Missionaries at the Space Center

Today at the Space Center we had Missionaries come do a space mission as their P day activity. I mean real LDS full-time 19 year old boys and 21 year old girls missionaries serving here in Utah County. It was one of the funniest things I have experienced in a long time.

Their mission was to find a group of criminal aliens who were selling illegal drugs and arrest them. During the mission they found the aliens and contacted them by radio. The topic of conversation turned to one of the aliens who had died because of drug use. The missionaries told them they would see him again some day. They taught the aliens about life after death and the plan of salvation. It was super fabulous.

One part of the mission involves a release of harmful radiation. As ship's doctor I started calling some of them down for radiation poisoning. The missionaries wanted to give the "sick" elder a blessing. Needless to say, I cured the ailing Elder using my magic M and M's before the other could get to him. I didn't think it would be appropriate to be giving blessings for pretend illnesses on an imaginary spaceship :)

Most of them had really cool accents as well, so it was super fun to hear them talk. It was a really fun day at the Space Center.

Julie Anna Sanchez
Space Center Volunteer

On Today's Social Calendar

Today, on the Imaginarium's Social Calendar. Applegate's Party in the Tree by the Winding Brook.

There is a party tonight in the Forest of Green. Be smart and take care for the pathway is long. Be prompt, for at the hour of eight the portal will vanish. One knock, then two and patiently wait. From up in the branches a Robin will speak. Solve the riddle correctly and you will be rewarded. Remember, a hat of green brings a warm welcome.

One Boy's Visit to the Space Center.

Hello Troops,
It only takes a moment to close your eyes, breath in deeply and drift away into the Imaginarium where creativity is our currency and wonder drives the machinery. And Oh, the sights one sees.....

Several students found our freeway onramp into the Imaginarium this week at the Space Education Center. We filled their empty tanks with the power of dreams and the adventure of make believe.

I'd like to share one story with you about a young man that visited the Center on Tuesday.

Jack stepped up and onto the Voyager's Bridge with wide eyes and open mouth - a typical reaction to the simulator when seen for the first time. I looked at him standing there with his red shirt and Mohawk hair cut thinking he might be a bit of a handful. I made a metal note to keep an eye on him.

"I like your hair cut," I commented. "Very alien."

"Thank you," he replied courteously. I was surprised. He spoke kindly and his thank you was sincere, not deserving of my not so sincere compliment. I led him to his station at the Long Range Station.

He needed extra help during training. I found out later he read at a 2nd grade level, three years behind his age. The difficulty of running his station didn't stop him from giving it his very best. I was impressed.

I told Intolerance that day. The mission was uneventful. This fifth grade class made all the decisions one would expect. They reacted predictably to every dilemma, until I reached the end of the story.

Setting
The Voyager was hiding in the nebula cloud. Her systems were down, very few things were working. The ship had taken a beating from the Pennou's plasma weapon. As the Pennou, I had just destroyed the Montgomery and called to make my final demand from the Voyager's Ambassador.

"Ambassador, the Montgomery attacked me first. I did not come here to fight. I only want my property back. Come out of the nebula and give me back my slave."

"No," the Ambassador replied.

"Ambassador the wormhole is about to close. If it closes I'll be trapped in your universe forever. Come out of the cloud or I will come in!"

Then, breaking the silence of the bridge, came the voice of the boy with the Mohawk hair cut.

"Ambassador, may I talk to the Pennou," he asked. She gave permission. "Pennou, my name is Jack. I want to talk to you."

"Who are you," I asked. I was curious where this was going and sat up in my chair in the Control Room.

"I'm Long Range Officer." He stood with his back perfectly straight and chest out. He was proud of his ship and his job.

"Speak," I said.

"I'll take the Pennae's place so you can be happy and he can be free."

His statement was completely sincere. In his imagination he really was on a ship in deep space. He was the Long Range Officer. He saw his ship was in danger. He saw his Ambassador in distress. He saw the anguish in the face of the escaped Pennae slave.

"Interesting," I responded in my deep and threatening Pennou's voice. "Can you read and write?" I inquired. In the background I saw the boy's teacher nodding her head in the negative. The bridge supervisor smiled.

