Dr. Space
I just finished reading Bob Ward’s “Dr. Space: The Life of Wernher von Braun,” which I’ve been reading off and on for nearly nine months. It’s a very thorough book, and at times I found it overwhelming. But I was hopeful for some interesting nuggets of history or insight about von Braun — a household name in my hometown of Huntsville, Ala., and at one time a person after whom I considered naming my youngest son.
For all its cumbersome parts, the book certainly delivered on revealing things that I didn’t know. It also created a new appreciation for von Braun and the impact he had on space exploration and ultimately the history of Huntsville, America and mankind.
Throughout the book I marked several things that stood out to me. One of those was the “von Braun plan” for space exploration. I found it interesting that the plan von Braun laid out in 1970 is so similar to the plan we are under today. The timeline has been extended greatly and some of the plans were modified or downsized, but the basic outline is the same.
“The resultant twenty-year plan included several main elements. There were to be a series of three separate Skylab space stations in Earth orbit; a smaller, simpler Space Shuttle than the mainstream concept then being pushed; and continued production and use of Saturns and other launch vehicles for scientific , unmanned missions to Mars, the Sun, and on multiplanet tours. Later would come a larger shuttle, a larger, permanent space station, a permanent lunar base, and ultimately a manned mission to Mars.” (Ward, 192)
A second comment that really stood out is something I’ve written about here before, and that is the connection of God with science. Towards the end of his life von Braun wrote a presentation titled “Responsible Scientific Investigation and Application.” In that presentation he wrote about the compatibility of science and faith.
“‘In this reaching of the new millennium through faith in the words of Jesus Christ, science can be a valuable tool rather than an impediment. The universe revealed through scientific inquiry is the living witness that God has indeed been at work. Understanding the nature of the creation provides a substantive basis for the faith by which we attempt to know the nature of the Creator.’” (Ward 217-18)
I Could Not Ask For More
I heard Sara Evans’ version of “I Could Not Ask For More” for the first time today, which is rather fitting for me today. If my husband and I were to have a song (which we do not), this would be it. The original version by Edwin McCain was on the soundtrack of the movie Message in a Bottle which we saw together while we were dating in college. He later bought me the soundtrack (which I still have and listen to).
I thought that we saw this movie if not on our first date at least one of the first few dates. But it appears the movie wasn’t released until February 1999, and since our first date was exactly 10 years ago today, my recollections must be incorrect.
What I do remember from our first date is that we ate at OCharley’s, and I wore a short burgundy dress (which I still have in the back of the closet, but it hasn’t fit in years). He brought me a bouquet of red roses (which I dried and also still have). I wasn’t quite ready when he arrived so I asked my roommate to have him wait in the common area of our dorm suite. He was impatient to see me, I guess, and did not wait in the common area but rather came to my room where I was finishing up. I also remember that as we were leaving we ran into a mutual friend who did not know we were going out and that friend’s look of surprise and confusion at seeing the two of us together, all dressed up and just us (not the rest of our “group.”)
Ah, memory lane.
Moon Hoax?
Mythbusters is doing a NASA-themed episode tonight. It’s all about the the conspiracy theory that the moon landings were a hoax. According to what I’ve read online, some of the specifics are looking at how the American flag appears to blow in the wind, yet there’s no wind on the moon, and whether or not a footprint can be made in dry regolith.
Those mythbusters folks are pretty thorough so this should be interesting. I actually won’t be home in time to watch it live, but I programmed the DVR two days ago to record it, so I plan to watch as soon as I get home.
A few months ago my co-worker David actually flew in the same microgravity airplane as the main guys (Adam and Jamie) while they were filming for the moon episode. This is actually a picture David took with his iPhone during the flight.
Nights in Rodanthe
I sent an email to my husband yesterday telling him we should plan to get a sitter and see Nights in Rodanthe when it comes out the end of September. I said too, though, that I’d like to read the book first. Nicolas Sparks is kind of special to our relationship in that the first movie we saw together was Message in Bottle, and he has since bought me several of Sparks’ books (including Message).
When I heard him come in Monday after work I met him in the kitchen to welcome him home and what did I see on the kitchen counter? Nights in Rodanthe. He went, after work, and bought me the book as a surprise! How sweet! I’m not easy to surprise and this was a good one. Now if I can just find the time to read it before the end of September ….
Star Wars’ Clone Wars Review
So in a mini-review of the Star Wars Clone Wars movie, which we saw as a family on Sunday, I’ll say this: I liked the storyline but would have preferred to see real actors. I thought the animated action was too much like a video game, for me. Disclaimer: I realize that I am probably not the target audience for this film and that Star Wars die-hards may have loved it for the very reasons I criticized, and that’s OK.
A co-worker recently talked about his opinions on making new Star Wars’ films (ones with actors, not animated) and he was happy with the two trilogies with a “leave well-enough alone” attitude, as I recall. I, however, after seeing Clone Wars think a few “inbetweequels” (in between + sequels) would be entertaining. They could have similar story lines as Clone Wars but kind of fit in the middle of some of the episodes we’ve already seen.
