A verse of recognition
I know I've been gone from the blogging world for a while, but I just got back from Bible Study with the Nav's and this verse was mentioned and stood out to me... Philippians 2:14-16
Philippians 2
2:14
Do all things without complaining and disputing,
2:15
that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
2:16
holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Monday, April 14, 2003
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Just something I ran across
I found this quote on a friend from high school's AIM Away Message today...
Best explanation of the world's problems that I have ever heard:
"Liberals are stupid.. Their parents smoked too much pot or something. Think about it. There was the 70's and then there was this surplus of liberals"
I found this quote on a friend from high school's AIM Away Message today...
Best explanation of the world's problems that I have ever heard:
"Liberals are stupid.. Their parents smoked too much pot or something. Think about it. There was the 70's and then there was this surplus of liberals"
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Controversy in Hokie-land
If ever there was an issue of the CT (Collegiate Times - the VT student produced newspaper), today would be the day! Just take a look at some of the headlines....
* BOV drops gays from policy
* Affirmative action dealt blow at Tech
* Federal bill would put cap on tuition
* Lesbian hire gets boards approval
* Changes to admission policy detrimental to Tech diversity
And yesterday wasn't much better...
* Tech may censor extremist speakers
* Diversity commission OK'd
* Smoking ban passed for campus residents
And that's not mentioning the SLEW of war-related articles (not that I find those to be controversial at this point...).
If ever there was an issue of the CT (Collegiate Times - the VT student produced newspaper), today would be the day! Just take a look at some of the headlines....
* BOV drops gays from policy
* Affirmative action dealt blow at Tech
* Federal bill would put cap on tuition
* Lesbian hire gets boards approval
* Changes to admission policy detrimental to Tech diversity
And yesterday wasn't much better...
* Tech may censor extremist speakers
* Diversity commission OK'd
* Smoking ban passed for campus residents
And that's not mentioning the SLEW of war-related articles (not that I find those to be controversial at this point...).
Saturday, February 15, 2003
Silly French
Found this link on a friend's AIM Profile:
Your French belters (from the Sun Feb. 15th)
Found this link on a friend's AIM Profile:
Your French belters (from the Sun Feb. 15th)
Random Notice
Hey, I just realized that Robbie (HokiePundit) has placed me on his links list under Fightin' Gobblers! So I did the same..
Hey, I just realized that Robbie (HokiePundit) has placed me on his links list under Fightin' Gobblers! So I did the same..
Friday, February 14, 2003
Happy Valentines Day... err Singles Awareness Day
I found a link off of a friend's profile this morning as I checked everyone's away messages after I woke up (yeah.... i do that every morning as I wait for the water in my shower to warm up).
Singles Awareness Day
While I'm not so adamant about how horrible Valentine's Day is (I do love those conversation hearts), the author does have a point. People do get overly worried over this one day... and what does it teach us? not really much.... people rush out and buy their significant other stuff, but just because its some day.... The point the author makes is that love shouldn't just be something that is put on the front burner for this one celebrated day, but rather love should be celebrated all year round...
Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day just the same.
I found a link off of a friend's profile this morning as I checked everyone's away messages after I woke up (yeah.... i do that every morning as I wait for the water in my shower to warm up).
Singles Awareness Day
While I'm not so adamant about how horrible Valentine's Day is (I do love those conversation hearts), the author does have a point. People do get overly worried over this one day... and what does it teach us? not really much.... people rush out and buy their significant other stuff, but just because its some day.... The point the author makes is that love shouldn't just be something that is put on the front burner for this one celebrated day, but rather love should be celebrated all year round...
Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day just the same.
Monday, February 03, 2003
Sunday, February 02, 2003
The Day After Tragedy Hit
The post made yesterday was the news according to the post NASA made to their main webpage yesterday afternoon. It sums up basically everything that was known about the situation at the time and pretty much everything that is known now. I wanted to come back today and make some more comments about this horrible tragedy and expand upon the events of yesterday. (prepare yourself for a rather lengthy post)
But first, let me step back a bit. I would venture to say that President Bush has probably had the most "jam-packed" presidency with crucial, serious, and tragic events of any president in the history of the United States. It seems that just when the President and the US has dealt with one situation, another one just all of a sudden appears…. from the 9/11 attacks, to the dealings with Korea, and now the loss of 7 lives in the destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia, and everything in between. But this in particular has struck a personal note (as did the 9/11 attacks… but this almost to a greater degree).
For my whole life, or at least what I can remember, I have wanted to become an astronaut. Not just any astronaut, but I wanted to be the Shuttle Commander. As a middle school and younger high school student, I paid my way to go to the Space Camp Programs in Florida and Alabama a total of 4 times and also won a scholarship to Advanced Space Academy an additional time. So in all, I've attended the programs a total of 5 times…. not quite the record, but not far off either. In fact by the 5th time I attended the camps, I was on a pretty much first name basis with much of the staff there in Huntsville, Alabama. Space Camp was the perfect excursion for someone like me. A week-long camp where I could meet other kids from around the country, and sometimes from other parts of the world as well, who were also interested in space. I could learn about the history of the space program, about astronomy, and about the mechanics of space travel; I got to experience simulators and get a taste of the types of training that real astronauts go through… even experience miniature shuttle missions. People at my high school definitely knew about my sort of 'obsession' with space travel… all knew that I wanted to be an astronaut… A lot of people just used that as a way to make fun of me, but I didn't care… I knew what I was passionate about and it didn't matter what other people thought. Other people, especially some of my teachers, still ask me to make sure that I 'get them tickets to see my first launch.' And for any of you who have made that request…. when the time comes, just let me know! J
But the point is, I think that was my motivation… maybe not my obvious motivation, but more subconscious…. all throughout my high school life…. its why I did so well. There's really no other explanation to it. I never saw myself as the 'smartest' kid at school…. not really close at all…. But the difference was that I worked my BUTT off so that I would have the best grades I could get….
Okay, back on the track I was taking…. I definitely was more knowledgable about space travel, the history of manned spaceflight, etc. than any other person I knew…. Gosh you probably could have asked me any silly trivia question about the space program back then, and I would've known the answer. (I'm a little rusty nowadays… so I wouldn't try asking me now… out of practice) But I knew then that space travel was still fragile, a risk…. something that became apparent again to the nation's public after yesterday's travel. Becoming an astronaut, you assume the dangers that come along with it…. Every time you go into space you're practically strapping yourself to a rocket-powered bomb of sorts…. And during reentry… if you don't come back into the atmosphere at just the right time, you'll be missing your "window" and it'd be like running into a brick wall. Also, coming back in at the correct angle affects things as well, because you must deflect the heat generated from friction as you reenter the earth's atmosphere. It's a risk that all astronauts are aware of and are willing to take to make that voyage into space…. not just for themselves (though that is part of it) but also to better the human race through the work they do while in space. That risk involved is also why astronauts spend over 3 years in training for their specific mission. They run through the procedures over and over until its almost second nature… but they don't ever let it become second nature… they don't let the little details by them… even the silly routine checks are done every time following a specific guide for how they should be done and reported… almost like a script for a play.
