tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60232652024-03-05T20:23:58.104-05:00The Lensman's ChildrenChubby, brunette Eunice Kinnison sat in a rocker, reading the Sunday papers and listening to the radio. Her husband Ralph lay sprawled upon the davenport, smoking a cigarette and reading the current issue of <strong>EXTRAORDINARY STORIES</strong> against an unheard background of music. Mentally, he was far from Tellus, flitting in his super-dreadnaught through parsec after parsec of vacuous space. <em>E.E. "Doc" Smith, Triplanetary, Chapter 5: "1941"</em>Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.comBlogger3536125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-77342577056382400332013-01-09T09:07:00.000-05:002013-01-15T22:01:07.370-05:00<b>Pay It Forward</b><br />
<br />
We are coming up on the second anniversary of the death of my father-in-law, Anthony Sarcich (to cancer) and the <a href="http://www.jlake.com/2013/01/09/cancer-a-minor-note-in-the-symphony-of-dread/">third anniversary of the death</a> of my father to a different debilitating disease.<br />
<br />
One thing that we experienced, and we are still grappling with and recovering from, is the absolutely exhausting way a family gets as a result of dealing with everything around a disease.<br />
<br />
Really, folks: our society sucks at helping out those with a major illness. Support networks? Where? <br />
<br />
Both my father and my father-in-law were extremely lucky in once sense: they both could utilize medical benefits that they had from their jobs, even into retirement, plus governmental plans.<br />
<br />
Others are not so lucky. Self-employed folks, like, say, writers. In addition to depending entirely on their own production for money to pay the bills for insurance, they are socked with outrageous fees to pay for these inadequate plans.<br />
<br />
The stress does not end there. They must also navigate the dangerous shoals of all the rules and by-laws for these plans. And put up <a href="http://www.jlake.com/2013/01/09/cancer-a-minor-note-in-the-symphony-of-dread/">with silly stuff like this</a>.<br />
<br />
Done reading that? Does your mind boggle as much as mine? I hope so.<br />
<br />
Folks, Jay Lake is facing enough as it is. He really doesn't need to deal with silly horseshit like this. Let's all get together and at least give him some peace of mine when it comes to the money end of things. I kicked in $100.00 (<i>see below for additional efforts</i>). Could you please hit the "donate" button on his site to help him fight the stupidity of the insurance industry as well as help to pay for what little benefits he gets?<br />
<br />
Please get the word out and please consider donating directly (<a href="http://www.jlake.com/">please see his site here, and hit the "tip jar" link in the upper left hand corner</a>). Jay has given us endless hours of entertainment and education, both through his books and through his panels at conventions, participation in interviews, and courses and seminars. Let's pay it forward!<br />
<br />
<b>MAJOR UPDATE:<i></i></b> "There is now a effort by a number of genre folks to help Jay out. You can win rewards! Tobias S. Buckell will unlock his earliest tale or drink Scotch! Mary Robinette Kowal will put an...interesting...spin on one of her stories! And many more levels all the way up to: Neil Gaiman will perform a cover version of a song from the Magnetic Fields album "69 Love Songs"!<br />
<br />
<i>I kicked in an additional $200.00 to this effort on top of my initial $100.00 contribution. I'm not saying this to boast, but to show you how serious I am about this. That's $300.00 worth of books I won't be buying...</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/Sequence-a-Science-Fiction-Writer/38705">Please click on this link for details and give until you laugh</a>!<br />
<br />
<i>UPDATE!</i> 41% of the first $10K ($20K to get Neil Gaiman). THANK YOU ALL!<br />
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<i>UPATE AGAIN!</i> You people are amazing. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3787641463279&set=p.3787641463279&type=3&theater">Jay Lake thinks so as well</a>.<br />
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<i>Update:</i> <a href="http://www.jlake.com/2013/01/11/cancerpersonal-the-fundraisers/">Jay Lake writes about the fund drive</a>. <br />
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<i>Update:</i> <a href="http://www.jlake.com/2013/01/12/personalcancer-yesterdays-paypal-kerfuffle/#more-21189">Jay Lake writes more about the fund drive</a>.<br />
<br />
Update on funding on January 12, 2013: $38,697!!!! Fantastic job, everyone!<br />
<br />
Thank you.<br />
<br />
<i>Update: </i>Rewards of Whimsey!!!<br />
<br />
Some of the rewards are rolling in.<br />
<br />
<i>$2,000:</i> <a href="http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2013/01/11/shani-a-disclaimer-for-a-short-story-written-when-i-was-14/">Tobias Buckell contributes an early effort of writing</a>.<br />
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<i>$3,000:</i> Forthcoming (more madness with Tobias Buckell).<br />
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<i>$4,000:</i> <a href="http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/the-video-of-me-reading-beloved-classics-like-phone-sex-for-the-jay-lake-fundraiser/">Mary Robinette Kowal reads classic texts...like they are a phone sex recording</a>.<br />
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<i>$6,000:</i> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFbHgpH9bf0">Jim Hines reads an early work of epic fantasy</a> (put down the drinks, but stay for the whole 40 minutes!).<br />
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<i>$7,000:</i> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGRpmPikdik&feature=youtu.be">Elizabeth Bear and Scott Lynch perform a Jay Lake story...with sock puppets</a>!<br />
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<i>$8,000:</i> Seanan McGuire does filking (forthcoming).<br />
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<i>$9,000:</i> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pNJdaXLyTU&feature=player_embedded">Paul Cornell sings Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights</a> (warning: put down the drinks). <i>BONUS AT THIS LEVEL:</i> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW1axYcf8Y8">Mary Robinette Kowal follows up on Paul Cornell's effort by doing a "beat reading" of the You Tube transcript</a>.<br />
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<i>$10,000:</i> <a href="http://cmpriest.livejournal.com/1313144.html">Cherie Priest dresses up her pets</a>. Call it a work in progress (more forthcoming?)<br />
<br />
<i>$12,000:</i> The creators of the Jay Lake documentary will unveil a comic short (forthcoming).<br />
<br />
<i>$15,000:</i> <a href="http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/01/13/in-which-i-john-scalzi-sing-a-lost-bob-dylan-song-for-jay-lake/">A lost Bob Dylan song performed by John Scalzi</a>.<br />
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<i>$17,500:</i> <a href="http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2013/01/my-terrible-surprise-the-dreaded-high-school-novel/">A surprise from Patrick Rothfuss reveals his high school novel</a>.<br />
<br />
<i>$20,000:</i> Neil Gaiman to perform a cover from the <b>Magnetic Fields</b> album <i>69 Love Songs</i> whilst accompanying himself on the Ukulele (forthcoming).<br />
<br />
<i>$25,000:</i> Seanan McGuire returns at this level to reboot Veronica Mars as a Shakespearean tragedy (forthcoming).<br />
<br />
<i>$30,000:</i> A radio play version of one of Jay Lake's stories (forthcoming).<br />
<br />
<i>$32,000:</i> C.E. Murphy reads from her first novel (forthcoming).<br />
<br />
<i>$35,000:</i> <a href="http://boingboing.net/2013/01/13/jay-lake-cancer-fundraiser-ex.html">Cory Doctorow unlocks his head</a>. Seriously, I do not know what to make of this one (forthcoming). (<i>Addendum to the Addendum:</i> <a href="http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/01/14/another-act-of-whimsy-choose-cory-doctorows-face/">John Scalzi has some helpful hints</a>.)<br />
<br />
<i>$37,000:</i> <a href="http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/jay_lake_fundraiser_3">Howard Tayler will draw Jay Lake kicking cancer's ass</a>. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=323zqCQxuUs">Updated with a video of the picture's creation!</a><br />
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<i>$40,000:</i> ANOTHER SURPRISE (almost unlocked at this point!).<br />
<br />
<i>$100,000:</i> JAY LAKE, THE MUSICAL.<br />
<br />
<i>Addendum:</i> <a href="http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2012/09/the-sf-signal-podcast-episode-151-interview-with-author-jay-lake/">SF Signal's interview with Jay is worth a listen</a>.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-84823943121784369072013-01-08T05:44:00.000-05:002013-01-08T05:44:44.111-05:00<b>Grand</b><br />
<br />
Today's <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130108.html">Astronomy Picture of the Day</a> is of NGC 7424, a face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation of Grus (yes, Grus).Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-84211630648970132822013-01-07T05:27:00.000-05:002013-01-07T05:27:07.997-05:00<b>Flaming Star</b><br />
<br />
Today's <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130107.html">Astronomy Picture of the Day</a> shows AE Aurigae and its surrounding environs, the Flaming Star Nebula. AE Aurigae is energetic, and does a beautiful job of lighting up the surrounding dust and gas.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-78624230748520695962013-01-06T17:12:00.002-05:002013-01-06T17:13:02.229-05:00<b>Slogging Through</b><br />
<br />
Interesting article (with pictures) by Michael Yon on <a href="http://www.michaelyon-online.com/amber-of-war.htm">mud and the military</a>.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-18604156414002255652013-01-06T16:40:00.001-05:002013-01-06T16:40:54.552-05:00<b>The Play's the Thing</b><br />
<br />
