Caaaakes in SPAAAACE!
August 7, 2012 Did you notice how I artfully blended "pigs in space" with a Portal 2 reference? Didya? That's professional level geekery right there. Do not try at home (without an audience).
I was up 'til 3AM yesterday morning watching the live feeds from NASA as the Curiosity rover touched down on Mars. As many have already pointed out, it's amazing to live in a time when we can get pictures from MARS in only 15 minutes, and live coverage of the Olympics from NBC in only 6 hours. [jazz hands] THE FUTURE!
Anyway, needless to say the sight of all those brilliant people with brilliant hairdos (not joking, for once) celebrating with such joyous, nerdy abandon made me bawl like a baby. Which is to say in an ugly, squealish manner, and with just the right amount of pee leakage.
To celebrate this momentous occasion (the Mars landing, not the pee leakage), I've invited the planet Mars 'round to comment:
;)
Unfortunately, the planet had nothing to add other than a few highly questionable landing suggestions for Uranus. And boy is his face red.
But that's ok, because this AMAZING Mars Rover cake steals the show, anyway:
;)
(Found here.)
This was made back in 2009 in honor of the rover's 5th anniversary on Mars, and that's the baker, Chris Vasilakis, next to it. The Curiosity rover is much larger, of course, but as John says, "They both have six wheels and lots of technical junk on them," so that means they're practically twins
Some details:
"The body of the rover and the high gain antenna were all made of toffee buttercrunch cake with cinnamon buttercream between the layers. The wheels and a few other parts were made of rice krispie treats. Note the fondant birthday candles at the front in the instrument arm. The red stuff at the bottom is all edible homemade mars…shmallow."
Judging by that pun, I'm pretty sure she and I would get along fabulously.
And now, a cool story, bro:
Laurie L., the wreckporter who sent in the rover cake, was actually the MC at the NASA event that hosted the now infamous phallic Space Shuttle wreck.
You know, this one?
;)
She was there, you guys! An actual eye witness!
Laurie writes,
"Believe it or not, it was a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Sally Ride's flight as the first American Woman in Space, and Sally was there. You can imagine how mortified I was when I arrived and saw the cake (which I had nothing to do with ordering…). As if having a cake that said 'We've come along way' wasn't bad enough…! Anyway, as you can tell, I've still got a little PTSD going about the whole experience."
Just remember, Laurie, there's healing through laughter. And lots and lots of dirty puns. (Is it wrong I'm still proud of that post?) (No, don't answer that; I know it is.)
Now, stay tuned for the fabric wreck winning entries from Friday's contest! So much hilarity. And towels. And toys. And random household objects.
Reader Comments (31)
The Mars cake looks like a potato. And a pretty ugly potato at that.
Is that Neil DeGrasse Tyson by the space shuttle wreck? Even more awesome! :-) H.
I was also up watching the landing and got teary watching the techs celebrate. And admit that it was quite a rush to hear one ask if they could get an image and the next thing you hear is "We have a thumbnail" and they all look up at the screen and then it enlarged. I was able to see the wheel even before the tech pointed it out. It was an epic moment.
You rock, Jen!
Sung to "You're So Vain"
You walked into the party
While we were watching live Rover shots
The cake you cheekily put with all the rest
Looked like mouldering apricot
You kept one eye the Rover cake
And smirked as you walked by
And all of us dreamed that you wouldn't serve yours
You wouldn't serve yours and...
You're so lame, you probably don't think your cake is a wreck
You're so lame, I'll bet you think you're quite a good baker,
Don't you, don't you?
Well, I met you several years ago
By a cake I could not believe
It was red and blotchy, and leaning a bit
With a height no man could achieve
And you acted all superior
When I laughed until tears streamed
There was no way I was going to eat THAT
Mom raised me better, and...
You're so lame, you thought the shuttle cake could pass muster
You're so lame, you didn't see a Freudian thruster
Did you, did you?
You're so lame....
nO that is not Neil de grasse Tyson, that would have been awesome :( . Sharyn can't...stop...laughing. Sally was homosexual, does that make the shuttle cake more or less ironic :/ and am I wrong to ask that?
'Freudian thruster'...oh Sharyn, can I employ you to keep me amused on a 24/7 basis?
When I read, "Some details: The body of the rover and the high gain antenna were all made of ...," I thought you were referring to the actual rover. When I got to the word "toffee," I suffered a momentary brain blip before I snorted at my own stupidity.
Jen, you're not the only one who got teary at the sight of all those gleeful scientists, leading one of my friends to ask, "can't you just be normal for once?" No, I cannot.
@Sharyn-today I will attempt to use the phrase, "Freudian thruster" in normal conversation.
Wish me luck.
The Mars Rover cake reminds me of Wall-E!
And the two dials in front of the arm look exactly like eyes to me!
The first cake makes me wonder, did the baker create this masterpiece using mars-ipan?
So...Many...Puns....
@zoomom. OMG that was hilarious!!! MARS-ipan. giggle!
Awww, poor Mars. It looks angry.
Very noteworthy. Happy to discover your site! I linked to it.
So how soon until we start seeing Mission Controller Bobak Ferdowski's awesome mohawk done in buttercream?
That shuttle looks like it's going to attempt re-entry.
Donkaloosa beat me to it. Are you sure the Mars cake is a cake and not a giant, State-Fair-competition-winning potato? And if it is a cake, it's not a very appetizing-looking one. That color doesn't exactly scream "I'm tasty!"
I do not think that is the Illudium Q 36 Space Modulator.
At least the shuttle has a smile on it's face.
Needless to say, since I have worked for NASA for 26 years, it was mandatory that I share this timely post with my fellow space workers today!
And I remember that shuttle cake. Boy do I remember that shuttle cake. That shuttle cake...those solid rocket boosters...that external tank....hooooo boy!
That's what you get for asking Dick to order the cake. They really got the shaft on that one.
I can't blame Mars for being ticked off. We are leaving a lot of uncollected junk up there.
No, really, what in the sam hill is that first one *supposed* to be???
Those of us on the follow up mission to Curiosity are getting quite the chuckle out of this! Thanks from JPL!! (And we are just as excited as everyone else!)
Way to go Poise for monopolizing on the mention of "pee leakage" with a giant ad for panty liners! That's funnier than the wrecks today!
your comment "it's amazing to live in a time when we can get pictures from MARS in only 15 minutes, and live coverage of the Olympics from NBC in only 6 hours. [jazz hands] THE FUTURE!" made me laugh til I cried. Was it that funny? No ... but there ya go.
Is that a rocket booster or a penis?
When I saw the nerdy abandon, I counted women. Almost half! I had to stop working in 1987, but in the two defense companies I worked for, I was the only professional woman (not a secretary).
I think the first one is really a mutant potato.
Ah the lovely cakes. Or is that first one a deformed and peeved pumpkin? I would be afraid to even attempt to cut into it. Wreckerators may have hidden evil clowns in it for all I know lol.
"it's amazing to live in a time when we can get pictures from MARS in only 15 minutes, and live coverage of the Olympics from NBC in only 6 hours. [jazz hands] THE FUTURE!"
As my husband said to me (and I shamelessly report to you here), clearly there is a solution to this problem - have the next olympics on Mars!!
i was too excited about the Pigs in Space reference to worry about the rest of the post ... i'm a muppet show fanatic :)
Please tell me that shuttle cake was displayed at the Johnson Space Center.