Deer Poop, Posts from the Past and the Imaginarium. Not Bad for a Monday's Post

Hello Troops,
A youngling at Shelley Elementary made me smile today.  I was walking by the 2nd grade tables during lunch, checking on the little ones, helping them open those cursed Gogurts and showing the terminally confused where to find a place to sit - even if an open place was right in front of them.  I love it.

"Mister?" A young boy's small hand reached out and grabbed my pant leg.

"What can I do for you?" I bent over to hear what he had to say.  Kneeling would have been the preferred way to get down to his level, but with my unreliable knees I knew the youngling wasn't strong enough to hoist me back up!

"What are these?" he asked.  He pointed to a collection of garbanzo beans gathered in the corner of the paper bowl holding his cafeteria lunch salad.

"Those are garbanzo beans," I replied.  Using his index finger, he rolled a few of them around to examine their shape and size.   His nose curled upward.  His decision was made.

"They look like deer poop," was his verdict.  I laughed.  He didn't.  He was serious.

"Try one, you might like it," was my challenge.  He shook his head and dismissed my suggestion. I moved on only to be stopped a few minutes later by a 3rd grader who had spilt his chocolate milk all over his popcorn chicken. 

"You can go back and ask for another tray," I suggested.  He said it was OK. 

"What are these?" he asked before I walked away.  He pointed to something on his tray I couldn't identify.  I ran the image through every memory circuit in my brain and came up with only one match.  The cylinder shaped, orangeish, mushy objects on his styrofoam tray looked like the futuristic globules I saw on the food trays of the Starship Enterprise crew from the classic series of the late 1960's.

"They're sweet potato tater tots," one of Shelley's know it all girls answered from across the table.  

I tried not to look shocked.  I didn't want to color their opinion of the day's menu.  "Are they good?"  I asked.

"No," was her reply.  "But I don't like sweet potato french fries either."

I left it at that and moved along.  There were hundreds of students to sit and dozens of Gogurts to open.

  
And Now, Posts from the Past, Taken from the Space Center's First Blog
  
April 13, 2000
Posted by James Porter
  
In this post from 12 years ago, James is referring to a proposed two person simulator I wanted built in the Spring of 2000.  The Spider was to function as a small engineering pod designed to travel through the ship on repair missions.  It was never built.  It is still on my wish list for the Space Center.  I think it would be a very cool activity.  

I am glad to announce the creation of a new simulator has been in the works for several months. Construction will begin in about a week.

The new simulator will be in the old Captain's loft. It is designed to hold two people. The ship is designed as an engineering scooter. It is assigned to be with the Voyager to repair any damaged
systems. There are two positions: Pilot and Engineer.

The simulator is due to open this summer. Yes, it will be "the smallest ship in the fleet," but the Galileo shall forever be none as "Mighty Mouse." Psst, if you're a claustrophobic, (you don't like
small, confined spaces) then don't plan on being in this simulator.

I, James Porter, am going to be the flight director for the simulator. I will try to keep you informed on it's progress. One of the features that will hopefully soon come is that the controls of
the pilot will be controlled completely by a joystick. I also shall try to write up a bio as Mr. Williamson requested. The scooter will be using Mac's and of course Hypercard.

-Talk to you later
"Bye James will miss you."
-Bye
"Do you have my dollar?"
-No, I already paid you back.
"Can I borrow a dollar?
-No you take forever to pay me back.
"OK, Bye."
-Bye

P.S. The proposed name for the scooter is "Spider."

This is the basic "l"ayout for the Spider. `8~)

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
l l MIXER ll l l l l
l l CD ll ll ll l PRINT l
l l ll l l l l
l l ll l l l l
l l ll l l l l
l ME l CPU ll ll ll l CPU l
l l ll l l PILOT l l
l l ll l l l l
l l MIC ll l l l CPU l
l l ll l l l l
lllllllllllllllllllll lllllllll l l l l
lllllllllllllllllllll l l l l l CPU l
l l l l l ENGINEER l l
l l l l l l l
l l l l l l CAM l
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll


April 18, 2000
Posted by Mark Daymont

In this post, Mr. Daymont joins in a discussion we were having on the correct way to write good missions.

I'm bored...I hope it doesn't get scruntched weird, if it does go ahead and delete this message.

I thought that Aaron had some good things to say about stories at the space center, and I want to clarify some things and expound on others.

1) Science Fiction Stories
When I look to a definition of science fiction, I turn to the author who had more to do with me becoming a science fiction fan than any other: Isaac Asimov. If you have not read Asimov, you are missing out on a truly wonderful part of Sci-fi. With Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, and a couple others, they make up the vast part of the science fiction we enjoy today, for they influenced a great majority of SF authors.

Anyway, Asimov wrote: "Science Fiction is that branch of literature that deals with human responses to changes in the level of science and technology." Star Wars, for example, despite its technical
inaccuracies, is SF because the Death Star is a change in that technology and the Rebels must adapt. Teletubbies is not SF, even though they look and act like aliens, because they don't match the
definition. These stories then fit one of the following formulas (if they're good): Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Machine.

2) The Quality of Stories
I am a big fan of Disney Animation. Their big production animated movies are the best. In 1984, after Walt's death and the general failure of their animation division, Peter Schneider became President
of Feature Animation. He drills this principle into new animators:"One, create great characters with definite personalities. Two, give them exciting stories to act out.Three, push the boundaries
of animation as an art form and technology with each succeeding picture." There is no doubt this formula works, witness The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Great Mouse Detective, Alladin, and The Lion King which completely turned Disney around and morphed them
into a MEGAGIANT. Too bad their Live Feature division doesn't listen to Schneider. Their live action movies totally reek.

How does this apply to the Space Center?
1- Involve a character with a definite personality, whether an individual or a group.
2- Put them in an exciting SF story- but make it SF not space opera or fantasy.
3- Push the "envelope"; we don't always have to beat the last story with new props, but we need to definitely do something different or uncommon (not expected).

3) Space Center Stories
Folks, what we have here are EDUCATIONAL SIMULATORS working in a story environment. Therefore, education IS a central purpose to our existence. If you carefully look at each of Mr. Williamsons missions, you will soon see a pattern of education:
a) There is some special geographical location in space for the students to learn about;
b) The story involves a social studies background lesson from history as the context for the story; and c) the students are involved in one or more moral dilemmas which reflect directly on that social context.

Mark D.

And now, join me in a nice stroll through Wonderland's Imaginarium District.

 Leave it to the Imaginarium's advertiser to find unique ways to capture the public's attention.

An awesomely creative way to remind people that biking saves them money!

 

A sticky note creation.  Brilliant!

 

Unique in function and design.  An Imaginarium Classic!

 Polite and to the point.

Real imagination

 Aztec Oreos for the Doomsdayist in your family.

 Why not?  Brillaint

An open invitation to all who pass on Wonderland's sidewalk.

 

Awesome!  I'd immediately turn and give them my business just to show appreciation 

for the creativity displayed in their sidewalk sign.

 

A perfect birthday cake for the creative child.

A child's Imagination

Creativity: A

A unique wedding invitation.

 

Banned from every school worldwide.

Creative though...

 

In your world - odd and out of place.

Here in Wonderland - all in a day's work.

 

Find a need and make something to fill it.

The recipe for success.

 

Even professors can display a spark of imagination once in awhile.

 

Brilliant!

 A perfect use for old technology.

The most creative napkin holders to date.

 

It can clear a floor in 12 seconds flat.

 

Unique.

 

Outstanding.

And finally, a scene from your world.

Yes, even in the days labeled by today's young generation as "Old as mud" 

certain groups were banned because they were too original.  

They pushed the boundary of acceptability. 

Enjoy Troops,

Mr. Williamson

 

 

Fun Highlights Taken from the Space Center's First Blog. April to December 2000

Setting the Way Back Machine to

the year 2000.  Location, The Space Center

Hello Troops,

I find myself growing a bit nostalgic for the good old days now that the Space Center is closed for renovation.  Along my trip down memory lane this Saturday morning, I pulled up the Space Center's first blog (a Yahoogroup called Spaceedventures).  I wrote Spaceedventures first post on March 14, 2000.

For the next several months I'll introduce you to best posts and comments from Spaceedventures.  These posts will introduced you to the old staff of the day, many of whom have disappeared to the four corners of the Earth.  I believe others can be found in nearby clinical psychiatric centers .  Some names you'll recognize, most you will not.  

Feel free to post questions and comments at the end of each post. I'll answer your questions in the follow up posts.  

Now, let's enter the Way Back Machine and set the dial to the year 2000.  Take care if you frighten easily for here come the ghastly ghosts of Space Center Past, dragging the chains they forged while in service at the Center.    

Mr. Williamson

P.S.  The comments in blue are mine, used to introduce you to the back story of each post.

