Category Archives: daily intelligence


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Discovery in space

Discovery

NASA celebrates a return to space with today’s successful launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery. This mission, the first since the Columbia tragedy more than two years ago, will test the new safety measures in place, including repair techniques. The crew will also participate in three spacewalks to replace broken parts on the International Space Station.

I know some people who don’t realize the shuttle missions halted back in 2003. That shocks me. To them, US space travel is a given, and they take for granted our ability to fly to the heavens.

Not me.

I think it’s a miracle that in one mere century, humans went from riding trains and trading in their horse-and-carriage for an automobile to stepping on the moon. It makes me wonder what new frontiers we’ll embark on in 2105.

How will we communicate? Will the 40-hour work week still exist? Where will tourists vacation? Will we purchase discount tickets on Expedia to one of several space stations? Or perhaps to a resort located at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean?

In twelve days the shuttle will return to Earth, mission accomplished. Until then, god speed to the crew members on Discovery.


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When I grow up……

spy

If I could go back in time and prepare for a different career…. I’d want to work for the CIA. I know, I know – that just sounds stupid.

But bear with me here.

I have some compelling evidence that – at the very least – my studies and training exercises would have kept my interest.

Last night, I was blindly looking at the thousands of books stacked throughout my apartment and noticed a pattern:

  • 1/4 are spy thrillers
  • 1/4 are world history and civilization
  • 1/4 are languages
  • and the rest are a random mix of biographies, literature, science, and reference books.

Okay. Not quite sure if I could succeed undercover with what I’ve learned through books, but there is no denying an interest in the field of international intrigue.

Then I looked over my VHS/DVD collection. No one would ever accuse me of liking chick flicks. I’d say 75% of what I own are spy thriller-action/adventures like:

Now I do realize (I really do) that having an intense interest in espionage as entertainment, like ALIAS, is completely different from dealing with the reality of day-to-day spy work.

But – if I could go back – whenever some pesky adult would ask, “So what do you want to be when you grow up?” instead of answering “Lois Lane,” I would reply, “a spy.”

And instead of dropping Chinese, I would have worked harder to learn it…. and Russian and Arabic – and maybe supplemented my bazillion writing and political science courses with some computer-tech-surveillance-stuff.

Instead of dropping track once I hit college, I’d make an attempt to improve my endurance and running times. Oh – and most important – instead of aerobics, I’d find the nearest martial arts studio and sign up for Krav Maga and Kali.

Then who knows…. instead of being a communications specialist who travels on the side, I could have been an international spy leading a life of intrigue and world-saving adventures.

It could have happened.

So what did YOU want to be when you grew up? And are you there yet?


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Numbers

numbers

The Sunday morning tv wonk shows emphasized numbers. The number of soldiers who’ve died in Iraq. The proportion of people who will vote for Kerry. The share of voters who will vote for Bush. The percentage of Catholics who attend religious services at least once a week. The total of Catholics who only attend church on holidays.

I sat watching these pundits, thinking, “I am an individual, I am NOT just a number.”

And then I realized that they’re all right – as much as I’d like to argue against it.

I can’t get through a day without flashing one of my numbers:
– a social security number
– a credit card number
– a phone number
– an employee number
– a drivers license number
– a bank account number

And that’s just off the top of my head.

As for the pollsters, I’m counted in lots of percentages –
– the percentage of college-educated females who will vote for Kerry
– the percentage of single, white females who feel the President lied about weapons of mass destruction
– the percentage of Americans who have traveled abroad
– the percentage of Christian non-hispanics who are pro-choice
– the percentage of Americans with hi-speed internet at home
– the percentage of single females who bought a major appliance in the last six months

I feel my defenses go up each time I read or listen to the results of the latest polls…. “what do they know?” I think. I am not so easy to predict. I am an individual goddammit!

As much as I’d like to feel comforted by the idea that some of our leaders aren’t placing emphasis on poll results, I know it’s a lie. And pols have become masters at orchestrating public opinion – at influencing poll results.

Is it a bad thing that life can be summed up neatly by the results of a simple survey? For a short list of poll topics, go here.

Who’s got your number?