this then this

First read THIS about the new Constellation/Orion space vehicle.

Then read THIS about the implications of this shift in strategy, namely the retirement of the shuttle fleet.  Pay particular attention to how it affects jobs even outside of the space coast, like the Engine Tank assembly plant in New Orleans.

I’m all about going back to the moon, especially in preparation for a Mars mission.  While the space shuttle program will culminate in the completion of the International Space Station, there’s virtually no wonder left in exploring space in the eyes of many.  Sure, the various Mars rovers are interesting to follow for a while, but really the only real drama and excitement seems to come from those units experiencing difficulties…like the ESA Beagle’s (I think that’s what its name was) supersonic swan dive into the red planet’s surface.

But there will be a significant amount of time where the US will be completely dependent upon Russia for access to space.  They already charge an arm and a leg for each trip.  Not to mention they’re still flying the Soyuz capsule which predates our own retiring shuttles by quite a few years.

It’ll be an interesting period for the space program.

pleasant surprise

It’s not very often when I can look at you with a straight face and say the SBC has done something recently to impress me.  I’ve been doing a lot of facepalms in the last few months in regards to how political the recent SBC presidential election became.  You could take the “SBC” out of that last phrase and…well…you know….

Check out THIS ARTICLE on the new SBC president.

Christians often say “love the sinner, hate the sin” when expressing their stance on homosexuality. But the new leader of the Southern Baptist Convention wants to offer something different.

“Why don’t we love the homosexual and hate OUR sin?” said Georgia pastor Johnny M. Hunt as he cited Jay Strack, founder of Student Leadership University.

There may yet be hope for this denomination.

Preach it.

everything’s bigger

From Dallas News:

New Dallas Cowboys Stadium to have world’s largest video displays

Rather than just reading over the massive numbers, try – for just a moment – to envision the product they describe.

Imagine four city buses parked in a line. Now imagine another layer of buses stacked on top of them. Add five more layers and hang the 28-bus cluster over a mental football field.

Having trouble? You’re not alone. Even the folks behind the new Cowboys stadium can’t really fathom how the world’s largest video displays will change the game for fans.

“We have no reference point. It’s completely different than anything else in football,” said Jack Hill, director of stadium construction.

The same holds true for other stadium innovations, which should improve everything from the traffic to the food to the seats.

“We’re trying a lot of new things. We think it will be a lot of years until any other new stadium tops us,” Mr. Hill said.

In theory, the new stadium was designed by Dallas-based HKS Architects and is being built by Manhattan Construction. In practice, both firms got help from an eager amateur, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Unlike typical patrons, who often order architects to cut costs by cutting technological frills, Mr. Jones repeatedly asked his team to think bigger and create a “modern-day Colosseum of Rome.”

The comparison may sound odd at first, but it beautifully illustrates the unusual relationship between arenas and technology.

In some ways, sporting venues have hardly changed since the Colosseum was built 2,000 years ago. Tiered seating surrounds a playing field. Concourses with vendors and toilets surround the stands.

In other ways, however, arena builders have always used the latest technology to impress spectators. The Romans could pump water into their arena and stage naval battles between large ships.

Plans for the new stadium lack that feature, but they do call for some 3,000 video monitors of all sizes.

Read entire article

This is pretty cool and it will help make up for the fact that the new stadium is being built in friggin’ Arlington.  I mean, it wasn’t like having to go out there to see the Rangers wasn’t irritating enough.  But I digress.  For those of you who, like me, frequent Northpark for your movie-going habits, I found this illustration that puts this screen into perspective.  And yes, those are four Yellow DARTs lined up.

we make a great team

Our Arts Admin/Coordinator, Julie sent me THIS LINK to today’s Stuff Christians Like.  I’m now cleaning the chai tea off my monitor and keyboard.  Be sure to read the comments.

My favorites:

I messed up the song
I sang all the wrong verses
But I still blamed you

oh my you sound bad
i will just turn down your mic
you wont even know

You say you can’t hear.
I will pretend to fix it.
Now you say you can.

SO TRUE!

You say your mic stinks
I farted on it today
Be nice to sound guy

I’m late for sound check
So I am wasting your time
Tuning my guitar

And my absolute favorite:

You’re the lead singer
But I hold all the cards dude
Don’t make me play one

I’m still wiping tears from my eyes.

top ten: movies pt. II

5. – Life As A House

If I’m not mistaken, this was Hayden Christiansen’s first major film.  I love this movie for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was how it introduced me to Guster.  I see so much of myself in this movie.

4. – Stop-Loss

You may remember me blogging about this before.  I can’t wait till it comes out on DVD.  Too bad there’s no blu-ray date announced.  Although it did poorly at the box office, you absolutely can’t miss this film.

3. – The Departed

I’ve never been a big crime-thriller aficionado, but I’ll admit Scorsese is one heck of a filmmaker.  From the moment I saw the cast lineup in the trailer I knew I’d love this movie.  I was not disappointed.  While Scorsese was long overdue for his Oscar, I’m glad this was the one that got it for him.  This was also the first blu-ray I ever purchased.

2. – Aliens

I remember renting this movie as a kid back when the Exit 7 Walmart still had a Movie Gallery in it.  This movie is pretty much mana to a young boy’s imagination.  Wall-to-wall action, gore, and atmosphere make this the best entry in its series and by far one of the best sci-fi films ever.  The animatronic alien suits still look better than anything Lucas the Hut can conjure up in CG.  The Queen still haunts my dreams.

1. – Stand By Me

You knew it was coming.  The best 86 minutes of your life.  I’ve owned 4 copies of this film over the years.  I wore out 2 casette tapes before being surprised by my mom one day shortly after buying my PS2 who found a then-new DVD copy.  My best friend, Zack even got me an a still-frame autographed by Wil Wheaton.  This movie, and my perception of it, has changed so much over the years.  As I’ve grown older, I’ve been able to discover and appreciate new layers of the film that only come with age and experience.  When I was a kid, I liked it because it was about a bunch of kids my age cussing and going on an adventure.  As a teen, it taught me to really value my youth and my time with my friends.  And as an adult it’s been amazing to see how the situations these boys face seem so simple and carefree…yet adequately reflect the sometimes tragic nature of life and love.  They just don’t make movies like this anymore.

I’m tagging Tim and JayAre just to see if they’ll actually…ya know…blog.