in Washington State, people can vote on the next move and play against Chamitoff.
There are three boards monitoring the progress of the game. The one on the station, the one on-line and the one I saw Tuesday at Mission Control Houston.
Click HERE to see where the match stands and vote for the next move!
Mike Singletary for President....
Apologies for catching this so late, but I had a good excuse, I was in Houston.
Mike Singletary took over as coach of the San Francisco 49er's in time for a bad loss to the Seattle Seahawks. After the loss he gave a great press conference, it was old school football and just the kind of attitude that some members of that team, cough cough Vernon Davis, needed to see.
Mike Singletary took over as coach of the San Francisco 49er's in time for a bad loss to the Seattle Seahawks. After the loss he gave a great press conference, it was old school football and just the kind of attitude that some members of that team, cough cough Vernon Davis, needed to see.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
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