Saturday, January 28, 2017

Remembering the Challeger

January 28, 2017


On this day in 1986, NASA suffered a devastating loss. Not the first loss, by any means, but one that would become an albatross around NASA's neck for years to come and halt all future launches for three years.  Maybe it was because there had been so much publicity before launch that this tragedy captured the nation.  Early in 1985, to boost the public's interest in space, our then president, Ronald Reagan, launched the Teacher in Space Program.  Christa McAuliffe, a teacher from New Hampshire, won the opportunity to be NASA's first "Teacher in Space."  One winner; 10462 losers.  As the winner, she was to travel with the crew of the space shuttle, deliver a lesson from space, return to Earth and take her place in history as the first civilian in space.  A Cinderella story of a sort, only no prince at the end.  No HEA.  Instead of a watery grave for McAuliffe and an ending to a dream that cut deep into the heart of humanity leaving an aching scar and humbling the soul of a nation which had become so blase about manned space flights and the risk that astronauts take every time there is a lift-off.
Seven lives were lost that day as cable network streamed the moment live into high school classrooms across the nation.  73 seconds into the 10th shuttle flight, disaster struck, and the shuttle broke apart.  Thousands of students saw it happen.  Thousands of students and one would assume, 10,642 people who were suddenly grateful that they had not been chosen.  It was an experience that changed lives.
In the aftermath, one chilling fact surfaced.  Most people believed, after seeing the replay on television a gazillion times, that the people on board died instantly when the Challenger exploded; however, evidence recovered suggests that there was not a quote-unquote explosion and the crew was still alive, although hopefully not conscious, when the capsule hit the ocean.
There is no doubt that McAuliffe taught a lesson to all that chilly day in January.  But not the lesson she had prepared in the months before her space flight.  The lesson we should learn here: there are no guarantees in life because nothing is a sure thing.  Or maybe, unanswered prayers are a blessing in disguise.
Did McAuliffe know the risks?   Absolutely.  Did she believe that her trip into space would end as is did?  That would be a resounding, NO!  Do either of these question matter, now thirty-one years after the fact?  Maybe.  Our job now is to keep the spirit of these seven brave people alive.  We should be willing to pave the way for others, regardless of the risk to ourselves.  If you look back through history, the people who have left their mark on the world are those who did just that.
Are  you curious about the teachers who didn't win a seat on the Challenger? Here is a link that will catch you up on the Teachers in Space Project.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Can I Get a Snow Day?

January 12, 2017
As I sit here and listen to the weather for the next few days, high 50s with a less than 40% chance of rain during the day; low 30s at night, I can’t help but feel a little relieved. Especially when The Weather Channel flashed a map of all the places in the U S that it's snowing today.  Brrrrr!  
https://weather.com/maps/currentussnowcover
So. Glad. I'm. Not. In. The. Northwest. Today.  Animals at the Portland Zoo feel a little differently. They seem to be enjoying their "closed because of heavy snow" day the way that school kids do when school is closed because of snow. If you have trouble getting the video to play, you can view it on youtube at this link: First Day of Snow at Portland Zoo.  



Don't worry folks if the rumors are a little thin today. You know that this blogger has an ear to ground for all the latest gossip and will fill you in later...on that you can be sure.  Things are definitely heating up in Miller, even if the temps are warm enough to shed the old jacket and roll up your sleeves.  Does anyone else find it odd that that our own Fast Gun (FG) has been mum about her recent trip to Vegas?  Have you ladies noticed that there is a new Handsome Hunk (HH) in town.  And said HH recently spent time in Vegas?  Several folks have noticed that he spends a lot of time at the tattoo parlor owner by none other than FG.  The word on the street is that FG and HH took a side trip to a little chapel for a little ceremony Elvis style. Neither party is wearing a ring or saying just what happened in Vegas.  If they think what happened in Vegas is going to stay in Vegas, they are just fooling themselves. This bears watching, and trust the curiosity, some call it plain old nosiness(How rude!), of this intrepid blogger, if love is being inked on someone's heart, you can read all about it hear.

Meanwhile, don’t leave home without several layers.  This time of year, the weather can't be trusted.  It can be 70° one minute and cold enough to freeze your booty off the next.  Not that we all couldn't use a little less booty, but frost bite is not the way to lose those unwanted pounds.  Nuff said.

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