-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.
Showing posts with label space. Show all posts
Showing posts with label space. Show all posts
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.
20 May 2009
Musings, Part X
- Not That High School Musical. Glee is actually not bad, it's got a pretty good cast from what the pilot shows and it was actually a pretty fun hour.
- I hope he's screaming in agony in hell: The Fuhrer Returns to Berlin, This Time Saluted Only By Laughs. I think the combination of the play, and the banners that replace the swastika with a pretzel (genius, by the way) is the best thing that can happen to Berlin. They acknowledge the burden but slap the man responsible in the face, well, metaphorically. Satire at its best.
- Well, whenever I get homesick I can just go here: Disney Buys Land for Future Resort Hotel at National Harbor.
- Hubble! A Space Mission Worthy of Our Attention.
- Designing 'Up'-Well-Rounded Boy, Meet Old Square. I still think Carl's adorable. Grumpy old man or not, he's cute. And he's a balloon salesman? Awesome.
- Do two occurances qualify as a curse? I have now been to a concert at the DAR Hall here in DC twice now, once this past October for Jason Mraz and once last night for Keane. Each time there was a woman near me who was either high off of something (I'm going with drunk) or just really was the type of person who needed to go to a concert in a club without seats so everyone was being loud and dancing along. Last time the woman wanted people to be standing because heaven forbid we use the chairs we paid for and some of us are still getting used to the concept that concerts mean more than staying still and quiet while appreciating the music quietly until a piece is over (and make sure it doesn't have multiple movements because clapping after one? total faux pas). Last night the woman must have not had any bones because she was all over the place dancing, security managed to calm her down though I think, all I cared about was that she was out of my line of sight.
Beyond that, the concert was great. Wow are they energetic. Lights, always moving. You could tell that the lead singer was absolutely drenched in sweat by about the 5th song. Putting aside the energy he put into the performance, those lights have to be incredibly hot, they're certainly bright enough on my end. Great group, great songs, great supporting acts. Mat Kearney (the one I'd heard about) even quipped about his claim to fame saying that you write these songs for yourself and friends and someone decides a doctor should make out to it and you say of course that's what you wrote it for. Grey's Anatomy used "Breathe In, Breathe Out". I think my ears have fully recovered.
- Also, trying to ride the Blue/Orange lines of the Metro through the downtown stations around 5:30 is akin to suicide or hell or a highly concentrated new Disney attraction line. Crazy, insane, I'm so glad I live on the Red line, though it has it's crazy times as well.
- So, I confess I have read the first 3 Twilight books. I have an electronic copy of the 4th and I guess I'll read it one day (I've skimmed enough to get the main details) but I'm currently in no hurry. I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. Yes, it's an interesting take on the whole vampire-human thing with werewolves thrown in because they always seem to be the other piece of the triangle. I liked the first but then...they got whiny. Bella got on my nerves and I never cared for Jacob. And I like vampire stories in general, it's kind of fun comparing the different ones and how they deal with the whole human-interaction thing: sun, no sun, how to kill them, blood issues, etc. Maybe my problem with vampire book series is the style of Meyer's writing and her tone. Perhaps these books will be better, there are certainly more of them and hey, adults are the focus, not teenagers who I suppose are inherently whiny. Vampire-Loving Barmaid Hits Jackpot for Charlaine Harris.
- Question: Who's the Longest-Running Fictional Character Ever? Sort of who you'd expect.
- By the way, love the originality of NCIS: Los Angeles. I was really pulling for a new intialization, as NCIS was the spinoff from JAG. Alas, not to be.
- Rocky and Bullwinkle's on Hulu? Score.
- I hope he's screaming in agony in hell: The Fuhrer Returns to Berlin, This Time Saluted Only By Laughs. I think the combination of the play, and the banners that replace the swastika with a pretzel (genius, by the way) is the best thing that can happen to Berlin. They acknowledge the burden but slap the man responsible in the face, well, metaphorically. Satire at its best.
- Well, whenever I get homesick I can just go here: Disney Buys Land for Future Resort Hotel at National Harbor.
- Hubble! A Space Mission Worthy of Our Attention.
