I am putting a link to the February Mensa Bulletin onto my blog to see how easy it is for others to see my copy on the web. Zombie Nation describes the harm sleep deprivation is doing to the United States.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Thinking About September 11th
Today is the 13th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center by Al-Qaeda terrorists. That same morning they flew a plane into The Pentagon. That last attack produced the scariest e-mail I remember seeing. I didn't learn about the attacks until I was walking into work. That day was a hot day. I began it with a six mile run before breakfast. I had breakfast before the attacks. While the attacks were occurring I was showering and getting ready for work. During my short drive to work, I didn't hear anything. When I walked into the small office building where Tidal Zone Associates was located, I ran into someone who worked in the Maryland State Comptroller's office on the first floor. She asked if I had heard that a plane had collided with the World Trade Center in NYC. I replied that I hadn't. I walked into my company's offices. People were already talking about the accident. I walked into my office and began checking my e-mail -- work related and personal. The personal e-mail had an e-mail from a Hash House Harrier who worked in the Pentagon. She began her e-mail with a story about the attacks in NYC. Then she closed her e-mail with the words "PENTAGON ON FIRE." That really scared me. I told other people I worked with. We were all shocked. The news kept piling up. No one got any work done that day.
The one thing I remember from later that day was contacting Paul Ambos in New Jersey. I knew he worked down in that part of Manhattan -- but not at the World Trade Center. He told me he was alright -- but that getting out of Manhattan had been difficult.
Months later I remember talking with a fellow Mensa member about her experience that day. She had been working in one of the two towers. She was going up in an elevator when the first plane hit the other tower. She got out. She was told to continue to work because her tower wasn't in danger. She ignored that command and took the next elevator down. She got out in time -- and quite safely. Others did not.
That day scared lots of people -- not only Americans. We were horrified at what happened. Thousands of people were dead.
Since then, our country and world has changed in many ways -- too often not for the good.
After 9/11, the United States has gone on a security kick. We have even created a Department of Homeland Security. Didn't that task used to be the work of the Department of Defense -- formerly the Department of War? Too much of the "security" really doesn't work. Back on September 10, 2007, Women In Aerospace sponsored a forum on the state of aviation security. Before I even walked in, I knew that when the Transportation Security Administration -- known in some circles as Thousands Standing Around -- tested its own "security" by trying to smuggle guns through, over 90% of the time those guns got through. That day I learned that there was a college student out there who had smuggled high explosives onto airplanes just to show he could. People at that meeting were furious with this farce. I recommend people pay more attention to Bruce Schneier and his blog Schneier on Security to learn more about this topic.
We have also launched a horrible war in the Middle East. Before the war was started, I had doubts about it. Then I discovered noted science fiction author Jerry Pournelle had started a blog he titled Chaos Manor. Jerry is fine writer -- with clearly libertarian sympathies. I still remember his protest of the upcoming war. I thought Jerry is not some sort of pacifist. If he was against the Iraq War, I felt quite comfortable also opposing it. That war has done great damage to our country and world. I do hate the Islamic terrorists -- but I want a better way of dealing with them than America's longest war.
We have moved the United States in a direction that gives far too much power to authority. This has been done supposedly to solve "security" problems and to stop "crime." These people claim even education will be better if moved in a more authoritarian direction. They don't seem to pay attention to anything that opposes their ideas, no matter how strong the evidence supporting opposing views are.
I've written enough for now. I wonder how much attention this blog posting will get -- and whether people will respond to it either in comments or directly.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Forty Years Ago
Today in the Washington Post there were reviews of books about Watergate. That tragic crime led to Nixon's resignation 40 years ago. The part of me that is liberal and the part of me that is conservative and the part that is hard to describe all are glad that Nixon was finished as President 40 years ago.
There is something, though, that while it did not attract nearly as much attention, affected me far more deeply than Watergate.
