A blog about societal, cultural, and civilizational collapse, and how to stave it off or survive it. Named after the legendary character "Crazy Eddie" in Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's "The Mote in God's Eye." Expect news and views about culture, politics, economics, technology, and science fiction.
Think dad jokes are just a phase? Well MRI scans show that becoming a father literally alters a man's neurological blueprint. On Father's Day, we explore the incredible biological upgrade that transforms men into caregivers.
Internet sensation April the Giraffe gave birth to her son, Tajiri, live online in front of millions of people this April. The baby giraffe met his father, Oliver, shortly after, but the two have not seen each other since. This week, at the Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, New York, the three were reunited. It made for a wonderfully memorable moment and delighted fans all over the world.
Tajiri may be the star, but I'm going to wish Oliver a happy Father's Day and the entire family a happy World Giraffe Day!
Next, the reason both World Giraffe Day and National Seashell Day are today, the Summer Solstice. Watch WMAR-2 News' Science with Stevie: Summer Solstice.
The sun is ready for its big moment in the spotlight! Meteorologist Stevie Daniels talks about the summer solstice in this Science with Stevie segment!
Here's to Stevie becoming a mom next month so her viewers can wish her a happy Mother's Day next year!
It was last year and I normally celebrate it that day to avoid pile-ups like today's, but I wasn't feeling it. I'm also not feeling like turning today into the Sunday entertainment feature. I'll make up for it later in the week, when I plan on sharing a particularly doomy preview of the drum corps season, which begins Friday. In the meantime, stay tuned for World Rainforest Day, Detroit-style Pizza Day, and the first of two WorldUFODays. I love holidays!
The controversial airline has shut down. This video outlines five of the biggest reasons behind its collapse.
Here is Company Man Mike's list of reasons for its failure.
I'm going to take Company Man's suggestion and embed Spirit Airlines - Why They're Hated to elaborate on his first point, negative reputation.
Spirit Airlines is among the most disliked companies out there. This video profiles the company while attempting to identify the reasons behind all the hatred.
Its bad reputation is the reason why the only times I've mentioned Spirit Airlines on this blog was when they were the butt of jokes on SNL, Jimmy Kimmel, and SNL again, the first two for rescue attempts and the final time for its failure. Sorry, no Daily Show. Since Company Man likes lists, here's the one he created for this video.
Fees and cost cutting tie into the first list's second point about tough competition, but the advertising alone would have made the company into a joke. Who needs late night comedians to make fun of you when your ad agency does the work for them?
I often write that no bankrupt company's story is complete without both Company Man and Bright Sun Films making videos about them. It turns out Jake Williams of Bright Sun Films already uploaded Bankrupt - Spirit Airlines last year.
Formed from a humble air carrier operation in 1990, Spirit Airlines has gone onto pioneer the ultra low cost budget carrier model in America, becoming known (perhaps infamously) as the cheapest airline in the skies. However, times have changed and their business model is now looking like a liability rather than an asset. Join me today as we find how this notable airline went from billions in revenue, to bankruptcy in just a few years.
It's always a good day when I learn something new and, between Jake and Company Man Mike, I learned that Spirit Airlines began as a Michigan company, they flew Airbus planes, that the company began their expansion by taking advantage of other air carriers' troubles because conflict in the Middle East caused high oil prices, and the last flight originated in Detroit, where the company began. That makes today a very good day!
For 34 years, Spirit Airlines made waves with its rock-bottom fares, racy advertising, and bright yellow planes. At its peak, it was the largest ultra-low-cost carrier in the US, selling flights to Florida for $39. But in May 2026, Spirit shut down completely. It canceled 9,000 flights and left staff with little information. So what happened to the low-cost behemoth? And what does its sudden closure mean for cheap airfare in America?
Other than more professional production values and journalists on-screen, Business Insider added little to the story of Spirit Airlines' rise, but it added quite a bit to the fall and everything to the impact. Donald "Hoover Harding Cleveland" Trump causing Spirit's troubles by attackingIran, raising oil prices, then offering to bail out the airline serves as an example of everything Trump touches dies. This time, it didn't even take a week! As for the grassroots effort to buy the airline, backed by its laid-off employees, I wish it luck, but would be pleasantly very surprised should it succeed. In the meantime, expect higher air fares on the routes Spirit flew.
That's a wrap for what is effectively a business obituary. Stay tuned for Mother'sDay.
