Challenger


The thing I remember most about the Challenger disaster is that I’m pretty sure I had NO idea that a shuttle was being launched that particular day. Sure, there was all that “First Teacher in Space” stuff, but the thing had been postponed so many times that I frankly lost interest.

I was working at the comic book store, FantaCo, listening to my favorite radio station of all time, Q-104, when the 10-2 shift DJ, Mary Margaret (Peggy) Apple, who I knew well, stopped playing music to announce the disaster. From the little of the particulars that I remember, my sense is that she handled the story rather professionally, something she was rarely, if ever, called on to do in that job.

Later, when I gothome, I saw the pictures of the 73-second flight over and over ad nauseum uuntil I was practically nauseous. Eventually, I would learned more about O-rings than I ever thought possible.

I also remember where I was when the Columbia tragedy took place, at home getting ready for an annual MidWinter’s party in the MidHudson Valley of New York State. I called my friend Mark, a real space geek and broke the news to either him or his wife Paula; they lived in the MidHudson and were going to be at the party. My first thought when I heard about it – it’s the same weekend as the Challenger 17 weeks earlier! Well, not exactly, but pretty close (1/28/1986, 2/1/2003). That time, I felt even a greater sense of loss, for the Challenger disaster taught me never to take these extraordinary technological events for granted ever again.

ROG

Underground Railroad Conference


I’ve know Paul and Mary Liz Stewart for a lot of years. Don’t see them often, especially A.L. (after Lydia), but they are friends. Such good friends that, when they called to invite us to dinner at their house last Friday, we made a bold counterproposal that they come to our house, with them bringing dinner, and they actually accepted. (It’s easier to get Lydia to bed that way.) We had a great time with them and their youngest son Joel – who’s into music from electronic games, an area about which I know NOTHING – talking and playing (non-scoring!) SCRABBLE.

I was one of the first people to go on their Underground Railroad tours of Albany a few years ago. They held an Underground Railroad a conference four years ago for a few hours at the College of St. Rose. Each year, the thing gets ever bigger . This year’s event is “The Underground Railroad: Connecting Pathways To Liberty”.

You can read all about it here.
A Conference On The Underground Railroad Movement In New York State (For more information and to register: www.ugrworkshop.com), (518) 432-4432.

Incidentally, the map is of Historic Sites and Museums of the Underground Railroad in New York State. Go here to find out more about them.

ROG

The Lydster, Part 22: Schizo Girl


Carol and I went to see Lydia’s day care teacher this month. She said that Lydia is quiet, hardly saying anything, but is pretty much a perfect angel. She cooperates with her nose being wiped and her hair being done.
Conversely, she does not fold paper. She doesn’t “match object to picture.” She doesn’t “zip and unzip”.
But she never uses the pacifier.

My immediate thought: Does she have the right child?

Lydia’s talking up a storm at home. At the house, nose blowing is a struggle, though she’s moderately more co-operative with her hair, All of those listed activities she does at home, notably unzipping her pajamas. But she often wants the paci, and since she pretty much weaned herself only a month ago, we’re not going to sweat it much.

Fortunately, there seems to be more integration between the home Lydia and the day care Lydia. She sings a lot in both places. She clearly understands language, even when she doesn’t speak. She’s using the paci less at home.

Lydia is 22 months old today. We love her, and it appears that the feeling is mutual.

The universal symbol for “I want my paci.”


Some parent, probably the male one, has capitulated.

She STILL looks like Little Orphan Lydia.
ROG

Librarian seeks reference assistance-animation


I have a real reference question for which I BELIEVE data exist, but I simply cannot put my hands on it.

What are most recognizable animated characters in the U.S. by rank?
and a corallary,
Top 5 animated characters total licensing revenue by categories, (TV, apparel, toys, accessories).

There’s this list, but it isn’t exactly what I’m looking for.

And speaking of marketing with animation, behold the lawsuit against cereal maker Kellogg’s.

ROG
Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial