Here’s a really good video of a Private company that offers these kind of flights to the public. Not the cheapest ($5k), but well worth it in my opinion!!

Here is a video of someone that did some research on the “vomit Comet”, a plane that is used for various training for altered gravity (zero-g, increased gravity, lunar gravity, etc…)

Title:  The Last Lecture

Author:  Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow

Hardcover:  207 pages

ISBN:  9781401323257

Brick walls are there for a reason.  They give us a chance to show how badly we want something.

Grab your box of Kleenex because you’re gonna cry, most of the time they’ll be tears of laughter, but some of them will be from heart ache.  OH! and  Don’t forget the pen and paper, because you’ll want to take notes.  Professor Pausch is taking the stage for The Last Lecture.

Pausch covers the elephant in the room in his opening paragraphs:

I have an engineering problem.  While for the most part I’m in terrific physical shape, I have ten tumors in my liver and I  have only a few months left to live.

I am a father of three young children, and married to the woman of my dreams.  While I could easily feel sorry for myself, that wouldn’t do them, or me, any good.

So many things in this book are deeply inspirational, and that’s no surprise; he’s dying from cancer and that’s given him a chance to step back and say, “What legacy am I leaving?”  Much of them are simple concepts like, “Tell the truth, it’s not only morally right but efficient.”  Some are more profound like, “one customer-service decision over a ten-dollar salt and pepper shaker [ended] up earning Disney more than $100,000.”  But all of them are worth saving, writing down, reciting, and implementing, because Randy Pausch lived a life that saw almost all of his childhood dreams come true.

My Childhood Dreams

• Being in zero gravity
• Playing in the NFL
• Authoring an article in the World Book encyclopedia
• Being Captain Kirk
• Winning stuffed animals
• Being a Disney Imagineer

My mom turned me onto this book a couple weeks ago when I was telling her about whatever book I was reading, and she told me she’d just read a really great book.  Now, my mom doesn’t say a book is great very often… in fact, a lot of the time, they barely make much of a blip on her radar.  I’m not saying she’s a picky reader or critical, but when she ONE remembers a book and talks about it and TWO applies the “great” stamp to it, it’s a book guaranteed worth reading.

And I was definitely NOT disappointed.  The copy I have came from the library, but I will be buying my own copy.  I wish I could keep this one though… it smells lovely, reminiscent of the Viewfinder we played with when we were kids

Send Out Thin Mints

As part of my responsibilities, I used to be an academic reviewer.  That meant I’d have to ask other professors to read densely written research papers and review them.  It could be tedious, sleep inducing work.  So I came up with an idea.  I’d send a box of Girl Scout Thin Mints with every paper that needed reviewed.  “Thank you for agreeing to do this,” I’d write.  “The enclosed Thin Mints are your reward.  But no fair eating them until you review the paper.”

… I’ve found Thin Mints are a great communication tool.  THey’re also a sweet reward for a job well done.

Okay, so… Publishers and authors:  I now expect Thin Mints with each book you’re wanting reviewed   It was worth a try!  Chapter 55 says, “Sometimes, all you have to do is ask.“

Long and short of it:  The Last Lecture is full of common sense, community sense, wisdom that is worth reading and re-reading.  It’d make a great belated Father’s Day present, or a gift to anyone, including yourself.  I give The Last Lecture  by Randy Pausch 5 out of 5 stars.

You can watch Randy’s Last Lecture, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” which was the genesis of this book, it’s an hour and 16 minutes long and worth it

My Morning Jacket @ Bonnaroo 2008 Credit: Steve Cross

It’s that time of year again in Tennessee. The hot days and humid nights have settled in for good, and that only means one thing: Bonnaroo is upon us. I’m covering it again for the Scene this year and I’m ready to make my 2nd experience even better than the 1st. I’ve been told that the Village Voice may be using some of my images for other blogs/papers under their umbrella. (For a list of their papers go here.) Normally I would never attend Bonnaroo. Don’t get me wrong- the bands are great, the outdoor setting is great, but the people are generally not so great. Having to constantly deal with mud-caked hippies who’ve done waaay too many drugs and smell like a combination of bad patchouli, port-a-john, and feet is not my idea of fun. Being a member of the press, however, alleviates that concern because you spend a minimal amount of time actually out in the crowds, and NO time in the camping/parking area. Press parking is right behind the stages, and there’s a nice air-conditioned tent with complimentary water, as well as media trailer with wi-fi. Look for my photos on Nashville Cream, and possibly those other papers’ blogs mentioned above. Speaking of Bonnaroo, Nashville’s own music blogger superstar Janet Timmons has been hard at work (along with some help from a few other local bloggers/writers) posting a preview for every artist playing Bonnaroo. Check it out. Will she make it in time?

The Tennessean/Metro Mix is hosting another edition of its annual Toast of Music City poll. Last year some of the top restaurants ended up being Olive Garden, Shoney’s, and Golden Corral. SERIOUSLY?!?!?! WTF?!?!? Get your ass over to the poll and make sure such a travesty doesn’t happen again. Thanks to Nashvillest for reminding me of this.

Improv Everywhere comes up with some of the best pranks/social experiments I’ve ever seen. Their latest was one of their best yet: they gave one lucky NYC couple getting married at the clerk’s office a surprise wedding reception in Foley Square. Check it out.

Speaking of couples, the first weightless wedding is being planned. Though not actually happening in space, it’s the next best thing: the famed “Vomit Comet.” Let’s hope they don’t end up puking on each other during their vows. “I do… BLEGGGHHH!”

Part of the problem with the public image of NASA and space exploration in general is that astronauts aren’t viewed in the same light now as they were back in the 60’s. Back then, media coverage of NASA and its missions was MUCH more extensive than it is now. Those astronauts were literally treated like movie stars. The public adored them and they helped to make people actually care about space exploration. Nowadays coverage of the shuttle launches barely gets onto the bottom of CNN.com. I found a tiny glimmer of hope this morning, though: this new Louis Vitton ad photo taken by Annie Leibovitz on i09. It’s astronauts Sally Ride, Buzz Aldrin, and Jim Lovell. For more info go here. This is totally awesome and I hope to see NASA start caring more about PR and creating a bigger, more positive public image for itself.

Photo by Annie Leibovitz

NASA just posted a featured education article about the Carthage team and quoted Team Captain Caitlin (that’s me!!!). Check it out at: A Breath of Fresh Air.

Well it’s the end of another week, Good Shabbos. Saturday is Valentines’ Day and I still haven’t got that gift for my wife. I think we’ll have to do something special together tomorrow. 

Today while driving from one job-site  to the another I caught some radio talk/discussion about how people had met their beloved. The host was prompting people to call in with their best stories. I listened intently but wasn’t too impressed. The host was offering up a bottle of Irish Whiskey for the best. After hearing about 6 or 8 different stories, I knew I had them all beat.

I first met my future wife on a construction site at a local oil refinery. I saw her standing, really more like wiggling; in a line waiting to be served at The Gut Wagon, The Vomit Comet, ie; the catering truck. She was wearing a purple hardhat identifying her as a fellow Union Pipefitter . It was cold outside maybe, January or February, so she was wearing a full set of insulated coveralls at the time. Upon further inspection I discovered that she was struggling to retrieve her wallet from under the coveralls, that would explain all the gyrations. To this day I don’t know if it was her naivete, or just a great line, but instead of pulling off the coveralls she announces to the gathering; “I need somebody to get into my pants”!! Are you kidding me!!

It's the best place to meet chicks

Well, needless to say there were plenty of volunteers up for the task. I thought a couple of Boilermakers were going to have it out with a few Ironworkers, it had the potential to get rather ugly. It was about then that I shoved my way into the melay, and informed her, and that Boilermaker with the size 3 hat and 63 coat, that this was a job for her union brother. She accepted my offer, donned her right hip and I gingerly worked the wallet from her 501s. 

That was my first meeting with her, it would be another 18 months before we actually went on our first date. The story of that odyssey will find its way into this blog at a later date, I should have figured out then that she was directionaly challenged.

