We had a choice of writing about the future of transportation or the future of fashion. Given my penchant for wearing jeans and t-shirts, I chose the transportation aspect. Enjoy!
~~~
When I think of the future of transportation, I think back to John F. Kennedy, and the challenge to put a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth by the end of the 1960’s. In that speech, President Kennedy created the “space race,” one of the most remarkable experiments in mankind’s history. In theory, that’s all it was; nothing had been accomplished at that point to suggest that it could even be done. Alan B. Shepard, Jr. had made the first American manned spaceflight aboard Freedom 7 in 1961. The total time for that flight was 15 minutes, 28 seconds, yet they turned this into the ultimate accomplishment – landing on the moon. If scientists could create all the new technology to put a man on the moon in less than 10 years, surely when partnered with capitalists, they can create commercial space travel within the next 100 years.
First, we have to be realistic and have a place for these space travelers to go. Let us presume there is a sustained human colony on the moon. This has been created by trained astronauts and scientists, engineers and contracted workers. They drilled the last hole, secured the last rivet, pumped an oxygen mixture that the human body can handle into the environment and washed the windows. Now, how do we get there?
The business world has already started the process of creating public transportation into space. Based on the Orteig Prize, won by Charles Lindbergh in 1927 for being the first to fly non-stop from New York to Paris, the $10 million X-PRIZE was announced in 1996. To win the prize, a team had to design, manufacture, and launch a space vehicle “…capable of carrying three people to 100 kilometers above the earth’s surface, twice within two weeks” (NASA.gov). Scaled Composites won the X-PRIZE in 2004, but more importantly, they opened the path of commercial space travel to other companies.
My vision of the future is of these sleek spacecrafts; launching on a weekly basis, from different sites around the globe. While the price of a ticket may be egregious at first, I see the cost of the flights going down; as engineers find more economic, yet safer, ways to build and fly these new ships. One of the contestants in the running for the X-PRIZE was Virgin Galactic, and they have taken the lead in personal space travel. For a small fee of $200,000, you can apply for a booking on one of their future spaceflights.
Located in New Mexico, the world’s first commercial space terminal, “Spaceport America” is under construction through the collaboration of Virgin Galactic and the State of New Mexico. A $200 million state-funded project, the spaceport is located on 27 square miles of southern New Mexico’s “Land of Enchantment.” Just one more small step for man, and we will be sending all types of civilians into space, to do the things that only astronauts aboard space shuttles and the International Space Station had previously been able to do.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Physical Description of a Stranger Assignment
I got an A on this last assignment; it was to describe another (unknown) person in 750 words. It could not be someone you knew, or a celebrity. I had fun!
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Walking slowly through the mall, my subject seemed not to notice anything at first; she was enveloped in her own thoughts and seemed blissful. The smile on her face, while thin, told of a soul that was at ease with the world and her place in it.
The posture she held was slightly bent over, her feet shuffling with each step. In her right hand she held a cane, although it appeared she seldom used it while she walked. She would occasionally use it while paused at a kiosk. Sometimes it looked like she would get a burst of superpower energy, stand erect, and march to the next kiosk.
Her clothes look freshly laundered, as if put on right out of the dryer. The shirt she wore was a white button down dress shirt, and it was tucked into her skirt. Although she wore an overcoat, you could see the shirt hanging from her lean frame, her collarbones easily showing through the fabric.
She wore a knee length tan skirt that fell from her waist, and had a slight stain on the lower hem. The skirt had two brown accent stripes that ran down along either side. There were a few rhinestones sown along the bottom of the hem. Under the skirt she wore opaque white tights that were pristine; a slight contradiction to the stained skirt.
Her low-heeled shoes provided her with the ability to walk comfortably while still being fashionable. They were black patent leather, but worn. I caught the dull reflection of the fluorescent lights that adorned the ceiling of the mall. You could tell that she was fond of these shoes; there were cracked lines along the sides. When she walked past me, I could hear the creak of worn leather.
The woman carried a thin white purse, and a fabric reusable grocery bag. The bag was green in color, with brown handles; and there was a “Recycle-Reduce-Reuse” logo printed on the exterior. It overflowed with bargains she found that day while shopping. Peeking out the top of the bag was a plastic-wrapped loofah, and six inches of yarn trailed off the side.
Trying to see past the woman’s clothing, and the bags she was carrying, I looked directly at her face. I hoped she wouldn’t catch my gaze, and she didn’t. I was close enough to see the slate gray of her eyes. They were framed with lids that were semi-transparent, and contently half closed. I would not have noticed the color of her eyes if not for the rhinestone necklace that she wore around her neck. The two colors played off each other, shimmering.
The necklace had accompanying earrings, which dangled from her delicate ears. I was close enough to see the weight of the earrings pulling down on her lobes, and to see a small mark just below her right ear. Trying not to be conspicuous, I moved from my spot to get a look at the mark. I was surprised to see a small Star of David. That piqued my curiosity. I wanted to speak to the woman, and ask her about her life. I was sure she had many stories to tell, and that I could sit for hours listening. I was interrupted in that thought when my husband approached me and asked how my research was going. I went back to silent and still observation.
Her tresses were long – falling to just above her waist – quite unusual for a lady of her age. They were a natural shade of blonde, with radiant silver highlights. Her bangs were pulled back in a brown tortoiseshell barrette. Every once in a while, a strand would fall across her face, and she would brush it away with a sweep of her hand. If she caught her reflection in a mirror, she would study herself to make sure each hair was in place, and that she was presentable to the next kiosk attendant.
The skin of her hands was as paper-thin as her eyelids, and I could see the small veins beneath her skin. There were some small liver spots on both of her hands, but not noticeable at just a glance. The hand that held the cane gripped it tightly, and her knuckles were white. Her nails were acrylic, and finely manicured. Bright pink, they stood out from the rest of her outfit.
Taking a step back from my intense studying of each detail of my subject, I took a moment to take an overall look at her. She was, indeed, beautiful: an elegant lady of later age. I can only hope that when I am that age, and a random person is studying me for their English project that they see the same classy lady that I saw today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking slowly through the mall, my subject seemed not to notice anything at first; she was enveloped in her own thoughts and seemed blissful. The smile on her face, while thin, told of a soul that was at ease with the world and her place in it.
The posture she held was slightly bent over, her feet shuffling with each step. In her right hand she held a cane, although it appeared she seldom used it while she walked. She would occasionally use it while paused at a kiosk. Sometimes it looked like she would get a burst of superpower energy, stand erect, and march to the next kiosk.
Her clothes look freshly laundered, as if put on right out of the dryer. The shirt she wore was a white button down dress shirt, and it was tucked into her skirt. Although she wore an overcoat, you could see the shirt hanging from her lean frame, her collarbones easily showing through the fabric.
She wore a knee length tan skirt that fell from her waist, and had a slight stain on the lower hem. The skirt had two brown accent stripes that ran down along either side. There were a few rhinestones sown along the bottom of the hem. Under the skirt she wore opaque white tights that were pristine; a slight contradiction to the stained skirt.
Her low-heeled shoes provided her with the ability to walk comfortably while still being fashionable. They were black patent leather, but worn. I caught the dull reflection of the fluorescent lights that adorned the ceiling of the mall. You could tell that she was fond of these shoes; there were cracked lines along the sides. When she walked past me, I could hear the creak of worn leather.
The woman carried a thin white purse, and a fabric reusable grocery bag. The bag was green in color, with brown handles; and there was a “Recycle-Reduce-Reuse” logo printed on the exterior. It overflowed with bargains she found that day while shopping. Peeking out the top of the bag was a plastic-wrapped loofah, and six inches of yarn trailed off the side.
Trying to see past the woman’s clothing, and the bags she was carrying, I looked directly at her face. I hoped she wouldn’t catch my gaze, and she didn’t. I was close enough to see the slate gray of her eyes. They were framed with lids that were semi-transparent, and contently half closed. I would not have noticed the color of her eyes if not for the rhinestone necklace that she wore around her neck. The two colors played off each other, shimmering.
The necklace had accompanying earrings, which dangled from her delicate ears. I was close enough to see the weight of the earrings pulling down on her lobes, and to see a small mark just below her right ear. Trying not to be conspicuous, I moved from my spot to get a look at the mark. I was surprised to see a small Star of David. That piqued my curiosity. I wanted to speak to the woman, and ask her about her life. I was sure she had many stories to tell, and that I could sit for hours listening. I was interrupted in that thought when my husband approached me and asked how my research was going. I went back to silent and still observation.