I am talking about the death of my wonderful father, Charles I. Divine, also 40 years ago. I miss that good man still. He passed away far too young. He was only 61. He died of complications of surgery. That tragedy turned me from an occasional runner and swimmer into someone who runs or swims 6 days a week. There is more about that on my blog post My Running Career.
I am sitting here now in front of a computer connected up to the Internet -- things my father could have understood, but did not live to see. What am thinking about? Dad. I wish he was here. He'd only be 101. And Mom too. She'd only be 98. If Dad had lived, I can imagine Mom living longer too.
Dad was Rutgers Class of 1935. His father, Charles Divine, was Class of 1890. That's why I went to Rutgers.
Dad was a cradle Episcopalian. So was Mom. That's why I am.
I try to help the world be a better place -- like my parents.
Is it possible for me to criticize Dad? He was a lousy cook. That's why Mom proclaimed when I was 12 that I should get the cooking merit badge in the Boy Scouts. She said "All men should know how to cook." Today people really like my cooking -- even my French cooking. I wonder if that would have happened otherwise.
God, I miss Dad. I always will. Even if I live to be a thousand. Or a million. You get the picture.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Who Is Reading My Blog?
I am becoming very curious about who is reading my blog.
Some posts draw very little attention.
One of my attempts at humor that people seem to like is The Vulcan Ambassador Chuck E-Mails. I will admit I have publicized that piece lots of places. Over 800 views doesn't exactly surprise me.
Then there are things like An Interesting Side Comment by Michael Griffin. That has gotten 234 views -- without me publicizing it much. Other space related blog entries have gotten hundreds of views. Interestingly enough, though, I haven't received many comments directly -- just an occasional comment, sometimes on the critical side.
Tuesday I will go to a Washington Space Business Roundtable luncheon. While there I will try to bring this up as well as mentioning the showing of 2001: A Space Odyssey at Wolf Trap. I will report that I have put that event in the local Mensa calendar. I may also bring up a few other things. For instance, how different space is today from the visions of the 1960s -- with a reference to the Columbia disaster. I might also, if I get the chance, to bring up the February Mensa Bulletin article on sleep deprivation.
Some posts draw very little attention.
One of my attempts at humor that people seem to like is The Vulcan Ambassador Chuck E-Mails. I will admit I have publicized that piece lots of places. Over 800 views doesn't exactly surprise me.
Then there are things like An Interesting Side Comment by Michael Griffin. That has gotten 234 views -- without me publicizing it much. Other space related blog entries have gotten hundreds of views. Interestingly enough, though, I haven't received many comments directly -- just an occasional comment, sometimes on the critical side.
Tuesday I will go to a Washington Space Business Roundtable luncheon. While there I will try to bring this up as well as mentioning the showing of 2001: A Space Odyssey at Wolf Trap. I will report that I have put that event in the local Mensa calendar. I may also bring up a few other things. For instance, how different space is today from the visions of the 1960s -- with a reference to the Columbia disaster. I might also, if I get the chance, to bring up the February Mensa Bulletin article on sleep deprivation.
Episcopal Church Membership
On Tuesday, September 29th, a new committee of St. Mark's Episcopal Church met to discuss strengthening membership. The church overall has been in decline for a number of years. In 1965 the church had 3.6 million baptized members and 2.2 million communicants. By 2001 there were 2.3 million members and 1.8 million communicants. This is with a growing national population.
Much has changed in both the United States and the Episcopal Church since 1965. Back in 1965 all priests were men -- and practically all of them married men still on their first and only wife. Families were more intact because divorce was much rarer. There were far more stay at home wives looking after children. People in neighborhoods knew each other much better. I do remember my own mother returning to work -- when I was in high school and could take care of myself after school. It can be easily argued that all of these things had major good points.
