Everyone Lives in the Dark

and now you're trembling on a rocky ledge
staring down into a heartless sea
can't face life on a razor's edge
nothing's what you thought it would be

All of us get lost in the darkness...
All of us do time in the gutter...

Sometimes.

Like I told a few people these past few days, there's a little bit in all of us (especially me) and it has to come to the surface once in a while. it can't be all roses and rainbows and ponies 24/7.

Sometimes you must give in to the dark.

Slowhand

Here's the setlist of the Clapton show. more later

Pretending
I Shot the Sheriff
Got to Get Better in a Little While
Old Love (with Robert Cray)
Everybody Oughta Make a Change
Motherless Children

**accoustic**
Back Home
I Am Yours
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
Running on Faith

After Midnight
Little Queen of Spades
Further On Up The Road
Wonderful Tonight
Layla
Cocaine

Encore
Crossroads (with Robert Cray)

Joy, Then Sadness

I wanted to write about an incredible concert I attended tonight, but when I walked into the house I was hit with bad news.

My friend Bruce - fellow astronomer and my dentist - was found dead in his house this evening.

I don't know what happened, and it's wrong to speculate.

I'll have to write about the Eric Clapton concert tomorrow.

A New Blogger

Found something cool.

Homer Hickam now has his own blog.

In case you don't know who he is, he's the author of Rocket Boys, which was made into the movie October Sky.

There's a link to his blog on the right side of the page.

Avast Mateys!!

Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day

So bring me grog and wenches!!!

A Flash of the Galaxy (Song)

Here's a flash animation of The Galaxy Song.

(Thanks to Phil Plait - the Bad Astronomer - for the link)

Goodbye SA, Hello SG

Some more about the end of Slacker Astronomy.

This podcast was the first one I had ever listened to. Now, over a year and a half later, I can't remember how I got turned onto it, but I sure am glad I was. I think I only missed the first "test cast" back in February of 2005. I even have the special, not-easy-to-find "The End of Slacker Astronomy" podcast that they did as an April Fool's joke.

Slacker Astronomy was fun, informative, and many other things I could write (but won't, because I can't find the adjectives), and the crew (Aaron, Pamela, & Travis) even got me thinking about doing a podcast for my astronomy club (an idea since put on the back burner). I've even had a few email conversations with them. They are good people.

But, things must change. Pamela got a new job, Aaron is going to grad school. And so comes the end of Slacker Astronomy.

But in it's ashes, like the mythological Phoenix, rises Slackerpedia Galactica.

No, it's not a missing BattleStar. it's a new podcast/website/forum that will rise ever higher.

And not to be missed, Pamela has a new podcast with Frasier Cain of Universe Today fame. It's called AstronomyCast.

A Sad Day

My favorite podcast - Slacker Astronomy - is no more. They have changed the way they are going to do things around there, but the great podcast that I've listened to for over a year is kaput.

I really think it had to do with Pamela moving away, but I don't know.

Be Afraid... Be Very Afraid

A friend of mine told me today that his wife has "plans for me."

This does not bode well, as being "set up" with a woman has never went well, where I am concerned.

Every time, the woman has something mentally "unbalanced" about them.

Five Years

Ago, I remember where I was. I think everyone above a certain age does.

I really can't say "my generation" because multiple generations area around, and "my generation" has had several of "these days" in the past.

January 28, 1986 - I remember exactly where I was when the Space Shuttle Challenger blew up.

February 1, 2003 - I remember exactly where I was when the Space Shuttle Columbia was destroyed.

And of course, I remember exactly where I was on September 11, 2001. What I originally wrote has been lost (mainly because after I calmed down a bit I erased it, but there is still part of it online.

An Anniversary

40 years ago this evening, Star Trek debuted on television.

Although I don't remember the day exactly (being a really little kid), I can remember the first episode I saw.

It was The Corbomite Maneuver, and it was November 10, 1966. I remember sitting on the floor in the living room at my cousin's house, and being scared when the bit "ping pong ball" ship - the Fesarius - approached really close to the Enterprise.

I've been a far since that day, but my fandom has been tested, mainly by the debacle that was Voyager, Enterprise, and the movie Nemesis. Of course, those were the "genius" of Rick Berman, who is an idiot. He's directly to blame for the floundering of Trek in recent years. Good thing he's gone now.

I'll post more later, as I reminisce more.

About The Baby

It's going to cost the people across the street nearly $1000 to fix the damage to my car.

They better frackin' pay up!!!

Aughh!! My Baby!!

I've had my car nearly four years now... beautiful Kaylee (I always name my cars after the first girl that sat in it). I treat her as carefully as I can, because who knows when I'll be able to get another one.

But tonight I failed her.

I had parked in the street in front of the house all day, so we could get the van in and out. And after dinner, the neighbor across the street backed out and hit my car!!!

Oh she was apologetic, and they have insurance. But my car has been violated in the worst way. Yeah, it can get fixed, but my Kaylee will never be the same. She'll be damaged for the rest of her life.

I failed her.