Godspeed Discovery

Space Shuttle Discovery is now on it's last mission, the next-to-last of the program. I have an uneasy feeling about this flight, don't know why.

"I like space. The farther you go out into space, the smaller the Federal Goverment looks."

—Ronald Reagan

gv

On the Preservation of Memories

To maintain the condition of their memories, the famas proceed in the following manner: after having fastened the memory with webs and reminders, with every possible precaution, they wrap it from head to foot in a black sheet and stand it against the parlor wall with a little label which reads: "EXCURSION TO QUILMES" or "FRANK SINATRA".

Cronopios, on the other hand, disordered and tepid beings that they are, leave memories loose about the house. They set them down with happy shouts and walk carelessly among them, and when one passes through running they caress it mildly and tell it "Don't hurt yourself," and also "Be careful of the stairs." It is for this reason that the famas' houses are orderly and silent, while in those of the cronopios there is great uproar and doors slamming. Neighbors always complain about cronopios, and the famas shake their heads understandingly, and go and see if the tags are all in place.

Julio Cortázar, Cronopios and Famas, 1962.

Cold and other facts

It has been really cold where I live lately. We have had two stretches of below zero temperatures and it was -17 F. again last night. So, I was wondering what the record cold has been over the years. -17 is not even close for us, so I better just be happy and pay my heating bill, I guess. Other fun facts about individual states, link at the bottom of this post.



More facts about the states.

Happy Groundhog Day

I was going to do a post about Groundhog Day, but I didn't.

I'll make it up to you on Valentine's Day.