Duet

Kiddo's music recital was a duet rather than a solo this year. She played the first violin part. I transposed the 2nd violin part and accompanied her on clarinet.

Parents are usually relegated to the sidelines. We can help them train and study. We can coach and teach. We can cheer them on. But this was different: I got to step off the sidelines and be part of the action with her.

Neil Armstrong

In July 1969, Neil Armstrong stood atop the pinnacle of human achievement.

It's been said that landing on the moon was about the most audacious thing imaginable in the 1960s. We had to invent all kinds of technologies, master extra-terrestrial techniques in simulated environments, and build equipment to a level of quality such that they could withstand the harsh environment of space. We did it with scant first-hand experience, and limited component and systemic testing.

In the years following July 1969, we put another 10 people on the lunar surface, and hundreds more into low earth orbit. Humanity has produced three long-term space stations. We have a fleet of satellites orbiting the Earth, moon, and sun gathering scientific data ranging from the salinity of the oceans to fluctuations in the Van Allen belts. We've got four that are leaving the solar system, heading for interstellar space, two of which we still have contact with.

And that's not all. Since that first landing, we've launched space telescopes, developed reusable spacecraft, and landed rovers on Mars. We even launched a probe that collided with the moon so that another probe in orbit could study the chemical composition of the debris. These are no small accomplishments.

But as aggressive as these things are, the Mars Curiosity landing brings back audacious. It slowed from 13,000 mph to zero in 7 minutes in the thin Martian atmosphere. It did this using thrusters to control the approach despite reaching temperatures in excess of 1,600 degrees. It deployed a parachute at 9g to slow down, then detached the heat shield, then disposed of the parachute. It then used rockets to control the descent, changing both horizontal and vertical velocity to align with the planet's surface. But it saved the best for last: it's party piece was to cover the last 20 meters using a sky-crane to lower the rover to the surface.

And that's just the start. It crawls. It shoots photos. It vapourizes rocks to determine their chemical composition. It transmits all it learns back to the Earth.

Of course, the ultimate human experience is for people, not robots, to journey into space. And the Curiosity rover lacks the personification of the lunar missions because it's not one man, but thousands of people.

But that's how Mr. Armstrong wanted it. Much has been made about what he chose to do after his astronaut days, leading the reclusive life of academic and farmer. He didn't want the spotlight and didn't want to be a curiosity himself. But it's no accident that unlike all other missions, there are no astronaut names on the Apollo 11 mission patch. He was party to that decision, precisely because he realized before the event took place that setting foot on another celestial body was an achievement by humanity and not a single person.

Personification is why so many people today believe our scientific progress has receded when in fact it has advanced beyond our wildest dreams. We associate Mr. Armstrong with human greatness. That is justified: Mr. Armstrong, like all astronauts, is genius and guts incarnate. But our achievements today are no less remarkable. Just look at the SDO imagery if there's any doubt.

We idolize Mr. Armstrong because we get to bask in his reflected glory as fellow members of the human species.

It is selfish on our part to hero-worship.

Mr. Armstrong did not want that.

Farewell Neil Armstrong, and we thank you.

When Sport Isn't a Metaphor for Life

We expect our kids to learn life lessons from playing sports, things like teamwork, competition, discipline and practice. But the competitive structure of sports is not representative of how most people live their lives. Sport relies on tournaments to crown a champion. Most people live their lives - and particularly their careers - in a perpetual regular season.

Either we need more workplace tournaments (good luck with that, accounting department), or being the best team day in and day out needs to count for more than awards for individual accomplishment and securing home field advantage in the tournament.

Transit of Venus

There were many stunning images of the Transit of Venus captured through Earth-bound telescopes with solar filters, by astronauts using filtered cameras on the International Space Station, and from solar imaging spacecraft.

We watched it through a more primitive apparatus: an optical projector constructed from binoculars, a tripod, cardboard and duct tape (what else?). The image from the projector, while not as crisp as a filtered lens, had the advantage of being much more fun: we projected onto cardboard, our shirts, and even our hands.

As stunning as those other images are, looking at them we still can't help but think: we did that, too.

We'll have the opportunity to do something like it again, when Mercury transits across the Sun in May, 2016.

If we do, it will not only be a humbling celestial event: it will also give us reason to reflect on the transit of our lives in the 4 years since the last planetary transit.

Dreaming Through my Daughter

Possibly the greatest thing about being a parent is being able to dream of limitless possibilities again, if only vicariously. Limitless possibility defines the human experience. It is never more true than with a young person.

Gin and Poker

I taught my daughter how to play two card games the other day: gin rummy and five-card draw poker. I also taught her the basics of wagering - and therefore bluffing - in poker. I'd never thought about it before, but in gin you're playing the cards, in poker you're playing the people.

At some point, I'm sure I'll use poker as a metaphor to explain a life situation to her. For example, some day when she finds herself in a poor situation, I'll point out that although she may be holding a lot of low cards, she can do things to cause people to react in ways that create a more favourable situation for her because they don't know what cards she has. Or I might talk to her about how to recognize people's tells, and how that can inform her decision making.

That's not a particularly healthy way for us to interact as a family. Neither of us gain much from competing with each other on what amount to questions of our honesty and transparency with each other. Not a great way to define our relationship.

Fortunately, she prefers playing the cards. For now, anyway.

Interruption

There are some things that will always make you drop whatever it is you're doing and go do something else.

Being asked, "Dad, do you want to play catch?" is among them.