T Minus Zero: Liftoff
I never get tired of photos of Saturn V rockets at liftoff. Something primal there.It took 15 seconds for the Apollo 11 rocket just to clear the tower — that’s how much weight was being lifted. Astounding.
The Who2 Blog
Dave Chappelle’s Secret Show
In the wee hours of this morning, comedian Dave Chappelle gave a surprise show in the middle of downtown Portland, Oregon. Despite no advance press, “thousands” showed up to see him in Pioneer Courthouse Square for a free show. The region’s newspaper, The Oregonian, has a nice bit of coverage here.
T Minus 1 Day and Counting: The Pad Führer
I admit… [that] I got stuck every time we had VIPs and all that jazz, and some of them, the dumbest guys you ever will meet.I mean, like Gephardt, Senator Gephardt. One time he came up on the Atlas pad, and, you know, the typical press corps all around, and well, he comes up and he says, “My good man, where are the engines on this thing?” Now, you’ve got to understand, he’s the number-two man on the Space Committee, okay?I said, “Senator, they are way down there, below.””Oh, you mean it goes up like this?”
Elliot Page Photos
We got ’em, courtesy of photo researcher Iris Hehn and WENN.Plus! New photos of: actress Mila Kunis, skateboarder Tony Hawk, perpetual oddity David Lynch, and astrology-lovin’ former First Lady Nancy Reagan.
T Minus 2 Days and Counting: Steak and Eggs
The crew of Apollo 11 share the traditional launch day breakfast of steak and eggs on 16 July 1969. From left: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, and Director of Flight Crew Operations Donald “Deke” Slayton.
“That’s One of the Worst Opening Pitches I’ve Ever Seen”
President Obama will throw out the first pitch at tonight’s All Star Game.ESPN has a video of worst first pitches, but why not go straight to the all-time classic from Mark Mallory, mayor of my own city of Cincinnati, on Opening Day 2007:
Madoff Gets 20 Years Off for Good Behavior
Did we say he’d be out in 2159? Make that 2139:Confessed swindler Bernard Madoff was in a medium security prison in Atlanta after being moved from his New York jail cell, U.S. official prisons bureau records showed on Tuesday…
T Minus 3 Days and Counting: Basic Transportation
17 June 1969: the Apollo 11 astronauts arrive in Florida for the final time from their training center in Houston. After this they were headlong to the launch.It always startles me that these guys flew themselves out from Houston.
Paul Newman = The Green Lantern?
So we found out earlier that The Joker was based on the guy who played Major Strasser in Casablanca. Weird, but OK, fine.But c’mon: now we’re supposed to believe that the Green Lantern was based on… Paul Newman?
The Weird World of Golf Wear
Tiger Woods has his shirts laid out for him — a year in advance.Nike had its first meetings about Woods’s 2009 British Open wardrobe 17 months ago.
Wapakoneta Celebrates With World’s Largest Moon Pie
One giant snack for mankind.The Chattanooga Bakery in Tennessee will haul the world’s largest Moon Pie up I-75 to go on display at the Chamber of Commerce. The Moon Pie will be taken out Sunday to the museum, where it will be devoured by Wapakoneta — all 55 pounds and 45,000 calories of it.
T Minus 4 Days and Counting
Once a hot-rodder, always a hot-rodder. Buzz Aldrin in Florida in 1969… …and Buzz Aldrin in Los Angeles in 2009. (That’s his wife, Lois.)Photos courtesy of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Eternal Moonwalk
Even if you’ve had enough of the Michael Jackson story, we recommend the totally awesome tribute Eternal Moonwalk. Really.
T Minus 5 Days and Counting: The Ghosts of Apollo 1
The crew of Apollo 11 poses in the command module “Columbia” during an egress test on 10 June 1969. From left: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin.From a distance of 40 years it’s pretty easy to see the Apollo 11 astronauts as loosey-goosey test pilots and thrillseekers. PR photos like this one help.
Pantheon of Unflattering Photos: Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson, father of Michael Jackson, at a memorial service today in Gary, Indiana.(Photo credit: WENN)
John Calvin Was Not Named John Calvin
Happy 500th birthday to you, John Calvin.Except that your real name is Jean Cauvin.
Least Surprising Story of the Day
Michael Jackson had multiple plastic surgeries, says doctor.
T Minus 7 Days and Counting
Aldrin was inspired by geology, because it “opened my eyes to the immensity of time.” Collins was not: “I hate geology — maybe that’s why they won’t let me get out on the Moon.”
Brosnan, Bewhiskered
We missed the French Connection phase of Pierce Brosnan’s facial life, but it’s so jolly we’re posting the photo now anyway.
Where’s Michael?
Turns out he is at Forest Lawn — at least, temporarily: