I'll send you into this holiday weekend with a short happy video. Click this link PSS from NASA to see one of the finest 30 second PR videos to come out of an agency that has, historically, failed to capture the excitement that is the US Space Program.
Keith Cowling writes about this vid: "Every now and again even the most cynical of us stumble across something so simple - and yet profound - as to take one's breath away - and remind us of why we are so captivated with space exploration's broader ramifications."
This sucker brings tears to my eyes. Turn up the volume a bit for this one.
Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!
Bennett
(Space Babies Are Welcome)
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Ooh, that sent a frisson of pride at being human through me - Within sight, within reach, within us
TY Bennett
Do we have permission to repost this video on our sites?
2 - Bennett
Yes Aaman, we do.
Glad it touched you too. My day is made.
3 - Duane
This is only a portent of even worse things to come. C'mon, isn't it obvious that this is just plain sad?
4 - Bennett
Uh, no Duane. It's not obvious at all. Please fill me in.
5 - Duane
Uh, OK, Bennett. Here ya go. You've got an organization whose name includes the words Aeronautics and Space devoting manpower and money to touchy-feely tinkly-piano-scored gee-this-is just-like-those-life-insurance-commercials
tug-at-our-heartstrings-instead-of-engage-our-minds condescending crapola. That, Bennett, is why it's sad. If you guys are "touched" by this contrived Hallmark bullshit, then I guess the PR firm that regurgitated it for NASA has earned their pay.
But, thanks for keeping us updated, Bennett. I really enjoy your posts. I just don't always agree with your interpretations.
6 - Bennett
That's cool Duane. But for me, I find it amazing that NASA could come up with anything that is even close to inspiring. Usual fare is..... nothing.
I think it's a parent thing too, the wife and I are trying to get knocked up so the little kid thing hits me more than it would during my R&R days.
I usually hate Hallmark moments, but I found the concept of this piece to be dead on where most of us late baby boomers live. We grew up reading about the future (2001 seemed so far away), saw astronauts make it to the moon, and had hoped to be able to do the tourist thing by now.
We really expected to see great advances in the manned space program during our lives, and instead we got "Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall". Oh, really. How NOT JFK.
So, I guess it is a bit banal, tinkling wise, but at least it is something that expresses the dreams that many share, 'muricans and otherwise.
I'll try to find some serious material, mpeg style, and believe me you'll see it here first.
Thanks for the comment!
7 - Shark
"I find it amazing that NASA could come up with anything that is even close to inspiring."
uh...THEY WENT TO THE MOON.
Hard to believe we're so jaded that a Hallmark card is more inspiring than a photo of the Eagle Nebula.
8 - Bennett
Shark, Technology is not necessarily PR. Remember, these are the guys who managed to make the Apollo missions so boring that people stopped watching.
It's not that it IS boring, it's that these big brain types have lost contact with the idea of "sell it to the people!"
You did catch the pictures from my Cassini post, eh?
THAT'S EXCITING!
for me anyway.
;-]
9 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
well, there you go. Bennett, i know less than nothing about space travel an NASA an so on, and half times, no, MOST times, the stuff you write goes over my head, but a fellas havin a ball figurin it all out, on account you're a thouroughly bloody nice bloke, as harry enfield used to say.
god, i'm being so predictable in my comments this eve... "i don't know anything about this"..."but also, everyone rules"
heh, must be that big brother premier tonight. my brains already sapping itself vacant.
10 - Bennett
Thanks Duke, high praise indeed. I'm taking an online course in being a "bloody nice bloke" from Eric Berlin. He's taught me a lot.
Speaking of brain sapping, just finished wathing "The Aviator" and I'm a bit schitzoid right now. Have a great weekend.