tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post2775603297640919635..comments2023-09-07T22:24:51.654-05:00Comments on League of Melbotis: I Saw AstronautsThe Leaguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-22163053151011994662009-04-24T22:21:00.000-05:002009-04-24T22:21:00.000-05:00Astronaughts are the coolest guys I don't know.Astronaughts are the coolest guys I don't know.Michael Corleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01441107947600810769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-40403166613706006802009-04-24T15:05:00.000-05:002009-04-24T15:05:00.000-05:00agreed, Jason. I find it unfortunate that such a ...agreed, Jason. I find it unfortunate that such a confluence of external factors would need to be associated with space exploration in order to advance the field.<br /><br />I don't want to dismiss the opinions or perspectives of the astronauts, but if we're going to truly believe in our ideology of achievement, then I would hope we'd have better reason to expand our frontiers than something as petty as one-upmanship.<br /><br />While I would certainly like to benefit from the advances in science which are associated with the space program, I'm interested in seeing us, as a species, extend our reach by heading for the stars. And, honestly, that may be something that takes more than what our leaders are willing to envision for us as a people.<br /><br />Which is why I'm building my own rocket this weekend. Lucy and I will be back to Earth orbit around next Sunday.The Leaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-72736840427911713092009-04-24T14:45:00.000-05:002009-04-24T14:45:00.000-05:00I just look forward to SPACE MADNESS!!!!I just look forward to <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXAJS7n6Tb4" REL="nofollow"> SPACE MADNESS!!!!</A>JALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17879630166417997627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-58225480911182372772009-04-24T14:31:00.000-05:002009-04-24T14:31:00.000-05:00Well, the Soviet Union has dissolved, but America ...Well, the Soviet Union has dissolved, but America certainly still has a very competitive streak and a desire to prove our leadership qualities to the rest of the world. We're also in need of ever increasing ways to drive technical innovation and scientific discovery, and our current economic downturn has left us in need of new areas of industry in terms of research, development, and manufacturing. Space exploration could potentially provide us with new discoveries, new technology, new resources, etc.<br />Anyway, the space program seems to give us some of the economic stimulation that the military industrial complex usually provides during a war, but without having to kill a bunch of people in the process. <br />I want space elevators, darn it.J.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03903186469796595837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-22932389960246421412009-04-24T11:09:00.000-05:002009-04-24T11:09:00.000-05:00An interesting note: these guys pretty much believ...An interesting note: these guys pretty much believed that the reason we had the will to make it to the moon was that we WERE at war. While I do not wish upon us another Cold War (I spent ages 8 - 14 waiting for the boms to drop), it was the competitive nature of the Cold War that led to this achievement. <br /><br />Like so many things in life, I guess, its an uncomfortable wrinkle to the achievement, and seems almost quaint as the Cold War is now 20 years more or less over. But without that "perfect storm" of competition, will, budget and the right people in the right place at the right time, we could be like the Chinese, just now getting our first citizens into space.<br /><br />I do not think Jamie would want me 238,000 miles from home.The Leaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-55077154303582030882009-04-24T10:38:00.000-05:002009-04-24T10:38:00.000-05:00I'm more of a questioning agnostic than a devoutly...I'm more of a questioning agnostic than a devoutly religious believer, but I appreciate the sentiment of the reading, and I'm glad to hear that they took a number of religions into account when selecting the text. <br />Personally, when I look at the pictures they tend to make me think about the fact that we're mostly alone in the universe (undiscovered alien life notwithstanding), and that humans ought to be treating each other a lot more kindly (and treating our planet more kindly as well), given that our fellow man and the earth are really all that we have as we sail along together on this big, beautiful blue planet.<br />And heck, yeah, I gotta agree with Dad. Those guys were extremely courageous. I get nervous just going over the flyover from I-35 to Ben White.<br />Less wars. More space program!!!J.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03903186469796595837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-71299965083817008132009-04-24T10:28:00.000-05:002009-04-24T10:28:00.000-05:00Ryan,
I remember the night well. Your mom and I ...Ryan,<br /><br />I remember the night well. Your mom and I were driving from north Miami to South Miami (my mom's to my dad's) on Christmas eve. we were waiting for those guys come out from the back side of the moon for the very first time. There was a concern that the gravitational effects would be wrong and they would be slung into the far reaches of the galaxy. It was a great feeling when they first came back on the radio. Brave indeed!<br /><br />DadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-18448900188882316422009-04-23T23:58:00.000-05:002009-04-23T23:58:00.000-05:00They did talk about the reading of the passage.
...They did talk about the reading of the passage. <br /><br />As heartfelt a reading as it genuinely was, it was known what they were going to do for that broadcast before leaving Mother Earth. How that decision came to be is sort of interesting.<br /><br />The astronauts were only given instructions to do or read "something appropriate", and they asked a colleague and his friend in the press to think about it. Apparently the two sat for hours and hours pondering what would be right to do, when one of their wives came downstairs and said "well, its obvious. Read from Genesis".<br /><br />Aside from the utter appropriateness of the passage in that place, at that time, and for all the right reasons, the astronauts acknowledged that they also embraced that Genesis was also source of three of the world's greatest religions, but that may have come as after-the-fact. And liked the unity pulling from Genesis could provide.<br /><br />I don't think it diminishes the story that it may not have been spontaneous, and I find it sits about right that someone involved as a wife of a friend, etc... could have casually made a suggestion that has meant so much and put the right words into their hands at the right time.The Leaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-2840184250093385422009-04-23T23:37:00.000-05:002009-04-23T23:37:00.000-05:00I had never seen or heard that footage. Thanks. ...I had never seen or heard that footage. Thanks. What a cool opportunity, I'm jealous. You're right, not just heroes, but last of the true explorers. The kind of guts it takes to try and do what they did is remarkable. <br /><br />I think it is also cool that when they were up there looking down on Earth and seeing the amazing expanse and glory of the universe, their thoughts turned to the Creator. So much so, that they felt moved to read from the bible.<br /><br />If that were to happen today, sadly, half the country would be in outrage that government dollars and government airtime was spent on a religious message. And Michael Newdow would sue the government, and everybody would be demanding that on the next trip the read from the Koran, or from Buddhist texts, or from some Hindu texts, etc.<br /><br />But to me, it is kind of interesting, whether you believer in Gozer the Gozarian, Zues or Jesus that these guys got up there, and felt the presence of God to the point they wanted to read from the bible.<br /><br />Of course, you could say it was all a part of a giant government planned move to tie democracy with Christianity, and Communism with the godless masses, and that the whole thing was orchestrated by Billy Graham, the Pope, and Colonel Sanders, but anyway......, I found that touching.<br /><br />P-BOAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com