So ours’ wasn’t your typical meeting, hardly even romantic, but we can’t pick our chance encounters. The whole idea of picking a chance encounter is an oxymoron. With that premise put forward, I submit that we need to be more attentive to the struggles of others, whether its helping a damsel pull a wallet from her pants, or saying something nice to that person at your bus stop. You never know when or where that magical moment will strike, but it would be a shame to let it slip by because we’re just too busy, or too shy to be nice. Happy Valentines’ Day.

Talk to you later.

I have been travelling between Bangalore and Mangalore the last couple of weeks and the trips have been little more than memorable for all the wrong reasons. Last night was my latest trip on this KSRTC Volvo bus as I came down to Mangalore for the Republic day weekend.

Last week sequence was as follows…

Couple with kid gets on bus in Bangalore. Get into the seats right behind us (Cronin was with me). Man opens tiffin box and stuffs the baby with god knows what. I get this uneasy feeling that something is gonna happen behind as bus bumps along Bangalore’s roads. Pass on this feeling to Cronin. Hardly a minute goes by since this statement is made than the baby retches and pukes all over the couple. Cronin grits teeth and says, ‘You spoke too early dude’. The closed bus with the air conditioning circulating begins to smell and we are the most affected. Go through the night with the rotting, stale air hitting our nostrils. End result – no sleep and puke all over our bags that were placed under our seats. Weekend spent with a splitting sleep deprived headache and washing my carry bag nearly 5 times. Still think I smell something there.

Last night…

Get on bus at Majestic bus stand, Bangalore. No couple or baby behind me. In the middle of the night as I just settle into a deep sleep, someone roughly brushes past me. Open eyes and see man rushing to conductor’s cabin. He grabs a black plastic bag from conductor and we hear a roar followed by a whoosh. Rest of the night filled with bad dreams and a lingering pungent odour. Situation compounded by lady in front who wakes up and then decides that she may also want to go over the falls. Fortunately, sense and self-control prevails. Reach Mangalore clean, tidy but psychologically scarred again. No breakfast in the morning…

Alternative modes of transport being considered now…

Questa foto è stata presa a bordo della "Vomit Comet" , questo bizzarro soprannome , letteralmente Cometa del vomito, è stato dato all’ aereomobile KC-135 che attraverso il volo iperbolico simula una condizione di gravità zero.

Il volo iperbolico fa si che attraverso un andamento da montagna russa,
l’aereo in prossimità del punto più alto della parabola ottiene la gravità a zero.

L’esperimento consisteva nella guida della motocicletta e nel salto da una piccola rampa, giusto per simulare i detriti rocciosi presenti sulla luna.
Il test si è concluso positivamente ed ha ottenuto come risultato le acrobazie realizzabili nel più spericolato luna park americano.

to the old man i saw on the bus tonight

there were four old men
on the bus
amidst the young faces
younger and older
out in the night
joy riding to and from
they stood out
different, alone
amoungst so many younger people
boys and girls together in groups
single men
girls, by themselves
and couples
and bus drivers
together huddled sitting and standing
various grasps and dependence on varied
seats and poles
heddington ave
stops and get ons
riding

the first old man
he was a rasta
seventy-nine scarlett
black and proud and drunk
he was looking around
we looked at each other a lot
i was looking around
we felt comfortable with each other
voyeur and viewed
the same really
he exited two streets before me

later a man who resembled my teacher
distinguished and yes too, proud
more humble but self-assured
real. a life lived
and he was reading a novel
he would glance up
and there was a recognition between us
there and then between the pages
he looked like he had a good night
experiences worth venturing out
he was gone at davenport

i noticed then a new old man, i had noticed him before
waiting at the stop, the third stop i had waited on my way home
and before, there, i had waited at two more stops
and he was cold and i didn't sense from him a
there wasn't enough to work with, visually  - culturally for me
to tell about his journey i could only suppose
he wore a thick winter coat, worn and grey
no fur or faux lining and a tuque
and he looked like a real canadian to me
i didnt noticed when he was done with the bus
north on bathurst street
i may have been closer to home than he