Perhaps because I saw my parents as equals who loved and respected each other and me, I have a more positive view of the world back then. When feminism started its gains in the 1960s, I had been fully prepared for a world in which women were viewed as the equal of men. After all, it had been that way in my home -- and, I think, in other homes that I had the opportunity to see. Just because Mom stayed at home when I was a child did not mean she was inferior to Pop. My parents viewed bringing up children as important as the work my father did as an accountant and business manager in the hospitals where he worked. Clearly there were people who did not see things that way. I have read that, in Hilary Clinton's childhood home, her father completely dominated things like political discussion. Her mother wasn't even allowed to mention Democratic Party positions. While my parents were both Republicans, they viewed Democrats as fine people with whom they had some disagreements. They even, from time to time, voted for a Democrat.
Women moving into the workplace has not been the only change since 1965. People who do work outside the home are spending more and more time at their paying work. Because both parents are, increasingly, working full time, childcare is left to others -- all too often people who are less able than the parents to bring up their children. Parents, after all, know their children better than almost any poorly paid professional caretaker. They can help them more.
People are more pressed for time because of the lengthening work week. There are other things of importance to normal human beings -- family, friends, community, etc. When those are shortchanged, people become less happy.
There has also been a rise in authoritarian cultures in political, social and economic arenas. It doesn't matter what the position is -- it seems that to disagree is wrong, even if the disagreement is intended to improve the situation people are addressing.
Much has changed in both the United States and the Episcopal Church since 1965. Back in 1965 all priests were men -- and practically all of them married men still on their first and only wife. Families were more intact because divorce was much rarer. There were far more stay at home wives looking after children. People in neighborhoods knew each other much better. I do remember my own mother returning to work -- when I was in high school and could take care of myself after school. It can be easily argued that all of these things had major good points.
Perhaps because I saw my parents as equals who loved and respected each other and me, I have a more positive view of the world back then. When feminism started its gains in the 1960s, I had been fully prepared for a world in which women were viewed as the equal of men. After all, it had been that way in my home -- and, I think, in other homes that I had the opportunity to see. Just because Mom stayed at home when I was a child did not mean she was inferior to Pop. My parents viewed bringing up children as important as the work my father did as an accountant and business manager in the hospitals where he worked. Clearly there were people who did not see things that way. I have read that, in Hilary Clinton's childhood home, her father completely dominated things like political discussion. Her mother wasn't even allowed to mention Democratic Party positions. While my parents were both Republicans, they viewed Democrats as fine people with whom they had some disagreements. They even, from time to time, voted for a Democrat.
Women moving into the workplace has not been the only change since 1965. People who do work outside the home are spending more and more time at their paying work. Because both parents are, increasingly, working full time, childcare is left to others -- all too often people who are less able than the parents to bring up their children. Parents, after all, know their children better than almost any poorly paid professional caretaker. They can help them more.
People are more pressed for time because of the lengthening work week. There are other things of importance to normal human beings -- family, friends, community, etc. When those are shortchanged, people become less happy.
There has also been a rise in authoritarian cultures in political, social and economic arenas. It doesn't matter what the position is -- it seems that to disagree is wrong, even if the disagreement is intended to improve the situation people are addressing.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Thinking About D-Day
Today is the 70th anniversary of D-Day. When D-Day happened, my Uncle Dick and Grandmother Agnes were still both alive. A year later both were dead. My paternal grandmother Agnes heard something on the radio that gave her the idea that the war would soon be over. She ran for the steps to go downstairs to tell Mom and Dad. She tripped on the steps and badly injured herself. She died from those injuries. Mom and Dad got the news of the death of Uncle Dick in May 1945. Dad commented "Thank God Mom went first. This would have killed her." Dad missed his brother until the end of his life.
Mom's side of the family took some hits as well. Uncle Clarence served in the Army over in Europe. He was wounded twice rather badly. When he got home, people said to him "Guess you will be getting married now." He replied "No. I want a quiet life." That good man became like a second father to me. I think the world is poorer because of his quite understandable decision. Uncle John literally cracked up in basic training. I don't know why. The Army and the VA did take care of him until the end of his life. I do remember him smoking four packs of cigarettes a day. I wonder if what happened to him in the 1940s had something to do with that. He did die of a heart attack at age 65. Uncle Clarence made it to 81, Mom to 93.
