Some folks, in letters to editors and other places, have asked why the destruction of Columbia was a big deal, pointing out other lives lost that did not get such coverage. There are a few reasons for this. One is that people are sadly accustomed to hearing of some things. An aircraft accident is somehow more newsworthy than a house fire, and a ( Read more... )

I slept in Saturday morning, getting up just before 8:00 AM CST, rather than the usual 6:30 AM. I was still somewhat sleep-groggy as I stood in the kitchen pondering breakfast. The phone rang. Caller ID told me by number that my folks were calling. This was unusual. My father asked if I'd been watching Columbia's descent and said that things went ( Read more... )