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Monday, 31 December 2007
Sigh
Once a year or so, someone in the national media notices Huntsville, and decides to write a by-the-numbers piece about the (sigh) fascinating dichotomy of the city -- it's in Alabama, but they build space vehicles. Some of the pieces are actually fairly well done, some not so much. Case in point: a piece on the New York Times' Web site today (don't know if it's in the print edition or not). Take, for example, this bit:Huntsville residents regard their city as an oasis, as un-Alabaman as Alabama can be. But they acknowledge that the state’s backwater reputation is a hindrance to recruiting. Local boosters are hoping to use the 50th anniversary of Explorer I on Jan. 31 as a way to promote Huntsville as Rocket City, unveiling a new pavilion, housing a 363-foot Saturn V rocket, at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, a museum and popular tourist attraction.We're depending on a museum exhibit of a 40-something-year-old relic to promote ourselves as the Rocket City? I mean, sure, the new display is really nice, and nothing at all against the Saturn V, but, you know, I think restoring Huntsville's reputation as the Rocket City today has a lot more to do with the fact that we're building rockets again, that we're currently designing what will be, far and away, the most powerful launch vehicle ever. Yet this article has no mention at all of Ares.
Still, wasn't it nice of the illustrious New York Times to spend a few minutes noticing our quaint little Rocket City ... in Alabama? Y'all come back now, y'hear?
Used tags: apollo, ares, huntsville, media, nasa, saturn, space, ussrc
Getting Old
And across the country, people roughly my age are crying out in unison, "EXACTLY!" over Whitney Pastorek's column from the year-in-review issue of Entertainment Weekly, "This Was the Year ... I Officially Became Old."To excerpt just a bit:
Mostly, here were the children, who I once believed to be the future, spending all of their time figuring out how to make the background of their MySpace page as ugly as possible! I was terrified. So I got a MySpace page. But I had no idea what I was supposed to do with it, and soon abandoned MySpace for Facebook, where at least I can play Scrabble with my friends.Exactly.
You know who plays Scrabble? Old people.
Used tags: funny, magazines, media
Friday, 28 December 2007
The Following Knight
Not saying that all my concerns are allayed, but, yeah, I'll watch it. They had me at duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh. "Mike" is a bit grating, but Arnett's kinda agreeable so far.
Used tags: television
Who Spiked The Punch
We're kickin' it somewhat old-school with this week's new Hatbag strip. Word. Go check it out.For those ATW readers who don't follow the weekly Hatbag link, a brief explanation -- Hatbag is a weekly webcomic Lain and I create; following two old college buddies as they adjust to sort-of grown-up life. If you read ATW, take a few extra seconds to go read Hatbag. Please? Please?
Used tags: comics, funny, hatbag
Burying The Lede
OK, I'm not sure if a blog counts as a formal legal instrument, but let me just say that I kind of like the idea of being buried in a recycled newspaper coffin. Ideally, though, I'd want one custom-made using the big stack of back issues of papers I worked on that's in the guest room closet. Or perhaps recycled remaindered copies of my book. Or both. Heck, just throw my whole life-in-paper in there.
Used tags: books, newspapers
Monday, 17 December 2007
Sick And Tired
Generally speaking, I decline to be an alarmist about the dangers supposedly inherent to our modern technological world.
But recently I've been a bit more aware of one of those dangers that in particular I tend to give some credence.
Without a doubt, we're fighting an escalating battle with disease. As we develop better medicines and antibacterials and antibiotics, etc., bacteria and viruses and other nasties get stronger in turn. The better we get, the better we make our enemies. That's well established. The only question is whether we eventually figure out how to get ahead, continue an ongoing stalemate, or eventually push the diseases so far that we can't fight them any more.
It's been on my mind, because I've been sick lately. Specifically, I've had a sore throat that started, mildly, on Tuesday and escalated into other congestion, fever and generally feeling lousy issues since. I've fluctuated in how I'm doing, and am at least no longer bed bound, but I'm a long way from well.
It's certainly not the sickest I've been, but that's the part that concerns me. It seems like normally, something relatively minor like these would play out rather quickly. I'd feel bad, get some rest, and get better. This time, though, it's just hanging around.
So, two possibilities -- One, I'm getting older. Which, of course, I am. We all are. But perhaps the immune system I was once so proud of just isn't what it used to be. Two, though, is my immune system is having to fight bugs that have gotten stronger over the years.
Supporting the second possibility, too, is the fact that not only are tons of people I know sick, but a lot of them are talking about having something that they just can't shake. Of course, maybe I'm just more attuned to it, being sick myself.
Anyway, what do you think? Have you been sick lately? Are you noticing more of it than usual going around? Does it seem like it's sticking around longer? Or are these just the delusions of a diseased mind? Because, trust me, I would be totally cool with that.
STS-122 Update
In case you haven't heard, the working date is now Jan. 10, so that the shuttle team at KSC will actually get a little bit of time off for Christmas. Of course, the emphasis there is on the fact that it's the working date, since a solution to the problem that led to the scrubs this month has yet to be identified.The ATW countdown clock has been updated.
