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Author
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Topic: Using space quotes in everyday conversations
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mikepf
Member Posts: 441
From: San Jose, California, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 09-20-2013 11:48 AM
   
Ever use an appropriate space related quote in everyday non-space conversations? Somebody had mentioned the recent Miley Cyrus/Lady Gaga performances, and the first thing that came to mind was Pete Conrad's quote, "If you can't be good, be colorful." I find myself using Monty Python lines quite often, but space quotes not so much. How about you? |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 09-20-2013 03:25 PM
Uh-Oh.But that's not really a quote. At least not one meant to be considered as such. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-20-2013 03:34 PM
Here's one that probably many have used, even if they don't know it... A-Okay As Wikipedia explains: US Air Force Lt. Col. John "Shorty" Powers popularized the expression "A-ok" while NASA's public affairs officer for Project Mercury, attributing it to astronaut Alan Shepard during his Freedom 7 flight. In his book "The Right Stuff," however, author Tom Wolfe wrote that Powers had borrowed it from NASA engineers who used it during radio transmission tests because the sharper sound of A cut through the static better than O. Apparently, the first documented use "A-ok" is contained within a memo from Tecwyn Roberts, Flight Dynamics Officer, to Flight Director (entitled "Report on Test 3805", dated Feb 2, 1961) in penciled notes on the countdown of MR-2, dated Jan 31, 1961. |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 729
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 09-20-2013 05:11 PM
More than once when a friend or colleague is about to do a tough job, I've said to them, "Godspeed, John Glenn." |
Grounded!
Member Posts: 367
From: Bennington, Vermont, USA
Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 09-20-2013 08:44 PM
Years ago, a heavy-set old lady looked up to me (after plopping down in her chair), and said "the eagle has landed". I got quite a laugh out of that one. |
lordolsen
Member Posts: 112
From: Denmark
Registered: Jun 2010
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posted 09-21-2013 12:54 AM
Here in Denmark we often used this phrase if something is not working: "Houston we have a problem!"
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GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 09-21-2013 07:25 AM
I have to admit this one may be localized to my group of engineers and greatly influenced by myself but, when facing adversity or overcoming one they have been known to quote Pete Conrad. “that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me” |
Lunar Module 5
Member Posts: 370
From: Wales, UK
Registered: Dec 2004
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posted 09-21-2013 01:49 PM
During Space Shuttle countdowns astronauts often responded to an instruction..."PLT begin APU start" with the response "That's in work". And I have to admit, when my boss asks me if I have started a job or is enquiring about progress, I always say "yep, thats in work!" It always makes me smile. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 09-21-2013 02:04 PM
Yup..."Oh...I hope not..." |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 09-21-2013 02:19 PM
This probably belongs in the "You're A Space Geek When" thread......But when I played junior hockey in the early 80s after the "Right Stuff" movie came out, my best friend (wing to my center) and I had a ritual before every game where he'd ask me before the opening faceoff if I had any Beeman's, and I'd say, "Yeah, I'll loan you a stick," and then I'd hand him a piece of Wrigley's cinnamon gum. Does that count? |
Rick
Member Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 09-21-2013 03:56 PM
Since my last name is Houston, I'm a really big fan of people telling me, "Houston, we have a problem," and thinking it's the funniest thing ever! |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1211
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 09-21-2013 04:17 PM
I have to think, "Houston, we have a problem" is the one I use and hear most often. I also use "frak" a lot, but that is from Battlestar Galactica and not "real space"! |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 09-22-2013 06:25 PM
When I travel abroad, I phone my wife to confirm my safe arrival, announcing that "the Eagle has landed." I'm still not sure she knows what I'm talking about. |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 09-22-2013 06:48 PM
I've used "let's light this candle" at the office and, although my designers smile when I say it, I'm sure they have no clue what I'm talking about. |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 09-22-2013 08:10 PM
