Insatiable Curiosity

Ice Core Sample  (Photo by Lonnie Thompson)

If just two words were to describe Terry Orr, they would be “insatiable curiosity.”

At 81 years of age, he has enrolled in a master’s program at the University of Texas (UT) Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Study.  Not long before, Orr had graduated from UT with a major in “classical archeology.”

His life experience has served him well in these endeavors.  Having directly helped to extract an ice core from Greenland, Orr learned that this sample was instrumental in determining the date of the Santorini eruption.  The explosive event was previously dated 1525 B.C., but is now known to have occurred “between 1620 and 1600 B.C.

Unlike many of today's university students, Orr is in it for the sheer love of learning.  So what comes next?  Orr answers:  I’m just leaving myself open to whatever may develop.

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/good-news/81-year-old-former-bastrop-mayor-goes-back-to-school-%E2%80%94-again/ar-AAGe9hn?OCID=ansmsnnews11 

Copyright August 31, 2019 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved

Took Her Out to the Ballgame

(Public Domain)

Some things are worth waiting for, even when the waiting lasts 99 years.

In anticipation of her 99^th birthday, Catherine Kyle got to go to her very first Pirates game.  Despite living near Pittsburgh and being a “huge fan,” Kyle had never lived that dream.

Family members decided to make it happen.  Wearing bright yellow tee-shirts proclaiming the words “Catherine’s Crew,” 16 of them accompanied her to the big event.

The Pirates were celebrating also.  They won big: 14-0!   

Resources

https://people.com/sports/99-year-old-pirates-fan-surprised-first-ballgame-ever/

Copyright August 30, 2019 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved

Rock On!

Mars Lander, April 2019    (NASA/JPL Cal-Tech photo)

An exuberant command such as “Rock on!” needs a subject to go with it.  In this case, the subject is a rotating protuberance on Planet Mars.

It is therefore the perfect namesake for Mick Jagger and his bad boys.  As this reddish rock rolls about, it reminds folks of Jagger’s otherworldly gyrations.  NASA has therefore dubbed it the “Rolling Stones Rock.” 

Resources

https://www.space.com/mars-rock-named-after-rolling-stones-nasa-insight-lander.html

Copyright August 29, 2019 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved