As my readers know, I try to post an article or two each week, but with my computer in the shop, I will not this week. I am working on some articles to post when I have my computer back, however.
In the meantime, enjoy The Whole Earth Blog’s archives and be sure to check out the causes I support.
Thank you for your understanding.
-EMW
Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, died this morning after a seventeen month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.
Dr. Ride was born in Los Angeles in 1951 and received degrees in English, physics, and astrophysics. When NASA allowed women to apply for the astronaut program in 1977, Dr. Ride applied and was accepted in 1978. In 1983, Dr. Ride became the first American women to enter space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger and went into space again in 1984.
Dr. Ride aboard Space Shuttle Challenger
Ultimately, her 1984 trip into space would be her last. The Space Program was halted after the 1986 explosion of the Challenger. After assisting with the investigation of the Challenger disaster, Dr. Ride retired from NASA in 1987. After leaving NASA, Dr. Ride went on to teach at Stanford University and then the University of California, San Diego. In 2001, she founded the Sally Ride Science, a company that develops educational programs in science, technology, engineering, and math for children in grade K-12. Since leaving NASA, she has returned on a number of occasions and has won numerous awards.
Dr. Ride leaves behind her partner of 27 years, Tam O’Shaughnessy, as well as her mother, Joyce; her sister, Bear; her niece, Caitlin, and nephew, Whitney; and her staff of 40 at Sally Ride Science. She has been an inspiration to women and girls around the world and will be remembered for her many accomplishments.
Read her full obituary by The New York Times or read her full biography provided by Sally Ride Science.
The search for Amelia Earhart’s plane by The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR). The group spent the last nine days searching the waters around Nikumaroro Island using advanced sonar and ROV technology.
If you have been following TIGHAR’s daily reports, you know that the expedition has had some technical issues. Problems with the sonar technology and the ROV have not been uncommon. Despite these issues, the team was still able to collect a massive amount of data that they will begin to analyze on their return trip to Hawaii.
Yesterday was their final day at Nikumaroro, and their daily report indicates that they did not find any objects that appeared to be plane shaped, but some speculate that the plane may have broken up as it washed out to sea. If this is the case, they will need to analyze all the sonar scans and ROV images. This will be a challenge because there are pieces of the shipwreck of the SS Norwich City in the area.
The analysis of the data will certainly take some time, and I will post a full update as soon as their final report is published. In the meantime, you can continue to follow the expedition by visiting the TIGHAR website, reading their expedition reports, and following their Facebook page.
I realize that I have been absent for the past week, but I am in the process of moving. I thought I would take a break to post a quick update about the Blog itself. It was two years ago today that I began this blog. I began writing this blog to cover my graduate school experience, but I quickly realized that I would have to write about more than just graduate school if I wanted to attract readers. So, I expanded the blog’s content and changed its name in 2011. Today the blog covers a wide variety of topics including racing, technology, the automotive industry, history, and a variety of important causes. I wanted the blog to reflect my diverse interests, and I believe it has succeeded.
I thought that it might be interesting to discuss some of the numbers. Since the blog launched there have been over 48,000 hits, and the site now averages over 6,000 hits per month. In the last two years, I have written 249 posts, and have the posts divided into 27 categories. Earlier this month, The Whole Earth Blog was recognized by WordPress as one of the fastest growing blogs on they host. That was truly an honor.
As you may have noticed, The Whole Earth Blog has received a minor facelift, as I try to update the site once a year. With an updated header and a slightly modified layout, I am looking forward to what the next year brings, and I hope readers will continue to follow the blog as it continues to improve and grow. I will continue to cover the auto industry, technology, and support a variety of causes. I want to thank all my readers for making this this a successful year and I encourage readers to suggest topics or provide feedback by leaving comments on posts or by using the Contact page.
A group of researching hoping to find the wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s plane should arrive at Nikumaroro Island sometime today. The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) left Hawaii on July 2 and estimated arrival at the island early this morning local time. Once they are in position, they intend to immediately begin using sonar technology and an ROV to map the ocean floor.
Earhart, and her navigator Fred Noonan, disappeared on July 2, 1937, and the search for Earhart’s plane has been off-and-on again for the past 75 years. This time, the crew are using a photograph taken two months. after Earhart disappeared as their guide. The photograph appears to show the landing gear of a Lockheed Electra protruding from the water.
The TIGHAR expedition is led by Earhart historian and TIGHAR Executive Director Ricahrd E. Gillespie, author of the book Finding Amelia. He has been searching for Earhart’s plane since the founding of TIGHAR in 1988. Hopefully after this expedition, Gillespie will have to update his book.
The expedition will be at the site for ten days, and I will post updates as they are available. You can follow the expedition by visiting the TIGHAR website, their expedition reports, or their Facebook page. The group is still accepting donations to help pay for the expedition and you can help by visiting their donation page.
UPDATE: The group arrived at the island this morning at 1:30 AM local time (7:30 AM EDT). The intent was to begin scanning the ocean floor with the AUV, but after a 4-hour test run, the group began to have issues with the propulsion system on the AUV. Luckily the repair should be fairly simple and keep working. You can read the full report HERE.
The homepage of Save the United States features animation and a detailed digital model of the ship.
Yesterday, the SS United States Conservancy launched a new fundraising campaign, Save the United States. The campaign uses innovative software that allows donors to purchase a virtual SS United States by the square inch. With this unique interface, a donor can purchase parts of the ship on the port-side, starboard-side, and the decks. Donors can login to the website using Facebook and begin purchasing sections of the ship. When they are finished, they can share their purchase with friends and family using the integrated social media tools.