My two stipulations, though, would be that they’d have to use the same actors as are in Epsiodes I, II and III, and you could only have inbetweequels for those episodes. It would be kinda hard for Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill to play younger versions of themselves today, and getting new actors would break rule no. 1. Sequels or Pre-quels that don’t use the same actors are awful!
My husband’s response to my criticism was that animation is cheaper than paying actors. I know too that CGI (computer-generated images) and animation technology are getting better and better which is exciting. Perhaps, it’s just not for me. I have, however, already been informed that we’ll be watching the new animated Star Wars TV series that starts this fall, so Clone Wars was apparently just the beginning.
This announcement from the Star Wars web site has some interesting comments from Lucas and others about both the movie and the TV series.
We Have a Pumpkin!
Back in the spring I bought two pumpkin seed kits with 3 pumpkin seeds each, a little disk of dirt and a cup to grow them in. The boys and I planted a cup of pumpkin seeds for each of them, and within a week we had 6-inch tall sprouts!
We planted them in my dad’s backyard, and the boys have really enjoyed checking on their progress at “Papaw’s and Nana’s” house. They also help water them whenever they are over there. The plants are now approximately 15-20 feet long!
While they have grown well and have had many blooms, we’ve all been a little concerned about whether or not they would produce any pumpkins. I even sought advice from Mr. Tate at church who owns the local Tate Farms pumpkin patch. While Mr. Tate felt pretty confident we’d get some pumpkins, my dad had already said he was prepared to go buy several large, orange pumpkins to stick around the plants if they didn’t produce any fruit.
Well, as you can see, it doesn’t look like we’ll have to do that. The pumpkin in the picture is on Finn’s plant and is about the size of a volleyball. Caden’s plant doesn’t have any pumpkins yet but it has quite a few blooms and there’s still two months left of the growing season, so we’re hopeful.
Now I need to ask Mr. Tate how to keep our pumpkin alive and growing until fall, and how to help it turn orange!
Michael and Marisa LIVE!
Finn watching the Michael and Marisa concert
While at Six Flags in Atlanta last weekend we caught this cool musical act, Michael and Marisa. The live music caught my attention, and when I looked to the stage I stopped in my tracks. On the stage were two kids. While the voices certainly sounded young, the music itself was live (they weren’t singing to pre-recorded CDs) and pretty good. They are a brother-sister duo: 11-year-old Marisa plays drums and 10-year-old Michael plays guitar. Both kids sing.
People were stopping along the walkway to listen, but very few people were actually going into the concert stage area. By this time, both of my kids are listening and kinda dancing even, so we stopped and listened for a while. I was really impressed with their talent on the instruments and their performance quality of both original songs and popular hits. Their two-part harmony was awesome!! They were very comfortable on stage and seemed to enjoy making music. I thoroughly enjoyed what turned out to be an impromptu concert for us.
They gave pencils and hacky sacks with their web address on it to the kids. After the show they sold CDs and signed autographs. As I mentioned, there were only a handful of people actually in the concert area (although I think a lot of people were stopping to hear as they passed by), so there was no “mad dash” for the CD and autograph table. We hung around and Finn got an autograph. I spoke to their mom and told her they were very cute and very good. (Do up-and-coming pop/rock stars want to be called “cute?” Probably not, but they were.) It was like watching a live concert of the youngest members of the Partridge Family or the Brady Bunch. “Cute.”
We checked out their web site on the way home, and they have an interesting story of how they got their start on their About page. You can also hear some of their songs, see some video of their concerts and buy either individual songs or download their CD “Kickin’ It Together.” (Hard copies of the CD can be ordered also.)
I just found it so amazing the level of their talent and the drive and professionalism for such young musicians. Check ‘em out.
Quiet Time
I’ve started doing my quiet time outside, and what a difference that has made in how enjoyable that time is.
I remember as a teenager being at Acteens’ camp and having morning devotional time where our camp counselors would send us out to find a quiet spot in the woods to read our camp devotional and pray. I loved the sounds of nature and the quiet and beautiful scenery of God’s creation.
While recently trying to find a way to make my quiet time more meaningful I thought I’d try taking it outside. I go out about 5:45 a.m., sit in my Cracker Barrel rocking chair on my front porch and read from my One Year Bible just as the sky is starting to glow pink. By the time I’m through reading the sky is just lit up with bright oranges and pinks and so beautiful and majestic that I can’t help but have a song of praise in my heart. After this glimpse of beauty I pray silently for the burdens on my heart, and listen to my heart and my God and the sounds of His creation. The time is truly quiet and so much more meaningful.
I hope to build up to incorporating some praise music and after my Bible reading and prayer take a short 10-15 minute walk around my neighborhood while listening to praise music via Pandora on my iPhone. My favorite praise song this week is “This Good Day” by Fernando Ortega.
Morning sun
and morning glories
pouring down the hill,
through my window
I can feel the ocean breeze
Noisy sparrows
fill the oak trees
swallows can’t stay still,
and in the glad commotion
Lord, you speak to me
CHORUS:
If rain clouds come
or the cold winds blow
You’re the one
who goes before me
and in my heart I know
This good day
it is a gift from You
The world is turning in its place
because You made it to
I lift my voice
to sing a song of praise
on this good day
