We'll be spending the afternoon cheering on the Washington Capitals as they take on the hated Philadelphia Flyers. In addition to Mrs. Rocket Ted, Mookie, and our son, we will be joined by Dawn, Nic, and Victor.

Special thanks to Nic for arranging this and getting the tickets. If we get into a brawl with those lowlife inbred Philly drunkards overly-boistrous Flyers fans, I'll make sure to post pictures.

Update: What a game!!! The Capitals won 4-3 in a shootout. Forsberg was amazing, and Ovechkin was even more so. Great company, great times. Happy New Year to everyone!

Oh, and... Yay Hats!!!

Posted by: Ted at 06:51 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Each year, twenty five films are selected to be included in the National Film Registry.

Here's what that means:

For each title named to the registry, the Library of Congress works to ensure that the film is preserved for all time, either through the Library's massive motion picture preservation program or through collaborative ventures with other archives, motion picture studios and independent filmmakers. The Library of Congress contains the largest collections of film and television in the world, from the earliest surviving copyrighted motion picture to the latest feature releases.

Each year, films are nominated by the public and are carefully evaluated.

Here's a bit more about the criteria:

"The films we choose are not necessarily the 'best' American films ever made or the most famous, but they are films that continue to have cultural, historical or aesthetic significance," Billington said.

This year, the films include a Buster Keaton comedy, the Christmas classic "Miracle on 34th Street", "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", and "Toy Story". See the entire list here. There are some surprising titles there.

More from the article:

Half the movies made before 1950 and 80 percent to 90 percent of those produced before 1920 have disappeared, [Billington] said.

Among the more interesting additions was a 1906 documentary about the San Fransisco earthquake and fire. The disaster was one of the first ever documented on film.

While you're checking out the site, follow the link to the Moving Image Archives. I think I'll be spending many happy hours there.

Posted by: Ted at 05:32 AM | category: Cult Flicks
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Wicked cool.

Thanks to Sheila for finding this one!

Posted by: Ted at 07:15 PM | category: Cult Flicks
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I'd think it was funny if someone started "Brokeback Blogging".

Posted by: Ted at 04:51 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Over at the Ministry of Minor Perfidy they're hosting the latest edition of the Carnival of Tomorrow. Minister Buckethead has titled this one as "Carnival of Tomorrow #16, blatant link whoring edition".

So head on over and check out one of the coolest Carnivals making the rounds.

Posted by: Ted at 12:21 PM | category: Links
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Actor Michael Vale, best known for his appearances on Dunkin' Donuts commericials ("it's time to make the donuts"), has died from complications of diabetes at age 83.

Posted by: Ted at 05:51 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Brandon's LA Kings beat my beloved San Jose Sharks the other night, so in accordance with the prophesy by the rules of the Whoopass Jamboree, my shame is hereby displayed.

The purple, it burns.

Posted by: Ted at 05:01 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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For Christmas this year, daughter Rachael found a copy of the out-of-print book Retro Rockets: Experimental Rockets 1926-1941. I've already read the first half, which deals mostly with Robert Goddard and his remarkable series of liquid fueled rockets.

One tidbit that really caught my eye though was a brief discussion of German Alfred Maul, who was a civil engineer for the city of Dresden. He patented an early version of a photographic rocket in 1903 and was using an onboard gyroscope for rocket and camera stabilization by 1906. By 1912, he had developed a fully functioning recon rocket that boosted on solid fuel and took photographs from 2000 feet.

[It was] battle tested in the Turkish-Bulgarian War of 1912-1913. Anticipating today's reconnaissance satellites, it produced clear photographs of Turkish emplacements for the German-allied Bulgarian Army.

Some of these photographs still exists today.

Recon by rocket had advantages over using balloons, but the arrival of the airplane soon rendered the idea obsolete.

If you're into rockets or space technology, the Saturn Press books are excellent references.