 And off we go.....

April 14, 2000

This post was written by Aaron Yeager, Odyssey Flight Director.  In this post Aaron is referring to the staff working on the Falcon.  The Falcon was housed in the school's cafeteria along with the Galileo.

Hello,

I would like to congratulate all of those who are working to create the new simulators. I am happy to know that the Space Center is growing. Some people may call us nerds, but I say that we are the

music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dream. We are poets and philosophers. We create a new universe out of plywood, metal, and keyboards, and yet a familiar universe. We use this universe to explore the endless possibilities of existence.

As we grow let us always remember that the simulators we build are only tools for storytelling. Without interesting characters, without good story ideas, without the struggle between good and evil, we are

nothing. All the iMacs and ethernet in the world cannot make up for poor storytelling. Let us never loose focus of this. I wish the best of luck to all the new simulators. May your simulators work well, and may your stories be worth telling.

Your Friend,

Aaron Yeager

April 18, 2000

In this post Aaron discusses the process he uses when writing a Space Center mission.  It is an excellent read and well worth your time.  He hit the process spot on.  What are your thoughts?  Post your comments and questions at the end of this post and I'll answer them in the next post.

Hello,

Okay, a few thoughts about creating stories for our simulators.  We normally start creating a story by saying, "Ohh, what would be cool to do?" We then create a few really neat ideas and things that the

ships could do. Throuought the years, the space center has been place to more acts of heroism than any other place on earth, except for, perhaps, Gotham city, which we all know is the most heroic place on

earth.

Anyway, the "cool" things are fine, but they are not the story, the "cool things" are what happens to move the story along towards it's conclusion. Without a definite direction towards an understood goal,

confusion and chaos reign supreme. The best way to start writing a story is to begin with a moral

question and a real-life problem. For instance, the Greenpeace mission that we all know so well probably began with the question: "Is cooperation possible between enemies" and a problem that could not be solved except through cooperation. No one would argue that Greenpeace lacks action, it is very exciting, but it would be MUCH LESS exciting if it's action did not have a purpose. Action without

reason is phony, and the kids cannot get into it. 

When I wrote the Stakeout mission I began with the question, "What happens to people who become addicted to drugs," and the problem of drugs being smuggled across the Federation Border. My current story that I'm writing asks the question, "Should we show mercy and kindness to an enemy who has no pity? and the problem of scientists using enemy prisoners of war for experimentation.

This moral question is what you will explore in the mission. All good science fiction deals with moral questions, and explores them. Take Star Trek Insurrection, which pitted the good of the many over the

rights of the few. Take Star Trek First Contact, which showed how hatred and revenge can destroy victims if they are not careful. Now, you can find examples of Star Trek that did not do this, and it can

be done, but remember that I'm saying the BEST stories deal with these human issues FIRST, and the cool stuff SECOND.

The moral question and problem will create a "spinal chord" for your story, to which you will add the "rib bones." By "rib bones" I mean smaller problems, complications, and, of course, cool stuff.

This pattern works for me, and I hope that the rest of my space center brothers and sisters find it useful as well.

Your friend,

Aaron

December 27, 2000

Bill Neville was an excellent volunteer.  We've lost touch with him over the years.  This was an posting he sent after leaving Space Center service and venturing out into reality to go to school.

Vic -

Well, after a delinquent absence, I figured that it's probably about time to give you an update on my life.

I ended up graduating from Rowland Hall a year early and enrolled at Davidson College in North Carolina. It's a fantastic liberal arts college, though I seem more and more to be operating under the

assumption that it is a conservatory theatre program. While this isn't true (our department has three profs and only four majors a year), the faculty is outstanding and the level of passion that everyone brings to

classes, productions, and extracurriculars is truly mind blowing.

It's hard to imagine that I'm already halfway through my sophomore year - 2.5 years until the real world, right? Or at least Grad school... But it has been a blast and a blur. Living 24 hours a day

with some of the most intellectually challenging, intelligent, dedicated people I've ever met has proven to be more fun than I could have imagined. I've found myself drowning (and loving it) in

Shakespearean lit theory and in all aspects of theatre, and it looks like I'm heading for a career directing professionally. I'm also loving set and lighting design more and more, but I've found a passion

for directing that I could not previously have imagined.

It's been a great, wild few years, and I credit my time working with you at the Space Center with helping me find my own drive and vision, and especially with overcoming my fear of leadership. I ran into a friend from high school who mentioned that a RHSM crowd was coming down sometime over break. The craziness never really seems to end, does it?

