Astronaut Leland D. Melvin, STS-122 mission specialist, dons a training
version of his shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a
postinsertion/de-orbit training session in one of the full-scale trainers
at Johnson Space Center.  (NASA) 

When Leland Melvin's Football Career Ended,
His Space Journey Began

In 1988, Leland Melvin was at training camp for the Dallas Cowboys, running to catch a pass from Danny White under the watchful eye of coach Tom Landry, when he felt his hamstring give out.

Melvin, 43, is the son of schoolteachers Deems and Grace Melvin of Lynchburg, Va. He credits them with pushing him to do his best. He was a gifted athlete, but Melvin said his parents told him he could do more. And he was fortunate to have high school teachers who nurtured his love of chemistry. College followed at the University of Richmond where Melvin majored in chemistry, and yes, played football. The wide receiver was drafted in 1986 by the Detroit Lions, but got sidelined by an injury. The Dallas Cowboys asked him to try out, which led to his fateful day on the field with a career-ending injury.

But Melvin had a backup plan, which he said is important for anyone who plans a career in professional sports.

"I see guys, all they want to do is play basketball. All they want to do is play football. 'I am going to be the next greatest NFL player, the next greatest NBA player,' and I say, 'Hey, that is cool. Go for it,'" Melvin told ABC News. "But I pulled a hamstring. I had an opportunity, but my hamstring gave out so I couldn't do that anymore.

Melvin continued on with a graduate degree in chemistry and went to work at the Langley Research Center. After nine years he applied to become an astronaut and made it into the astronaut corps on his first try.

He is now a robotics specialist, a skill that takes great eye-hand coordination, depth perception and quick reaction.

Sign Of Times: NJ School Cameras Fed Live To Cops

Demarest School District Installs Laptop Surveillance Videos Monitored,
Operated By Local Police

DEMAREST, N.J. (CBS) Jay Dow  ― Surveillance cameras rolling inside our local schools is nothing new, but what's taking place inside Demarest's public schools is truly cutting edge: a live feed from more than two dozen cameras with a direct connection to the police.

It's an expensive, but effective tool that could be a sign of the times with an increase in school shootings over the years.

The system, which cost about $28,000.00 can even track movement in a crowded room.

"When they arrive, they can pull up the school's live feed and do a sweep instantly," Demarest Police Chief James Powderley tells CBS 2.

Patrolling officers have access to the video feed from headquarters and several laptops. To address privacy concerns, all of the cameras are installed in public areas and are not equipped to pick up audio.

The video capabilities are extremely impressive. Each of the laptops can pick up 16 different angles at one time, turning a single operator into a mobile surveillance team.

In an emergency situation, Powderley says the cameras -- complete with zoom and pan functions -- also cut down search and response times. "One officer has 17 eyes in multiple locations. It's amazing," he says.

Schools Superintendent Larry Hughes says if nothing else, the ability to digitally timestamp and archive the video should discourage bad, even criminal behavior.

"It doesn't hurt that people know and that if something is going to take place at your facility, if it does deter people from doing that, it's an added benefit," says Hughes.

Students seem pleased with the high-tech devices.

"I would want the police to be there right away if something happened to our school. Especially with all these bomb scares happening now, I know the high school had a couple," says one student.

Plans are already underway to install a more advanced system in Northern Valley High school, which can alert a patrolling officer when someone is in distress or suddenly falls down.

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As far as I know, it doesn't look like  Franklin Public School's will be installing the high-tech laptop surveillance video monitoring system at the high school any time soon. 

Not with a price tag of $28,000.  Especially after the Board just surprised us with a 5.9% school tax increase, rather than the 5.6% we didn't want, but were expecting.

I suppose it would be nice, though.  After all, we do have several bomb-threats each year.  We can be thankful we haven't had to deal with any type of school shooting and we hope that time will NEVER come. 

The reality is though, FHS is very close to the House of Correction, and it has had several escapees. 

And, on Nov. 2nd, three of our elementary schools were put in a precautionary "hold" due to an armed robbery during the morning hours down on 27th Street at a restaurant/bar. 

I don't know about you, but I would rather see this surveillance system installed at the schools than an auditorium.  A Franklin Cultural Center shared with the high school would do just fine in my opinion.

 To be continued in next post  . . . "The First of All Fears" . . .


What do you think about high-tech surveillance at schools?  At our schools?   

What about the safety of our students?