sovay | That's not my department!

Current Music: Gordon Bok, Ann Mayo Muir, Ed Trickett, "The Sea-Wife"

That's not my department!

I cannot believe this statement is true:

Michael J. Neufeld, the author of "Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War" (Knopf; $35), acknowledges that "hardly anyone under age forty" knows his subject's name, even though America's moon shots owed a large measure of their success to him.
—Thomas Mallon, "Rocket Man: The Complex Orbits of Wernher von Braun."

If nothing else, doesn't anyone still listen to Tom Lehrer?

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Always thought I was old for my age...

Always thought I was old for my age...

In this case, it's a good sign.

Of course I know non Braun's name -- but then I'm several years over forty -- but in my case I used to work with a guy who knew non Braun personally. (Comes from working in the Aerospace industry, I suppose.)

Don't quite know how those "von"'s became "non"'s -- no joke or hidden meaning intended!

Don't quite know how those "von"'s became "non"'s -- no joke or hidden meaning intended!

Ex-parrot, non-Braun . . .

but in my case I used to work with a guy who knew non Braun personally. (Comes from working in the Aerospace industry, I suppose.)

That's awesome, actually. What do you do?

I write software for Boeing, formerly McDonnell Douglas. I joined the then McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company because I wanted to work on space projects -- and in fact a couple of good friends worked on the space station (that is, not ON it but worked on the design), and another friend was scheduled to fly as a civilian on the shuttle two or three launches after Challenger -- but of course that never happened. However, I never really got to work very much (just a bit) on real space-oriented projects.

However, I never really got to work very much (just a bit) on real space-oriented projects.

Just a bit is still cool.

I can tell you that it's not true at my school - but then, I teach geeks.

I can tell you that it's not true at my school - but then, I teach geeks.

I'm very glad to hear it!

If it helps, the second I started reading the quote, I started singing in my head.

If it helps, the second I started reading the quote, I started singing in my head.

You have a properly informed brain!

What a fitting accompaniment to buttoning up the German Patents for the week.

What a fitting accompaniment to buttoning up the German Patents for the week.

*snerk*

A good portion of my knowledge about the world came from Tom. Silent E, the periodic table, mathematics, what to do with pigeons whilst hangin' at the park, what to do during mass, how to tango... He should be an essential piece of this country's educational curriculum. What's wrong with this country? Not enough Tom Lehrer.

Just sayin'.

A good portion of my knowledge about the world came from Tom. Silent E, the periodic table, mathematics, what to do with pigeons whilst hangin' at the park, what to do during mass, how to tango... He should be an essential piece of this country's educational curriculum.

Amen. He even enabled me a few days ago to answer a question about Werfel, although for a minute all I could remember was his first name.

I suppose that most people our approximate age[*] won't have read Michener's Space, which is where I met the name (thanks, random library book sale!).

* I'm under forty but not close enough to your age to say "your age." :P

Michener's Space, which is where I met the name (thanks, random library book sale!).

Yay, random library book sale!

Is it just that most people are no longer interested in the space program?

And my prev comment was supposed to say "'our age'" rather than "your" age....

I think that's part of it. Another part might be that after things are > one generation away, they fade, except amongst geeks (of the relevant flavor), fans, and info-junkies.

Me neither...

But then again we're talking about an historical figure from the last century...

And a troublesome one. Remembering von Braun isn't an especially comfortable thing to do.

And a troublesome one. Remembering von Braun isn't an especially comfortable thing to do.

Sometimes those are the ones people need to remember, though.

O yes!

Despite being a super-geek with a good deal of knowledge of that period, I actually only know of him because you once sent me a link to the song. I know I've encountered him somewhere since, but I don't think I would have noticed if I hadn't already heard of him.

Despite being a super-geek with a good deal of knowledge of that period, I actually only know of him because you once sent me a link to the song.

I reaffirm my faith in Tom Lehrer.

I know I've encountered him somewhere since, but I don't think I would have noticed if I hadn't already heard of him.

Were you more familiar with other scientists from World War II?

Were you more familiar with other scientists from World War II?

I'd like to think so -- but I s'pose this shows I can't be sure!

It seems hard to believe for me as well, but God knows the ignorance of the body publick seldom fails to astound me.

This post has me trying to think of how many depictions of von Braun I've encountered in alternate history.

Hassan al-Bunni the builder of brazen flying horses from Poul Anderson's Operation Luna and the gone-over-to-the-Allies version in John Barnes' Patton's Spaceship are the only ones I can clearly recollect, but I have this strange feeling there's another I should remember.

This post has me trying to think of how many depictions of von Braun I've encountered in alternate history.

Because he should be a major jumping-off point? Hm. I don't think I've seen any.

Mostly just because he's a character that folk might want to throw in, I suppose.

Sort of like Richard Nixon.

I tend to feel the same way about Brian Epstein (to use Neufeld's quote again),
"...even though America's popular music owes a large measure of its success to him."
Heck, it's gotten so bad that my present husband never recognized Eppy's name ~ although my former husband was a great admirer.

Several of us across the innertubes have been trying to do something about the Brian situation for a few years now.
One of us is a movie producer! http://www.fifthbeatlemovie.com (I'm now in charge of the forum, soon to be completely revamped and improved)

Another Brian LJ ~ http://community.livejournal.com/eppylog/

~*~*~

Speaking of Tom Lehrer (my #2 hero) I'm sure you've seen this treasure chest:
(http://www.youtube.com/user/6funswede)

Which, of course, includes his ditty to Wernher.
Thank you for your time.
Christine~

tomlehrer

Thank you for your time.

Pleased to meet you!

Same here...

Sorry for the intrusion, but invoking the Name of the Lehrer tends to draw me out... ;P

tomlehrer

Sorry for the intrusion, but invoking the Name of the Lehrer tends to draw me out...

I cannot argue with that.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's not my department!

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PS

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"hardly anyone under age forty" knows his subject's name..."

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Pleased to meet you!

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