I hope that all is well with you, and that you're taking some occasional time off from your overwhelming dedication to the kids you encounter each day.

If you get the chance to drop me a note, I'd love to get caught up on everything happening your way. Merry Christmas, and I hope I can make it down sometime soon to see how everything is going in grand ol' Pleasant Grove...

All That Jazz,

Bill Neville

January 15, 2001

This was a news update from me to the staff and volunteers.  This was the first week we ran our Submarine EdVentures for our school district's 4th graders.  

Deck 10 was a new method for running landing parties in the school's hallways.  I used red dots and papers describing actions and decisions the crew had to make when out in the school's darkened hallways on the overnight camps.  

Hello Troops,

1. The Overnight mission went well. The Falcon was closed so Mark could continue to prepare the submarine mission for Saturday.

2. A new landing party system was created called Deck 10. This system will be tested this Friday. It will also be a scoring system for overnight missions.

3. No Birthdays celebrated.

4. The First Submarine EdVentures went well. The students enjoyed the class. Debbie Wallis and Melissa Torvineo did an excellent job. We made contact with an oceanography instructor from Utah Valley State College and explored joint programs with her and her students. The Odyssey and Galileo Submarine Edventures went well for a first attempt. We discovered that several of the stations need to be improved and more work created. That was the number 1 comment from the participants was

they needed more work.

5. Very tired staff stayed until after 10 P.M. Saturday evening working out bugs and creating new story elements.

6. Our Monday evening Open House went very well. The school was crowded with visitors. We were kept busy from opening to closing. A special thanks to all that helped with the program.

Upcoming:

1. New cool Star Trek like door for the Magellan coming this week.

2. The Voyager's bathroom tile has been replaced!!!!

........That is all.....

Mr. Williamson

 January 18, 2001

This is an posting by none other than James Porter.  Read it.  You'll learn a very important lesson on keeping your employers happy.  Yes, James learned by listening.  Volunteers and staff, us old timers have a lot of wisdom to share if you will just listen - like James  :)

Hello

I would like to tell you of the helpful experience I have received from volunteering at the center. As I have recently been employed by the Wynsong 12 movie theater near Orem but sadly in Provo, I have noticed some ... stuff. From the all mighty Mr. Williamson I have learned much.

First, is that, "It is better to look good, than to feel good."  This definitely applies with my new vest and bow tie I HAVE to wear.

Second, and this one has been the greatest help, "We are -getting gratuity- until 10:30." Sorry for the alteration, that is what Mr. Williamson meant to say anyway. In my job I cannot stand still waiting for customers. With the art of spray and wipe mastered at the space center I have no trouble always looking busy.

Third, always try to wear a smile. Pretty self explanatory.

Fourth and final, work hard while the employer is watching. I won't try to quote exactly, but it was something to the effect of, "I wasn't bumped up the employee scale because I worked the hardest. I

just worked the hardest when the boss was around." 

This helped out on the first night. We were cleaning up to go and were just waiting to get passed off. I noticed the manager coming and began to wipe down some of the cupboards. The manager gave us a pass so all that was left to do was mop. The manager asked who was going to and the other guys pointed out that the new guy always does it. The manager looked at me then looked back at the guy and smoothly stated, "How come he is the only one still cleaning? You will mop up tonight."

As she pointed to the guy who spoke up.

So in conclusion I must give thanks. To the space center for all it's help and future help in the development of people. And of course, to Mr. Williamson and his words of advice. Thanks!

-James Porter

Emails from a Current Camper and Former Camper with News of a Sister Center in Pittsburgh.

Hello Troops,

It has been another day in the trenches for you and for me.  

The air in Utah is thick with Idaho smoke and ragweed pollen.  This atmospheric combination makes breathing difficult for people with allergies and asthma.  Speaking on behalf of myself and all other playground supervisors, I protest our current working conditions and want something done about it. I believe the government should do everything possible to forward the season's first frost.  Is that too much to ask?  

No news to report on the renovation of the Space Center.  I did hear a rumor the Maintenance Department has an architect looking at the project.  The question is, will the school district find it reasonable to spend thousands and thousands of dollars renovating the old Space Center when a new Space Center building is a few years down the road?  Our district's administrators will make that very difficult decision.  I'm glad it is their call and not mine. 

I received the following email the other day from one of the Space Center's biggest fans.

Thank you!          

