Fly Me To the Moon... And Beyond

Today’s post is really is just a postscript to the last one on Feb. 20th.
I didn’t intend for the blog to be a list of tributes. But just this once, I promise, I can’t let this one go by.

FLY ME TO THE MOON AND BEYOND... (THE CALL OF DUTY) In Recognition Of The People Past and Present At NASA And The JPL I wrote this post just after the previous one and really wanted to share it …hmm, should I wait until July? Well, a comment from a new friend about a lack of appreciation for the Apollo program, and an announcement today from NASA about cut backs to Mars missions has helped me decide. Besides, it seems to be in keeping with an organic theme in this blog. It's a human story of dreams, awakenings and achievements. And it's "pointing at the moon", LOL.

In July of 1969, the year the first human stepped onto the moon, I was still a little kid.
But lord, what a space freak, Star Trek geek, junior science nerd...

(Let’s just say I was a precocious child.)

The original Star Trek was new on tv, priming our imagination toward space... and a united Earth.
It was only 2 years before Apollo 11, in 1967, that another historic first had just been made by the Beatles.
It's the clip below, the first song broadcast simultaneously around the world by satellite.

(Click here: All You Need Is Love)

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Fly Me To The Moon Up to that summer I had followed the previous Apollo missions thanks to my interest in science, space and of course television. This particular mission, Apollo 11…I was young... but knew all about it. And this was BEFORE the Internet was a public utility. New satellites had made TV global and that had raised awareness. I was not alone in following this space mission, the whole world did. It was a first for humankind. A globally historic event. We were really going to the moon.

From the July 16th launch on, everyday, I sat on the edge of my seat mesmerized and along with the entire world, watched the flight on TV. (Watch Apollo 11 Launch)   Nearing the July 20th landing date, it was vacation time at home and my parents told me they were bringing me with them to visit one of my uncles. (Frankly, I can’t recall if was in Delaware or New Jersey, what do you want, I was a kid). Now I love my uncle, don’t get me wrong, but the first thing that came to my mind naturally was... “He’d better have a good TV.”

Of course, he did. :)

After just days of flight (for me a day felt like years in the back seat of my parent's car), the now docked command module CM and lunar module LM were finally in lunar orbit. Preparing to go to the surface. While the CM continued orbiting. The CM would re-dock with the LM after the mission to the surface and bring everyone (and some moon rocks) back home to Earth. On July 20th 1969, I watched in awe along with my family and the rest of the world, the TV broadcast of the LM (the Eagle) landing on the moon.  “Houston, The Eagle Has Landed” (Watch Apollo 11 LM Landing)  That night, I was enthralled as Neil Armstrong took the first human step on the moon and heard him say these words… “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.

I was a kid but stayed awake... not wanting to miss a thing... for as long... as I could... konk.

That night, at my uncle's place, I slept on the floor on a mattress in the same room as my parents. According to my mother, she woke up in the middle of the night and saw me walking around but not answer her. Walking in my sleep. It's the only time I’ve been known to do that… and, not just any somnambulism, she said there was something different in the way I was moving. She realized what I was doing. Just like the astronauts, walking as if somewhat weightless but wearing a bulky spacesuit and taking bouncy slow motion steps. That's right... I was MOON-WALKING! (Watch Actual Moon Walk) Ok, so it seems humans taking a big step off the Earth and a small step on the moon was a big thing for me. What do I know, I was a just kid… who had witnessed a moment of pure bliss in the history of mankind.

AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY What I don’t recall (again, I plead “I was a kid”) is at what point I wrote a letter to NASA. And at what point... holy cow, I got a reply! I never expected an answer... so when an envelope marked NASA arrived with my name on it. JOY! I will always remember and never forget the name of the gentleman from NASA who wrote me back… Howard Gibbons. God Bless him. Along with Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin Jr and Michael Collins, he is also a hero in my eyes. NASA must have been getting thousands of letters from little kids all over the world. I don’t know if it was their PR policy to write everyone back like Santa Claus or he just was being kind to one enthusiastic kid. But WOW!

I continued corresponding with him for years. Over the course of the all the lunar missions, Apollo 11 up to Apollo 17. I received NASA mission reports and glossy color photos of the astronauts. I did also buy other NASA photos from a catalogue he sent me at some point. I saved my coins and I got photos of the earth from space, the moon, and the astronauts on the moon. But frankly, I was just thrilled he and NASA wrote me back! Seriously… Hats off to NASA, the JPL and Mr. Gibbons. Total funding for ALL the Apollo missions generating scientific, technological, and economic benefits: $19,408,134,000 Funding for banks and an economy that shouldn’t have been broken in the first place:  $Trillions and counting. Although a few years old, this is a link to a special site for the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11. You can relive it virtually as they recreate the entire mission, day by day! Flying mankind to another place in space for the first time and then back home safely. (We Choose The Moon) And Beyond You might also like: Enough Said / Desiderata / The Red Letter /  Enjoy!

© 2012 Peter Shimon

Oh Look ... We're Here

The Pale Blue Dot. 

It's my favorite travel photo. LOL

It is the last photo of Earth taken by Voyager 1 on Feb. 14 1990

For more from Astrophysicist Carl Sagan visit The Carl Sagan Portal

(With a salute to Friendship 7 and John Glenn Feb. 20, 1962)
Enjoy.

© 2012 Peter Shimon

Evolution or Darwin with Modification?

In Honor of Charles Robert Darwin’s Birthday February 12, 1809 And The Publication Of "On The Origin Species by Means of Natural Selection" 1859

In respect of the man and in honor of his birthday and the publication of the book on his theory… he did not call his theory, the theory of evolution. The title of his work is, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. I don’t have problem using the word evolution is if it is being meant as the historical evidence of change over time. I use it in this way myself. You may think this is nit-picking, but sometimes the words we use distort people’s perception in unintended ways. By the way, I do have an issue with the way the phrase “Survival of the Fittest” is used by some people. But that’s a whole other post in itself. I’ll leave that for another time.

The only place where Darwin uses the word “evolved” is in the last word of the last sentence of the last paragraph of the last chapter in The Origin Of Species. He knew the word, but clearly didn't use it for his theory. The word evolution, defines an unfolding, a directional development. Yet, Darwin never suggested there was a direction (or evolution) toward perfection or an ideal design. He only observed inherited change in the individuals of populations, over several generations. Explaining this process of change in populations and species over time,

Darwin's own words were "Descent With Modification".

In fact, these words embody Darwin's insight more accurately than the popular word evolution. Darwin's theory postulates that there is no direction for change except that determined by the favorability or un-favorability brought on by the conditions and circumstances in nature. That the selection is natural, not chosen and as Darwin noted, over time nature is always changing. Nature, the conditions in which you live determines success or failure for a form of life. To be preserved to go on into the future or perish. The changing conditions in nature drives the changes in the all the forms of life we see. So, these may be better words to keep this in mind and avoid misunderstanding what he meant.

Darwin did not publish On The Origins of Species for many years. It is speculation as to why. However what is clear was that it took courage. In his time and society, especially with him to have studied Theology in his younger days, he must have know what reaction to expect when implications of what he was saying where known publicly. Courage to stand fast to the facts and evidence that led to his insight and the conviction (in the sense of a belief, held as proven) that led him to publish. He is to be admired as much for this, as the results of his work.

In his day, and with the available science,Darwin may not have been quite able to nail down the actual process of inheritance. He was pretty close in his guess that some "gemule" is passed on by both parents to the offspring. Although, it clear that even without the benefit of genetics, he did appear to have a powerful notion of the how inherited modifications of the descendants leads to diversity and speciation by a natural selection. A clear explanation for the variety seen in natural history. What is also clear... His, was an insight that has greatly advanced our understanding of life.

In the meantime… Cheers Mr. Darwin ! Happy birthday to you and thanks for publishing your great book. Your work and courage are still inspiring many people and much valuable scientific research.

© 2012 MU-Peter Shimon

Biophilia

I Love Life.

We are all aware of the experience of life. Life is great and its happening all the time. If you're reading this, presumably you're alive and hopefully awake. What I mean by this is you have a conscious sense of this experience. Human intelligence, (the emotional and rational aspects together), has played an important role in our evolution and success so far.

Biology, the study of life, includes the entire context in which we live and our reponses to it. Biology is all about the biotic (living), the plants and animals but also the abiotic (non-living), the entire ecology, our world and the universe it's in. This is the context of our life. All of the aspects of our life, or our ecology, together with their often dynamic relationships are the context in which we live. You, your food, the air you breathe, all the plants and creatures, human or otherwise that share this experience with you, the climate, landscaspe, nature... everything. You know and can appreciate these things because you are a living human. But as a human (Homo sapien) you have a capacity to learn and experience... to grow wiser. Humans know because our evolutionary adaptations have allowed us to be aware, ask questions and look for answers. We can be aware of a greater quantity of information and be more aware of higher value, thus expanding our abilities and wisdom. So, how can you resist not being interested in learning and experiencing more about life?

Why is there life? What is the nature of life? Where does it come from? How does it all work and hopefully, can I get an idea of where life is going? These are some of the kinds of intriguing questions that are my passion. I cherish and value all living things but in particular I love us… human beings. So, given my fascination with life, I guess it's no surprise that many years ago I got into evolutionary biology and in particular hominid anthropology.

I will be writing on these topics (and other things) in the hope that sharing and discussion will mutually increase awareness. And that awareness, will lead to a richer and more deeply experienced life.

Enjoy.
© 2012 MU-Peter Shimon