US Space Program is Alive

The US Space Program is not only alive, it is so far ahead of schedule that NASA issued an edict in May 2012 for other explorers in America as well as international space agencies to leave their offloaded materials and equipment alone when they reached the moon. We may see the first property disputes later in 2012.

via US Space Program 2012 – 2022: First Commercial Contracts, NASA Scholarships, and NASA’s “Stuff” On the Moon.

Outer Space Burials have been sold successfully for a few years now and private companies like SpaceX are carrying loved ones’ remains to the skies. This includes Star Trek’s Scotty, James Doohan.

In 2013, Google’s contest for designing lunar landers will place vehicles on the moon once again, two years early.  Google and film director/explorer James Cameron are involved already in Space Mining as well.

NASA partnerships with over 60 businesses span 26 US States as of May 2012. Jobs are beginning to emerge. NASA gave out another 25 scholarships to college and grad students in 2012 and 5 universities were selected to build space and Moon/Mars and other deep space habitats.

Contrary to the nay-sayers that wish the space program dead, US Space  Flight is alive and full to overflowing with projects and people.

Doo-Wop Began In 1931

The History of Doo-Wop Not Found In Late Night Infomercials

Some people say that their favorite style of music – doo-wop – began in the 1950s or even the 1960. It began in 1931 with the original group of four male singers in the Ink Spots.

Not long after their inception as a vocal and quick radio fame around the Midwest and NYC, the  Spots’ promoter put in a hot-hot from the Savoy Ballroom talent show, Bill Kinney, and the group began a gradual downhill slide. One of the originals left and formed the Brown Spots, while another of the first of the original quartet won rights to the name Ink Spots and created a new Ink Spots with some new singers.

Despite the drama and outside attempts to grab money, control and power, the Ink Spots influenced small-group vocal music as no one else came close to doing.

Today, you can hear the Spots’ influence continuing in such a Capella groups as Street Corner Symphony and others that entertain the world on the annual show called The Sing Off. On late night television, you can see the dozens of original doo-wop groups in infomercials and PBS telethon.

Doo-wop is still alive. Just be careful of the imposter groups out there and read more at the link above.

 

The Titanic Animals

What Happened To the Pets On the Titanic in 1912?

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic and from remastered 3D filming to cartoons and new amusement park rides, the Titanic is everywhere. People have Titanic Fever, but are hashing over the same topics and gossip about the ill fated luxury liner.

Fanzines are even appearing an a blog article envisioned a Saturday Night Live type of final scene between Jack and his beloved in the frozen sea. Title? – How Rose Killed Jack (with her selfishness). Odd but entertaining fare.When I first saw the title, though, all I could think of the the Kennedys.

All this aside, how about the pets on board the Titanic – what happened to them? What about the food animals in the galley area? You’ll be surprised at all the rumors surrounding these creatures as well when you access the link above.

Have a grand time if you see Titanic 3D, but it’s too much water for me! Cheers!

Women Millionaires

The Nine Richest Women in Africa and What They Do as Millionaires

These successful African women each possess  a net worth of over $30,000,000 (USD) each.

The list is a compilation from recent recognition awards lists and profiles published from 2011 and 2012. The wealthiest women in the group of 9 are significantly more wealthy than the number 10 person, whose net worth is “only” $16,100,000 as of February 2012.

Number One is Wendy Appelbaum, with a net worth in early 2012 1.99 Billion African Rand or 259.3 Million USD. That’s $259,300,000. Her net worth has been amassed through a family trust, the Gordon Family Trust, but she has worked hard in a number of ventures. All of the women on this list have worked in businesses, some as difficult as mining. Most are located in South Africa.

Hunger Games Today’s Youth Dangers

A lot of people don’t “get” The Hunger Games books and movie.

 

They don’t “get” that we are all Katniss in today’s society, running from murderers.

 

We are all hunted every day  – by competition, bullying, threats of downsizing and early retirement, con artists, the IRS, child sex trafficking, discrimination; verbal, physical, and psychological abuse…The Hunger Games have just added all these dangers to a game show that exploits preteens and teenagers. Do you remember what some of it feels like?

And who’s watching this reality show? The rich class in the Capital city of the North American Continent, sponsors – parents!

How is this any different from the stage mother that pushes her unwilling daughter into pageants at age 4 and screams when the girl does not win? Little girls dressing like Madonna and Beyonce and Gaga and wearing high heels and lipstick to school in first grade.  The boys have their own horror stories.

A girl I know had to take the SAT and Pre-SAT practice tests every year beginning at age 12. Her dad would not let her rest until it was a perfect score.

Six 6th graders at a Christian school committed suicide because their dads yelled about them getting “B” grade despite “all the money” they were paying to the school.

Bullying, Internet threats…getting beat up because you’re a good student. Do you remember?

