Laughing Wolf
Monday, May 12, 2008
Into The Light: Ron Parise
Many years ago when I did work (sub-contractor) for NASA, one of my first assignments was the ASTRO-1 mission. This payload carried three major telescopes—HUT, UIT, and WUPPE—to do then new and novel ultra-violet astronomy. I have heard that first mission declared a total failure because everything didn’t work right, and I say bull. I have heard it called a complete success, and again I would say bull. I would call it a success, and an important one, because it did meet many of it’s scientific milestones despite a number of Spacelab and orbiter system problems.
In a short version, the systems that should have powered, pointed, and gotten things rolling didn’t work. The system was, however, robust enough that work-arounds could be found for most things. The workarounds, however, depended on the fact that three astronomers were onboard who could work with the ground to not merely point, but zero in extremely precisely to gather data. Slower than planned, but getting faster and better with practice, the crew was well on the way to completing all mission parameters when a recalcitrant toilet (actually, a frozen waste-water port that developed a sewage-cicle that blocked dumping the toilet and waste water tanks) ended the mission early.
One of those people who made things work was an astronomer and guest astronaut named Ron Parise. Ron and the others worked with the ground to aim, adjust for great precision, and then tweak more for the best possible data. The data they got was phenomenal, if limited. I will always wonder what they might have accomplished on that mission if not for the sewage-cicle.
This morning, I learned that Ron has entered the light after a struggle against cancer. He accomplished much more than just flying in space, and where he flies now I hope he has the answers he sought and much more besides. May the light shine down on those he leaves behind.
LW
The Storms Strike Home
With all the coverage yesterday of the storms out in Oklahoma and the midwest, I didn’t realize until late yesterday that the system had also hit Georgia pretty hard. The good news is that it appears all my family is safe. The not-so-good news is that as of last night a number of them were part of the 87,000 reported without power in Georgia. They are getting by, but good thoughts for them and everyone affected by the storms would be appreciated.
LW
Patti Wins!
I live blogged it at Blackfive, but the good news is that Patti—and Soldier’s Angels—won the America’s Favorite Mom contest. Congratulations Patti!
LW
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Well, That Bites
I met up with a videographer I know, and we tested the tape from the Face of America Ride. Using his equipment, we discovered that the tape is even more corrupted than originally appeared. Bleep.
On the upside, he shared some information with me that has changed some camera plans. It seems that Sony is coming out with a new high-end video camera, but it’s non-interchangeable-lens cousin is approved by major cable networks for full use: in other words, not just b-roll footage. It is also more expensive than what I had been looking at, but… So, I think I have a new video camera to shoot for…
More soon.
LW
Restful Weekend?
Not so far. Yesterday saw me out breaking new ground to expand the garden, plowing same, and planting. For those curious: heirloom tomato plants; english peas; brussel sprouts; leeks; turnips; green, red, yellow, and chocolate bell peppers; yellow crook neck squash; zuchinni; habanero peppers; jalapeno peppers; purple carrots; healthmaster carrots; and radishes. I also started moving the herbs up to the rock and flower garden by the back deck. The half that wasn’t being used is being converted to an herb bed (removing large rocks and replacing with garden soil), and I plan to move the remaining flowers out this fall and make it just an herb bed then. Herbs to date are chives, cilantro, curly parsley, flat parsley, purple basil, thai basil, dill, and thyme. Need more brussel sprouts and leeks, also plan to add marjoram and some other herbs once I get that area expanded a bit more. Still need to plant thai pepper seeds too… Where I want to plant the next two fruit trees is now prepared and marked as well. I also got the flag pole flower bed planted and flowers in the two big pots out front as well Friday evening—the pots need more plants though.
I had also planned to mow both yards (more like hayfields since I missed a week), but only got the house yard. I hope the garden does as well as the lawn, as I swear you can just about see the grass and weeds growing… I picked up a LOT more sun than planned or realized, and forgot to wear a hat a good chunk of the day, so the scalp may be a bit pink along with arms and neck. Yep, I am a red neck right now, fo sho. I think I hurt worse last night than I did during the bike ride last weekend, it did not make for a good night’s sleep.
Speaking of riding, I also took my riding bike (the other is the errand bike at work) to the other bike store (not the one where I bought it), and tried a new seat, bought same. Smaller is indeed better. The person helping me had me ride it outside and do some riding inside the store, with the net result that some other adjustments were made as well. All-in-all, a much better ride. Now to get some road work in with it to truly test things out (can change the seat out in the next 30 or so days if needed/desired), not going to happen with the rain today it appears.