After the war, this country let in the Peenemunde rocket team. Yes, we got a Man on the Moon in 1969. But did bringing in these people shift aerospace culture in a fundamentally bad way? Make it far more authoritarian? Cause failures like Challenger and Columbia? There has been some discussion of this topic in several places. I don't know what to say. I can say that I am on the outside of an agency that clearly needs reform in major ways.
Mom's side of the family took some hits as well. Uncle Clarence served in the Army over in Europe. He was wounded twice rather badly. When he got home, people said to him "Guess you will be getting married now." He replied "No. I want a quiet life." That good man became like a second father to me. I think the world is poorer because of his quite understandable decision. Uncle John literally cracked up in basic training. I don't know why. The Army and the VA did take care of him until the end of his life. I do remember him smoking four packs of cigarettes a day. I wonder if what happened to him in the 1940s had something to do with that. He did die of a heart attack at age 65. Uncle Clarence made it to 81, Mom to 93.
After the war, this country let in the Peenemunde rocket team. Yes, we got a Man on the Moon in 1969. But did bringing in these people shift aerospace culture in a fundamentally bad way? Make it far more authoritarian? Cause failures like Challenger and Columbia? There has been some discussion of this topic in several places. I don't know what to say. I can say that I am on the outside of an agency that clearly needs reform in major ways.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Thoughts About Norm Augustine
Wednesday I will be attending a talk at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum by Norm Augustine. He's 10 years older than I am. He's also much richer and has led a much more well known career. I've started wondering what my life would have been like if I had been born in 1935. Would I have the conflicts with authority that I have had in my life? I'm not the only one who has noticed our society moving in a more authoritarian direction in the past four, perhaps more, decades.
Augustine's career ranged back and forth between the private sector and government. One must note, though, that the capstone of his "private career" was leading Lockheed-Martin through their merger. That company is heavily dependent upon government contracts. Indeed, it seems that all of American aerospace relies upon government help in some fashion. Boeing needs the Export-Import Bank to help finance sales outside of the United States. Then there is the United Launch Alliance -- a joint effort of Boeing and Lockheed-Martin. Their Atlas rocket is now dependent upon Russian engines.
I am going to try and bring up questions about this kind of thing Wednesday at the COMSTAC meeting during the day and then at the Augustine talk in the evening. I may also inject a bit of humor informally into these events because some people have described Augustine's Laws as being satirical, tongue in cheek, etc. Telling people about The Penguins might get me a few chuckles and, perhaps, more.
Augustine's career ranged back and forth between the private sector and government. One must note, though, that the capstone of his "private career" was leading Lockheed-Martin through their merger. That company is heavily dependent upon government contracts. Indeed, it seems that all of American aerospace relies upon government help in some fashion. Boeing needs the Export-Import Bank to help finance sales outside of the United States. Then there is the United Launch Alliance -- a joint effort of Boeing and Lockheed-Martin. Their Atlas rocket is now dependent upon Russian engines.
I am going to try and bring up questions about this kind of thing Wednesday at the COMSTAC meeting during the day and then at the Augustine talk in the evening. I may also inject a bit of humor informally into these events because some people have described Augustine's Laws as being satirical, tongue in cheek, etc. Telling people about The Penguins might get me a few chuckles and, perhaps, more.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Thoughts About May
I've mentioned on Facebook that I will not be attending the International Space Development Conference in California this year. I can't afford it. I have been doing volunteer work regarding space exploration and development for decades. I was paid decently doing IT work at NASA Goddard for nine years before I was driven out by awful management. Since then I have led a committee on aerospace industry collaboration for the Governor's Workforce Investment Board in Maryland. See Aerospace Initiative Home Page to learn more about that phase of my life. Aerospace Workforce Issues is based in good part upon what I learned doing that work.
