Okay, so I'm sure that our pals at the NASA public affairs office figured that they'd never have to deal with news as bad for their precious image as when the now infamous star-crossed lover drove 1/2 way across our great land to confront a romantic rival. Well folks, today might have eclipsed that.
So first was a report supposedly released today that indicates sometime in the past, a couple of shuttle fliers tied on a few too many the night before riding a rocket into the unknown. As sketchy as the details are, one has to wonder what this report really says. Am i saying it didn't happen? Absolutely not. It probably has. But it's about as vague as one could imagine, since no one in the public has actually seen it.
A few hours later, a story breaks that a sub-contractor sabotaged a laptop due to fly in a couple of weeks. He clipped wires inside the damn thing, as well as an identical non-flying unit. Okay, dude has some gripe. whatever.
What irritates me to some degree is not that these stories came out, but their timing. I'm glad this info is out in the public domain, seeing as how we the taxpayers fund this work. But why now, on the eve of the conclusion of the FRR (Flight Readiness Review), which is a 3 day fun fest where the zillion shuttle managers meet in one big telecon to decide whether or not the launch should proceed. The date has been set for 7 August. Right around the corner. When in addition to more space station stuff the first Educator Astronaut will fly, 21 years after serving as Christa McAllife's backup for Challenger's flight. Sure, they need to draw attention, but now? That computer fiasco happened a week and a half ago. The medical report has been due out for months now.
There's a stroke of brilliance!!! Let's boost the public's confidence right before we fly one of the most visible missions since Columbia! It's almost as if they hope something bad will happen. Odds are they'll be disappointed. It's just shit like this that makes one want to bitch-slap some sense into these people.
26 July 2007
10 June 2007
oops
One of the facets of my new life is being a single "dad" to 6 defective critters (3 dogs, 3 cats). As I wasn't the animal expert before, I only paid casual attention to taking care of said heathens. My oldest, Doolie, is an Olde English Sheepdog and really a trip if you spend much time around him. The Alabama summers are a bit much for him to handle, so for the last few years he got shaved for a summer haircut. I thought it wouldn't be too bad, since I have a set of clippers here and he is extremely well behaved. I mean how hard could it be? I'd done it a few times with a 2nd person after all, so how bad could it turn out?
Let's just say grooming dogs is not a skill I should ever proclaim to have.
Between the clippers overheating and him getting impatient, he spent most of this last week walking around 1/2 shaved. Slightly more than 1/2, but that's not important. The first time the clippers got too hot, I had his head shaved and nothing else, so he had this bodybuilder thing going on (Little bitty head, great big body).
A few hours later, after 2 or 3 more sessions, the clippers ran down and I needed to get to bed. I really just didn't look to see where I stopped:
Let's just say grooming dogs is not a skill I should ever proclaim to have.
Between the clippers overheating and him getting impatient, he spent most of this last week walking around 1/2 shaved. Slightly more than 1/2, but that's not important. The first time the clippers got too hot, I had his head shaved and nothing else, so he had this bodybuilder thing going on (Little bitty head, great big body).
A few hours later, after 2 or 3 more sessions, the clippers ran down and I needed to get to bed. I really just didn't look to see where I stopped:
Yup, he's wearing furry pants! Oh well. I finished him a couple of days ago, though I promised at the end of my previous sad post I'd try to make you laugh. Hope it worked.
09 June 2007
"Why" is uniquely human
I was motivated by The Captain's post to put in my one-cents worth. Call it a unique perspective from this side of the fence, call it feeling compelled to post after a long silence, whatever. As usual he said things in a clear way. So now that my brain is spooling up, get ready or hit "Back".
