I’ve been kinda watchin’ the space program since, well..., Since the Russians started it back around ‘57. How ‘bout you? Not so much (lately) hunh?
You “older” folks remember "they" started it, don’t ya? I say the Russians “started” the (our) space program because, well..., because they did!
Russia had rocketed “something!” into space! (some called it a “satellite”). No one had ever put anything “up there” before!! (not higher than a weather balloon anyway).
Them scary “rooskies” had rocketed up a little bitty ball with some kinda radio beamin’ antenna. It zoomed around an’ around (the whole world!) goin’ “beep!” “beep!” “beep!” If ya squinted just right, you could even see it! Scared the be-jeebers outa anybody with a radio receiver (not to mention frantic news-anchors reporting the “event”).
People all over the place (America anyway) ‘bout went into shock. Running around, screamin’ for the “government” (anyone in earshot) to, “Do Something!” Not that anybody “knew” what to do.
So the government jumped right in with both feet. The speed with which they jumped looked good. But right quick it all slowed to a crawl (years passed). Appeared as if they mighta landed in quicksand?
Shoot! Kentucky moonshiners flew higher than our space program (I’m thinkin’ lately they mighta retaken the title?)
Lots of big-shots (an’ little-shots) scurried up and down the halls of congress, the pentagon (even state-houses). Frightened governors knew nothing about “space” Or “programs” but were eyeballin’ the next election (and enjoyin’ the newscasters actually talkin’ to ‘em).
Everybody got a little carried away, what with all the excitement (an’ camera lights glarin’ into their scared little eyes). Yessir, those were excitin’ times, on both sides of the world! (unlike today, where “excitement” is pretty much constrained to “both sides” of the aisle).
Everyone shouting, “NASA has gotta DO Something!” (nobody knew what NASA was..., but it had “Space” in it’s acronym!). “Do Something, we can’t let those "commie reds” get ahead of us!" "Get Us Up There!” Naturally, that old saw, “It’s gonna be..., war!” reared it’s ugly head.
But today I'm noticin' your excitement’s pretty much ebbed outa our “space program”? Don’t feel alone, if you’ve kinda lost your interest (long as nothing blows up) in our space program. I’m afraid I have too.
Ocean tides git higher than our (collective) heartbeat concerning “space programs”. Ole man moon (and his siblings) have lost their pull on us! (thankfully he still holds sway with those eternal tides).
Sure, Chinese, Iranians, Koreans (!) and others are jumping into (up to?) the “space race.” Who cares anymore? Bigger field, smaller audience, it’s not all that much of a “race” anymore, is it?
I never have actually understood what it was all about anyway. After we beat those pesky reds to the moon, then followed that up with a series of exciting (kinda) space shuttles, I lost interest too.
I understand we did get (a couple) benefits out of All the Years and All the Billions spent (formerly real money). Yet somehow not enough to sustain our rapt attention?
Let’s see..., we got Tang, which is an ok drink (substitute?). But real orange juice easily outclasses it. After all, I do my drinkin’ in the kitchen, not a space shuttle (an' it’s just lousy with vodka).
Hmm..., oh yeah, we got microwaves! Heatin’ water an’ burnin’ vegetables IS quicker ‘an easier! I still warily hold microwave ovens under suspicion of causing well..., something bad in the long run?
Last Really Big thing I recall? The Hubble Space Telescope! The (one) thing I find worth (whatever) the cost! That picture taker does one thing (Waay Better!) that we’ve always done..., Look Up in Wonder!
Outside of that? I’m thinkin’ maybe we’ve spent (squandered?) more than enough $$$ to have cured cancer, heart disease, the common cold And erectile dysfunction! (oh wait! I hear we did that one?).
For me, our playing around “outer-space” (scarcely able to scratch the edges) is purely adolescent. The few parts of it we might (ever?) be able git to (in a zillion years!) are on full view already!
We Can enjoy those views, for Free! We’d better too, because No One living (born) in this century has a snowballs chance of actually arriving anywhere..., “Out There!”.
Meanwhile, back here on earth?
How 'bout turnin' our gaze to ourselves? Maybe try workin’ on discoverin’ (fixin?) just what ails us, as humans. Once that’s done? I’m hopin’ there’s $$$ enough left over to cure whatever microwaves cause.
I Don’t Know About You..., I‘d love for us explore our own backyard for awhile, see what’s really there?
Cal Teeple, sole member of the Observational Cogitation Consortium may still be found three stools down, where he may be ignored, accosted or contacted. Also At: wayneindependent.com/cal Or At: calteeple@g-mail.com.