People want me to come to things space related as long as I pay my own way and don't make trouble for the powers that be. Hmm. They seem to want people with highly authoritarian personalities.
This evening I will attend a Rutgers Club of DC event. I wonder what kind of reaction I will get when I mentioned that the Atlas rockets which deliver military spy satellites into orbit are currently powered by Russian engines. I might bring it up over the weekend as well at places like St. Mark's Episcopal Church and Hash House Harrier events.
People want me to come to things space related as long as I pay my own way and don't make trouble for the powers that be. Hmm. They seem to want people with highly authoritarian personalities.
This evening I will attend a Rutgers Club of DC event. I wonder what kind of reaction I will get when I mentioned that the Atlas rockets which deliver military spy satellites into orbit are currently powered by Russian engines. I might bring it up over the weekend as well at places like St. Mark's Episcopal Church and Hash House Harrier events.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
My Family
I'm putting up this posting to let people know more about my family. I have learned over the years how different I am because of the kind of people from whom I am descended.
Mom's side of the family was English working class. My grandparents moved to the United States from England a little over a century ago. I got to know those grandparents as a child growing up in New Jersey. They were wonderful people. They had three children. Besides Mom, there was Uncle Clarence and Uncle John. Uncle Clarence built our first stereo in the 1950s. He also built a telescope and taught me a bit about astronomy. Oh -- he was, like Uncle John, a high school dropout. Things were different back in the 1930s. Mom -- the oldest of three who survived to adulthood -- was the first member of the family to attend and graduate from high school. My grandparents had had some elementary school education. I enjoyed all my visits to the Lowes. I could not have wished for better relatives. These days I really enjoy my visits to England and spending time with the Lawtons.
Dad's side of the family was, shall we say, different. There was a time when many people would have said Mom married up. All I remember were two wonderful people who taught me much about the world and people. My parents started teaching me to read at age 3 because I had become such a pest -- I wanted to do what Mommy and Daddy were doing -- reading. Our home at 214 Park Lane had lots of books. Mom and Dad also bought me books, ranging from The Hardy Boys to Tom Swift, Jr. to Catch-22. OK, the last was given to me when I was a teenager.
What can I say about Dad and his family? My degree from Rutgers is in physics. His degree from Rutgers was in economics. He earned that degree in 1935. He went on to become a fine accountant. His father earned a degree in chemistry from Rutgers in 1890. Yes, teen marriages do not run in the family.
That grandfather had a rather unusual family. His father, Michael Divine, was born in Ireland in 1828. By the time my grandfather was born in 1869, he was a lawyer in the United States. The Divines moved from Ireland to New Jersey in 1836 -- a year after Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America (volume 1) had been published. This could have been a mere coincidence, but I remember how caring and democratic my family was -- and still is. Who did Michael marry? A woman who born in England by the name of Angelina Elizabeth Donne. That's how I am related to John Donne. It is weird to read a book about a man who lived 400 years ago and see similarities between him and you. I am not in his league, but I do think and care in many ways like him. My grandfather -- the first Charles in the family -- was their third child. Twin boys had been born in 1867. They also went to Rutgers. Beginning in December 1867 and continuing through some months in 1868 Charles Dickens made his last tour of the United States. Did my great grandparents name their third son Charles to honor him? I do remember how much Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was a part of our Christmases when I was growing up.
That's enough for now. Maybe I will expand on this later on. I might also start writing up my attempts to find paying work and helping lead our society in healthier, more democratic ways much more frequently.
