|
Aristolochia littoralis is much hardier than it looks. Known as the
Pelican Vine and the Calico
Flower, it has survived in the ground at temperatures in the low teens.
The top completely dies and then sprouts back in the Spring, but for a
flower like this it is worth the trouble. In some areas the
Pelican Vine can be expected to produce from 5 to 10 feet of new growth each
year. The roots are somewhat tuberous. Aristolochia littoralis is
nearly always fertile from seed; its common family name in plant
world hierarchy is Birthwort. It can be suggested that this has more
to do with the plant's medicinal uses than its own fertility, which is
impressive in it's own right.
Aristolochia littoralis grows 2 inch flowers that are
both remarkable and unusual in appearance, which makes it entertaining in
any botanical habitat.
|
|
|
BOOK REVIEW:
Windows
on a Lost World by V.E. Mitchell
Reviewed
by: Kathi Pickett
An archeological mission sends Kirk and Chekov on an adventure of
dual nature that threatens their sanity and the lives of the Enterprise
crew and the scientists she is hosting.
I
found this book to be very different in nature. What the adventure
turns out to be is very surprising and in it's way, odd. I
especially enjoyed scenes where Chekov was dealing with the unique
dual nature, and still dreaming of being the big hero! Kirk, as
always, maintains a strong sense of control over himself, which is
what saves the day.
What
I didn't enjoy so much was the scientists who were using the
Enterprise for their exploratory mission. They were arrogant and
unheeding of warnings given by Kirk, Spock, and others of the ship.
Of course, this lack of concern is what got them into the fix they
were in.
If
you like to read about struggles to retain the sense of self over
instinct, this is a fairly fun book to read. A couple of the
"guest" personalities were of some interest as well.
This
book is available to borrow from the USS Aurora library. Simply post
your request on the mailing list.
|
|
|
|
2009
is the International Year of Astronomy.
As
such, NASA is producing a new picture each day.
Be sure to look
it up!
|
| Musters
and Meetings
January
2008
- Wed 14 - Crewman Gary Bell's Birthday
- Sun
18 - Meeting with Thermopylae crew. 2pm in Auburn. Location to
be announced when information provided.
- Sat
24 - Lt Commander Kathi Pickett's birthday. All crewmembers are
invited to join her in celebrating at her apartment, 12p-9pm.
Theme is Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Everyone is
asked to bring a new or gently used towel which will be donated
to PAWS. Men are welcome to come in their nightclothes (as long
as they ARE clothes) and bathrobes. A light buffet will be
provided, as well as beverages.
|
| QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new
landscapes, but in having new eyes.
~Source Unknown
|
|
|
|
| Guest Starring Lt. Commander Pickett
|
Charity Corner
Stardate 200812.31 Lt Commander Pickett reporting.
Officers and crew of the USS
Aurora had agreed that we would be
participating in the Overseas Coupon Exchange program, which
benefits
military families out of the country by collecting manufacturers
coupons
that they can then use in the military exchanges and grocery
stores. Crewman Buff will be collecting the coupons and
sending them out. Information about the program can be found at www.ocpnet.org.
For Officers and crewmembers who will be submitting coupons, to
spare
Crewman Buff a great deal of trouble, please use the following
instructions:
1. Trim the coupons cleanly, leaving the bar code
intact.
2. Sort the coupons in two groups: Food and
Non-Food. "Food" is defined
as "consumable by humans", and includes vitamins and
medications. Pet food is "non-food".
3. Coupons may be 1 month beyond their expiration
date at the time you
hand them over to Crewman Buff.
4. Put the divided coupons into zip-lock bags, or
try to tie them or
rubber band them in the two different categories.
5. It would be helpful if you tally up the face
value of the coupons
for Crewman Buff to combine and report to 2nd Lieutenant
Dalen, Commander Pickett, and the OCP program.
6. When you can, please consider donating a dollar
or two for postage,
giving it to Crewman Buff when you pass over the coupons.
We'll collect coupons every month at our meetings. Coupons can be
passed on to Commander or Lt Commander Pickett if you don't get a
chance to see
Crewman Buff.
As for who we'll be sending them to. Since there has been no active
commentary on it, the decision is to benefit two different bases;
The Naval
Base at Ikego, Japan, and Grafenwoehr,
Germany. The first because it thus
far has only 1 sponsor, the 2nd because not only is it supported by
the USS
Thermopylae, but because 2nd Lt Clark served there and it is dear to
his
heart to support them.
How we divide the coupons is undecided. The most likely procedure
would be to alternate which base we ship to each time. This would be
easier than
trying to divide the coupons each shipment.
|
|
Greetings shipmates,
Something that is mentioned (and strongly encouraged) in the Shuttle
Operations Manual, Recruiting Handbook, Marine Handbook and Membership
Handbook (and likely other SFI sources, at one point or another, too) is
the idea of having a uniform, when you're acting as an official member of
Starfleet. It is commonly discussed before the ship is pulled together for
launch what era of uniform you would like to wear, as a crew. Why do they
do this? What makes people want to dress up and show how geeky they can
be?
