Apollo!

Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin.

On July 16, 1969, these three brave mortals strapped themselves to the top of a modified ballistic weapon, and, leaving behind them the entirety of human culture and history, rode a trail of fire into a sky of infinite darkness.

They returned 8 days later, the sole masters of a new world and the three greatest explorers humankind had yet known.

To call them Yummish Saints would be almost an insult. We, instead, humbly refer to these great men as Yummish Demigods.

It is hard to say which would have been more daunting: to be the only two humans (or carbon based life forms, for that matter) amidst the moon's "Magnificent desolation,” or to, entirely by oneself, travel as far from your home planet as any other human ever had (or has).

Where does a person find the courage to take the risk; to trust the technology, the other people with his life? Where does one find the strength to say goodbye to everyone he's ever known and to leave, not just his own home, but our species' home, very possibly forever? Imagine the bravery required to take that first step onto alien soil, not really knowing what might be waiting for you in the darkness, and knowing there was a chance that you may never leave.  

It may have since become a cliché, but Tom Wolfe had it right when he coined the term. If ever anyone has had it, the crew of Apollo 11 had “the right stuff.”

This Saturday, July 16, 2011, marks the 42nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch. As anyone familiar with the significance of the number 42 knows, the best piece of advice one can receive regarding space travel is “Don't Panic.” Thankfully for us all, these great men never did.


Today's exercise: Spend a moment geeking out over the unadulterated coolness of the Apollo program.

Next: Sort of depends on what happens on the Council's motorcycle ride this weekend.  Talk about your land rocket... Bayerische Motoren Werke Motorrad, baby!