Everything in the universe has to have balance. Which means in a crappy way for every laugh, every smile, every joy someone somewhere experiences, there has to be a tragedy, a frown, a tear. Eventually we are all touched by sadness and loss, the only detail is to what degree. When it does come, I find that our inane "knee-jerk" is to spit out that little 3 letter word, "why"? Sure, you can go into an evolutionary discussion, about how that curiosity turns into action and how we moved past the other animals with the wheel, fire, and airplanes. Not the point I'm trying to make. It's more of a consequence of that curiosity that our minds want to reason things out, to know there is a logical reason something happened. And in the absence of that, the "why" effect jumps in front.
I've been asking a million versions of "why" about every 8 seconds for the past 6 weeks. You cannot help it. It feels hard-wired into us. And without a good, clear answer, we feel lost, out of control, and eventually in pain, either directly to ourselves or empathising for someone you care about. Having done both recently, I find it interesting that they are similar though different. In that theme, I have been both the recipient and the giver of words that Cap'n D. mentioned. Here's what I've learned:
To a large extent, the words don't matter. Words are grammer, ways we humans communicate a message and/or feelings. It's not necessarily the particular words, its the WAY they are said. It's the feeling and emotion behind those words that make them matter. The exact same wording can come from two different people with two different intents and the result is two different reactions. At the hospital that fateful, awful night, one of the nurses said "Sorry for your loss". I'm sure on some level he meant it, but he was saying it to a stranger so it felt more like a formality. Now when a close friend looks you in the eye or even their voice on the phone and says the exact same words, it is indescribably comforting. It helps make the pain bearable.
So there is no phrase that will do the trick. No magic words that will make things all better. Yes, you will still feel out of control and that sucks. It is only natural to say "if i had only...", even though you are deluding yourself. That's what we are supposed to do. Maybe you can learn from that if (God forbid) you are faced with a similar situation in the future. But being involved and having emotional ties to the situation MEANS you cannot always think of everything or probably do ANYTHING to prevent it from happening. There are times that no matter what you do, events are going to occur. There's only one "person" who makes those decisions, and you ain't Him. Like someone I know frequently says, things happen for a reason. You may find out what that reason is, although it won't be anytime soon. You aren't meant to know, at least at first. Those experiences are what shapes our lives and who we are. There is already a Plan, you just have to follow it. And being there for someone and speaking from your heart will let them know they aren't alone and things will be okay. That's the right thing to say.
So don't feel bad or helpless or frustrated asking "why". All you'll do is upset yourself further. There is a reason or reasons "why" stuff happens, we're just not meant to know it. You just have to believe it is for the best, and that (eventually) some good will come from the situation, that you are in good hands (no, this isn't an AllState ad) and you'll come out better than you ever dreamed. That's what FAITH is.
So there's some pontificating from the western frontier. ANd in keeping with the balance theme, I'll follow up this sad topic with a post that should make you laugh, once i download the pics. Let's just say Sarge's 1st time of trying to shave a Sheepdog by himself didn't go smoothly...
Everything in the universe has to have balance. Which means in a crappy way for every laugh, every smile, every joy someone somewhere experiences, there has to be a tragedy, a frown, a tear. Eventually we are all touched by sadness and loss, the only detail is to what degree. When it does come, I find that our inane "knee-jerk" is to spit out that little 3 letter word, "why"? Sure, you can go into an evolutionary discussion, about how that curiosity turns into action and how we moved past the other animals with the wheel, fire, and airplanes. Not the point I'm trying to make. It's more of a consequence of that curiosity that our minds want to reason things out, to know there is a logical reason something happened. And in the absence of that, the "why" effect jumps in front.
I've been asking a million versions of "why" about every 8 seconds for the past 6 weeks. You cannot help it. It feels hard-wired into us. And without a good, clear answer, we feel lost, out of control, and eventually in pain, either directly to ourselves or empathising for someone you care about. Having done both recently, I find it interesting that they are similar though different. In that theme, I have been both the recipient and the giver of words that Cap'n D. mentioned. Here's what I've learned:
To a large extent, the words don't matter. Words are grammer, ways we humans communicate a message and/or feelings. It's not necessarily the particular words, its the WAY they are said. It's the feeling and emotion behind those words that make them matter. The exact same wording can come from two different people with two different intents and the result is two different reactions. At the hospital that fateful, awful night, one of the nurses said "Sorry for your loss". I'm sure on some level he meant it, but he was saying it to a stranger so it felt more like a formality. Now when a close friend looks you in the eye or even their voice on the phone and says the exact same words, it is indescribably comforting. It helps make the pain bearable.
