Main shell page for Rants and Raves
Note: Some of these appeared elsewhere for a while, such as from my
LiveJournal. A few may be dated, but I still believe relevant.
Space shuttle crash
I was in 6th grade when in 1986 the Challenger exploded during takeoff.
Of course, I was the kid who watched every shuttle liftoff. I proudly volunteered
my teacher for the "Teacher in Space" program. I was even wearing a funny
home made "Space Suit" out of cardboard, paint, and duct-tape upon watching
the shuttle lift-off in the classroom. My teacher was disappointed he didn't
get on, but he was a good sport and hopeful for future missions.
Of course, the rest is history. The shuttle blew up, my teacher (among millions,
I presume) turned white and we all got sent home early. It was a good thing
I had a big, kooky box with some bit of plexiglass glued on for a helmet for
I started screaming. I kept screaming and screaming all the way home, and
kept the helmet on till I finally fell asleep at midnight.
However, I remember none of this. This happened all right. Enough relatives
reminded me and the cross-stories checked out. I have a pretty good memory,
and can trace myself back quite a bit before then, but that date and the weeks
after and before are a complete blank.
It's interesting, because I consider the concept of "repressed" memories
to be a tabloid-tv driven witch hunt, enabling an accusation, conviction (and
likely execution) on no physical evidence whatsover. They, IMHO, were created
by corrupt psychologists, legitimized by greedy lawyers, and became tools
for inter familial vengence. Just recently a lot of people claimed to have
"suddenly remembered" being molested by their local priest. When they do
that, a flock of lawyers compete to aid them, even if they are currently incarcerated
career criminals. (Krooked Fredd: "Yah, I was an altar boy fer a day before
I got kicked out fer burnin the church. I did it 'cause the pastor buttf---
me! It ain't mah fault!")
However, I very well just might have a 'repressed memory' because I do know
enough about myself to believe I was that enthusiastic about the shuttle program.
In no way, do I want any hinderence of space research or missions over that
trauma. (except for the obvious investigation of the disaster)
The Roman historian Tacticus said "The desire for safety stands against
every great and noble enterprise." He is right, for throught history every
new discovery, every new journey, every social development was fraught with
danger but still man pressed onwards. Man dared use fire, dared cross great
fields of wilderness, dared risk cultivating plants to get food in a new
way. Later, wars were fought to gain empires and to defend them. In my own
country, America, a man led a group of revolutionaries to throw off the yoke
of a mad king and then refused the crown himself. Most difficult were the
social and scientific innovations that challenged man's compacency, as Socrates
and Copernicus (his student to be technical) were among many that died for
their views.
This was a tragedy, and NASA is investigating it with all their considerable
resources. The age of the shuttle itself should not be an issue alone. The
shuttle is maintained meticulously and every single part is replaceable. They
also learned a hard lesson on the challenger, and corrected that mistake.
(Not just "O" rings, but a communications breakdown) Just short of NOT sending
people into space, NASA will do everything possible to prevent another crash,
but it is a sad likelihood that they may not be the last to go.
Space is man's latest challenge, and among the most important. The difficulties
of crossing the oceans pale in comparison to leaving the cradle of Mother
Earth herself, but it is a journey that should be taken. We must learn about
and explore our universe. So far as can be proven, we are the only intelligent
life in the universe. It is our duty to spread out and find other worlds and
other life if it exists. Sooner or later, a natural event (Meteor to our
Sun's own death) will make Earth uninhabitable. Should there be no life outside
of earth that we have seen and contacted, who would know that he have ever
lived?
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Sutut KingNot Braarwood Keys fantasy
sci-fi Lord Dunsany Phillipe Druilliet Transhumanism Nostradamus Bush is
a monkey Taliban statue destruction rants and raves anime hentai reviews
artwork watercolor 3D vector flash illustrator political cartoons IMHO bork
the bear socialism communism futurist trends extropia neotopia utopianism
social utopia rants raves opinionated musings Sutut KingNot Braarwood Keys fantasy sci-fi Lord Dunsany
Phillipe Druilliet Transhumanism Nostradamus Bush is a monkey Taliban statue
destruction rants and raves anime hentai reviews artwork watercolor 3D vector
flash illustrator political cartoons IMHO bork the bear socialism communism
futurist trends extropia neotopia utopianism social utopia rants raves opinionated
musings Sutut KingNot Braarwood Keys fantasy
sci-fi Lord Dunsany Phillipe Druilliet Transhumanism Nostradamus Bush is
a monkey Taliban statue destruction rants and raves anime hentai reviews
artwork watercolor 3D vector flash illustrator political cartoons IMHO bork
the bear socialism communism futurist trends extropia neotopia utopianism
social utopia rants raves opinionated musings Sutut KingNot Braarwood Keys fantasy sci-fi Lord Dunsany
Phillipe Druilliet Transhumanism Nostradamus Bush is a monkey Taliban statue
destruction rants and raves anime hentai reviews artwork watercolor 3D vector
flash illustrator political cartoons IMHO bork the bear socialism communism
futurist trends extropia neotopia utopianism social utopia rants raves opinionated
musings