Funding Friday: The Voyager Golden Record

#crowdfunding

Comments (Archived):

  1. falicon

    I feel like I should be checking out this post at about 3a.m. while munching on some junk food and already starting to feel a little hung over…do I get a free jug of tang with this?!

    1. Richard

      Buy Now, Supplies are limited. If you order in the next 15 minute we will name a star which voyager passed after you. Call Now.

      1. sigmaalgebra

        Might have to wait a while for the star to be named: The nearest star is about 4 light years away and, IIRC, already has a name.

  2. Tom Labus

    At our best

    1. Jess Bachman

      Just think, we have blasted 12 seasons of Keeping Up With The Kardashians up into the ionosphere. Season 1 is currently 7 light years away.

      1. Salt Shaker

        Well, that’s one way to curtail an invasion.

        1. Jess Bachman

          Ryan Seacrest Productions is a DARPA project.

        2. Lawrence Brass

          To be know as the Kardashian Shield. Maybe it works the other way, as we may be declared by the aliens as disposable.. or edible.

          1. Twain Twain

            Is plastic edible?! :).

          2. Amar

            “the Kardashian Shield” sounds so similar to the phrase “Kardashev scale” 🙂 https://en.wikipedia.org/wi… but alas, it might actually be denoting a civilization that lesser than a type 1 in the kardashev scale

      2. creative group

        Jess Backman:Promoting or even discarding Earths disposable garbage (The Kardashian’s) in space and to extraterrestrial life could become a declaration of Intergalactic War.

  3. pointsnfigures

    Brought to you by KTel

  4. Salt Shaker

    “Carl Sagan suggested that The Beatles song “Here Comes the Sun” be included on the record, but the record company EMI, which held the copyrights to the song, declined.”I guess they’re holding out for higher rights fees or an interstellar bidding war.

    1. Vasudev Ram

      Ha, Carl Sagan. Reminds me of his novel Contact, which is about SETI – the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence. At the end of the book I came away with the feeling that the aliens they found were actually ants – not sure why.https://en.wikipedia.org/wi

    2. LE

      but the record company EMI, which held the copyrights to the songPure informed speculation here but this fact is presented (I don’t mean by you) as if EMI was being unreasonable in not allowing this. But these recording rights contracts are complex. [1] My guess is whatever way these contracts are structured and written it’s simply not possible (at least quickly and easily) to allow exceptions. Evem in the case of this song, when it would benefit the original recording artists by giving them valuable publicity. Just not the way it rolls. (Especially with anything owned by the Beatles …)[1] And this really is similar to what we are seeing with people trying to get MGM to release the Apprentice outtakes. Interesting how PR hungry Gloria Allred has jumped (as usual) on this great opportunity to further her brand. http://deadline.com/2016/10

      1. Salt Shaker

        EMI owns the Beatles catalog, Sony owns the publishing rights, which it shared with the estate of Michael Jackson until fairly recently. The Beatles notoriously got ripped off early in their careers by management (they only received pennies on the dollar, but Paul & Ringo and the estates of John & George clearly aren’t suffering as a consequence.)

        1. LE

          This is the life that they have chosen. From my quick take (by no means a rock historian) Epstein made that deal because it was the best that he could do after pounding the pavement?He also was largely responsible for their success in terms of getting them a contract at all. His hard work. I am sure Pete Best (once again the way I read this I don’t want to sound as if I have studied this, I haven’t) would be glad for that penny deal and to be an ex Beatle now. I don’t think there is a single musician (of that era) who wouldn’t. Sometimes you take a haircut for the future benefit I guess. Sometimes actually being stupid is a benefit. Perhaps if they had tried to drive a better bargain the other side would have said “forget it”.Pete Best:After working in a number of commercially unsuccessful groups, Best gave up the music industry to work as a civil servant for 20 years, before starting the Pete Best Band.I mean imagine that he becomes a civil servant. [1] That’s the funny thing about all artists, creatives and even programmers. They think it’s all about them. They are entitled to the nth degree. Of course they got a bad deal. But at the time someone signed off on that and in the end things worked out fine for them. Really really fine. .0001 of a really great thing is better than 100% of nothing.[1] Remind me a bit of what happened to Herb Stemple of Quiz Show fame. Went to work for the post office.

  5. mikenolan99

    I think we all know that in the twenty-third century a mysterious and immensely powerful alien cloud known as V’Ger will approach Earth and destroy everything in its path.

    1. Lawrence Brass

      Ignore not the power of an unborn butterfly.

    2. sigmaalgebra

      IIRC, we’re talking an old Star Trek here.But apparently we have a conflict here: V’Ger was a mispronunciation by aliens of Voyager.But today above we have the offer of naming stars that Voyager passes, but IIRC V’Ger was to be in the cloud brought Voyager back to earth!

      1. mikenolan99

        So few people get me….

  6. mikenolan99

    Highly recommended: Year Zero: A Novel – especially the audio version.”The entire cosmos has been hopelessly hooked on American pop songs ever since “Year Zero” (1977 to us), resulting in the biggest copyright violation since the Big Bang and bankrupting the whole universe. Nick has just been tapped to clean up this mess before things get ugly. Thankfully, this unlikely galaxy-hopping hero does know a thing or two about copyright law. Now, with Carly and Frampton as his guides, Nick has forty-eight hours to save humanity—while hoping to wow the hot girl who lives down the hall from him.”

  7. Susan Rubinsky

    They need a woman in the room.

    1. Twain Twain

      Well … I love space stuff and this Kickstarter campaign’s very cool.Now …https://uploads.disquscdn.c…CERN research suggests the Universe is left-handed. Neuroscience shows the left-hand is controlled by the right hemisphere.The right hemisphere is where creativity, imagination and female qualities are said to be.So does this mean the intelligence of the Universe may have an orientation towards female?What if the aliens are female?!!!https://uploads.disquscdn.chttps://uploads.disquscdn.c

      1. Susan Rubinsky

        I hear you. Indeed, it is a very cool product. Though I was unnerved by the lack of women.

        1. creative group

          Susan Rubinsky:Are women (white) considered a minority? There were no people of color represented. In science those things don’t appear to matter as much. It is all about the information.

          1. Dave Pinsen

            A room full of white guys in buzz cuts put men on the moon*.Today, NASA is much more diverse and we can’t put a man in space without hitchhiking a ride with the Russians.Maybe identity politics is a dead end? https://uploads.disquscdn.c…*Yeah, I know about the one gal who wrote the software.

          2. creative group

            Dave Pinsen:We will not question your reading comprehension. There was apparently an opening for you to pitch that thought of white man’s fears of the inevitability of becoming a minority in a country they once conquered.Our comment after a question we asked. (We hope fifth grade english would assist anyone in understanding the difference)—–“In science those things don’t appear to matter as much. It is all about the information.”

          3. creative group

            Dave Pinsen:*Yeah, I know about one gal who wrote the software.———-A classic example of how institutionalized racism attempts to minimize the accomplishments of people non white born on third base.Let us do the liberty of properly providing the correct attribution of Katherine Johnson’s contribution this knucklehead attempted to brush over.Katherine Johnson (A Scientist, Mathematician, Woman and African American) was a key figure in many historic missions in the 60’s and the 70’s. She was the one who calculated the trajectory of Alan Shepard’s flight, making it possible for him to become the first American in space. The mathematician also calculated the trajectory for Apollo 11, which took Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon.Yeah the woman this Knucklehead said write the software.We would list five other contributors to NASA space successes but it would only fall on death ears because it doesn’t fit into the Knuckleheads false narrative.Miss Margot Lee Shetterly we didn’t forget Rocket scientist Annie Easley we realize ears are listening.

          4. creative group

            Dave Pinsen:Statement and photograph only highlights his thoughts on segregation and how Scientists who were not white were not in the same room. A Neanderthal. Dying breed. The Confederacy lost the war. Get over it.

        2. Dave Pinsen

          There’s a picture of a (naked) woman on one of the discs.

