The Duke of Caladan has arrived !!!

 

The Duke has arrived, the father of Muad'Dib!! Bless the coming and the going of the Maker!! This is actually a little dune talk and anyone who has read the books will understand. This the latest of those precious dune books. Now before I make my point, and yes I have a point a little rant!

There are those who read Frank Herbert's books and say they are great. I am one of them and though some are a hard slog they are enjoyable. However he got a lot confusing in his story telling and by God Emperor it was total. I know because I read it twice. By the end of the second reading it was better. Thankfully the last two books got back on track. However I wondered what had happened in the intervening years to cause the universe of Dune to come to this place and time. Sadly Frank died and left us hanging.

For me the series of books by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson made it much clearer. I finally got to know what happened in The Butlerian Jihad and the in between times. I like them as well though there are those that do not and that is there right, may their blades chip and shatter!!

To anyone who has not read Dune, please do !! I am a Dune nut and have read ALL the books. I cannot get enough of Dune so I was shattered when I heard that the new movie would be delayed. I ask what are those of us with taste in science fiction going to do till then ,watch raised by wolves or discovery?? I said tasteful, not disgustingly stupid and an utter waste of time and space!!

Now this is the first book of a trilogy. I do not know yet when they they will be published. From experience with the last great trilogy they are usually space out by about one year. So now I have a big, big, big problem. If I start reading it I will get drawn into the story and before I realize I would have read the about three hundred pages. I know I will love it because the stories about these people who populate the Dune universe are wonderful.

Then what do I do ??? I will have to wait, and wait. Then today's world will come crashing in and this will sadden me greatly. Not that the world of Dune ever portrays a walk in the park kind of life. right from the very first page of the very first book the worlds and the future that Frank Herbert creates is deliciously intricate with plots and plans and powers and principalities. We learn as the story progresses what man's future has become. When you read the book it has a section that explains many things and words used in the narrative. After a while you get very comfortable with it all.

Before long you will be introduced to one of the most important elements that exist in Dune. The giant worms of Arrakis are big. In one estimation they have the diameter of a house and the length of a city block. They patrol and protect another important item , the spice, melange. This spice is the most important commodity in the known universe. It possesses special properties and the entire structure of the Dune universe is supported on this one , singular pillar. It is only found on one planet, Arrakis or as it is often called Dune. A planet without any water, just dessert. To control this most precious commodity the humans in the future, much like the ones today, scheme, plot, kill and maneuver powerful political, religious and military forces.

As such the stories go into detail how these forces clash. In all human endeavors there are the protagonists and this where DUNE excels. The people who are behind all the action are very real. They have a past, are very passionate about what interests them. The good are , with some very human traits, basically decent people with good intentions. The evil are also very realistic in their greed and cruelty. Of course we could not have a good story without some very stupid and helpless individual who are used by the one who have plans within plans. You cannot help but get drawn into what they are up to in each of the books.

So here is my dilemma , if I start reading the book I will get so interested as to what happens that within a short time I will have read it all. Then I will have to wait. However there is a sliver lining. Usually I read the book again to remind me of the story and then read the second one right after so the story is fresh in my mind!!

 

HEY WORLD CHANG'E 5 DID IT!!!

 Way to go Chang'e 5!!! You did it WOW!!!  FANTASTIC !!!! MARVELOUS !!!!! I am so excited , so enthralled , so joyous!! The Chinese  National Space Agency  has accomplished something truly amazing. I waited and waited for the so called media to shout it from the rooftops to let the world know !! THERE WAS NOTHING mentioned!?? Thank goodness for the internet. I can announce to the world that Chang'e 5 left earth, landed on the moon, got some moon rocks, lifted off from the moon, transferred the rocks and came home. This was done in three weeks. WOW! WOW! WOW! I cannot get a parcel delivered on this small patch of Mother Earth in the same time.

The video above shows the thermal images of the capsule with those very precious moon rocks. This is the last step. However it had to drill on the moon for the rocks. I am thrilled looking at this because it is on the moon!!

Now that is has retrieved the moon rocks and stored them on the ascender it launches itself from the surface. It sends a chill down my spine watching it disappear!!

It has to transfer the rocks to the waiting orbiter module so they are secure for the three day journey back to earth.

Now here at this point in the mission I had to wait for days for something new. I waited and waited and I did not get any information, any videos about it leaving the moon's orbit or its passage back to earth. I wondered if it had achieved earth orbit. Then yesterday I saw the video of it landing. Now there are few real cool ones of it streaking across the sky. 

In this messed up world this is news that is happy. Mankind is accomplishing some innovative and gut wrenching great things. Here is a video of the capsule that survived re-entry being looked after carefully by the ground crew in a cold place on the good earth.

   Now the first part of this blog was a pleasure to write. What follows is my personal analysis of why, why, why and yes why the world is not taking note of this historic achievement. I find the American media completely absorbed with just the U.S. I feel they think the world revolves around them. Their space program was once supreme but they have dropped the ball, as they have done in the past. They use private enterprise at their peril to re-supply the international space station. It was because of the Americans refusal that the Chinese were not invited to join. How pathetic is that !!

    I am a proud Canadian and even though we are a small nation we have punched above our weight for decades. I am concerned at the state of affairs in our neighbour to the south. Yet our media is all excited that we will join the U.S. in a possible, maybe flight to the moon. Yes someday they will do this, someday they will do that. All I say is SHOW ME!! Do not talk the talk, instead walk the walk!! Show me concrete action, rockets and of course cold hard cash. 

The Chinese are doing great things and they are accomplishing feats of technical prowess. They have a vision and a great deal of courage. So now the ball has been passed to them, while the Americans and the Russians concentrate on the trivial, stupid and mundane and ignorant things on this planet.

Yes the world is suffering through a horrific pandemic and that is the focus of many. I am aware of this salient fact. However this expedition to the moon should be celebrated by all Mankind as a triumph for our species, a bright moment in an otherwise dark and dismal year!!

Why this story is not the first on newsflashes confounds me.

Well I care about this deeply so world hear me ROAR!!

CHANG'E 5 RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW Chang-5 WOW!!!!

 My goodness it was a week ago when I last wrote about this amazing space feat. Now Chang-5 went into orbit, landed, got the samples and just now launched the ascender to rendezvous with the orbiter to the precious moon rocks! They surely are not wasting anytime on this mission. So after making attitude adjustments then it will meet up with the orbiter and transfer the rocks. then the return to earth begins and this will take about 3 days. So it looks like I will be writing this blog again. I do not mind at all for what mankind had to endure these past few months it is an extreme pleasure to have some genuine great news to show off!!!

Here it is landing on the moon. This is tricky because the landing sight is full of rocks.

It seems like it just landed, but it just did, and sure enough it starts drilling near the lander for samples. This is fascinating to watch and it sends shivers up my spine.

Then it sure does let the moon dust settle on it, the ascender full of samples lifts off from the moon. Man it climbs very fast an disappears leaving the lander all alone on the surface.

So for now I feel like a little child, I am excited, happy, anxious and full of hope, and yet a bit scared all at the same time. It has been a great mission and the best is yet to come!!!