Via <a href="http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/index.php">Winchell Chung</a>, thoughts on <a href="http://stilleatingoranges.tumblr.com/post/25153960313/the-significance-of-plot-without-conflict">conflictless plots for stories</a>.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-22911357769346893152013-01-06T16:37:00.002-05:002013-01-06T16:37:49.363-05:00<b>Here Comes the Flood</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/01/a-martian-dream-heres-what-the-red-planet-would-look-like-with-earth-like-oceans-and-life/266791/">What would Mars look like with water</a>? Puts me in mind of Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-7731087527171190292013-01-06T16:33:00.000-05:002013-01-06T16:33:21.696-05:00<b>Skyglow</b><br />
<br />
In this edition of <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2403.html">NASA's Image of the Day Gallery</a>, the Earth at night. No wonder I can't see the Milky Way from my backyard any more!Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-1032823201129408382013-01-06T16:30:00.000-05:002013-01-06T16:30:18.265-05:00<b>Nursery Crymes</b><br />
<br />
In this edition of <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2409.html">NASA's Image of the Day Gallery</a>, the stellar nursery NGC 604.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-77742161933820671842013-01-06T13:15:00.002-05:002013-01-06T13:15:21.740-05:00<b>Betrayal</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/12/12/23/1522215/has-lego-sold-out">Lego has "sold out"?</a> Wouldn't this be true years and years (over a decade) ago? Perhaps these themed sets have, instead, saved the company? After all, one can still buy plain bricks, custom bricks and the like, no?Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-10359120287271843392013-01-06T12:23:00.002-05:002013-01-06T12:23:40.131-05:00<b>Morning Dog Walk</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>Night snow melting<br />
Blue skies (no pain), hawks<br />
Mid-winter, warm spell</i></blockquote>Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-38914597791189777302013-01-06T11:26:00.000-05:002013-01-06T11:26:08.167-05:00<b>Homesteading in the Fantasy Universe</b><br />
<br />
An <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/01/06/168631403/at-home-in-fantasys-nerd-built-worlds">excellent post by Saladin Ahmed about fantasy worlds published by NPR</a>.<br />
<br />
Who is Saladin Ahmed you ask? I refer you to <a href="http://theeternalgoldenbraid.blogspot.com/2012/02/good-old-fashioned-adventure-saladin.html">this post</a> and to <a href="http://theeternalgoldenbraid.blogspot.com/2012/10/saladins-shorts-saladin-ahmed-engraved.html">this post</a> on this blog. Highly recommended fantasist and writer. Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-26712581810773448412013-01-06T10:32:00.002-05:002013-01-06T10:32:31.404-05:00<b>Minas Morgul</b><br />
<br />
Today's <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130106.html">Astronomy Picture of the Day</a> shows a dark nebula in the constellation of Scorpius, NGC 6231, popularly known as The Dark Tower.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-8226088169420318822013-01-05T07:44:00.001-05:002013-01-05T07:44:43.329-05:00<b>Helene</b><br />
<br />
Today's <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130105.html">Astronomy Picture of the Day</a> is of Helene, one of Saturn's smaller moons. Helene orbits at the leading gravitationally stable Lagrange point created by Saturn and another of Saturn's moons, Dione. The image is a red-blue stereo anaglyph, so get out those 3D glasses!Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-11271658833887533702013-01-04T05:53:00.001-05:002013-01-04T05:53:32.363-05:00<b>Taklimakan Desert</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2421.html">NASA's Image of the Day Gallery</a> serves up a view of the snow-covered Taklimakan Desert.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-87486932352565077182013-01-04T05:41:00.002-05:002013-01-04T05:41:50.849-05:00<b>Sunrise and Mountain Top</b><br />
<br />
Today's <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130104.html">Astronomy Picture of the Day</a> is stuff my dreams are made of. Strange new worlds, stunning vistas! Sunrise on the central peak of Crater Tycho, our Moon. Tell me again, why haven't we been back?Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-8314970966372814222013-01-03T19:40:00.000-05:002013-01-03T19:40:24.115-05:00<b>Professional Development</b><br />
<br />
Attention on deck! The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps has issued <a href="http://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/MessagesDisplay/tabid/13286/Article/136236/revision-of-the-commandants-professionial-reading-list.aspx">a new version of the Professional Reading List</a>.<br />
<br />
Lots of good stuff here, folks. Recommended if you are interested in history, leadership and more. Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-30887945980793179882013-01-03T07:40:00.001-05:002013-01-03T07:40:38.222-05:00<b>Refractions</b><br />
<br />
You think you have a telescope? Hah. You don't have a telescope. You don't even know what a telescope is! Now <b>this</b>, <a href="http://platypusart.com/wetherell/sculpture_greatwetherellrefractor.html">this is a telescope</a>!Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-71439451684977089372013-01-03T07:33:00.001-05:002013-01-03T07:33:35.364-05:00<b>Orion Building</b><br />
<br />
