The January Voyager Club Meeting Learns About the Dangers of Space Travel. The Space Center Honor's Christa McAuliffe. Landon Visits the Space Center. Imaginarium Theater

Jason Trump is talking about the Artemis rocket and the SLS.

The Space Center's Voyager Club met on Saturday for its monthly meeting. The Voyager Club is open to people of almost all ages (from grade 7 to adults). It has a few different membership levels.  

Explorers: Club members who attend meetings, have an interest in space and astronomy, but find themselves too busy to volunteer.

On-Site Volunteers:  Club members who attend meetings, take classes, participate in workshops, and volunteer at the Space Center for a minimum of 4.5 hours a month.

Off-Site Volunteers: Club members who work from home on Space Center projects: electrical, prop building, graphic illustrations, etc.  

Jason is using a Geiger counter to measure the radioactivity of several items.

The Club meets formally on the last Saturday of every month at Space Center. Members receive training and learn more about space and astronomy at the meeting. Yesterday's meeting featured Jason Trump, the Club's astronomy/space studies teacher and Director of Education at Clark Planetarium. Jason gave a presentation on the Artemis II mission, set to launch this month. They also spoke about the dangers astronauts face in space, especially exposure to space radiation, both from our sun and from beyond our solar system in the form of gamma rays. 

Club members were asked to predict which element would show the highest level of radioactivity. 

Uranium dust from a Utah mine took the prize.

Introducing new members is another agenda item for the club meeting. Yesterday, four new members joined the Club and will be seen in the simulators soon.  

New member introductions

Calvin with his latest 3D printed creations

Calvin is one of the Club's new members. He is a high school 3D prop maker with a couple of high-quality 3D printers at home. He creates his own models or purchases them online. He handles the printing and painting. I asked him to bring a collection of his latest creations to show me what he can do from home. The helmets have movable face shields. 

James Porter Speaks About Christa McAuliffe

A Tribute to the Challenger Astronauts and Christa McAuliffe. January 28, 1986

Hello Troops,

January 28 marked the 40th anniversary of the Challenger mission. In each of my math classes, we took a moment to honor the seven heroes who lost their lives that day. I wanted my students to look beyond the tragedy and understand the why—to remember that these men and women were pioneers, blazing a trail into the unknown because they believed in the future.

Among those seven was Christa McAuliffe. As a teacher, she represented all of us who believe that the classroom has no limits.
From Tragedy to Inspiration

I named the Space Center in Christa’s honor. It stands as a living tribute to her love of learning and her mission to inspire America’s children to dream big, work hard, and push past any obstacle.

The Center is proof that great things can rise from the ashes of tragedy. We don't just teach science and math; we carry forward the torch of discovery that Christa held so high. We work to create that space-faring civilization she dreamed of.
A Heartfelt Thank You

To everyone who has worked and volunteered over the last 35 years and to those who currently work and volunteer at the Space Center: thank you. Together, we have kept Christa’s mission alive. I genuinely believe she would be proud of the "future pioneers" we are cultivating here.

Keep reaching for the stars,

Mr. Williamson

(For You Old Timers) Landon Hemlsey was at the Space Center on Saturday 

Landon (in blue)

James Porter and I got to see Landon at the Space Center on Saturday afternoon. Landon was a member of the Space Center's staff for about 5 years around the year 2004. He was an Odyssey flight director back in the day. Landon was there with his son, his son's friends, and his brothers. I spoke to him for a few minutes before Lindsey arrived to escort them to the Odyssey.  

Seeing old staff and volunteers is always the highlight of my Saturdays at the Center when I'm there helping with the volunteer program.   

Imaginarium Theater

The Week's Best Videos From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience

Seventeen Years Ago Today, Emily Perry (Emily Paxman today) Shattered One of the Space Center's Last Glass Ceilings! From the Historical Archive. Quantum Physics, Do Choices Made in the Present, Alter the Past?? The Space Center New KPOP Laser Show. The Imaginairum Theater

Emily on the Voyager's Bridge

From the Space Center's Historical Archives

Emily Perry (Paxman today) Shatters the Glass Ceiling!

From "The Troubadour Blog"

January 25, 2009

Hello Troops,
     The Glass Ceiling (a term commonly used to describe a situation where a woman can see the top of an organization but can't reach it because of a male-dominated workforce) shattered this weekend. All males at the Space Center dove for cover from the flying shards.
     “It was ghastly,” reported Bradyn Lystrup, still shaking after the explosion. Paths of dried blood etched down his cheeks. The number of injuries overwhelmed the Space Center’s two first aid kits. Todd was dispatched to our local Walmart to pick up new bandage supplies.
     Many who escaped physical injury were affected emotionally. The Odyssey’s beds were full of volunteers and staff suffering from shock. I nearly called for an ambulance, but I wanted to keep this from hitting the local news. I moved from bed to bed, assuring the casualties that all was being done to stabilize the situation. 

     I found Kyle Herring on the bottom bed. I knelt down. He grabbed my hand and asked me if all was lost. “Can we make this right again?” he whispered through his cracked lips. His skin was cold and clammy - a sure sign of extreme shock. I lied and told him everything would be just like it was. It seemed to calm him. I took out my Star Trek Commemorative Coin to give him something to hold onto. I motioned for Emily Perry, our EMT, to come take his blood pressure. He pulled back into a fetal position upon sight of her. She backed away, realizing from her training that he might be beyond saving. She needed to treat those who still had a chance.
     I walked to my desk, wondering if I had done the right thing. Look at what my decision had wrought? So many affected. So much blood. Such sadness. I sat down and put my head in my hands.
     “It will be OK,” a weak voice said in front of me. I looked up. It was Carson. He seemed unscathed by the event. He was helping Spenser D to one of the chairs that ran the length of my long wooden desk. Spenser’s arm was in a sling. I later learned it was a dislocated shoulder.
     “Will you be OK?” I asked them both. They nodded. “I’m sorry this happened without warning. I take full responsibility.” I sat back and watched as broken glass was picked up by the few remaining males who could still stand.
     “You did the right thing,” Stacy Carroll said as she carried in a just emptied trash can.  “It had to happen. That glass ceiling was growing weaker and weaker.”
I agreed. It was the right thing.
     The explosion of the glass ceiling was the direct result of one thing. Emily Perry, a female Odyssey flight director, flight-directed a Voyager paid private mission by herself without a coach on Saturday. This day will go down in infamy - January 24, 2009. After 18 years, the last remaining male stronghold of the Space Center fell to the advancing female column. The white flag was raised over the Fortress at 11:30 A.M. The glass ceiling exploded at 2:00 P.M. just as Emily finished the mission and placed the microphone in the stand.
     My Friends, according to many male survivors of the event, the Fat Lady Sang and Hell Froze Over.  It is done. The Voyager flight staff is integrated. We have many fine female flight directors. They can hold their own in a mission-to-mission face-off with any male. Trust me on this.
     Some of you may feel I’ve lost my bearings and turned my back on my gender, but once again I say - GOOD JOB EMILY! YOU DID IT! YOU RAN THE VOYAGER’S FIRST MISSION DIRECTED ENTIRELY BY A FEMALE. The glass ceiling is shattered. We live in a time of change, and change can be good.

     I want to thank Emily’s supervisors, Spencer D and Carson M, for helping with this special event. They did their jobs well, giving Emily the support needed to pull it off.  Now, I’m sure emails and congratulations will pour in from all. I’m also ready for the backlash from our unhappy males. I can live with that, but I warn you against toilet papering. Oh yes...... You don’t want to go down that road.

Your Progressive Sleepless Leader,

Mr. Williamson

P.S. Emily did a great job and was supported by everyone. I do like to exaggerate, but it makes for interesting reading and writing. Good Job Emily!

Quantum physics is rewriting the rules of time…Remember, "Somewhere, Something Incredible is Waiting to be Known." Carl Sagan

It suggests that decisions made today can actually influence the behavior of particles in the past.

At the subatomic level, the universe operates under rules that defy common sense. Known as retrocausality, breakthroughs in quantum physics suggest that measurements performed in the present can influence a particle’s past state. In famous delayed-choice experiments, researchers have observed particles behaving as either waves or particles based on decisions made after their journey has already begun. This quantum eraser effect implies that the history of a quantum system remains fluid until the moment of observation, effectively blurring the lines of chronological progression.