So there is no phrase that will do the trick. No magic words that will make things all better. Yes, you will still feel out of control and that sucks. It is only natural to say "if i had only...", even though you are deluding yourself. That's what we are supposed to do. Maybe you can learn from that if (God forbid) you are faced with a similar situation in the future. But being involved and having emotional ties to the situation MEANS you cannot always think of everything or probably do ANYTHING to prevent it from happening. There are times that no matter what you do, events are going to occur. There's only one "person" who makes those decisions, and you ain't Him. Like someone I know frequently says, things happen for a reason. You may find out what that reason is, although it won't be anytime soon. You aren't meant to know, at least at first. Those experiences are what shapes our lives and who we are. There is already a Plan, you just have to follow it. And being there for someone and speaking from your heart will let them know they aren't alone and things will be okay. That's the right thing to say.
So don't feel bad or helpless or frustrated asking "why". All you'll do is upset yourself further. There is a reason or reasons "why" stuff happens, we're just not meant to know it. You just have to believe it is for the best, and that (eventually) some good will come from the situation, that you are in good hands (no, this isn't an AllState ad) and you'll come out better than you ever dreamed. That's what FAITH is.
So there's some pontificating from the western frontier. ANd in keeping with the balance theme, I'll follow up this sad topic with a post that should make you laugh, once i download the pics. Let's just say Sarge's 1st time of trying to shave a Sheepdog by himself didn't go smoothly...
11 April 2007
Life imitates art
Okay, so think back to the original Star Wars movie, where they are on the Falcon and Luke is practicing with the light saber the first time. To practice, there was this little ball flying around shooting lasers at him:
Now fast forward to today: check out these little robots on the International Space Station:
They fly around inside the station (the black knobby things are carbon dioxide thrusters) and are being used to develop control software/algorithms for unmanned rendezvous and docking.
Pretty neat.
05 March 2007
People do stupid things
Yes sir-ree they do. I have this, um, friend (yeah, that's it). We'll call him Brian. Brian knows that after a long hiatus from going to the gym, he has a tendancy to overdo it when he goes back, which keeps him from going again and is counter-productive. Last week he went back for the 1st time in months and lifted weights. He took it very easy & felt good afterwards (ya know, the good soreness). Crisis averted.
Then our hero went back to the gym.
Have you heard comedian Lewis Black's bit on candy corn? It's great; he tells about he hates the stuff, but if he walks into a room and there is some candy corn in a dish, he forgets he's ever eaten it before, goes over, grabs a handful and chows down. Then 3 hundreths of a nanosecond after it's too late to stop chewing remembers he hates the stuff. That's exactly what I, I mean this Brian guy, did on trip #2 to the gym. He went in, and worked out like he'd been going for months.
Now his mouse feels like it weighs 30 pounds. And he will lose a lot of weight since he cannot lift a forkful of food. People do stupid things. I'm just sayin'.
Then our hero went back to the gym.
Have you heard comedian Lewis Black's bit on candy corn? It's great; he tells about he hates the stuff, but if he walks into a room and there is some candy corn in a dish, he forgets he's ever eaten it before, goes over, grabs a handful and chows down. Then 3 hundreths of a nanosecond after it's too late to stop chewing remembers he hates the stuff. That's exactly what I, I mean this Brian guy, did on trip #2 to the gym. He went in, and worked out like he'd been going for months.
Now his mouse feels like it weighs 30 pounds. And he will lose a lot of weight since he cannot lift a forkful of food. People do stupid things. I'm just sayin'.