- Designing 'Up'-Well-Rounded Boy, Meet Old Square. I still think Carl's adorable. Grumpy old man or not, he's cute. And he's a balloon salesman? Awesome.
- Do two occurances qualify as a curse? I have now been to a concert at the DAR Hall here in DC twice now, once this past October for Jason Mraz and once last night for Keane. Each time there was a woman near me who was either high off of something (I'm going with drunk) or just really was the type of person who needed to go to a concert in a club without seats so everyone was being loud and dancing along. Last time the woman wanted people to be standing because heaven forbid we use the chairs we paid for and some of us are still getting used to the concept that concerts mean more than staying still and quiet while appreciating the music quietly until a piece is over (and make sure it doesn't have multiple movements because clapping after one? total faux pas). Last night the woman must have not had any bones because she was all over the place dancing, security managed to calm her down though I think, all I cared about was that she was out of my line of sight.
Beyond that, the concert was great. Wow are they energetic. Lights, always moving. You could tell that the lead singer was absolutely drenched in sweat by about the 5th song. Putting aside the energy he put into the performance, those lights have to be incredibly hot, they're certainly bright enough on my end. Great group, great songs, great supporting acts. Mat Kearney (the one I'd heard about) even quipped about his claim to fame saying that you write these songs for yourself and friends and someone decides a doctor should make out to it and you say of course that's what you wrote it for. Grey's Anatomy used "Breathe In, Breathe Out". I think my ears have fully recovered.
- Also, trying to ride the Blue/Orange lines of the Metro through the downtown stations around 5:30 is akin to suicide or hell or a highly concentrated new Disney attraction line. Crazy, insane, I'm so glad I live on the Red line, though it has it's crazy times as well.
- So, I confess I have read the first 3 Twilight books. I have an electronic copy of the 4th and I guess I'll read it one day (I've skimmed enough to get the main details) but I'm currently in no hurry. I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. Yes, it's an interesting take on the whole vampire-human thing with werewolves thrown in because they always seem to be the other piece of the triangle. I liked the first but then...they got whiny. Bella got on my nerves and I never cared for Jacob. And I like vampire stories in general, it's kind of fun comparing the different ones and how they deal with the whole human-interaction thing: sun, no sun, how to kill them, blood issues, etc. Maybe my problem with vampire book series is the style of Meyer's writing and her tone. Perhaps these books will be better, there are certainly more of them and hey, adults are the focus, not teenagers who I suppose are inherently whiny. Vampire-Loving Barmaid Hits Jackpot for Charlaine Harris.
- Question: Who's the Longest-Running Fictional Character Ever? Sort of who you'd expect.
- By the way, love the originality of NCIS: Los Angeles. I was really pulling for a new intialization, as NCIS was the spinoff from JAG. Alas, not to be.
- Rocky and Bullwinkle's on Hulu? Score.
14 May 2009
Musings, Part V
- I think I might want to see this movie now...Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds'- A 'Bunch of Guys on a Mission' Movie. And really, if I'm going to sit through Brad Pitt, I prefer him when he's a touched unhinged, like in the Ocean's trilogy. That's the Brad Pitt I can stand.
- Oh, Bonnie and Clyde. Fun times. Who knew people were so into you? Yeah, a lot of people I guess. Bonnie and Clyde, America's Deadly Sweethearts, 75 Years Later.
- I seem to write about space a lot, maybe because it's just that time of year, what with the movie and all. Anyway, funny book titles really can help: The Universe and Its Mysteries - To Go. The book title is You Are Here: A Portable History of the Universe.
- I admit I play the Sims. I haven't for ages but only because I'm worried about space on the computer and the game running slow. However, when I get my new one, I'm definitely getting Sims 3. Making Sims Into Neighbors You Can Relate To.
- It's amazing how many male politicians can be absolute scumbags in their personal lives: The battle of the Berlusconis. Cheating is inexcusable. Period.
- On a lighter note, Ewan McGregor is perhaps the very definition of a Father-what-a-waste, thankfully he's just playing one. Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent.
- Oh, Bonnie and Clyde. Fun times. Who knew people were so into you? Yeah, a lot of people I guess. Bonnie and Clyde, America's Deadly Sweethearts, 75 Years Later.
