fiction and musings from a gay black dude with delusions above his station
During 1973-74, Comet Kohoutek became all the rage. Discovered by Czech astronomy Luboš Kohoutek, scientists believed the comet would become a major event, big, bright, spectacular. I was only 8 at the time, but remember the hype quite well, because no one was more excited about Comet Kohoutek than my mother. Mom loved outer space….
When the Cassini probe launched in 1997, some controversy followed it for the first part of its voyage. Probes heading to the outer solar system need a speed boost. Big chemical rockets are too impractical and expensive. Ion rockets, though promising, can’t provide the power needed at this time. So for decades, rocket scientists have…
In 1981, shortly after taking office, President Ronald Reagan nominated Dr. C. Everett Koop for the position of surgeon general. Though largely unknown to the general public, Dr. Koop had gained a reputation within medical circles for his innovations in pediatric surgery. And he also had some cache within conservative and right-to-life circles because of…
When I wake up in my own bed, I think sometimes of the morning I woke up in a totally different environment, the tropical paradise known as the Island. I half expected Rover to bounce by, though at the time I was far from amused. I remember how I first looked at Rick with both…