Jenny is not happy right now. We had a thunderstorm roll through, and she actually got up partly in my lap. Thunder, gun shots, fireworks—those just do not make her happy. She wouldn’t actually sit in my lap, but sort of next to and over me, leaning into me for all she was worth and trembling to beat the band. I managed to get two melatonin tabs in her before it got too bad, and she finally decided to get out of my lap and just be at my feet. Semi-attached to them, mind you, but…
More soon, and I promise to get caught up on e-mail here shortly.
LW
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Face Of America, The Longer Version
Is now up at Blackfive. Go read, enjoy, and get ready to help us for next year.
LW
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Some Thoughts On The Indiana Election Process
I have deliberately stayed away from results coverage, though I hope the Russian news crew I met on the flight back from DC Monday are having a good time and getting what they wanted out of it. At the very least I was able to recommend some places to eat and drink to them, though I forgot to remind them that alcohol—most likely needed to deal with the politicians and flunkies—would be cut off during voting. Heck, I forgot it myself and was sore disappointed at lunch when I couldn’t get a good half pint to go with my meal.
The new convenience centers worked well in my experience. I forgot about them (I blame the Face of America bike ride and resulting tiredness) and stopped by my normal polling place on the way into work, but the convenience center was a very short walk from work. The lines moved fairly quickly, were not overly long when I went, and the staff was friendly.
The first major problem is that Indiana’s electronic system does not provide a printed output for the voter nor apparently for the election workers. This is nothing more than fraud waiting to be discovered (as opposed to simply happening). There is no realistic confirmation that you even voted, much less who you voted for, and is not acceptable.
The second major problem, in my opinion, is that there is no way to do write-in candidates. You get to vote for who they say you can vote, and that is it. If there is a way to do write-in candidates, it is not readily apparent and is not clearly posted. The system is not set up for asking for such, much less being able to do it. That takes away a major concept of our voting system—you are not limited to simply the official slate, but can write in as a mechanism for dealing with a variety of ills. Not being able to do so is the mark of several failed totalitarian states, not the Republic.
Just some quick thoughts on the day after.
LW
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
The Good, The Bad, The ???
Good: Income theft refund arrives, debts can be paid, and I replaced my much loved CRKT SRT pocket knife that disappeared a few weeks ago.
Bad: My video camera, which is getting old now, malfunctioned again, this time at the Face of America ride. It is off to Canon to see how much repair will cost. I hope not much, as I am going to put off repairing the watch and doing some other stuff until I know and—the real thing—buying a comparable camera today will run about $4k. Truly bad is that right now I seem to have no way to get the computer to download the video for editing, for if I could I would use pan controls to focus away from the interesting left side…
The ???: I bought the part the dealer thinks will repair the hot tub. WIth luck, I will get it in and everything refilled by Wednesday. Maybe. While I don’t hurt too badly at all, it still would be very, very nice to have that up and running…
LW
Monday, May 05, 2008
Please Go Vote For Patti!
Chuck Z and I (Team Chuck Z) have just finished the Face of American Bicycle ride, and we did ride and we did survive. Pain is weakness leaving the body.
This ride was done by World Team Sports and Soldier’s Angels. What I think was a bit more than 200 riders took part, and regular riders and wounded/ill troops took part. This is just one of the things done by Soldier’s Angels. We have a way to help them keep getting family members to the wounded, to help with VALOUR-IT, and to do many of the other things they do, by themselves or in partnership with other groups, like this ride.
Today, and today only, we can vote for Patti as a semi-finalist in the America’s Favorite Mom contest. Your votes have already helped win money that went to purchase clothing for our wounded. The vote today will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EASTERN(!), and today is the ONLY day you can vote for her. So, please, hit this link (note that it is NOT the same link as before) and vote so that SA has a shot at the grand prize. Please help, for that help DOES go to SA and from there to the troops. Please, take a moment to help make a difference. I can’t tell you what this ride meant to the wounded and ill troops, nor can I express how much the other things done mean to the troops and their families.
Vote. Please.
LW
Cross posted from Blackfive…
Face Of America, The Quick Version
Chuck Z. and I rode in the Face of America ride in DC this weekend. We made most of the day Saturday, and all day Sunday. I don’t hurt nearly as bad as I thought I would for riding roughly 80 of the 110 miles from Bethesda to Gettysburg. On Carren’s mountain bike (a Trek, that I loved). I found out Sunday evening that that Chuck was known as “The Maniac” to the rest of the 200 plus riders. I am now home, and recuperating. I plan to be a part of Team Chuck Z again next year. More soon.
