n.a.s.a. an unfit earth ambassador

Have a look at how the North American Space Agency deals with cultural diversity.


http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/49124/gaelic_banned_by_nasa__space_pupils_censored/

it's an anniversary

Oh, hello there! What's that? It's only been fifty years? Well, think about it: it's only half a century and.... No, I agree, it's no less amazing a feat of human ingenuity. Completely. Great, yes, I'll post it on the log. Okay. YOU TOO! Bye.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technology/Space-50-Years-On-From-Gagarins-First-Space-Flight-Space-Exploration-Is-Far-From-Over/Article/201104215970851?lpos=Technology_First_Home_Page_Feature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15970851_Space%3A_50_Years_On_From_Gagarins_First_Space_Flight%2C_Space_Exploration_Is_Far_From_Over

David Bowie part two

Recently, a few of my hard-earned dollars went toward the purchase of some musical recordings. Among these is a David Bowie album. No, no old Major Tom; alas, no Spiders from Mars. I found something of his from the  Nineteen-Nineties, that decade of filth and identity crisis. "Earthling" is the title. It made its appearance when the underground rave scene was taking off, I think (a confused time in my life as well). A strange combination, Bowie and drum samples. It's bizarre. Over-produced, with that big-stadium-rock-sound featured on most over-hyped nineties commercial junk. The album even includes a "duet" remix version of one of the songs with Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails. Just plain weird and gimmicky. I like how the whole concept remains tied to "The Man Who Fell to Earth", and though it's entitled "Earthling" it sounds like the same alien from the aforementioned Bowie-movie stuck around our planet another two or three decades to have a half-life crisis and act upon the desire to stay "hip" and "with it". Ironic, really: Bowie playing around, trying to push boundaries while relying on his usual "oddity"- and by this I suppose I mean his larger persona through the decades- to sell the whole thing. But then, it's all somehow artistically truthful in a way as well, in spite of how contrived. Now I'm looking forward to finding a copy of "Heathen" and having a listen. I remember when these albums came out and thinking "hey, I'd like to listen to that, it's odd enough for me". Perhaps Bowie's strength has been his appeal to the outsider at large, and within. But I'm glad I didn't give into the commercial pull back then. I think I would have regretted it and felt ripped-off. Now I can consume the stuff second-hand, retrospectively, and there's that much more to enjoy.

david bowie

Today I had a chat in real life with one of the people who reads the postings in this log. Let's call her "Edna" to preserve her anonymity.  We usually use "Shane" for such purposes, but what would a world filled with inhabitants named only Shane be like? I don't think I'm ready to visit that planet yet. So let us allow the solar-winds of change to blow our mentally navigated (and completely fabricated) space-vessel to new places. Edna mentioned that there have been few new "the martian hop" postings as of late. She also sent me something that I will share with you now, because it is not only relevant, but it also made me chuckle aloud: