Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go listen to "From a Distance"

My sister has recently theorized why I am so obsessed with the Space Shuttle. Her points are compelling ones: (1) from space, the Earth isn't so large and unwieldy; remote places really don't seem that remote; (2) the space program represents the future of human exploration, and humans will never stop looking around for new things in new places.

I agree with her. The idea that we're not that far away from the most remote places and peoples in the world does engender a sense of "togetherness," for lack of a better word, among this planet's cranky and territorial inhabitants. It fools me into thinking, just for a second, that maybe we are truly all the same. The fact that you can't see (much) evidence of human civilization from that high up is intriguing as well. It's a clear reminder that this planet will be what it is, while we crawl around on it unseen and anonymous.

As for exploration, our desire to push beyond what we know will continue to motivate us to innovate and sacrifice and take risks, as it should. And while the world at the bottom of the deepest oceans is as unknown as outer space, we need to learn what's out there at least to attempt to fulfill our desire to know our place within it all. A larger context makes our existence feel less random.

Anyway. I am obsessed with the Space Shuttle, in the end, because it teaches me that the Earth is at once very large and very, very small. It is simultaneously enormous and miniscule, and I can't get my head around that. I like to think about it.

Now, since this post is very philosophical, I shall bring it all back down to the lowest common denominator by presenting this photo of a pregnant Britney Spears: