Plans, Yuri Gagarin & Andy Roddick

Change of plans…as witnessed by new header. I’ll be taking a three day trip to New Orleans and then hopping on a plane to Las Vegas. Talk about party week! Actually, I’m accompanying my father on a business trip there so I’ll have the days to myself and we will do stuff together at night. I’ll probably just find a nice place outside to read while I’m in New Orleans during the day. I might hit up Napoleon House but only because I’ve been dying to go there. History and booze! What could be better? I know what the French Quarter is all about so I would say that I was going to ignore that, but we are staying at The Royal Sonesta so I might actually poke around there a bit. Definitely a great time to try out my new camera. I get back from New Orleans on Tuesday and I’m home long enough to do some laundry and pack for Las Vegas. We fly out Wednesday mourning and will be in our fancy shmancy suite in time for afternoon éclairs and champagne.

 

WARNING: The Author is about to reveal her true level of nerdiness.

 

More importantly tonight is Yuri’s Night. Yuri’s Night is an international celebration held on April 12 every year to commemorate the first human in space and the first space shuttle launch. On this day in 1961 Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin launched into space and became the first person in space, as well as the first person to orbit the earth. (Not exactly a great day for us since we were in the midst of the cold war.) But it was a triumph for the human race!

You might have noticed this had you used Google at all today. (I love it when they change the logo!) Google honored Yuri Gagarin’s historic first flight into space by changing their logo to show his space capsule orbiting Earth while two small aliens wave him on.

While in orbit Yuri was promoted from a low ranking Senior Lieutenant to a Major. After orbiting our planet he came back to Earth to continue working in the field of human space travel and exploration. He thought it was extremely important to continue working towards advancing technology and lost his life doing so in 1968. He had just turned 33. Gargarin is known in Russian history as “the Columbus of the Cosmos.” Despite his mysterious death during a routine training mission in a MiG-15 with his flight instructor, Vladimir Serugin, Russia refuses to launch an investigation into his death. Those Russians! Why must they be so sneaky and corrupt? Why cover up something like that? It kind of makes one wonder…

 

I think it is crucial we continue to fund the Space program. Humans have been defined by exploration and discovery for thousands of years. Why would we end that now? How better to understand our Creator than understand His creation? I’m passionate about this and could go on and on, but I’ll spare you. Instead, all of you who think we shouldn’t be funding the Space program, try living your life without:

 

Memory foam mattresses (were used to minimize exit and re-entry injuries), Virtual Reality, Advaced Keyboards, Laser Surveying, Aircraft Controls, Lightweight Compact Discs, Microcomputers, Design Graphics, Enriched Baby Food, Water Purifications Systems, Scratch Resistant Lenses, Pool Purification, Golf Ball Aerodynamics, Portable Coolers, Athletic Shoes (Moon Boot material encapsulated in running shoe midsoles improve shock absorption and provides superior stability and motion control.), Dustbuster, shock-absorbing helmets, home security systems, smoke detectors, flat panel televisions, high-density batteries, trash compactors, food packaging and freeze-dried technology, cool sportswear, sports bras, hair styling appliances, fogless ski goggles, self-adjusting sunglasses, composite golf clubs, hang gliders, art preservation, quartz crystal timing equipment, solar energy, microspheres, weather forecasting aids, sensors for environmental control, wind monitors, telemetry systems, plant research (NASA research on future moon and Mars bases is investigating using plants for food, oxygen, and water to reduce the need for outside supplies. This research utilizes Hydroponics, liquid nutrient solutions instead of soil to support plant growth and finds applications for vegetable production on Earth.), fire resistant material, radiation insulation, whale identification method, environmental analysis, noise abatement, pollution measuring devices, pollution control devices, smokestack monitor, radioactive leak detector, earthquake prediction system, sewage treatment, energy saving air conditioning, air purification, breast cancer detection, laser angioplasty, human tissue stimulator, programmable pacemaker, ocular screening (NASA image processing techniques are used to detect eye problems in very young children. An electronic flash from a 35-millimeter camera sends light into the child’s eyes, and a photorefractor analyzes the retinal reflexes, producing an image of each eye.), automated urinalysis, voice-controlled wheelchair, Arteriosclerosis detection, ultrasound scanners, automatic insulin pump, portable x-ray device, invisible braces, dental arch wire, palate surgery technology, clean room apparel, implantable heart aid, MRI, bone analyzer, cataract surgery tools, microlasers, engine lubricant, interactive computer training, high-pressure waterstripping, advanced welding torch, self-locking fasteners, machine tool software, laser wire stripper, lubricant coating process, wireless communications, engine coatings, engine design, radiation hazard detector, emergency response robot (Remotely-operated robot reduces human injury levels by performing hazardous tasks that would otherwise be handled by humans.), personal alarm system (Pen-sized ultrasonic transmitter used by prison guards, teachers, the elderly, and disabled to call for help is based on space telemetry technology. Pen transmits a silent signal to receiver that will display the exact location of the emergency.), emergency rescue cutters, fireman’s air tanks, storm warning services (Doppler radar), firefighters’ radios, lead poison detection, fire detector, flame detector, corrosion protection coating, protective clothing, robotic hands, studless winter tires, better brakes, improved aircraft engine, energy storage system, aids to school bus design (Manufacturer uses three separate NASA-developed technologies originally developed for aviation and space use in their design and testing of a new school bus chassis. These technologies are a structural analysis computer program infrared stress measurement system, and a ride quality meter system.), safer bridges, emission testing, airline wheelchairs, electric car, auto design, methane-powered vehicles, windshear prediction, and aircraft design analysis.

I don’t want to live without any of this. (Especially memory foam!) I can’t wait to see what they come up with next. How exciting!

Oh yeah, and I gave Andy Roddick directions today. He couldn’t find his way to The Woodlands. I love helping out a good Texas boy! Did you know he holds the fastest serve recorded in professional tennis? It was clocked at 155 mph. He kinda drives like his serves.