And for some amazing modern-day rocket photography, check out Ray Dunakin's work, which I linked to here.

Posted by: Ted at 04:33 AM | category: Rocketry
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1 Cool present Ted!Nice score.I've got my eye on several things from Peter,too.Mainly a copy of that Scale Bash book and one of his Saturn 5 kits.I've been thinking of nabbing them both from Uncle Mike's Rocket Shack along with one of Klyde Morris' Saturn 5 kits.I'd like to grab a copy of the Spaceship Handbook he sells sometime but I'm not big on paying sixty bucks for a book.At least not now,anyhow.Finding a copy of his original Rockets of the World would be nice,too. As you can probably tell I've got a thing for the Saturns.The hands down winner for most totally bad assed machine ever built by man.When you can crack the throttle on yer ride in southern Florida and have it peg a half a Richiter on an earthquake meter in Vermont,ain't no doubt you've got the baddest ride on the planet.Anyhow,on the subject of Saturns,I had been watching E-bay for like a month looking for a fine example of the Revell 1/96 Saturn or the Estes 1/100 scale version.Never found either for under a hundred shipped.In some cases we're talkin' way way over a hundred.There's an idiot on there right now that thinks his Revell is worth $300 Buy Now price.Good luck fella!Am I disappointed?No!Let me tell ya that it pays to do your homework.After researching both of these kits it turns out that neither are prime examples of the subject.While the Estes has a few quirks the Revell is really bad.Most sources I checked recommended tossing about 95% of it and scratchbuilding with Real Space Models Command Module and LEV along with tubing from Plastruct and "wraps" from New Ware.Plus,from what I get through the grapevine Estes is getting ready to re-release the 1B in 1/70 scale next year some time.If that isn't cool enough then I know that Semroc is getting ready to release their own 1/70 Saturn 1B and Little Joe in 1/70.Besides that they are also gearing up repops of Estes' V-2 and the Mars Lander.Even if it weren't for all of these options there's still the Apogee Saturns.Very pricey but very nice.The Saturn 5's are dicontinued for now but they'll be back eventually.The mold for the interstage wraps warped for some reason.I'm on the notify list when they become available again.Hopefully I'll have the cash by then.BTW,did you check out Chan Stevens'at NARAM?His made me want one for sure. Also,speaking of Peter Alway I had a chance to chat with him for a while at NARAM-46.Great fellow.He came along and started setting up while I was standing there talking to the guy who owns Balsa Machine Services.We where freaking out on the ultra slick cuts that his new LASER cutter was making.Peter came over to say hello and I asked him if he and I had not had an online discussion about the old North Coast Shuttle kits.He said;"Maybe" and that was enough to get a conversation going.I never did tell him that a few minutes into the discussion I remembered that it was George Gassaway that I had had the Shuttle dicussions with.Oh well!It was a good log for the fire anyhow.Speaking of Shuttles I learned a bunch from talking to George about them.How much?Well,Ted,do you remember the Revell shuttle I bought at Battlepark?Do you remember asking if it was for a PMC?Do you remember that less than enthusiastic look on my face and how I wasn't laughing?I have George to thank for that reaction.I learned enough to know that I'll probably never try one unless maybe it's an Estes kit.That's a shame because those NCR kits looked to have a bunch of potential.PMC shuttles,however,are almost a sure bet for disaster.The Revell kit I bought has it's own set of problems not the least being the raised panel lines used to try and recreate the Shuttle's tiles.As you probably know there ain't a damb thing "raised" on the underside of the Shuttles.I had pondered totally sanding them off and meticulously scribing recessed lines into the bottom but when you look at the number and shape of the tiles that could become a full time job itself.As luck would have I actually found a company that makes a huge decal set of the tiles just for that particular model. Well anyhow I scored enough cash for Christmas to come off my miserly rocketeer thing for a while.I'll finally be able to place that order with BMS and land the stuff I need to go ahead with my Upscale BT-80 based Big Red Max.I already have the custom cone from Sandman and the excellent decals from Fred Talasco at Excelsior Rocketry.Besides that I've decided to build another Estes Broadsword from scratch to replace the one that I crashed years ago.I pulled it out of the dead rocket box recently and entertained the notion for a while of rebuilding.Instead I decided to just go with a whole new one so that I can give it the same motor mount setup as the Max.That would be a BT-70 motor mount with quick change motor configurations constructed from BT-70 coupler tubes.Tons of combos.Besides all of that I also have a hankerin' to do the Dragonship 7 and the Space Cruiser Excalibur from scratch.Plus,there's the Excelsior Goony Goblin,Nike-G,Christmas Goony,Quest DC-X and the Flis Tumbleweed that are waiting in the wings.They come next after I get done with the Estes 18 mm Spaceship One,the Fliskit Corona,Custom Rockets Aztec and the Excelsior Goony Bird Zero that I'm working on now.Somewhere in there I'll find time to restore my crashed Loc Forte' as well as lay the finishing touches on my Mountainside 4" V-2.Then to top it all off maybe I'll get around to the Estes Mercury Redstones(I found a hobby shop that has 30 in stock)and the 29 mm Estes Eliminators I have on the board.All that should be enough to keep me going through the summer.......ya think?

