Alabama Election Commercial

For a small taste of Alabama electoral discussion. Time to name names.

Family Reunion

Ok, so I am now looking into whether or not I can make it to the Family Reunion. I think I might be able swing airfare but am wondering whether I can bunk in someone's room, crash on someone's floor (with air mattress because I'm old now), or bum rides in someone's car to and from activities. If you have any ideas, suggestions, etc... I'm all ears. It would just be me since Frank still doesn't have any time off work until August.
Let me know.
Thanks
Patti

Robert Spencer 2010

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Happy Mother's Day

Anyone else keep their kids early artwork?: Here are two that go with the day.

"When I grow up I want to be a mom.
I want to be that because my mom is just a plain mom."

'More on back'.

What a great tribute!

Rocket Science

Jesse is the next generation rocket scientist in the family. Here are some comments he recently sent about his work:

Here is a demonstration of part of the rocket system I've been working on for the past 3+ years. There's a video and link to pictures of this week's successful launch (at White Sands Missile Range, NM) if you scroll down:



This abort rocket helps the NASA crew to escape if there is an anomaly with the launch rocket, either on the pad (as shown here) or during ascent to orbit. My main areas of emphasis are vortex aerodynamics, hot 50,000 pound rocket plume flows, multi-body separation dynamics, 10,000 pound jettison thrusters, and parachute aerodynamics between 29 sec (on the video) and 34 sec, although I also worked on ascent aeroheating, wake modeling for descent under parachutes, wind tunnel testing, etc ...

This is a huge relief that everything worked so flawlessly! Pre-flight animation is available:



There is a very interesting video of the various technologies ... most amazing is the Abort Control Motor (ACM), which has the unprecedented capability of controlling a vehicle using solid rocket motors that throttle to vary the thrust vector (watch video from 4:13 to 4:38):



You probably wouldn't want to ride this vehicle, since the astronauts are subjected to 17g (17 times gravity) ... they go straight up more than a mile in about 10 seconds.

Jesse

Distant Cousin

From a recent Church News:

Alan Roy Maynes, 59, and Laurie Afton Christensen Maynes, seven children, [called to serve beginning July 1 as President of the] Colorado Denver South Mission; [from] Gordon Creek Ward, Helper Utah Stake. Brother Maynes serves as a stake president and is a former counselor in stake presidencies, bishop and missionary in the Ireland Mission. Retired area director, Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. Born in Murray, Utah, to Roy Godfrey and Carol Rhoda Daw Maynes.

Sister Maynes is a former counselor in ward Relief Society presidencies, ward Primary teacher, chorister and pianist and stake family history consultant. Born in Roosevelt, Utah, to Dean Christian and Luella Afton Nielson Christensen.

***
Looks like he is my third cousin coming from Joseph Watson Maynes, the brother of John Alexander Maynes II. Joseph and John II, both returned to England to serve missions in the 1910's and both died while on their missions at ages 53 and 55 respectively.

Footnote.com

Footnote.com is a new location for building family history records. I recently added to the skeleton information already there for a couple of our people.

Grandpa Ross McGee link here

Grandma Louretta Maynes link here

Karen Atwood link here.

Grandma Elsie McGee link here

Grandpa Maynes link here
Feel free to add and comment.

(The site tries to sell yearly memberships but much is available free, just create a free basic membership and click past those offers.)