Well, today was sure a fascinating day. Nitz woke me up around 9ish to tell me that the space shuttle Columbia had exploded. Some of you might be phenomenally annoyed if someone did that to you, but I'm a news junkie, and I always like to keep on top of that stuff, so i was glad that he did it. Needless to say, I reacted the way most people have, with shock and horror. In a small way, I found out how much this has affected people. I have a friend I talk with every so often on icq from Israel, and happened to talk with her while I was watching the news this morning. I'd found out that one of the astronauts was from Israel; what's more, he was the first Israeli astronaut in space. So he was quite a hero to his people of course. Now, they are dealing with a great loss. I hope we will all offer our prayers and compassion.
On a brighter note, and I hope no one will think me crass for thinking this funny, on CBC newsworld during the unfolding events they were interviewing "innocent bystanders" in Nacogdoches, Texas. The news anchor was talking to one guy over the phone who, if I remember correctly had found a piece of wreckage. He described what he'd found, where he found it, then said (this is a very rough paraphrase) "Cousin Billy found an afterburner. D'you wanna talk with him?" News anchor was briefly flustered then said, "Yes, please. We'd like to talk with anyone who can give us information." So Cousin Billy comes on the phone, and news anchor said, "Hello, this is So-and-so, from CBC Newsworld. Toronto. Canada." Cousin Billy was nice enough to describe in great detail the debris he'd found, then went on to say how he was instructed to go to the hospital where the doctors told him to "Wash his hands and sign a release form". That's great. Of course, the chances of anyone encountering any hazardous material, besides that which is still extremely hot is microscopic. But apparently washing his hands and signing that release form shields Cousin Billy from any toxic chemicals or other dangerous materials.
I don't know if I conveyed the full emotion of the whole episode, but I was quite amused, under the circumstances. It reminded me of the breaking news I watched on 9/11 when they'd apparently run out of other experts to interview, so they broadcast a statement made by the Chief something or other Coroner Guy from Ontario, basically telling us no more than we already knew. I had visions in my head of the CBC newsworld News Director running outside in a panic, looking around wild-eyed then pointing at someone and yelling, "You! You're wearing a tie! Get in here!" CBC news is very thorough in it's reporting, but sometimes when a major event like this comes along, you catch the most entertaining bits as it's happening. That's why i always try to be there right from the get-go.
I've got to start doing more with my time. I feel like I'm just wasting my talents, whatever they may be. But I won't worry about that right now. I think I'll go burn something for dinner.