Almost Seven Decades

That's how long it's been since thousands of brave souls started the campaign to liberate a continent from the tyranny of a cruel government with only conquest and subjugation as its goal. Many were U.S. soldiers that spent their last moments in a strange land, on a strange beach surrounded by what can only be described as horrific.

Nothing I write will change this day, or honor them for what they accomplished. May this nation never forget their sacrifice or the reason for D-Day.

A True Champion

When you feel decent people are too far and few, something like this happens. The true winners crossed the finish line together.

It's Not The Twilight Zone....Is It?

My day started off with finding road kill on the job; big road kill. I won't go into details, although somebody has a vehicle that needs a substantial amount of repairs.

Next, I was trying to travel down the highway to a supplier, but Mr. Magoo, (that's what he looked like in his rear view mirror) and his entourage decided that 65 mph was too excessive, so they kept both lanes to a saner 45 mph.   I did manage to exit before they ventured into the "real" traffic area, where people are not kind., although I'm sure they didn't pay attention to that traffic either.

To embellish this strange morning, I found my way to an intersection that was originally only controlled by stop signs. Now they have traffic signals, which like all traffic signals, have bright lights, in various colors, that can be seen for miles down the road. Unfortunately, the local officials didn't feel the general public had enough sense to make the transition, so every intersection had an electronic changeable message board to warn the general public. While I can understand some concern, it escapes me why this would be any different than driving through a town you never drove through. Then again, I took driver's education, which stipulated I needed to pay attention to the lights - if I wanted to keep my license.

The morning ended with a pickup and some local municipal workers wrestling the ripe road kill into the bed of their pickup for disposal. I was a quarter mile away, so I wasn't expected to take part in the process.... thank goodness. Been there; have the t-shirt and it's not for those with a weak stomach.

So, after observing a eclipse of the moon, I should have known it would be a strange morning. It was and the day isn't over.

It's Monday

Try not to screw it up.

One other thing: If you're in the middle of United States, to the west and have a clear sky, you will see a partial lunar eclipse until the moon sets. You have around an hour, or less.

It's 5:30 Central Daylight Time.

Wood Fake

Way back when, in 1917, the Army Air Service built a base in a rural area way south of Houston, Texas. As a training base, it went through different phases, including almost closing before WW2. During that war, the base was upgraded and continued in training aviators. In the 60's, NASA adopted the base for astronaut training, which is when I became aware of its existence. The astronauts, while training, would escape from the crowded air space around Houston and fly over my hometown. The even broke the sound barrier on one day, which led to some angry complaints, grounding of a few astronauts and a thrill only a child can understand. A flight of jets, at low altitude, breaking the sound barrier, while being watched, can only be described as a once a lifetime event. I still think it was a reaction to a bet, friendship, dare or retribution for some infraction by a local.

NASA built the Manned Space Center, which eventually was renamed the Johnson Space Center. The workers, scientists, engineers and astronauts lived in the adjacent community of Clear Lake. During the moon missions, it was an idylic place full of the then celebrity astronauts and those that took part in one of the greatest efforts of the human race. Not only was the community proud, the entire nation was proud of these pioneers of the next frontier. No space flight was possible without these people and the facility.

At the facility is a museum. I toured it when I was teenager. Besides the space capsules, rockets, and equipment on display, there were moon rocks, which I remember as though I looked at them this morning. A fine place to display the miracles of the space age, you would think one of the shuttles would finally come to rest at this location, but that's not the situation. The facility will get a shuttle made from wood, which I consider an insult to the fine people that made it all happen.

To those instrumental in this politically motivated travesty of condescension, go suck an egg. I hope your political career ends due to your decision. If not, I hope someone throws rotten vegetables at you daily until you can't live a normal life.

Bastards!

                      A real shuttle, in case you bastards don't have a photo.