"Holy Cow!"

In honor of Braja's new calf Pushpa!

'...the Good Earth"

July 20th is the 40th anniversary of the first manned landing on the Moon. This was the dream of the ages. Although disparaged, doubted by millions now it 'did' happen.

However for me, and perhaps many in my aging generation the first real trip to Luna happened on the previous Christmas eve.

December 24th 1968.

1968 that history changing year. Of all the monumental events of that time perhaps the most meaningful was the first visit to the moon by people from Earth.

That is "meaningful" to the long story of our species. After all of the chaos, and passions of these decades passes away. When all that makes us red in the face becomes mere footnotes of a future syllabus.

When that time comes this event, this first visit of human beings to the moon will be viewed with profound awe.

I wrote a post about that other, and more historic anniversary last Christmas.
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Long ago, when I was a lad. Three men went to the moon. They were the first to go, but because they didn't land no one remembers their names. Never mind that doesn't matter. What does matter though is what they did when they arrived.

These were the first human souls to reach, and orbit the moon. It was Christmas eve 1968. A most eventful year. Indeed a most dramatic year in world history as those who were there will vividly remember.

It was fitting that it closed with so dramatic, and moving an event as Apollo 8 reaching la Luna.

The Moon.

Through this voyage we for the first time saw our Earth, our home whole in the sea of forever. So small, so beautiful, so fragile.

The world watched, and listened that night. That Christmas eve, that Holy night of our combined Hopes.

As the Apollo caravel rounded the moon astronauts Anders, Lovell, and Borman read from the first page of Genesis.


William Anders:

"For all the people on Earth the crew of Apollo 8 has a message we would like to send you".

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness."

Jim Lovell:

"And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day."

Frank Borman:

"And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good."

Borman then added, "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you - all of you on the good Earth."

"Post Traumatic Stress"

"PTSD"...for beginners.

I've been having dreams like the video below for a while now. That, and assorted 9/11 flash backs. In those I'm climbing through the wreckage. It's always a maze of twisted steel, and slanted walls, and floors. Like an Escher drawing on crack, and whiskey.

If it's not that I'm watching loved ones die,...again.

Interesting, I was speaking with an intern at the studios. He's 22. He mentioned that he personally knew no one who had passed away. No family, no friends.

I've forgotten what that feels like. To have everyone still around, 'and' to expect them to stay as well.

I didn't tell the kid what was waiting for for him. He deserves his innocence.

Pity we all can't keep it.

"150 Years Later"

A slave, Dred Scott, sued unsuccessfully for his freedom in the famous Dred Scott v. Sandford case decided by the United States Supreme Court on March 6, 1857.

In what is perhaps the most infamous case in its history, the court decided that all people of African ancestry -- slaves as well as those who were free -- could never become citizens of the United States and therefore could not sue in federal court. The court also ruled that the federal government did not have the power to prohibit slavery in its territories.

Dred Scott remained a slave.

"Have a Gay Old Time!"

(Me, and pals, rare color photo from 1862)

It's a good thing I wrote down on actual non-digital paper all of my codes, pswd's, and user names. 'Cause I can't remember bleep anymore. That is to say it was my birthday back on the 9th.

I'm 59, but everyone thinks I'm 60 so I'll go with it. I like it better anyway. When you're that close to 100 people don't bother you as much. At least it's starting to seem that way.

Also there's them swell perks.

Everybody thinks you're about to die so they do stuff like give you a seat on the subway. That or they don't charge you for everything at the supermarket. Both of these things just happened to me.

Actually I don't look 60, but I must have an aura of aged wisdom,..and more grey hair or something. Maybe it was my "Flower Power Button".

I've had that little relic since 1966, and have taken to wearing it again lately.

Anyway I was out shopping for scraps of bread, and cat food. The normal diet for folks my age. I goes down to the subway, and this young guy immediately gives me a seat.

He sez, "...you okay mister?"

I must have looked like I was having a stroke or something.

Well it was a brutally hot day. You remember that scary heatwave we had in April. The leaves weren't back on the trees yet, and it was 90+ for days.

Another sign that the end of the world is on the way. 2012,...two, and a half years, and counting down.

Later when I stumbles into the supermarket there was this nice youngster at the counter. She didn't charge me for them chickens in my basket.

She let a couple of "Perdue Oven Stuffers" go by without swiping them on the register. Another time in a different store a young clerk let some orange juice slip by too.

This is sweet because it sez that people are starting to look after each other in these hard times.

Btw I intend to milk these well deserved considerations for all they're worth. I earned these little things dammit! Another good thing is I can be 60 again next year,...for real!

Then movies will be 'half price' for me!

"Tornado!",...almost

It began with a sudden wind. Gusts of wind that didn't let up. Then it became quickly dark. Clouds raced over us. I'd never seen them fly so quickly. Imagine black cotton candy enveloping the sky.

Then I saw the funnel.

Actually a whole crowd of us saw it at the same time forming over the brooklyn shore. One of the dock workers yelled,..."It's a twister,..it's a twister!"

Just like the character Hickory did in the "Wizard of Oz"

The image is blurred because I was running for my life. Like everybody else that was lunching at the South Street Seaport.

The funnel formed, broke up, reformed, tried to touch down, but broke up again. We ducked a bullet. I guess conditions weren't quite right. Too early in the season or whatnot.

The dark clouds rolled over us, and they too began to lighten, and break up.

Close one!

(Please click on the images to better see what went down.)
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...amazing! That black cloud, and funnel in the harbor looks just like the one in this old movie!

"Happy 4th!"

I plan to set off an especially 'Big' firecracker on my firescape.

(Live weather cam footage of nuke going off in Czech Republic,...sort of. Note that the presenter just kept on reading her weather copy.)

"Boiled Ham"

Hi gang. A note to the Queer perverts that reads my Gay pages. Note that I've set up a new page,..."Boiled Ham".


Please bookmark the blog. You're welcome to go there to read my deranged pervert thoughts, and see my scary naked Angels.

Seems my other Queer pages piss's off various servers so they've blocked it from alot of my readers,..bleep'em. They tear down one page I set up another.

Life in War Time.

Stay Tuned.