Where do we go from here?

This morning I was watching the news on TV and something struck me, and prompted me to write this blog.  In the Broadcast business, we call this a tease.  Stay with me -- I will reveal this mystery in a few paragraphs.

Back in 1439, a guy named Gutenberg invented a device which completely turned the world upside down.  It changed the way we communicated forever.  His device was -- the printing press.  He used it to print bibles -- lots of bibles ---- much to the chagrin of the church.  They didn't want bibles printed because the general public could begin to read for themselves and the priests would be out of a job.  It was thought that bibles in the hands of the ignorant, downtrodden, would cause a revolution in the church's liturgy and the church would lose control.  But -- That is the subject of another blog.  Suffice it to say this printing press that Gutenberg invented, started something really, really big.

As time went on, the printing press was improved upon and it became quite easy to duplicate hundreds and even thousands of posters and messages to the public.  Newspapers came about pretty quickly, and we all know what the effects of that was.  News was disseminated  -- these printing presses were improved -- movable type --  mechanical lino-type setters -- the web press which could whip out thick newspapers in a flash  Advertisers jumped on board real fast.  As time went on -- huge improvements happened -- computerized printing and digital photographs'  We've seen it all.

Gutenberg's little invention started a revolution in dispensing information, unlike the world had ever seen.  And it is still going.  Even though I spent most of my career in the broadcasting business (we broadcasters like to pretend that newspapers are the scourge of the earth) -- The printed page still has its important place in today's news and advertising world.  We still call all the news organizations "The Press," don't we?

So, what is this big deal I saw on TV this morning? ....  

They are going to "print" an entire rocket ship on several gigantic printing presses!  That is right -- no joke.  The latest technology is 3-D printing of large objects -- like rocket ships.  They have been doing this with small objects for a while.  And printed circuits have been around for years.  But Rocket ships?  I can't wait to see what they are going to print next.  Maybe I will order five or nine  copies of  -- ME -- with good eyes and without the sore muscles and wrinkled skin and high BP, of course.  Hey -- don't laugh -- I never thought they would print a rocket ship -- did you?

Ole Gutenberg is somewhere out there -- smiling  -- I'll bet.

From the heart of Olaf Hart ......