LW
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Thank Goodness I Checked
It has been an interesting couple of weeks. On the good side, I had a nice visit from the English Werewolf and the Borzoi, got to bake for the troops (see Blackfive), and have done some other fun stuff. On the other side of interesting, I’ve also had to replace the dehumidifier in the basement (don’t get a Heijer unit!), notice a problem with a gutter and downspout, had to have some expensive furnace repairs, and now…
I’ve been trying to get in shape for a bicycle ride. Not just any ride, but an event with wounded/ill troops. I wasn’t going to ride, was challenged by Chuck Z, was going to ride, and now—not so sure. I actually made some of my time and distance goals last night, but also had some pretty good knee and hip issues afterwards. Add to that the fact that I also strained/dinged my right arm Monday during my upper body workout at the gym, and I am not a happy camper. In point of fact, a very sore camper. Now, most of it is good pain, but that which isn’t, isn’t.
So, I decided to hobble over and hop in the hot tub last night. A few days ago, it hadn’t wanted to run right, but seemed to have gotten back on an even keel. I flip the top back, hit the button, and nothing. I reset power, and things came up and started running. I thought it seemed a bit hot, then saw a flash reading of 115. I got an instant read thermometer from the kitchen, and sure enough, even thought it now said 104, it really was 115 degrees. As it was also trying to go up, I decided not to do a lobster impression and just cut the power.
Sure do hope the income theft refund gets here soon…
LW
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Different But Important: Testicular Cancer
MaryAnn asked me if I would do this post, and I am glad to copy her post here so that the information can get downrange to the troops. Her site is often blocked (Blogspot), and while Blackfive is in some places as well, the thought is that it will reach places her’s can’t. If anyone else wants to copy this, please feel free to do so as caught early this is a very treatable cancer—just ask Lance Armstrong. Copy for post, copy to mail, just help get the word downrange.
LW
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008
Important information about testicular cancer and self-exams
Ok, this is an unusual post. But it’s really important because we see quite a few cases of testicular cancer at Landstuhl due to the gender/age group of the patients.
Please help raise awareness about the importance of deployed men doing testicular self-exams.
There’s very high awareness for breast cancer and the need for women to carry out self-exams.
However, there’s much less awareness about testicular cancer (TC), which is the most common type of cancer affecting guys between the ages of 15 and 35.
Most often, TC is found by men themselves. The thing with being deployed is that you don’t want to look like you’re playing with yourself in the shower or whatever while checking yourself out. Also, back home, it’s often found by wives/girlfriends.
But a monthly self-exam of the testicles is the best way of becoming familiar with your body and thus enabling detection of TC at an early - and highly curable - stage.
Information about self-exams. [http://tcrc.acor.org/tcexam.html]
General information about TC. [http://tcrc.acor.org/index.html]
Important to Know:
- TC has a VERY high cure rate.
- Treatment usually involves removal of the affected testicle and follow up.
- Having one testicle is almost always sufficient to keep everything “working”.Finally, embarassment is a poor excuse for not having things checked out. If you think there is something wrong or something has changed, get your butt to sick call!
Please help by passing this information on to those you know in the sandbox. Thanks.
Update: In the comments Mrs. G shares this cancer prevention tip
Saturday, April 19, 2008
A Quiet Weekend
In terms of posting, at least. My (extremely) occasional co-bloggers English Werewolf and the Borzoi have driven in for a visit, and a nice one it is. A delightful Indian dinner last night, with Borzoi actually sporting a bindi (and a shirt showing a cat and indicating that having sown destruction, chaos, and the like she had done her job as was moving on—ironic for a dog person, but apt *G*), conversation late into the night (at least for Jenny and myself), and a slow start until the morning. Posting will be lite this weekend… 
LW
Friday, April 18, 2008
That’s An Interesting Way To Wake Up
I tend to rise early, so was up and on the computer when it suddenly felt like a truck had slammed into the lair. Now, we get a lot of wind and some “interesting” wind gusts and my first thought was that this was the case. Then, it felt like the truck dropped into low and kept pusing. Having experienced a couple of tremors while visiting California and Japan, my next thought was “You have got to be frelling kidding me.”
Sure enough, it was an earthquake. 5.4 and if it was like that here, I don’t want to know what it was like for the people in West Salem, IL.
My first reaction was to both watch the walls and look for damage starting, and to get to the back door as Jenny was outside. As I opened the door, here came Jenny around the side of the lair, wanting in now and with a bit of a scared look and a bit of “I didn’t do it” mixed on her face.
She has now had a treat, and I am getting breakfast, and there appears to be no structural or other damage aside from needing to re-level some framed items. Jenny is relaxed, and giving me looks as I whistle “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” but then again she oft doesn’t appreciate my sense of humor.
Hope your day got started with coffee instead, and that all in the area are okay.
LW
Friday, April 11, 2008
For A Good Laugh
This movie is well worth the 8 minutes…
LW
Content copyright C. Blake Powers and the individual authors. Comments become the property of C. Blake Powers and may be altered, edited, deleted, and used by C. Blake Powers or the individual authors without restriction or recompense.