- I seem to write about space a lot, maybe because it's just that time of year, what with the movie and all. Anyway, funny book titles really can help: The Universe and Its Mysteries - To Go. The book title is You Are Here: A Portable History of the Universe.
- I admit I play the Sims. I haven't for ages but only because I'm worried about space on the computer and the game running slow. However, when I get my new one, I'm definitely getting Sims 3. Making Sims Into Neighbors You Can Relate To.
- It's amazing how many male politicians can be absolute scumbags in their personal lives: The battle of the Berlusconis. Cheating is inexcusable. Period.
- On a lighter note, Ewan McGregor is perhaps the very definition of a Father-what-a-waste, thankfully he's just playing one. Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent.
11 May 2009
Musings, Part U
- So Star Trek...was awesome. And (warning, spoilers) while I'm upset that they killed Vulcan, I'm kinda happy for Spock, finally gets a girl. The ship was gorgeous, having Leonard Nimoy in it was awesome. The whole alternate, parallel, reality thing might appease some diehards I think, and be interesting for those of us who like the time episodes (as in, I'm one of them). I really, really enjoyed it. And have listened to the soundtrack on repeat since I got home from the movie yesterday.
- This will likely be the space post, surprise surprise, I know. Anyway, last Hubble mission lifts off today. That is one thing I miss about home (Florida), being able to see the shuttle launches. Special Tools Required For Last Call to Hubble. Space Shuttle Blasts Off on Hubble Telescope Mission, on schedule and with no problems. Yay!
- And of course, various articles with spoilers for the film and about the box office numbers. NY Times: Starship Franchise Zooms to Top of Box Office, The Two Sides of 'Star Trek'. Washington Post: Star Trek: The Early Days of Kirk, Spock, Bones, Star-crossed lovers: 'Trek' ship mates lock lips, Hank Stuever Essay: The Trouble With Quibbles and Niche Fandom. And for real science in Star Trek, PRI: Warp Speed Ahead!. Oh, and dropping by SNL: Update Feature: Star Trek. Too bad none of them got to host.
- Joss Whedon on commentary...singing! This American Life: Return to the Scene of the Crime, his section starts at 27:52. I really need to get this DVD now...
- So, I'm one of those people who like languages from sci-fi and fantasy works. From the computer series starting with Myst I have a thing on the D'Ni language and I use the numbering system. From Tolkien I have the Languages of Middle Earth book (see name of blog for an example) and yes, I use the words all over the place from my email address to my AIM screenname. So articles like this? Kind of up my alley: There's No Klingon Word for Hello.
- This will likely be the space post, surprise surprise, I know. Anyway, last Hubble mission lifts off today. That is one thing I miss about home (Florida), being able to see the shuttle launches. Special Tools Required For Last Call to Hubble. Space Shuttle Blasts Off on Hubble Telescope Mission, on schedule and with no problems. Yay!
- And of course, various articles with spoilers for the film and about the box office numbers. NY Times: Starship Franchise Zooms to Top of Box Office, The Two Sides of 'Star Trek'. Washington Post: Star Trek: The Early Days of Kirk, Spock, Bones, Star-crossed lovers: 'Trek' ship mates lock lips, Hank Stuever Essay: The Trouble With Quibbles and Niche Fandom. And for real science in Star Trek, PRI: Warp Speed Ahead!. Oh, and dropping by SNL: Update Feature: Star Trek. Too bad none of them got to host.
- Joss Whedon on commentary...singing! This American Life: Return to the Scene of the Crime, his section starts at 27:52. I really need to get this DVD now...
- So, I'm one of those people who like languages from sci-fi and fantasy works. From the computer series starting with Myst I have a thing on the D'Ni language and I use the numbering system. From Tolkien I have the Languages of Middle Earth book (see name of blog for an example) and yes, I use the words all over the place from my email address to my AIM screenname. So articles like this? Kind of up my alley: There's No Klingon Word for Hello.
