The Howell Report

Fun with Tile

Christopher — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:15:55 +0000

Paul and I installed some new floor tile: Enjoy the production.

British Sniper Sets Record

Christopher — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:31:06 +0000

A British Army Marksman has set a record for a confirmed kill – 1.5 miles. See this Sky News story for details.

Disney Gets the Business

Christopher — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:33:36 +0000

The Orlando Sentinel reports that Disney made money last year while it’s rivals suffered losses.

According to the 2009 attendance estimates, the Magic Kingdom remained the world’s busiest theme park, with 17.2 million visitors, up 1 percent from a year earlier. The rest of Disney World’s theme parks — Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom — each recorded slight gains of between 0.5 percent and 1 percent. On the other hand, attendance plummeted 10 percent at Universal Studios Florida, to 5.53 million, and 11.3 percent at Islands of Adventure, to 4.63 million. Those drops were so sharp that SeaWorld Orlando leapfrogged Universal Studios to become Central Florida’s busiest non-Disney theme park. But SeaWorld’s attendance of 5.8 million people was still 6.8 percent below a year earlier.

I’m curious as to how Busch Gardens’ new owners will handle this quaint Florida treasure in the coming months and years.

Apollo God of Light

Christopher — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:14:42 +0000

I was in elementary school in the 1960’s during the space program. I followed Mercury and Gemini. Even at 11 years old I knew that Apollo was the most technologically advanced program in the world. I can remember watching liftoffs and splashdowns on TV. Here’s an amazing video of old NASA footage digitally enhanced. They’ve turned 30 seconds into 8+ minutes of astounding super slo-mo.

Apollo 11 Saturn V Launch (HD) Camera E-8 from Mark Gray on Vimeo.

This clip is raw from Camera E-8 on the launch umbilical tower/mobile launch program of Apollo 11, July 16, 1969. This is an HD transfer from the 16mm original.

The camera is running at 500 fps, making the total clip of over 8 minutes represent just 30 seconds of actual time. Narration is provided by Mark Gray (me), Executive Producer for Spacecraft Films.

What Are You Rebelling Against?

Christopher — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:48:10 +0000

When I was a youngster rebelling was what all my friends did. I wasn’t much of a rebel but I wanted to be! One of the best ways to show your contempt for authority was to listen to Alice Cooper. Long hair, makeup, jumpsuit split down to the waist – all of it would simply enrage parents, teachers, coaches, and other adults. I got to see Alice Cooper in 1989. One of the best, most theatrical stage shows I’ve ever seen. It flat rocked. Oh yeah, I had an eight-track of Billion Dollar Babies that cycled over and over. Here’s a taste of some Cooper - Under My Wheels

The Decline of Newspapers

Christopher — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:09:28 +0000

The internet is radically changing old business models and that’s altering how people get their news. Since the turn of that last century newspapers have been the place where thoughtful, educated people go to get news, opinion and entertainment. Now it appears that newspapers may become obsolete. To be sure, the newspaper industry was in trouble before the internet. Papers have experienced a slow slide in readership that started in the 1950’s. But in the past five to ten years the decline has accelerated. Advertising, the life’s blood of newspapers, has greatly declined. Papers are cutting back on publication days, some are going to online only and some are closing altogether. It’s not a crisis but a concern. Newspapers (printed on paper) will be with us for quite some time. Is the decline of newspapers causing an “information gap”, where people are generally less informed? If there is an information gap, does this have an impact on politics the economy or culture? How will people get their news ten years from now? Is it time for a community dialog on the decline of newspapers and how to insure we have a well informed citizenry in the future?

Pork is Sacred in Texas

Christopher — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:33:24 +0000

Some religions like Judism and Islam forbid the eating of pork. This guy must be in a cult where you are required to only eat pork.

GPN Awards Breakfast

Christopher — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:10:03 +0000

On December 2, 2009 the members and friends of the Grant Professionals Network gathered at the Galloway Room at Rollins College to recognize the significant contributions of the grant writers of Central Florida.

Joe’s Birthday Party

Christopher — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:33:17 +0000

Birthday at the Beach 2009

Christopher — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:40:05 +0000

Here’s a look at our annual celebration for all the guys who have birthdays in October. It’s me, Jake, Rich and Nat. Charlotte and Natalie were there. Barbara made a wonderful cake!