-Walter Cronkite, The Nation’s Narrator, Dies at 92 Not Uncle Walter! I still remember him from the old Disney MGM (before they changed the name of the park and the whole intro) Animation Tour introduction film with Robin Williams. Sad times, but at least he got to live a full life.
-Nancy Drew! How cool is Sotomayor for mentioning her as an influence? Yeah, she might be a little unrealistic but it’s Nancy Drew…she’s too awesome for flaws. Too much style for it. And I want her car. And the infinitely understanding boyfriend might be nice too. Nancy Drew’s Granddaughters
-And of course, all the Apollo 11 coverage for today’s anniversary. As Robert Heinlein wrote, the moon may be a harsh mistress but she sure looks pretty from here.
NPR:
-Book Review of Rocket Men. Suspenseful, Surprising Space Race History
-From Buzz Aldrin’s perspective: Aldrin Reflects on Life After Moon Mission Goes to show, if you become famous for doing your job and really aren’t used to any kind of public attention, it can get to you. Fame takes its toll. Still though…he got to walk on the moon.
-A Small Step to the Moon, A Giant Leap to Mars That is one of the quirks of life, you always hear about the big stuff…but something basic like a spacesuit that’ll keep you alive? Not so much. The vehicle itself, sure. Not the other stuff. Go figure.
NY Times:
-Mission to the Moon
- When NASA Defined Long Island We actually watched the section of From the Earth to the Moon about Grumman in my CON 100 class because it does a good job of showing the contractor/government relationship and the whole contract process, albeit from the contractor perspective. Still, yay Lunar Module.
- To the Moon, Buzz! Apollo 11 at 40
- Other Space stuff.
Washington Post:
- From (sorta) Neil Armstrong’s perspective: One Step Was Plenty
- On Anniversary of Moonwalk, Apollo Astronauts Debate Financial Restraints I really don’t understand those who say we’re spending too much on the space program. Don’t people know this is the next Manifest Destiny? Well, that and I suppose going to the depths of the ocean but really, the Earth is kinda boring these days, what with how we’re destroying it and stuff. Oh, and every action movie seeks to do the same, see the trailer for 2012 for evidence. Anything that’s anything gets destroyed in that one. Good times. Seriously though. Final frontier, people.
20 July 2009
18 July 2009
Musings, Part DD
- Strange but true: Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. What's it mean? Well...for starters, it's a grammatically correct sentence, believe it or not.
- Weird Al! He's great and in my opinion, very talented. Meet Weird Al, Stealth Pop Musicologist. Michael Ian Black's praise.
- When will politicians realize that by holding the office they do they should be held, and even (shocker) hold themselves, to a higher level of scrutiny and accountability for their actions, whether they can be labeled as part of a personal life or not. By running for office you give up that personal life, whether that's fair or not. Especially if you lay a claim to a higher degree of moral righteousness because you always, always get proven wrong on that score. And you always get caught. And they you try to talk your way out of it and can't. So, politicians, don't be jerks (insert more appropriate euphemism or pejorative) and just don't cheat on your wives or be interesting in the shady legal or moral sense because it's not interesting when you cajole people into believing in you. Then it's just a betrayal. Not just of your family but your purported beliefs and your constituents. And makes your rivals giggle with glee. Every tower topples so go against the stereotype and be a stand up guy. Shock us, I dare you. (Side note: Way to stand up for yourself South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford) Also, Marion Barry, it doesn’t matter if it’s legal or not to hire significant others to work in your office on the taxpayer’s dime…it’s the appearance issue and again, the betrayal of public trust. You of all people should understand the importance of appearing to have high morals that the voters usually hold politicians to.
- Oh, and Sarah Palin? Thanks for confirming every thought I’ve ever had about you. Way to flake out on your constituents.
- In 'D.C.,' A Mayoral Race That's Every Bit As Tight As Spandex The problem with superheroes is that they always look better on paper and in a crisis...not too good at the day to day stuff. And they'd always be running off trying to save the world or whatever.
- The Defenestration of Prague...in Legos!. For those of you who don't know the significance, it was a prelude to the Thirty Year's War and gave us the term defenestration...one of the words out there where the first three letters are in order alphabetically. And it's fun. And we probably got the word from the German word for window, fenster, plus de for…well, un.
- And now I really want to be in London: ‘All Around London, An Invitation to Make Music’
- Schott’s Vocab- inflationary language Too twoderful for words.
- I like how 4 of the top 10 cities are in Florida. 10 Meanest Cities
- Apollo Moon missions article by John Noble Wilford. Happy anniversary Apollo 11.