"Yes, I can read and write," he answered. "Will you take me?"

"I wanted the Ambassador and the slave. That's two people. You are only one person."

"OK, Pennou. I'll go for both of them."

"Both of them. That's hardly fair for me. I want two!"

"Pennou, if you take me I promised to work twice as hard. I'm a hard worker and I can do it."

The control room was silent in surprise. Never before in the fifteen years we've told Intolerance had something like this happened. Here was a boy completely immersed in this universe, willing and ready to give himself up for his shipmate and a total stranger. We were running out of time and the other class was lined up waiting to come in for the 11:45 A.M. I had to move the story along.

"I accept your offer. You will come to my ship and do the work for two," I announced.

"Thank you Pennou," he replied and sat down. I took my walkie talkie and spoke secretly to the captain. "Captain, are you seriously going to let one of your crew members give himself up as a slave while you still have other options?" The captain thought for a moment.

"No one is going to your ship. I won't let them," the captian spoke with authority. Her statement pulled us back into the traditional ending of Intolerance.

At mission's end I complimented the young Long Range Officer for his bravery and self sacrifice. His class applauded. His teacher was impressed. She had learned something about this boy's character, something she hadn't realized before. This boy might struggle with reading and writing, but his character was far the norm for his age.

This is the power of story in our simulators. This is the reason I created the Space Center.
It was an emotional pay day for me.

Do you remember the magic when you were younger and your visits to the Imaginarium were frequent? Your days fill with the trappings of modern society as you age. There is homework and chores and never ending social maintenance that eats up hours of the day. Then, when you find a moment of peace and quiet, you realize something is missing......

Tap your heals three times and come back to Wonderland. Turn away from your audience and step off the Stage of the Here and Now. Come through the curtain and find your own yellow brick road. Your Onramp to the Imaginarium.

The Pillsbury's at 243 Wonderlake Road, Wonderland find enjoyment in taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. These are the kind of people you find for neighbors in the Imaginarium.

A zipper of crayons

This year's seniors at Wonderland High went out in style.

A poster seen at the 4th Street Subway Station near the Imaginarium. The struggle continues in the never ending battle against the forces of darkness and ignorance.

The bakery shop on the first floor of the Imaginarium offers a unique assortment of tasty delights - all blessed with the staff's own blend of creativity.

And what was seen at Wonderland Park? A Wookie playing catch.

Remember, many of the world's greatest thinkers and imagineers suffered greatly in the past just because they looked at the world differently. We must learn to identify them today and cherish the gifts God has given them.

If fonts were dogs.......

In the Imaginarium food storage takes on a different meaning. Imagine attending a church full of people with this unique take on life? Ahhhhhh, refreshing indeed.....

Take a moment to enjoy the simplest things in life.
Tssssssst........ and life becomes more beautiful.
(Diet Dew for me please, with one squirt of cherry)

It's a perfectly good question.

Have a Great Day and I hope to see all of you soon at the Space Center - your onramp onto the Imaginarium's Expressway. It's time to return. Gather your friends and come to camp or book a private mission. Remember, all new 5 hour missions start on June 1st in all five simulators.

Mr. W.

What's Going on at the Space Center?

This picture was leaked by our secret insider at the Space Center. You are looking at proof positive of the rampant disregard for tradition, part of the culture of the Space Center.

Birthdays in the United States are traditionally celebrated with cake and ice cream. If that tradition isn't written in the Constitution then it should have been. It is the American way, along with apple pie, baseball and Chevrolet. Are these American values cherished at the Space Education Center?

Look closely at the picture above. In this picture taken today, you'll see the Space Center staff celebrating the birthdays of Brittney, Nicole and Rachel. Look at the abomination in Mr. Williamson's hand. Is that a cake? You're looking at candles planted firmly in deviled eggs!

Brittney and Nicole seem to be curiously oblivious to the fact the traditional birthday celebration was disregarded like last month's casserole still in the fridge growing a healthy forest of deadly pathogens. Rachel, on the other hand, seems confused. She hasn't worked long enough at the Space Center to have her values compromised.