Mom's side of the family was English working class. My grandparents moved to the United States from England a little over a century ago. I got to know those grandparents as a child growing up in New Jersey. They were wonderful people. They had three children. Besides Mom, there was Uncle Clarence and Uncle John. Uncle Clarence built our first stereo in the 1950s. He also built a telescope and taught me a bit about astronomy. Oh -- he was, like Uncle John, a high school dropout. Things were different back in the 1930s. Mom -- the oldest of three who survived to adulthood -- was the first member of the family to attend and graduate from high school. My grandparents had had some elementary school education. I enjoyed all my visits to the Lowes. I could not have wished for better relatives. These days I really enjoy my visits to England and spending time with the Lawtons.
Dad's side of the family was, shall we say, different. There was a time when many people would have said Mom married up. All I remember were two wonderful people who taught me much about the world and people. My parents started teaching me to read at age 3 because I had become such a pest -- I wanted to do what Mommy and Daddy were doing -- reading. Our home at 214 Park Lane had lots of books. Mom and Dad also bought me books, ranging from The Hardy Boys to Tom Swift, Jr. to Catch-22. OK, the last was given to me when I was a teenager.
What can I say about Dad and his family? My degree from Rutgers is in physics. His degree from Rutgers was in economics. He earned that degree in 1935. He went on to become a fine accountant. His father earned a degree in chemistry from Rutgers in 1890. Yes, teen marriages do not run in the family.
That grandfather had a rather unusual family. His father, Michael Divine, was born in Ireland in 1828. By the time my grandfather was born in 1869, he was a lawyer in the United States. The Divines moved from Ireland to New Jersey in 1836 -- a year after Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America (volume 1) had been published. This could have been a mere coincidence, but I remember how caring and democratic my family was -- and still is. Who did Michael marry? A woman who born in England by the name of Angelina Elizabeth Donne. That's how I am related to John Donne. It is weird to read a book about a man who lived 400 years ago and see similarities between him and you. I am not in his league, but I do think and care in many ways like him. My grandfather -- the first Charles in the family -- was their third child. Twin boys had been born in 1867. They also went to Rutgers. Beginning in December 1867 and continuing through some months in 1868 Charles Dickens made his last tour of the United States. Did my great grandparents name their third son Charles to honor him? I do remember how much Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was a part of our Christmases when I was growing up.
That's enough for now. Maybe I will expand on this later on. I might also start writing up my attempts to find paying work and helping lead our society in healthier, more democratic ways much more frequently.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
The Penguins
I, Vulcan Ambassador Chuck, am writing this posting to help my best human friend, Chuck Divine, teach his fellow humans about the most dangerous species on Planet Earth -- The Penguins.
The Penguins have most humans fooled. They think of The Penguins as a bunch of jolly birds living way down south -- think Antarctica. They are not!
First, let me tell you a bit of history. In the 1980s, Argentina tried taking the Falkland Islands away from the British. To their great surprise, Argentina lost the war!
A few weeks after the war was over, a large group of Penguins, led by a King Penguin and including a big group of Mutant, Zombie Penguins, traveled from their base in Antarctica to Buenos Aires. While they were marching down the street, they were attacked by an Argentine Army Company. All the Mutant, Zombie Penguins had to do was to deeply exhale. That knocked out the Argentine Army Company. When The Penguins got to government headquarters, they shocked and then delighted Argentina by negotiating an alliance with Argentina. While they were negotiating this treaty, though, they told Argentina they would have to keep the alliance secret until The Penguins told them they could tell the world. Argentina was glad to comply. They realized they now had as an ally the most powerful species on Earth.
What has happened in the past year? The former Roman Catholic Pope RETIRED. It has been a long time in human terms since this last happened. Then, who did the Roman Catholic College of Cardinals elect to succeed Pope Benedict? They elected Pope Francis -- a man from ARGENTINA!!!!
When is humanity going to wake up and take action? They need to get their police forces out of their military style uniforms and into Red Dresses! And supply them with Good Beer! And teach them a few funny songs! The Galaxy Wants To Know!
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Follow Up to What's Next
All,
I didn't even get an interview for the Plan B Executive Director spot. Oh. Well.
I didn't even get an interview for the Plan B Executive Director spot. Oh. Well.
What's Next For Me
I've applied for a new position. Doing what? On December 20th I received -- as did a large number of people -- an e-mail advertising a position for the Plan B team. The position they advertised was that of Executive Director.
Here's my cover letter:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am applying for the position of Executive Director of the B Team. The B Team website tells applicants to reference #1453. Consider this my cover letter.
I am also attaching two resumes. One, cjdcivic.doc, covers my career in work that is probably of more interest to the B Team. The other resume, cjd.doc, covers my technical career in information technology for the most part. Both resumes cover my educational background. I first earned a degree in physics from Rutgers University. After working in that field and doing some graduate study in that field, I tried a switch to social psychology by becoming a graduate student in social psychology at Columbia University.
I will also point you to some blog postings of mine on my blog Independent Broad Minded Centrist (http://independentbroadmindedcentrist.blogspot.com) that are relevant to the kind of work that the B Team seems interested in. They are:
Page 2
I am very much impressed with the work that Sir Richard Branson has done in multiple fields. I am probably more acquainted with Virgin Galactic than most people. One occasional dream I have is taking one of those Space Ship Two trips into space – with camera gear of course.
I expect that many people will be interested in applying for this position. This is a way for the right person to make a significant contribution to helping business enterprises make more positive contributions to world society.
Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Charles J. Divine
Here's my cover letter:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am applying for the position of Executive Director of the B Team. The B Team website tells applicants to reference #1453. Consider this my cover letter.
I am also attaching two resumes. One, cjdcivic.doc, covers my career in work that is probably of more interest to the B Team. The other resume, cjd.doc, covers my technical career in information technology for the most part. Both resumes cover my educational background. I first earned a degree in physics from Rutgers University. After working in that field and doing some graduate study in that field, I tried a switch to social psychology by becoming a graduate student in social psychology at Columbia University.
I will also point you to some blog postings of mine on my blog Independent Broad Minded Centrist (http://independentbroadmindedcentrist.blogspot.com) that are relevant to the kind of work that the B Team seems interested in. They are:
- Aerospace Initiative Home Page
(http://independentbroadmindedcentrist.blogspot.com/2010/03/aerospace-initiative-home-page.html
) For a few years I led a committee in Maryland on industry
collaboration in aerospace. I saved my committee's work on my blog.
This page provides an introduction to my committee's work. There
are links there to other documents produced by my committee.
- Aerospace Workforce Issues
(http://independentbroadmindedcentrist.blogspot.com/2008/02/aerospace-workforce-issues.html
) I wrote this public policy paper based upon what I learned from
leading the committee mentioned in my previous item as well as what
I learned inn various other places in my life.
- A Tale of Two Space Days
(http://independentbroadmindedcentrist.blogspot.com/2009/10/tale-of-two-space-days.html
) This links to a comparison of two Space Days – events to
educate the public about space exploration. This blog posting also
links to Background of an L5 Society Activist
(http://independentbroadmindedcentrist.blogspot.com/2008/12/background-of-l5-society-activist.html
) that provides much more information about how I organized the
first of these Space Days.
- Anxious With Reason Panel at the New America Foundation
(http://independentbroadmindedcentrist.blogspot.com/2008/10/anxious-with-reason-panel-at-new_14.html
). This is a report I did based upon a discussion of current
workforce issues at the New America Foundation. Given the work of
The B Team, I think this report might be relevant.
Page 2
I am very much impressed with the work that Sir Richard Branson has done in multiple fields. I am probably more acquainted with Virgin Galactic than most people. One occasional dream I have is taking one of those Space Ship Two trips into space – with camera gear of course.
I expect that many people will be interested in applying for this position. This is a way for the right person to make a significant contribution to helping business enterprises make more positive contributions to world society.
Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Charles J. Divine
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