NASA erased the original Apollo 11 moon landing tape

Today NPR ran a story about the missing moon landing tapes. It turned out that NASA erased those tapes. The reason for doing that was ridiculous: NASA ran out of magnetic tapes! What? Are you nuts? Can anyone believe this?

In the afternoon, in "All Things Considered", NPR reported another story about the Apollo 11 mission. It reported that a desert region in Flagstaff Arizona was the training ground for the astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission. In fact that region was meticulously created to mimic the terrain on Moon's surface. Here is a quote from the story:

"Near Flagstaff, Ariz., are fields of volcanic cinders, the result of eruptions about the year 1065. The cinders provided excellent material to re-create the lunar surface. The result of this was an accurate replica of a section of the moon's Sea of Tranquility, where Apollo 11 landed."

If you put the two stories together, what can you make of them? Did moon landing really occur? Was it just the result of cold-war propaganda?

Hmm. That would be something to think about. Maybe those crazy conspiracy theories aren't too crazy after all.

Character assassination of Michael Jackson by the media

These are the words from Paris Catherine Jackson, Michael Jackson's 11-year old daughter:

"Ever since I was born, daddy has been the greatest dad you can ever imagine.... I just want to say, daddy, I love you so much...."

Is she talking about the "Wacko Jacko" we have gotten accustomed to know? How could "Jacko" be a normal dad?

For so many years, the media have fed us with an imagine of Michael Jackson that is either a weirdo at the best, or a child molester at the worst. And I believed the media without much thought or investigation.

Paris' emotional words about Michael Jackson prompted me to do some research on Michael Jackson. After objective assessment of the available information out there, I have come to the conclusion that Michael Jackson may be one of the kindest celebrity singers we have ever known.

With regard to the accusation of child molestation, the police has found absolutely no evidence to support the accusation. There have been thousands of children having stayed in Neverland. If Michael was a child molester, there would have been many many more children coming forward to testify against Michael. But during the trial, parents of many of these children actually defended Michael.

The media have again succeeded in assassinating the character of another perfectly good person.

Rest in peace, Michael! I know you are now walking in the Paradise with the Lord. Thanks for all those great music you have given us. You will be greatly missed.