Below you see the top drawer of Mr. Williamson and Mrs. Clegg's desk. Look how orderly with a place for everything and everything in its place. BUT does such order reign supreme throughout the Space Cente? The truth is revealed when you close that drawer and open the drawer below.


(Thanks Aleta for cleaning out the desk drawers and organizing everything!)


It is common knowledge secret organizations have secret handshakes accompanied by certain body movements. Examples of which are given below in a series of photographs stolen by our secret undercover agent. These photographs were taken during an initiation ceremony where new recruits were being welcomed into this New World Order bent on restoring Imagination's rightful place on Earth.

This is the double clasp, demonstrated by Jon Parker and Todd Rasband.
(Congratulations Todd on your Voyager Pin!)

This is a photograph of the shake and squeeze. This handshake is a signal to the recipient to make contact with their Space Center handler as soon as possible.
(Congratulations Jaydin on your Year Pin!)

A Shake without Squeeze with thumbs up signifying the receiving of a secret order as demonstrated by Mr. Williamson and Mikayla.
(Congratulations Mikayla on your Year Pin!)

The Shake and Shoulder Touch, demonstrated by Bracken and Tanner.
(Congratulations on your Year Pin Tanner!)

The Shake with Vulcan Pinch as demonstrated by Mr. Williamson and James.
(Congratulations James on your Year Pin!)

The Shake with Calm Hypnosis as demonstrated by Mr. Williamson and Jason.
(Congratulations Jason on your Year Pin!)

After the lesson, those who could demonstrate mastery of the handshakes and bodily movements were celebrated by those in attendance.

Padawon Jaydin is being celebrated for passing all his secret handshakes and body movements by his Master, Rachel.
(Congratulations Jaydin on your Galileo Pin!)

These secret Saturday gatherings give the Order's Leadership an opportunity to honor feats of Imaginary Wonder performed by its members the previous month. In the photograph below Jace is being honored with one such gift.

(Congratulations Jace on your Phoenix Pin!)

The Imaginarium's Department of Natural and Pseudoscience Curiosities Under Investigation

Hello Troops,
This is 2011. Many would consider this to be an age of advancement, science, philosophy and logic. Yet once again we are reminded of the fact that sanity and reason seem to be in shockingly short supply on this little blue planet of ours.

People's imaginations went into overdrive in Rome yesterday. The Imaginarium's Department of Natural and Pseudoscience Curiosities failed to control the outbreak, leading to the events described in the article below. Needless to say, their will be an investigation into the matter and those responsible will be disciplined.

Mr. W.

Rome earthquake prophecy claims trigger cataclysmic mood

ROME, May 11 -- Many Italians fled Rome on Wednesday amid fears of a pending earthquake despite reassurances from seismologists and political leaders, according to ANSA news agency.

In 1915 the late Italian self-styled seismologist Raffaele Bendandi predicted that the "the big one" would strike Rome on May 11, 2011. Panic developed recently as rumors spread across social media including Facebook, Twitter.

"Rome is not at risk of any earthquake," Enzo Boschi, president of the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology, has said. "There have never been any strong earthquakes confirmed under the city," he said.

Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno has also dismissed the rumours saying that Romans would not be listen to speculation that had no foundation. "I believe Romans are too serious to be duped by this kind of rubbish," he said.

Businesses report shows that one in five people had requested a day off work and some parents kept their children home from school and headed out of town for the day.

Many shops in Rome's downtown area were closed late Tuesday and Wednesday as shopkeepers left notices saying they shut their doors due to "illness" or "stocktaking."

And Now, From the Imaginarium

I call this Tetris at school. A clever use of design and originality on an otherwise boring surface.

This poster is for those of us that have tried unsuccessfully over the years to master chopsticks only to return to the tried and true fork.

The perfect sandwich for school lunches. I guarantee this will not end up in the trash bin with the fruit, vegetables and inedible plastic burritos.

Police harassment once again. Reckless driving at the bumper cars.

And finally, I fast forwarded through the Royal Wedding. My curiosity got the best of me. I'm into all things British having served a mission there and visited the island nation a few times since. I like the pomp and ceremony.