Sup my dudes! It’s Demi, and tonight we are going on a full resort crawl to check out the 2025 Walt Disney World Gingerbread Displays!🎄✨
Every holiday season, the Disney resorts transform with incredible pastry creations, but this year is a little different. We are celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Beach Club Carousel (with 5 incredible horses!), checking out the Boardwalk’s Deli replica, and heading to the Contemporary for a Frozen-style castle. HOWEVER, we have some shocking news regarding the iconic Grand Floridian Gingerbread House and the new construction in the lobby. Is it gone forever?
Come along as we hunt for hidden Mickeys, review the exclusive holiday treats (Italian cookies, frozen hot chocolate, and more), and catch the Very Merry fireworks from a secret viewing spot! Plus, we take a peek at the ALL-NEW display coming to Wilderness Lodge. Let’s get into some Holiday Hijinx!
No Grand Floridian gingerbread house because of construction, but Wilderness Lodge's gingerbread cabin returns for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
First-time host Walton Goggins talks about his character in The White Lotus and becoming a sex symbol in his 50s before dancing with his mom for Mother's Day.
That was fun, sweet, and short. I like all three!
Follow over the jump for Weekend Update and selected skits.
Happy GingerbreadHouseDay! As I have the past two times I've celebrated the day, I'm sharing Disney gingerbread houses and other decorations. This year, I'm returning to the gingerbread houses and other gingerbread decorations at Disney's resorts, beginning with Disney Parks own FESTIVE Gingerbread House CRAWL at Disney Resorts.
Are you ready for some mind-blowing Disney gingerbread displays? Come along as we go on an in-depth crawl through 7 Disney Resorts to check out these festive displays. After months of hard work and creativity from the talented culinary teams, these displays are brought to life before our very eyes and are well worth the visit.
Did you know that Disney World creates life-size gingerbread displays every year? Like, big enough to WALK INSIDE?! Yep, we're taking you on a tour of ALL of Disney World's gingerbread displays and showing you how one is actually created!
I found AJ's video even more educational than Disney Parks, which is why I included it. I'm glad I saved it for today. As I wrote in 2019, "I'm an environmentalist; not only do I recycle, I conserve my resources."
Each year on July 11th, people across America raise a glass to mark National Mojito Day. The cocktail consists of white rum, sugar, lime juice, sparkling water, and mint.
We went in search of the best mojito in the world and we found it. You are not going to find a mojito like this at a bar. It takes too long to make. However, we found a place that takes the time to make it right, and we will share the recipe with you in this video.
I met up with my long-time travel friend Freddie and we went to Havana Cuba and hit all the popular spots like La Bodeguita Del Medio where Ernest Hemingway was rumored to have discovered the Mojito. We were disappointed. Many places in Havana made a good mojito but it wasn’t until we discovered a little place at the end of a peninsula in the bay in Cienfuegos, that we discovered the secret to making a great mojito. If you don't think this is the best mojito recipe in the world, please let us know your mojito recipe in the comments below.
We hope this video helps you make an amazing mojito and if you visit Cuba, make sure to stop by Punta Gorda, Cienfuegos and tell them Jim and Freddie sent you.
Join us on a new Expedition Extinct as we head back to Las Vegas to look at the extinct Battle Of Buccaneer Bay at Treasure Island. This once iconic show featured a sinking ship, stunts, and pyro and was a staple of family-friendly Las Vegas. It was later replaced by the Sirens of TI before the ships were left abandoned as just a reminder of what used to be.
That looked like it was a lot of fun. I recall driving past it with my mom 11 years ago and seeing the ships, but I don't remember a show going. For what it's worth, that was the last time I drove down the Strip. Once was enough.
Elon Musk's aerospace company SpaceX launched four space tourists into orbit from Kennedy Space Center in Florida reaching a new milestone for the space tourism industry. NBC News Correspondent Cal Perry joins MSNBC's Brian Williams to discuss the history-making moment.
Leading the flight is Jared Isaacman, 38, who made his fortune with a payment-processing company he started in his teens...Isaacman is the third billionaire to launch this summer, following the brief space-skimming flights by Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson and Blue Origin’s Jeff Bezos in July.
Hayley Arceneaux, Chris Sembroski, and Sian Proctor joined Issacman on the flight. Together, they form the first all-tourist crew in orbit with no professional astronauts. While it comes off as a bit of a stunt, I still think that making space profitable, including space tourism, is a good thing for space exploration and exploitation.
