Will Atlantis Ride Again?
This past week in Cape Canaveral, Florida, saw the last landing that the Atlantis Space Shuttle will ever make, ending a 25 flying career with NASA.
1,200 people lined the Kennedy Space Center runway to observe in the landing of the shuttle and its crew, and the lead flight directors for the space station construction mission came in from Houston to join the commemoration.
When Atlantis touched down, Mission Control's commentator proclaimed "The legacy of Atlantis is now in the history books". This was Atlantis' 32nd trip to space, logging its 120-millionth mile soon after midnight.
NASA wants to put Atlantis out there one last time, but it will require White House approval. You can stay current on the remaining two shuttle missions by NASA's two other space shuttles, and see if NASA will be awarded their request by watching local news stations that are part of basic DISH Network packages.
Adam Walsh Act - Florida Third To Implement
Most people are familiar with John Walsh from America's Most Wanted, the long-running TV program produced by FOX which is included with the basic DISH Network packages, and the tragic tale of the horrific kidnapping and murder of his son, Adam.
Walsh turned an experience no parent should have to face into something positive for the country, bringing justice to those so deserving. It is of no insignificance, then, that Florida has implemented the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, making it among the first in the nation to do so.
The law will increase the number of times a year that offenders and predators must register in person with their local sheriff's offices, require offenders and predators to register any email or instant messaging addresses before they can use them, increase the minimum length of registration for offenders, remove the ability for predators to petitions courts for removal of registration requirements, and increase public notification of any changes.
If a state does not make the necessary implementations by July 26, 2010, they can lose 10% of their federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funding, which is used for crime prevention.
Magic Sweeps With Three's
The Orlando Magic wants to win the championship as a team, and it shows on the court, home or away. In game 4 Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando’s Dwight Howard was only responsible for five buckets, but they were all he took (5-5 from the floor). The Magic were using the 3 point line as a weapon to spread the Hawks out and it worked; thus being the reason Howard wasn’t utilized offensively inside as much as one may expect.
As I watched TNT on my Dish Network programming, I was awe-struck. The Magic actually posted a better shooting percentage from the 3 point line than Atlanta shot from 2. That’s amazing. On Monday, The Hawks managed just 40% inside the arc as Orlando worked up 43% shooting outside in the final game sweeping the series, sinking sixteen 3-pointers in all.
Go Magic!
Unnerving 911 Call Highlights Need for Safety
Most people know what fire protection sprinkler systems are, but few people have them installed in their homes. Some newer homes are being built with fire suppression sprinklers, which are included with some ADT Home Security systems packages, but most older homes do not benefit from this feature.
There was a sad story about a man who died in a house fire recently, and while reading the story, I couldn’t help but wonder that if his home had been equipped with a security system, would he have suffered the same unfortunate outcome?
Here is the story. 86-year-old Salvatore Giumarra of Eustis called 911on April 24 pleading for help. Lake County Sheriff’s Office has since released the recording of the call, where Giumarra can be heard saying “Hurry up please! I can’t breathe…I’ve got to put the phone down and open the window.” When fire crews arrived, Giumarra was found dead inside the master bedroom closet.
A home security system could have saved Giumarra by alerting authorities when the fire first started, and when chances of finding him alive and rescue-able where at a crucial high. This man wasn’t planning on having a fire; in fact, he was the victim of arson. It just goes to show that you never know what life will throw at you next. Make personal protection a priority!
Slippery Situation Looms Over Gulf Coast
Last week’s offshore drilling rig explosion has created an oil slick so large, it is said to rival Exxon Valdez. The economic impact of a disaster of this nature is almost impossible to predict, however speculations include implications to travel and tourism, the shrimp industry, and the fine balance of the fragile coastal ecosystem all being on a collision course with devastation.
Approximately 5,000 barrels of oil a day are rising up from the ocean floor after a rig, the Deepwater Horizon, exploded and sank roughly 40 miles offshore. 11 oil rig workers are missing and presumed to have perished. Reporters on local news stations via DISH Network have stated that the oil slick was expected to make landfall as early as Thursday night.