While this discovery sounds like science fiction, experts clarify that it does not allow for traditional time travel or the ability to send messages into the past. Instead, it reveals a fundamental interconnectedness within the fabric of reality where cause-and-effect is not a simple one-way street. These findings challenge our classical understanding of a fixed universe, suggesting that reality is a deeply entangled system where the observer plays a critical role in shaping the physical properties of the world around us.

source: Wheeler, J. A. (1978). The past and the delayed-choice double-slit experiment. Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Theory.

The Space Center Planetarium's New Laser Show!  KPOP

They tell me people really like it........

I'll stick with the John Williams show.  Always best to stay with what you understand.

Imaginairum Theater

The Week's Best Videos From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience

Launching Our Future: The Space Center's Role in Creating a Space-Faring Civilization. The Imaginairum Theater

Building the Future Since 1990:  The Original Magellan Simulator (2004)

I believe the Space Center’s primary mission is to help us become a space-faring civilization. When you think about that goal, it can feel as vast as the universe itself. It’s going to take immense work and dedication to reach the stars, but every great journey begins with a single step. At the Space Center, we are here to help students take those first steps using a simple roadmap: Imagine, Believe, Learn, and Do.

The Voyager Simulator (2004)

The Four Steps to a New Frontier

1. IMAGINE the Possibilities. Every great achievement started as a "what if." At the Space Center, we don’t just talk about the future; we let you live it. Our high-tech simulators are where science and science fiction work hand in hand. When students step onto a simulated bridge, they are embarking on a futuristic mission that blends the wonder of a story with science. We use these adventures to show that the "impossible" is actually just a challenge waiting to be solved.

2. BELIEVE it can be Done. Imagination needs fuel. The power of belief gives us the energy to take action. It’s the spark that turns a "dream" into a "plan." When a student sees themselves successfully navigating a starship in our simulators, they start to believe it can be done in real life.

3. LEARN the Way. This is where the hard work begins. Once we imagine a goal and believe we can reach it, we must study the science, math, and technology to make it real. Education is the bridge between a dream and a reality.  

4. DO the Work. This is where the magic happens. This is where learning leads to action: building, testing, and launching. We make it so!

Volunteers and Staff Create the Magic (2004)

Why the Space Center Matters

The Space Center is uniquely positioned to spark Step One for thousands of people every year.

A young student on a field trip might walk away dreaming of navigating the cosmos or building a computer as powerful as our simulators. That spark of desire follows them home, turning into a lifelong passion for discovery.

Through the Space Center's camps and volunteer program, students can experience all four steps in the process to create the future we envision.  

Today's Space Center, Built on a Strong Foundation of Its Past,

Leading Today's Generations Into the Future

 

The "Fuel" for Our Mission

There is an old saying at NASA: "No Bucks, No Buck Rogers." It’s a simple way of saying that without funding and public support, there are no space programs and no astronaut heroes. We want our students to carry their enthusiasm into adulthood. We want them to become "space-enthusiast voters" who understand that exploring the stars is a vital part of our future.

Today, the mission to explore space requires more than just scientists; it requires a public that believes in the journey. By inspiring the next generation today, we are ensuring that the future of space exploration is protected and celebrated tomorrow.

Let’s reach for the stars—together.

Mr. Williamson

Imaginairum Theater

The Week's Best Vides From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience

The Voyager Club Volunteers Meet at the Space Center to Earn Service Pins, Learn about New Simulators Under Construction, and Space Center History. James Porter Takes you on a Tour of the Ships. A New Class of Young Computer Animators Begins their Training. The Space Place is Fantastic! The Imaginarium Theater

They look surprisingly awake for 8:30 A.M. on a Saturday Morning!
     

The Space Center's Voyager Club met early Saturday morning, January 3rd, for its monthly meeting. The Voyager Club is the home to the Space Center's 70 volunteers. Our volunteers range in age from 12 to The Sky is the Limit!  The club's monthly meeting introduces new members, trains volunteers in their duties as volunteers, teaches them about current space news and astronomy, has team-building activities, and adds a healthy dose of science fiction to the instructional mix because that is what the Space Center is, that happy combination of science and science fiction. After all, we all know the two are flip sides of the same coin. A love of science fiction, for many, opens the door to a curiosity about the real universe and its workings. 

The new member introductions were followed by the Years of Service Awards.  Club President Eavie did the presentations.   

BreeElla and Max Received their 1 Year Pin

Jacob, Eric, and Max Received their Two-Year Pins

Max Received a Three Year Pin

Jonathan Eden was one of the month's guest presenters.  Jonathan gave us an update on the construction of the Lions Gate Space Center.  Lions Gate Space Center is part of Lakeview Academy Charter School in Saratoga Springs.  The Center has two starships, the Apollo and the Artemis.  Two new starship simulators and a space station simulator are under construction and will open in the Fall.  It is exciting to see how their program is evolving to meet the needs of their students and community.  

Jonathan Eden from the Lions Gate Space Center

Matt Ricks was the month's featured presenter.  Matt is a long-time volunteer and staff member at the Space Center. Today, his Space Center duties include the design and construction of the electrical activity panels used in the Center's simulators, along with online "stuff".  Matt has another important role at the Center: he is our historian.  His driving goal is to preserve the history of this unique educational organization for the present and future generations.  Why?  Because the Space Center is a community organization.  Its foundation rests on community support through the school district and our strong volunteer force. 

Matt Ricks is showing the classic equipment that once drove the simulations.
 

 Matt does all of this wearing his volunteering hat.  That shows dedication to the Center's mission.  Matt's presentation focused on the importance of preserving the Center's history and also served as a call to action for volunteers to help keep that history documented and preserved.   

Matt started a podcast called "Drydock Talk" where he interviews past and present volunteers and staff about their time at the Space Center. He is seeking retired volunteers and staff who are willing to be interviewed.  Here are some of the questions he asked in the interview.  

* Tell me about yourself; what do you want the Space Center community to know about you?
* Why did you decide to go into your current career? (This question can very commonly be related back to the Space Center in some way)
* What brought you to the Space Center? Can you tell me about your time at the Space Center? (What year did you start? What year did you leave?)
* What was it like working with Mr. Williamson?
* What do you remember about the first time you went to the Space Center?
* What were your favorite parts about the Voyager / Space Center when you were there?
* Where has your career gone since working at Central Elementary?
* Where do you hope to see the Voyager Concept (or Space Simulators) go in the future?
* Do you have any other memories that stand out to you that you would like to add?

Generally, asking questions like "What was the first/last..." or "What was the best/worst..." tends to get some good stories. That's generally the goal: to get stories, not just facts. So asking open-ended questions, and giving time and space for the interviewee to respond, is the best way to get stories, which are the most fascinating part!

Please contact me if you would be willing to help with this project.  VictorWilliamson@AlpineDistrict.org

Our last guest presenter for the meeting was Alex Debirk, director of the Discovery Space Center at the American Heritage School in American Fork. The DSC has two starship simulators, the Discovery and the Galileo (Remember the metal Galileo from the old Space Center?). Alex updated us on his program and the school's plans for expansion as it designs and constructs a new high school.  

 The Activity. The Laser Light Holiday Show

Amberlynn is covering planetarium basics before the show

Amberlynn was kind to come in so early on Saturday to run the Space Center Planetarium's holiday laser light show for the volunteers, some of their parents, and our guests. Then it was Bang! and the music and light show erupted across the dome.  It was a fantastic show. The after-show applause underscored that point. 

Are You Interested in Volunteering at the Space Center?

The Space Center is always in need of good volunteers.  To learn more about volunteering, please visit the club's website VoyagerClub.org.    

James Porter Shares Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Space Center's Simulators

James Porter is the Director of the Space Center. He has started a series of Reels taking viewers into the simulators to learn more about what they are and what happens during a mission.  The Reels are on the Space Center's Facebook page and embedded here in the blog. Take a look. It is time to spread the word about the Space Center, its programs, and its contributions to the school district and community.  

The Voyager Club's New Group of Future Computer Animators:  Meet the Beta Imagineers.  

Meet Kade, Sam, Calvin, August, and Omar.  That's Jack sitting behind them.  They are the Space Center's next class of apprentice computer animators.    Jack H., is the instructor.  Jack is a master animator for the Center, a supervisor, and a trainee flight director.  Saturday was their first class.

Jack's first class of animators, the Alpha Imagineers, graduated last year and are working toward their Journeyman level, so they can begin creating the tactical screens for upcoming simulator missions.   

Having Saturday Fun at The Space Place at Renaissance Academy

Three Voyager Club Volunteers Ready to Storm the Voyager's Bridge. 

