Software finds missing 'a' in Armstrong's moon quote

**Donger** · 10-03-2006, 02:51 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/30/moo....ap/index.html

HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- That's one small word for astronaut Neil Armstrong, one giant revision for grammar sticklers everywhere.

An Australian computer programmer says he found the missing "a" from Armstrong's famous first words from the moon in 1969, when the world heard the phrase, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

The story was reported in Saturday's editions of the Houston Chronicle.

Some historians and critics have dogged Armstrong for not saying the more dramatic and grammatically correct, "One small step for a man ..." in the version he transmitted to NASA's Mission Control. Without the missing "a," Armstrong essentially said, "One small step for mankind, one giant leap for mankind."

The famous astronaut has maintained he intended to say it properly and believes he did. Thanks to some high-tech sound-editing software, computer programmer Peter Shann Ford might have proved Armstrong right.

Ford said he downloaded the audio recording of Armstrong's words from a NASA Web site and analyzed the statement with software that allows disabled people to communicate through computers using their nerve impulses.

In a graphical representation of the famous phrase, Ford said he found evidence that the missing "a" was spoken and transmitted to NASA.

"I have reviewed the data and Peter Ford's analysis of it, and I find the technology interesting and useful," Armstrong said in a statement. "I also find his conclusion persuasive. Persuasive is the appropriate word."

**Rain Man** · 10-03-2006, 02:54 PM

Personally, I think it sounds better without the "a".

And I think it's funny that they say, "some historians and critics have dogged Armstrong..." HE WAS TAKING THE FIRST STEPS ON THE MOON! HE HAD OTHER THINGS ON HIS MIND!

Fish · 10-03-2006, 02:56 PM

I don't understnd wht the big del is.........

**Bob Dole** · 10-03-2006, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Personally, I think it sounds better without the "a".

And I think it's funny that they say, "some historians and critics have dogged Armstrong..." HE WAS TAKING THE FIRST STEPS ON THE MOON! HE HAD OTHER THINGS ON HIS MIND!

Which is why the whole argument is just silly.

Everyone with a lick of sense realizes that the whole thing was dubbed after the fact, and what he really said was "JESUS CHRIST IN A CHICKEN BASKET, I AM ON THE ****ING MOON!"

**Donger** · 10-03-2006, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

Which is why the whole argument is just silly.

Everyone with a lick of sense realizes that the whole thing was dubbed after the fact, and what he really said was "JESUS CHRIST IN A CHICKEN BASKET, I AM ON THE ****ING MOON!"

Followed by, "...AND, HOLY SH*T! LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT MONSTER!!"

FAX · 10-03-2006, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Followed by, "...AND, HOLY SH*T! LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT MONSTER!!"

With all due respect, Mr. Donger, I don't think they're allowed to unzip their space pants during a moon walk.

FAX

**Rain Man** · 10-03-2006, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Followed by, "...AND, HOLY SH*T! LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT MONSTER!!"

Seriously, I would have had a very hard time resisting doing something like that if I was Neil. "IT'S ... IT'S COMING TOWARD ME! WHAT IS IT?!?! IT LOOKS LIKE A ... A ... no, no, it's just the Earth. Sorry about that."

Thig Lyfe · 10-03-2006, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Personally, I think it sounds better without the "a".

And I think it's funny that they say, "some historians and critics have dogged Armstrong..." HE WAS TAKING THE FIRST STEPS ON THE MOON! HE HAD OTHER THINGS ON HIS MIND!

Armstrong lost his second-level burst.

**Bob Dole** · 10-03-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

"I have reviewed the data and Peter Ford's analysis of it, and I find the technology interesting and useful," Armstrong said in a statement. "I also find his conclusion persuasive. Persuasive is the appropriate word."

Bob Dole believes he should have said, "Persuasive is an appropriate word."

"The" indicates that "persuasive" is the only possible appropriate word, and Bob Dole thinks the final determination should be left to mankind.

FAX · 10-03-2006, 02:58 PM

Give that wacky scientist a 1 Scrabble score!

FAX

**Bugeater** · 10-03-2006, 03:03 PM

Thank God we got that cleared up.

Demonpenz · 10-03-2006, 03:22 PM

you figure since they were in a hollywood studio they would get the cuecards correct

**Donger** · 10-03-2006, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

you figure since they were in a hollywood studio they would get the cuecards correct

Don't make me go Buzz Aldrin on you.

**noa** · 10-03-2006, 03:25 PM

This was actually discussed when John Roberts was nominated for the Supreme Court. I forget how it came up, but he said that he always knew there was a missing 'a' because otherwise the saying wouldn't make sense.

sedated · 10-03-2006, 03:27 PM

10-03-2006, 02:51 PM	Topic Starter
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $10269900 VARSITY	Software finds missing 'a' in Armstrong's moon quote http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/30/moo....ap/index.html HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- That's one small word for astronaut Neil Armstrong, one giant revision for grammar sticklers everywhere. An Australian computer programmer says he found the missing "a" from Armstrong's famous first words from the moon in 1969, when the world heard the phrase, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." The story was reported in Saturday's editions of the Houston Chronicle. Some historians and critics have dogged Armstrong for not saying the more dramatic and grammatically correct, "One small step for a man ..." in the version he transmitted to NASA's Mission Control. Without the missing "a," Armstrong essentially said, "One small step for mankind, one giant leap for mankind." The famous astronaut has maintained he intended to say it properly and believes he did. Thanks to some high-tech sound-editing software, computer programmer Peter Shann Ford might have proved Armstrong right. Ford said he downloaded the audio recording of Armstrong's words from a NASA Web site and analyzed the statement with software that allows disabled people to communicate through computers using their nerve impulses. In a graphical representation of the famous phrase, Ford said he found evidence that the missing "a" was spoken and transmitted to NASA. "I have reviewed the data and Peter Ford's analysis of it, and I find the technology interesting and useful," Armstrong said in a statement. "I also find his conclusion persuasive. Persuasive is the appropriate word."
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10-03-2006, 02:54 PM	#2
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3238491 VARSITY	Personally, I think it sounds better without the "a". And I think it's funny that they say, "some historians and critics have dogged Armstrong..." HE WAS TAKING THE FIRST STEPS ON THE MOON! HE HAD OTHER THINGS ON HIS MIND! __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
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10-03-2006, 02:56 PM	#3
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2198919	I don't understnd wht the big del is......... __________________
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10-03-2006, 02:58 PM	#10
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	Give that wacky scientist a 1 Scrabble score! FAX
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10-03-2006, 03:03 PM	#11
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $6242680	Thank God we got that cleared up.
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10-03-2006, 03:22 PM	#12
Demonpenz I got Rice cookin in the micro Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $3082136	you figure since they were in a hollywood studio they would get the cuecards correct __________________
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10-03-2006, 03:25 PM	#14
noa Band Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $1515453	This was actually discussed when John Roberts was nominated for the Supreme Court. I forget how it came up, but he said that he always knew there was a missing 'a' because otherwise the saying wouldn't make sense. __________________ Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes, well, he eats you.
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