Saturday, June 9, 2007

Rocket Man

Most of us on board were able to see the shuttle launch. We were about 70 miles from Cape Canaveral when it went off. It was good to see it go up and I couldn't help but feel pride in the technological accomplishments that we have made in science. Maybe because I've spent my whole career in science, it just seems a marvel that we have accomplished so much technologically, yet there is the flip side in which I wonder have we made a difference for the planet.

All signs point to the fact that things aren't getting better--water quality isn't better, air quality isn't much better, habitat is being lost, fisheries are depleted and global warming is looming. The populace seems to care more about Paris Hilton than about education or the environment. Those kinds of things are really disturbing. But for at least that brief shining moment last night, I could be a kid and look at that big rocket booster and the tiny shuttle being propelled with human cargo into space. We all cheered as we watched the orange ball and the contrail streak across the sky. Makes me want to be a rocket man for a day.

11 comments:

  1. When I was reading your post (thanks by the way for the great pic)..I was thinking, maybe someone could get Paris Hilton interested in science. So many people (don't know why) are so interested in her life, maybe they would pay attention to important issues like the ones you raise here, if SHE was talking about it. Give her a call Syd, and see what happens ;)

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  2. Do you think, if we ask very nicely, that NASA would send Ms. Hilton to Mars?

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  3. LOL Daave. There are many who could join her.

    Thanks Syd for the picture, I was hoping to see one here. You never disappoint!

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  4. Syd,
    Yes, we have come so far! we live in a beautiful world, and yet we have managed to make it ugly..and continue to destroy it.
    Today I took my grandson to a trout tournament. I told him to throw his trout back in the river as it was too small to win a prize.
    He looked at me in amazement and said, "Nanny, you want me to throw a dead fish back in the river, when we're running out of clean water and healthy fish? Just for a prize?"
    I wasn't thinking...that's the problem with us.....we just don't think. But the kids do! Thank God!

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  5. Wow and I do not mean the Paris Hilton part.

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  6. I got to see a shuttle launch when I was in Florida one year and it was amazing! I am so glad that there are people, like you Syd, who do care about our planet. One by one, we can all make a difference!

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  7. your pictures are just so great syd. i love that one. thanks for carrying on posting them as it looks like you are pretty busy out there..

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  8. lol what Daave said..!

    I know it seems like the world cares more about Paris and company but that little boy you saw is the future and their are millions of kids just like him imagining the future and staring up at the stars..and I mean the stars in the sky ..not in the news.
    AND SYD...I can honestly say ..I am truly truly grateful you are an adult in this place in history who truly cares enough about the world to work with it and share hope to preserve it and humanity.
    Thanks for sharing :)

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  9. Rocket Man...it gets lonely out in space. I'm glad you're here with us.

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  10. "And all this science i don't understand
    It's just my job five days a week
    A rocket man, a rocket man"
    ;-)
    Thank, Syd. You are loved, dude!
    Peace,
    Scout

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  11. Bunch of funny bloggers here. :)

    That is an amazing pic. How energetic to see such a thing in the sky.

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