[ Ball ]
of Confusion
Love And Rockets
Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven (1985)
1968 — Christmas Eve
((( song )))
— Bill Anders (Apollo 8)
Apollo 8
“In the beginning, God created The Heavens and The Earth.”
—— December 24, 1968
— dave.
For decades, Hub’s Inn, on the River Road in Cocoa, was one of the most popular after hours restaurants and bars on Florida’s East Coast. Opening in the 1920s, notorious for hosting Al Capone when he chose to sail his motor yacht up the Intracoastal, from his Miami Beach mansion, to Hub’s on the Indian River Lagoon. The restaurant thrived for more than 50 years, before closing in the 1974, the same time NASA ended the Apollo program.
Sept. 23, 1988 — The launch of Discovery was NASA’s first manned mission since the loss of Challenger, two years before.
Lost In Space
Home Is Where The Rockets Fly.
“Rocketman”
Elton John
Honky Château
1972 —
((( song )))
— dave.
SACRED GROUND
The point on Earth from where the most exciting voyage began. (Amelia Earnhardt)
Last Stepping Stone
to The Moon
Launch Complex #39 — The last spot on Earth, from where America’s most accomplished pilots, engineers, scientists, and military officers (Astronauts) touched before leaving for the Moon.
— dave.
SIGNING OFF — After every launch from The Cape, a distinct after cloud lingers, a signature in the sky, left by the rocket as disappears over the far distant horizon. Discovery (STS-133) embarked on its final voyage (February 24, 2011), a supply mission to the International Space Station. Within the next year, the last two shuttles were launched, and successfully completed their missions.
NASA’s 40-year Space Shuttle Program had come to an end.
— U2 / NASA
Message From Above — Then the mission commander of STS-134, what might have been the last of NASA’s 40-year space shuttle program, Mark Kelley took Bono up on his invitation to speak to U2 audiences from the International Space Station.
MORE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES
May 16, 2011 — (STS-134) The penultimate mission of NASA‘s Space Shuttle program, and the 25th and last spaceflight of Endeavour. Mark Kelly was the flight’s mission commander, responsible for delivering the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and an ExPRESS Logistics Carrier to the International Space Station.
It was thought that STS-134 could have been the last, with most Republicans in Congress opposing the funding required to launch STS-135, but as soon as February, NASA announced definitely that STS-135 would fly, “regardless” of Congress’ denial of funding.
The Last Shuttle
July 8, 2011 — Taking advantage of the time and preparations necessary for STS-335, the “On Need” launch, the mission that would have been necessary if the STS-134 crew became stranded in orbit. That made Atlantis (STS-135) the last. Two weeks after launch, upon its return and landing at the Kennedy Space Center, the 135th mission, and the entirety of NASA’s 30-year Space Shuttle Program, was over.
Private Property
Whose space is it?
The privatization of space, when exploration become exploitation, and at whose expense is of no concern to the few who already have it all.
— dave.
September 15, 2021 — Elon Musk’s (SpaceX) first all-private, manned mission (Inspiration 4) as seen from the Moonlight Drive-In, on US1, just north of SR50 (Florida’s Road Through Time & Space), in Titusville, Florida.
What a Difference a Decade Makes
1960 — LET THE VOYAGE BEGIN
1970 — WALKING ON THE MOON
1980 — SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY
1990 — I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
2000 — THE POISON APPLE
2010 — GALACTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT
INGENUITY — Helicopter On Mars
DRONES/PHOTOGRAPHY/SURVEILLANCE/DEFENSE
2020 — Digital Doom
INSPIRATION — Elon Musk’s Late Entry. After Richard Branson (in his space dart) and Jeff Besos (in his flying vibrator) reached outer space, Elon Musk’s bruised ego compelled him to join the modern day, Mogul vs. Mogul, 21st Century Race to Space. The historic America vs. Russia competition, had become a privatized, survival-of-the-fittest, he with the most money in the end, wins the game. Reminiscent of the dark, no borders, Corporation v. Corporation, World described in Rollerball, the 1975 science fiction film that seems to have accurately predicted our future.
Billionaires In Space
E-Ticket Ride
b/ Mike Watt
((( LISTEN )))
— !.
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
ELON MUSK, The Extremist
Tesla / SpaceX
RICHARD BRANSON, The Adventurer
Virgin Atlantic / Gallactic
JEFF BESOS, The Buisnessman
Amazon / Blue Origin
& DONALD TRUMP, The Useful Idiot
Trump U / Go Fund Me
[ Look ]
at the ball of fire..