SpaceX has launched four amateurs on a private flight to circle Earth for three days. It's the first time a rocket has streaked toward orbit with no professional astronauts on board. Former astronaut Garrett Resiman, who is also a senior advisor at SpaceX and a professor of astronautical engineering at USC, joins CBSN's Lana Zak to describe the launch.
The launch went well, so here's to a safe flight and landing.
The nominees in the show category for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program failed to inspire me. Part of the reason, as I wrote last year, was "Only 'RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked' returned." Some of the longer-running shows, like "Deadliest Catch" and "Life Below Zero," did earn nominations in the craft categories. I'll probably make diversity and nature the focus of that post when I get around to writing it. The other part is what I also wrote last year: "I wonder what was going on in the reality branch of the Television Academy this year. Or maybe all these new shows were that much better; I don't know." It turns out the Television Academy calls reality programming a peer group, not a branch, but the question remains.
Now that I got that off my chest, I'm feeling much better about the unstructured reality show nominees, so here are their nominations at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
As I wrote above, RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked" is the only returning nominee for two years running. It's also one of only two nominees with another nomination, the other one being first time nominee "Below Deck." I think it's between the two for the award, especially since last year's winner "Cheer" did not return and three-timewinner "United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell" is competing in a different category.
San Heng ('RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked' producer) on 'letting all of these queens show parts of themselves that we don't have time to see.' Gold Derby editor Rob Licuria hosts this chat as part of our 'Meet the Experts' Emmy nominee panel for showrunners.
I'm rooting for "RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked" to win and think it's the nominal favorite given its history of nominations, but I wouldn't be surprised if "Below Deck" upsets it.
Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program
Below Deck – Editing Team[note 5] (Episode: "Steamy Vibes") (Bravo) Deadliest Catch – Editing Team[note 6] (Discovery Channel) Life Below Zero – Tony Diaz, Matt Edwards, Jennifer Nelson, Eric Michael Schrader and Michael Swingler (Episode: "The Other Side") (Nat Geo) Naked and Afraid – Editing Team[note 7] (Episode: "Sand Trapped") (Discovery Channel) RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked – Kellen Cruden, Yali Sharon and Shayna Casey (Episode: "The Bag Ball") (VH1)
When I groused about the nominees for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program this year and last year, wondering what the reality programming peer group was thinking, it was because I was expecting a field more like this, a face-off between diversity-themed shows and outdoors-themed shows featuring long-running series. In the end, the right show won, as I think "Cheer" deserved all three awards it took home, including this one, winning against a very similar field in this category last season.
Joseph Litzinger ('Life Below Zero' showrunner) on 'emotional vulnerability' of Emmy-winning series. Gold Derby editor Marcus Dixon hosts this special 'Meet the Experts' panel with reality contenders for the 2021 Emmy Awards.
I'm going to be a good environmentalist and recycle my handicapping from two years ago: "'Life Below Zero' won the year before and 'Deadliest Catch' has been nominated every year this award has existed, so the two man versus nature shows have a sporting chance of winning." Just the same, this category could still surprise me.
Follow over the jump for two categories I'm recycling for this entry.
Bezos? Branson? Elon Musk? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice break down why all these billionaires are going to space. What does “first commercial space flight” even mean?
We get into all the hoopla about the billionaire space race. Is pooling resources to try to send their private businesses into space really worth it? Didn’t we already send people into orbit already? We break down these landmark space flights, why they matter, and what they mean. How far into space did they go? Discover the sensation of weightlessness and how many Gs the human body can really withstand.
I was glad to hear Dr. Tyson made the same point I did yesterday about whether Richard Branson and the rest of his crew actually made it to space. His answer was "not really," the same as mine, even though Branson and his crew earned astronaut wings. He also made another point that occurred to me but I didn't write about yesterday, that Branson and Jeff Bezos riding in their craft is a sign of confidence in their own creations. I agree, and that's a good thing for the future of spacetourism.
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson explains what Richard Branson's space flight could mean for the future of space tourism.
Dr. Tyson made a point I've made before, space exploration is political and the Apollo program was part of the Cold War competition with the Soviet Union. That's why I expected a space race between the U.S. and China over the U.S. returning to the Moon before the Chinese get there. Instead, we're seeing a space race among the ultra-rich and their companies. That bothers me less, because Branson, Bezos, and Elon Musk aren't engaged in the same kind of contest for global power that nation-states engage in. Besides, I'm enough of a believer in capitalism that I think making space profitable is a good thing for space exploration and exploitation and also for forestalling withdrawal from space, one of the classic tragic technological decline scenarios from science fiction.
