It's Monday. Sniff Sniff. A Spring Monday...... News and The Imaginarium

 

Mother's Day is this Sunday.  Give Your Mom a Hug

Hello Troops,
Did I ever tell you how much I both hate and like lilacs?  I opened the window yesterday to air out the house.  A morning fresh breeze filled the kitchen with the scent of lilac.  I stood by the sink and enjoyed the sweet smell of spring.  Then, IT hit.  My nose was the first to lose control of its faculties.  Both spigots opened wide, release a torrent of....... I won't go into detail.  My eyes, jealous the nose's new found freedom, followed suit.  I reached for a kitchen wash cloth with one hand and a package of Claritin with the other.  The lilacs got to me.  I've been in a antihistamine induce semi-coma for 36 hours.  I'm hating life.

So, leaving all cleverness aside, let's just get on with the news, views and Imaginarium so I can lay down on the couch and drift in and out of consciousness.   I really need to look at the packaging when I purchase my allergy medicine.  'Non' really means something when attached to adjective 'Drowsy' in the description of Hay Fever pills.

Sniff.....Sniff

Mr. Williamson

A 4 Minute Version of Mark Lewis' Fantastic Space Center Documentary   




Space and Science News

Monster Hawaiian Telescope Approved

The summit of Mauna Kea on Big Island, Hawaii, already plays host to 13 observatories and now a new, monster addition the telescopic family is one step closer to reality.
The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will dwarf all of its Mauna Kea siblings. The dome, pictured above, will house a huge 30-meter, 492-segment mirror capable of capturing observations 12-times sharper than the Hubble Space Telescope. The project is a collaboration between Caltech, the University of California and the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy (ACURA).  Read More



The Water Cycle Made Easy



  
Artist makes portraits from DNA found in chewing gum and cigarettes

 

Have you ever seen a wad of chewing gum on the sidewalk and wondered about the person who spat it out? Artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg has done more than wonder. She collects errant hairs, cigarette butts, fingernails, and discarded chewing gum from public places and using the DNA she finds, creates 3D portraits of how the owners of this discarded genetic material might look.  Read More

News from Dream Flight Adventures, Pennsylvania

A Spectacle for Superintendents

By Gary Gardiner

Yesterday I had the pleasure of presenting Dream Flight Adventures to the movers and shakers in the Pittsburgh region’s formal education arena at the Superintendent’s Forum at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.  It was quite the party, and if you’ve ever attended a formal event for school district superintendents you know what I’m talking about.  Those superintendents sure know how to cut a rug.  :)

I co-presented with Bryan O’Black, the Director of Curriculum & Technology at the Shaler Area School District, and everyone seemed very excited to learn about the tremendous success the IKS Titan has been having at the Shaler Area Elementary School.

For everyone far and wide who didn’t have the opportunity to attend, here are some answers to the questions that school districts frequently ask us:

How much does a Dream Flight Adventures™ simulator cost to install?

 

The answer to that depends on a lot of things, but I like to use the IKS Titan project as a starting point. That project came as the result of a generous grant of $80,000 from the Grable Foundation and covered all the technology hardware (roughly $20K), the non-tech hardware (wood, drywall, nails, etc.), the license to the simulator platform, the development of several simulator missions, training, professional development for the school’s teachers, and various miscellaneous expenses.  When schools are interested in installing a Dream Flight Adventures simulator we use this ballpark figure as a starting point and then adapt based on the circumstances of the individual situation.

How are our simulators built?

 

Our simulator platform—which includes software for a full crew of interdependent and interactive student stations, as well as an ever-growing library of missions—is ready for deployment far and wide.  The simulators use off-the-shelf electronics (iPads, PCs, projectors, etc.), a little decorative theming, and a solid dose of theater and storytelling magic.  The immersive environments themselves are extremely flexible and can be installed in essentially any location and layout.

The basic foundation of the simulators is primed and ready to go.  Each specific installation can use this foundation as a starting point and then customize it to suit their needs.  In the case of the IKS Titan, the district’s own facilities crew—most notably the multi-talented Bob Gasowski—constructed the simulator and added many personal touches that really bring the environment to life!

Simulator construction is also something that the students themselves can participate in.  Our partners at the Discovery Space Center and Christa McAuliffe Space Center have accomplished tremendous things through the work of creative and industrious students.

 

What simulations are included?

 

I like the use the analogy of a movie theater that, once built, can play any number of movies.  Likewise, once a Dream Flight Adventures simulator is installed, any mission from our simulation library can be used.  We’re constantly working with partners to create new missions, and every location that installs a new simulator has the option of including custom missions, which further add to our library of simulations.

Also, even the students can get involved in creating new simulations.  This is already in place through our Dream Weaver Challenge, and we will be further integrating our mission creation process with middle and high school writing, science, and programming classes.

How is the curriculum integrated into the simulators?

This is a major component of what makes Dream Flight Adventures so incredible, and we have a whole page dedicated to this topic.

How can I get started?

 

Woody Allen said that 80 percent of success is simply showing up.  We not only show up, but we also answer the phone and return emails!  Simply contact us to get the conversation started.



The Imaginarium
Marking the ordinary, Extraordinary...... one sniffle at a time.

Discovery Space Center Director Elected Utah County Republican Party Chairman. Yes Foks, Casey Voeks Actually Won! Many People Forced to Eat Their Hats Report Local Emergency Rooms.

Hello Troops,

Luckily I'm not one of those having to eat my hat over Casey's victory in yesterday's Republican Party convention at Timp View High School in Provo; however, I know of several who did, not to mention those who enjoyed a breakfast of crow and eggs this morning after learning the news. 

"We Won!" Casey bragged on his Facebook wall yesterday.  I read his statement and wondered if the victory had already gone to his head.  Notice how Casey had used the royal "We" in his  announcement, meaning he regarded himself in the plural - a designation unofficially reserved for those in lofty positions of power.  Watch out for Casey's reply to this paragraph.  "We are not amused," is my prediction.   

Saturday morning I decided to show my support for Casey and drove to Timp View to participate in one of Utah's largest Republicanware Conventions.  Everyone knows that a Republicanware Convention is where the company will have all their new and improved products on display for all to see and hear (hear being the key word in that phrase).   I couldn't find room in the school's parking lots, and not qualified to park in the 'special lot' (you had to submit to a finger prick blood test to see whether or not you bled blue),  I had no choice but to park a block away in the lot reserved for "All Others".  My walk to the New Jerusalem was festooned with placards and signs urging me to vote for people who knew me better than myself.  They all knew what I wanted (as evident in the wording of their signs) and promised to take care of MY interests.  I'm not ashamed to admit my vote (if I had one) would have gone to anyone able to discern my desperation for a Diet Mt. Dew.   

    

Casey's signs were more prominent the closer you got to the auditorium's entrance.  Notice Casey's blatant  overuse of red.  We all know that red signifies REVOLUTION!  It was Casey's way of warning the Party's old guard that change was coming, and they'd better get with it or get swept away by it.   

"Are you a delegate?" I was asked repeatedly by the candidates' offspring, cousins, nephews, nieces, spouses and campaign workers.  Each held reams of paper explaining their candidate's stand on every issue from global warming to hangnails.  My negative answer wiped the smiles off their faces.  They waved me on in search of better prey.    

"There's over one acre of prime Amazonian rain forest in all this paper,"  I believe I overhead one of the campaign workers say to another.  They chuckled, secretly hoping their laughter was causing the hair on the back of Al Gore's neck to stand on end.

It didn't take me long to realize the good stuff was being held in reserve for people identified as convention delegates, so I thought I'd give it a try.

"Are you a delegate?" I was asked at the door.

"I'm delegating myself to be here," I answered awkwardly, hoping my feeble attempt and subterfuge would work.

The pimpled girl looked confused, shrugged her shoulders and showered me with extra papers and a handful of free M&M mini packages bearing her candidate's name.   I smiled.  I was 'in the club' so to speak.   

The auditorium's commons was the designated gathering place for candidates.  Each had their own table.  Colorful signs decorated the cinder block walls.  It looked like a sanitized version of a middle eastern bazaar complete with buyers and sellers (I noticed the sword swallowers and fire eaters were missing.  They would have made a great addition to the festivities). 

After some searching I found Casey's display near the back exit.  He was entertaining a good sized crowd.  The people seemed memorized by his soothing, hypnotic voice as he preached the good news of the coming conservative era of peace, land and bread.  I believe I also heard him say something about responsible government and fiscal responsibility - but I can't be sure;  I was standing too close to his boom box playing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's  greatest patriotic hits.

"Who are they kidding," Casey explained to a delegate (shown above).  "The common core is just that - common; dead common.   Aren't our children more important than that?  Utah's children deserve something better;  THEY DESERVE AN UNCOMMON CORE  and you may quote me on that."  Casey smiled.  His pearly white front teeth sparkled in the fluorescent lighting.  
My arms broke out in goosebumps.     

"What are your thoughts about violence in schools?" the woman in orange (above) asked Candidate Casey.

"Good question, good question......"  Casey paused for a moment to let the crowd grow a bit bigger. 
 He cleared his throat and began.  "I believe we need MORE violins in our schools, not LESS!"  Casey drove the point home by slamming his right fist into his left hand.   Our overemphasis on math and science has come at the expense of art and music.  If I'm elected your party chair, I will insist on more violins in the schools!"

There was dead silence and a long pause as Casey took the time to look each of them in the eye.

"Thank you," his voice broke the silence. The crowed roared in approval.   

I moved to Casey's side and snapped the photo above.  Here is the face representing the new generation of Republicans (photoshopped and all).  Here is the face of the young boy who spent much of his childhood at the Space Center.  Here is the face of a great volunteer and flight director.  Here is the face of someone who believes that the sky is the limit.  Here is the face of the nation's future.

"What do you think of Casey Voeks?" one of Pleasant Grove's convention delegates asked me after noticing my "Vote for Casey" sticker.

I explained that I wasn't a Republican or Democrat, but a proud Independent.  She patted my shoulder and told me I wasn't completely gone -  as long as I hadn't drifted into the enemy camp.  I told her what I knew about Casey.

"Hummmm, well I think I'll still vote for him," she said as she walked away.  I took the sticker off.  I wasn't doing Casey any favors.

I found the auditorium and took a seat.  Kyle Herring found me.  I'm glad we sat together so he could explain the behind the scenes politicking going on around me.   Casey appeared shortly thereafter and started working the congregation. 

Casey zeroing in on a delegate

Case was this close to us........ this close.  He pretended not to notice us.  He shook hands with the gentleman in front of us, then turned to work the lower section of the auditorium.

"Casey!" I semi-shouted.  He stopped, turned and smiled (not out of happiness we were there, but out of embarrassment that we had caught him ignoring us non-voting camp followers).   We shook hands and he disappeared into a sea of well-wishers.

Later that morning, Casey was given 5 minutes to address the convention.  It was his last chance to garner support.  He spoke quickly; he had a lot to say.  He voice was passionate and direct.  He spoke specifics.  He used well rehearsed hand and arm gestures.  He was in command of the podium.  He had the crowd.  There wasn't a dry eye in the house when he finished.  I watched as toddlers and babies were being passed over the heads of the delegates to the front podium for him to kiss.  Several of the younger women in the crowd fainted, other delegates and onlookers were seen writing checks.  It was amazing.

Casey had won the day.  We are proud he is a part of our Space Center family.

Mr. Williamson

Friends, while some of the events in this story above were exaggerated and added to make the reading of a political event more enjoyable, let me be sure you understand how amazing Casey was.  He handled himself like a pro.  He addressed the issues and came across as someone who could handle the job of Utah County Republican Party Chairman.   Keep an eye on Casey.  He has a bright future ahead of him in politics, and I'm told he never forgets a friend.  So if you're not one of Casey's friends - you'd better text him right away and become one.  The Casey train is leaving the station with or without you  :)

The Imaginarium
Casey proves that even a back woods Lehi boy can make the ordinary, extraordinary.