October 14, 2012: We watched this live and were enthralled for over two hours by the awesomeness of the challenge and the mounting suspense throughout! Mr. Bradbury would have been impressed by the proceedings. "Icarus Montgolfier Wright" came to mind as the moment arrived for that first step off....

RE: Jedediah Prentiss, dreams of what this trip will be like. He knows that his flight into space may mean ultimate death for himself, but if he is successful, his flight will mean that he and all people might hear the "unmeasured breathing of God."

Here Austrian skydiver, daredevil, and BASE jumper Felix Baumgartner is talked through the final minutes by previous altitude record holder (1960) Colonel Joseph William Kittinger I:
http://gizmodo.com/5951563/fir...e-jump-live-coverage
Truly an amazing article and video!

Col. Kittinger's bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kittinger

quote:

Originally posted by jkt:
Little Nemo celebrates 107 years since first publication...

P.S. Today's Google Doodle is a nifty little animated thing based on Nemo - www.google.co.uk

quote:

Originally posted by fjp451:
...Mr. Bradbury would have been impressed by the proceedings. "Icarus Montgolfier Wright" came to mind as the moment arrived for that first step off....

Not only "Icarus Mongolfier Wright": Ray's 1961 screenplay for THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES ends with an astronaut literally falling from space (after his rocketship has been destroyed) to a safe landing on the ground. I used to think this was pure Bradburyan fantasy, but now I know better!

Good one, Phil. So we have another Bradbury Moment! It is great to know he is "always" close at hand!

1937: Huey, Dewey, and Louie (Donald Duck's nephews) first appeared in a comic strip

161 years ago: Moby Dick was first published.

Ray's favorite comedy duo:

1939: Laurel and Hardy's The Flying Deuces debuted

In 1998 John Glenn returned to space at the age of 77.

Moby Dick first published in the USA on this day in 1851.

quote:

Originally posted by jkt:
Moby Dick first published in the USA on this day in 1851.

Ah, 161 years since Ahab first enquired, "Hast seen the White Whale?"

Only took Ray one-hundred more years to read it.

1928: The animated short, Steamboat Willie, was released featuring Mickey Mouse

quote:

Originally posted by jkt:
Only took Ray one-hundred more years to read it.

It took ME two weeks!

quote:

Originally posted by jkt:
1928: The animated short, Steamboat Willie, was released featuring Mickey Mouse

Now, watch!

I like the way he taps his foot and shakes his bum as he whistles.

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Spaulding:
...shakes his bum...

Glad to see you're learning BRITISH English, Doug!