I've heard some of our crew state that they felt it was silly, that they
refused to wear a uniform, or that they would actually quit and change
their active membership if we went forward with wearing uniforms in
public. But, what makes them so embarrassed or afraid to be seen openly in
such a guise?
Well, let me assure you that our crew will have uniforms made up, but they
won't be mandatory for all our meetings, musters, assemblies or
away-missions. Let's face it, at the ship picnic do you want to get
barbeque sauce all down the front of your lovely uniform? It would be a
pain to clean, and the greasiness of the sauce might just stain it permanently. Would you consider wearing it out in the wilds, when doing
airsoft competitions/practices or geo-caching? I'd hope not! What would
happen if you snagged the uniform on branches or thorns, or even worse,
ripped or cut the material on a sharp bit of rock or bark? These are
events best left for the ship-shirts (t-shirts) we continue to produce and
ensure everyone has when they first decide to join our crew.
No, uniforms are meant for much more special occasions. They are a costly
and time-consuming endeavor for us all, and must be saved for those times
when we participate in events that set us apart from other ships of the
Fleet; or when we need to form a unified front as we go out to try to
recruit amongst the masses or raise money for a particular cause that our
ship (or even the region or SFI as a whole) are all taking part in. At
times when you (or a fellow crewman) is awarded with some form of
distinction, when you are presenting yourself to communities outside of
SFI's understanding - on behalf of SFI, the region or your ship, or even
when you might want to share in a sense of community and pride for serving
with the Aurora at SFI related functions are the times to wear uniforms.
(In the latter example, you may well even WANT to be in uniform so as not
to feel out of place!) So, yes, there will be times when the uniform will
be mandatory, but again it is for those special occasions.
Uniforms and ship shirts aren't meant to be something that singles you out
to embarrass you or gain ridicule. It is a mark of distinction, a badge of
pride that you are working with a group of others to make a difference in
the space we all live in and consider home. Instead of fearing or dreading
the times you might be seen wearing your uniform (or, even in a couple of
cases, your ship-shirt) consider how and why it is being worn. A Veteran
of the Armed Forces
might have a uniform that is outdated, but at a parade it will still be
worn with pride and dignity. Should you consider wearing your uniform any
differently? You're out there serving your community and fellow being,
after all, by making a stand and helping care for each one in the ways you
are able. Remember, your own mind-set is what makes all the difference, in
the end, as to how others will react to you.
|
|
|
Have you ever wondered where
those guest stars went? Well, here's where we tell you! |
|
Michael Dunn - "Alexander"
10/20/1934 - 08/29/1973
Plato's Stepchildren - Original Series Season
Three, ep 10
Michael Dunn, born Gary Neil Miller, was a well
known actor who guest-starred in several t.v. series in the 1960's
and 70's, as well as performed in numbers of films. He refused to
let his diminutive size, 3'6" at the time of his death, keep
him down. He was nominated for a Tony award in 1963, and an Oscar
for a film he narrated in 1965. He was seen in ten "Wild, Wild
West" episodes as the insidious Dr. Loveless, and his portrait
even appeared in the opening credits of the 2008 Get Smart movie,
showing him in his role from the original Get Smart Series as
"Mr. Big".
In "Plato's Stepchildren", Dunn
portrayed Alexander, the only member of the Platonians who did not
have psychokinetic powers. As a result, he was their puppet and
whipping boy until James T. Kirk, Spock, and Leonard McCoy came upon
the scene and taught his people a lesson in humility. The episode
was also marked in history as the first interracial kiss on public
television, a controversy that detracted from Dunn's well acted
performance.
Dunn was only 39 when he died of heart failure in
his sleep.
(Information provided by IMDB)
|
 |
Events Report
Stardate 200812.31, Executive Officer Lt. Commander Kathi Picket
reporting.
In the last thirty-one days the crew of the USS
Aurora have been active,
despite meteorological challenges.
On Stardate 200812.15, Commander Pickett, Lt. Commander Pickett, 2nd
Lieutenant Clark, 2nd Lieutenant Dalen and Crewman Buff attended a
meeting
of the Norwescon 32 Staff at the Double Tree Seatac. At the meeting
the
application and recommendation of Lieutenant JR GR Burlew was
submitted for security for the convention, and hopefully he and the
appropriate person are now in communications. There was also a party
and a gift exchange with much fun, and quite a bit of mixed results
as far as the gifts.
The planned Away Mission to Sequim on Stardate 200812.20 was
cancelled due to heavy snow and ice conditions. The snow had started
on Stardate
200812.15, and the cold and ice didn't let up. Hopefully this Away
Mission
can be rescheduled for a date when weather won't be a factor.
Officers and
Crew are advised to be prepared for the new mission.
On Stardate 200812.24, Commander Pickett and Lt. Commander Pickett
successfully launched their skiff in the Western direction and were
able to
join Science Officer Crewman Bell in Sequim for the holiday weekend.
Crewpet
Foxy was more than overjoyed to host, and much fun was had.
I hope that the New Year brings many more fun and memorable meetings
and
missions.
|
|
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry
2/23/1932 - 12/18/2008 |
|
|
|
Always our real "Number One"
|
|
