To date, no one owns the sun or the moon or the planets. Not even a simple star! You can “wish upon a star”. You can “catch a falling star and put it in your pocket”. You can “hitch your wagon” to one. You can whistle along while Willie Nelson sings about that “stardust melody”. Don’t think about owning the temporary Comet Neowise that’s been skirting our evening skies recently! Some people have been snookered into buying stars for their loved ones or friends, and that’s how my name has become attached to half a star in the constellation of […]
Skyrockets
Was it only fifty-one years ago today when those astronauts walked on the moon? Seems like light year ago when the whole world waited with baited breath to see this culmination of all our endeavors in space beginning with the Sputnik in 1957. The intervening years of space exploration have had their ups and downs. The most tragic moment for us earthbound observers was that explosion of the Challenger right after its launch in 1986, ending the lives of all seven of the crew members and putting a halt to any future launch for over three years. Not only did […]
Heavens Above!
Starry, starry nights in early winter can take your breath away and open your eyes to one of Mother Natures’ silent spectacles. Pitch black dark and a sky dazzling with multitudes of twinkling stars. My mission was to combine oratorical skills with astronomical knowledge to convince the church’s youth group that we may or may not be all alone in the universe, but we can certainly enjoy and appreciate it, for heaven’s sake. The group of teenagers and chaperones drove to one of the remote pastures within a few miles of the church and far away from any lights. Each […]
The Limitation of Statues
Standing nearly 100 feet tall and with a wingspan of over 90 feet, the statue of Christ the Redeemer overwhelms the skyline of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From the shores of Ipanema to the football stadiums that dot the landscape, Jesus is both protector of the beach beauties and mascot for the soccer teams. Such a huge concrete example of the redeemer should never be taken for granite. Given its defensive position on top of one of the city’s highest mountains, this is one magnificent monument that will resist being toppled any time soon, lest it fall on its assailants. […]