High School Math
Teacher
E-LSA Aircraft Pilot
Amateur Space Historian
Independent Movie Director
The Future of Me
by Joe Maness
08May2010
I signed a paper a few days ago asking if I wanted to come back next school year, assuming they find the funds. I checked YES on the form, so we'll see what will happen.
My Principal told me that since I teach math, and there are not a whole lot of math teachers out there, that I probably would not have too much trouble finding another job. I probably agree.
I also have a chance at another school. I won't say which one, but I will say that I am really excited about this school, and I now want to go there instead of staying where I'm at.
Now, don't get me wrong. I LOVE where I am at. Century High School is just a GREAT place to work. The staff and students are hilarious. It's just that this other school might allow me to do other things that I love. It will become clear once I do or do not get the position.
The Future of the U.S.A.
by Joe Maness
26Arp2010
So I found out recently that my school district is going to cut 30+ teachers. Since there will not be cuts in student enrollment, this could mean larger class sizes. We have our priorities in our country backward when we honor Wall Street executives more than we do teachers.
The Future of NASA
by Joe Maness
17Apr2010
The latest controversy involving NASA, former astronauts, and President Obama has got me all tighted up in knots. On the one hand, can see the point of view of the astronauts that signed the letter to the President urging him to keep the "staus quo", so to speak. On the other hand, I believe that the President has some great points (and no, I am not an Obamabot).
Neil Armstong is one of my personal heros. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was 6 years old. I (obviously) never made it, but I did fly backseat in Navy jets, I have a degree in Applied Mathematics, and I own my own airplane. All because JFK called for the USA to go to the moon. I was inspired to go into math and science because of the Apollo space program. So all the Apollo astronauts became my heros.
Fast foward to 2010. Obama has cancelled the "Moon Program" (affectionatley known as "Apollo on Steroids"), and now my heros are at odds with the other man I very much admire and respect: the President.
Here is my own humble opinion: (and I have to preface this by stating that I really really hate to write what I am about to write): I think that Armstrong and the other astronauts have a valid point, but Obama's point is more valid. I don't even think it is an issue of economics; the current program was woefully over budget and behind schedule.
Besides, if "Apollo on Steroids" was such a great idea, why didn't Armstrong, et al, write a letter in support of the Direct Derivative (DD)? Now that was a program to support, if that was what they really wanted. Instead, they wanted to continue a program that was over budget and behind schedule. The DD had one launch vehicle, where as the "status quo" builds two different types of launch vehicles (crewed and uncrewed). DD also had plans for in orbit refueling, which, IMHO, is a skill that any space faring civilization needs to master.
I have been an advocate of the DD version of things from the beginning. I believe that because we did NOT embrace DD, the President had NO CHOICE but to cut the current program. The problem is, is that even POTUS does not have it 100% correct (see, I told you I'm not an Obamabot).
The President wants to use a Heavy Launch Vehicle (HLV) to go to an Asteroid, and then eventually to Mars orbit and then onto a Martian Landing. The problem with the idea is that we should go to the moon to practice everything we need to do on the asteroid and Mars. I've always believed that to set up a permanent presence in space, a space station and a lunar colony are both imperative. From there, humans can branch out to the Solar System.
In conclusion, both Armstrong and Obama have it wrong, and they both have it right. However, Obama has it more right than Armstrong. Too bad that Armstrong does not see this.
And We're Back
by Joe Maness
02Apr2010
Well, that was quick. All of a sudden my laptop goes dead, and I off the air for a year.
A lot of stuff has happened since 20Jan2009. A friend that I had not seen since college blew into town, and I had a great time hanging out.
I also recently bought an airplane. It is a Challenger II Long Wing Experimental-Light Sport Aircraft (E-LSA). Click here to see the pictures. I can't wait to start flying. I have a few modifications to do before the arplane is flight worthy, so it will probaby be the summer before I can start flying.
Century High School is going great! The kids are certainly a handfull (to say the least), but I'm getting the hang of things, and I hope to come back next school year.
Congratulations to our 44th President!
by Joe Maness
20Jan2009
Barack Hussein Obama became our POTUS at noon EST (10am MST).
My 2nd Period Geometry class did an Algebra Worksheet, then I turned the TV on to watch the coverage of the Inauguration. I just had to put on my Navy Flight Jacket during the swearing in. Then I proudly saluted our new POTUS, even though I had really saluted the TV!
My students could not understand the history of today. I reminded them of segregated water fountains of last century, but I believe that most of my students don't really think it is a big deal that a non-white male has taken over the Presidency.
Hmm. Maybe this is a good thing? Have we succeeded in teaching the next generation that racism sucks?
In related news, one of my students had asked me why I had voted for McCain if I liked Obama so much (I commend the right wing in making it un-thinkable that a guy that served proudly in the military could ever vote for the liberal, socialist Obama). So I (gently) told my student that I had voted for Obama and that making assumptions often leads to the wrong conclusion.
105th Anniversary of Powered Flight
by Joe Maness
17Dec2008
105 years ago today the Wright Brothers flew an airplane for the first time in recorded history. I consider this event one the most (if not the most) important moments in history. Humans have dreamed of flying for thousands of years. And now the dream has come true.