19 February 2007
Monday ranting
Since I'm in a bad mood from driving to work only to find the only gate i can use to get to my office locked until tomorrow, i'll jump on my soapbox for a couple of things aimed at the fairer sex.
First, for the ladies: why on Earth would you sit in a restaurant across from the guy you came in with (for breakfast, so i doubt you are starting a date at 0800 on a Sunday morning), and stare at another guy and make coy little smiles? Not polite grins, facial expressions you would use in a bar near closing time. Just wondering.
Next, i got a good laugh reading this little gem on a man-hating website. Wow, for implying you have all the answers that certainly reads a bit on the ignorant side. I'll be the first to admit that in many fields (space included), women have gotten a raw deal time and again. But you are a perfect example of screaming to be heard, not caring what you say. Your opening paragraph is correct; they did evaluate women candidates too in the early days. But they did a myriad of other tests on both sexes that to this day have no explanation (as in the late 50's they had no idea what would happen to the human body). Guess it would've been inconvenient to mention the female specific tests too. And let's say for a moment they had picked women. To climb on top of very unreliable rockets that had a nasty tendancy to blow up. What kind of support do you think the public would have offered had a wife & mother been incinerated on national TV? Keep in mind, this is the early 60's.
Anyway, reading further, i guess what you're saying is we should ignore what happened? Not study what might happen, change evaluations so you can safely mix a crew to spend 3+ years together in a tin can? Yes, the judgement will probably be somewhat unfair, but is it worth risking lives for the sake of equality? Oh, and on your listing of notable women in space: a bit presumptuous that Col. Collins is the first female in the "Universe" to command, isn't it? Or is your crusade merely confined to people here? Or maybe just Americans? Funny since the first woman in space was a RUSSIAN, and flew alone (hence was the commander of her craft), and flew 20 YEARS before the USA flew a female. And what exactly did Coleman do with Chandra, other than simply doing her job?
I have another name for you: Linda Ham. Ring a bell? I doubt it. She was one of the senior shuttle managers that decide there was no reason to worry about the foam strikes on Columbia and was the individual who denied the requests for satellite imagery and she okayed the re-entry. Let's try and be fair and balanced, shall we? Or at least let's quit framing other people as being able to walk on water.
Farther down: "most women". Not all?
I do indeed like how you close and i think it is a fine idea. Please, start a girls only space company since obviously they will never get ahead at the old boys club & head to Mars. And since most rockets are shaped somewhat phallically, i expect you will use a different shape (to do otherwise would be insulting to you, having to "ride" one of these machines to get to your destination). Can't wait to see how that flys! In the meantime, I sent your article to a few female friends of mine at NASA. Seemed to be more head-shaking than way-to-go. It's almost as if they think YOUR kind of rhetoric is a bit off-target. But what do i know. I just a stupid boy.
First, for the ladies: why on Earth would you sit in a restaurant across from the guy you came in with (for breakfast, so i doubt you are starting a date at 0800 on a Sunday morning), and stare at another guy and make coy little smiles? Not polite grins, facial expressions you would use in a bar near closing time. Just wondering.
Next, i got a good laugh reading this little gem on a man-hating website. Wow, for implying you have all the answers that certainly reads a bit on the ignorant side. I'll be the first to admit that in many fields (space included), women have gotten a raw deal time and again. But you are a perfect example of screaming to be heard, not caring what you say. Your opening paragraph is correct; they did evaluate women candidates too in the early days. But they did a myriad of other tests on both sexes that to this day have no explanation (as in the late 50's they had no idea what would happen to the human body). Guess it would've been inconvenient to mention the female specific tests too. And let's say for a moment they had picked women. To climb on top of very unreliable rockets that had a nasty tendancy to blow up. What kind of support do you think the public would have offered had a wife & mother been incinerated on national TV? Keep in mind, this is the early 60's.
