Laughing Wolf
Monday, May 12, 2008
Into The Light: Ron Parise
Many years ago when I did work (sub-contractor) for NASA, one of my first assignments was the ASTRO-1 mission. This payload carried three major telescopes—HUT, UIT, and WUPPE—to do then new and novel ultra-violet astronomy. I have heard that first mission declared a total failure because everything didn’t work right, and I say bull. I have heard it called a complete success, and again I would say bull. I would call it a success, and an important one, because it did meet many of it’s scientific milestones despite a number of Spacelab and orbiter system problems.
In a short version, the systems that should have powered, pointed, and gotten things rolling didn’t work. The system was, however, robust enough that work-arounds could be found for most things. The workarounds, however, depended on the fact that three astronomers were onboard who could work with the ground to not merely point, but zero in extremely precisely to gather data. Slower than planned, but getting faster and better with practice, the crew was well on the way to completing all mission parameters when a recalcitrant toilet (actually, a frozen waste-water port that developed a sewage-cicle that blocked dumping the toilet and waste water tanks) ended the mission early.
One of those people who made things work was an astronomer and guest astronaut named Ron Parise. Ron and the others worked with the ground to aim, adjust for great precision, and then tweak more for the best possible data. The data they got was phenomenal, if limited. I will always wonder what they might have accomplished on that mission if not for the sewage-cicle.
This morning, I learned that Ron has entered the light after a struggle against cancer. He accomplished much more than just flying in space, and where he flies now I hope he has the answers he sought and much more besides. May the light shine down on those he leaves behind.
LW
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Into The Light: Charlton Heston
After a long struggle with Alzheimer’s, the Omega Man has passed. Actually, he was much more the Alpha Man, always willing to take a leadership role in things he felt were important. He crusaded for civil rights long before it became the thing to do, championing the concept of justice and equality in many areas. While many saw him becoming more “conservative” with age, it might be better said that he remained a champion of individual liberty, equality, self-reliance, and fairness while others shifted. He lived what he preached, was married to the love of his life Lydia for more than 60 years, and was surrounded by several generations of his family at his passing.
I had the honor to meet him briefly, I think at an AFI film premier/event for The Right Stuff. He was gracious and charming, but if it was indeed at that event his signature is not alongside those of Yeager, Cooper, and Carpenter. It is rare to meet someone you admire and inspired you in your youth, and that night allowed me to meet many. Oft such meetings are not great, as one discovers feet of clay and boors behind the facade; yet, that night I remember how many of those I met were in the mold of what they represented. He was that, though he did not want his presence to overshadow those who truly had done. That says much about him, and as for me I simply know that the light has welcomed him home and may it shine down on his family now and in the days ahead.
LW
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Into The Light: Sharon Dooling
Sharon Dooling, a Navy veteran, lover of wolves, and wife of friend and mentor Dave Dooling passed into the light today, Easter Sunday. She asked that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the American Indian College Fund. It was a pleasure to know her, even not being able to mention “Auburn” in her presence, and I know that the light has welcomed her home. May it shine down and warm, protect, and guide those she has left behind.
LW
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Into The Light: Arthur C. Clarke
His work ranged from wry short stories to massive tomes pondering the imponderable, and his science writing was some of the best around for many years. Personally, while my pre-teen/early teen self was quite intrigued with his descriptions of post-mission orgies (Rendezvous with Rama is a good example), his short story collection Tales From the White Hart remains my favorite tome of his. I did not agree with all his positions or ideas, but his writings, science and fiction, helped shape my early work and writings, and opened many new doors of thought for me. His influence will continue on for as long as his works exist. May the light have welcomed him home.
LW
Friday, January 11, 2008
Into The Light: Cousin A
It’s not really a surprise, but I just got a call letting me know my cousin, A, has passed away. She had been in poor health for a while, and hadn’t been able to do lot of late. She was someone I enjoyed a lot as I got older, for she was the baker in the family. I had always enjoyed her baking, and our mutual love of cooking and culinary exploration brought us closer together over the years. A favorite part of my visits home, particularly at Christmas, was sitting and talking cooking, cooks, and cooking shows with her. Those memories bring something somewhere between a smile and a grin as I sit and type. May the light have welcomed you home dear A, and may it shine down with a warmth like butter on those you leave behind.
LW
Friday, January 04, 2008
Ahhh, Fuck
Yes, I normally stay away from such language, but we’ve lost a good one. Andrew Olmstead has left a final post that is also here where he posted as G’Kar. May the light welcome you home, and shine upon your family now and in the days ahead.
LW
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Into The Light: Hank Reinhart
Not a lot of information yet, but Hank Reinhart has passed into the light today. If you know weapons, particularly edged weapons, then you know about Hank. I’ve heard him described any number of ways, but he was always courteous to me and was helpful in many ways and on many occasions. He freely shared some of his hard-won knowledge with me, saved me from some bad decisions in regards weapons, and his knowledge of history (not to mention the technological history of weapons and the impact of same on the history of the time) was amazing. I lift a glass to you, and I ask you to keep his wife Toni in your thoughts in the days ahead.
