Random Thought of the Day

On the way to work today, I glanced over to the West.

 "Hmmm, " I thought to myself. "What's stopping me from just driving off to Las Vegas right now?"

- A wife.
- Two kids.
- My son's birthday party tonight.
- Possibility of a divorce or - at the very least - counseling sessions.
- The fact that I only have $100 in my checking account.
- No savings.
- No credit cards.

"Oh yeah," I exclaimed. "That's what's stopping me from driving to Las Vegas right now."

Was Elton John inspired by Ray Bradbury?

Just a quick thought before it escapes my brain...

I'm curious if Ray Bradbury's short story The Rocket Man from the novel The Illustrated Man was the inspiration for Elton John's hit single Rocket Man?

No? Well, if you read the short story and check out the Rocket Man lyrices (sung by Elton John, written by Bernie Taupin): it matches up pretty well:

She packed my bags last night pre-flight
Zero hour nine a.m.
And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then
I miss the earth so much I miss my wife
It’s lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight
And I think it’s gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I’m a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it’s cold as hell
And there’s no one there to raise them if you did
And all this science I don’t understand
It’s just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man

Of course, Bradbury's story is told through eyes of the boy. Taupin's lyrics are sung through the eyes of the man.