Cape Canaveral, NASA & the Space Shuttle Endeavour

Today, the NASA Space Shuttle Endeavour launches from NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A on her final mission (STS-134). 

Space Shuttle Endeavour

Here she is, sitting on Launch Pad 39A waiting for her final mission.  We were lucky enough to visit the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just a few days before she was slated to launch after a few delays.This was as close as the civilians were allowed to get – but I’ll take it.  The view was breath-taking.  Just seeing her sit there – knowing we were seeing something that was about to make history one final time before being decommissioned and returned to California where she was born.  It was a little sad to know that my little ones won’t see another Shuttle Launch after today's, but I hope that they’ll get to see man walk on the moon again sometime soon.  

Endeavour’s Final Voyage

Here’s a really great video from NASA’s site showing what Endeavour’s Final Voyage will be like.

NASA Kennedy Space Center

SpacePirate was feeling pretty under the weather the day we went to the Kennedy Space Center, but I think once he had a little rest, he really enjoyed himself. The walking Astronaut was really cool, but I think it scared LittleMiss a bit. 
Here’s SpacePirate wearing a NASA Meatball shirt while standing under some of the engines of the SaturnV rocket.
This last shot was taken by LittleMiss.  I absolutely adore it for so many reasons: she took it, it’s a great shot of the man I adore, I made that shirt with my fancy Yudu silk screening machine, and he’s standing in front of piece of the SaturnV rocket.

 

ETA:

GOD SPEED, ENDEAVOUR!

May your final voyage be great

Photo Source: @NasaKennedy twitpic

NASA | Space Shuttle | Launch | Endeavour | Kennedy Space Center | rocket | Cape Canaveral | Space | liftoff |

Music Review: Yael Naim – She Was a Boy

Yael Naim is an Israel-born musical artist who was raised in Paris; she’s just released her new album, She Was a Boy.

Do you know Yael Naim?  She’s the voice behind the catchy tunes in Mac commercials.

 

Yael Naim has such a bit of a different sound on this album.  She is accompanied by acoustics, strings, and poppier beats.  I really like this album and often find myself singing along without even noticing. 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a listing of the songs included on her sophomore album:

• Come Home
• My Dreams
• She Was a Boy
• Go to the River
• Never Change
• I Try Hard
• Today
• Mystical Love
• Man of Another Woman
• Puppet
• Stupid Goal
• If I Lost the Best Thing
• Game is Over

Yael Naim’s songs are great, and even the Chaos Twins really enjoyed this album.  There was no shouting from the back seat to put on their favorite Ralph’s World mix.  That’s a great sign!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this album, free of charge, from Sneak Attack Media for this review. All views/opinions remain solely my own.

Book Review: Maximal Reserve by Sam Batterman

I was recently sent a copy of Maximal Reserve by Sam Batterman to review. 
Here’s a brief synopsis from Deep River Books:

Phil Channing has been down on his luck for some time, trying to find a job since graduating from college. When offered a job with Axcess Energy (along with a sizable sign-on bonus) Phil knows he’ll have the resources he needs now to finally ask his girlfriend, Lisa, to marry him (with the blessing of her country club parents). What Phil doesn’t know is that this job is going to forever change his life in more ways than he could ever imagine.

Since this book is about the oil industry, I decided to toss it at my darling husband.  He works in the oil industry, so I thought he’d think it was pretty interesting.  And guess what?  You’re going to get the review right from him.  Take it away, Xiris!
Thanks!  I should start by clarifying, I don't really work IN the oil industry, more like WITH it, which by no means makes me an expert.  That said, while this book is about oil reserves and has oil drums artfully represented on its cover, it's not about the oil industry either.  It's about a biblical prophesy.  Which I have to admit I wasn't expecting, not being a big reader of fiction targeted at the Left Behind demographic, but I'm willing to take anything with an open mind and a healthy suspension of disbelief for the sake of a good story.
Unfortunately, this is not a good story.  The premise has promise; what would happen to the balance of global power if a resource-poor nation (in this case, Israel) suddenly finds itself resource-rich with oil? What are the political, environmental, and religious implications? Sam Batterman's story fails to really explore this premise.  His one dimensional characters discuss technical details, ad nauseum, which aren't just wrong but emphatically wrong.  Every opportunity Sam has to blow past some questionable science to tell the story, he takes to somehow be more wrong.  This is not limited to the broad creationist science the he clearly subscribes to, and could be forgiven; this is a deeper problem in the way he inaccurately describes minutiae such as the sound suppressed guns make or the rhythm of heavy metal (errors made just in the prologue) extending to basic factual schisms with the way people actually talk in the office, or work gets done, or presentations are given. As minutiae makes up the bulk of this story, this is impossible to ignore. 
Which is a shame.  The real opportunity here, to fulfill the premise, would require actual debate among characters with differences of opinion.  Such as, why is it important to support Israel? What does that really mean? What will it continue to mean in an era when Israel no longer needs such support? What responsibilities do resource-rich nations have in the global economy, and how should religious differences factor in?  These never get discussed, because all of Sam's "good" characters all think and talk alike, as do the "bad" ones, and the lines are clearly drawn.  All it takes is a nod for a questionable statement to be accepted as fact.
In the end it doesn't really matter.  The kind of people who read these books won't care if it's grossly inaccurate or tells a compelling story, they'll read it anyway. Those that don't will wonder how I got through the book in the first place.  To those I say, my wife now owes me a BIG favor.  ;)

Well, there you have it, folks.  Apparently I owe Xiris a big favor, so I think I’ll go pay up now!  ;)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclosure:  We were provided a copy of the book, kindly autographed by Mr. Batterman.  All opinions are our own, as you can tell!  This is a MamaBuzz review. The product was provided by Deep River Books/ Bring It On! Communications for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Dora’s Garden Gazebo Megabloks Review

“What are you exploring today?”

LittleMiss was recently given the opportunity to review Mega Blok’s new Dora’s Garden Gazebo playset.  She loves it.  Alot.  Alot alot.  The set includes a new feature:  a Build and Dress Dora figurine.  She gets to take apart Dora and change her skirt – or use her body parts to do silly things.

View Full Album

The set retails for about $15, and I love that the set is so open-ended that the adventures Dora and LittleMiss have gone on already have been amazing.  The accessories that come with the playset are super cute too (flower, watering can and a bluebird).

We plan to add to our Dora  Mega Bloks collection soon.  We’ve joined the newly launched Mega Bloks Family Club so we’ll have all the information on the newest playsets when they come out.  The best part is that when you join you get an exclusive printable $5 off any $30 Mega Bloks purchase. 

 

 

disclosure:  We were provided with the Dora playset for review by TeamMom and Mega Bloks.  All opinions are our own.  Thanks!