- Ten Ways to Get Punched While Seeing the New Harry Potter
I’d like to add to the woman behind me in the theater saying “he’s going to die now” and totally jumping the gun by about 7 or so minutes. I mean, of course he was, but you don’t ruin the set up. Also, I was worried the New Moon trailer right off the bat was going to spoil the whole thing (talk about attempting to hook onto an audience…and really annoying those of us who found the books after the 1st to be whiny and annoying, though to be fair, she was kind of annoying in the first too) but it didn’t. Granted, things were moved around and secondary characters were completely shafted but the plot was advanced, the set up was set up for the next movies and I appreciated the emotional recognition on behalf of two of the trio…better in the book and perhaps more true to life in the book, but there was that added camaraderie. They’re going to be great in-laws.
- Sea monsters? The ‘Zombie’ Follow-up: ‘Sense and Sensiblity and Sea Monsters’ Seriously? Sense and Sensibility is the one book of Austen’s where none of her heroes are active military people (Colonel Brandon’s retired) and none are in the Navy. Now Persuasion with sea monsters where Captain Wentworth is doing the Pirates of the Caribbean Davy Jones thing? That’s more plausible…which is why I guess they made resolutely landlocked S&S the one with the sea monsters. Still, I’m going to read it.
- Weird Al! He's great and in my opinion, very talented. Meet Weird Al, Stealth Pop Musicologist. Michael Ian Black's praise.
- When will politicians realize that by holding the office they do they should be held, and even (shocker) hold themselves, to a higher level of scrutiny and accountability for their actions, whether they can be labeled as part of a personal life or not. By running for office you give up that personal life, whether that's fair or not. Especially if you lay a claim to a higher degree of moral righteousness because you always, always get proven wrong on that score. And you always get caught. And they you try to talk your way out of it and can't. So, politicians, don't be jerks (insert more appropriate euphemism or pejorative) and just don't cheat on your wives or be interesting in the shady legal or moral sense because it's not interesting when you cajole people into believing in you. Then it's just a betrayal. Not just of your family but your purported beliefs and your constituents. And makes your rivals giggle with glee. Every tower topples so go against the stereotype and be a stand up guy. Shock us, I dare you. (Side note: Way to stand up for yourself South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford) Also, Marion Barry, it doesn’t matter if it’s legal or not to hire significant others to work in your office on the taxpayer’s dime…it’s the appearance issue and again, the betrayal of public trust. You of all people should understand the importance of appearing to have high morals that the voters usually hold politicians to.
- Oh, and Sarah Palin? Thanks for confirming every thought I’ve ever had about you. Way to flake out on your constituents.
- In 'D.C.,' A Mayoral Race That's Every Bit As Tight As Spandex The problem with superheroes is that they always look better on paper and in a crisis...not too good at the day to day stuff. And they'd always be running off trying to save the world or whatever.
- The Defenestration of Prague...in Legos!. For those of you who don't know the significance, it was a prelude to the Thirty Year's War and gave us the term defenestration...one of the words out there where the first three letters are in order alphabetically. And it's fun. And we probably got the word from the German word for window, fenster, plus de for…well, un.
- And now I really want to be in London: ‘All Around London, An Invitation to Make Music’
- Schott’s Vocab- inflationary language Too twoderful for words.
- I like how 4 of the top 10 cities are in Florida. 10 Meanest Cities
- Apollo Moon missions article by John Noble Wilford. Happy anniversary Apollo 11.
- Ten Ways to Get Punched While Seeing the New Harry Potter
I’d like to add to the woman behind me in the theater saying “he’s going to die now” and totally jumping the gun by about 7 or so minutes. I mean, of course he was, but you don’t ruin the set up. Also, I was worried the New Moon trailer right off the bat was going to spoil the whole thing (talk about attempting to hook onto an audience…and really annoying those of us who found the books after the 1st to be whiny and annoying, though to be fair, she was kind of annoying in the first too) but it didn’t. Granted, things were moved around and secondary characters were completely shafted but the plot was advanced, the set up was set up for the next movies and I appreciated the emotional recognition on behalf of two of the trio…better in the book and perhaps more true to life in the book, but there was that added camaraderie. They’re going to be great in-laws.
- Sea monsters? The ‘Zombie’ Follow-up: ‘Sense and Sensiblity and Sea Monsters’ Seriously? Sense and Sensibility is the one book of Austen’s where none of her heroes are active military people (Colonel Brandon’s retired) and none are in the Navy. Now Persuasion with sea monsters where Captain Wentworth is doing the Pirates of the Caribbean Davy Jones thing? That’s more plausible…which is why I guess they made resolutely landlocked S&S the one with the sea monsters. Still, I’m going to read it.
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