Those Writers Who Best Describe The Sunshine State.
((([ originalnoise.org ])))
Look at the Ball of Fire.”
— dave.
A Day In The Life — Ten minutes on Florida’s Space Coast, including watching a the launch of the space shuttle Discovery with a young family, watching its first ever launch, from the front yard of their new home (cottage) on Indian River Drive, along the Lagoon (Intracoastal Waterway) in Cocoa, Florida.
Discovery was on its way to the International Space Station, orbiting 300 miles above, in outer space, free from Earth’s atmospheric and gravitational pulls.
The Moment, for me, a reminder of fifty years earlier, when my mother (in the video) took my sister, my brother, and me into our small, sand spur-filled front yard in Cocoa, to watch Alan Shepard’s Launch. Shepard’s 15-minute flight made him the first American to see outer space.
2005 — On this launch day (2005), you’ll hear Grandma Rose shriek excitedly, before loudly calling out to her young grandson,Josh, “look at the ball of fire.”
The Lure Of The Moon
“Everyone’s Gone To The Moon.”
Nina Simone
((( song )))
b/ dave.
The Moon Hut, a small outside beach concession stand appears in 60s Sci-Fi movie50 years later a Mexican restaurant in the same A1A, Cape Canaveral spot originally. The Moon Hut was the private dining room the restaurant rented out for parties. NASA paraphernalia and photographs, cover the walls, under the watchful eye of a 12-point buck mounted above the door.
“Surfin’ Fla.”
The Beach Boys
Sebastian Inlet, Florida
((( song )))
b/ dave.
Sebastian Inlet — The dividing line between Brevard and Indian River Counties, known as one of the finest breaks, not only in Florida, but on the entire east coast of the United States.
Sky Writers
“In The Skies”
Peter Green
In The Skies
1977 —
((( song )))
b/ dave.
Every rocket, after its launch, leaves something of a signature unique signature
The third to last Shuttle, after being postponed for days, was dramatic, and left a most beautiful after cloud, a most appropriate “tag” for the entire Shuttle program.
Weeki Wachee
SR50
The Road Through Florida Time & Space
— “The Road Through Space & Time” b/ Skot Olsen
Painting Florida — The Highwaymen were a group of African American painters, who, from their home, Fort Pierce, painted the Florida landscape and drove up and down the state (mostly on US1), selling their paintings out of the trunks of their cars.
FOSSIL FUEL
GOD / GAS / GUNS
Weeki Wachee
TWO SPRINGS
Interior Florida Swimming Holes
— dave.
“From the Beginning”
FOSSIL FUEL
Houses Replace citrus, after a freeze. St John’s Crossing. Crossing I95, Old School east to Titusville/ US1 & HWY50)
VAB
HWY50 — WEEKI WACHEE/VAB SPRING HILL, Sinclair Dinosaur, inland Florida swimming hole, as compared to the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables.
Turpentine, Pines, Plywood and stinky pulp
SR50
“Florida’s Road Through Time And Space”
Enjoy The Ride.
((play))
— dave.
A vintage Sinclair (Dino) gas station, stands appropriately on the west end of SR50, Florida’s road through time, runs 100 miles, straight east from Weeki Wachee (just north of Tampa) to the crossroads (SR50/I-4) in Orlando, continuing across the St. Johns River and the wetlands, entering the small, North Brevard County city, and ending on the Banana River (Intracoastal Waterway,) looking across to see the VAB (Vertical/Vehicle Assembly Building) and (Launch) Complex 39, the last stepping stone to The Moon.
— dave.
Patrick Air Force Base, Picnic Tables, 2nd Light, Touch and Gos, Pineda Causeway shortcut, U2 takeoff, F-16s across the Turnpike, Hawk chasing Eagle, Followed (Targeted) by A-10s. After Pink Floyd, torrential rain at the Tangerine Bowl.
• Daytona Beach (1957) Thunderbirds Intro
SR50
THE SPACE COAST
Cape Canaveral
Canaveral National Seashore/
Cocoa Beach/
Merritt Island/
Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge/MOSQUITO LAGOON
Dolphin
Heron
Egret
Osprey
Pelican
Alligator
Indian River/CITRUS
Tropical Trail/FRUIT/FLOWERS
Mather’s Bridge
Dragon Point
Indialantic
5th Avenue Surf
Melbourne Beach
Poor Richards
Ponce de Leon
Old Wooden Beach Lodge/FOR SALE
New (House) Construction
Whitey’s Bait
Sebastian Inlet/SURF
Spanish House
Inlet
Monster Hole
Shark Pit
Orchid Island
Jensen Beach/Paul Milette
CSWY — WABASSO BAIT
Valkaria/AIRSTRIP/AUTOCROSS
GRANT/SEAFOOD
Shrimp Clams ???
(Barrier) Island Dwelers
Art Lathum,
Palm Beach Post War Correspondent
(Real) Daiquiris
Thunderstorm Rowing
Air Force helicopter (w/Andrea Murray)
OSPREY ROW
“HUNGERY”
Downtown Melbourne/DOVE RESTAURANT
US192
WEST — I-95 / St. Johnss River / Camp Holly Airboats / Rural Religion / St Cloud Interlude / Pawn / Cheap Tickets / Kississimmee / Silver Spurs / ORANGE WORLD
MACHINE GUN AMERICA
EAST — CSWY/ SPECTRUM SURF SHOP / 5TH AVE BOARDWALK / SHAGG’s SURF SHOP
A1A North — Indian Harbor / Satellite Beach / Lum’s / RC’s
PINEDA CSWY
CSWY WEST — Banana River / Merritt Island / Indian River / US1
US1 NORTH-TO ROCKLEDGE
Riverside Bar w/Dan & Marsha Gibson
We Don’t usually have that kind in here
Mixed couple. Out back on dock, bartender thought we were Insulted.
ALAMO MEXICAN KITCHEN
RIVER ROAD ENTRANCE
Leonard’s Stand (Palms)
North to COQUINA.
PINEDA CSWY/A1A
NORTH — PAFB / Officers’ Club / 2ND Light / Picnic Tables
Cocoa Beach / TACO CITY
NATURAL ART SURF SHOP
7TH STREET
Al Neuharth’s Log Cabin (Pumpkin Center)
Bill Johnson/USA TODAY EXPULSION
Patrick Air Force Base
Naked Launch
Florida’s Finest Art on the World’s most Sacred Ground
Titusville, Fla. (1997)
— dave.
SR 50 (VAB)
1/2 Mile north on Riverside Drive, on a dock that stretched out into the Indian River, was a piece of Florida’s finest art.
The Road Through Time & Space
State Road 50 (SR 50) runs across the center of the U.S. state of Florida through Orlando, starting at Weeki Wachee (SR5 /SR55) /US 19) and ending in Titusville (US1), directly across from the VAB and Space Complex #39 rising on the horizon (Cape Canaveral).
SR 50 is signed east–west. Within various counties throughout the state, the highway is signed with various names such as Cortez Boulevard in Hernando County and Colonial Drive in Orange County. The former section includes the concurrency with US 98 between Brooksville and near Ridge Manor. US 98-SR 50 is the only interchange with Interstate 75 in Hernando County.
Several portions of SR 50 east of SR 436 follow the original Cheney Highway, which was named for John Moses Cheney and was the first road to the coast from Orlando. Full travel from Orlando to Titusville on the Old Cheney Highway, however, is not possible due to the demolition of a bridge over the Econlockhatchee River. At the end of SR50, NASA‘s Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) is visible.
State Road 408, also known as the East-West Expressway or Toll Road 408, from its western starting point near Ocoee to its eastern terminus near the University of Central Florida near Bithlo, runs almost directly parallel to SR50, with most exits on the 408 being within a mile to two miles away from SR50. The East-West Expressway was originally designed to, and still does, relieve traffic congestion on SR 50 during rush hour.
— dave.
The Road Through Time & Space
STATE ROAD 40 (OCALA) National Forest
Through Ocala over the Ocklawaha River and bridge and through the heart of the Ocala National Forest to Silver Springs, A1A in Ormond Beach. Yankeetown on the Gulf Coast.
Silver Springs
A western extension of SR 40 continues from US 41 in Dunnellon as SR 40 to the Gulf of Mexico through Marion and Levy Counties north of the Withlacoochee River. County Road 40 is named Follow That Dream Parkway west of US 19/98 after the 1962 Elvis Presley movie that was filmed in Inglis, Yankeetown and the surrounding area. East of US 19-98, the road is known as Port Avenue in Levy County, and Cedar Street, then Pennsylvania Avenue in Dunnellon. Between Dunnellon and Rainbow Lakes Estates, SR 40 serves as a not-so-hidden route along US 41.