Posted by: Russ at December 28, 2005 11:02 PM (ObxzR)

2 You're right,Ray's photos are amazing.I have the 2/01 issue of HPR with one of his articles in it.His photo on the cover,too.

Posted by: Russ at December 28, 2005 11:04 PM (ObxzR)

3 I've got all those books you've mentioned. Santa's been very very good to me. Except for the Scalebash book, which I bought at NARAM in Muncie directly from Peter and he autographed it for me. Great references.

I'm going to get serious about my level 2 rocket here in the next week or so. I've decided to redesign since I've got some G10 to use for the fins, and my original plans (upscaled Yellow Jacket) won't work with the dimensions of the G10 I have. Since it's gonna be powered by a hybrid from Skyripper, I'm thinking about calling it Moooo-Gas.

Posted by: Ted at December 29, 2005 02:52 PM (blNMI)

4 Ted I know that wars have been started and small nations have been crushed for saying what I am about to say but......"I hate G10!"My PML Black Brant 5B has G10's.IMHO heavy as hell and not worth the weight.I'd go with glassed ply before I use G10 again.I do have to admit that they where plenty tough though.The two times I flew it I wound up shattering multiple fin fillets but the fins themselves survived just fine.Sadly the last flight was at a NOVAAR launch where it came down on a fence.Not only did it shatter the fillets on both sides of a fin but it also split the phenolic along a good deal of length.Too much to repair safely.It has a date with the ol' table saw so that I can salvage everything forward of the fins.Plus,I would have really liked to see the Yeller Jacket.That would have been extra cool to upscale.The Mooo-Gas sounds interesting,too.Can't wait to see it.I believe I once mentioned something about doing an upscale Max for an L2 if I ever got that far.Truth is that I would probably just do a Loc Magnum first and then risk the custom stuff after I figure out what I'm doing.I like the Magnums.Good combo of looks and utility.I think I would set it up to fly on different combos,too.Hybrid or AP in all sorts of configurations.I don't think I'd have the nads to pull a hybrid cert.Then again I don't know as much about them as you and Doug do.I'm still waiting for Doug to write that book!HEHEHE!!!!
Speaking of "glassed",the Estes Eliminator I mentioned before may be my first glassing project.I've even got this really weird idea about glassing the motor mount/stuffer tube/centering ring unit instead of the outside of the airframe.Just a thought to ponder,though.Max altitude just for the sake of it is the goal.Doing it fairly cheap is another.The Sport Rocketry article "A Mile High for Under $25" was a bit of inspiration.Who knows what won't develope from there.A serious altitude record attempt?Given the alt numbers on the books I'd say it's a long shot but being a drag racing fan I should know better.Now,if we can just get Aerotech to churn out some more F-10's and some G-20's.... Another long shot.Plus,about glassing,one way or another I've gotta get some good glassing experience that will eventually lead up to carbon fibering my VB Extreme 54 that I have recently decided not to sell after all.It's just too nice of a kit to wanna part with.Good for cutting my teeth in electronics,too.One way or another the ultimate goal for that bird is to go up on a K-250.Aerotech is reintroducing them again.I wonder what the chances are of talking Mike into applying for one of those 35,000 ft. windows like they used to do?
Well,there I go yappin' off again!One last happy note before I go.After many,many moons(too many)I can finally say that my Mountainside Hobbies 4" V-2 is finally finished!The removable bulkhead setup looks great.This will allow me to add and subtract weight from the nose in the form of washers.I have yet to weigh it but if it comes in at under three pounds I may go with a G-64.If not then I may have to catch up my NAR dues and go for an L1 cert.

Posted by: Russ at December 30, 2005 03:23 AM (ObxzR)

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Klingons wouldn't just like pumpkin pie.

They'd go to war over it.

Posted by: Ted at 07:52 PM | category: Square Pegs
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When I was growing up, I had this cool poster on my bedroom wall that showed the Sun and nine planets in their orbits around her, along with the mysterious asteroid belt. All neat and orderly.

Too bad it's not quite that simple any more:

Scientists no longer are sure what a planet is and how many reside in our system.

The International Astronomical Union, a worldwide alliance of astronomers, has been struggling for about two years to agree on a definition for planets. Three proposed definitions are being studied, but a decision isn't likely until spring, according to Robert Williams, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.

So Pluto, which most of us were taught as the ninth planet, may lose that status. Then again, maybe not.

"The discovery of the Kuiper Belt in the 1990s has given Pluto a place to call home, with icy brethren to call its own," said Neil deGrasse Tyson, the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, in an e-mail.

"The Kuiper Belt is the largest structure in the solar system," Stern said recently. "We used to think Pluto was a misfit," he added. Now Earth and the other inner planets are the oddballs.

Depending on what definition of "planet" is chosen, our solar system may have as few as eight (demoting Pluto) or as many as seventeen (!!!) planets. Astronomers have already discovered a body larger than Pluto in the Kupier Belt.

The largest and most distant of the ice dwarfs is nicknamed Xena after the television warrior princess. Discovered in 2003, it's 1,600 miles across and 20 percent bigger than Pluto is. Xena has a moon of its own, named Gabrielle after the TV Xena's sidekick.

These bodies haven't been assigned official names yet, which is why you see whimsical designations like Santa (which has a moonlet named Rudolph), Easter Bunny, Orcus, Quaoar, Ixion, Buffy and Sedna.

Even asteroids have been discovered with their own moonlets, and at least four moons in our system are geologically active.

What a wonderfully messy and chaotic neighborhood we live in.

Thanks to Chris Hall for the pointer.

Posted by: Ted at 12:10 PM | category: Space Program
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I have this brown spot on the back of my hand, below the base of my thumb knuckle.

Liz thinks it's an age spot, but I've had it for years, and it's the only one. I look at it, and wonder if all the caucasion skin cells on my hand didn't get together and decide that all the darker skin cells should be segregated into their own little area. If they did, and the darker skin cells ever decide to rebel, they're sitting right at the base of my thumb, where they can take over an important digit and really raise hell.

I just wish they could all get along, like on my shoulders, where the freckles have co-existed peacefully for years with the rest of me.

Posted by: Ted at 05:11 AM | category: Square Pegs
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New banner, same old attitude.

Posted by: Ted at 04:41 PM | category: Square Pegs
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I won't bother with a rundown on the loot that Santa left for me. Instead, I'll direct you to a few other places of Christmassy related internettedness.

First up, through Dogette - who has been sleighing me (get it?) me with her "12 Poops of Christmas" series (if you're not a PREMIUM USER, then you wouldn't understand) - I've met Jim of Parkway Rest Stop. He reminds me of CGHill's Dustbury, in that he combines charm and local color to create an always interesting and often funny visit. Give him a try, you won't be sorry. He's on the blogroll now too.

Speaking of Dustbury, I just had to include this bit:

Lawrence, Kansas Mayor Boog Highberger has proclaimed International Dada Month, and what's more, he's not adhering to that hopelessly-square business about having it one continuous month: it will begin 4 February 2006, end on 26 October, and occupy randomly-selected days in between.

The proclamation includes a classic line from German Dadaist poet Hugo Ball: "zimzim urallala zimzim urallala zimzim zanzibar zimzalla zam."

That kind of poetic genius just brings a tear to the eye.

Of course, any Christmas visit with Rocket Jones must include zombies! And in one of those frightrul synergystic happenings, we've got poetry about zombies!

Christmassy poetry about zombies!!!

From the Ministry of Minor Perfidy, we are directed to this heart-warming site and their reworking of The Night Before Christmas. A sample stanza:

I in my Kevlar(tm) and ma in Gortek(tm)

Had salvaged some canned goods from a truck that had wrecked

The children had rifles and covered our ass

As Grandpa raced over to siphon some gas

Bless us every one.

Finally, what would Christmas be without scantily clad asian ladies dressed up in red with furry white trim? Not safe for work. I'm going to check under our tree again, just in case Santa left me one and I missed it! I also learned that the name of the site, "Kimochi-ii", is Japanese for "feels goooood!". I've never watched Japanese porn, so I didn't know that. Consider that today's lesson in the "No Pervert Left Behind" curriculum.

Merry Christmas, y'all!

Posted by: Ted at 08:35 AM | category: Links
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It's been tough on St. Louis hockey fans this year, but the Blues rose up and beat my beloved Sharks last night.

According to the rules of the Hockey Whoopass Jamboree, here is the logo of the Blues.

Congrats Brian.

Posted by: Ted at 09:01 PM | category: Balls and Ice
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We're doing the whole Family Christmas thing today, because the girls both have to work tomorrow.* Our son can't make it home either because of work, both today and tomorrow.

To all my friends, have a wonderful Christmas. May you have peace and joy, and may we all have health, good fortune and prosperity in 2006.

Click this to see a Christmas carol that I wrote years ago.

I sent out "Merry Christmas" emails to a bunch of people, if you didn't get one, check your old email accounts or leave a comment.

*Robyn and Rachael both work at a local answering service whenever they're home from college, and no student should pass up a chance for eight hours at holiday double time.

Posted by: Ted at 09:01 AM | category: Family matters
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So Italy issues an arrest warrant for 22 American CIA agents.

What will probably happen is that we'll ignore it, but wouldn't it be fun instead to kidnap a bunch of Italian aid relief workers in Iraq? Demand a dismissal of the charges or we'll make them sit in a cold room and listen to disco or something equally evil. Trust me, the Italian government will cave.

Posted by: Ted at 03:25 PM | category: Square Pegs
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1 Ooh! Ooh! I've got it! They can be forced to listen to Mariah Carey performs the AC/DC catalogue. Or Richard Clayderman performs a tribute to Black Sabbath!

Posted by: Silver Blue at December 24, 2005 08:40 AM (J+yO6)

2 Heh, I heard Tom Lehrer and the Clancy Brothers. If ya like (and if I ever find my microphones) I'll make a recording and post it next year!

(This comment was obviously meant for the above post with the song lyric, but I got this message:

Your comment submission failed for the following reasons:

Comments are not allowed on this entry.

Please correct the error in the form below, then press Post to post your comment.

Odd that.)