This is the face of one of the bridesmaids. Her consistent scowl was either a reflection of her opinion on the event or her natural neutral expression. Regardless, this adaption of a famous painting captures the young lass perfectly.

Have a Great Day Troops.
Remember to make something ordinary, extraordinary today.

Mr. W.

P.S. Speaking of making something ordinary, extraordinary. What can we do to spice up tonight's dessert?


P.S.S . Speaking of British.....


P.S.S.S. This receives the Imaginarium's Award for Imaginative Excellence in Design and Functionality. I'd like one of these in my home.

Comet Elenin. Our Doomsday Comet?

Hello Troops,

I've had my fair share of emails from concerned readers and others asking me about the newly discovered Comet Elenin. The emails range from the curious to the down right silly. Apparently there is an Internet wide rumor that Elenin will either hit the Earth or cause mass devastation as the Earth passes through its tail and is hit by the remnants.

It is my opinion that these rumors originate from the same pale dark dank basement dwellers who originally penned the last astronomical doomsday rumor of Mars coming so close to the Earth that it will be the size of the Moon in our night sky.

Apparently the arrival of Elenin will ignite the 2012 Doomsday scenario. It will reach the inner solar system and impact Earth with its debris. Shortly thereafter, all who survive will turn to cannibalism in an effort to remain alive in a darkened soot encrusted world.

Let me share the following from a web site who's author has contacts in very high places (in the Delirium) who are in the know, but can't reveal their names because then everyone would know the truth.

Comet Elenin could be the Comet that is mentioned in the Nostradamus quatrains, and it will supposedly shed a quarter of a mile diameter shard that will then impact our planet in the area of the Azores. If this impact occur, it will then cripple much of Europe and the east coast of North America. The entire sequence was originally supposed to begin between August or October of 1999, when the comet is seen by way of an eclipse. But calendars being what they are and our inexact keep of time, the focus is now on Elenin as that mortal messenger. Content of it all is , that if a quarter of a mile (one stadias) comet fragment striking along the mid Atlantic ridge around the Azores it would cause all kinds of problems, including tsunamis, earthquakes, floods and retransmitting pieces of our own planet.

Let me reassure you that everything you may have read or heard about Elenin is false. You may continue to live your life normally. You may continue to love your children for who they are and not the meal they may supply when the Cheerios run out. Do not believe everything you read online. In fact, don't believe 1/10 of what you read online. The world is full of charlatans who make their living feeding off those who prefer fiction to fact in most aspects of their lives.

So are you ready for the truth. Click on this link and take a moment to educate yourself.

http://www.space.com/11617-comet-elenin-wimpy-solar-system.html

Then, when your friend or coworker pulls you aside and tells you they have secret information about impending doom about to rain down upon us from the sky, you'll have the sense to say,

"I know. I know. I know people who know people that know the truth. My family and I are on the short list for the underground shelters. Listen, I like you. I'll tell you what. I can get you on the list but to do it I'll need to grease the palms of several government officials. Bring your life's savings tomorrow. Remember, its your family and if you love them you'll pay anything for their safety. Keep this hush hush now. We can't save everyone."

Have a Great Evening Troops,

Mr. W

The Fugitive. Voyager's New Summer Story 2011

Perhaps the most dangerous man in the known galaxy has escaped from a high security Telosian prison. Secured tightly in his mind is information and knowledge that could cause death to billions of intelligent life forms and the collapse of our Earth Federation.

Standing between him and the darkness of oblivion lies the crew of the USS Voyager.
Are you up to the challenge? Do you hear destiny calling?

Join us. Sign up today for one of the Space Center's Summer Camps of 2011. The EdVentures Await!

Oh the Humanity!

Hello Troops,
We are out of night light bulbs again. You'd think the world was coming to an end.

"Mr. Williamson, do we have any bulbs for the red rotating lights," a supervisor asked me as I sat at my desk a few minutes ago.

"Nope we're out," I answered. His face contorted. The look seemed panicked yet resigned to fate. Probably the same look the last Roman Emperor had on his face when he heard the sounds of the German barbarians ransacking Rome under his balcony window.

"I buy those bulbs all the time, what's happening to them?" I reminded more than questioned him.

"The staff leave them on after their landing parties. It's all their fault they keep burning out. Gosh! Geez! Darn It." Other words fought to find release but he held them at bay with tightened lips.

I took pen and pop up note in hand and wrote a note to myself reminding me to buy every night light bulb in the Lindon Walmart when I pick up donuts in the morning.

"I'll buy more in the morning."

"The morning?"

"Its that time of day when that bright shiny object in the sky rises above the mountains."

"What are we suppose to do about tonight?" His face turned crimson. "I have instructions to return with bulbs in hand. If I go back without them there is no telling what they'll do to me."

I took pen and pop up note in hand and wrote a note,

"Please excusing him from the beating he surely deserves for returning empty handed, but we don't have bulbs. I'll get them in the morning. P.S. leave his fingernails attached to his fingers. That punishment is leaving stains the custodian can't get out of the carpet."

He took the note and slithered away.

Moments later my attention was drawn to the fact that our Magic Medicine (M&M's) was in short supply.

"Where are the M&M's?" a young volunteers wearing one of our doctor's smocks asked while standing rather disappointingly over the empty desk drawer where the Space Center's Magic Medicine was kept.

"We're out." I answered.

"Out?" he replied.

"Out." I answered again.

"Is there another bag somewhere?"

"We're out."

"Totally out?"

"Completely and totally out."

"Maybe there are some in the candy cabinet?"

My patience evaporated with each question. Something had to be said.

"OK, you've got me. I keep a secret stash of M&M's that I never share with anybody in a secret locker at the end of the first grade hallway. There, my secret is out. You forced it out of me. I tell you what, If you can find the locker you can keep the entire bag. Go for it."
He scampered off leaving me alone with my music and my thoughts.

And so here we are in the throws of another overnight camp. It's a whirlwind around my desk. The buzz of children neck deep in over written melodrama permeates the air with sight and sound.

How has your Friday been?

Mr. W.

Fifty Years Ago: Freedom 7 Launches First American in Space!

Freedom 7 lifts off of Pad 5.

Congratulations, America, you've had astronauts in space for fifty years!

By Mark Daymont
Space Center Educator

On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard donned his spacesuit for a second attempt at launching into a suborbital flight over the Atlantic Ocean. Once placed in his spacecraft, there was another long hold while NASA worked to clear the flight for blast off. The long wait was excruciating for a man who'd had perhaps too many cups of coffee before putting on the suit. After all, the flight was only supposed to last 15 minutes. Finally the GO was given, the countdown resumed, and the rocket blasted off. Many thousands of onlookers watched from the roads around Cape Canaveral, and Americans and people around the world watched on television. The highest point of the launch reached an altitude of 116 miles. During the flight, Shepard was able to test the attitude controls and make observations of Earth. Coming back through re-entry, Shepard had to endure over 11 G's of force as the capsule plunged to Earth. The parachutes deployed, and the craft landed in the ocean near the Bahamas islands. The US Navy was ready to pick up Shepard and the capsule. Later inspection showed the craft is in remarkably good shape and actually could have been used again. Today, the capsule is on display at the Naval Academy. Shepard later was awarded the Distinguished Cross by President John F. Kennedy at the White House.

Suit preparation.

Entering the Cleanroom.

Preparing to board.

View of Shepard in the capsule.

Dr. Von Braun (left) and Gordon Cooper (CAPCOM) in the launch blockhouse at LC-5.

As Capsule Communicator, Cooper had direct communications link to Shepard.

Blast Off! Freedom 7 is on its way!

Shepard during the flight.

View from the capsule.

Carrier USS Lake Champlain awaiting splashdown.

SHepard hoisted aboard the rescue helicopter. Capsule below.

2nd Helicopter recovers the capsule.

Shepard on deck of the carrier.

During the quick voyage back to the Cape.

Huntsville, Alabama celebrates. The rockets were built in Huntsville.

White House celebration. Shepard receives the Distinguished Cross from President Kennedy.