  8. iggyfanlo

    Only thing missing is a Ken Bone endorsement

  9. creative group

    CONTRIBUTORS:Definitely a great accomplishment but sounded more like the worse infomercial ever. Post your worst that still torment you from the wee hours of the morning.http://youtu.be/E9_amg-Aos4

  10. whitneymcn

    I saw this a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t quite get myself to do it, but I think you’ve put me over the edge…

  11. creative group

    CONTRIBUTORS:OFF TOPIC POST:SoftBank announced that it is in the process of raising a $100 billion fund concentrating on Technology and partnering with Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (PIF) as reported by Dan Primacy in Fortunes term sheet. Important? Tea leaf reading says the Evangelical pushes on Twitter might benefit. Don’t know why with the declining price and market share.

    1. Lawrence Brass

      Softbank is an amazing company, in the age of unbundling (supposedly) they seem to be building a supertanker. Is it a telco, an investment firm or a japanese style conglomerate?Most striking move this year was their acquisition of ARM Holdings, one of the british crown jewels for 32 bn.Keep watching them.

      1. creative group

        Lawrence Brass:we follow investment groups to read the tea leafs to be ahead of the street. (The majority of DayTraders who we know think they know more than brokers who earned a series 3, 7, 31, and 66) Softbank’s founder Masayoshi Son usually gets it right. But he has had some duds.When Softbank partnered with Tiffany’s for the 400 Platinum diamond phone that was telling. (Not)Lawrence what do you think of the:Sprint acquisition to date?The Co-designing of Pepper, a humanoid robot, with Aldebaran Robotics?ARM Holdings acquisition?The CDMA is way way behind the curve. Your thoughts.There’s no doubt Softbank had some Home Runs.Softbanks Home Runs: (Selling stakes in)SupercellAlibaba

    2. jason wright

      Vertically integrated investment portfolio?

  12. Guy Lepage

    YES Please! I am definitely getting one of these box sets. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this Fred.

  13. jason wright

    Do galactic civilisations have record players?

          1. Twain Twain

            Xlnt photoshopping!

        1. Twain Twain

          LOL.

  14. William Mougayar

    I like this one. Music and food are great global uniters. Together they can unite us more than divide us.

    1. creative group

      William Mougayar:we are considered Pescatarian since 1980. Do you enjoy fish? And do you eat any Vegetarian fare?When in New York City we enjoy the following places:Blossom on 187 9th AveSuperiority Burger on 430 E 9th StMaoz Falafel & Grill on 558 7th AveOur best Vegetarian means that our carnivore associates like.Spinach Artichoke LasagnaSweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos with Avocado-Pepita DipSpinach Artichoke EnchiladasSpicy Sweet Potato and Green Rice Burrito Bowls

      1. William Mougayar

        I don’t know any of these! but will check them next time. I eat anything, but lean towards fish (3-4 times per week) and vegs with the occasional meat.

  15. Rob Underwood

    I feel rather obsessed with period of time roughly in line of the Carter administration, but really rather the science of the time, bookended by Voyager and Cosmos (and Space Shuttle). I was roughly ages 5-9 during this time and I remember being very into all of the science at the time (which also had this tremendous respect it seemed for art — no unnatural duality been classical quality and romantic quality). I really feel like we might have gone down a much more science centric path in the 1980s — maybe a bit less Jobs and Gates and a bit more Sagan.I have recently been taking a class (CS61 through the Harvard Ext School) which is real nuts and bolts systems programming class. Something about getting deep into C and assembly, and doing lots of work in VIM, gdb, at the command prompt, etc. has given me this wave of nostalgia for that time, in the same was Zork, also a product of that time, does.Maybe I am just nostalgic for a time when I could just hang out and play and do a little D&D while learning to code.I’m listening the golden record now (on youtube) as I write this. Really amazing.

  16. creative group

    CONTRIBUTORS:To all who enjoy science, science fiction and movies consider this:Now Earth has aggravated the Engineers.Prometheus (The Covenant 2017).Noomi Rapace as Elizabeth Shaw and Michael Fassbender as David an android created by Weyland Corporation were amazing.Who else enjoyed Prometheus and is anticipating the 2017 prequel to Alien?Ridley Scott utilized AI with Fassbender’s character David. Who started to develop an ego, feelings, etc.(Ridley Scott confirmed in November 2015, that Alien: Covenant would be the first of three films before linking up with the original Alien and stated that the Prometheus sequels will reveal who created the xenomorph aliens.) Source: Alien: Covenant Wiki