we've moved!

We are now found at www.randomluminosity.com :)

Angry Rebels

OK, I know SnorgTees is a sponsor here, but this is just too funny to pass up.  I was just passed this link to a flickr gallery of Star Wars graphics based on Angry Birds.  I'm lovin these...and the guy has a whole line of t-shirts for sale.   I'm gettin a Fett pig shirt...and his restyled AT-AT gallery is awesome too.

Check all his designs out here.

Clipped Wings

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a shuttle-hugger.  For 30 years, the American space program was dominated by those 5 beautiful, majestic birds that enabled some of the most important scientific moments of my generation.  We didn't have Apollo...we had Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour.  And they were remarkable.  Two solid rocket boosters and 3 RS-25 Space Shuttle Main Engines providing 2.8 million pounds of thrust, able to throw 53k pounds of payload into orbit (insert Tim Allen grunting here).  And oh, what they threw up there: communication satellites, classified military payloads, scientific research satellites, planetary probes (Magellan, Galileo, Ulysses), the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station.  135 missions flown by 355 astronauts.  So much accomplished...and so much potential lost.

The upcoming week marks the anniversaries of the loss of the two senior orbiters, Challenger and Columbia.  And this week, two of her sisters gathered one last time in their Florida home, as they are prepared for their final mission: display pieces in museums.  On January 20th, Atlantis was wheeled over from her Orbiter Processing Facility into the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building.  Normally, she would ride wheels up on a special transporter, ready to be mated to a waiting external tank and sent to the pad for launch.  But on this day, she was wheeled over on her own gear, minus her Forward Control Thrusters and her 2 OMS pods, to be placed in temporary storage while her sister ships are prepared for display.  She joined Endeavour, who is right next door in High Bay 4, waiting to take Atlantis' place in the OPF on January 31st..  And so, for this short last time, the two sisters will spend time together in the only home they've even known.  And for a lucky few tourists, they will be the highlight of the behind the scenes tour currently being offered at Kennedy Space Center.  Visitors are being granted access to the VAB, and will be able to get closer than almost anyone in the general public have been allowed since the start of the shuttle program.  What makes this even special is that this is the only time the public has ever or will be able to be in the presence of two space-flown orbiters.  As you can see here, they're real and they're spectacular.  Only thru sheer force of will have I stopped myself from taking a vacation day and driving 12 hours to Florida for a chance at seeing them.

On the 31st, the two will bid their farewells, and Endeavour will roll back to the OPF for final processing in advance of her final trip to Los Angeles where she will be placed on display at the California Science Center.  Discovery is currently being prepped for her April 17th trip to Washington DC for placement in the Smithsonian (where she will have chance to drop in on her earth-bound sibling Enterprise, who is headed to New York).  And Atlantis will go on display at the Kennedy Space Center, configured with her payload bay doors open, forever as if on duty.  These ladies were the workhorses of America's human presence in space for the last 30 years, and although they still have a lot left in them they have earned their rest.  I am sad to see them go, and can only hope we don't disrespect them by not following up on the legacy they have left us.

This is a picture of the only shuttle launch I was privileged to witness: STS-98 on February 7, 2001.  I watched this launch 40 miles away, in Shamu's stadium at Sea World in Orlando.  Even from that distance, it looked very much like this.  It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful launches of the program.

We're rollin' now

Look, up on the margins!  Its a bird, its a plane, its...a sponsor?  Yep, thats right, my first sponsor.  Im sure that 99% of those that read this will say "Big Whoop", but ya gotta start somewhere.  So clicky the link to Snorg Tees and do some shopping.  They've got some really funny t-shirts.  Hey, if you don't find anything you like odds are I will so get some Christmas shopping in early :)

The Chosen Bun

Now why cant Burger King do something like this?  Instead we get cheap goofy looking toys with no resale value. :(   Great, Now Im hungry.

"Choose your side of the Force."  To promote the re-release of "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" in 3D, the France- and Benelux-based fast food chain Quick is launching the Darth Vader Burger on a Sithly black bun.  A less frightening looking (read: boring) Yoda Burger will also hit select locations through March 1."

Idiots Out Wandering Around

So, how 'bout those Republicans, huh?  This group is about as exciting as watching grass grow.  I think the whole primary system is screwing us.  Its almost like a playoff...one bad performance and you're out.  In this day of instant communications that may not be the best idea.  I think some of our greatest presidents would be unelectable in 2012.  Can you imagine Thomas Jefferson trying to get Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck's endorsement?

Now Bachmann is out...good riddance.  I'm sure as a member of Congress she represents her constituents well.  But she clearly does not represent any sort of significant amount of Americans.  Shes a wingnut.  Not to mention, a quitter...one bad performance and you pack it in 12hrs later?  Sounds like someone who knew they had no chance but just wanted to get the book deals and TV shows.

I think we need a serious 3rd party in this country.  Right now we have two sides who pander to the lowest common denominator.  And the talking head cheerleaders just keep cheering them on, because conflict = ratings.  The fact of the matter is that most of us lie in the middle and we're left with picking the lesser of two evils or the "not-Bush"/"not-Obama" candidate.  Id like to think maybe Romney can break out of the mold...but there's still Congress.

Maybe what we need is more common folk to run for national office.  Politics shouldn't be a career...it should be a service to your country and fellow man.  Sometimes I think I would love to run for office.  Then I remember that I'm not rich and not willing to have my private life and family dragged (drug?) through the mud because my opponent/the media busy bodies don't share my sense of patriotism and fair play.  Ah well, pass me the remote...my favorite *insert-crap-reality-show here* is on.

Beginnings...

Well, here we are.  Its 2012 and its time for a new start.  Ive been wanting to start a blog for a while now, but wasn't really sure how to do it or what to talk about.  I have a lot of interests but in the end decided to make it more about what I might want to talk about on any given day.  Maybe it will develop focus over time, but for now its just a way for me to blab on and on for a while.

So, what will I be talking about?  Lots of things.  I have a wife and kids that keep me pretty insane.  I LOVE Star Wars, so there's sure to be a post or two hundred on that.  I like football, food and the History Channel.  So, yeah, it'll be pretty random.  But hopefully it will be interesting or at least somewhat relevant.  So welcome to my little corner of the interwebs!