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I’ve been kinda watchin’ the space program since, well..., Since the Russians started it back around ‘57. How ‘bout you? Not so much (lately) hunh?
You “older” folks remember "they" started it, don’t ya? I say the Russians “started” the (our) space program because, well..., because they did!
Russia had rocketed “something!” into space! (some called it a “satellite”). No one had ever put anything “up there” before!! (not higher than a weather balloon anyway).
Them scary “rooskies” had rocketed up a little bitty ball with some kinda radio beamin’ antenna. It zoomed around an’ around (the whole world!) goin’ “beep!” “beep!” “beep!” If ya squinted just right, you could even see it! Scared the be-jeebers outa anybody with a radio receiver (not to mention frantic news-anchors reporting the “event”).
People all over the place (America anyway) ‘bout went into shock. Running around, screamin’ for the “government” (anyone in earshot) to, “Do Something!” Not that anybody “knew” what to do.
So the government jumped right in with both feet. The speed with which they jumped looked good. But right quick it all slowed to a crawl (years passed). Appeared as if they mighta landed in quicksand?
Shoot! Kentucky moonshiners flew higher than our space program (I’m thinkin’ lately they mighta retaken the title?)
Lots of big-shots (an’ little-shots) scurried up and down the halls of congress, the pentagon (even state-houses). Frightened governors knew nothing about “space” Or “programs” but were eyeballin’ the next election (and enjoyin’ the newscasters actually talkin’ to ‘em).
Everybody got a little carried away, what with all the excitement (an’ camera lights glarin’ into their scared little eyes). Yessir, those were excitin’ times, on both sides of the world! (unlike today, where “excitement” is pretty much constrained to “both sides” of the aisle).
Everyone shouting, “NASA has gotta DO Something!” (nobody knew what NASA was..., but it had “Space” in it’s acronym!). “Do Something, we can’t let those "commie reds” get ahead of us!" "Get Us Up There!” Naturally, that old saw, “It’s gonna be..., war!” reared it’s ugly head.
But today I'm noticin' your excitement’s pretty much ebbed outa our “space program”? Don’t feel alone, if you’ve kinda lost your interest (long as nothing blows up) in our space program. I’m afraid I have too.
Ocean tides git higher than our (collective) heartbeat concerning “space programs”. Ole man moon (and his siblings) have lost their pull on us! (thankfully he still holds sway with those eternal tides).
Sure, Chinese, Iranians, Koreans (!) and others are jumping into (up to?) the “space race.” Who cares anymore? Bigger field, smaller audience, it’s not all that much of a “race” anymore, is it?
I never have actually understood what it was all about anyway. After we beat those pesky reds to the moon, then followed that up with a series of exciting (kinda) space shuttles, I lost interest too.
I understand we did get (a couple) benefits out of All the Years and All the Billions spent (formerly real money). Yet somehow not enough to sustain our rapt attention?
Let’s see..., we got Tang, which is an ok drink (substitute?). But real orange juice easily outclasses it. After all, I do my drinkin’ in the kitchen, not a space shuttle (an' it’s just lousy with vodka).
Hmm..., oh yeah, we got microwaves! Heatin’ water an’ burnin’ vegetables IS quicker ‘an easier! I still warily hold microwave ovens under suspicion of causing well..., something bad in the long run?
Last Really Big thing I recall? The Hubble Space Telescope! The (one) thing I find worth (whatever) the cost! That picture taker does one thing (Waay Better!) that we’ve always done..., Look Up in Wonder!
Outside of that? I’m thinkin’ maybe we’ve spent (squandered?) more than enough $$$ to have cured cancer, heart disease, the common cold And erectile dysfunction! (oh wait! I hear we did that one?).
For me, our playing around “outer-space” (scarcely able to scratch the edges) is purely adolescent. The few parts of it we might (ever?) be able git to (in a zillion years!) are on full view already!
We Can enjoy those views, for Free! We’d better too, because No One living (born) in this century has a snowballs chance of actually arriving anywhere..., “Out There!”.
Meanwhile, back here on earth?
How 'bout turnin' our gaze to ourselves? Maybe try workin’ on discoverin’ (fixin?) just what ails us, as humans. Once that’s done? I’m hopin’ there’s $$$ enough left over to cure whatever microwaves cause.
I Don’t Know About You..., I‘d love for us explore our own backyard for awhile, see what’s really there?
Cal Teeple, sole member of the Observational Cogitation Consortium may still be found three stools down, where he may be ignored, accosted or contacted. Also At: wayneindependent.com/cal Or At: calteeple@g-mail.com.