The Hunger Games is for adults so we can teach the kids how to survive. See here:

Life-Or-Death Problems of Youth In the Hunger Games – Bread and Circuses

Lakotah People Vow to Close Down Keystone Pipeline

On March 5, 2012 the independent Republic of Lakotah blocked Keystone Pipeline trucks from Canada trying to cross their South Dakota lands illegally in an attempt to avoid USA truck weigh stations and the related fees of up to $50,000 per truck. The Lakota people are asking for a restraining order against additional trucks that might attempt to  pass through Pine Ridge Reservation. Apparently, the State of South Dakota failed to consult with the Lakota people before it made an agreement with Keystone to help the company avoid trucking fees by using Lakota lands. If the legal documents come through, future trucks will be confiscated by Republic of Lakotah.

Why Native American Indians Stopped Expecting Help and Blockaded the Keystone Pipeline

John Glenn Friendship 7 Day

February 20, 2012 is the 50th Anniversary of Colonel (then Major) John Glenn’s first American space-faring orbit of Earth. In addition, 2012 is the 50th Anniversary Year of the Kennedy Space Center that is next to Cape Canaveral US AF Station in Florida. From the Wright Brothers first flight in 1903, America orbited the Earth in 1962, just 59 years later. In just 66 years after the Wright Flyer succeeded at Kitty Hawk NC, we were on the moon.

Retired US Senator John Glenn is 90 years old and an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University. He will participate in NASA’s Future Forum there on February 20-21 in 2012 to celebrate his Anniversary of Orbit and to advocate for science and space business in the future of America.  Senator Glenn and former Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter visited with Kennedy Space Center staff and over a hundred people that used to work on the Mercury Project in the 1960s.

From now on, Ohio Governor John Kasich has ensured that John Glenn has his own holiday, signing the proper legislation to enact John Glenn Friendship 7 Day for every February 20.

Some History of the Friendship 7 and the incredible Discovery 7, some 36 years later.

John Glenn Friendship 7 Day Is February 20 – Looking to Mars and Science

Good Family Movies

Joyful Noise – Big Name Film that Popularizes Gospel Choirs and Competitions

Choir competitions are growing with the help of some related reality shows about vocal music and the help of this film, Joyful Noise.  If you like both Pop and Gospel music and want to see Dolly Parton in a food fight, then this is the film you need to see.

How George Lucas Presents the 332nd Fighter Group/US Army Air Corps and the North American P-51C Mustang Red Tails

George Lucas hopes to earn more than his filming budget with this movie about the Tuskegee Airmen. If and when he does, he will proceed on two additional films in a great trilogy. One will be a prequel that looks at the difficult training conditions offered the airmen in the Jim Crow South and the last will be a sequel to the fantastic Red Tails.

With the 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor passing in December 1941, we are losing vast numbers of our World War II survivors every day. I hope that they see Red Tails or someone takes them to see it and that they will be her to enjoy the next two films in the series.  If you know a WWII veteran, ask him or her if they want to go to the movies.

When Winter Came to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium – A Dolphin Tale

How any of us do not know a Wounded Warrior in our own community that has returned from Iraq, Afghanistan or someplace else with the need for help and understanding? This film shows how a little compassion for sea life and veterans brought a doctor and a team of engineers together in order to help both. Because of them and a baby dolphin called Winter, double amputees can run on two legs now and others compete with gusto in the Paralympic Games. Look for them in London of 2012 right after the Summer Olympics! You’re going to be delighted.

Bundle of Black History Resources

Dozens of well researched articles about various aspects of Black History are offered at the link below and many are such that you will not find them anywhere else.

A thorough review of related historic sites in Detroit, Michigan is followed by interesting lesser-known events in history, the settling of the American West by Black Cowboys as well as the usual settlers, political and war-related materials that spotlight Africans and African-Americans in wartime from before the American Revolution to the present,  recipes and ethnic foods, and several sets of coloring pages.

• American History and Culture Resources for Black History Month Projects.

These articles and links are among the best offered across the Internet to help readers understand and discuss the topics related to Black History in America and abroad and they make excellent source materials for school projects and re-enactments.

Black History Month is February.

Weekly Contest and Tribute to Steve Jobs

The Weekly HubNuggets Contest on HubPages looks at the topics of Religion and Philosophy, Health, and Home and Family this week. A total of 18 of the best articles are nominated from among our newer writers and offered for Readers’ edification and Votes. The Top 9 Winners receive help with Internet traffic increases and exposure in the HubPages Weekly Newsletter that goes out to at least 200,000 individuals and organization.

Please have a look at our nominees this week celebrate the life of Steve Jobs with us and enter a vote for your favorites. You do not have to be a member of the site to vote. Thanks!  

A Harvest of HubNuggets – Tribute to Steve Jobs