the forth and final of this occasion
was really old - a senior citizen
he looked european from the east
he wore a fur coat and hat
and he was unattended, unaccompanied
and we didn't make eye contact
that is he stared straight ahead with a fortitude
maybe he couldn't see
but he held his gaze and i knew that he saw
my stop was ava road

i looked at everyone on the bus that i could
age and lines on faces
coats and mittens and eyes
i looked into other's and tried to hold them
with myself back, going forward with the most
vanquish visceral visionary that i
we didn't speak but made a lot of friends
no matter their years or stories
real connections that i learned from and
shared with
a glimmer of possibility
in transit
places going home and away
movement
old men

I am officially at Woods Hole now, which I guess means it’s time to bid farewell to the Arctic as far as blog posts go.

We left Axel Heiberg on one of the windiest days I’ve ever seen.  Upper Camp, where we had been staying further north on the island, was experiencing some nasty cloudy weather, so we took a gamble and hiked a few miles south, in the hopes that the plane would have a better chance of landing there.  The clouds may have actually been better, given the incredible gusts ripping through Lower Camp, and unpredictably changing directions every few minutes.  If I unzipped my jacket and held its edges out like sails, the wind literally lifted me off my feet.

I’d secretly been hoping it wouldn’t be able to land, but in some crazy feat of expert piloting, the twin-otter managed to touch down at Lower Camp, after circling a few times to gauge the wind.

We were splashed with jet fuel as the pilots tried to fill up the twin-otter’s tank in the blustering wind.  In between gusts, I overheard the pilot say, “Young pilots think they’re going to live forever.  Me?  I’ve already lived forever.”

I wasn’t sure what exactly that implied for the flight ahead of us, but I guessed correctly that it was going to be a bumpy ride.  As we strapped down our cargo and began to buckle ourselves in, the co-pilot turned around and warned us:

Make sure you buckle those tight.  I mean … TIGHT.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long after the twin-otter took off from the tundra that we hit some serious turbulence.  We were actually weightless at one point, with all our jackets, cameras, and cargo floating right at eye-level.  I was videotaping the view out the window when it happened.  Unfortunately, I didn’t think fast enough to catch the floating stuff on camera, but it’s a fun video to watch nonetheless:

I get so wistful watching that landscape disappear below the plane.  I can’t wait to go back.  I’m addicted to the Arctic.

I am officially at Woods Hole now, which I guess means it’s time to bid farewell to the Arctic as far as blog posts go.

We left Axel Heiberg on one of the windiest days I’ve ever seen.  Upper Camp, where we had been staying further north on the island, was experiencing some nasty cloudy weather, so we took a gamble and hiked a few miles south, in the hopes that the plane would have a better chance of landing there.  The clouds may have actually been better, given the incredible gusts ripping through Lower Camp, and unpredictably changing directions every few minutes.  If I unzipped my jacket and held its edges out like sails, the wind literally lifted me off my feet.

I’d secretly been hoping it wouldn’t be able to land, but in some crazy feat of expert piloting, the twin-otter managed to touch down at Lower Camp, after circling a few times to gauge the wind.

We were splashed with jet fuel as the pilots tried to fill up the twin-otter’s tank in the blustering wind.  In between gusts, I overheard the pilot say, “Young pilots think they’re going to live forever.  Me?  I’ve already lived forever.”

I wasn’t sure what exactly that implied for the flight ahead of us, but I guessed correctly that it was going to be a bumpy ride.  As we strapped down our cargo and began to buckle ourselves in, the co-pilot turned around and warned us:

Make sure you buckle those tight.  I mean … TIGHT.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long after the twin-otter took off from the tundra that we hit some serious turbulence.  We were actually weightless at one point, with all our jackets, cameras, and cargo floating right at eye-level.  I was videotaping the view out the window when it happened.  Unfortunately, I didn’t think fast enough to catch the floating stuff on camera, but it’s a fun video to watch nonetheless:

I get so wistful watching that landscape disappear below the plane.  I can’t wait to go back.  I’m addicted to the Arctic.