LW
NOTE: Mourn him? No. Miss him? Yes. Celebrate his life and be glad that I knew him even briefly? Hell Yes!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Into The Light: T
I just have learned that a dear and wonderful lady and friend, T, has passed very unexpectedly away. She was having some scheduled surgery when something went horribly wrong. She was a true delight, with quick mind, a very good sense of humor and a love for animals that knew few bounds. Her Scottish brogue was charming, and she thought the world of Jenny. She was a good lady, and I am honored to have known her and glad that I had the opportunity to share some of her far too short a time on this Earth. May the light enfold and embrace you, warm you with love, and welcome you home. May all the four-legged people who preceeded you be there as well.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Into The Light: Christiana Hendrix
Christiana Hendrix of Cold Fury died Friday afternoon in an accident, doing something she loved. I can remember when she came into Mike’s life, and the joy she so obviously brought. Please keep Mike and all those who knew and loved her in your thoughts, and take the time to say a few words to them over at Cold Fury.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Les Geddes Receives National Medal Of Technology
One of the things about the day job I love, even if it keeps me from posting much of late, is getting to work with interesting people. They are more than clients, and some are simply an honor to know. Sometimes, it works out that they are honored as they truly deserve. The story of a well deserved (and even overdue) honor for an outstanding man can be found here. Short and sweet for now, but more to come at that site.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Want To Know Why
The legal system and those in it oft are scorned and distrusted by “average” citizens? Read this. I’ve been meaning to comment on it for a while, and could go into a long discussion of why the legal system is failing the republic, and is a legal system rather than a justice system, but I’m tired and time is short.
So, will keep this short and sweet. Did someone hurt of kill their dog? No. Did someone screw their significant other? No. Fire them, reposess their home, and sell their kids? No. It’s a pair of pants for Ifni’s sake. Even if custom tailored overseas and with allowance for travel and even distress, you’re still only talking $5k max. $54 million? Someone needs to take this self-absorbed narcissistic boor out and b***h slap them hard and long and then send them back to kindergarten to grow the f**k up.
LW
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Duke Non-Rape Case
There are many learned and well-done words out there, and I will not attempt to match them. I will say that I am glad that this particular gross miscarriage of justice is exposed and dealt with. There are many others out there that remain, and it is there where I think the blogosphere can be of great assistance. For the more eyes that see, and the more light shown, the greater the cause of justice will be served.
As for the two who have not graduated, and who have had Duke oh-so-magnanimously offer to let them return: if it were me, I would tell Duke, it’s president, and the large part of its faculty where they could stick—sideways—their precious campus. Craven and venal are two words that come to mind, along with a host of less pleasant and erudite phrases, for the administration and faculty there. I do know this: I will do everything in my power to insure that any of my blood or any for whom I have care or responsibility never set foot there for study or work.
LW
Sunday, January 21, 2007
A Hell Of A Note
Yesterday was one of those days you just can’t figure out. Parts of it were good, very good; and, parts of it were strange or worse. It ended on a hell of a note, including having to help encourage someone to go to a doctor/ER, then getting home to find messages that apparently a young lady I have known since about the time she started school, was dead. I keep hoping that someone will tell me the message was wrong, after all the fish-wrapper in Macon, GA had the last name spelled wrong if it is indeed her.
13-years-old. She died during breath play, edge play, what the kids are apparently calling “The Choking Game.” You cut off oxygen to the brain, usually by cutting off blood flow, and when it comes back it is a rush, including for some a sexual rush without any vestige of sex. A rush without drugs. Some are doing it in pairs, literally choking each other. Others use belts, scarves, plastic bags, and other implements and do it by themselves. I rather suspect that the highest percentage of the kids who die playing this game do so by themselves, when they goof and no one is there to catch them or call for help. That’s what happened to her.
13-years-old. A scarf. I wonder if it was silk, for silk sounds good in fantasies but has a nasty habit of tightening and not coming untied—nor is one able to slip even a slip knot with it. A couple of other fabrics have similar tendencies, but silk is the worst.
13-fucking-years-old. She was not a stupid child; not slow; not even average. Above average in everything but height. I remember laughter, surprising conversations, and a spirit that was many times the size of the body that housed it. A face bright with excitement and joy in and at exploration. I know that this last year and a bit had to have been rough on her, with the unexpected death of her father and a forced move to the mother (divorced), but this is just not something I would ever have imagined her doing. Going for the rush. Craving it. Doing it stupidly. Bloody bleeping hell.
If you have kids, go hug them. Now. Meditate, pray, whatever it is you do, do it. For them, and for this “E” Then give those kids another hug.
LW
Content copyright C. Blake Powers and the individual authors. Comments become the property of C. Blake Powers and may be altered, edited, deleted, and used by C. Blake Powers or the individual authors without restriction or recompense.
