Early Saturday Morning

Hello Troops,
It's early Saturday morning. The campers and staff are asleep, dreaming of great battles in space and carnivorous black holes. I'm about to leave the school, unsheathe the Battlestar from its moorings and set course for WalMart. There's a shopping cart with my name waiting for me by the front door and a friendly greeting from Bonnie, the nicely dressed door greeter (unusual for Walmart) who always has her scriptures open in the doorway to occupy her time during the long hours of the night. I'll pick up the donuts for the overnight camp (Sego Lily Elementary School) and an ice cold Diet Dew for myself (a Saturday morning Treat that get's my long day off to a good start). Funny, but I've never seen anyone from the Space Center at WalMart at 6:00 A.M. on a Saturday morning. I wonder why?

Before leaving, how about a few things from the Imaginarium?

A nice application of a bit of free unoccupied time....

This is a glimpse into the mind of a Flight Director on hour four of a five hour mission.

Typical for university isn't it? Over analysis of something quite simple.

My kind of band aid! Doesn't it sum it up well. It's a lesson our little ones at Central need to learn. You should see them after a slight injury. The sobbing injured party is usually escorted by one friend on each arm. I've learned not to ask the cause of the injury. It always leads to an amplification of weeping and wailing. The secretary is forced to listen to the gruesome details of the bruise. Afterwords an iced sponge is given which miraculously heals the injury.

A chart to contemplate.

Don't ask why. It is just the way we are all wired.

This is what we need to give to the campers instead of M and M's. They won't like playing injured quite so much!

See you in the Trenches!
Mr. W.

Wednesday at the Center

Hello Troops,
Christine just "beamed" up her Odyssey crew to start their five hour mission. I'm at the desk finishing up the April working schedule. It's posted, so if you're a volunteer or staff you can check it on the right side bar of the blog.

The other simulators have missions starting at 6:00 or 6:30 P.M. It is the busy time of year and busy means a steady flow of income. Income is good because of the serious amount of outgo it takes to run the Center. For example, I just approved a large invoice for replacing the smoked plastic that covers the Magellan computer screens. The money streams in and streams out. It is the flow of commerce.

This is Erin W. Erin is happy. This is Emily. Emily is happy. Erin is happy because she is getting her Odyssey pin. Emily is happy because she gets to give Erin her Odyssey pin. Both girls are happy because they get to work at the Space Center. I'm happy because they are happy. The staff are happy because I'm happy. Our campers are happy because the staff are happy. Parents are happy because their children are happy. Communities are happy because their voting citizens are happy. States are happy because their communities are happy. The nation is happy because the States are happy and the World is happy because America is happy. All because Erin got her Odyssey pin.

And the Space Center changes the world, one pin at a time.


And now, on a more serious note.

GAS PRICES

Have a Great Evening!
Mr. W

All in a Day's Work

Hello Troops,
We got a lot accomplished today. Northridge Elementary's sixth grade came on a field trip. We ran Midnight Rescue and got an excellent reception manifested by deafening applause. Our private missions went well. Richard from Plastics Done Right took measurements in the Magellan later in the afternoon. The Magellan's dark plastic used to cover the computer screens has been cracking for years now. It's gotten to the point where it compromises our crew's enjoyment of the Space Center experience. In a few weeks the cracked plastic should be replaced.

Brent Anderson returned from a mission to the Czech Republic yesterday. He stopped by the Space Center to say hello and catch up recent developments. Alex gave him the nickel tour, then we spoke about a few projects he has in mind for our web site.

I left the Center at 6:30 P.M. for the trek home. I had more than my usual share of dogs barking a warning to their uncaring owners that a stranger in a dirty green jacket was walking suspectfully on the town's sidewalks. One dog got loose and came sniffing after my shoes. Its owner followed directly behind calling it off. The dog paid no attention until it got swatted. I thought it funny but outwardly paid no attention and continued on my way.

How about a few items from the Imaginarium before turning in for the night?

Click on the following link and enjoy a model of the solar system in action.....
http://dd.dynamicdiagrams.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/orrery_2006.swf


And a few thoughts


And finally, poor Charlie Brown. What a blockhead!


Have a good evening. I'll see you soon in trenches....

Mr. Williamson