Music and Me

For so many reasons - LOVE LOVE LOVE this song.....

"Going where the sun keeps shining - where the weather suits my clothes.." for just one.;)

Sometimes...

When you don't know the answer to a question ...

it's because you're asking the wrong question.

Sometimes

even when you ask the right question...


no answer IS the answer!

NASA: The Giant Nebula

The Giant Nebula, NGC 3603

Thousands of sparkling young stars nestled within the giant nebula NGC 3603. This stellar "jewel box" is one of the most massive young star clusters in the Milky Way Galaxy. NGC 3603 is a prominent star-forming region in the Carina spiral arm of the Milky Way, about 20,000 light-years away. This image shows a young star cluster surrounded by a vast region of dust and gas. The image reveals stages in the life cycle of stars. The nebula was first discovered by Sir John Herschel in 1834. The image spans roughly 17 light-years.

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage

CJ writes about Brian

CJ Grisham writes about his friend Brian, and Doonesbury runs his column:

SSG BRIAN COWDREY |

November 05, 2011

Name: C.J. Grisham
Returned from: Iraq
Deployed to: Afghanistan
Milblog: Afghanistan War Journal

It’s been a rough week. I haven’t written much because I haven’t been able to focus my thoughts. I’ve got a few drafts that just don’t make enough sense to publish. Plus, my momma always said if you don’t have something nice to say, shut your mouth. Not that I’ve necessarily heeded that advice over the years, but I thought it prudent recently.

I lost a good friend a week ago. SSG Brian Cowdrey died October 13, 2011, during combat operations in RC-East. Brian was a medic with the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade.

That night he went in to get two severely wounded patients, and once they were onboard, he went back out to get one who wasn’t as bad.

He didn’t need to, but he did. He was hit on his way back into the helicopter. All the patients that Brian got that night are still living today. There were only two people who died in that firefight -- one being SSG Cowdrey, the other being an American Soldier who had already expired when Brian got there.

The shock was difficult to process. We had just been emailing each other that day and I was waiting on a response to question I had asked him about what he does. We were working on a blog post together about the great work that MEDEVAC troops are doing in Afghanistan in spite of some reports.

Then I read on his wife Jill’s Facebook page confirming rumors that he had died. Here I was in Afghanistan and had no idea this had happened and then the nearly 12 hours of silence from him hit me. The first thing I did was head to my email and shot off an email to Brian:

“Brian, you have to answer this. I think I’m seeing things and I need to answer this. I don’t care what you say or if you send me a blank email. Just reply to this email and let me know you’re ok.”

Nothing. Silence. Outlook just jeered at me in a pathetic lack of activity. Two days later, I was still not convinced. “I know now I’m talking to myself, but I miss you bro,” I wrote in a Facebook message to him. He always responded on Facebook. He didn’t respond this time....

If you read nothing else this weekend, this week, read this here.

Thank you, CJ, and my forever thanks to Brian and his family...

Some Gave All: Private Matthew James Sean Haseldin

Private Matthew James Sean Haseldin killed in Afghanistan

4 Nov 11

It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Private Matthew Haseldin from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (2 MERCIAN) in Afghanistan on Thursday 3 November 2011.

Private Matthew Haseldin
[Picture: via MOD]



Private Haseldin was killed in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, while on an operation to maintain freedom of movement for the local population. His patrol came under attack from insurgents and sadly, during the attack, he sustained a fatal gunshot wound.

Private Matthew James Sean Haseldin

Private Haseldin, aged 21, from Settle, Yorkshire, joined the Army in February 2011 before successfully passing the Combat Infantryman's Course at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick. Upon completion of training, Private Haseldin joined 2 MERCIAN in August 2011 ahead of the Battalion's deployment to Afghanistan in September on Operation HERRICK 15.

Private Haseldin joined C Company Group just after they had deployed to the Nahr-e Saraj District in Helmand province as part of Combined Force Burma. The Battalion is responsible for securing freedom of movement along Route 611, which is a key Main Supply Route linking Gereshk city with other district centres in Helmand province and beyond, including Kandahar City.

On the morning of 3 November 2011, Private Haseldin's patrol deployed from their operating base to clear and secure areas along Route 611, a key ground line of communication. Whilst conducting a check, the patrol came under attack from sustained small arms fire and underslung grenades during which Private Haseldin was fatally wounded.

Keen to prove himself and perform to the best of his ability, Private Haseldin had quickly become a popular member of his platoon. Quietly confident and displaying levels of competence that exceeded his experience, Private Haseldin was a reliable, fit, professional and dependable soldier.

Private Haseldin was proud to serve in the Mercian Regiment alongside his friends and comrades. His performance on the battlefield epitomised the Regimental motto, never failing to Stand Firm and Strike Hard.

Alan and Jill, Matthew's parents, said:

"Matthew was a loving son and we are very proud of him. He had only been in the Army for a few months. Friends and family will miss him greatly. Rest in Peace."

Lieutenant Colonel Colin Marks, Commanding Officer 2 MERCIAN and Combined Force BURMA, said:

"Although Private Matthew Haseldin had only served a short time with C Company Group, he stood out as a young man of immense character, who had travelled widely and was mature beyond his years. Hugely popular, it was impossible to tell that he was the newest member of 7 Platoon; all of whom loved him like a brother. One of the team, Matthew was at the centre of most things and enjoyed a game of cards during precious rest periods.

"Steadfast in battle, Matthew faced more challenges in the few short weeks he spent in Helmand than many soldiers experience in a lifetime. He died standing firm in the face of a determined enemy, in the highest traditions of The Mercian Regiment.

"Stand easy comrade, your duty is done. Your sacrifice will not be in vain and our success will be your legacy. We will never forget you.

"Stand FIRM, Strike Hard."

Major Tim Spoor, Officer Commanding C Company, 2 MERCIAN, said:

"Matthew joined the Company in Afghanistan, but such was his character and enthusiasm it was only a matter of days before it felt like he had always been part of the team. On the ground he demonstrated his courage and resolve in the most demanding of circumstances, earning the respect and admiration of his newly found friends and colleagues.

"Matthew will be remembered for his laughter, his stories, and above all, his commitment to his friends. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. He will not be forgotten and will be remembered always by the soldiers of C Company."...

Go here, spend time getting to know Private Haseldin.

ALWAYS remembered and honoured.

IDF Navy boards protest float

From IDF News Desk:




Go over to War On Terror News for the whole story here.

NASA: Ancient White Dwarf Stars

Ancient White Dwarf Stars

Pushing the limits of its powerful vision, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope uncovered the oldest burned-out stars in our Milky Way Galaxy in this image from 2002. These extremely old, dim "clockwork stars" provide a completely independent reading on the age of the universe without relying on measurements of the expansion of the universe.

The ancient white dwarf stars, as seen by Hubble, turn out to be 12 to 13 billion years old. Because earlier Hubble observations show that the first stars formed less than 1 billion years after the universe's birth in the big bang, finding the oldest stars puts astronomers well within arm's reach of calculating the absolute age of the universe.

Though previous Hubble research sets the age of the universe at 13 to 14 billion years based on the rate of expansion of space, the universe's birthday is such a fundamental and profound value that astronomers have long sought other age-dating techniques to cross-check their conclusions.

The new age-dating observations were done using Hubble to hunt for elusive ancient stars hidden inside a globular star cluster located 5,600 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.

Image Credit: NASA and H. Richer (University of British Columbia)