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is set to be the next billionaire who paid his way into space on his own rocket, drawing intense backlash. Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson talks with MSNBC’s Ari Melber about the current billionaire “space race,” and pushes back on critics who argue inequality and other problems on earth should limit private space travel.
I couldn't have said it better, so I'm glad that Dr. Tyson said it first.
That should do it for the "Billionaire Space Race" for now. Stay tuned for something else tomorrow.
Thousands of fans descended on Disneyland for the first time in more than a year as the California theme park reopened with capacity capped at 25 percent. Yet amid signs of the U.S. returning to normal, there is growing concern as the demand for COVID-19 vaccines declines. NBC’s Guad Venegas reports for Weekend TODAY.
After seeing all those happy park-goers run in at rope drop, I found it sobering to see and hear all the reminders that the pandemic is still raging in the U.S. and that half of the country is not yet vaccinated. My wife and I are not among them; we received our second shots two weeks ago, so we're among the 100 million fully vaccinated. As for the rest of you, if you can get vaccinated, please do so!
While Today opened its segment with the park reopening while shifting to and emphasizing the pandemic, MSNBC reversed the order, beginning with vaccination news before reporting on the reopening, including interviewing an attendee in Disneyland Welcomes Back Guests For First Time Today.
Disneyland welcomes back guests for first time today. NBC News Correspondent Simone Boyce joins Katy Tur with more.
Yes, it does feel like returning back to normal. Just be aware that we're not there yet.
Also, I can tell I haven't been watching as much MSNBC as I used to, because this is the first I've heard that Katy Tur is expecting another child. No congratulations yet, instead I'm wishing her an uneventful pregnancy and a healthy daughter later this month.
One Anaheim, California, business owner said it will take him two years to recoup the losses associated with Disneyland's COVID-19 closure. He's grateful for any amount of foot traffic as the famed theme park reopens to visitors, even at partial capacity.
I'm glad the two small business owners interviewed were able to survive the shutdown. As the report mentions, many others were not so fortunate.
The owner of the Castle Inn & Suites said that business would improve when out of state residents could visit the parks. The Los Angeles Times mentioned that restriction in Disneyland reopens. What to expect.
Disneyland has reopened after more than a yearlong closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Los Angeles Times reporter Todd Martens details what visitors can expect as the park adheres to COVID policies.
As I expected last June, visiting the parks "will...be a much more careful and much less crowded experience than it was before the pandemic."
Speaking of last June, I'll be a good environmentalist and recycle what I wrote then with additional commentary from this March.
Both news items tie into what I first wrote in 2011, "America is quite clear about its screwed up priorities. My experience has convinced me that the surest way to get Americans to act is to mess with their entertainment." I elaborated on that in both Possibly (not) the last Detroit Fireworks Show and Christmas music from the Cadets and Crazy Eddie's Motie News, adding "Americans want their entertainment, and will do just about anything to keep it going." The pandemic keeping the parks closed is definitely messing with Americans' entertainment.
Once again, many Americans are being clear about their priorities. They've had enough of the pandemic messing with their entertainment and are happy to have it back, regardless of the public health consequences. Sigh. As I wrote last month, "My friend Nebris thinks this is one of my great insights. I'm sure it is, but, like Jimmy [Kimmel], I wish it weren't true."
*My other choice for today's topic was Anthony Mackie as the new Captain America. My wife liked that idea better than this one, so stay tuned to see if I write about tomorrow.
Learn the history of the once-a-year pastry treat synonymous with Fat Tuesday, otherwise known as Paczki day in Michigan. Just don't call this calorie juggernaut a doughnut.
1000 calories — wow! As I first wrote in 2014, "After discovering paczki when I moved to Michigan 25 (now 32) years ago, I finally knew why today is called Fat Tuesday."
It's a time-honored tradition for metro Detroit bakeries, and a day that usually draws in big crowds for small businesses. We're of course talking about Paczki Day.
Those paczki look delicious, but I'm going to abstain again, not only because of the pandemic and mydiabetes, but also the snow Jenn Schanz mentioned. I couldn't get out of the house even if I wanted to!
Citing concerns following last year's super-spreader event, New Orleans officials have restricted Mardi Gras celebrations and banned alcohol sales in the French Quarter through next Tuesday. David Begnaud reports.
Hamtramck looks less disrupted than New Orleans, something I never thought I'd write here. We here in Michigan seem to be dealing with social distancing measures better and we're used to the snow and cold, which New Orleans isn't. Speaking of the weather, I plan on writing about the winter storm and its connection to the changing climate tomorrow. Stay tuned.