Anyway, throughout the 42 years of US manned spaceflight, only 3 incidents resulted in the loss of human life. The first of these was Apollo I [January 27, 1967], however it was never meant to launch. Rather Apollo I served as a launch pad test of the Apollo/Saturn launch vehicle being prepared for the first piloted flight. Three astronauts, nonetheless, were on board of the vehicle and were unable to escape the command module once failures began. These three men were: Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom (Gus - a veteran of Mercury and Gemini missions), Lt. Col. Edward H. White (the astronaut who performed the first US extravehicular activity during the Gemini program), and Lt. Col. Roger B. Chaffee (an astronaut preparing for his first mission). Adjustments to the command module were made to fix the anomalies so that something like this would not happen again, and provisions were placed in the lunar excusion module as well so that this could not occur there either.
Apollo 13 could have been a deadly catastrophe, but as I mentioned before NASA trains its astronauts, as well as mission control and ground support, so well that they know their mission flawlessly, but I failed to mention that these astronauts and other engineers know their equipment like the 'back of their hand'… and thus with some ingenuity, they were able to solve the problem and get back to earth safely.
Next, the US Space Program spawned into a new generation of spaceflight: the Space Shuttle. Beginning with the first Shuttle flight in 1981, the space program would become more and more a useful tool to learning more about space as well as our own planet. The Space Shuttle Program Began with launch of STS-1. Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on April 12, 1981, at 7 a.m. EST to begin the first shuttle mission, STS-1. The primary mission objectives for STS-1 were to accomplish a safe ascent into orbit, check out all the systems on the space shuttle and to return to Earth for a safe landing. All of these objectives were met successfully. The first crew for the Shuttle Program and for the Space Shuttle Columbia was John W. Young (commander) and Capt. Robert L. Crippen (pilot).
It wasn't until January 28, 1986 that tragedy struck the space program again. STS-51L, Challenger Orbiter… crew of 7: Francis R. Scobee (commander), Michael J. Smith (pilot), Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, Ronald E. McNair, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Sharon Christa McAuliffe. After several delays and pushbacks of the flight, the Challenger finally was going to get off the launchpad on the chilly morning of January 28, 1986. Delays set in again with the onset of a hardware interface module in the launch processing system failure during liquid hydrogen testing procedures. After fixing this problem, the Shuttle finally was cleared for launch. And only 73 seconds after liftoff, as America looked on as the first teacher was to be sent to space, the Challenger exploded, claiming the crew and vehicle. Shuttle flights halted while investigations of the incident were undergone and while improvements to the systems could be made to prevent another tragedy from happening later on. It took nearly 3 years before another Shuttle would launch again.
Twenty years after Columbia's maiden flight, America's first space shuttle orbiter, Columbia, returned to service just after a year and a half of maintenance and upgrades that have made it better than ever. More than 100 modifications and improvements have been made to Columbia, highlighted by the installation of a new "glass cockpit" that replaced mechanical instruments with 11 full-color, flat-panel displays. The new cockpit is lighter, uses less electricity and sets the stage for the next generation of improvements, a "smart cockpit" under development that will make the cockpit even more user-friendly. Columbia is the second of NASA's four space shuttles to be fitted with the new "glass cockpit." Other improvements included weight reductions that have increased the amount of cargo Columbia can carry to orbit by hundreds of pounds. To save weight, almost 1,000 pounds of unused wire -- left over from equipment and sensors that were used on Columbia for only the first few space shuttle test flights - were removed. Comprehensive inspections of 95 percent of Columbia's more than 200 miles of wire were performed at Palmdale. To prevent such damage from recurring, technicians smoothed rough edges throughout the shuttle and encased wiring in high-traffic work areas in protective tubing. Such inspections and protective measures will be a regular feature of all future shuttle major maintenance. In addition, Columbia's crew cabin floor was strengthened, the heat protection on its wings was enhanced and protection space debris was added to its cooling system, making it a safer spacecraft. While Columbia was in California, technicians scoured the shuttle during months of intensive structural inspections, using the latest technology to check for even minute signs of fatigue, corrosion or broken rivets or welds. (resource for details on upgrades to the Columbia Orbiter was found at http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/releases/2001/01-25.html).
This brings us about up to date…. (if you want to read more on US manned space history… check out http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/history/)
STS 107, what some people considered what had been the "most perfect mission" up until the last 20 minutes. Never has NASA had problems during reentry before yesterday. Here's a segment from the most recent NASA Shuttle Status Report (8 pm EST 2/1/03):
The Space Shuttle Columbia and its seven astronauts were lost today when the vehicle broke up over north central Texas during its reentry from orbit.
Communications were lost with Columbia and its crew at around 8:00 a.m. CST, while the shuttle was traveling about 18 times the speed of sound at an altitude of 207,000 feet. Columbia was 16 minutes from landing at the Kennedy Space Center when flight controllers at Mission Control lost contact with the vehicle. Columbia was returning from a 16-day scientific research mission, its 28th flight, which launched on January 16.
Aboard Columbia were Commander Rick Husband, completing his second flight, Pilot William McCool, wrapping up his first mission, Mission Specialists Dave Brown, also completing his first mission, Kalpana Chawla, on her second flight, Laurel Clark, a first-time space traveler, Payload Commander Mike Anderson, ending his second flight, and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon of the Israel Space Agency, on his first flight.
Prior to the loss of communications with Columbia, the shuttle's return to Earth appeared perfectly normal. After assessing some wispy fog near the shuttle?s three-mile long landing strip at KSC before dawn, Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain gave approval for the firing of the shuttle's braking rockets to begin its descent from orbit.
Husband and McCool began the deorbit burn to allow Columbia to slip out of orbit at 7:15 a.m. CST. There was no indication of anything abnormal with Columbia's reentry until the last communications between Mission Control and the crew.
At Columbia's intended landing site, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and Associate Administrator for Space Flight William Readdy met with the families of the astronauts to offer their condolences, vowed to uncover the cause of the accident and press ahead with the Shuttle program.
"This is indeed a tragic day for the NASA family, for the families of the astronauts who flew on STS-107, and likewise is tragic for the nation," said O'Keefe.
"We have no indication that the mishap was caused by anything or anyone on the ground," O'Keefe added.
In a briefing, Chief Flight Director Milt Heflin said that around 7:53 a.m. CST, just minutes before communications were lost with Columbia, flight controllers detected indications of a loss of hydraulic system temperature measurements associated with Columbia's left wing, followed three minutes later by an increase in temperatures on the left main gear tires and brakes. At 7:58 a.m., flight controllers noted a loss of bondline temperature sensor data in the area of the left wing followed a minute later by a loss of data on tire temperatures and pressures for the left inboard and outboard tires.