Another shot from <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2412.html">NASA's Image of the Day Gallery</a>. The Orion capsule, undergoing assembly.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-41612518397778081132013-01-03T07:30:00.001-05:002013-01-03T07:30:32.772-05:00<b>The Coming of the Shadow</b><br />
<br />
The Cassini orbiter is still (!) operating out in Saturn Space (and Beyond the Infinite), sending back spectacular images (and lots of other data) <a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2012-402&cid=release_2012-402">such as this</a>. If you have access to a telescope, cast your eyes towards Saturn in the night sky. You will see the rings at their best for several years and the Cassini Division (hello, Ken Mac Leod!) should be easily visible.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-52869467617230474532013-01-03T07:24:00.002-05:002013-01-03T07:24:58.078-05:00<b>Boom Goes the Planet</b><br />
<br />
In another installment from <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2420.html">NASA's Image of the Day Gallery</a>, Tolbachik, an active volcano in Russia, is imaged by the Earth Observing-1 satellite.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-7363337523237074172013-01-03T07:17:00.001-05:002013-01-03T07:17:36.259-05:00<b>Ring Ring</b><br />
<br />
In this installment of <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2419.html">NASA's Image of the Day Gallery</a>, we see NGC 1097, focusing especially on its star-forming regions...and...not seen, but felt...its supermassive central black hole.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-65878028193913285032013-01-03T05:53:00.002-05:002013-01-03T05:53:16.240-05:00<b>Another Winter Cluster</b><br />
<br />
Today's <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130103.html">Astronomy Picture of the Day</a> is another great winter cluster pair, M35 and NGC 2158, both in the constellation of Gemini. Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-36741224220595857282013-01-02T07:12:00.001-05:002013-01-02T07:12:28.153-05:00<b>What Mad Universe</b><br />
<br />
Today's <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130102.html">Astronomy Picture of the Day</a> is of "Einstein's Cross". A cross-like set of "clumps" set into a galaxy are not clumps within the galaxy at all, but the result of that nearer galaxy acting as a gravitational "lens" to bring a further object into view. What mad universe we live in!Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-78820823128500070462013-01-01T12:55:00.001-05:002013-01-01T12:55:36.715-05:00<b>2012: The Year in Review</b><br />
<br />
Another trip around the Son on the Third Rock! How did 2012 go?<br />
<br />
I managed to <a href="http://theeternalgoldenbraid.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-year-in-shorts-several-years-ago.html">read 446 short works last year</a> (the exact number is always a slippery one as I manage every year to forget to note anywhere from a couple to several dozen short works—this number if probably <i>pretty</i> accurate). Several good new-to-me authors were found (e.g., Ken Liu, E. Lily Yu), several old friends were revisited (Harlan Ellison and Arthur C. Clarke, among others). I did buy into one waste of time (the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Ryall">Zombie vs. Robots series</a> of short works).<br />
<br />
I managed to <a href="http://theeternalgoldenbraid.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-year-in-books-count-0-as-of.html">read 84 longer works</a> this past year. As usual, I read many books simultaneously, and several of the books I read last year are in the process of being re-read (e.g., Neal Stephenson, Myke Cole), so they will show up on my 2013 list as well. Highlights for new writers included Saladin Ahmed, Myke Cole and Joe Abercrombie (at the urging of Myke Cole, as a matter of fact). Old friends revisited (or seen for the first time) included Samuel R. Delany, Glen Cook, and Terry Pratchett.<br />
<br />
The new editions of Neil Gaiman's <i>Sandman</i> stories were completed last year, so I finished my initial run through the series and followed that by re-reading the first ten volumes during the last few days of the year.<br />
<br />
In fact, I probably read more "graphic novels" this year than in any year when I found a chunk of the <i>Naruto</i> manga available. I'm still not hooked on superheroes, in fact, the graphic novels shelves done't even get a visit most times I am in a bookstore, but I'm more aware of what I like and will seek more of it.<br />
<br />
Finally, I read several good works of history this past year, <a href="http://theeternalgoldenbraid.blogspot.com/2012/03/2012-war-and-rumors-of-war-i-got.html">as you see in this entry</a>. Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023265.post-14546780586798915922013-01-01T11:18:00.000-05:002013-01-01T11:18:06.902-05:00<b>Last on the Moon</b><br />
<br />
A blast from the past: the crew of Apollo 17 <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2407.html">takes a little spin on the Moon</a>.Frederick Paul Kiesche IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17503079579685008728noreply@blogger.com0