I find it so amazing that humans now take powered flight for granted. No one even thinks twice about a flying machine overhead. Yet barely a hundred years ago, that same sight would have cause quite a stir.
My brother and my father and I all took turns flying our ultralight airplane on December 17, 2003, the 100th Anniversary of powered flight. That was so cool, piloting an airplane on the 100th anniversary. We sold the airplane since then, but I'm looking forward to flying sometime soon.
Obama is a Brain
by Joe Maness
09Dec2008
I NEVER watch Meet The Press (MTP) on Sunday mornings because I am so sick of the gottcha questions that they ask the Democrats, but not the Republicans. I think that it is soooooo funny that all of a sudden, all the pundits in the Traditional Media are now calling for fiscal responsibility; so where were they when our current President was spending irresponsibly?
So last Sunday morning I'm watching MTP because BHO is on for the full hour. Man, it sure is nice to watch a President who is so sharp. He answered every question thoughtfully and honestly. I was VERY impressed.
However, Tom Brokaw is an idiot. I'm sorry, but he is. He asked BHO if he had quit smoking. BHO answered that yes he had quit smoking. Then Brokaw comes back with something about how he had fallen off the wagon, which means that he really hasn't quit after all! BHO told Brokaw "fair enough", and said that he isn't doing too bad, considering the stress of running for POTUS. I just thought the whole tone of the question was bad.
BHO kept his poise, answered every question, and showed Brokaw what a REAL POTUS looks and sounds like. Go Obama!
More Americans Are Center-Right?
by Joe Maness
09Nov2008
According to Karl Rove, President-Elect Barack Obama won because he ran a center-right campaign in a center-right nation.
Let's take take a look at reality, shall we? In the image below, red represents counties that voted more Republican this year than in 2004 ...
As you can see, this map shows us that that the Republican Party has been reduced to a regional party.
Wow, I'm so afraid of Karl Rove.
Barack Hussein Obama: Our 44th POTUS
by Joe Maness
Friday, 07Nov2008
Congratulations to our next POTUS and to our next VPOTUS Joe Biden!!!!
Now it is time to brag. This is my prediction of the Electoral Map as of 08Oct2008:
It looks like the only state I may have gotten wrong was MO. As of today, some news orgs have NOT called MO, and we are still waiting on the call from CD2 in NE (I picked that one for Obama!). If they both go to McCain, then I still get 50 out of 52 correct (I'm counting DC and NE CD2).
Not too bad. I just wish my Mom could have seen this.
RIP Carmen Maness
by Joe Maness
Wednesday, 29Oct2008
My mom passed away last Tuesday (07Dec1930 - 21Oct2008). She was 77. She is survived by myself, my sister Mary, and my brother Mike. My Dad passed 2.5 years ago. Death sucks.
On a positive note, the school that I work at (Los Lunas High School) really came through for me. I did not know what to do with all the Parent-Teacher conferences that had been scheduled for that week. So my department head, Yvonne Griego, just took over. She got a counselor to take my conferences, then she found some teachers to take over my classes. I have NEVER felt so much at home in ANY work environment.
THANK YOU LOS LUNAS HIGH SCHOOL!!!!!
Thanks also to Etta Cavalier for taking my conferences, and Diana Benavides for volunteering to take some of my classes. Thanks also to Yvonne Griego (again) and Laura Jaramillo for showing up to my Mom's services. I also want to give a special thanks to Theresa Baca-Watson for taking some of my conferences and providing a shoulder to lean on.
To the principal of the school, Claudia Krause-Johnson, your staff is AWESOME! This school is really a community, and I'm proud to be part of it.
Goodbye Mom. We love you and miss you very much.
What If?
by Joe Maness
Saturday, 04Oct2008
It is the 51st anniversary of Sputnik. Ironically, everyone at the time thought that by 4Oct2008, humans would be thriving in space. Instead, we get a retiring space shuttle with no good replacement for several years, an international space station that can only be crewed by less than 5 astronauts at a time, and "regular folks" having to purchase (for $20M) their way into space.
How pathetic.
What if we had kept going post-Apollo? What kind of world would we be living in right now?
The Traditional Media
by Joe Maness
Tuesday, 16Sep2008
I am in shock. The Traditional Media is actually calling it pretty accurately. Way back during the 2000 POTUS race, the Traditional Media led the way with the "Al Gore invented the Internet" meme. Then, in 2004, the Traditional Media led the way with the "John Kerry faked his Purple Hearts" meme.
But I have noticed something different this season. Both sides stretch the truth every so often. This year, however, I have seen one side doing it more than the other side, i.e., NOT fair and balanced.
And the Traditional Media is calling it correctly. Unbelievable. I wonder if they feel a little guilty.
Dems Poised to Win?
by Joe Maness
Tuesday, 02Sep2008
Barack Obama hit it out of the ball park last Thursday night. The Dems are united and ready to go. So what are we all talking about? The Governor of Alaska?
McCain needed to get everyone to NOT talk about Obama's speech, and how great the Dems are, etc., etc. I say: Mission Accomplished!
