A New Set Director and a Run on Precious Metals

Alex Abdicates. David is Crowned

We begin tonight's news by announcing the abdication of His Royal Highness and Prince of the Realm Alex I from the Phoenix Kingdom.

His rightful Heir Apparent, HRH David is seen receiving the Sacred Microphone, marking yet another peaceful transition in our most serene Space Center Kingdom.

We will miss Alex. He was an awesome Phoenix Set Director. Alex was our "go to guy". We called him when anything technical or computer related needing addressing. Alex is attending BYU and enjoys his new employment doing computer graphics for some BYU department. When given the chance Alex brags about his own office with a window and awesome view of campus :)

Dave takes over the Phoenix's reigns as Set Director. He is supported by a gifted staff of flight directors and volunteers. Congratulations Dave!

Last Saturday's Honors

I doubt anyone besides me noticed the spike in metal prices this past weekend on the world markets. Silver rose along with an impressive budge in world copper prices. The talking heads on the financial networks theorized as to the cause. Of course, those of us that work at the Space Education Center know the truth (spoken with my left index finger held firmly against the left side of my nose - the universal sign of "we know something you don't know").

Slide your chair up closer to your computer screen so you can read what really happened without anyone else in the vicinity of your monitor seeing. Ready?

The spike in world metal futures rose because of the number of award pins the Space Center bestowed on our humble and pliable volunteers and staff last Saturday.

Shhhhhh! Now, slowly and innocently scoot your chair back into a normal and comfortable reading position and maintain the appearance of knowing and seeing nothing.

So, where did these precious metals go you ask?

Several grams worth of the precious metals were given to Scott W. Rachel congratulated him on his dedication to the cause. Scott thanked Rachel for the Galileo Pin, then spoke at length about God and Country. He wrapped up his twenty minute remarks reciting Lincoln's Gettysburg Address from memory.

Jordan was awarded his Odyssey Pin by none other than the Odyssey's Set Director, Christine Grosland. You'll see me in the background watching the world's metal futures going up on the Discovery's computer as the pins were awarded.


Christine is happy because she got to give Logan P. his Odyssey pin. I wonder who Christine likes the most? Hummmmmm? The Thumbs Up gives it away.

Sorry Jordan, but there was something about Logan's fake bloody face that captured Christine's fancy. I think I heard from reliable sources that Christine is a big Twilight fan.

Dave jumped up after Christine to congratulate Logan on receiving his Phoenix pin. The lanyard around Logan's faced strained under the weight. I'm in the background calculating my sudden profit on the world copper market. I believe they call it insider trading. I know when our pins will be awarded. I take that knowledge and use it to buy and sell futures on the metals our pins are made from. My earnings keep me in Diet Coke and Space Center shirts.

This is Rachel. Rachel got to pin a Galileo pin on Logan's Lanyard.

I'm seen here congratulating Logan on his Year Pin. Notice our hands. Fake blood is not my cup of tea.

To summarize, last Saturday was "Let's all Worship Logan" day at the Space Center. We had carnival rides out on the playground, hot dogs and cotton candy in the gym and fireworks later in the evening to top off Logan's Perfect Day.


The room emptied after Logan's last pin was awarded, leaving Spencer Merryweather and I alone for the awarding of Spencer's Five Year Pin. Shame Shame Shame on the staff and volunteers for being more interested in the carnival and food. Logan wanted to stay but was called away to take an incoming call from President Obama. Spencer kept a brave face, holding back the tears. I did my best to boost his spirits and reminded him of his indispensability.

"What else?" he asked between sobs. "What else am I good at?"

I thought for a moment. "Well, you're pretty dang good at Warball!" I exclaimed. His face brightened and the picture was taken.

I first met Spencer when he darkened my classroom door in the 6th grade. He was put into my advanced math class. He did remarkably well, considering his handicap (extreme sarcasm mixed with a phobia of all thing bright and beautiful).

Congratulations Spencer!

NASA is Bringing Mars to the Orem Library Tonight

Hello Troops,
A special event will be held tonight at the Orem Public Library. Attending this event will give you two class hours toward your Space Center Rank (for you campers). I attended Todd's presentation last year. It was well worth my time and I urge you and your family to attend. The article below was taken from the Daily Herald.

Mr. Williamson

As part of the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, Todd Barber, a NASA scientist with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will talk about highlights and memorable moments in his career as a NASA engineer. He will share images of his work and the new Mars rover launching in November 2011, named Curiosity. The program is called "NASA Science Outreach: Lifting The Veil On The Solar System."

"They have done amazing things all year," said Nan Black of the Orem library.

"Nan put the hard sell on to get us to Timpanogos," said Barber in a phone interview as he prepared to board his flight to Utah. "We go to see how the real masters of storytelling do their magic and try to incorporate that in our public outreach."

Barber is a popular speaker wherever he goes, and will be speaking to more than 2,500 people while he is here. He will be showing video and photos of everything from the two Mars rovers, to the new Mars rover to be launched the day after Thanksgiving, to the final shuttle mission this year, to missions to asteroids and distant moons and more. He also will be giving away shuttle patches, shuttle bookmarks, lithographs and more.

"I will talk about our last Mars rover," he said. "We've lost one of the two, six years into its three-month mission." Telling the public about Curiosity, the new rover to be launched this fall, gets people "fired up for the next big thing at JPL," he said.

"Join him as he reviews an exciting 2011 for JPL, including the Aquarius launch, Comet Hartley-2 and Comet Tempel-1 fly-bys, Jupiter Juno launch, the last shuttle mission, observation of icy jets on Enceladus, new data from the Dawn probe, and preparation for the Mars rover and Curiosity launches," said library officials in a statement.

Barber will speak on today at 7 p.m. at the library, located at Center and State streets in Orem

Chili's Resturant Fund Raiser Tonight

Hello Troops,
A Space Center Fund Raiser will be held Tonight and Tonight Only at Chili's Restaurant in American Fork. Click on the image above to enlarge, print it, and present it when ordering your meal and Chili's will donate a portion of your bill to the Space Center. Everyone Wins! You get a great meal and the Space Center earns much needed funds for our new 3rd Grade Educational Outreach Program.

So, take the night off, don't cook and eat out at Chili's in American Fork. Don't forget to take the image above and present it when ordering. (Flyers were also sent out to all staff, volunteers and Frequent Flyers).

Thank you!
Mr. Williamson