Hi Mr. Williamson,

Ever since Space Center closed for repairs my life hasn't been the same. I discovered the Space Center 1 year ago and have been there 17 times ever since. So is it possible for you to tell the electrician people, that little kids are suffering from not being on the Voyager, and seeing the Romulans and the Borg, and getting in a phaser fight? Like, can I start paying these guys $2.25 (which is my weekly allowance) because I am starting to go insane! Anyway, I hope the Space Center can open again soon, because I am DESPERATE.
Hope to see you guys open again soon, and if there is anything I can do to help,
then i'm you're guy! :)

                                                - A Happy but partly crazy camper,
                                                               (Name withheld due to his age)

Thank you for offering your weekly allowance.  It is good to know we have great fans like you supporting us.

I also received the following email from Gary Gardiner, a former camper who has since grown up, graduated from university, and lives a normal life with his wife and child in Pennsylvania.   

Dear Mr. Williamson,
I first attended the Space Center almost twenty years ago as a fifth grader in the Jordan School District.  I had no idea that it was the Center's second year of operation—all I knew was that I was in heaven!  There was something truly magical about my experience there that caught my imagination and never let go.
I returned several times over the next two or three years, but eventually I grew too old to attend.  Even so, the Space Center continued to make an impression on me.  I was surprised to see other kids—not much older than I was—volunteering there, learning storytelling, drama, customer service, responsibility, creative writing, and all sorts of interesting facts about the universe.
I was jealous, but I didn't have the opportunity to join them because I lived 45 minutes north in Sandy.  Still, I did join them in spirit.  Knowing that they were making captivating productions inspired me to learn many important skills myself—including computer programming, graphic design, creative writing, and advanced math—that continue to enrich my life and career today.
I did have the opportunity to volunteer briefly at the Space Center while I attended BYU, but before long my LDS mission, schooling, family life, and career whisked me away.  I've worked at Goldman Sachs, received my MBA, and now work in Pittsburgh, PA helping launch startup technology companies.  And through it all I've never shaken the feeling of wonder that was instilled upon me at the Space Center.  It has enriched my life, inspired me to learn, and driven me to push myself to new heights.  And for that, I'm deeply grateful!  I'm so thankful to the Alpine School District for supporting a program that was so inspirational and monumental in my life.  Thank you for boldly being a standard bearer for educators nationwide.
I'm pleased to say that the impact the Space Center has had on my life is not all in the past tense.  Quite the opposite, in fact.  I've long had the goal of making the Space Center's magic accessible to more children, including my own.  That goal and determination has led to action, and I'm currently deep in the process of replicating the Space Center experience here in Pittsburgh.
I've partnered with the Grable Foundation and a local school district in Pittsburgh as a beachhead.  I've built a technology platform—called Dream Flight Adventures (www.DreamFlightAdventures.com)—to bring the Space Center's interdisciplinary magic to Pennsylvania.  We're still in the early stages, but I'm so excited to share the unbelievable experience that the Space Center provides with the next generation.
Here's to many more years of magic!

So there you have it Troops.  A new program for the children of Pittsburgh inspired by our little Space Center in Pleasant Grove.   Thank you Gary for the kind words and please keep me and our Troubadour readers updated.

Today's  Stop at Wonderland's Imaginarium

A unique profile

Creativity:  A

Inspired Advertising

They need a book like this for the child who dreams of a career in professional sports.

What a dream killer!

What is it then?  Ahhh, another portal to a school of witchcraft and wizardry.

A new door sign to remind your guests of things left behind.

Creativity: A

I know we have several Space Center employees looking for work to hold them over until the

Space Center reopens.

This sounds like it could be right up their alley.

I'd risk the messy death to get my hands on that laser death ray gun.  Wouldn't you?

Brilliant!

Lada was the piece of junk car built in the USSR (communist Russia).

I visited communist Russia three times in the 1980's and 90's.  I had the distinct horror of riding in a Lada several time during my stays and swore never to do it again unless I had no other choice.   I would also bring my plastic St. Christopher statue and a lucky rabbit's foot. 

Meanwhile, Somewhere on an English Motorway.

Something you don't see out the office window everyday.

 Imagination: A

For the couple with a great sense of humor.

A wedding cake never to be forgotten.

For Mr. Schuler and Dave Daymont.  Space Center workers and 

school district computer techs.

Imagination Overload at the Texas Children's Hospital

And Finally,
A Street Child sings Whitney Houston.  Never judge someone because of their circumstances.



Thanks Troops,
Mr. Williamson