If you didn’t read this week’s post “You are the Golden Record”, I will read it to you in a very dramatic fashion, below 👇
Enjoy!
Notes from the Captain
Let’s not clutter up this intro with too much space junk, Janeen.
I would classify this week’s piece as embracing the curiosity and wonder of the unknowns and questions raised by space exploration. I can’t deny the romance of it, and believe it to be a relative of us as humans, exploring our artistic selves. I hope you read the post this week and got something out of it (and I’m happy to read it to you if you didn’t—audio reading above.) 👆
You, me, all of us—we are the Golden Records, waiting to be played.
Until next time we meet upon our creative launch pads, love what you love and I’ll see you out there, in space, making stuff.
Your Captain, Janeen 🫡
Thangs from this episode…
👩✈️ There’s a question mark in space!
The Biggest Question Mark in Astronomy? You’re Looking at It. (NYT)
People are freaking out over a question mark seen in space. Scientists can explain (NPR)
Holy ashtray, Batman!
👩✈️ Put your needle of curiosity upon the Golden Record
The 116 photos NASA picked to explain our world to aliens (VOX)
List of music on the Golden Record (same site, just direct link)
How the Golden Record was Made: Read this EXCELLENT article in the New Yorker written by Timothy Ferris, who helped Sagan select and record materials for the record and wrote the line: “To the makers of music—all worlds, all times.” It might be behind a paywall, but I 12ft laddered the link above so it should work.
I’m often asked whether we quarrelled over the selections. We didn’t, really; it was all quite civil. With a world full of music to choose from, there was little reason to protest if one wonderful track was replaced by another wonderful track. I recall championing Blind Willie Johnson’s “Dark Was the Night,” which, if memory serves, everyone liked from the outset. Ann stumped for Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode,” a somewhat harder sell, in that Carl, at first listening, called it “awful.” But Carl soon came around on that one, going so far as to politely remind Lomax, who derided Berry’s music as “adolescent,” that Earth is home to many adolescents.- Timothy Ferris
👩✈️ Where is Voyager now?
Fun fact: Voyager 2 launched one month before Voyager 1. This is called space logic. I like it.
This is the live site where you can see how far away Voyager 1 and 2 are from Earth.
👩✈️ Mars and Milky Way
A Milky Way in Australia is just the whipped nougat, no caramel. When it has the caramel, it’s a Mars. I think a Three Musketeers is closer to a Milky Way in Oz in texture/makeup. The Milky Way was positioned as a kiddie snack so lil’ tykes don’t ruin their appetite before dinner. Here is a waaaay too long video showing the differences.
👩✈️ Steve McQueen (artist/director)
That’s SIR Steve McQueen to you. My liege!
Here’s his page from the Marian Goodman gallery for a nice summary. What films has he directed? Oh, I dunno, only 12 Years a Slave. What awards does he have on his shelf? Oh, I dunno, only an Oscar and a Turner Prize. He explores the space. He is a Golden Record.
👩✈️ Pulitzers for everyone!
Book submission guidelines for the Pulitzer Prize
The Big Daddy Pulitzer (the one with the medal) is this one for news orgs and bad ass journalists’ stories, but I don’t work in that field, so… I’ll keep my dreams small and $15,000 sized, lol.
This is the book I’m reading by Pulitzer Prize winner and art critic, Jerry Saltz, called Art is Life. Get on your bicycle and go visit your local bookshop to pick up a copy. Yes, I know Amazon is easier, but bookshops are great.
👩✈️ I don’t know if I told you this, but…
I rode across America on my bicycle. Here is a huge photo dump.
Thanks for listening/watching and sharing. If I missed anything you were curious about from the post—or just in general—leave a comment.
On that note, do something great this weekend. Do something great for your whole life if you can.
Do. Make. Be.
🫡
Behind the Streams, Ep 22: "Golden Record"