WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
“Destination the moon or Moscow; the planets or Peking.”
byVanderleunonApril 1, 2022
“This is the single greatest shot filmed in television history. It’s completely real, it’s NOT a green screen. One chance, and if James Burke had missed, there would have been no chance of a re-shoot.” It was the launch of Voyager 1 in 1977. It’s now the first thing made by man that is on its way to the stars. And will be long after the curtain is rung down on this current clown ballet.
I was in my senior year at Melbourne High School, about 25 miles south of the Cape when in May of 66 our principal, Dr. B Frank Brown, the world’s leading authority on croton and other tropical plants rang the bell and the entire school stepped outside to watch the first Saturn 5 launch. Even years before that in elementary school, parents had to fill out a form stating the kind of job they had. All of that engineering talent moving into the area would never be satisfied with their kids exposed to a backward, podunk school system and money was on the way from Washington for an upgrade with B. Frank. The Florida Institute of Technology was established in the late 50s with aeronautical engineers meeting in abandoned WW2 buildings at the airport for continuing education. Heady days for a kid growing up in the middle of all that with a paper rout talking to some of those mostly young guys.
Memory Lane certainly has the most appealing scenery . . . When James Burke walked the earth, informing us of all earth’s wondrous aspects (including us humans), it was still quite The Good Old Days. But, alas, now we live in the era of Anti-Enlightenment, the Dawn of The Science. When Voyager 1 launched, those involved in the project would have questioned the sanity of those who currently propagandize all their utterly unscientific bullshit. Jesus wept, indeed!
Cool clip, though, Gerard — thanks!
azlibertarianApril 1, 2022, 1:08 PM
If they’re asking my druthers, I vote for Peking. Or Moscow. Both would be good choices for the pointy end of a Saturn 5. Either/or. One or the other.
bob sykesApril 2, 2022, 5:33 AM
My choice would be Washington, DC.
All The President's MenApril 1, 2022, 1:11 PM
Peking or Moscow will give NASA a lift or will there be a diverse rainbow rocket in a non-phallic shape for maximum aerodynamics?
Remember the OJ Simpson movie Capricorn One?
It wasn’t that bad.
RileyD, nwJApril 1, 2022, 1:40 PM
Are they sure it was Voyager I? It was initially scheduled to go first, but developed problems and Voyager II was launched first as a result. I was in an ARIA aircraft off the coast of Perth AS at 31,000 feet tracking it from horizon to horizon for Voyager II’s.
Not just the best clip in TV history, probably the best show in TV history: Connections. If you haven’t seen it, search for it and watch it. Amazing stuff!
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
Analog is best log.
Next to the Batmobile and the M-1 Tank, the Saturn (5) rocket is top of the cool vehicle list.
I was in my senior year at Melbourne High School, about 25 miles south of the Cape when in May of 66 our principal, Dr. B Frank Brown, the world’s leading authority on croton and other tropical plants rang the bell and the entire school stepped outside to watch the first Saturn 5 launch. Even years before that in elementary school, parents had to fill out a form stating the kind of job they had. All of that engineering talent moving into the area would never be satisfied with their kids exposed to a backward, podunk school system and money was on the way from Washington for an upgrade with B. Frank. The Florida Institute of Technology was established in the late 50s with aeronautical engineers meeting in abandoned WW2 buildings at the airport for continuing education. Heady days for a kid growing up in the middle of all that with a paper rout talking to some of those mostly young guys.
Any more all good news is old news.
Memory Lane certainly has the most appealing scenery . . . When James Burke walked the earth, informing us of all earth’s wondrous aspects (including us humans), it was still quite The Good Old Days. But, alas, now we live in the era of Anti-Enlightenment, the Dawn of The Science. When Voyager 1 launched, those involved in the project would have questioned the sanity of those who currently propagandize all their utterly unscientific bullshit. Jesus wept, indeed!
Cool clip, though, Gerard — thanks!
If they’re asking my druthers, I vote for Peking. Or Moscow. Both would be good choices for the pointy end of a Saturn 5. Either/or. One or the other.
My choice would be Washington, DC.
Peking or Moscow will give NASA a lift or will there be a diverse rainbow rocket in a non-phallic shape for maximum aerodynamics?
Remember the OJ Simpson movie Capricorn One?
It wasn’t that bad.
Are they sure it was Voyager I? It was initially scheduled to go first, but developed problems and Voyager II was launched first as a result. I was in an ARIA aircraft off the coast of Perth AS at 31,000 feet tracking it from horizon to horizon for Voyager II’s.
James Burke is a great entertainer.
Tidbit from Gonzalo Lira’s TG Channel
The Five Stages of Grief are:
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Paying in Rubles
Not just the best clip in TV history, probably the best show in TV history: Connections. If you haven’t seen it, search for it and watch it. Amazing stuff!