As Yeager throttled the plane ever faster, approaching and then passing 500 and then 600 miles per hour, the Bell X-1 began to shake and rattle on the inside.
I've broken many a barrier during my days of playing Arkanoid. But things don't get calm on the other side. No sir. Level 2 just has even more barriers!
I loved that game! We had a cat that would sit on top of the tv while we played, and follow the ball with his eyes, his head moving back and forth across the screen, and that got distracting for whoever was playing. I think he fell off a few times, too.
There are so many barriers that have been broken or stand to be broken that it’s sometimes hard to see them.
What’s also interesting is that once something is broken, or a new standard is set, most of us rarely look back to reflect on the time when it wasn’t. We take it for granted, forget all the work it took to get there. Unless perhaps it’s threatened again.
Great point. I guess that's one reason why I've been so interested in history lately (I mean, besides just understanding how the world works): we have overcome a great deal in the past, and in order to understand where we're going, we need to see where we've come from. We don't do that enough.
Mandela broke barriers.Things weren't the same in South Africa after his release from prison. He provided an example of great leadership as president. I just wish South Africans continue with his legacy.
Well, at Mach 1, things might have been calmer, but here at Mach 30 things get pretty rocky again. It's not all smooth sailing after breaking that barrier, on this side of the world. It might be better than before, but it's faaar from smooth.
Well, if 1994 was Mach 1, now 2024 is 30 years later...
I'm just saying, Nelson Mandela did break through a barrier in history, and he paved the way to make life better for many many people, but things aren't going so great over here in South Africa. Corruption and unemployment and crime... Not to mention the failing infrastructure and lack of service delivery...
I'm just saying. It feels like things here, now, are rockier than ever.
Ohhhh yeah, I hear you. Mandela absolutely broke through barriers, and there's no going back to the way things were before, any more than we can put Yeager's genie back into the bottle and imagine that he never broke the sound barrier.
An important corollary for this (which I happen to be working on right now, probably not coincidentally) is an upcoming piece on cycles, and how history rhymes over time.
These cycles are as interesting (and important to understand) as the breakthroughs themselves.
That's the really cool thing about writing every day. I can only say so much, and then someone brings up a really good point... so I can say, "let's talk about that in some detail next week!" I love the back and forth, Jenny.
Those are great barrier-busters, and writing a comparison piece like I did today would work well for them, too. Everyone thought Bannister would just die!
Wow. Never saw the Yeager landing in South Africa! I love articles that make amazing abstract connections such as this. For the first half, I was part reading, part reliving the Maverick 1&2 😂.
As for the barriers I am looking forward to seeing broken, I think are mostly on the medical front. Seems to me like we are always a step away from curing cancer and other sever autoimmune diseases. But with the rapid advancements in AI and now with Quantum Computing, my hopes are ever higher!
Great callout for the medical barriers. I thought about some of the ones that have already fallen, and how to write about that, but I think it's even more poignant to look toward the future here.
I've broken many a barrier during my days of playing Arkanoid. But things don't get calm on the other side. No sir. Level 2 just has even more barriers!
That's a different type of barrier for another day! Video game barriers can be treacherous.
I feel you're making light of my very real struggle. Those bricks didn't destroy themselves you know.
Psh. It's not like you're talking about beating Legendary Wings or something.
I loved that game! We had a cat that would sit on top of the tv while we played, and follow the ball with his eyes, his head moving back and forth across the screen, and that got distracting for whoever was playing. I think he fell off a few times, too.
Yeah it was great fun at the time! I can just imagine your cat dropping on the floor with a thud and making you ruin your high score.
Haha yeah, pretty much! 🤣
There are so many barriers that have been broken or stand to be broken that it’s sometimes hard to see them.
What’s also interesting is that once something is broken, or a new standard is set, most of us rarely look back to reflect on the time when it wasn’t. We take it for granted, forget all the work it took to get there. Unless perhaps it’s threatened again.
Great point. I guess that's one reason why I've been so interested in history lately (I mean, besides just understanding how the world works): we have overcome a great deal in the past, and in order to understand where we're going, we need to see where we've come from. We don't do that enough.
Mandela broke barriers.Things weren't the same in South Africa after his release from prison. He provided an example of great leadership as president. I just wish South Africans continue with his legacy.
Yeah, South Africa is probably not the best example of "smooth sailing"!
I think the hardest barriers to break are the ones we put up for ourselves.
I think that builds off of the idea: "the easiest person to fool if yourself." Quite true.
Definitely!
Well, at Mach 1, things might have been calmer, but here at Mach 30 things get pretty rocky again. It's not all smooth sailing after breaking that barrier, on this side of the world. It might be better than before, but it's faaar from smooth.
Tell me more about Mach 30!
Well, if 1994 was Mach 1, now 2024 is 30 years later...
I'm just saying, Nelson Mandela did break through a barrier in history, and he paved the way to make life better for many many people, but things aren't going so great over here in South Africa. Corruption and unemployment and crime... Not to mention the failing infrastructure and lack of service delivery...
I'm just saying. It feels like things here, now, are rockier than ever.
Ohhhh yeah, I hear you. Mandela absolutely broke through barriers, and there's no going back to the way things were before, any more than we can put Yeager's genie back into the bottle and imagine that he never broke the sound barrier.
An important corollary for this (which I happen to be working on right now, probably not coincidentally) is an upcoming piece on cycles, and how history rhymes over time.
These cycles are as interesting (and important to understand) as the breakthroughs themselves.
I look forward to it.
That's the really cool thing about writing every day. I can only say so much, and then someone brings up a really good point... so I can say, "let's talk about that in some detail next week!" I love the back and forth, Jenny.
Me too.
Disappointing. No mention of The Right Stuff or "Free Nelson Mandela" by The Specials AKA.
That stated, my Chuck Yeager/Nelson Mandela is probably Roger Bannister or Frederick Douglass. Yes, two ver different stories but cool nonetheless.
Those are great barrier-busters, and writing a comparison piece like I did today would work well for them, too. Everyone thought Bannister would just die!
A good analogy.
Wow. Never saw the Yeager landing in South Africa! I love articles that make amazing abstract connections such as this. For the first half, I was part reading, part reliving the Maverick 1&2 😂.
As for the barriers I am looking forward to seeing broken, I think are mostly on the medical front. Seems to me like we are always a step away from curing cancer and other sever autoimmune diseases. But with the rapid advancements in AI and now with Quantum Computing, my hopes are ever higher!
Great callout for the medical barriers. I thought about some of the ones that have already fallen, and how to write about that, but I think it's even more poignant to look toward the future here.