16 April 2009
Musings, Part K
- Oh, angry conservatives. You’re so cute sometimes. You conveniently develop amnesia and don’t remember things you said just a few years before when you turn around and do the very thing you were yelling at everyone else for. You ignore that history comes in cycles and things get repeated or come back to smack you upside the head but when you don’t ignore history, you get it wrong and completely ignore the historical context. Adorable. Like one of those Anne Geddes flower babies. Boston style tea parties in 2009. Wow. Awesome. Did we suddenly impose a tea tax I wasn’t aware of? Are we fighting against a king that lives across the ocean from us in a pretty awesome palace and is trying to raise money because his government needs the funds to pay off a war against France and figures he has colonies (just to milk them of all the profits and resources the home country can) so might as well use them? I’m thinking no. It might make more sense if our president really liked tea but I haven’t heard that bit of trivia so I think we’re safe. How about instead of tossing the tea, you toss yourselves? Don’t take it out on the tea, it didn’t do anything to you. Why Protest Big Government With Tea On Tax Day? Does it make sense? That’d be a giant nope.
- Well, I suppose a treadmill’s still pretty cool to have your name on, NASA Names Treadmill After TV’s Stephen Colbert and I’m quite impressed they managed to work it into an acronym. See the full episode here: The Colbert Report, Tuesday, April 14, 2009, the NASA bit starts around the 10:10 mark.
- I love these sorts of things: What’s Your NPR Name? Mine would be something like Jennkifer Orschwiller (at least I think that was the smallest town, it’s hard to tell, I’m not sure if it’s worse that there’ve been so many or that I can’t remember the names…)
- I guess I’ll ahead and weigh in on this, Big Wins Re-Energize Gay Marriage Activists. I’m completely thrilled for them and kind of proud those states were able to accomplish what they did. I suppose I understand how some people feel their way of life is threatened (though really, their outlook threatens my way of life so don’t we all threaten each other every day?) and that their marriage will no longer have meaning if everyone is allowed to get married, even homosexual couples. The thing is, heterosexual couples have done quite enough to destroy the institution of marriage all on our own, so isn’t the fact that people still want to get married in the first place a win for the institution? From the divorce rate, to the age gaps, to the mercenary motives, to the outright abuse that is far more common than we’d like to think, marriage is on shaky grounds right now. I could better understand if these anti-same-sex marriage people were framing everything from a religious viewpoint, because within the bounds of religion, yes, most of them go with the one man, one woman thing. Which is totally fine. But I haven’t heard of any same-sex couples who are trying to force their way into a religious ceremony, they seem to be going for civil ceremonies, probably because a religious one wouldn’t happen. And really, what’s wrong with wanting to be acknowledged by the state? It is a civil rights issue and one that absolutely deserves to be completely recognized. I’m all for love and marriage and soulmates but some days, people like those who belong to the National Organization for Marriage or the Family Research Council (or especially these guys in Afghanistan or even the child-bride ick in Saudi Arabia) make me want to say forget all that and go with the idea that marriage isn’t logical and love is just chemicals in the brain, nothing special, an argument frequently presented by the scientists in Bones. But that would be cynical. Hey, how about all those who don’t want others to have rights just go to Afghanistan, seems some people there would welcome them, except for the pesky Christian thing. At least they would align on social issues.
- This is really quite good: Winning Essay Translates Teen’s Story. Read it. And that’s all I really need to say about it.
- Well, I suppose a treadmill’s still pretty cool to have your name on, NASA Names Treadmill After TV’s Stephen Colbert and I’m quite impressed they managed to work it into an acronym. See the full episode here: The Colbert Report, Tuesday, April 14, 2009, the NASA bit starts around the 10:10 mark.
