During the winter break I visited the USS Constitution at the Charleston Navy Yard in Boston, MA. While there, I took this photo of the dry docked USS Cassin Young. The Cassin Young is a Fletcher class destroyer that was built in 1943. You can read more about her at the Cassin Young National Park site. (Click the photo for a larger view)

I can call the fall school semester a success, my final letter grades are three As and one B. The one B was in Physics for Engineers I and it was very nearly a fourth A. I feel like I have an above average understanding of the material that we covered so I am confident about taking Physics for Engineers II in the Spring. However, it is nice to have a break from homework deadlines and studying. But, there is a small school related writing project I have to take care of during the break.

After having a conversation with an advisor in the Texas A&M Aerospace Engineering department, I will be applying for a Fall 2011 transfer admission at the beginning of the year. This means that I need to start working on a Statement of Purpose essay between now and the new year. For now though, I will try and install OS X 10.5.7 on my Toshiba Netbook.

Now that the fall semester is well underway, I believe I can be more active here. My first order of business is to show you some new images I shot before school started. I hope you enjoy them.

August Image Gallery

Thank you Lord that there are still people who know how to brew the second greatest gift you gave to mankind.

Today’s consumption is brought to us by Ayinger Bräu-Weisse. This is a very refreshing wheat beer that a friend mine recommended to me while we were shopping at HEB. This beer is definitely one that I will go back to in the future.

And here it is in the glass.

The pint glass is from the Elm City Brewery in Keene, NH. If you find yourself in New England, I highly recommend that you stop in. The brewery also has a pub which has great food to go with your brew. I can still remember the excellent rueben I had there.

I have seen many photographs of Aircraft landing at this now defunct Hong Kong airport, but this is the first video of the extreme approach that I have watched.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PCOcyt7BPI&feature=related

I never knew that Abraham Lincoln had a secret life, but as it turns out, Abe had a talent for swinging an axe. And then promptly embedding it into those who sparkle.

I am only about one third of the way through the book Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, but I am thoroughly enjoying so far. A nice antidote for current vampire hype. Once I am finished with this book I will be moving on to the Wheel of Time series.

The European Space Agency recently released several images of the asteroid Lutetia that were taken by the Rosetta spacecraft. The images look fantastic. I can’t wait to see images of the Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet once Rosetta rendezvous with it.

Credits: ESA 2010 MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/RSSD/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

There are quite a few games out now that I would not mind playing during the rest of the summer. Here they are in no particular order:

• Super Mario Galaxy 2 – Wii
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 – Wii
• The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks – DS

I’m not sure if I will actually get to play these, but we will see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBGOQ7SsJrw