Curse Of The Witches Well
Rainbow River / Rainbow Springs
Dunellon, Florida. Clear, Cool, spring-fed river.
A retreat from a family estate on the west coast (north of Clearwater) in Bellair, where Henry Plant terminated his railroad, while Henry Flagler, continued down Florida’s east coast. Famously making stops in Ormond Beach, Palm Beach, Miami, and in 1912, Key West. His Moon.
THE BELLEVIEW-BILTMORE HOTEL
Henry Plant was Henry Flagler’s rival, fellow Railroad baron, and Florida Pioneer, who turned his tracks west, toward Tampa, while Flagler decided to continue south, down Florida’s East Coast, with a dreamer’s eye on Key West (FLAGLER’S MOON), the industrial age, land developer’s fantastic quest.
De Leon Springs
Blue Spring (Actually Green)
St. Johns River
Orange, Florida
(HWY40)Go West — Ormond Beach, Ocala National Forest, Silver Springs, Crystal River, Yankeetown, Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve,
Deland (HWY44)
Cassadaga — GEO MAGAZINE (German) PICTURES
Daytona Beach (The World’s Most Famous)
Daytona 500
NASCAR (Beach-A1A/Super Speedway
Port Orange
New Smyrna Beach (HWY44) Atlantic Ocean
Cassadaga
Deland
Orange, Florida
BLUE SPRING
ST. JOHNS RIVER
(SR50) — THE ROAD THROUGH SPACE & TIME
What a Difference a Decade Makes
International Space Station
Galactic Waste Management
Richard Branson
Virgin Atlantic
Elon Musk
SpaceX
Private Property?
Space Force?
Jeff Besos
Amazon
Change Is Gonna Come
— originalnoise.org
SpaceX (Elon Musk) Cometh
Elon Musk. Scientist without a soul.
The Inaugural Falcon — A look into the Future of space travel, and a reminder (warning) of how Donald Trump not only didn’t make America any greater, he nearly destroyed our effort to boldly go where no man has gone before.
“I’ll break your fucking camera,
if you take a picture of me.”
Unlike an invitation to a tall glass of sweet tea and watching a countdown on the host family’s primitive black and white television set with its aluminum foil-wrapped rabbit ear antenna.
2018 — Elon Musk (Space X) launched its first Falcon Heavy rocket on February 6, 2018. Almost as big as the Apollo program’s Saturn V, and much more advanced technologically, the Falcon is the machine Musk hopes will take the first men and women to Mars.
((audio))
— dave.
Far from the fondest of memories, watching all the “manned launches,” starting with Alan Shepard’s most exhilarating, 15-minute, up and down ride anyone had ever seen.
From our front yard on the Cocoa mainland, my mother, my sister, my brother, and I watched the yellow flame rise into the clear blue Florida sky, and after it disappeared, we went inside to begin what would be a life-long, Space Coast ritual.
Closing the screen door behind you, and sitting down in the living room, listening to one of the network newsmen, writing (telling) America’s history as they saw it.
We, like most, listened to Walter Cronkite, the voice of CBS news, the Truth in America.
Walter Cronkite — an honest man who told us what he saw.
Same Space, Different Time — For the dozen Apollo Astronauts who walked on the Moon, the last spot on earth they touched before their galactic stroll, was Cape Canaveral, Florida.
On this day, nearly 40 years later, the Space Shuttle Discovery sat quietly on the same spot, it’s crew waiting anxiously to ride the fountain of fire, away from The Cape, and toward their outer space destination, the International Space Station, orbiting 300 miles overhead.
The deteriorating, corrugated-metal building is Hub’s Inn, a Space Coast seafood restaurant and lounge, popular in the 1920s. Indian River lore having it that Hub’s was a favorite of Al Capone, to where he and his Miami mob associates sailed their motor yachts, up the Intracoastal Waterway, and bought exclusive time at Hub’s Inn, enough time to satisfy their near-insatiable desire for Wine, Women, and Song.
Imagine a man looking down on us from 200 miles up… Looking down at our beautiful crowded planet… What would he say to us?
What is on your mind Commander Kelly?”
— NASA
Kelly’s wife Gabrielle Giffords, a Congresswoman from Arizona, was shot in the head while attending a meet-and-greet, neighborhood gathering at a local grocery store. The song holds special significance to Giffords, as she chose it to play as the wakeup song one morning during her husband’s trip, his last, as commander of the space shuttle Endeavour’s final mission.
“Your Future” (Gods & Monsters)
Bernard Fowler
((( song )))