Cool Resources for Space Geeks,Like Me !

If you faked sick to stay home from school and watch an Apollo mission... this chock-full-of-goodness story is for you! From Cassini to the New Horizons Mission to Pluto, you've got to check this.

read more | digg story

I did that more than once when I was a kid--stay home from school to watch a space launch. One time a teacher, I think I was in 4th or 5th grade, was taking the day's roll call. When she got to my name, she said, " I might as well mark you absent for tomorrow, Martin, since there's a rocket launch I know you won't be in!" She was right....
I didn't have to fake being sick, though, since my Mom would let me stay home anyway because I normally always wanted to go to school.
I even had a space scrapbook with newspaper clippings and photos whenever there was a space launch, from the Mercury missions up to the Apollo moon landings. Don't know whatever happened to that scrapbook; I must have lost it somewhere when moving over the years.
But guess what--I STILL have 2 scrapbooks of pictures I drew or pictures we were given to color from back in Kindergarden ! That would waaay back in 1961....
I also have a special edition of Life magazine from 1969 titled "To The Moon And Back" covering the first moon landing--it cost me $1.50 at the time. Back then that was a pretty high price for a magazine, most cost only about 25 cents, maybe 50 cents at most. I had just a couple of dollars I had saved and debated whether to spend that much on a single magazine. It's still in pretty good shape with just the edges of the cover a bit frayed.

Sad to say, I'm still stuck here on Earth and haven't made it into space....yet.

If I had 'Bill Gate's-type money', I'd have a nuclear-powered spaceship built for myself and blast off into the deep reaches of outer space !!!

Anybody care to come along?

Sunday Funnies

Non Sequitur By Wiley

World Without Pain Is Hell

Sometimes in life, you think that if you could feel no pain, life would be wonderful. That is...until you read a story like this one that was recently linked on Digg.com (original posted on CNN.com).

This kid is unable to feel any pain, so when he's hurting himself he has no idea he's doing so.

read more | digg story

Video Of The Week

My video of the week was delayed this week because last night Blogger was down for maintenance AND also 'cause my stupid computer is messed up and I don't even have any sound. Which means I chose these videos without actually hearing the audio.

Former "singer/actor/teen idol" Leif Garrett was in the news recently due to an arrest for drug possession, and not for the first time. He's been in drug rehab several times over the years since his former glory days. That's why I chose this 1st video from back when he was a star.
I think it's kind of sad really when these former child stars/teen idols seem to go 'out of control' with drugs & alcohol. It must seem strange to go from being rich, famous and adored by millions to end up in jail or rehab. And poor Leif even lost much of the beautiful hair he was known for, and now wears a bandanna most of the time to cover it up.
Well at least I don't have to worry about losing my good looks, wealth or fame since I've never had any of those things to lose.

The second video is a silly one of some guy acting "nuts", and if you watch carefully you might even see a bit of "nuts" of a different kind.

Your Tax Dollars At Work

Once again, the Bush administration displays it's true bigoted, homophobic nature, as detailed in the following article from Gay.com. Its' refusal to even allow a hearing as to whether the LGBT groups should be allowed the join the United Nations Economic and Social Council puts them in the same camp as some of the most repressive regimes in the world.

I came across this story through a link on Newsvine (a new site in which indivuals may post links to news stories, similiar to Digg.com & Slashdot). I've posted the entire article from Gay.com below.

This story prompted me to do some research on the United Nations website, where I found a list of other organizations that are members of this particular UN agency. It consists of various women's rights, education, labor, and social justice groups, such as the All India Women's Education Fund Association, Civic Education Project, General Federation of Iraqi Women, General Italian Confederation of Labour, Inter-African Union for Human Rights, Norwegian Federation of Organizations of Disabled People, Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education, and even a group called the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, as well as many other organizations. These various groups act only in an advisory capacity in the UN, offering their opinions on topics of concern to their organizations.

But the Bush administration doesn't seem to think the opinions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender peoples are worthy of even being heard. The current adminstration likes to brag about how they were able to overthrow the repressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan, while itself catering to the religious right (the American Taliban?) in this country, which given the chance, would institute the same type of repressive laws and customs as their Muslim counterparts.

Let's just hope that the voters in this country wake up and remove some of these hypocritical, lying, repressive bigots from office this coming election year (2006 Congressional & Senate races) and in 2008 (Presidential election) before they are able to further carry out their plans to make the United States into the religious theocracy they so desire.

U.S. Nixes Gay Inclusion At UN

by Doug Windsor, 365Gay.com New York Bureau

Posted: January 24, 2006 - 11:00 am ET

(New York City) The United States joined with four of the world's most repressive regimes to reject an application by two international LGBT groups seeking to join a UN agency that advises the world body on economics and social issues.