Used tags: international_space_station, launch_schedule, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_122
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Space Race '08
Another installment in my series of posts about space-related comments by presidential candidates:Democrats
Dennis Kucinich
"She talked about an ambitious plan to retrofit American homes with wind turbines and solar panels. Mass transit systems are also desperately needed, she said.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) should be put to work on these projects, instead of sending people to the moon, Kucinich said." -- Space Politics, 10 December 2007
It joins the previous entries:
Republicans
Mike Huckabee
"Whether we ought to go to Mars is not a decision that I would want to make, but I would certainly want to make sure that we expand the space program, because every one of us who are sitting here tonight have our lives dramatically improved because there was a space program — whether it’s these screens that we see or the incredible electronics that we use, including the GPS systems that got many of you to this arena tonight. ... Or whether it’s the medical technologies that saved many of our lives or the lives or our families, it’s the direct result of the space program, and we need to put more money into science and technology and exploration." -- Space Politics, 29 November 2007
Rudy Giuliani
"He said he supported continuing to aggressively pursue space exploration." -- The Tallahassee Democrat, 5 April 2007
Tom Tancredo
"The question is a serious one and it deserves a serious answer, and that is this: Look, we’ve been — how many times up here, how many questions have dealt with the issue of deficit spending, the debt out of control? And yet, we have somebody saying, “But would you spend more money on going to Mars?" And the suggestion that we need to spend more money on space exploration. This is it, folks. That’s why we have such incredible problems with our debt, because everybody’s trying to be everything to all people. We can’t afford some things, and by the way, going to Mars is one of them.." -- Space Politics, 29 November 2007
Newt Gingrich
"...he said he would ... offer a $20 billion reward for the first private company that successfully completes a Mars mission. 'Somebody would be there and back about 40 percent of the way into the NASA process.'" -- Boston.com, 9 June 2007
Mitt Romney
"Regarding NASA's plans to return to the moon and Mars, he said he hadn't decided if that was the exact plan he'd pursue, 'but I have no reason to change that at this point.'" -- Florida Today, 7 August 2007
Democrats
Hillary Clinton
"But in a telephone interview afterward, she said that in the short term she would subordinate Bush administration proposals for human exploration of the Moon and Mars to restoring cuts in aeronautics research and space-based studies of climate change and other earth science issues.
Travel to the Moon or Mars 'excites people,' she said, 'but I am more focused on nearer-term goals I think are achievable.'"
-- The New York Times, 5 October 2007
“Democratic White House hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.) has pledged to pursue 'a successful and speedy transition' from the soon-to-be retired U.S. space shuttle fleet to 'a next-generation space transportation system that can take us back to the Moon and beyond.'”
-- Space News, 14 November 2007
Barack Obama
"Barack Obama’s early education and K-12 plan package costs about $18 billion per year. He will maintain fiscal responsibility and prevent any increase in the deficit by offsetting cuts and revenue sources in other parts of the government. The early education plan will be paid for by delaying the NASA Constellation Program for five years, using purchase cards and the negotiating power of the government to reduce costs of standardized procurement, auctioning surplus federal property, and reducing the erroneous payments identified by the Government Accountability Office, and closing the CEO pay deductibility loophole. The rest of the plan will be funded using a small portion of the savings associated with fighting the war in Iraq.." -- Official Education Plan, 20 November 2007
“I’m inspired by the idea of going to Mars,” he replied, projecting friendly sincerity. “I’m also mindful of the budgetary constraints. So I won’t give you an answer right now.”
-- Space Politics, 10 October 2007
Bill Richardson
"He did say that he sees space as 'a bona fide area of economic growth and opportunity'..." -- Space Politics, 4 June 2007
John Edwards
"I am a strong supporter of our space program. It reflects the best of the American spirit of optimism, discovery and progress.
We need a balanced space and aeronautics program. We need to support solar system exploration as an important goal for our human and robotic programs, but only as one goal among several. And we need to invite other countries to share in a meaningful way in both the adventure and the cost of space exploration." -- A Blog Around The Clock, 9 July 2007
Various
Dodd said that “we’re doing okay” and left it at that. Biden professed his support for robotic programs, and when asked about human spaceflight, said, “With clear leadership we can do anything, good luck.” Kucinich said he would double spending “across the board on civilian projects and privatize where we can”, and gave a shout-out for NASA Glenn Research Center, in his district. Richardson said spaceflight was “important” and added that “we should also encourage private companies”, as he has been doing in New Mexico. -- Space Politics, 28 September 2007
Monday, 31 December 2007
Sigh
NYT notices Huntsville again. (Read Entry)
Getting Old
EW column resonates with us ancient types. (Read Entry)Friday, 28 December 2007
The Following Knight
Teaser is online for new Knight Rider. (Read Entry)
Who Spiked The Punch
The week's Hatbag strip is now online. (Read Entry)
Burying The Lede
Get a newspaper coffin. (Read Entry)Monday, 17 December 2007
Sick And Tired
Is it just me? (Read Entry)
STS-122 Update
Launch now Jan. 10. (Read Entry)Wednesday, 12 December 2007