After several attempts to try to contact Columbia, Cain declared a contingency, whereby flight controllers began preserving documentation regarding the entry phase of the flight. Recovery forces fanned out from Texas to Louisiana to try to recover debris that will be pertinent to the mishap investigation.
Space Shuttle Program Manager Ron Dittemore said several teams have been organized to gather data for analysis and will report to an external investigation board that was appointed by Administrator O'Keefe. Dittemore added that no specific orbiter debris or crew remains have been positively identified at this time, and that there is no leading theory for the cause of the accident.
Dittemore said the processing of other shuttles at the Kennedy Space Center for future launches has been temporarily halted to enable engineers to review data regarding vehicle processing and to focus attention on capturing all pertinent information involving Columbia's prelaunch preparations.
NASA managers will be meeting on a regular basis to begin reviewing data associated with Columbia's investigation. The next status briefing from the Johnson Space Center is tentatively scheduled from the Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX at 12:00 p.m. CST Sunday. It will be seen on NASA Television with two-way question and answer capability for reporters from NASA centers. …
On the International Space Station, Expedition 6 Commander Ken Bowersox, Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin and NASA ISS Science Officer Don Pettit were informed of the loss of Columbia and its crew shortly after a Russian Progress resupply vehicle undocked from the ISS. Filled with discarded items no longer needed on the ISS, the Progress was commanded to deorbit by Russian flight controllers and reentered the Earth's atmosphere.
A new Progress cargo ship will be launched Sunday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 6:59 a.m. CST (1259 GMT) filled with supplies for the Expedition 6 crew. It is scheduled to dock to the ISS Tuesday morning. ISS program officials say, if necessary, the current resident crew could remain in orbit until late June with the supplies being ferried to the station on the new Progress.
President Bush's Response yesterday to this horrible tragedy, I think was very well put (maybe not so poetically as Reagan, the last president to offer condolences for an incident such as this… after the loss of lives in the Challenger incident)….
My fellow Americans, this day has brought terrible news and great sadness to our
country. At 9 o'clock this morning, Mission Control in Houston lost contact with our
space shuttle Columbia. A short time later, debris was seen falling from the skies above
Texas.
The Columbia's lost. There are no survivors.
Onboard was a crew of seven -- Colonel Rick Husband, Lieutenant Colonel Michael
Anderson, Commander Laurel Clark, Captain David Brown, Commander William McCool,
Dr. Kalpana Chawla, and Ilan Ramon a colonel in the Israeli air force.
These men and women assumed great risk in this service to all humanity. In an age when
space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel
by rocket and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the earth.
These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a
high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will
miss them all the more.
All Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men and women who
have been given this sudden shock and grief. You're not alone. Our entire nation grieves
with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country.
The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our
world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into
space will go on.
In the skies today, we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet farther than we can see, there is
comfort and hope.
In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created
all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."
The same creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn
today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth, yet we can pray
that all are safely home.
May God bless the grieving families, and may God continue to bless America.
Another good resource I've found on the Columbia incident is: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/shuttle/.
Well, I think I've about summed up everything for right now. So, to close, Rick Husband, William McCool, Dave Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, Mike Anderson, and Ilan Ramon of the Israel Space Agency, as well as their families and friends are in our thoughts and prayers.
The US is a strong nation and so is NASA and the rest of the space program. We'll survive. It might be a break before the Space Program resumes to its normal pace, but it will return. And eventually, (hopefully), my name will be added to the list of those who've gone to space (I still need to be the first woman on the moon and one of the first people on Mars!). There's still SO much to be accomplished, it'd be a shame for it to die.
So, America… keep believing in the space program!
The post made yesterday was the news according to the post NASA made to their main webpage yesterday afternoon. It sums up basically everything that was known about the situation at the time and pretty much everything that is known now. I wanted to come back today and make some more comments about this horrible tragedy and expand upon the events of yesterday. (prepare yourself for a rather lengthy post)
But first, let me step back a bit. I would venture to say that President Bush has probably had the most "jam-packed" presidency with crucial, serious, and tragic events of any president in the history of the United States. It seems that just when the President and the US has dealt with one situation, another one just all of a sudden appears…. from the 9/11 attacks, to the dealings with Korea, and now the loss of 7 lives in the destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia, and everything in between. But this in particular has struck a personal note (as did the 9/11 attacks… but this almost to a greater degree).
For my whole life, or at least what I can remember, I have wanted to become an astronaut. Not just any astronaut, but I wanted to be the Shuttle Commander. As a middle school and younger high school student, I paid my way to go to the Space Camp Programs in Florida and Alabama a total of 4 times and also won a scholarship to Advanced Space Academy an additional time. So in all, I've attended the programs a total of 5 times…. not quite the record, but not far off either. In fact by the 5th time I attended the camps, I was on a pretty much first name basis with much of the staff there in Huntsville, Alabama. Space Camp was the perfect excursion for someone like me. A week-long camp where I could meet other kids from around the country, and sometimes from other parts of the world as well, who were also interested in space. I could learn about the history of the space program, about astronomy, and about the mechanics of space travel; I got to experience simulators and get a taste of the types of training that real astronauts go through… even experience miniature shuttle missions. People at my high school definitely knew about my sort of 'obsession' with space travel… all knew that I wanted to be an astronaut… A lot of people just used that as a way to make fun of me, but I didn't care… I knew what I was passionate about and it didn't matter what other people thought. Other people, especially some of my teachers, still ask me to make sure that I 'get them tickets to see my first launch.' And for any of you who have made that request…. when the time comes, just let me know! J
But the point is, I think that was my motivation… maybe not my obvious motivation, but more subconscious…. all throughout my high school life…. its why I did so well. There's really no other explanation to it. I never saw myself as the 'smartest' kid at school…. not really close at all…. But the difference was that I worked my BUTT off so that I would have the best grades I could get….
Okay, back on the track I was taking…. I definitely was more knowledgable about space travel, the history of manned spaceflight, etc. than any other person I knew…. Gosh you probably could have asked me any silly trivia question about the space program back then, and I would've known the answer. (I'm a little rusty nowadays… so I wouldn't try asking me now… out of practice) But I knew then that space travel was still fragile, a risk…. something that became apparent again to the nation's public after yesterday's travel. Becoming an astronaut, you assume the dangers that come along with it…. Every time you go into space you're practically strapping yourself to a rocket-powered bomb of sorts…. And during reentry… if you don't come back into the atmosphere at just the right time, you'll be missing your "window" and it'd be like running into a brick wall. Also, coming back in at the correct angle affects things as well, because you must deflect the heat generated from friction as you reenter the earth's atmosphere. It's a risk that all astronauts are aware of and are willing to take to make that voyage into space…. not just for themselves (though that is part of it) but also to better the human race through the work they do while in space. That risk involved is also why astronauts spend over 3 years in training for their specific mission. They run through the procedures over and over until its almost second nature… but they don't ever let it become second nature… they don't let the little details by them… even the silly routine checks are done every time following a specific guide for how they should be done and reported… almost like a script for a play.
Anyway, throughout the 42 years of US manned spaceflight, only 3 incidents resulted in the loss of human life. The first of these was Apollo I [January 27, 1967], however it was never meant to launch. Rather Apollo I served as a launch pad test of the Apollo/Saturn launch vehicle being prepared for the first piloted flight. Three astronauts, nonetheless, were on board of the vehicle and were unable to escape the command module once failures began. These three men were: Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom (Gus - a veteran of Mercury and Gemini missions), Lt. Col. Edward H. White (the astronaut who performed the first US extravehicular activity during the Gemini program), and Lt. Col. Roger B. Chaffee (an astronaut preparing for his first mission). Adjustments to the command module were made to fix the anomalies so that something like this would not happen again, and provisions were placed in the lunar excusion module as well so that this could not occur there either.
Apollo 13 could have been a deadly catastrophe, but as I mentioned before NASA trains its astronauts, as well as mission control and ground support, so well that they know their mission flawlessly, but I failed to mention that these astronauts and other engineers know their equipment like the 'back of their hand'… and thus with some ingenuity, they were able to solve the problem and get back to earth safely.
Next, the US Space Program spawned into a new generation of spaceflight: the Space Shuttle. Beginning with the first Shuttle flight in 1981, the space program would become more and more a useful tool to learning more about space as well as our own planet. The Space Shuttle Program Began with launch of STS-1. Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on April 12, 1981, at 7 a.m. EST to begin the first shuttle mission, STS-1. The primary mission objectives for STS-1 were to accomplish a safe ascent into orbit, check out all the systems on the space shuttle and to return to Earth for a safe landing. All of these objectives were met successfully. The first crew for the Shuttle Program and for the Space Shuttle Columbia was John W. Young (commander) and Capt. Robert L. Crippen (pilot).
It wasn't until January 28, 1986 that tragedy struck the space program again. STS-51L, Challenger Orbiter… crew of 7: Francis R. Scobee (commander), Michael J. Smith (pilot), Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, Ronald E. McNair, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Sharon Christa McAuliffe. After several delays and pushbacks of the flight, the Challenger finally was going to get off the launchpad on the chilly morning of January 28, 1986. Delays set in again with the onset of a hardware interface module in the launch processing system failure during liquid hydrogen testing procedures. After fixing this problem, the Shuttle finally was cleared for launch. And only 73 seconds after liftoff, as America looked on as the first teacher was to be sent to space, the Challenger exploded, claiming the crew and vehicle. Shuttle flights halted while investigations of the incident were undergone and while improvements to the systems could be made to prevent another tragedy from happening later on. It took nearly 3 years before another Shuttle would launch again.
Twenty years after Columbia's maiden flight, America's first space shuttle orbiter, Columbia, returned to service just after a year and a half of maintenance and upgrades that have made it better than ever. More than 100 modifications and improvements have been made to Columbia, highlighted by the installation of a new "glass cockpit" that replaced mechanical instruments with 11 full-color, flat-panel displays. The new cockpit is lighter, uses less electricity and sets the stage for the next generation of improvements, a "smart cockpit" under development that will make the cockpit even more user-friendly. Columbia is the second of NASA's four space shuttles to be fitted with the new "glass cockpit." Other improvements included weight reductions that have increased the amount of cargo Columbia can carry to orbit by hundreds of pounds. To save weight, almost 1,000 pounds of unused wire -- left over from equipment and sensors that were used on Columbia for only the first few space shuttle test flights - were removed. Comprehensive inspections of 95 percent of Columbia's more than 200 miles of wire were performed at Palmdale. To prevent such damage from recurring, technicians smoothed rough edges throughout the shuttle and encased wiring in high-traffic work areas in protective tubing. Such inspections and protective measures will be a regular feature of all future shuttle major maintenance. In addition, Columbia's crew cabin floor was strengthened, the heat protection on its wings was enhanced and protection space debris was added to its cooling system, making it a safer spacecraft. While Columbia was in California, technicians scoured the shuttle during months of intensive structural inspections, using the latest technology to check for even minute signs of fatigue, corrosion or broken rivets or welds. (resource for details on upgrades to the Columbia Orbiter was found at http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/releases/2001/01-25.html).
This brings us about up to date…. (if you want to read more on US manned space history… check out http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/history/)
STS 107, what some people considered what had been the "most perfect mission" up until the last 20 minutes. Never has NASA had problems during reentry before yesterday. Here's a segment from the most recent NASA Shuttle Status Report (8 pm EST 2/1/03):
The Space Shuttle Columbia and its seven astronauts were lost today when the vehicle broke up over north central Texas during its reentry from orbit.
Communications were lost with Columbia and its crew at around 8:00 a.m. CST, while the shuttle was traveling about 18 times the speed of sound at an altitude of 207,000 feet. Columbia was 16 minutes from landing at the Kennedy Space Center when flight controllers at Mission Control lost contact with the vehicle. Columbia was returning from a 16-day scientific research mission, its 28th flight, which launched on January 16.
Aboard Columbia were Commander Rick Husband, completing his second flight, Pilot William McCool, wrapping up his first mission, Mission Specialists Dave Brown, also completing his first mission, Kalpana Chawla, on her second flight, Laurel Clark, a first-time space traveler, Payload Commander Mike Anderson, ending his second flight, and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon of the Israel Space Agency, on his first flight.
Prior to the loss of communications with Columbia, the shuttle's return to Earth appeared perfectly normal. After assessing some wispy fog near the shuttle?s three-mile long landing strip at KSC before dawn, Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain gave approval for the firing of the shuttle's braking rockets to begin its descent from orbit.
Husband and McCool began the deorbit burn to allow Columbia to slip out of orbit at 7:15 a.m. CST. There was no indication of anything abnormal with Columbia's reentry until the last communications between Mission Control and the crew.
At Columbia's intended landing site, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and Associate Administrator for Space Flight William Readdy met with the families of the astronauts to offer their condolences, vowed to uncover the cause of the accident and press ahead with the Shuttle program.
"This is indeed a tragic day for the NASA family, for the families of the astronauts who flew on STS-107, and likewise is tragic for the nation," said O'Keefe.
"We have no indication that the mishap was caused by anything or anyone on the ground," O'Keefe added.
In a briefing, Chief Flight Director Milt Heflin said that around 7:53 a.m. CST, just minutes before communications were lost with Columbia, flight controllers detected indications of a loss of hydraulic system temperature measurements associated with Columbia's left wing, followed three minutes later by an increase in temperatures on the left main gear tires and brakes. At 7:58 a.m., flight controllers noted a loss of bondline temperature sensor data in the area of the left wing followed a minute later by a loss of data on tire temperatures and pressures for the left inboard and outboard tires.
After several attempts to try to contact Columbia, Cain declared a contingency, whereby flight controllers began preserving documentation regarding the entry phase of the flight. Recovery forces fanned out from Texas to Louisiana to try to recover debris that will be pertinent to the mishap investigation.
