+ When Mindless Unwelcome Cells Intrude
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Publisher's Personal Perspective

When Mindless Unwelcome Cells Intrude



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No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report.

LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. Support independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.

(Oct. 22, 2020, 5:15 p.m.) -- As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, the nationally famous "Zero G" jet aircraft -- which produces multiple periods of parabolically created weightlessness -- will fly from Long Beach on Sunday Oct. 25 and LBREPORT.com publisher Bill Pearl will be aboard. The flight has special significance for me on two levels. I cite them both below, but I'm candidly sharing one of them here with LBREPORT.com readers for the first time.

Since late July 2019, I've been battling cancer. I underwent simultaneous chemotherapy plus radiation followed by eight hours of robotic surgery in November 2019. Tests showed the cancer hadn't spread, but in early 2020, to the surprise and disappointment of my doctors and me, tests showed it had begun to spread.

My cancer is no longer deemed "curable" but is considered "treatable." I have resumed chemotherapy with the addition of cutting edge monoclonal antibodies. That combination has kept the cancer from advancing further...for now. Those with cancer know, it's always "for now." That's why it's cancer.

So for me (and really for everyone with or without cancer): "Every day is a good day."

Zero G requires signed medical clearance for all fliers with previous medical issues. My doctors have cleared me for the Oct. 25 flight. Zero G staff have been entirely professional in allowing LBREPORT.com the media opportunity to cover this story. For this I am deeply grateful professionally and personally.

I am 70 years old, meaning my life basically encompasses the "space age." Although I'm not a "space geek," my memory is embedded with seeing Sputnik and its larger booster rocket casing pass overhead at a period in history when air raid sirens warned of a Soviet nuclear attack. Our 21" black and white TV was locked on coverage of America's first suborbital and then orbital launches. I recall seeing America's Telstar satellite sending black and white images across the Atlantic during a few-minute window in a non-geosynchronous orbit. (My children now rely on GPS satellites and scorn hard copy maps.) I viewed America's 1969 moon landing in real time, (The moon has never looked the same to me.) I'm still awestruck by the iconic photo of our little blue planet Earth seen from the lunar surface. And now "rovers" send color digital images and scientific data from the surface of Mars.

With this background, it's no surprise that LBREPORT.com routinely alerts readers to visible fly-bys of the International Space Station. (There's one Friday morning Oct. 23 at about daybreak which should be visible IF fog doesn't intrude. LBREPORT.com advisory here.)

For me, what's happened and is happening in space is a big deal. I'm proud that Long Beach is a part of it with the Virgin Orbital facility. I hope the linkage between Long Beach and space research, exploration and commerce grows stronger.

Regarding the upcoming LB weightless flight, I enjoyed roller coasters at age 15 (and still do) but I know (a) the weightless flight experience for fliers is quite different and (b) I view the upcoming flight in different terms. I consider it a periscope into a future I may not see but my children likely will. I expect that one day, perhaps not far off, they'll take a suborbital one hour flight to NYC and hear during the weightless portion to put lids on their coffee cups and keep their seat belts on so their latte won't float to the ceiling along with them.

In addition, there's no telling what insights the weightless scientific and biomedical research may bring. For an early example (2016) of biomedical research, see LBREPORT.com coverage here..

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I'm doing this during a pandemic because Zero G's next Long Beach opportunity is March 13, 2021. That's a long time in cancer-time with intervening blood tests and emotionally wrenching radioactive scans that can bring good or very bad news. I currently feel fine. I'm medically cleared. I'm able to cover this story (and others) as we normally do striving to provide in depth coverage exceeding others. That's exactly what I plan to do.

Of course I'm angry that some mindless malignant cells have threatened to shorten my life. My priority now is to shorten their lives as aggressively as state of the art medicine allows. While doing so, and for as long as G-d permits, I plan to continue doing what LBREPORT.com has done for over 20 years: provide you with unflinching independent coverage of Long Beach news.

Now entering our 21st year, I pioneered LBREPORT.com at a time when others disparaged independent local news online. Today, those who sneered have shrunk. Some have come and gone (LB Register) or faded (Patch) or tried to reinvent themselves by switching ownership.

Through three Mayors, multiple Councilmembers and city managers, LBREPORT.com has remained a consistent reliable independent LB media presence. Thanks to every person reading us and sharing our coverage via social media -- and especially those who've generously supported us (thank you!) -- LBREPORT.com is one of America's longest continually operating stand-alone online local news outlets, stubbornly independent and resistant to City Hall manipulation or interference.

Within hours, we'll board that Zero G aircraft to report a "once in a lifetime" experience. That cliche now has special meaning for us...on everything. Thank you, Long Beach, for your ongoing readership and support. Every day with you is a good day.

s/ Bill Pearl, publisher
LBREPORT.com
Oct. 22,.2020
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Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.


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