And so we learn today that, in fact, Neil Armstrong, upon being the first man to set foot on the moon, actually did say, "That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." It turns out static had engulfed the "a," much to the annoyance of grammarians everywhere. The clarification was made possible using the latest in sound analysis.
Funny, I didn't know you could get that much static in a Hollywood backlot.
4 hours ago
1 comment:
Great piece.
According to NASA lore, Pete Conrad, the third man to walk on the moon, made a bet with since departed journalist Orianna Fallacci (sp?) to the effect that NASA did not tell the astronauts what to say, and proceeded to prove it by stating, upon landing:
"Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me."
(Pete was not a tall man.)
He claimed, it is said, that Fallaci never paid him his $500.
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