Anyway, reading further, i guess what you're saying is we should ignore what happened? Not study what might happen, change evaluations so you can safely mix a crew to spend 3+ years together in a tin can? Yes, the judgement will probably be somewhat unfair, but is it worth risking lives for the sake of equality? Oh, and on your listing of notable women in space: a bit presumptuous that Col. Collins is the first female in the "Universe" to command, isn't it? Or is your crusade merely confined to people here? Or maybe just Americans? Funny since the first woman in space was a RUSSIAN, and flew alone (hence was the commander of her craft), and flew 20 YEARS before the USA flew a female. And what exactly did Coleman do with Chandra, other than simply doing her job?
I have another name for you: Linda Ham. Ring a bell? I doubt it. She was one of the senior shuttle managers that decide there was no reason to worry about the foam strikes on Columbia and was the individual who denied the requests for satellite imagery and she okayed the re-entry. Let's try and be fair and balanced, shall we? Or at least let's quit framing other people as being able to walk on water.
Farther down: "most women". Not all?
I do indeed like how you close and i think it is a fine idea. Please, start a girls only space company since obviously they will never get ahead at the old boys club & head to Mars. And since most rockets are shaped somewhat phallically, i expect you will use a different shape (to do otherwise would be insulting to you, having to "ride" one of these machines to get to your destination). Can't wait to see how that flys! In the meantime, I sent your article to a few female friends of mine at NASA. Seemed to be more head-shaking than way-to-go. It's almost as if they think YOUR kind of rhetoric is a bit off-target. But what do i know. I just a stupid boy.
13 February 2007
Poor fools...
...that get roped into spending on average somewhere in the neighborhood of $160 (according to a national news reporter) on your significant other b/c Hallmark and a fat little putz with a bow & heart-shaped-arrows who wears little pinky diapers tells you you should. There's a good message to send; give me shit or obviously you don't love me!!!
Hey, what else did you expect to hear from me today? But to show i'm not totally crass and can participate, here's a valentine from me to you...Sweetheart.
28 January 2007
It's that time of year...
...when all the space geeks around the world bow their heads in remembrance of the 3 crews that have died in the name of space exploration. A little spooky that all 3 accidents happened within 5 days of each other on the calendar, which prompted NASA to lump them into a single event. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire, read here if you like. Even CNN got in the "spirit" with a short video, and nasa.gov has their usual coverage on their site.
Anyway, i guess people remember these things in their own way. this year mine is typing this. personally, i keep pictures of all 3 crews near my desks, to always remind me that laziness and shortcuts, as well as being plain old stupid, can cost lives if you work in an unforgiving field.
You will all hear more about Challenger this summer, as the teacher who was Christa Mcauliffe's back-up is scheduled to fly this summer. Well, you'll hear about it if it is a slow news day.
Ad Astra, per Aspera.
Anyway, i guess people remember these things in their own way. this year mine is typing this. personally, i keep pictures of all 3 crews near my desks, to always remind me that laziness and shortcuts, as well as being plain old stupid, can cost lives if you work in an unforgiving field.
You will all hear more about Challenger this summer, as the teacher who was Christa Mcauliffe's back-up is scheduled to fly this summer. Well, you'll hear about it if it is a slow news day.
Ad Astra, per Aspera.
17 January 2007
It's a trick!!!
Greetz all. Sorry for those of you who missed my pointless rant a couple of days ago; it was up then disappeared. So I haven't been quite as negligent in posting as you think...
Oh a synopsis from that one: I'm not necessarily going to be as nice and cheery as i have in the past. You don't like it, don't read it. Or pucker up & aim for that brown hole right in the center of my big fat ass. And to whomever posted a comment to my last post that was pro-valentine's day: do us a favor and grow a pair, will ya?!?! I think it was an auto generated comment or something, but until you get your stones back, quit calling yourself a man.
