May 21, 2010
May 20, 2010
Zach Thomas Retires
An Amarillo radio station has been playing some ads of Thomas' "Zach's Club 54" gym, saying they're re-opening after a million dollar overhaul. I hope he makes a ton of money and wish him nothing but the best.
Zach Thomas
And, if you didn't know, Zach's father built the Groom Cross/Cross of Our Lord.
Gulf Oil Leak
From a couple of days ago; BP has promised to post a live feed of the leak, but a cursory search has found nothing so far.
The streaming video is "supposed" to be on the Energy and Commerce Committe site.
May 19, 2010
Aussie Animal Quiz
You Are a Crocodile |
 You are fierce and strong. You go after any prey that is in your sights. You have a take charge personality, and you are quite dominant. You are not easily intimidated. It's likely that you've had to struggle for survival in your life. You've had to develop a very thick skin. You can be brutal, but you can also be tender. You tend to have two sides to your personality. |
I could agree with the analysis results, even if they're a bit harsh... although I think I'd rather have been something else, a koala or even a kangaroo. Crocodiles make me shudder a little when I think of them, just like I do with snakes and spiders. Ugh.
Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport-Rolf Harris
Eric Hoffer
From today's Brainy Quotes feed:
We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.
Eric Hoffer
The name seemed vaguely familiar, so I had to do a Google Search
Eric Hoffer
(July 25, 1902 – May 21, 1983)
was an American social writer and philosopher. He produced ten books and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in February 1983 by President of the United States Ronald Reagan. His first book, The True Believer, published in 1951, was widely recognized as a classic, receiving critical acclaim from both scholars and laymen, although Hoffer believed that his book The Ordeal of Change was his finest work.
Though Hoffer did not identify with "liberal intellectuals" and often criticized the radical ideology of many activists of the New Left, it would be wrong to characterize Hoffer's thinking as being "conservative."
Hoffer is referred to as a "longshoreman philosopher".
Many of his quotes are profound and possess a dagger of truth, especially this one:
"A dissenting minority feels free only when it can impose its will on the majority: what it abominates most is the dissent of the majority."
Eric Hoffer in Wikiquote
I'm off to the library to see if they have any of his published works. From what I can see from my cursory search, I agree with many of his viewpoints.
Poised for Success
From NASA's Image of the Day Gallery
Anchored to the Canadarm2 mobile foot restraint, Garrett Reisman performed construction and maintenance activities outside the station during the STS-132 mission's first spacewalk. During the seven-hour, 25-minute spacewalk, Reisman and NASA astronaut Steve Bowen installed a second antenna for high-speed Ku-band transmissions and added a spare parts platform to Dextre, a two-armed extension for the station’s robotic arm.
Image Credit: NASA
This is such a great website not only for excellent wallpaper, but to keep up with the daily activity at the space station. This is, I believe, the last mission for the shuttle Atlantis, and the next few flights will also see the retirement of the rest of fleet.
I am extremely apprehensive about the future of US space endeavors. We misuse our national resources in so many ways, but the space program is - for the very most part - money well spent.