National Geographic told one of them in Returning to Fukushima | Explorer, which I could have used last year if I hadn't been concentrating on the Retail Apocalypse instead.
The Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant in Fukushima suffered a meltdown in 2011. Now, Japan has a plan for residents to return to the area.
...
The Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant spewed radiation across dozens of towns, triggering a 12-mile evacuation zone. What are your thoughts on Japan encouraging people to move back?
On 11 March 2011 a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Japan, prompting the second biggest nuclear meltdown of all time at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant.
When Japan hosts the Olympics this year, the torch relay will begin at Fukushima, site of one of the world's worst nuclear disasters only nine years ago. TODAY senior international correspondent Keir Simmons got rare access to the nuclear plant, and found surprising conditions.
Now that I've watched these videos, I'm sure I'll be writing about the recovery from the triple disaster, particularly the nuclear plant meltdown, for years to come, especially next year, the 10th anniversary. That is, if coronavirus doesn't get me first. Given my age and diabetes, that's a small but real possibility, especially since the first cases in Michigan were announced yesterday. One of them is in the county where I live. Yikes!
We need more copper. Is it worth destroying this place? ... The Trump administration has opened up America's public lands to mining and fossil fuel companies on an unprecedented scale, lifting decades-long protections from millions of acres of wilderness across the country. In Minnesota, one proposed copper mine is pitting neighbors against each other as they weigh the benefits of new mining jobs against the environmental consequences of a new mines. It’s an old American debate that’s been further complicated here by an unforgiving reality: We need copper, and there are not that many places to get it.
As the video points out, mining is not a long-term basis for a local economy. It leads to boom towns that become ghost towns. On the other hand, ecotourism leads to sustainable, if low-paying, jobs. As someone who worked as a Park Naturalist during summer 1986, I can relate to this situation. Despite the low pay, it was my second- or third-favorite job behind my current job and maybe being a tour guide at Pre-Historic Forest. On the other hand, the only way I would have worked for a mining company would have been as a geologist, not a miner, despite the higher pay — too dirty and dangerous. It was safer working on the L.A. subway.
Observed each year on June 20th is National American Eagle Day. This day is set aside to honor our national symbol, raise awareness for protecting the Bald Eagle, assist in the recovery of their natural environments and take part in educational outreach.
In 1973, there was one American bald Eagle nest in New Jersey. The pesticide DDT was largely blamed for the near extinction of this large predatory bird species. Today, there are an estimated 200 nesting pairs. The return of the bald eagle is considered one of the biggest environmental comeback stories in the state.
That was the success story of the return of the Bald Eagle in one state. SciShow talks about the recovery of the entire species as one of 7 Species That Were Saved From Extinction. The Bald Eagle is #3.
Humans are pretty good at destroying things. Like habitats, animal populations... you catch my drift. But, there have been a few species that humans have helped bring back from the brink of extinction.
Follow over the jump for the other wildlife holiday I observe today, National Seashell Day, which I observe on the 20th regardless of the day the Summer Solstice falls because the day fell on the 20th when I first noticed it and because WorldGiraffeDay is always on the 21st.
Observed each year on June 20th is National American Eagle Day. This day is set aside to honor our national symbol, raise awareness for protecting the Bald Eagle, assist in the recovery of their natural environments and take part in educational outreach.
The Bald Eagle is both the national bird and the national animal of the United States of America and appears on its Seal.
In the latter 20th century, the Bald Eagle was on the brink of extinction in the continental United States. Eventually, populations recovered and on July 12, 1995, the species was removed from the U.S. Federal Government’s List of Endangered Species and transferred to the List of Threatened Species. On June 2007, it was withdrawn from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in the Lower 48 States.
The Bald Eagle’s range includes most of Canada, Alaska, all of the contiguous United States and northern Mexico. They can be found near large bodies of open water where there is an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting.
Opportunistic feeders, Bald Eagles survive mainly on fish, swooping down and snatching them from the water. Their nests are the largest nests of any North American bird and the largest tree nests ever recorded for any animal species. The largest recorded eagle’s nest was found in St. Petersburg, Florida. It measured 9.5 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep. It weighed in at nearly 3 tons.
The name “Bald Eagle” derives from an older meaning of “white headed” as the bird is actually not bald. The adult eagle is mainly brown with a white head and tail.
American Eagle Day is celebrated across our nation on June 20 every year. This year, it was celebrated at Dollywood on Saturday, June 16, during Chatter Reunion. In this video by WVLT, Channel 8, Laura Sterbens and Spencer Williams, along with Bald Eagle Mr. Lincoln preview the day's events.
I'm glad to see Dollywood, which I visited in 1981 when it was still Silver Dollar City, get into animal shows and conservation. The park wasn't into such things when I visited, which was before Dolly Parton bought it.
Follow over the jump for my celebration of National Seashell Day, which I observe on the 20th regardless of the day the Summer Solstice falls because the day fell on the 20th when I first noticed it and because World Giraffe Day is always on the 21st.
I found three nominees that were more science than either health or the environment. Two of them were nominated for Outstanding New Approaches: Documentary, "A Bear's-Eye View of Yellowstone" and "Collisions." The former looks like a fun follow-up to 'Wild Yellowstone: The Frozen Frontier' -- last year's Emmy winner for Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary and Long Form. The second is much more serious and on-topic for this blog, the story of a native tribal elder's recounting of his being witness to an atomic bomb test in the Australian Outback. Not only does it talk about the event, but also the elder's philosophy on caring for the environment. For both of these nominees, it is not the content that is being recognized, but the technology used to tell it.
Reading between the lines, one might be able to tell that I was more impressed with "Collisions." So were the Emmy voters. Here is Scott Kelly, star of "A Year in Space," announcing the winner of Outstanding New Approaches: Documentary.
Like Lynette Wallworth, I find the timing of this production's release particularly apt. Here is the trailer that describes both the story and the technology being honored.
A work of stunning visuals and powerful narrative, Collisions tells the story of Aboriginal elder Nyarri Nyarri Morgan who lived as 1000 generations before him in the remote Pilbara desert of Western Australia-- until his life was dramatically impacted by a collision with the extreme edge of Western science and technology. [Lynette] Wallworth is an acclaimed Australian artist and documentary filmmaker known for producing immersive artworks that provoke a profound emotional response. She is ideally positioned to explore the storytelling potential of VR, and sees the new form as the perfect vehicle for Nyarri to communicate his story.
Congratulations to Wallworth and all the people she named in her acceptance speech.
That's not all. Follow over the jump for a video of one of the tests and another about the site today.
I'm not surprised, both as an expatriate Angelino and a current Detroiter. As the former, I know that nothing enshrines a celebrity like a tragic death. As for the latter, I've learned that Detroit has taste for the macabre. Also, I'm with Carolyn Clifford; there is a name for everything, and "dark tourism" belongs right up there with ruinporn as a theme for Detroit tourism. Speaking of which, Kim Russell did a good job of listing famous deaths in Detroit, especially that of Harry Houdini. What she didn't mention about Houdini was that he died on Halloween. That's the kind of spooky detail one can't make up.
I'm leaving my readers with Cornell's claim to Bond fame, "You Know My Name," Cornell's theme song for "Casino Royale."
A new book on Detroit is unveiling the city's hidden gems from the perspective of the Nain Rouge.
That's it for today's entertainment entry. Stay tuned for an entertainment-themed retrospective featuring the top entry of last year. Here's a hint about tomorrow's subject.
Hawthorne-based aerospace company SpaceX has announced its plans to send the passengers following a series health and fitness tests later this year.
I concur that this is likely to be overly ambitious. The Falcon Heavy hasn't been launched yet, so it isn't human-rated. As for the Dragon 2 capsule, it may be, but according to Tech Crunch, the timing will be close.
Still on track for 2017 is an uncrewed demo launch, now targeting Q4 with the updated timeline. Dragon’s being designed with reuse of up to 10 missions possible, SpaceX notes, and other testing happening for crewed missions during 2017 include testing of spacesuits, parachutes, the crew access arm and more.
This puts SpaceX and rival Boeing in closer proximity in terms of crewed commercial mission launches, with the latter aiming for a first test flight in June 2018, and a crewed test to follow in August. If SpaceX hits its revised timeline, we should see the demo without astronauts launch in November 2018 [Based on the preceding paragraph, that is probably a typo; it should read 2017.], with the first crewed launch in May 2018, so still ahead of Boeing’s time frames.
The Al Jazeera America video mentioned Musk's relationship with Trump. Trump policy on space was one of the few things about Trump's campaign that I liked, even if I thought it would come at too high a cost. So far, my thoughts about the cost have been right. Here's to hoping Musk and SpaceX succeed, so I'll at least get some lemonade out of the lemons America has been handed.
