Breakaway, NASCAR,and more

REMEMBERING MOONBASE ALPHA

If you are a fan of the 1970s science fiction series "Space:1999" as I am, then you know that on the show,a catastrophic nuclear explosion ripped the Moon from Earth orbit on September 13, 1999, on the show's first episode,appropriately titled "Breakaway". I saw it as an 11-year-old when the British series made its American television debut in 1975, starring then husband and wife actors Martin Landau and Barbara Bain (both of "Mission:Impossible" fame). This was not long after the Apollo Moon missions of 1969 and the early 1970s so the idea of having a fully operational Moonbase by 1999 was not inconceivable by some in the early 1970s. On every episode, the lunar castaways found the Moon orbiting new planets and encountering new civilizations. While some argued in the 1970s that "Space: 1999" was a ripoff of "Star Trek",I beg to differ. If anything,"Space:1999" is a tribute to "Star Trek" and its legacy of encouraging space exploration. Martin Landau,who played Moonbase Commander John Koenig on "Space: 1999", was Gene Roddenberry's first choice to play Mr.Spock on "Star Trek". The part went to Leonard Nimoy as Landau was starring on "Mission:Impossible" with then wife Barbara Bain.

Nine years have passed since the real 1999 and still no Moonbase,though a documentary I recently saw on You Tube says that NASA should have a Moonbase up and running by 2024. I pray it happens,without the nuclear waste and the nuclear explosion of course.


LET THE CHASE BEGIN

NASCAR's much ballyhooed Chase for the Sprint Cup begins this week at New Hampshire International Raceway as the top 12 drivers will compete for the Sprint Cup championship. Kyle Busch leads in the points. Carl Edwards poses a strong challenge to Busch. The drivers are divided by 10 points each,starting with Busch at the top. While I have never been much of a fan of the Chase since its inception, I have begrudgingly learned to live with it and one of my favorite drivers,Matt Kenseth,happens to be in the Chase so I hope he ends up winning it all. Whoever your favorite driver is and whether or not he's in the Chase,I hope you enjoy the race.

PERSPECTIVE

Remember in your thoughts and prayers the 3,000 men and women who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on our nation on September 11,2001. Let us not rest until those responsible for this evil,cowardly act are brought to justice. God bless America!!!!

Also,my thoughts and prayers are with those on the Gulf coast as Hurricane Ike comes ashore. My sister lives in Houston so it's even more personal for me. Talk to you soon. God bless.