Chewbacchus

Chewbacchus 2011! from Milo Pinkerton on Vimeo.

Eris Parade details from one of the arrested...

ReX DINGLER: Eris Parade details from one of the arrested...: "Original article is at http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2011/03/15776.php Arrested at the Eris Parade by Anonymous by request Wednesda..."

another post at this website

Another eyewitness report is here

NOLA dot com's take on it at this link.

Caught on a phone

Banksy: World’s top street artist takes on the BP Oil Disaster (PHOTOS)

Banksy: World’s top street artist takes on the BP Oil Disaster (PHOTOS)

Discovery's Wakeup Call - March 7, 2011

Space shuttle Discovery's crew started its last day at the International Space Station with a special wake up call. The "Theme from Star Trek," performed by Alexander Courage, served as the wake up music for Discovery's crew at 2:23 a.m. It received the second most public votes from a Top 40 list in a Space Shuttle Program-sponsored song contest. The top two songs with the most votes from that list earned the right to be played as wake up music for Discovery's crew during its final mission. As a bonus, actor William Shatner recorded a special introduction to the song: "Space, the final frontier. These have been the voyages of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Her 30 year mission: To seek out new science. To build new outposts. To bring nations together on the final frontier. To boldly go, and do, what no spacecraft has done before."

from <a href = http://nasawatch.com/”> nasawatch dot com </a>

Just Because

For Mardi Gras, y'all

Carnival Time

Mardi Gras - the biggest free show on earth - is truely a remarkable event. In New Orleans the season starts on Twelfth Night, aka Kings Day (January 6th) and runs through Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras day.

This year we are experiencing the longest Mardi Gras season in our lifetimes. I can't complain, because that means a longer period to eat King Cake!



Come midnight this coming Tuesday there are going to be some people who feel as if they've partied since January 6th. The out of towners who come here to lose their identities for a weekend . And the young kids, like my 22 year old daughter, who want to be in the heart of it all, breathing it all in and hoping the drinks and parades don't end early.

I used to be like that. I used to get up early and leave the house in Slidell by 6 a.m., come rain or shine to make sure we secured a spot on St. Charles Avenue. We sipped our spiked coffee, our coolers were full of beer and sandwiches, snacks and drinks for the kids. We were prepared for a day of fun. Mardi Gras music evokes such good memories of those days.



I'm happy to have made all of those memories. I have seen Mardi Gras from balconies on Bourbon Street, I've been in the crowds on Bourbon Street.



I've done Mardi Gras in Metairie and from the stands of Gallier Hall. I love the traditions of the Krewes of Zulu and Rex . The chance of seeing marching Bands like St. Aug's Marching 100 and Southern University will always excite me.



I even withstood and entire truck parade......once.

I've been to the Krewe of Dreux but haven't made it to the Krewe du Vieux .

I've never "shown my tits". That's for drunken tourists.

Now I am at the point in my life where I can let Mardi Gras go on without me. Not unike NOLA blogger Cliff. I can leave the parades and balls to the Carnival enthusiasts and celebrate the season in my own way. At home with a King Cake, Abita Beer, Zapps Chips and Popeyes chicken. No worries about traffic and DWI's, trying to find a place to pee on Mardi Gras Day.



I wouldn't ever move away from here, because Mardi Gras is only a small piece of the beauty and culture there is available in this tiny speck in the world.

On Being Reclusive in a Social Town

Glenn over at Bigeasy Bear makes me feel less alone in his post "On Being Reclusive in a Social Town", about those of us that don't "do" Mardi Gras.

Hey boaters in Florida!!!!! Listen up!

Now I know you guys MUST be aware of the oil spill that happened last April in the Gulf of Mexico. Today I read that you boaters are killing turtles due to your carelessness. PEOPLE, GET SOME RESPECT!

Here's the article from the Miami Herald


CLEARWATER, Fla. -- At least four sea turtles were killed by boaters off Florida's Gulf coast.

A release from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Sunday indicated two turtles were already dead when workers arrived at the beach. Two others were too injured to be rescued and another injured turtle was spotted, but swam away before rescuers could get to it.

Officials said all four turtles were hit by boats in Pinellas County waters. This time of year, turtles become more active as the water temperature warms up and they often float to soak up the sun.

Two were Kemp's Ridley turtles, which are an endangered species that nests from May through June.



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/28/2089694/4-sea-turtles-killed-by-fla-boaters.html#ixzz1FavMyQtF

NOLA at Night

From Spaceref dot com

Having enjoyed a clear sky nocturnal photo opportunity over New Orleans earlier (Jan. 26) in their mission, Expedition 26 crew members aboard the International Space Station had another window on Feb. 22 to capture images of the Crescent City or Big Easy from 220 miles above Earth. The Gulf of Mexico is the dark area in the upper portions of the frame. The Mississippi River is visible winding its way through the city toward the Gulf. A 200-mm lens was used to take the picture. ISS026-E-028375 (22 Feb. 2011

Update from ISS

-- NASA STS-133 Report #10 5:30 a.m. CST Tuesday, March 1, 2011 http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=36240

 

"By the end of the day, the International Space Station will have an extra 2,472 cubic feet of storage space, following the installation of the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module.

 

Discovery's crew members got their wake-up call to begin flight day 6 at 4:57 a.m. CST, to the tune of "Happy Together" by The Turtles. The song was played for Mission Specialist Steve Bowen, who completed his sixth spacewalk on Monday."

 

Shuttle Launch as seen from a plane