The SS United States can be viewed from the starboard side, port side, and from the top. Donors can purchase parts of the ship from any of these perspectives.
Donors can change the perspective of the ship and can explore it by zooming into different levels. When zoomed in to the second level, donors can select a section with over 1200 inches available for purchase. In this view, donors may also see one of two icons. A anchor icon indicates a section where a donor has already purchased a part of the ship. A magnifying glass icon signifies that there is a “Explore Your Ship.” These facts can include wide variety of information or a story from a former passenger. Clicking on the magnifying glass brings up the fact or story with an accompanying picture. The Conservancy will continue to add new facts to the ship, so check back often to learn more about the SS United States.
When a donor zooms in to the third level, they can make their purchase. The donor can select the squares they wish to purchase, or they can have the computer select 50, 100, 250, or 500 squares.
Once zoomed in three times, you can select the inches you would like to purchase. Donations are $1 an inch and the right-hand column calculates your total and shows what rewards you have earned with your purchase.
Prices are set at only $1 per square inch, and as you add squares, you earn rewards and the ability to personalize your donation. By purchasing two squares, you can add a passport photo for everyone to see when they view the section you purchased. With a $3 donation, you can add a 140 character message with your photo. At the $5 level, you can add another photo in addition to your passport photo. With a $10 donation, you can expand your message from 140 characters to 2,000 characters. At the $20 level, you are allowed to customize the section you purchased by changing the color of the squares. At the $30 level, you also add a link to your personal website to your donation profile. And with a $50 or more donation, you get to choose a customized bade that will be placed on the section you purchased. The donor is responsible for paying the accompanying credit card transaction and percentage fees to ensure that 100% of the donation goes to the Conservancy.
In addition to accepting donations, the website also educates. An interactive timeline gives a full history of the ship, United States Lines, and the ships designer William Francis Gibbs.
The new website is about more than just fundraising. With the Explore Your Ship facts and a historical timeline, the website is a tool to educate the pubic about the SS United States. The timeline covers the history of the SS United States, United States Lines, and the ship’s designer, William Francis Gibbs.
The possibilities with this website are endless. It is truly a fun and affordable option to help save the SS United States. I have already made a purchase and intend to purchase a new section each month. This website offers a great opportunity for individuals, families, classrooms, and businesses to donate and own a part of a virtual SS United States. To introduce this new initiative, the SS United States Conservancy had created a video:
Save the United States is a fun and affordable way for donors to help save the SS United States. I have enjoyed exploring the website for past several days, and encourage everyone to take a look and take part in a new exciting way to preserve a piece of our nation’s history. As always, you can get the latest SS United States news by visiting the Conservancy’s website or by following them on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
Kevin and DeLana Harvick welcomed their son earlier today. Keelan Paul (pronounced Keylan) weighed 6.8 lbs and was 19.5 inches. DeLana and Keelan are doing well.
“Waiting on Keelan was the longest nine months of my entire life,” Kevin Harvick said. “But time literally stood still when I held our baby for the first time. I’ve accomplished a lot in my life that I’m proud of, but those moments don’t hold a candle to becoming a father and seeing that little face looking up at you. DeLana and I are just amazed by how special and rewarding this is.”
For the last several months, Kevin and DeLana have referred to their son jokingly as “Baby Otis.” DeLana was in Daytona this weekend for the race, but left early yesterday and returned home to North Carolina. Driver Kenny Wallace was on stand by in case Harvick had to leave the race to return as well.
Congratulations to the Harvicks! I know they will be great parents!
The Space Shuttle Discovery was moved to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near the Dulles Airport outside of Washington, DC. I had a chance to visit the Air & Space Museum in May and thought I would share my photos of the shuttle.
NASCAR driver Johanna Long scored her Nationwide Series career best finish tonight at the Subway Jalapeno 250 at the Daytona International Speedway. The nineteen-year-old sustained minor damage in a wreck but was able to dodge a few more wrecks and a Green-White-Checker finish to finish 12th. After qualifying 11th, Long worked with a number of driver to stay in the top-25 for the majority of the race. Her strong finish was overshadowed by the wreck of Danica Patrick, but it is certainly a great accomplishment for the entire #70 team.
Congratulations to Johanna and her ML Motorsports team. Keep up the good work and finishes will continue to improve. Johanna will be back in the #70 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 22.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation is a leader in funding Parkinson’s Disease research. Founded in 2000, the organization raises money and distributes it to various research institutions. Since its founding, the foundation has raised over $200 million since its founding. Founder, actor Michael J. Fox, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1990. The effects of the disease forced him to retire from acting in 2000, and he used the opportunity to help others with the disease. Fox described his diagnoses and struggles with Parkinson’s Disease in his two books: Lucky Man: A Memoir and Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist. Through it all, however, he started the foundation to help others and search for the cure. With the help of the foundation, the scientific and medical communities now know more about the disease than ever before. Today, Fox has returned to acting having appeared in a number of TV series, including a reoccurring role on CBS’s The Good Wife.
The foundations website is an excellent introduction to the disease for those just diagnosed or those interested in learning about the disease. Included on the website is a Trial Finder which allows Parkinson’s patients to located clinical trials near them. The foundation realized that an issue with raising millions of dollars was that there were not enough participants in a number of the trials it funded. The Trial Finder has given all the donations more meaning by ensuring they are put to the best use.
I have been a fan of Michael J. Fox since I was a kid. Back to the Future is still one of my favorite movies, and I support his foundation and encourage others to do so as well. There are a number of ways to help. You can give a donation directly to the foundation, join Team Fox, or shop in the foundation’s store. Either way, you are helping a great cause.
Follow the Michael J. Fox Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