On Saturday, I dropped in to see Megan Warner and Bracken Funk at The Space Place.  It was a busy day for The Space Place team, with three private mission bookings filling up the morning and afternoon aboard the Starship Voyager, the largest simulator in the fleet.  

I am amazed by the talent, professionalism, and skill of The Space Place's staff and volunteers in operating the simulators and executing the flawless missions presented in the Voyager. I encourage all flight directors at any of the 14 simulators around Utah Lake to visit the Voyager and see this team in action from a seat in the Control Room.  

Perfection in simulation operations would be expected when you look at the decades of experience the two of them have doing simulations on multiple ships.  

Bracken Funk and his Saturday Team of Voyager Club Staff and Volunteers (Megan was in the Voyager, prepping the ship for the next group to fly)
 

You and your group of friends, family, or employees are welcome to come to the Voyager to experience the magic yourself.  Go to TheSpacePlace.org to book a private mission.  

Imaginairum Theater

The Week's Best Videos from Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience

The Space Center Staff and Interns Feast Italian Style. Our Staff and Intern Trip to Italy, The Video... Imaginarium Theater

The Great Pasta Alignment: Mission Log, Stardate December 30, 2026

                      Shovel it in as fast as you can; the Inters were coming for that last piece

After completing another successful year at the Space Center—a year packed with navigating star shows and laser extravaganzas in the planetarium, saving the universe for mankind during starship simulations, and surviving the long hours of summer space camps and endless school field trips—the staff and interns needed some good R and R planetside.  Mr. Porter had the perfect idea: a trip to Italy, or as close to Italy as we could get on the Space Center's budget.  

We required real Italian food, the kind my Italian ancestors (The Vercellios) would recognize as authentic. Something with significantly more "Mama Mia!" than your typical Olive Garden meal!

Naturally, we set course for MidiCi in Orem. Our mission objective: a tactical assault on an Italian feast. We had orders from Mr. Porter that we were not to embarrass him on this outing with our staff room eating habits. The owner of the restaurant was his neighbor. We handled ourselves better than expected (except for Matt Ricks, as you'll see in the video). 

The meal was a study in contrasts. On one side of the room, the more senior staff—veterans of a thousand missions into deep space, who approached the feast with true gusto. The food was eaten with a definite purpose, but politely (except for Matt Ricks).  

And then, there were the interns....

Tabitha's beloved interns—the bright-eyed volunteers who, with a stroke of administrative sprezzatura (that uniquely Italian art of making difficult things look easy), were tactically deployed to a second, auxiliary table, away from the restaurant's normal lunch crowd.  They were given extra napkins for spillage and wet wipes for tomato sauce drippage. The "Little Dipper" table would have been an appropriate name if I had thought of it while I was filming..... 

While the senior staff discussed the fine blends of cheeses and the unique taste of wood fire on dough, the intern table seemed locked in mortal combat over who would get the final slice of pepperoni pizza. It is crucial, after all, to learn the chain of command early in one’s Space Center career.

Ultimately, our mission to Little Italy was a gastronomic success. We toasted a stellar year of education and exploration, with bellies full and morale high. Best of all, Mr. Porter was able to walk away from the restaurant without offering apologies to anyone.  He was a content administrator.

Bellissima. 

Board Games....Emphasis on Bored....

I admire their patience, focus, sportsmanship, kindness, and camaraderie 

even in the face of loss 

After lunch, the satisfied Luncheonaries settled in for a long winter's nap at the Space Center, playing Bored games (I know that's not the correct spelling, but I'm making a personal point). I didn't stay due to my aversion to situations that bring out a side of me I do my best to keep hidden from public view. 

1.  I don't have the patience to learn new games.  This old horse doesn't learn new tricks.

2.  I hate losing, I detest losing, losing isn't in the fabric of my being, and I always lose Bored games because I don't concentrate long enough to learn the rules and strategies. I learned my lesson to stay away from Bored games several years ago after my third trip to the "Jail" in Monopoly.  The game came to an abrupt end after it somehow landed on the floor with pieces scattered everywhere. Some have yet to be retrieved from under the kitchen refrigerator.

Mr. Williamson

Our Staff and Intern Trip to Italy, The Video...

      

Imaginairum Theater

The Week's Best Videos From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience

A Few Thoughts on Returning to the Classroom (the 43rd time) After the Christmas Vacation. The Imaginairum Theater

Hello Space Center Fans, Staff, and Volunteers,

My western upbringing in the Black Hills of South Dakota is spillin out of me today, so humor me as I switch back to my writing style learned at the feet of my teachers in that one room school house by the Canyon Lake all those years ago (with a fair amount of exageration tossed into the brew to spice things up).

 Christmas is over and the New Year is just over the horizon. January 6th—a day dreaded by students from the Rio Grande to the Northern Plains—will see many of us back at the schoolhouse and back on the trail with Space Center Field Trips.

I'll arrive at Renaissance Academy in Lehi around 6:30 A.M.  First on my "to do" list is stokin the coal fires, and then polish up my arsenal of sarcastic remarks used to corral overly sugared students back into their proper places. An hour and a half later, the students will come moseyin' back into the classroom, trying to keep their spirits up by chanting the date of the next vacation like a campfire hymn. It’s all a bit sobering, isn't it?

"Do I look like I'm happy to be back!?"

I expect to take a fair amount of abuse that first day back from the winter break. I do my level best to greet my students proper, but I wouldn’t bet my best saddle on getting many optimistic responses. Usually, the young'uns return my friendly greetings with looks sour enough to turn milk. Some ignore me, while others toss "dirty looks" like they’re lobbing hand grenades. They're sixth graders. What do you expect?

But that’s alright; a teacher always has the last laugh. Remember, once those students are in their seats, they’re in my corral. Until the bell rings, they're just unruly colts under my watch. But once that bell rings at 8:00 A.M.............

A Typical "Dirty Look" to my "Welcome Back!"

I start the first morning by listing five hours of homework assignments on the chalkboard, topped off with a note saying, “Due Tomorrow.” That wakes 'em up faster than a bucket of ice water. Weeping and wailing usually follows. Once I see they remember their place in the schoolhouse pecking order, I start the positive reinforcement.

I’ll strike one of those assignments from the board if I hear a kind word about my lesson or my appearance. Soon enough, they’re trained better than a prize cow horse. They remember where the outhouse is, where the trash bins sit, and how to find the pencil sharpener. They start using a Kleenex to wipe their ever-running noses instead of their sleeves, and they stop usin' their index fingers to probe their nasal cavities. After a few hours, they start to resemble proper young ladies and gentlemen. By sundown, they’re speaking the Queen’s English and minding their manners. It’s all part of the job.

To the Space Center's many volunteers and staff: allow me to share a few bits of wisdom I’ve gathered over the years to get the new year started right. Remember, I hail from South Dakota—a fine state many of you have never had the pleasure of scouting. It lies just south of North Dakota (as if that helps any of you find it on a map).

Contrary to the tall tales you’ve heard, South Dakota has indoor plumbing, paved highways, and even airports. The Denver-to-Deadwood Stagecoach traded in its wheels years ago. You can visit our neck of the woods without fear of an ambush. And best of all, South Dakota doesn’t have a state income tax! The American Dream is alive and well in that capitalist oasis on the northern plains.

Cowboy Wisdom to Start 2026

I was raised in the rural parts of the state; true cowboy country. Folks out there have a unique, down-to-earth wisdom that applies to everyone, whether you can sit a horse or not. To get 2026 off on the right hoof, I’m sharin’ some cowboy logic I’ve picked up along the trail:

• Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

• Don't squat with your spurs on.

• Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier 'n puttin' it back in.

• If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.

• If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

• The Moral of the Mountain Lion: After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.

• Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.

• There are two theories to arguin' with a woman. Neither one works.

• If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

• Never slap a man who's chewin' tobacco.

• It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.

• Always drink upstream from the herd.

• When you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don't be surprised if they learn their lesson.

• When you're throwin' your weight around, be ready to have it thrown around by somebody else.

• The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.

• Never miss a good chance to shut up.

• There are three kinds of men: The ones who learn by reading, the few who learn by observation, and the rest who have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.

"I got a fire goin' and the biscuits are hot. I'll be waitin' for ya."

I’ll be plannin’ on hitching up the team and goin’ after the strays. Y'all enjoy these last few days of freedom. If y'all have some spare time, get your horse and come on out to help me check the fences. Bundle up tight—it’ll be colder than blue shadows on a winter morning.

Mr. Williamson

Imaginarium Theater
The Week's Best Videos From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience