Posts: 391
From: Holbrook MA, USA
Registered: Jul 2008

posted 01-30-2009 08:14 AM               

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I'm not sure if anyone’s been to Buzz Aldrin's web site lately, but I was wondering what people thought. It was updated on 1/20 to coincide with Dr. Aldrin’s birthday. Specifically I’m talking about the “Buzz Aldrin Rocket Hero” brand on this page. I know that this is something that a marketing person put together, and I don’t want to give the impression that I don’t respect Dr. Aldrin, but it seems to be laying it on pretty thick to me. I know people have been critical of Neil Armstrong and the fact that he is ‘reclusive’ and his policy of not signing any longer etc. etc. and I’m not trying to re-hash that debate. But the point is that he could have easily gone this same route and more if he chose to, and given the two examples I think I’d have to go with Armstrong’s. My wife’s comment was that he seemed to be trying to compensate for not being the first person on the moon by out shadowing Armstrong in media and marketing. I don’t think that that’s what’s going on, but you could see where she would get that impression.

Dr. Aldrin is obviously an accomplished person with admirable achievements, and has had to deal with the pressures of fame at a level that most people don’t (even celebrities). Far be it for me to tell someone how to handle that. I guess my ambivalence comes from the fact that the web site is so “in your face” about his achievements, and I’m not entirely comfortable with that. Which is, of course, my problem, but I was wondering what people thought about this if anything.

Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 01-30-2009 08:24 AM               

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Well, I'm always getting tired of seeing murderers, rapists and all sorts of other deviated individuals gracing the front pages, front covers and evening news TV screens of our media. All you have to do today to become a household word and get your "picture on the cover" as well as hoarding all the TV news casts for weeks is something bad.

So when I look at Dr. Aldrin's web page and read of all his life's accomplishments, it doesn't bother me a bit to know we have outstanding people like him who seem to have gotten lost between the pages of bad news until he pokes some deserving idiot in the face. Then wasn't it funny everyone knew who Buzz was.

Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007

posted 01-30-2009 09:14 AM               

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I don't think it's really "over the top". It might seem so initially, given Buzz's reputation as a self-promoter (Buzz being Buzz), but if it were about, say, Bill Anders, I don't think the reaction would be the same. While I'm sure he helped with the re-design and signed off on it, these things are actually put together by professional web site designers (which I'm sure you know; just pointing it out). I like the old movie footage of Buzz in Korea.

I give it a thumbs up!

Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001

Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 01-30-2009 04:29 PM               

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Liking money is not particularly un-American. I'm sure the people who desire Buzz's endorsements think he gives good value for their money - for instance Buzz did a great job launching Space Week for The Science Channel recently.

Don't forget that Buzz is not just an accomplished military pilot / astronaut / businessman, he has also helped many people through his honest writings on depression and alcoholism.

I think we're lucky to have the reserved Neil and the outgoing Buzz as the first men on the moon. It kind of sums up the diversity of people in this great land.

Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001

Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 03-03-2009 04:09 PM               

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Wehaveliftoff: Do you have a broadband connection and recent computer? I'm not flaming, just asking. I think you'll find the Internet experience greatly expanded by both. I love the rich graphics and video incorporated in many sites.

Gary Milgrom
www.spacegary.com

Posts: 438
From: NSW, Australia
Registered: May 2005

posted 03-07-2009 06:31 PM               

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I agree with Wehaveliftoff: in Australia, we have some of the worst broadband in the world (unless you live in a capital city, then it is only not as good as many other places).

I'm only 2 hours from the Sydney CBD but I cannot get ADSL and am stuck with wireless broadband. That wireless is so overloaded that my download speed slows to dial-up at times.

I prefer lower level graphics. There is some computing axiom about this, I believe - as we get faster processors, bigger drives, etc, we bloat out stuff out to use it all up.