Helping Those in Need this Holiday Season

All Things Considered, my favorite radio program on NPR, recently played this beautiful and haunting Franz Schubert song, "Hurdy-Gurdy Man". A Hurdy-Gurdy Man was someone (either a street vendor or someone seeking charity) who played a stringed instrument to attract attention to his wares or to get charity. On the show, "Hurdy-Gurdy Man" was recommended by a son remembering his father trudging 10-miles through cold and snow to a menial job to put food on the table.

This is the song sung in German with an English translation.

There are many this Holiday season who are unfortunate, many through no fault of their own. This recession has taken a terrible tole on many families. In this season of extra giving, it is well to remember them and donate either our time, food or money to worthy charities.

If you are searching for a good charity, may I recommend "Covenant House"? It is my favorite charity for holiday giving and does much good for runaway teens trying to survive in America's large cities.

Mr. W.

50 Years Ago Today: Discoverer 36 Launch Success

Thor-Agena rocket at Vandenberg AFB.

Fifty Years ago on December 12, 1961, the U.S. Air Force Space Division launched Discoverer 36 from a launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The orbit of the 300+ pound capsule reached as high as 280 miles. The main experiments included testing space equipment, researching radiation in space, and detecting nuclear explosions. All the experiments were successful.

On this flight, the Air Force allowed a hitch-hiker. A 10 pound satellite named OSCAR (Orbital Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) was lifted aloft on the rocket to test beaming signals to HAM radio operators back on Earth. This was also a success. Even today, HAM radio operators often have opportunities through NASA programs to use amateur radios to contact astronauts on space missions such as the International Space Station.

Discoverer 36 would re-enter the Earth's atmosphere four days later after 64 orbits. The rocket itself burned up on March 8, 1962. The mission was one of the most successful launches of the Discoverer series.

Posted by Mark Daymont

And From the Imaginarium. Holiday Chuckles

Spell Checkers have always been unforgiving.

Hello From the Imaginarium!



The Kepler Space Telescope recently discovered an Earth like planet roughly 600 light years away. It may well be the first stop on our deep space exploration once we invent the Warp Drive Engine. I wonder what the inhabitants of Kepler 22-b will think of us when we arrive?

Yep, it is just as I thought.

And finally, the Christmas Card I'd actually keep after the Christmas Clean Up. This is another example of using one's imagination to create something that is One of a Kind.

Toddlers?
I recognize the antics of several of our staff and volunteers in this picture :)

Now do something creative today. Exercise your imagination.

Mr. W.