Space Shuttle Program Manager Ron Dittemore said several teams have been organized to gather data for analysis and will report to an external investigation board that was appointed by Administrator O'Keefe. Dittemore added that no specific orbiter debris or crew remains have been positively identified at this time, and that there is no leading theory for the cause of the accident.
Dittemore said the processing of other shuttles at the Kennedy Space Center for future launches has been temporarily halted to enable engineers to review data regarding vehicle processing and to focus attention on capturing all pertinent information involving Columbia's prelaunch preparations.
NASA managers will be meeting on a regular basis to begin reviewing data associated with Columbia's investigation. The next status briefing from the Johnson Space Center is tentatively scheduled from the Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX at 12:00 p.m. CST Sunday. It will be seen on NASA Television with two-way question and answer capability for reporters from NASA centers. …
On the International Space Station, Expedition 6 Commander Ken Bowersox, Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin and NASA ISS Science Officer Don Pettit were informed of the loss of Columbia and its crew shortly after a Russian Progress resupply vehicle undocked from the ISS. Filled with discarded items no longer needed on the ISS, the Progress was commanded to deorbit by Russian flight controllers and reentered the Earth's atmosphere.
A new Progress cargo ship will be launched Sunday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 6:59 a.m. CST (1259 GMT) filled with supplies for the Expedition 6 crew. It is scheduled to dock to the ISS Tuesday morning. ISS program officials say, if necessary, the current resident crew could remain in orbit until late June with the supplies being ferried to the station on the new Progress.
President Bush's Response yesterday to this horrible tragedy, I think was very well put (maybe not so poetically as Reagan, the last president to offer condolences for an incident such as this… after the loss of lives in the Challenger incident)….
My fellow Americans, this day has brought terrible news and great sadness to our
country. At 9 o'clock this morning, Mission Control in Houston lost contact with our
space shuttle Columbia. A short time later, debris was seen falling from the skies above
Texas.
The Columbia's lost. There are no survivors.
Onboard was a crew of seven -- Colonel Rick Husband, Lieutenant Colonel Michael
Anderson, Commander Laurel Clark, Captain David Brown, Commander William McCool,
Dr. Kalpana Chawla, and Ilan Ramon a colonel in the Israeli air force.
These men and women assumed great risk in this service to all humanity. In an age when
space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel
by rocket and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the earth.
These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a
high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will
miss them all the more.
All Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men and women who
have been given this sudden shock and grief. You're not alone. Our entire nation grieves
with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country.
The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our
world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into
space will go on.
In the skies today, we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet farther than we can see, there is
comfort and hope.
In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created
all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."
The same creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn
today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth, yet we can pray
that all are safely home.
May God bless the grieving families, and may God continue to bless America.
Another good resource I've found on the Columbia incident is: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/shuttle/.
Well, I think I've about summed up everything for right now. So, to close, Rick Husband, William McCool, Dave Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, Mike Anderson, and Ilan Ramon of the Israel Space Agency, as well as their families and friends are in our thoughts and prayers.
The US is a strong nation and so is NASA and the rest of the space program. We'll survive. It might be a break before the Space Program resumes to its normal pace, but it will return. And eventually, (hopefully), my name will be added to the list of those who've gone to space (I still need to be the first woman on the moon and one of the first people on Mars!). There's still SO much to be accomplished, it'd be a shame for it to die.
So, America… keep believing in the space program!
Saturday, February 01, 2003
Disaster Strikes the Space Program again...
NASA STATEMENT ON LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH COLUMBIA
A Space Shuttle contingency has been declared in Mission Control, Houston, as a result of the loss of communication with the Space Shuttle Columbia at approximately 9 a.m. EST Saturday as it descended toward a landing at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. It was scheduled to touchdown at 9:16 a.m. EST.
Communication and tracking of the shuttle was lost at 9 a.m. EST at an altitude of about 203,000 feet in the area above north central Texas. At the time communications were lost. The shuttle was traveling approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18). No communication and tracking information were received in Mission Control after that time.
Search and rescue teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth and in portions of East Texas have been alerted. Any debris that is located in the area that may be related to the Space Shuttle contingency should be avoided and may be hazardous as a result of toxic propellants used aboard the shuttle. The location of any possible debris should immediately be reported to local authorities.
Flight controllers in Mission Control have secured all information, notes and data pertinent to today's entry and landing by Space Shuttle Columbia and continue to methodically proceed through contingency plans.
NASA STATEMENT ON LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH COLUMBIA
A Space Shuttle contingency has been declared in Mission Control, Houston, as a result of the loss of communication with the Space Shuttle Columbia at approximately 9 a.m. EST Saturday as it descended toward a landing at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. It was scheduled to touchdown at 9:16 a.m. EST.
Communication and tracking of the shuttle was lost at 9 a.m. EST at an altitude of about 203,000 feet in the area above north central Texas. At the time communications were lost. The shuttle was traveling approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18). No communication and tracking information were received in Mission Control after that time.
Search and rescue teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth and in portions of East Texas have been alerted. Any debris that is located in the area that may be related to the Space Shuttle contingency should be avoided and may be hazardous as a result of toxic propellants used aboard the shuttle. The location of any possible debris should immediately be reported to local authorities.
Flight controllers in Mission Control have secured all information, notes and data pertinent to today's entry and landing by Space Shuttle Columbia and continue to methodically proceed through contingency plans.
Friday, January 24, 2003
Follow Up
In regards to Thursday's post, I wanted to add a few comments.
Before I went to class, the way I responded was soley.... "Of course they aren't letting homosexuals carry leadership positions!" I mean, why would they? IV is a Christian organization and having someone in a leadership position who clearly did not represent the standards that the group is professing would be counterproductive and would make people outside the organization question its merit (hypocritical).
The discussion in class, while it did not really change my stance on the issue made me think about it more in depth and realize more of the other side of the picture. Some of the points made against IV in this case were IV is carrying the school's name and logo along with the organization name. Also, they're using school facilities for their meetings (etc). In addition, some schools (mainly private schools) offer all campus organizations funding from the student activities fee. If the school professes to not discriminate (as VT does for example) against age, sex, race, or sexual orientation then campus organizations do not have the right to discriminate either as long as they're using the school name, logo, facilities, or funding.
This is all well and good, but I still don't agree. Here's an example.... Would the Black Student Alliance have a white person as president???/ I don't think so.... Would the Society of Women Engineers have a male in a leadership position??? No again.
On the other hand, why would a homosexual, or anyone for that matter, want to be a part of an organization that professes different values and morals that differ from those of themselves?? It just doesn't seem like someone would go through the trouble to be a part of a group that clearly condones some value they posses, like homosexuality for example.
I brought this point up in class and the teacher made the point that maybe a person wants to get in leadership to reform the group. Well... maybe they should make their OWN organization that professes that Homosexuality is not condoned within Christianity.
Anyway, that's just what I think!
Until next time...
~Stefie
In regards to Thursday's post, I wanted to add a few comments.
Before I went to class, the way I responded was soley.... "Of course they aren't letting homosexuals carry leadership positions!" I mean, why would they? IV is a Christian organization and having someone in a leadership position who clearly did not represent the standards that the group is professing would be counterproductive and would make people outside the organization question its merit (hypocritical).
The discussion in class, while it did not really change my stance on the issue made me think about it more in depth and realize more of the other side of the picture. Some of the points made against IV in this case were IV is carrying the school's name and logo along with the organization name. Also, they're using school facilities for their meetings (etc). In addition, some schools (mainly private schools) offer all campus organizations funding from the student activities fee. If the school professes to not discriminate (as VT does for example) against age, sex, race, or sexual orientation then campus organizations do not have the right to discriminate either as long as they're using the school name, logo, facilities, or funding.
This is all well and good, but I still don't agree. Here's an example.... Would the Black Student Alliance have a white person as president???/ I don't think so.... Would the Society of Women Engineers have a male in a leadership position??? No again.
On the other hand, why would a homosexual, or anyone for that matter, want to be a part of an organization that professes different values and morals that differ from those of themselves?? It just doesn't seem like someone would go through the trouble to be a part of a group that clearly condones some value they posses, like homosexuality for example.
I brought this point up in class and the teacher made the point that maybe a person wants to get in leadership to reform the group. Well... maybe they should make their OWN organization that professes that Homosexuality is not condoned within Christianity.
Anyway, that's just what I think!
Until next time...
~Stefie
Thursday, January 23, 2003
An Article from my Religion Class
In my religion class, we're required to subscribe to a Daily Relgious News Email service, OnReligion.com. One article we were required to read spouted some interest in my mind... (from the Washington Times 1/18/03):
InterVarsity status shaken by bias accusations
Richard N. Ostling
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 18, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After 65 years of work on American college campuses, the respected InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has been battling recently with administrators at several dozen schools.
At issue are university rules that forbid recognized on-campus student organizations to discriminate on the basis of religion or sexual orientation.
InterVarsity requires students who lead its chapters — though not the other participants — to adhere to its eight-point doctrinal platform, and the traditional Christian teaching against homosexuality.
"A person's religious convictions are a relevant factor when selecting him or her to lead a religious organization," undergraduate leaders of an independent but InterVarsity-related Christian fellowship at Harvard said in a recent statement. The issue is under discussion at Harvard.
InterVarsity seeks to settle such disputes privately, said the group's attorney, David French. It almost always wins, defending its policies on the basis of religious freedom, said Mr. French, whose efforts are supported by the Alliance Defense Fund of Scottsdale, Ariz.
But at Rutgers University, a local chapter was suspended in September, subsequent talks stalled and InterVarsity filed suit in federal court Dec. 30 for the first time anywhere.
The same day, news broke that Chancellor James Moeser of the University of North Carolina overruled the student activities director, who had told InterVarsity students to drop their leadership restrictions by Jan. 31 or be thrown off campus.
North Carolina's rules, similar to those elsewhere, require campus clubs to allow "full membership and participation" without regard to religion, sexual orientation or other factors.
Mr. Moeser decided InterVarsity could continue as a recognized campus club without changing its rule about leaders. Because it makes "valuable contributions to student life" and since membership is open to all, "on balance," Mr. Moeser explained, "preserving freedom of expression is the more crucial consideration."
Originating at England's University of Cambridge 126 years ago, InterVarsity reached the University of Michigan in 1938 and currently has chapters on 560 U.S. campuses.
Its missionary convention at the University of Illinois every three years is the biggest religious event in America for college students; it drew 18,730 in 2000.
Yet deeply religious students tend to find themselves marginalized on campus, said Alan Charles Kors, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
They wind up as the only group expected to live with "a hostile environment," he said.
Mr. Kors, a University of Pennsylvania historian and nonreligious Jew, thinks such students should insist on their rights, as InterVarsity is doing.
"A large number don't fight back," he said.
Apparently, college religious organizations often avoid conflict by operating off-campus — or by simply winking at campus rules. But Mr. French said "integrity" requires InterVarsity chapters to state their leadership policies.
For many years, there seemed to be no problem. The pressures on InterVarsity first became public at Tufts University in 2000, when a member filed a complaint that student leaders of the local chapter barred her from holding office because she is a lesbian who disagreed with InterVarsity's view of homosexuality.
Eventually the campus judiciary decided the lesbian had been discriminated against, but InterVarsity's policy did not violate Tufts' rules so it could continue operating.
Mr. French said he believes public universities such as Rutgers are bound by U.S. Supreme Court decisions that guarantee religious clubs equal access to campus facilities and funding from mandatory student-activity fees. In addition, the court has backed the right of private associations — in a Boy Scouts case — to select leaders on the basis of moral tenets.
The Rutgers dispute pits adherence to InterVarsity's doctrinal requirements against the university rule that "membership, benefits and the election of officers" will not be made on the basis of "religious affiliation."
The InterVarsity chapter could operate off-campus like many religious ministries do, concedes InterVarsity staff adviser Laura Vellenga.
But she said that would relegate it to "second-class status," losing guaranteed access to campus facilities and a rightful share of student-activities fees.
Emmet A. Dennis, Rutgers' vice president for student affairs, said Monday that the school believes a group receiving student fees should open leadership posts to any active participant.
He sees InterVarsity as a national organization seeking to veto local leaders by insisting on its doctrinal standards, although Miss Vellenga said the Rutgers students themselves want to make sure like-minded Christians continue to lead the group.
The issue is simply the right of assembly and "whether groups can come together under particular beliefs," according to Jonathan Crowe, who was student co-leader of the InterVarsity chapter during the Tufts University dispute.
"If you take that away, forcing a Republican group to have a Democratic president or a Hillel group to have a Holocaust denier, you're undermining the integrity of the group."
In my religion class, we're required to subscribe to a Daily Relgious News Email service, OnReligion.com. One article we were required to read spouted some interest in my mind... (from the Washington Times 1/18/03):
InterVarsity status shaken by bias accusations
Richard N. Ostling
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 18, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After 65 years of work on American college campuses, the respected InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has been battling recently with administrators at several dozen schools.
At issue are university rules that forbid recognized on-campus student organizations to discriminate on the basis of religion or sexual orientation.
InterVarsity requires students who lead its chapters — though not the other participants — to adhere to its eight-point doctrinal platform, and the traditional Christian teaching against homosexuality.
"A person's religious convictions are a relevant factor when selecting him or her to lead a religious organization," undergraduate leaders of an independent but InterVarsity-related Christian fellowship at Harvard said in a recent statement. The issue is under discussion at Harvard.
InterVarsity seeks to settle such disputes privately, said the group's attorney, David French. It almost always wins, defending its policies on the basis of religious freedom, said Mr. French, whose efforts are supported by the Alliance Defense Fund of Scottsdale, Ariz.