Her tresses were long – falling to just above her waist – quite unusual for a lady of her age. They were a natural shade of blonde, with radiant silver highlights. Her bangs were pulled back in a brown tortoiseshell barrette. Every once in a while, a strand would fall across her face, and she would brush it away with a sweep of her hand. If she caught her reflection in a mirror, she would study herself to make sure each hair was in place, and that she was presentable to the next kiosk attendant.
The skin of her hands was as paper-thin as her eyelids, and I could see the small veins beneath her skin. There were some small liver spots on both of her hands, but not noticeable at just a glance. The hand that held the cane gripped it tightly, and her knuckles were white. Her nails were acrylic, and finely manicured. Bright pink, they stood out from the rest of her outfit.
Taking a step back from my intense studying of each detail of my subject, I took a moment to take an overall look at her. She was, indeed, beautiful: an elegant lady of later age. I can only hope that when I am that age, and a random person is studying me for their English project that they see the same classy lady that I saw today.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
A Thai Student Writes Home.
Our next assignment in English was to be a student from Thailand studying in Canberra, Australia, and to write a letter home. Writing this made me want to visit both places!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maae rak,
The University of Canberra is everything I imagined it to be. We just finished a week of orientation for international students, with subjects such as adjusting to living and studying in Australia, an introduction to the University’s policies and procedures, and even a workshop on International Student Visa requirements. I wish I had easier access to some of this information before I arrived here!
The main thing they wanted to stress upon us is that we need to pay attention to our surroundings. They did not go as far as to say that we are not safe while off campus, but they definitely wanted us to be aware of certain areas. There is a public housing district that does not have the best reputation, so they gave us alternate methods of transportation to avoid the area. Another Thai exchange student likened the area to Sukhumvit Road; there are many drug dealers and prostitutes, and people that will take advantage of you at every turn.
After the staff dimmed our minds with the mandatory administrative things (and almost scared us into spending the rest of the week in the housing facility), they took us on a bus tour of Canberra. It was about only two hours, but it took us to the most visited tourist spots. We were only able to leave the bus for a short time, but we were given a good base knowledge on what we should do when we finally have time on our own. There are so many things I want to see!
Since I am an accounting major, I’m sure you can appreciate my excitement when we made a brief snack stop outside the Royal Australian Mint. I was able to speak with a khaawng, who frequents the Mint, and he told me that tours are self-guided and free! You can get into the museum, and also view the factory floor where the coins are manufactured. I can see myself spending an entire day there. Or perhaps a few; you know how I am in museums.
There is another place that I found interesting; the Australian War Memorial. They currently have an exhibit, “of Love and War”, that looks at the relationship that love had in the lives of Australian servicemen and women during war. It is easy to think of dtaa ga yaai and how their love reached many distances. The exhibit runs until the beginning of May, which is just enough time for me to visit before my trip home.
While Australia is a world away from Thailand, there are subtle reminders of home. This morning, as I walked through the campus, I saw a black swan. It brought back a memory of that English pub “The Black Swan” in Bangkok where my friends and I celebrated graduation. Did you know that alcohol was originally prohibited in Canberra? Just like how Thailand restricts alcohol sales just prior to election days.
In preparation for our management class starting on Monday, we are taking a trip this weekend to Brisbane. There is a conference at the Australian Institute of Management. It’s just the girls for this particular trip, giving us a chance to connect with other women and a chance for us to learn from someone who has become successful in her chosen field. The lady who will be hosting the seminar this weekend is Christine Sullivan, one of Brisbane’s leading Naturopaths in natural fertility. I know that this particular subject doesn’t fit with my career plans, but there is a lot that I can learn regarding personal discipline, management styles, and how to interact with clients. I am really looking forward to hearing her speak.
Our trip to Brisbane is not just work, work, and more work – we have Sunday completely free before we catch our flight in the evening back to Canberra. Our maae laao (who makes these trips quite regularly) has arranged for us to go on a personal tour of Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo. We will have a photographer provided by the Zoo with us to capture our encounters with Australia’s indigenous creatures. I’ll make sure to get some pictures with a koala for you; I know they are your favorite!