Back on topic for today: In reading our wascally Captain's post from earlier, I was glad to know someone's brain somewhere in the world was working today (mine wasn't). He once again put forth a question to make our brains churn a bit and ask a hard hitting question. If you haven't read his yet, please do so now. Here's the spoiler: It is a trick question, because if you are like 99.9% of the population, you don't know the answer!!! And most of you who THINK you know it are lying to yourselves.
I've asked myself that repeatedly over various periods of my life. I'm in one of those now, so I am taking the 5th, at least for a while. I've been in or overheard discussions of part a) of his question, and the vast majority of people with quick answers are very much FULL OF SHIT. You have an answer in your hip pocket to throw out there if someone asks so you don't seem full of self doubt and are wandering aimlessly. The sad fact of the matter is most people can't (honestly) answer part a), so any response to part b) is moot. Personally I think that a good chunk of this "life" thing is finding that answer. Some lucky souls do answer it quickly, most never get there. Some know why they get up, but they don't do anything about it/for it/ towards it, in the case of a goal not yet realized. But most plod along, fooling themselves into another day in the rat race, another day fulfilling obligations that may or may not matter.
Don't misunderstand: you need an answer of some description. Otherwise, if you can't come up with an answer you are probably going to have an Egg McMagnum for breakfast. My point is make sure it's the RIGHT answer. Don't settle for a convenient one. Once you know it, DO something for it. Don't wait until you're about to kick the oxygen habit and then say "wow, what a waste" or look back and wonder "what if". It'd be a shame if your parting thoughts were about you didn't live your life as if it were YOUR life.
Or why you didn't use the cold cup of coffee Capt D threw in your face as a wake up call to think and act. Missing out on these doors that get opened for you are why you're asking the questions in the first place.
Make no mistake. You're in the driver's seat. More on that later.
Now continue banging your head on the table.
Oh a synopsis from that one: I'm not necessarily going to be as nice and cheery as i have in the past. You don't like it, don't read it. Or pucker up & aim for that brown hole right in the center of my big fat ass. And to whomever posted a comment to my last post that was pro-valentine's day: do us a favor and grow a pair, will ya?!?! I think it was an auto generated comment or something, but until you get your stones back, quit calling yourself a man.
Back on topic for today: In reading our wascally Captain's post from earlier, I was glad to know someone's brain somewhere in the world was working today (mine wasn't). He once again put forth a question to make our brains churn a bit and ask a hard hitting question. If you haven't read his yet, please do so now. Here's the spoiler: It is a trick question, because if you are like 99.9% of the population, you don't know the answer!!! And most of you who THINK you know it are lying to yourselves.
I've asked myself that repeatedly over various periods of my life. I'm in one of those now, so I am taking the 5th, at least for a while. I've been in or overheard discussions of part a) of his question, and the vast majority of people with quick answers are very much FULL OF SHIT. You have an answer in your hip pocket to throw out there if someone asks so you don't seem full of self doubt and are wandering aimlessly. The sad fact of the matter is most people can't (honestly) answer part a), so any response to part b) is moot. Personally I think that a good chunk of this "life" thing is finding that answer. Some lucky souls do answer it quickly, most never get there. Some know why they get up, but they don't do anything about it/for it/ towards it, in the case of a goal not yet realized. But most plod along, fooling themselves into another day in the rat race, another day fulfilling obligations that may or may not matter.
Don't misunderstand: you need an answer of some description. Otherwise, if you can't come up with an answer you are probably going to have an Egg McMagnum for breakfast. My point is make sure it's the RIGHT answer. Don't settle for a convenient one. Once you know it, DO something for it. Don't wait until you're about to kick the oxygen habit and then say "wow, what a waste" or look back and wonder "what if". It'd be a shame if your parting thoughts were about you didn't live your life as if it were YOUR life.
Or why you didn't use the cold cup of coffee Capt D threw in your face as a wake up call to think and act. Missing out on these doors that get opened for you are why you're asking the questions in the first place.
Make no mistake. You're in the driver's seat. More on that later.
Now continue banging your head on the table.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
