Sunday, July 19, 2009

The Importance of an "a"

"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." There has been fierce debate for nearly forty years now over whether Armstrong actually enunciated the word "a" in that sentence. He and NASA have insisted that he did, but the voice-activated microphone didn't pick it up. I've always been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but disappointed when I hear the historical recording at the oxymoronic nature of the statement as I hear it.

However, a recent computer analysis of the recording indicates that he actually did pronounce the "a." I guess that makes me feel better.

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