- I love these sorts of things: What’s Your NPR Name? Mine would be something like Jennkifer Orschwiller (at least I think that was the smallest town, it’s hard to tell, I’m not sure if it’s worse that there’ve been so many or that I can’t remember the names…)
- I guess I’ll ahead and weigh in on this, Big Wins Re-Energize Gay Marriage Activists. I’m completely thrilled for them and kind of proud those states were able to accomplish what they did. I suppose I understand how some people feel their way of life is threatened (though really, their outlook threatens my way of life so don’t we all threaten each other every day?) and that their marriage will no longer have meaning if everyone is allowed to get married, even homosexual couples. The thing is, heterosexual couples have done quite enough to destroy the institution of marriage all on our own, so isn’t the fact that people still want to get married in the first place a win for the institution? From the divorce rate, to the age gaps, to the mercenary motives, to the outright abuse that is far more common than we’d like to think, marriage is on shaky grounds right now. I could better understand if these anti-same-sex marriage people were framing everything from a religious viewpoint, because within the bounds of religion, yes, most of them go with the one man, one woman thing. Which is totally fine. But I haven’t heard of any same-sex couples who are trying to force their way into a religious ceremony, they seem to be going for civil ceremonies, probably because a religious one wouldn’t happen. And really, what’s wrong with wanting to be acknowledged by the state? It is a civil rights issue and one that absolutely deserves to be completely recognized. I’m all for love and marriage and soulmates but some days, people like those who belong to the National Organization for Marriage or the Family Research Council (or especially these guys in Afghanistan or even the child-bride ick in Saudi Arabia) make me want to say forget all that and go with the idea that marriage isn’t logical and love is just chemicals in the brain, nothing special, an argument frequently presented by the scientists in Bones. But that would be cynical. Hey, how about all those who don’t want others to have rights just go to Afghanistan, seems some people there would welcome them, except for the pesky Christian thing. At least they would align on social issues.
- This is really quite good: Winning Essay Translates Teen’s Story. Read it. And that’s all I really need to say about it.
14 April 2009
Musings, Part J
- I agree with 99% of this article, Washington Diary: crying on cable all except the line near the end about how the rage/crying/over the top nonsense is therapeutic. It’s not therapeutic, it’s embarrassing and pathetic. And it doesn’t exorcise our demons but adds more. It’s the kind of behavior we’re scolded for by our parents when we’re children and our parents won’t buy us candy while at a grocery store. It’s a temper tantrum that they should have grown out of. He’s right about turning to the Daily Show. As sad as it might be for some, it’s the only news I watch on TV. I get that the cable news (24 hour, nonstop plagues upon our planet that ought to at least be banned from airports) has to be complaining about something, whether it was liberals, or anyone who didn’t worship at the altar of whatever they were pushing that day, not backing our immediate past president or now just complaining about the president (and gee, who’s the anti-American now?) but do they have to do so in such a…petulant teenage girl who says like every other word, is fanatical about MySpace and can only hold a lengthy conversation over who is dating who (either in the popular circles at school or in the teen celebrity circles) or how scared they are they gained a fraction of a pound, fashion? Get over yourselves, give your audience a chance to use their brain cells, maybe nurture some at the same rate you’re killing them.
- Ever wonder what you can do with Peeps besides feeling your teeth cringe when you see a wall of them at your local store around holidays and blowing them up in the microwave? Well, you can be creative with them in the Washington Post Peep Diorama Contest. It’s in its third year and wow are some of them creative this year. For pictures see: Peep Show, Peeps Show II, and Peeps Show III. I particularly like the Metro ones…they really captured the trains quite well. Who knew Nighthawks could work so well with Peeps?
- Space is awesome. Seriously. If I were more into science and didn’t wear glasses I would totally have tried to be an astronaut. I was considering it for a while but soon decided my brain wasn’t a science brain but a social science brain that just really thought space was awesome. Still, I can envy people like this, Last Voyage for the Keeper of the Hubble and applaud them at the same time. You rock NASA.
- Ever wonder what you can do with Peeps besides feeling your teeth cringe when you see a wall of them at your local store around holidays and blowing them up in the microwave? Well, you can be creative with them in the Washington Post Peep Diorama Contest. It’s in its third year and wow are some of them creative this year. For pictures see: Peep Show, Peeps Show II, and Peeps Show III. I particularly like the Metro ones…they really captured the trains quite well. Who knew Nighthawks could work so well with Peeps?
- Space is awesome. Seriously. If I were more into science and didn’t wear glasses I would totally have tried to be an astronaut. I was considering it for a while but soon decided my brain wasn’t a science brain but a social science brain that just really thought space was awesome. Still, I can envy people like this, Last Voyage for the Keeper of the Hubble and applaud them at the same time. You rock NASA.
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