Monday, March 06, 2006

Golden Record from Planet Earth

As a child, when I first learned about the Voyager Golden Record, I was both excited at the thought of an alien species actually intercepting one of the space probes, and concerned that they wouldn't be able to figure out how to work it. This is a legitimate concern, as I am sure many people today (March 6, 2006) wouldn't know how to work a phonograph record if one landed in his or her backyard. Of all the theories and jokes about what will happen when and if the aliens intercept Voyager I or Voyager II, this is my favorite:

In a memorable Saturday Night Live segment, it was announced by Steve Martin that the first message from extraterrestrials was being received. Once decoded, the message stated, "Send more Chuck Berry."

For more details about the photos that represent the Planet Earth, click here. Surely, the creators have got to be kicking themselves for all time over the photos portraying human beings from the 1970's.

15 comments:

Jesus Toast said...

I think the Voyager Goldern Record is actually a reason why we have not yet been contacted by any extra terrestrial life forms, we look a bit unprepared for the sheer gravity of the event based on that dumb disc.

That being said, I sincerely enjoyed your short story entitled, "toast", mostly the title part of the story...actually, I didn 't really get past that part of it...kind of mesmerized me...

Liz said...

How cute is Toasty?

Seriously women, is there nothing you don't know something about? I've learned more since meeting you than in the last 10 years combined.

Saints and Spinners said...

Nonny: This is why I enjoy the internet so much. I find out stuff without actually having to know it myself! I'm learning just as much as you are.

Mr Toast: I am so glad you enjoyed the short story, "Toast." The title is the best part of the whole thing. Once you've read the title, you need go no further, because really, what more is there to say?

John said...

Wait...you just went from cute librarian story teller to science geek...do you have a sister? clone?

Saints and Spinners said...

Hitman J, I don't have a sister, but I do have a clone, a goth duchess named Absinthe Buttercup. The only thing is, some of the glitches have not been worked out: she's prone to walking around with a New Zealand accent and calling herself "Jango."

It's so embarrassing, really.

:)

Liz said...

Alkelda, don't even say Jango. He is my son's absolute favorite Star Wars character of all time. I must have 200 pictures that he has drawn of him.

Saints and Spinners said...

Nonny: It looks as if your son and my clone have something in common!:) Honestly, if I have to hear her say one more time, "Temuera Morrison is sooooo dreamy," I'm going to throw Yoda's Gimer stick at her.

Okay, now you get to throw something at ME for being such a show-off.:)

Lone Star Ma said...

Nerf-herder.

John said...

Alkelda,

In what form of story is it required that the hero go on a journey and come back changed and grown to achieve the plot? Is that a Shakespearean Tragedy?

curious

Saints and Spinners said...

Hitman J: I really don't know! That's a good question. I think ANY story has the hero go on some sort of journey (external or internal) and come back changed. In school, I learned that the final part was the "new world order." Sometimes people would end stories by saying, "And everything was exactly the same as it was before." Well, it never is. Dorothy gets back to Kansas, but even though she dreamed everything (I HATE it that the movie made everything a dream. It was not so in the book.), she was a changed person.

Speaking of Dorothy, it's interesting that in the movie, all she wanted to do was get home to Kansas, and her new world order was "there's no place like home." In the books, however, she does want to go back to Oz and eventually even rescues her aunt and uncle from Kansas.

Any Kansans want to speak up now?!

Saints and Spinners said...

:Lone Star Ma: Nerf-herder I may be, but at least I'm not "scruffy-looking!" Han Solo could take a few tips from me about how to deal with difficult hair.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Imagine a bunch of flowers. This is my gift to you - as recommended by the gorilla. I'm sorry if I caused you offence over the blonde man on Brad photo, I didn't realise you were, well... prudish.

Saints and Spinners said...

Thanks for the flowers, Yorkshire Pudding! They're lovely. I'm a bit confused though. You said I was "prunish." While I sometimes get a bit wrinkly after being in the tub, generally I am in no way prunish. Prunes are sweet, however-- perhaps you were saying that I was sweet? If so, thank you very much! You're prunish, too.

Philip said...

Hitman J: Back off, I've got dibs on any cute librarians/science geeks she knows! I was here first!

Yorkshire: I'm certain it's not so much prudery as the desire to maintain a certain tone, suitable for family reading.

Lone Star Ma said...

You are definitely not scruffy-looking despite your excessive knowledge of a certain movie genre. Since I know his birthday, i think I am the real nerf-herder.