Posted by: Tuning Spork at December 24, 2005 05:49 PM (Ae/is)

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Next to one of those ubiquitous "How Is My Driving?" signs on the back of a truck, some wag had scrawled in the dirt, "Like Steve McQueen".

Posted by: Ted at 04:57 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Baltimore Orioles coach Elrod Hendrix died of a heart attack yesterday. Today would have been his 65th birthday. For those who don't know, Elrod was a catcher in the big leauges from 1969 to 1979, mostly with the Orioles. He was the starting catcher for the O's when they won the World Series from '69-'71.

When he retired as a player, he became a coach for the Orioles, and has been the bullpen coach for 28 years. In all, Elrod Hendrix made more appearances in an Orioles uniform than any other man in club history.

He didn't keep a low profile either, he was the unofficial ambassador for the O's, making frequent appearances at youth baseball functions all over the area. It's often said of those who pass away that "he was loved by everyone". In Elrod's case, that was the literal truth.

We're going to miss him.

In other news, the San Fransisco Giants sent overpaid has-been Edgardo Alphonzo to the California Anaheim's of Southern Angels (or whatever the hell they're calling themselves this week) for overpaid has-been Steve Finley.

From the ever-quotable McCovey Chronicles:

Enjoy Alfonzo, Southern California. Enjoy him to the last drop. There is no injury that can explain away just how awful he was, and his age-related decline started when he was about 29. He's truly an artist, both at the plate and around the bag at second. Unfortunately, the artist is Robert Mapplethorpe, and you don't want to know where that bullwhip is going. You think you might get used to it, but you never do.

On the plus side, with the addition of Finley, the Giants can boast an outfield featuring Barry Bonds (age 41), Moises Alou (age 39), and Steve Finley (age 40). This might qualify them for discount contract insurance through AARP.

Posted by: Ted at 08:13 PM | category: Links
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Never mind, you've probably already heard it a million times.

Posted by: Ted at 05:19 AM | category: Square Pegs
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A crusty old Sergeant Major found himself at a gala event, hosted by a local liberal arts college. There was no shortage of extremely young, idealistic ladies in attendance, one of whom approached the Sergeant Major for conversation.

She said, "Excuse me, Sergeant Major, but you seem to be a very serious man. Is something bothering you?"

"Negative, ma'am," the Sergeant Major said, "Just serious by nature."

The young lady looked at his awards and decorations and said, "It looks like you have seen a lot of action."

The Sergeant Major's short reply was, "Yes, ma'am, a lot of action."

The young lady, tiring of trying to start up a conversation, said, "You know, you should lighten up a little. Relax and enjoy yourself."

The Sergeant Major just stared at her in his serious manner.

Finally the young lady said, "You know, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but when is the last time you had sex?"

The Sergeant Major looked at her and replied, "1955."

She said, "Well, there you are. You really need to chill out and quit taking everything so seriously! I mean, no sex since 1955! Isn't that a little extreme?"

The Sergeant Major, glancing at his watch, said in his matter-of-fact voice, "You think so? It's only 2130 now."

Posted by: Ted at 12:08 PM | category: Square Pegs
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1 LOL! I'm telling that one at the Christmas party!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at December 21, 2005 09:53 PM (LP4ji)

2 Rimshot!

Posted by: Jim - PRS at December 21, 2005 10:56 PM (njBz/)

3 I find it unlikely that a young lady from a liberal arts college would recognize the rank of Sergeant Major.

I don't suppose it ruins the joke though.

Posted by: Maelstrom at December 22, 2005 09:15 AM (V0o94)

4 Unfortunately, that joke (a variation of which I first heard about 30-35 years ago) doesn't work so well, since the correspondences between time and date would make the protagonist close to 70 by now.

In about 10 years or so (long enough to give a good gap from 2010, pronounced "twenty-ten") it will become viable again.

Posted by: wheels at January 02, 2006 08:53 PM (Q5jXA)

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