The billionaires are going to space. The news stories are endless, and frankly, I’m getting a little tired of seeing all the free advertising for Branson’s Virgin Galactica.
However, the truth of the matter is, any “Joe” can be an astronaut now. Well, if that Joe has loads of money and connections. But, Branson, Bezos, and Musk are saying that someday soon, it will be affordable for anyone to take a ride into space.
Let’s just say that is true, right at this very minute. The main question of my blog today is this:
Would you go? Why or why not? (*In this scenario, the trip is completely free of charge.)
While you are thinking it over, let me remind you of a few very incredible things that are going on, right down here on Planet Earth.
• Since we are talking about space travel. A flea can accelerate faster than the Space Shuttle. Please remember to flea-treat your dogs and cats. Imagine having hundreds of little Space Shuttles launching on your body all day long.
• Speaking of flying. A hummingbird weighs less than a penny. But, this gives a whole new meaning to “A penny for your thoughts.” I’d say.
• A recent study in dogs showed they sniff good smells with their left nostril and investigate not-so-nice smells with the right. Do dog brains work like human brains, with left/right tendencies? Or is it just some secret ancient dog law? I smell trouble, either way.
• I also just learned that penguins can jump as high as six feet in the air. They don’t do it when they are just standing around talking. No. It happens when they are in the water and need to thrust themselves onto land. So they swim super deep and fast, then upward, and launch themselves out of the water. The smaller penguins, like the Adelie species, can go the highest. Bigger ones, like Emperor penguins, only get about 20 inches in height. In the water, they are gods. On land, they are waddling clowns.
• Cows don’t have upper front teeth. I checked. We have cow neighbors. I said, “Smile, ladies!” And. Sure enough.
• Crossing over from animal wonders to human wonders, most lipsticks contain fish scales. I’ve never worn lipstick, except for the one time when I was little, and my brother made dresses for my sister and me, and he put Mom’s lipstick on us for the photo. Thanks for the fish-lips, Ed.
• The average human loses 200 head hairs per day. You may want to start sweeping your floors a little more often.
• I should remind everyone that today is July 13. A man named Arnold Schoenberg suffered from triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13. He died when he was 76 years old. (7+6=13) on Friday, the 13th. He fears no more.
• Finally, before trees overtook Planet Earth, the land was covered by giant mushrooms. Staying dry during a downpour was easy-peasy back then.
And that is the way the Big Blue Ball bounces. But the question remains. Would you fly into space to see it from above?
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“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
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“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden
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“The only thing that scares me more than space aliens is the idea that there aren’t any space aliens. We can’t be the best that creation has to offer. I pray we’re not all there is. If so, we’re in big trouble.”
― Ellen DeGeneres
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Lost in space. Would you?