But at Rutgers University, a local chapter was suspended in September, subsequent talks stalled and InterVarsity filed suit in federal court Dec. 30 for the first time anywhere.
The same day, news broke that Chancellor James Moeser of the University of North Carolina overruled the student activities director, who had told InterVarsity students to drop their leadership restrictions by Jan. 31 or be thrown off campus.
North Carolina's rules, similar to those elsewhere, require campus clubs to allow "full membership and participation" without regard to religion, sexual orientation or other factors.
Mr. Moeser decided InterVarsity could continue as a recognized campus club without changing its rule about leaders. Because it makes "valuable contributions to student life" and since membership is open to all, "on balance," Mr. Moeser explained, "preserving freedom of expression is the more crucial consideration."
Originating at England's University of Cambridge 126 years ago, InterVarsity reached the University of Michigan in 1938 and currently has chapters on 560 U.S. campuses.
Its missionary convention at the University of Illinois every three years is the biggest religious event in America for college students; it drew 18,730 in 2000.
Yet deeply religious students tend to find themselves marginalized on campus, said Alan Charles Kors, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
They wind up as the only group expected to live with "a hostile environment," he said.
Mr. Kors, a University of Pennsylvania historian and nonreligious Jew, thinks such students should insist on their rights, as InterVarsity is doing.
"A large number don't fight back," he said.
Apparently, college religious organizations often avoid conflict by operating off-campus — or by simply winking at campus rules. But Mr. French said "integrity" requires InterVarsity chapters to state their leadership policies.
For many years, there seemed to be no problem. The pressures on InterVarsity first became public at Tufts University in 2000, when a member filed a complaint that student leaders of the local chapter barred her from holding office because she is a lesbian who disagreed with InterVarsity's view of homosexuality.
Eventually the campus judiciary decided the lesbian had been discriminated against, but InterVarsity's policy did not violate Tufts' rules so it could continue operating.
Mr. French said he believes public universities such as Rutgers are bound by U.S. Supreme Court decisions that guarantee religious clubs equal access to campus facilities and funding from mandatory student-activity fees. In addition, the court has backed the right of private associations — in a Boy Scouts case — to select leaders on the basis of moral tenets.
The Rutgers dispute pits adherence to InterVarsity's doctrinal requirements against the university rule that "membership, benefits and the election of officers" will not be made on the basis of "religious affiliation."
The InterVarsity chapter could operate off-campus like many religious ministries do, concedes InterVarsity staff adviser Laura Vellenga.
But she said that would relegate it to "second-class status," losing guaranteed access to campus facilities and a rightful share of student-activities fees.
Emmet A. Dennis, Rutgers' vice president for student affairs, said Monday that the school believes a group receiving student fees should open leadership posts to any active participant.
He sees InterVarsity as a national organization seeking to veto local leaders by insisting on its doctrinal standards, although Miss Vellenga said the Rutgers students themselves want to make sure like-minded Christians continue to lead the group.
The issue is simply the right of assembly and "whether groups can come together under particular beliefs," according to Jonathan Crowe, who was student co-leader of the InterVarsity chapter during the Tufts University dispute.
"If you take that away, forcing a Republican group to have a Democratic president or a Hillel group to have a Holocaust denier, you're undermining the integrity of the group."
Friday, January 17, 2003
A New Semester
It's Friday, finally! This first week of the spring semester has gone so SLOWLY. I'm taking 18 credit hours and working in an Aerospace Engineering Senior Design Team. I also made the Hokie Hoops Pep Band and the University Symphony Band (one of my credit classes). Here's my class schedule...
Monday
* 10:10 am - Engineering Fundamentals
* 11:15 am - Religion: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Tuesday
* 9:30 am - Intro to Programming in C++
* 11:00 am - Calculus II
* 12:30 pm - Vector Geometry
* 2:00 pm - Physics I
* 3:30 pm - (Aero Design Team)
* 5:00 pm - Symphony Band
Wednesday
* 9:05 - Physics Recitation
* 10:10 am - Engineering Fundamentals
* 11:15 am - Religion: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
* 2:00 pm - Physics Lab (every other week)
Thursday
* 9:30 am - Intro to Programming in C++
* 11:00 am - Calculus II
* 2:00 pm - Physics I
* 3:30 pm - Aero Design Team
* 5:00 pm - Symphony Band
Friday
* 11:15 am - Religion: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
They're heavy Tuesdays and Thursdays, but that's okay. I should have some good posts deriving from my religion class.... Like on Wednesday, the whole class was devoted to a class discussion on what we think the definition of religion is. There were some pretty off the wall ideas. For example, one person was saying that quantum physics could be a religion because it defines the history and mechanics of the universe.
Anyway, it should be a good semester. I'll return eventually to post once again.
It's Friday, finally! This first week of the spring semester has gone so SLOWLY. I'm taking 18 credit hours and working in an Aerospace Engineering Senior Design Team. I also made the Hokie Hoops Pep Band and the University Symphony Band (one of my credit classes). Here's my class schedule...
Monday
* 10:10 am - Engineering Fundamentals
* 11:15 am - Religion: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Tuesday
* 9:30 am - Intro to Programming in C++
* 11:00 am - Calculus II
* 12:30 pm - Vector Geometry
* 2:00 pm - Physics I
* 3:30 pm - (Aero Design Team)
* 5:00 pm - Symphony Band
Wednesday
* 9:05 - Physics Recitation
* 10:10 am - Engineering Fundamentals
* 11:15 am - Religion: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
* 2:00 pm - Physics Lab (every other week)
Thursday
* 9:30 am - Intro to Programming in C++
* 11:00 am - Calculus II
* 2:00 pm - Physics I
* 3:30 pm - Aero Design Team
* 5:00 pm - Symphony Band
Friday
* 11:15 am - Religion: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
They're heavy Tuesdays and Thursdays, but that's okay. I should have some good posts deriving from my religion class.... Like on Wednesday, the whole class was devoted to a class discussion on what we think the definition of religion is. There were some pretty off the wall ideas. For example, one person was saying that quantum physics could be a religion because it defines the history and mechanics of the universe.
Anyway, it should be a good semester. I'll return eventually to post once again.
Saturday, January 11, 2003
A New Year
So, I'm a little late, but I want to wish ya'll a happy new year! May it be a fun and productive year.
I don't have many wise words to start the year off... I don't really do the whole 'New Year's Resolution' thing... I don't see a point, because if there's something in your life that needs to be changed waiting for a new year to begin is just going to get you in the habit of putting off making that change, and thus make it harder to actually do.
I'm rambling... so I'm going to stop. Maybe I'll have some good post with deep thought put into it sometime in the near future.
So, I'm a little late, but I want to wish ya'll a happy new year! May it be a fun and productive year.
I don't have many wise words to start the year off... I don't really do the whole 'New Year's Resolution' thing... I don't see a point, because if there's something in your life that needs to be changed waiting for a new year to begin is just going to get you in the habit of putting off making that change, and thus make it harder to actually do.
I'm rambling... so I'm going to stop. Maybe I'll have some good post with deep thought put into it sometime in the near future.
Tuesday, December 24, 2002
Christmas Eve
Well, its that time of year... Christmas Eve. So many people get caught up in the chaos of the season that they neglect the true meaning of Christmas... Jesus Christ. And even for non-Christians, there should be more to Christmas than just rushing around getting angry because you can't find that perfect gift in time... its time to relax and enjoy the company of your family. So often, people get so wound up in the stress of everything that is going on here at this part of the year... Christmas concerts, shopping, dinners, parties, church services.... the list goes on... But, sometimes we just need to stop and say 'thank you lord' for the season. (I found this article on the origins of Santa Claus by the way)
So... here's a flash back to what the Christmas season is about... sit back and relax and remind yourself of why we celebrate... (have a Merry Christmas!)
According to the Gospel of Luke...
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, " Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end."
Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you , and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."
Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, and angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name, Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
So this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, saying: "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, which is translated, God with us."
Then Joseph being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And called His name, Jesus.
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirnius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up out of Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and of the lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea on the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who had been born the King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So the said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the Prophet: " But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel." Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found him, bring back word to me, the I may come and worship Him also."
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the manger, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, the presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, the departed for the own country another way.
Now there were in the country, shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, the angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring great tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in the manger. Now when they had seen Him, the made widely known the saying which was told to them concerning the Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told them.
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given,
And the government shall be upon His shoulders.
And His name will be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
to order it and establish it with judgment and justice,
from that time forward, even forever."
Well, its that time of year... Christmas Eve. So many people get caught up in the chaos of the season that they neglect the true meaning of Christmas... Jesus Christ. And even for non-Christians, there should be more to Christmas than just rushing around getting angry because you can't find that perfect gift in time... its time to relax and enjoy the company of your family. So often, people get so wound up in the stress of everything that is going on here at this part of the year... Christmas concerts, shopping, dinners, parties, church services.... the list goes on... But, sometimes we just need to stop and say 'thank you lord' for the season. (I found this article on the origins of Santa Claus by the way)
So... here's a flash back to what the Christmas season is about... sit back and relax and remind yourself of why we celebrate... (have a Merry Christmas!)
According to the Gospel of Luke...
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, " Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end."
Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you , and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."
Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, and angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name, Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
So this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, saying: "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, which is translated, God with us."
Then Joseph being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And called His name, Jesus.
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirnius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up out of Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and of the lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea on the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who had been born the King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So the said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the Prophet: " But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel." Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found him, bring back word to me, the I may come and worship Him also."
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the manger, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, the presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, the departed for the own country another way.
Now there were in the country, shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, the angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring great tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in the manger. Now when they had seen Him, the made widely known the saying which was told to them concerning the Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told them.
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given,
And the government shall be upon His shoulders.
And His name will be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
to order it and establish it with judgment and justice,
from that time forward, even forever."
Thursday, December 12, 2002
Blogger Etiquette
I don't know if there is such a thing as blogger etiquette... but, since Robbie (HokiePundit) issued a good luck to me and another fellow Hokie on our exams, I figured I'd repay the favor.... So, to Robbie (and anyone else who may be taking them as well)... Good luck on your exams. I hope that your efforts will be repaid and that you won't be too stressed throughout exam week.
And, if I don't get a chance to tell you before then... Have a wonderful Christmas break and a great trip to San Francisco for the bowl game!
I don't know if there is such a thing as blogger etiquette... but, since Robbie (HokiePundit) issued a good luck to me and another fellow Hokie on our exams, I figured I'd repay the favor.... So, to Robbie (and anyone else who may be taking them as well)... Good luck on your exams. I hope that your efforts will be repaid and that you won't be too stressed throughout exam week.
And, if I don't get a chance to tell you before then... Have a wonderful Christmas break and a great trip to San Francisco for the bowl game!
Sunday, December 08, 2002
In conjunction with yesterday's post, I noticed that my friend Robbie's (Hokie Pundit) Away message was along the same lines:
You know, I'm glad people think Bush is a moron. He had a 1206 on his SATs (before the readjustment). He got his BA and MBA from two Ivy League schools. He successfully ran a MLB team and an oil company, and then became the first Governor of Texas to ever win re-election. After this, he defeated a two-term incumbent Vice-President during an economic boom. He's forced the UN to go along with his will, and helped give his party control of both the legislature and executive branches.
Everyone gets what they want! Europeans and liberals get to whine about how dumb he is without having to put forth credible views or even evidence, and conservatives get their man in power!
You know, I'm glad people think Bush is a moron. He had a 1206 on his SATs (before the readjustment). He got his BA and MBA from two Ivy League schools. He successfully ran a MLB team and an oil company, and then became the first Governor of Texas to ever win re-election. After this, he defeated a two-term incumbent Vice-President during an economic boom. He's forced the UN to go along with his will, and helped give his party control of both the legislature and executive branches.
Everyone gets what they want! Europeans and liberals get to whine about how dumb he is without having to put forth credible views or even evidence, and conservatives get their man in power!
Saturday, December 07, 2002
A Matter of Country Unity
I understand that not everyone can be wise enough to understand certain things in life, but that doesn't mean that the liberals have to be so stubborn. Face it George W IS our president. He won the election, whether or not you like it.... nothing you say is or do is going to change that right now. So why don't you think about your country a little bit and COOPERATE! Things would be a LOT better for everyone if people didn't spend their time doing things like this...Mockery.
It really irks me that people do this stuff... as if making fun of someone is EVER going to help the state of our country. I mean if you feel so strongly against him, then why don't you spend your time more productively by sitting down and explaining in detail what poor "W" is doing wrong and how he can change it to do it better... with all the details worked out, mind you! Then send it to your congressman or maybe straight to the president himself.... maybe then your ideas will be heard... but doing stupid stuff like wasting your time trying to point out every little mistake the man makes is unacceptable! Come on, the only perfect 'person' to ever come to this world was Jesus Christ himself.
And that's my soapbox.
I understand that not everyone can be wise enough to understand certain things in life, but that doesn't mean that the liberals have to be so stubborn. Face it George W IS our president. He won the election, whether or not you like it.... nothing you say is or do is going to change that right now. So why don't you think about your country a little bit and COOPERATE! Things would be a LOT better for everyone if people didn't spend their time doing things like this...Mockery.
It really irks me that people do this stuff... as if making fun of someone is EVER going to help the state of our country. I mean if you feel so strongly against him, then why don't you spend your time more productively by sitting down and explaining in detail what poor "W" is doing wrong and how he can change it to do it better... with all the details worked out, mind you! Then send it to your congressman or maybe straight to the president himself.... maybe then your ideas will be heard... but doing stupid stuff like wasting your time trying to point out every little mistake the man makes is unacceptable! Come on, the only perfect 'person' to ever come to this world was Jesus Christ himself.
And that's my soapbox.
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