The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads!

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

Journey to the Cross-roads
The Two Towers Edition

Come on! Come in! -if you would like to have some seedcakes and a pint and relax a while. (If it is a special occasion, we still have a few bottles of the old wineyards left!)

Our first thread ( New Zealander builds Hobbit hole ) reached 4,100 posts, and we thought that was big. Our second thread (The New Hobbit Hole ) held us for over 48,000 posts, and we loved it dearly. We talked about moving to a new thread for the last 38,000 posts, but we are really slow to muster! Finally, the time has come. Tomorrow (at 12:01 am, to be precise!) The Two Towers comes out, and we start a new chapter.

[Sam Cree]

I can't think of a lot to say about it either.

I was standing on the dock and witnessed it last time, 15 years ago or so.

I will hope and pray that much worse tragedies will not be inflicted on free peoples in months and years to come.

Feeling pretty sad. But determined.

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

Morning all. Terrible news.... I was starting to work with photos on my computer, the cartoons were on in the family room and then they broke in with the news.... been watching TV coverage....

Prayers going up, but feeling mighty sad....

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, Their lives were extraordinary, even if they ended so soon.... I keep looking at the photo they took of the earth and moon last weekend.

What a spot in time *that* was. I would go just to see that.

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

Thanks for that awesome photo, Hair. It is kind of comforting in a way....

[Sam Cree]

Yeah, there will be plenty more *spots in time,* I am sure.

[Sam Cree]

Hi RWRF, glad to see you.

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

Hi Sam...

[Sam Cree]

Saw the following posted by Redleg Duke, who I don't know, on the live thread. Thought it was kind of OK:

"In the midst of this tragic day, may I offer this.

The American Space Program, in the 40 years it has existed, has lost 17 astronauts in spaceflight-related activities. Three in Apolo 1 on the pad, 7 on Challenger and now apparently 7 on Columbia.

How many pioneers were lost exploring and settling North America?

Space, the Final Frontier, is a harsh environment. Exploring and conquering it will be dangerous. Few have been lost, but many, many more will be if we, the Human Race, is to continue to reach and achieve.

We must pause, reflect and honor these latest "Pioneers" who have paid the ultimate price, but in their honor, we must pick up where they left off and continue Mankind's Journey!

My Two-Cents worth.

849 posted on 02/01/2003 10:48 AM EST by Redleg Duke"

[JenB]

My parents went out to do errands and they must have had the radio on... they just called. I feel horrible. I guess this is how Challenger felt....

We pray for one last landing on the globe that gave us birth
Let us rest our eyes on the fleecy skies and the cool green hills of Earth.

[HairOfTheDog]

I thought it was comforting too.... In their lives they got to see that!

It takes a lot of courage to be the people who do the great stuff.

[Overtaxed]

I feel horrible. I guess this is how Challenger felt....

Yeah Challenger was bad. And made worse because it could have been prevented.

[JenB]

All I can think is, is this terrorism or a horrible accident?

[Sam Cree]

That is a nice quote, Jen, where is it from?

[JenB]

That's from Robert Heinlein's poem, "The Green Hills of Earth". I have memorized most of the poem and the whole thing goes something like...

Let the sweet fresh breezes heal me
As they rove around the girth
Of our lovely mother planet
Of the cool, green hills of Earth.

The arching sky is calling
Spacemen back to their trade.
ALL HANDS! STAND BY! FREE FALLING!
And the lights below us fade.

Out ride the sons of Terra,
Far drives the thundering jet,
Up leaps a race of Earthmen,
Out, far, and onward yet ---

We pray for one last landing
On the globe that gave us birth;
Let us rest our eyes on the friendly skies
And the cool, green hills of Earth.

[Overtaxed]

For what it's worth, I think it's an accident....unless it was sabotaged on the ground (but then wouldn't it have happened on take off and not landing?) It's the oldest shuttle in the fleet....the thing is 20 years old. Even don't keep a car 20 years!

[HairOfTheDog]

Jen.... terrorists aren't that good. Don't give them the credit.

These astronauts and engineers lived in a world where glory and tragedy were equal possibilities with every mile they traveled. That we ever pull it off, that these missions ever succeed is what is amazing. Not that they occasionally fail.

[Overtaxed]

Make that "even I don't keep a car 20 years.

[JenB]

But the space program isn't important, is it? Not like AIDS research or welfare. There goes any chance of a nuclear shuttle in the next three decades...

The astronauts, I think, would go on, it's the Greens who seize tragedies and - oh, it makes me sick.

[2Jedismom]

Press conference coming up soon...

I'll check in after.

[Sam Cree]

Hi Overtaxed.

Airliners, though, are routinely flown that old, and older.