Middle School Inspires Reading! Nice Job Ocoee Middle School

Green

SPACE Tourism.....2015? I see the future!

From NYT:

Boeing said Wednesday that it was entering the space tourism business, an announcement that could bolster the Obama administration’s efforts to transform the National Aeronautics and Space Administration into an agency that focuses less on building rockets and more on nurturing a commercial space industry.

The flights, which could begin as early as 2015, would most likely launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida to the International Space Station. The Obama administration has proposed turning over to private companies the business of taking NASA astronauts to orbit, and Boeing and Bigelow Aerospace of Las Vegas won an $18 million contract this year for preliminary development and testing of a capsule that could carry seven passengers.

Current NASA plans call for four space station crew members to go up at a time, which would leave up to three seats available for space tourists. The flights would be the first to give nonprofessional astronauts the chance to go into orbit aboard a spacecraft launched from the United States. Seven earlier space tourists have made visits to the space station, riding in Russian Soyuz capsules.

“We’re ready now to start talking to prospective customers,” said Eric C. Anderson, co-founder and chairman of Space Adventures, the space tourism company based in Virginia that would market the seats for Boeing.......read the full article here.

I cannot believe my eyes. I am so glad to finally read about Progress in Space and Aeronautics. When I was very young and living in the Big Island, HAWAII I remember my fascination in Space and the stars that sparkled in it. I would sit on my driveway at night looking to the sky and waiting to see a falling star or trying to catch a cloud. In a world where I talk so much about nonsense and chatter away, when I look to the sky, it is the only thing I know that silences me. I can stare at it for hours without a thought, just taking it all in.

The Challenger flight that took the lives of Michael Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, and Judith Resnik was devastating. I was in elementary school and remember how sad we all were. The Astronaut Ellison Onizuka was from Hawaii and his nephew Lonn Onizuka was a student in my class.

With this new announcement, I find myself viewing a future that is promising to my children. I see the awe in the sky and dreams my children will see in science and astronomy. I have seen the space program become less important to those that hand out the $$$$ and have seen where we could have been, but couldn't without the right funding. So Congratulations to the future that will allow more dreams of space exploration become reality!

Antibloggedy

I am inclined to say something....

I am inclined to say something, that may make some of you disagree with me....even be mad at me.....or dare I say HATE ME! I am aware that there are those out there that have been personally affected in the first and second degree by 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan, but before I say anything controversial wanted to address that I am so proud of our men and women that fight for our country and of all the sacrifices of the families, friends and even those caught in the crossfire.
Here it is....
It is hard for me to say out loud the words, "I am proud to be an american"....even though I am really proud to be an American. I am glad my children were born in this great country, although they have lived only with this war going on longer than they have been alive.

I am saddened by the misdirection of hate, the strong belief that the 5 "known" attackers on the twin towers, the pentagon and the flights that carried out the master plan somehow represent the entire nation of the religion they have faith in.

I KNOW that every religion has it's extremist followers that will do ANYTHING to prove their faith, that when they are guided to believe an evil deed will deliver them grand rewards.......does not mean that all followers are of that same guidance.

The hatred directed at the Muslim Religion and it's Mosques, puts us on the path of those same extremists that carried out the terrible plan in 2001.

I wish that on this day we remember that all those beautiful people who have given themselves on a day they did not expect will represent not the war that followed their end, but that they represent the begining of the time of peace between many people of all sorts. That we remember that this country has come to be as great as it is through tolerance, INclusion, acceptance and faith of all sorts.

I hope I do not offend any of you with my words. I just wanted to get this off my chest.

antibloggedy


By the way, I am adding a link to my new blog which is children's book readings. I needed to test the link so I am doing it here. www.withgreeninmind.blogspot.com

Book Reading Video by Me for my little ones!

My first Video Book reading for my kids. If you happen to watch this, let me know what you think. I am gonna try and make more of them for my kids and my niece. Editing was interesting and fun! I used my voice note from my Blackberry and converted the file to an .amr with a freestar conversion software. It was pretty fun! I have a few voice notes I want to convert to a useable audio program for my movie maker program that came with my HP. Enjoy!

First Day at School

Today was Kai's very first day of school(Preschool), actually she is still there as I write this. As they say, it is much more difficult for the parents than it is for the child.
The walk to school was great as Kai got to meet the Lovely Ms. F who is her crossing guard from E street and A Ave. Next we walked into the doorway of the school and she got to say hello to all the other children as well as have some picture time with mama, papa, and little Vi. When Kai saw her Assistant Teacher, Ms. B she was excited and said "I get to eat here!".....yes, she is my child. (We told her how the school would feed her breakfast and Lunch.) Off to class at 8:15 and we got to see her Locker with her name on it (It is a big locker for such small children, I have no idea what we will put in it.) Entering the classroom we put her pillow and blanket into her cubby for the resting time they will have daily. Next Kai went over to the carpet to meet her teacher, Mrs. W who sent kai to get a book and wait for circle time. This is when Kai let Mrs. W know about the rules and how she remembered them. "1. Crisscross Applesauce 2. Hands on Knees 3. Eyes on Teacher." I had to hold back the tears as I slowly backed out of the class.

3 poems

Wanted to share 3 poems that are some of my favorites, I also have a favorite from college that I shall not share here, as it is dark and sad. it is called The Girl, by Sharon Olds. Look it up if you would like, but it is not for all. It is a graphic depiction of two young girls being raped. This is NOT why I like it. I like it because it is a graphic look into a event I have feared my whole life. It tells of strength of survival and in the end is more about life than death. I would be lying if I did not say that it took me several times to read the entire poem in school. Shock, bewilderment and than a final desensitization and I could than understand it. I have never forgotten it, and because of that, it is the most powerful poem I have ever read. I admire Olds for her poetry and her strength of character. When invited to a dinner by Laura Bush she sent a letter declining to attend: "So many Americans who had felt pride in our country now feel anguish and shame, for the current regime of blood, wounds and fire. I thought of the clean linens at your table, the shining knives and the flames of the candles, and I could not stomach it." Below are 3 tame poems I have also admired. Something these poems all share are the imagery that I feel, the emotion that it brings out on me. It reflects the fears, and joys in life and makes you think. I believe a good piece of writing will always make you think. i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart) Edward Estlin Cummings The Old Astronomer to His Pupil Reach me down my Tycho Brahe, I would know him when we meet, When I share my later science, sitting humbly at his feet; He may know the law of all things, yet be ignorant of how We are working to completion, working on from then to now. Pray remember that I leave you all my theory complete, Lacking only certain data for your adding, as is meet, And remember men will scorn it, 'tis original and true, And the obliquy of newness may fall bitterly on you. But, my pupil, as my pupil you have learned the worth of scorn, You have laughed with me at pity, we have joyed to be forlorn, What for us are all distractions of men's fellowship and smiles; What for us the Goddess Pleasure with her meretricious smiles. You may tell that German College that their honor comes too late, But they must not waste repentance on the grizzly savant's fate. Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. Sarah Williams O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman 1 O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done; The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won; The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: But O heart! heart! heart! 5 O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. 2 O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills; 10 For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding; For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; Here Captain! dear father! This arm beneath your head; It is some dream that on the deck, 15 You’ve fallen cold and dead. 3 My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will; The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done; From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won; 20 Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells! But I, with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.