Other than classes, our trip to Brisbane, and the few museums that I want to visit, I plan to try and relax as much as I can. I tend to overwork myself, convincing myself that I have to be at my best for everything I do. It can get tiring to try and be at 200% all of the time. I found a perfect spot on campus where I can sit under a tree with a book or my iPod and just take in where I am, and how beautiful it is. I wish you were here to see it.
I will write again soon. I am keeping a photo journal of everything I do, so I’ll be sending some pictures home soon. Can you put them in a box for me, so I can organize them when I get back? I love you, and will call you soon.
With Love, Lawan-Kulap.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maae rak,
The University of Canberra is everything I imagined it to be. We just finished a week of orientation for international students, with subjects such as adjusting to living and studying in Australia, an introduction to the University’s policies and procedures, and even a workshop on International Student Visa requirements. I wish I had easier access to some of this information before I arrived here!
The main thing they wanted to stress upon us is that we need to pay attention to our surroundings. They did not go as far as to say that we are not safe while off campus, but they definitely wanted us to be aware of certain areas. There is a public housing district that does not have the best reputation, so they gave us alternate methods of transportation to avoid the area. Another Thai exchange student likened the area to Sukhumvit Road; there are many drug dealers and prostitutes, and people that will take advantage of you at every turn.
After the staff dimmed our minds with the mandatory administrative things (and almost scared us into spending the rest of the week in the housing facility), they took us on a bus tour of Canberra. It was about only two hours, but it took us to the most visited tourist spots. We were only able to leave the bus for a short time, but we were given a good base knowledge on what we should do when we finally have time on our own. There are so many things I want to see!
Since I am an accounting major, I’m sure you can appreciate my excitement when we made a brief snack stop outside the Royal Australian Mint. I was able to speak with a khaawng, who frequents the Mint, and he told me that tours are self-guided and free! You can get into the museum, and also view the factory floor where the coins are manufactured. I can see myself spending an entire day there. Or perhaps a few; you know how I am in museums.
There is another place that I found interesting; the Australian War Memorial. They currently have an exhibit, “of Love and War”, that looks at the relationship that love had in the lives of Australian servicemen and women during war. It is easy to think of dtaa ga yaai and how their love reached many distances. The exhibit runs until the beginning of May, which is just enough time for me to visit before my trip home.
While Australia is a world away from Thailand, there are subtle reminders of home. This morning, as I walked through the campus, I saw a black swan. It brought back a memory of that English pub “The Black Swan” in Bangkok where my friends and I celebrated graduation. Did you know that alcohol was originally prohibited in Canberra? Just like how Thailand restricts alcohol sales just prior to election days.
In preparation for our management class starting on Monday, we are taking a trip this weekend to Brisbane. There is a conference at the Australian Institute of Management. It’s just the girls for this particular trip, giving us a chance to connect with other women and a chance for us to learn from someone who has become successful in her chosen field. The lady who will be hosting the seminar this weekend is Christine Sullivan, one of Brisbane’s leading Naturopaths in natural fertility. I know that this particular subject doesn’t fit with my career plans, but there is a lot that I can learn regarding personal discipline, management styles, and how to interact with clients. I am really looking forward to hearing her speak.
Our trip to Brisbane is not just work, work, and more work – we have Sunday completely free before we catch our flight in the evening back to Canberra. Our maae laao (who makes these trips quite regularly) has arranged for us to go on a personal tour of Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo. We will have a photographer provided by the Zoo with us to capture our encounters with Australia’s indigenous creatures. I’ll make sure to get some pictures with a koala for you; I know they are your favorite!
Other than classes, our trip to Brisbane, and the few museums that I want to visit, I plan to try and relax as much as I can. I tend to overwork myself, convincing myself that I have to be at my best for everything I do. It can get tiring to try and be at 200% all of the time. I found a perfect spot on campus where I can sit under a tree with a book or my iPod and just take in where I am, and how beautiful it is. I wish you were here to see it.
I will write again soon. I am keeping a photo journal of everything I do, so I’ll be sending some pictures home soon. Can you put them in a box for me, so I can organize them when I get back? I love you, and will call you soon.
With Love, Lawan-Kulap.
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