NASCAR is Back!

There are so many reasons to love February and I do not count Valentine's Day. There's my birthday, my Daddy's birthday, President's Day, and the return of racing season. The season starts today with the Daytona 500 although it's raining right now and the race is delayed. NASCAR says the weather should improve later in the day and seems intent to get the cars moving at some point. Let's hope.

The news this year is focused on Danica Patrick who starts 29th in today's race. I'm a fan. I'll be rooting for her today. No, I don't plan to sit here expecting her to win (and will not be disappointed if she doesn't). Today is just another day in racing -- although it is the Daytona 500. She doesn't have to start the season with magical wins setting a bar that can never be surpassed. I just want to see a good race with Danica competing against the top NASCAR drivers. It will be a fun watch should it ever get started.

Not fun to watch is the Rick Santorum car. The #26 car is wearing a Santorum ad for the race. I am disturbed by this for many reasons including the fact that Rick Santorum isn't even at the race. What do you all think about using race car ads for political campaigns? Is it any different than any other branding or sponsorship? I would like to think so, but I'm starting to think I am out of touch.

It's really raining... keeping fingers crossed.

Mae C. Jemison - Astronaut & Pioneer

Dr. Mae C. Jemison

I've thought several times about posts I'd I like to publish for Black History Month. With February designated as Black History Month, there are so many articles and informative sites providing great material. I will admit; I haven't posted mostly out of laziness, but I also have a hard time deciding on what to post. I am not an expert in black history. Most of the information I have read lately is new to me, and so interesting I get lost reading and exploring (as with most things).

When I ran across a profile of Mae Jemison, I knew I wanted to share. Dr. Mae C. Jemison is an astronaut and physician. Inspired by Lt. Uhura in Star Trek, Dr. Jemison applied for NASA's astronaut program and was  accepted in 1987. On September 12, 1992, Dr. Jemison became the first black woman to travel in space. As a Mission Specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor, STS-47, Jemison spent 190 hours, 30 minutes, and 23 seconds in space.

Of course, she captured my attention because she is an astronaut. Other things, perhaps little things, I've learned about her I find even more interesting. She is a woman from the South, not just any South, but 1950's Alabama. I have a special place in my heart for Women of the South. Even though she and her family moved to Chicago when she was young (as so many African-American's from the South did and still do), I am sure her surroundings -- her family, home, outlook -- remained identifiably Southern. In addition, from what I've read, she never set out to be or cared much about being the first black woman in space. Although inspired by the message of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech, she heard it as a call for individual achievement. Her accomplishments since have been her personal commitment to her own interests and goals.

I'm sure people may have different opinions on her motivations and career path, but it is notable to me, perhaps a little inspiring, to see a woman committed to herself. Oh yeah.. I know that sounds "selfish". Think about it for a minute. Everyone should (and probably does) have a bit of selfish. Although common opinion and stereotypes would beg to differ, I think women fail to have enough selfish... or really, self-confidence or self-determination. I think women tend to identify themselves by their role in society -- usually through relationships to others -- rather than how they view themselves absent that relationship. More often, women are wives, mothers, grandmothers, caretakers, homemaker, and not so often, leader, scientist, artist, writer, astronaut.

Here's to Mae Jemison, girl from the South, astronaut, individual.

note: most info came from Wikipedia. Here's her personal site, and company site.

Firing Up My Engine

I've never been a morning person. I have learned to love early mornings... theoretically. I do get up early quite a bit and generally feel good about it. I just have a hard time getting the engine started and ready to go -- physically and mentally. My mental engine runs on inspiration. I don't necessarily need a full tank, but I must have a sufficient amounts to get going. It's like the day seems pointless without a sense that amazing things surround me yet to be discovered.

