Seven Minutes of Terror...

[+ FreshFluff]

OK. Thanks, Val.

[seeker630]

The what?

 

The phrase "Seven Minutes of Terror" refers to the atmospheric descent of Curiosity on Mars (and with a 14-minute signal delay, there was no real-time knowledge of whether they had succeeded or crashed)

 

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=1090

[MsGuy]

Why is it that "seven minutes" seems such an appropriate time for terror? Would anything longer pass from terror to horror?

 

Sevens have magical significance and not just in Western cultures. Sumerians put 7 days in a week, Catholics have 7 sacrements; Buddists postulate 7 steps to enlightment; menorahs have 7 candles; Muslims have 7 heavens; Japan has Seven samurai & there were 7 wives on the road to St. Ives (I think that makes 7 examples, lol). Seven wonders of the world; Elway wore #7 as did Mantle; Seven Wives for Seven Brothers; 007; Christians forgive folks 7 X 70 and, in the place of honor, Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey!

[+ Charlie]

And don't forget T.E. Lawrence's "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" or William Empson's "Seven Types of Ambiguity" (both of which I found unreadable).

[MsGuy]

And don't forget T.E. Lawrence's "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" or William Empson's "Seven Types of Ambiguity" (both of which I found unreadable).

 

Hahahaha...both of those guys are way too high-brow for the likes of me, Charlie.