Final Paper interview

changed topic to NASA's Kepler Mission


I don't know if anyone else is having a hard time...but most people who I know that have lived through a historical event have passed away. I was tempted while on my vacation last week in Tahoe to walk into one of those veteran centers and just randomly ask a stranger to help me out. I want to be more original so that Ms. Andrews doesn't get 20 papers on same sex, civil rights, Vietnam, immigration, ect. I work at NASA and there is PLENTY of history swirling around at my fingertips however, most of the people are on vacation!! I was able to get a hold of a research pilot who was involved with the XV-15(which evolved into the V-22 Osprey) tilt rotor craft research and development at NASA back in the day. The concept of tilt rotor aircraft is significant in history...though not as much as say Civil Rights. Tilt rotor aircraft is blazing through history as I type. Currently they are investigating the benefits of this vehicle in passenger transportation and as an alternative transportation solution for the environment, economy, and safety.

Here are some of my questions:

1. Tilt-rotor concept design dates back to 1920: history
2. What is the XV-15 research tilt-rotor aircraft
3. What was your involvement with the design of the XV-15 research tilt-rotor aircraft
4. Why was NASA involved with the development of the XV-15 research tilt-motor aircraft
5. What were the aircraft that were designed based on the XV-15 research tilt-rotor aircraft
6. What was the benefit for the military to have such an aircraft
7. Where there conflicts at the time that required the development of the XV-15 research tilt-rotor
8. Which branchs of the DoD uses the newly JVX, V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft
9. Types differences: JVX - Army, V-22 Ospray Marines Corps, CV-22, Air Force
10. What is the Ospray's significance/benefit for the Marine Corps
11. What was a personal achievement of yours while working on the XV-15 project at NASA
12. What was your experience as a test pilot for the XV-15 research tilt-rotor aircraft
13. What was the cost of the XV-15 tilt-rotor aircraft
14. What was congresses take on the program
15. What controversal moments took place during the development from the public, congress, military, etc.
16. What is the benefit of this aircraft for the military/wars/reflect on Vietnam War and the benefit tilt-rotor aircraft would of had on the outcome
17. Current history making uses for tilt-rotor aircraft in the public domain

Were Neaderthals Picasso's?

Scientists in Spain found cave paintings at  "The Panel of Hands" in Spain's El Castillo cave. Researchers used uranium-series dating to date the art back to 42,000 years ago (Neanderthal time), way before Homo came to Europe. If Neanderthals were the first cave artists, this could prove that they were smarter than previously thought. Many stereotypes will be shattered. There is one hiccup, the accuracy for dating using uranium-series dating is precise. Regular carbon dating methods allow for margins of error. So you be judge and jury. Were the Neanderthals the first Picasso?

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/14/12211397-new-dating-method-shows-cave-art-is-older-did-neanderthals-do-it?lite

Week 4

Reading about Islam and Christianity (religion in all) sometimes really baffles me. The vast network of Islam greatly benefited the inhabited countries of India, Arabia, Africa, Spain, etc. who used their faith to exchange goods, technologies, education and ideas. They were able to produce laws to regulate governing bodies, social law, and proper human conduct. High culture such as astronomy, medicine, education, and arts were both byproducts of the combined religious efforts of Christians, Muslim, and Jewish people. What baffles me, is where is the division between God, Allah, Yahweh and human  conciousness? Many profits have the same vision, they go into isolation and have an epiphany. Many people who have come across my life who have mental health issues such as Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia also have visions and and moments of clarity. I'm not saying that Muhammad, Abraham, or Jesus were mentally ill, just that it doesn't seem that uncommon for people to have such vision. What is interesting is how these particular people were able to convince vast numbers of people to believe and spread such a vision. Religious leaders sometimes remind me of political figure heads. They see a problem and then try to fix it through petitions, legislation policies, and sometimes war. Humm any similarities? Why is it that these people believe in the first place? Why do they need to believe in a supreme being...can't they just say, "Hey, I'm Jesus and I think we should all be good people and this is why."

An article in American Psychologist, vol 46(2), Feb 1991, 107-119 named "How mental systems believe," struck a cord with me. The author, Daniel Gilbert poses the question, "is there a difference between believing and merely understanding an idea?' He relates that mental and physical representations of objects are similar. "People believe in the ideas they comprehend, as quickly and automatically as they believe in the objects they see." Maybe this answers my question. In order to believe their vision, they must link it to a object. Even if that object is invisible or real. It transcends power. Yet, I'll never know exactly why "Man" interferes with these visions that start out mostly positive and turns them in to Holy Wars against their own people.

I guess I'm just a hippy in disguise :-)