Whenever we see one of the new boxy cars, my wife says they look like toasters. I say "It's like trying to drive a toaster through a car wash". |
SpaceDust
Member Posts: 115
From: Louisville, Ky USA
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 09-23-2013 09:51 AM
Anytime I go somewhere I have to pull out on to a very busy highway. When I start to speed up to blend in with the traffic I say “Go at throttle up”. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 09-23-2013 02:46 PM
I'm sorry to admit I sometimes set off for work in the car by saying: "Engage warp drive."I know, I know. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 09-25-2013 01:34 AM
When shopping and seeing our youth wandering about I sometimes mutter, "It's life Jim, but not as we know it!".More seriously, for fifteen years I used the opening lines from Star Trek at the first assembly of the new intake to tell the kids that their five year mission was to seek out new worlds and to boldly go... |
Peter downunder
Member Posts: 57
From: Lancefield, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 09-25-2013 04:36 AM
To my kids when trying to get them back in the house on those warm summer nights: 'The flight director says get back in.' |
Chariot412
Member Posts: 156
From: Lockport, NY, 14094
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 09-25-2013 08:45 AM
quote:
Originally posted by GoesTo11:
I had a ritual before every game where he'd ask me before the opening faceoff if I had any Beeman's, and I'd say, "Yeah, I'll loan you a stick," and then I'd hand him a piece of Wrigley's cinnamon gum.
Yep... Same for me for flying! Beeman's retro gum was around then. On my first solo shirt from the 1980's the instructor even wrote: "And he did it without the Beeman's." Can't remember, but hope I said "Oh, the view is tremendous!" |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 729
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 09-25-2013 03:58 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Lunar Module 5:
...I always say "yep, thats in work!" It always makes me smile.
Me too! Another one I use a lot is "Stand by one" if I'm on the phone with somebody and need a second to grab a notepad or something.One moment I remember fondly: During flight training a few years ago, I taxied the airplane back to the ramp and just before shutdown I said over the intercom, "Houston, Discovery. Wheels stop." Then just as quickly turned to the instructor and said, "Sorry. I've just always wanted to say that." He thought it was amusing. |
Buel
Member Posts: 649
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 11-03-2013 03:05 AM
I have thoroughly enjoyed some of these stories, particularly BlackArrow and Rick's (If I ever meet you Rick, I'm using that one on you and I just know that I'll find it really, really amusing... I'm sorry).At a party in our garden a few months ago, the light was fading so my girlfriend brought out some candles and I said to her "Let's light this candle" and nodded to one of the candles, smiling to myself and thinking I was really cool by using a phrase that only me and her would 'get'... she immediately explained to our guests why I said what I said and what it meant. I felt like a kid at school who had been caught out. Damn it!!  |
Buel
Member Posts: 649
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 11-03-2013 06:56 AM
Apparently, the first documented use "A-ok" is contained within a memo from Tecwyn Roberts, Flight Dynamics Officer, to Flight Director (entitled "Report on Test 3805", dated Feb 2, 1961) in penciled notes on the countdown of MR-2, dated Jan 31, 1961. Is there anywhere that I can see the famous 'Report on Test 3805' memo from Tec Roberts to a Flight Director? |
star61
Member Posts: 294
From: Bristol UK
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 11-03-2013 06:05 PM
One phrase I seem to use a lot these days, every time a warning light flashes in my poor old car: "1202 alarm! 1202 alarm!" Gets the passengers attention! |
Buel
Member Posts: 649
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 11-04-2013 02:27 AM
When I switch my car radio from CD to Radio, I have to do it in three stages: Disc to AUX to Radio... at first the fact that it made me think of John Aaron's call was great... but after so many hundred times it does get a bit much. |
BA002
Member Posts: 175
From: Utrecht,NL
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 11-05-2013 12:28 PM
The Apollo 11 40 Years celebration included a book signing at the Smithsonian. After waiting for hours I finally got my books signed. Michael Collins apologized for the wait so I replied: "That's all right. I don't mind a bit."I thought it was quite witty but I got the impression he himself didn't recognize the quote. |
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