Hobbies and Interests

Hobbies and Interests:

Let's see... here's a sample of some things that Mshenga thinks are cool:

Ever since I was 'knee high to a fennec" I can remember being hyper interested in the U.S. manned space program. I can remember being 5 years old (or so) and trying to take a nap but instead watching a "Gemini" rocket launch on television (in black and white). I was seven years old when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. I can remember staying up to the ungodly hour of 9pm so that I could watch the first moon walk live! Boy those were the good old days of the space program.

NASA has a very cool homepage. They have summaries of every manned U.S. space launch. Check it out. You'll end up spending hours there!

Since we're on the topic of some wicked cool technology, check out the A-Bomb WWW Museum. Hey, don't get me started on the topic of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology. IMHO, nuclear weapons have helped keep the peace for the last 50 years and have prevented a third world war. However, it is a double edged sword. There is the legacy of pollution and now the specter of terrorist uses of nuclear weapons. But when you look at nuclear weapons as a technology, you must agree that they are one of the most wicked cool things ever invented.

Oh, so you think that you might just want to make your own nuclear device? Got nothing better to do this weekend or is it because you want to become your own super-power? Well, if this is the case then you had better do your homework and there is no better place to start then with a critical dose of internet hyper-links. Click on "Little Boy" to start your journey. Please be careful and remember, nuclear weapons are for outdoor use only!

I know what you're saying... enough with the heavy stuff. Okay, how about we talk entertainment... TV, music and movies.

My favorite TV cartoon is Rocko's Modern Life. This is the story of a kangaroo named Rocko, his friends Hef and Filbert and their slap-stick adventures in O-Town (the corporate headquarters of Con-Glom-O). If you haven't seen Rocko's Modern Life you simply must make the time. Once you've seen it you'll be hooked too! "That was a hoot!"

Let's talk some serious science fiction, let's talk Babylon 5. Not only is Babylon 5 "earth's last best chance for peace" it's also TV's last best chance for good science fiction! Okay, I guess you can tell that I like B5. In my opinion it truly beats the stuffing out of most other current TV SciFi. Babylon 5 has what I call the "grunge factor". Even a creation as wonderful as the huge B5 space station has its slums and slimy areas. There is none of the perfectly spotless technology as is found on the various Star Trek shows. Give it a try!!

How could I even begin talking about some of my favorite movies without starting off with my most favorite movie of all time... None other then The Lion King. What more can I say, this movie was made for me. It speaks to me. I long ago lost track of how many times I've seen it. However, no matter how many times I watch it, it still makes me cry. For me this is the real test of a movies worth. Do you still feel the emotions that were felt when it was first viewed when watching it for the thousandth time?

My favorite female vocalist is none other then Sarah McLachlan. She has this voice that... and she writes these songs that... well, nothing that I can say here is going to make any difference. What you need to do is listen to her songs. If you will permit me, please start with her most popular release Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. This CD has some of the most wonderful songs on it! If you look closely you'll find a quote from one of her songs else where in my homepage.

Turning to movies again, another animated feature that I really enjoyed was the movie Balto. The film recounts the true story of the sled dogs who rescued the town of Nome, Alaska from the grips of an epidemic in the winter of 1925. True, it's no Lion King but the animation is very good and it features the voice talent of Kevin Bacon.

Speaking of Kevin Bacon, one movie that ranks up there with my all time favorites is Apollo 13. As you may have already guessed, this is the story of the ill fated Apollo 13 mission. This has to be one of the most interesting and spectacular movies that I have ever seen. The special effects are simply breath taking and the story is riveting. If you are going to purchase the video tape, be sure to get the letter box version!

Another movie that has really caught my attention is Dune. This is the movie adaptation of the Frank Herbert epic science fiction novel. This movie was not very well received by the general public. However, I think that this was because it's a very complex story that can not be adequately told in 2 hours. I like Dune (not because of its lack-luster special effects) but because it too has the "grunge factor". I guess that life in the year 10,191 is not all it's cracked up to be.

Turning again to music, another of my favority female vocalists is Natalie Merchant. I must confess that I was not a big fan of 10,000 maniacs, so I never listened to her in the past. However, her debut album "Tigerlily" has really caught my attention.

One of my favorite computer games is none other then Myst. I played this game last summer. More to the point I became obsessed with this game last summer. The story, music, graphics and puzzles are so fascinating that I could easily spend an entire evening playing, stopping only to eat, sleep and to take care of a few other activities. I did complete the game but I must confess that I did get a couple of hints. If you haven't done so yet, be sure to set aside several weeks of your life to play it. It will become your world!

Here's a hobby of mine that I just thought of. Ever since I can remember I've been very interested in the brief history of the steamship R.M.S. Titanic. You will recall that the Titanic sank after striking an iceburg on her madien voyage. Did you know that the fourth (aft most) of the Titanic's four funnels was there for show and served no actual purpose? Click on the painting at the left to find out more about this facinating ship. Click here to view an actual photo of the R.M.S. Titanic.


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