The application by the International Lesbian and Gay Association and the Danish Association of Gays and Lesbians was dismissed without a hearing.

The groups had sought inclusion on the United Nations Economic and Social Council, a think tank made up of non governmental agencies from around the world.

The United States voted with Iran, Zimbabwe, China, Cameroon against granting a hearing for the application.

ECOSOC status allows NGOs to attend UN meetings and speak in their own name. The Council already has participation from labor and social rights groups.

The governments of Iran and Zimbabwe are considered to be among the most repressive anti-gay regimes in the world.

President Mugabe of Zimbabwe has long scapegoated and persecuted gay men and lesbians. The recently-elected president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has overseen an anti-gay campaign in recent months, in which many young people accused of homosexual acts reportedly have been executed.

Egypt also voted against considering the application. That country too has a history of persecuting gay men.

"It is an absolute outrage that the United States has chosen to align itself with tyrants — all in a sickening effort to smother the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

"Apparently Iran, which President Bush has deemed part of the 'Axis of Evil,' is a suitable partner when it comes to discriminating against gay people," said Foreman.

The ILGA has been trying to get inclusion on the Council for the past four years. Each time it has been met with roadblocks created in part by the US.

Three years ago, the United States abstained from voting on a sexual orientation nondiscrimination resolution offered by Brazil via the U.N. Human Rights Commission.

The Bush-Cheney administration has also opposed women's and children's rights treaties, sex education, contraception and family planning in international forums.

©365Gay.com 2006

And that's my opinion !

{Just to clarify, I've started using this color and type style whenever expressing my personal opinion on a topic--so if you see this you'll know it's me ranting !}

Nascar Of The Future?

Starting in October 2006, the first Rocket Races will take place in New Mexico when 4 X-Racer rocket planes will compete. In 2007, a full group of 10 planes will take part in the competition.
Pilots will follow "virtual racetracks" projected in their heads-up displays, each plane having its own "lane" to avoid collisions.
The February 2006 issue of Popular Science magazine's cover story is devoted to this new type of racing event. Also, here are some links to websites with more information for those interested:
1- Rocket Racing League...lots of images/videos
2- Popular Science...article from october 2005
3- Space.com...article from October 2005
The Rocket Racing League site, of course, is the best source of info. on the upcoming competitions.

The engines will emit bright 20-foot plumes of flame, making them easily visible to spectators watching from the ground a mile below (Image: Rocket Racing League)

The only question I have is...will the pit crew have to wear jet packs to service their plane?

Longest Page on the Internet

I came across this really cool art project that was posted on Digg.com. Take a look at it!


BlueSfear has announced that it graphics worm is the longest page on the internet. So far its 56.25 ft and growing.

read more | digg story

Real-life "Brokeback Mountain" Story

This story is another example of the injustice caused by the refusal to allow gay marriage in this country. Because of a small mistake made on a will, one which would no doubt have been overlooked had this been a heterosexual couple, resulted in a man losing the home where he'd lived with his partner for 20 years. A straight couple would have been considered to have had a 'common-law' marriage even if they hadn't obtained a marriage license and the surviving partner would have inherited the property.

In this case, some obviously greedy relatives (cousins) of the deceased were able to come in and stake a claim on everything and they even had the unmitgated gall to file a lawsuit against Sam Beaumont claiming he owed them money for 'back rent' for the years he lived on the ranch.

The following item is from the Indianapolis Star's website. I'm posting a small excerpt here (click the title to link to the full story).


Partner's death ends happy life on ranch
2 decades together mean nothing in Oklahoma law


December 31, 2005
By Jessie Torrisi
Columbia News Service

On the face of it, Sam Beaumont, 61, with his cowboy hat, deep-throated chuckle and Northwestern drawl, is not so different from the ranch hands in Ang Lee's critically acclaimed film "Brokeback Mountain," which opened in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

That pretty much describes the life Beaumont had. He settled down with Earl Meadows and tended 50 head of cattle for a quarter-century on an Oklahoma ranch. "I was raised to be independent. I didn't really care what other people thought," Beaumont said.

That's where the fantasy of a life together on the range collides with reality. After a quarter-century on the ranch he shared with his partner, Beaumont lost it all on a legal technicality in a state that doesn't recognize domestic partnerships.

Meadows' will, which left everything to Beaumont, was fought in court by a cousin of the deceased and was declared invalid by the Oklahoma Court of Appeals in 2003 because it was short one witness signature.
Copyright 2006 IndyStar.com. All rights reserved

Be sure to read the full article at the IndyStar site...I didn't reprint the entire item here due to copyright restrictions.

Video Of The Week

Found this video and knew immediately it HAD to be my Video of the Week! Two cute boys skateboarding in their boxers, but even that amount of clothing was TOO much for one boy!
Check it out--you won't be disappointed.

Time For A Laugh

by Mark Parisi