The Mutiny

Luke* sat in the far right corner of my 8th grade science class. He was a good student and, for the most part, seemed to enjoy science, but he was a power-hungry monster. 

He was one of those people who had a lot of social clout. People liked him, they liked being around him, they listened too and followed him. Luke was never in danger of eating alone at lunch time, his table was always full. If he suggested the kids play soccer instead of football at recess, they played soccer. If he’d suggested they do yoga, the 8th grade would have done yoga at recess. He was popular and had natural leadership ability. 

I only wish he had used that power for good.

As I recall, he was never one to participate in current events until he made a startling realization - an epiphany really.

Through skillful planning he attempted a mutiny in my class. He hatched his devious plot and rallied his troops. 

“Make sure you bring a current event to science this week,” I overheard him say. This struck me as odd coming from a scholar who never seemed to care much about current events. 

He had realized, the more kids who participated in current events, the less time we had to work on our learning targets. It was a brilliant insight.

But, I had him figured out. I too had a loyal following. Several students had come to me privately to tell me what Luke was up too.

I saw him at breakfast on Friday, handing out articles to his classmates. I knew for sure what mischief was afoot. He had put is sinister plan into action, but forewarned is forearmed.

On that fateful Friday, after the kids filed into my room and took their seats, many with science articles in hand, I announced; “Because we have so much to do today, we will do current events on Monday. Please save your articles for then”

His conspiracy totally collapsed. 

The following Monday, we did current events but he could not rally his charges a second time. Being eighth graders, a third of the kids lost the articles, and many of the rest chose not side with this science subversive.

For the next few weeks, every time Luke turned in a paper, I neatly crossed out his name and wrote in Jake Sparrow.

*The names have been changed to protect the innocent (and the guilty as well).

Don’t Panic

As many of you know, SpaceX successfully test-launched their Falcon Heavy rocket this past week. I find it interesting that the largest, most powerful rocket was developed and is owned and operated by a private company and not NASA or the military. Folks, we’ve entered a whole new era of access to Earth orbit and beyond.

Elon Musk, the owner of both Tesla and SpaceX, has demonstrated that it doesn’t have to take a monumentally large and complex government program to get things into space, at this point, all it takes is a person with a dream, some really good engineers, programers, and baristas. And, of course, a very large bank account. 

The fact that he hurled a sports car into orbit around the Sun amply shows his sense of humor and marketing chutzpah but the little things that he included in the car show his love of reading and science fiction in particular.

On the dash-display which usually shows the navigation/entertainment system, are the words “Don’t Panic” an homage to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. 

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is considered by many to be one of the all-time greatest science fiction novels. I read it and for the first half of the book, I thought it was ridiculous and silly, and yet my mind keeps wandering back to it. It’s a very interesting book and well worth your time if you enjoy sci-fi.

Also included in the car is a CD containing the complete three-volume Foundations Trilogy by Isaac Asimov (later added-to so now it’s called Foundations series). Look at any list of the top science fiction books and you’ll also find this masterpiece. It’s three big books, but they’re great and you’ll be sad when they are done.

Tuesday’s launch was a great day for SpaceX, Tesla and advocates of cheaper access to space but it was also a great day for people who read. Two of the most powerful works of science fiction were also launched on an endless journey to Mars and beyond. 

To me it’s a fitting way to honor those writers and their works.

The mice would be pleased.

I'm Doing Modeling On The Weekends

I’m modeling on the weekends. 

No, it’s not what you think. I’m not posing for pictures. I’m not doing runway shows in my lab coat. I’m not featured as the science teacher in catalogs of science equipment.

I’m building models. 

I started building model kits when I was a kid - probably in middle school. I’ve built mostly plastic kits - cars, planes, ships…lots and lots of ships. 

About ten years ago, I stopped building. I have carpel tunnel syndrome and the job I had at that time made it worse. It hurt my hands to work with small parts, so I had to stop. The joy I received from building wasn’t worth the pain I felt doing the work. 

But, I've started building again. 

As you may have noticed, I’ve added a shelf near my desk. Later, I will be adding a second, matching shelf. 

Right now, I’m working on a series of human spaceflight vehicles. That’s what the shelves are for. I’m building the rockets that NASA has used to take Americans to space. I’m not building them in order but they will be displayed that way.

The first rocket I built was Alan Shepard’s Mercury Redstone. This was the first rocket that took an American into space. It was a quick flight - up to space and and back down - Shepard did not orbit Earth.

The next rocket in the progression is John Glenn’s Mercury Atlas. This rocket was powerful enough to launch Glenn into orbit.

After Mercury, NASA switched to two-astronaut vehicles called Gemini. Gemini was designed to practice all the steps needed to take people to the Moon. Gemini sat atop an even more powerful rocket - the Titan II.

After Gemini, came the three-crewed Apollo program featuring the most powerful rocket to ever fly - the Saturn V. 

After that, I’ve got a space shuttle to do and, if I can find affordable kits, the International Space Station and the new Space Launch System with Orion spacecraft. 

I’m building models again. My hands aren’t bothering me much so I’m really enjoying it again. I wish more young people were interested in building models. It’s fun and challenging. I get a real sense of accomplishment taking a box of parts and, using the included instructions, creating a miniature version of a huge ship, rocket or aircraft. 

If you’d like to try it, talk to me. I can fix you up with a kit and some glue.