Last of her generation, having outlived all her friends, and all her younger siblings, my mother has passed. The depression, WWII, Union wars... Living though history since 1921. Biplanes to space age, bullets to atomic everything, party phones to smart phones... In 1932 California Law was a single book about 1.5 inches thick (I have one), '73 it filled a bookcase, and now you would need a fair sized city library.

Not really a sad time, since she lived a full life. Her body failing, the past year trapped inside, unable to do anything she wanted. Time spent impatiently waiting for prison to release her to whatever is next. Knowing I could never do as well, much less any better.

No one gets out alive, so unable to know what is beyond, it is best to try as best one can to live.

Anvil*

Something that dates back to still having reliable income, a kickstarter project for a short-film through the Siatle Globalist. Now released as an online vid: http://www.costofgender.com/

My first credit. Very cool.
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Anvil*

For the more geeky (well vintage geeky) Lindsey Publications does limited publishing of hobby technical books and lots of reprints of vintage technical books. Steam, babbitt bearings, firing a cupola, crystal radio, winding coils...lots.

He is retiring, the last catalog has been published, phone orders have already been dropped, and all further orders must be received by February 28, 2013.

http://www.lindsaybks.com

Athelind let me know they were off the ground again for the record attempt.

Currently live: http://www.redbullstratos.com/live

I do like that they have the current record holder on the crew talking him through the accent. A record set back in 1960 to prove it would be possible for a jet pilot to survive a jump from that altitude and provide additional information for the early space program.

The other fun bit mentioned that they is an expectation that the air is thin enough that he will break the sound barrier on decent on the anniversary (1947) of the X1 with Chuck Yeager piloting.

currently at 46,000 feet and climbing

Furry critters in space with a decent plot, what is not to like. :-)

Theta
A story by Myshel on SoFurry

http://www.sofurry.com/view/245324

One of the many mental exercise “what if” concepts that slowly fills a composition book over time, this one being a self-sufficient farm to semi-retire to. Not wanting to limit my thinking the initial assumptions include unlimited funds, Edmonton like weather, and enough stuff to do whatever I want. This establishing the outer dashed line of mental encompassing and just seeing where it all leads.

Growing my own energy and assuming the iron induction furnace as my peak power use it works out to about 60 acres for bio-fuel. The rain/snow capture area for the cistern (assumes no ground water for crops) is another 45 acres. Runway, hanger, mega-shops, craft areas, warehouse, food crops, horses, woods… (300+ acres is about right for marginal land).

Finally it comes down to the big-house and the realization that I might actually enjoy the company of other people living there. Something beyond staff but people who enjoy doing and basically trade just some of their time and or money for a place to be and enjoy. For ladies, they would probably be best served with an upstairs ladies-only zone and downstairs visiting-guest rooms. [I just feel the need for the feeling of my personal safety and household peace is best served in such an arrangement - sad that].

The mechanics and structures of physical things come fairly easily to me but pondering social bits and trying to progress this from a benevolent dictatorship to something socially stable and lasting has me digging through the various attempts at co-op and commune social structures without much progress. Sadly, I see the place divided up and partially sold off within two generations. Avoiding both internal problems and external forces over time seem very problematic. Especially since I think of the Farm as a good place for all the good misfit toys I know. Yes, if they were all that worried about normal they would not associate with me so closely as to live in the same house.

Extending thoughts a bit further would be adding an additional level of social good. Like supporting a single mom trying to finish college and rebuild her life. Fostering a kid who’s gender just doesn’t match their starting point in life. Even myself, since most of the HR departments seem to feel insecure hiring someone that’s not under 25 for engineering design work. There are so many talented good people in need but not fitting any of the usual round holes.

Mmmm, I guess it could have a baseball field. :-)

The autumnal equinox
A day to rectify missed opportunities.
Playing for Change Day.
International Wink at the Moon.
My annual day to add to the wife's memorial scholarship fund.
The documentary: The Cost of Gender - is funded for production.
The day I go pick up my winning Lotto ticket. The process is much like having a sealed box and owning a cat.

Also thinking that this is the last anniversary of my nativity on this side of the galactic plane by the Mayan calender, many science types would have it as already past but they do not agree, haven't committed to a published calender, and the proper viewpoint to clear it all up would be some distance beyond the edge of this galaxy, so being off a few years is OK. In another 12,000 years who's going to notice anyway. As a side note, the galactic equator is defined with a plane passing through the galactic core and Earth's sun, so as with everything revolving about the Earth, it may be a few more eons before that viewpoint changes.

Watching NASA TV from the report of the end of cruise phase through touchdown and first images. It will be a while before Mars spins around and they can begin their first tasks driving the newest addition to Mars. :-)

Well done.

Watching NASA-TV this evening for the SpaceX/Dragon launch. A launch that has been kicked forward again and again. They delays haven’t been total surprises as getting the NASA way and non-government commercial engineers on the same page must have been a historic effort in itself.

Been watching for almost an hour now and things have been nice and boring. A few talking heads but mostly just a view of the pad. Not too surprising NASA is requiring a verbal go/no-go callout just before launch (at T minus 13 minutes). Probably good to wake people up I guess.

Ok, at zero the vehicle itself stopped the launch when it sensed a spike on the number 5 engine‘s chamber pressure. So now there are a bunch of steps to safe systems. Initially they are talking about a 72 hour scrub turn around. Seeing people at the base looking at the engines. Press briefing in about an hour and forty-five minutes. Think I’ll read about it after sleeping.

I have to say I don't dream for my child. She was supported with a good education, a working set of morals, no debt burden, good heath, and the big wedding. So, all the bits for a good start at having her own dreams. With that, they have a good relationship, a home, careers, two bright and healthy children, money saved, cars that work...

So it's more they have my good wishes for whatever future they build for themselves. Any dreams should be their own.