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Flowing Through the Drains
Apr. 22nd, 2009 03:52 amThe White House had a speech prepared in case Apollo 11's ascent stage had not fired. I prolly should have guessed there'd be one, but I didn't.
“Fate has ordained that the men who went to the Moon to explore in peace will stay on the Moon to rest in peace.
These brave men know there is no hope for their recovery but they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice.
These two men are laying down their lives in mankind’s most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding.
They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.
In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man.
In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood. Others will follow and surely find their way home. Man’s search will not be denied but these men were the first and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.
For every human being who looks up at the Moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.”
That's eerie. The effect to me is that of a very short, sparely-told SF story. I can hear that in Nixon's voice and cadence, and I know just what it would have been like, with everyone gathered around the TV, and the July night still of cars and voices, and every living room window up and down the block flickering blue.
*****
*****
Less than a month later, there'd be the Manson murders, and Altamont. That was such a strange, unsettled summer. The sixties had ended, very abruptly, all the threads tied up, and all the purposes accomplished, and none of us knew what would follow. 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' and 'Watership Down' were in the undreamt future.
*****
*****
Useful Spanish Phrases for Otters*:
Hello.
Hola.
Nice to meet you.
Mucho Gusto.
What is your name?
¿Como te llamas?
My name is...
Me llamo...
I am a saltwater otter.
Soy una nutria de la agua salada.
I am a freshwater otter.
Soy una nutria de agua dulce.
Which way to the water?
¿Dónde está el agua?
Is the water cold today?
¿Es el agua fría hoy?
Those rocks are slippery.
Esas rocas son deslizadizas.
Your musk smells lovely.
Su almizcle huele encantador.
How old is your pup?
¿Cómo vieja es su nutria infantil?
That tickles my whiskers.
Ese cosquillas mis barbas.
This kelp is delicious.
Este quelpo es delicioso.
Goodbye.
Adios.
* As found on the Otterpops website.
“Fate has ordained that the men who went to the Moon to explore in peace will stay on the Moon to rest in peace.
These brave men know there is no hope for their recovery but they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice.
These two men are laying down their lives in mankind’s most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding.
They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.
In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man.
In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood. Others will follow and surely find their way home. Man’s search will not be denied but these men were the first and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.
For every human being who looks up at the Moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.”
That's eerie. The effect to me is that of a very short, sparely-told SF story. I can hear that in Nixon's voice and cadence, and I know just what it would have been like, with everyone gathered around the TV, and the July night still of cars and voices, and every living room window up and down the block flickering blue.
*****
*****
Less than a month later, there'd be the Manson murders, and Altamont. That was such a strange, unsettled summer. The sixties had ended, very abruptly, all the threads tied up, and all the purposes accomplished, and none of us knew what would follow. 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' and 'Watership Down' were in the undreamt future.
*****
*****
Useful Spanish Phrases for Otters*:
Hello.
Hola.
Nice to meet you.
Mucho Gusto.
What is your name?
¿Como te llamas?
My name is...
Me llamo...
I am a saltwater otter.
Soy una nutria de la agua salada.
I am a freshwater otter.
Soy una nutria de agua dulce.
Which way to the water?
¿Dónde está el agua?
Is the water cold today?
¿Es el agua fría hoy?
Those rocks are slippery.
Esas rocas son deslizadizas.
Your musk smells lovely.
Su almizcle huele encantador.
How old is your pup?
¿Cómo vieja es su nutria infantil?
That tickles my whiskers.
Ese cosquillas mis barbas.
This kelp is delicious.
Este quelpo es delicioso.
Goodbye.
Adios.
* As found on the Otterpops website.