Therein lies my need for Pinterest. It is perfect for sparking some inspiration. Several of my friends kept mentioning this site to me urging me to join. I ignored it for a while since I feel a little overextended on the internets lately. I finally jumped right in and haven't looked back. A morning scroll through different things tends to ignite something, usually fairly undefined at first, in me. No, I don't jump into a craft frenzy (although how awesome would that be?) or decide I should redesign my house. It is simply the flurry of images which, once amassed in my brain, form a mysterious collective of "exalting influence" (full disclosure, I stole that from dictonary.com). Whatever... it's a fun exploration, am I right?

Source: weddingphotography.com.ph via Rita on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Amlyne on Pinterest

Source: someecards.com via galaxiecarol on Pinterest

Source: richworks.in via galaxiecarol on Pinterest

Ok Really? Stonehenge Apocalypse?

I've been on a self-improvement mission. Since losing my job, I am happy to report that I'm rediscovering many things again.. things about myself, things I thought I had lost. Unfortunately this has caused the blog to be neglected. I've also put TV on the back burner...except for my all time favorite entertainment genre, The Apocalypse. Nothing says "Good Times" like The End of Days.

I popped on the tube a couple of hours ago for a chillax sit-down. The SyFy Channel blazed to life and it was immediately clear there was some apocalypse going on. I hit the "guide" button which caused me to momentarily fixate on the title and description. It said "Stonehenge Apocalypse"? Really? Really? As much as I love apocalypse movies, I'm not so sure I like the idea of turning Stonehenge into a force of doom. Oh and don't even bother clicking the link above which is to the SyFy original movie site. They have one unspectacular photo and nothing else. You'd think the SyFy Channel would know how to put some informative gadgetry on the internets. #fail. Check it out at Wikipedia or IMDb.

Stonehenge Apocalypse
It's also in German.  Click for trailer.

Anyway, back to the movie. As skeptical as I was, I just had to know how Stonehenge would bring about our demise. I'm still watching... and it is a wacky, completely unbelievable trip. Originally airing in June 2010, Stonehenge Apocalypse couples the cataclysmic, destructive power of Earth's electromagnetic field with the ancient, extraterrestrial terraforming machine buried under Stonehenge. Together they awakening pyramids all over the world, which, of course, are poised to volcanically erupt. Uh.. wait. what I've already lost track of what's going on and why all that will lead to the end of the world.

Doesn't matter. I'm still watching. Why? Because this is monolithically  stupid. Yet it combines so many things that are supremely fun. Of course, the whackjob scientist figures it all out, redeeming himself before all the folks who had written him and his crazy talk off. That is standard in any doomsday story, along with the also included leap to nuke whatever is causing problems. This movie however also has ancient aliens, gamma bursts, a cult leader (strangely played by Hill Harper), lovely English countryside, some silly special effects, and laughable dialogue. For example -

"I'm no mucky muck scientist, but I thought our planet was life sustaining."

"Pushing it's wavelength this short is turning Stonehenge into a nuclear reactor." 

"Relax, you have a front row seat to the planet's rebirth."

"It was a robot head!"

As much as I'm enjoying making fun of this movie, I'm not a fan. I don't buy the bizarre plot. I like my apocalypse stories to be somewhat believable, based on scientifically sound destructive events, coupled with fantastically heroic, scientifically improbable, responses. This ancient terraforming machine business just doesn't sit well with me. A little too goofy.

Hmmm... 2012 Ice Age is up next!!! Joke... although I might just have to see what causes this ice age. In all seriousness, I cannot love The Walking Dead more. I love this new season/half season. When it comes to the apocalypse, I hope for a zombie apocalypse. w00t!

Crocheted Shorts? Noes!!!

I was just thinking that I haven't posted anything really strange lately. And then I found this. Ahhh Pinterest, I you so much.

hmmmmm. there's really nothing else to say.

A Manifesto...just what I needed

This is just what I've needed to hear/see/read/believe for a long time. It is the perfect manifesto. Please read carefully and digest. This is my vision... MY manifesto.

The Holstee Manifesto

This manifesto is from Holstee, a shop featuring unique designs and sustainable products. It is available in a large size print..... which I want.