Rocket Man: Vertical Landing

It is not every day you get to see something happen for the very first time in history.  Blue Origin's rocket successfully landed yesterday after its launch for reuse.



24 November 2015

Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK) Speech on Syrian Refugees

Quoting Caitlin Macneal at TPM, where you should read her full story.

Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK) delivered a speech on the House floor Wednesday tearing into his colleagues' push to restrict Syrian refugees' ability to come to the U.S., arguing that such policies will make the U.S. like the Islamic State. 

"While I have focused my comments on actions we should take to eliminate ISIS, one action we should not take is to become like them. America is a lamp that lights the horizon of civilized and free mankind. The Statue of Liberty cannot have a stiff arm. Her arm must continue to keep the torch burning brightly," he said in his floor speech.
"But if we use our passions and our anger, fear, and we use that to snuff our her flame by xenophobic and knee-jerk policy, the enemy wins. We have played into their hands. Period," he continued.
...
He noted that in 1939, members of Congress made similar comments opposing a refugee bill that would have aided Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. 

"America protects her liberty and defends her shores not by punishing those who would be free. She does it by guarding liberty with her life. Americans need to sacrifice and wake up. We must not become them. They win if we give up who we are and even more-so without a fight," Russell said.

Video of the speech:

Take heed, GOP, take heed.

20 November 2015

24 November 2015:  And then he folded like a three-legged card table.  /sigh

30 Years of Calvin & Hobbes

Calvin and Hobbes sprang to life 30 years ago today.  Calvin & Hobbes make me feel young.  That thirty years makes me feel old.  Regardless of this duality, BATS (still) AREN'T BUGS!!!!!!

Happy birthday!


18 November 2015

Shawn Colvin: Uncovered

Well, it again seems that I'm forever out of the loop... even about things that actually matter to me!

Shawn Colvin has a new album out titled Uncovered.  It is a sequel of sorts to her Cover Girl from two decades past.  I'm a huge fan of Colvin and truly love her original work.  So much so that when I first learned that her new album -- and here I'm talking about Cover Girl -- didn't feature her own songs, I was majorly bummed.  Now and indeed soon thereafter, I wouldn't trade Cover Girl for anything.   (Seriously, Colvin singing Bob Dylan is an experience not to be missed!)

And so I find myself approaching this album with much more joy, ready to embrace it.  A first song from the album is the Bruce Springsteen's Tougher than the Rest.  Lovely.  And I must say that it suits her.



18 November 2015

Seattle: Five Years Later

This weekend marked five years since our Seattle abruptly succumbed to a then-unknown heart issue and passed away.  I have spent almost all of the past few days thinking about her, missing her.  I think of her often still, but her death is no longer a weight in my mind and on my eyes.  It is again right now.

I can say that our family feels whole most of the time.  I would not trade Honor and Finnegan for anything.  But three cats would be better than two.  Adding Seattle back into the mix would make us whole in truth.

I miss you, Seattle.  I loved you beyond measure in life.  That love has not diminished.

2 November 2015