NASA "Mohawk Guy" To Host Radio Show

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NASA "Mohawk Guy" To Host Radio Show

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday August 29, 2012 @03:02PM from the it's-all-about-the-hair dept.

An anonymous reader writes "NASA's 'Mohawk Guy' Bobak Ferdowsi, a flight director for the Mars Science Laboratory mission that lowered the Curiosity rover to the Martian surface in early August, will host a two-hour online broadcast on Internet radio station Third Rock Radio at 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday, August 30. The show, entitled 'Getting Curious with the Mohawk Guy,' will feature Ferdowsi discussing his experience with the landing of Curiosity, NASA’s evolving image, and renewed interest in science and exploration."

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What a wonderful face for JPL by wb8wsf · 2012-08-29 15:14 · Score: 5, Insightful

I wish Boback the best of luck on this show, and lots more in the future.
Imagine, if people start thinking of science folks as neat...
1. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-29 15:17 · Score: 1, Interesting
  
  My grandmother would not call him "neat". She'd use words like hippie slacker disgrace who will amount to nothing.
2. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by O('_')O_Bush · 2012-08-29 15:20 · Score: 1
  
  And what does she know?
  
  --
  while(1) attack(People.Sandy);
3. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-29 15:33 · Score: 1
  
  She sounds exactly like someone the world no longer needs, and will not miss.
4. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by cachimaster · 2012-08-29 15:36 · Score: 2
  
  Not much. Her perception is only clean cut men in suits are successful. Any deviation in hair cut alone branded one as a hooligan.
  To be fair with your grandmother, her generalization was correct during most of her life. Until 2011 spacecraft were designed and controlled by clean cut men.
5. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by circletimessquare · 2012-08-29 15:59 · Score: 2
  
  your grandmother does not need to find science appealing, a generation still in school does
  the mohawk is a gimmick. a gimmick in the service of good
  
  --
  intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
6. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-29 16:18 · Score: 1, Interesting
  
  I for one find these actions deplorable.
  
  This only delegitimizes the agency, and will only turn NASA into some short-lived fad.
  
  The exploration of our solar system, and the face of the United States should be that of a professional one.
  
  Call me old fashioned, but the popularization of the agency through the embracing of pop-culture causes me to take the United States of America less seriously, and causes me to question my support of the country by continuing to conduct business within it.
  
  Trying to doll up politics, science, and business with this bullshit is deplorable at best.
7. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-29 16:32 · Score: 1
  
  StarHawk is the first celebrity NASA has produced in generations. I think he's doing something right.
8. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-29 16:38 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  >> the embracing of pop-culture causes me to take the United States of America less seriously, and causes me to question my support of the country
  Yes, clearly a man with a mohawk is what makes America look bad. Not our war on drugs, wars on brown desert dwelling people, repression of gays, electing of disgraceful politicians like Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum [spreadingsantorum.com], or the fact that just weeks ago the civil rights debate in this nation hinged on buying a fucking chicken sandwich?
  What. The. Fuck.
9. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by wmac1 · 2012-08-29 16:45 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  FYI The correct name is "Babak Ferdowsi".
  Both first and family names are famous Iranian names. "Babak" is the famous Iranian revoloutionaray leader (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babak_Khorramdin ) and "Ferdowsi" is perhaps the most famous Iranian poet ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdowsi ).
10. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by MightyMartian · 2012-08-29 16:58 · Score: 1, Troll
  
  Which goes to show you that your grandmother probably should be in a retirement home spending her last demented years try to stick nurses with knitting needles.
  
  --
  The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
11. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by rommi04 · 2012-08-29 16:59 · Score: 2
  
  If I were an astronaut I would want guys in the control room to have the clean-cut NASA-circa-1969 look. I would not trust my life to the guys that were in the control room during the Curiosity landing. I'm sure they are good at their jobs but they just don't look very professional to me.
12. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by Daniel+Dvorkin · 2012-08-29 17:33 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  If I were an astronaut I would want guys in the control room to have the clean-cut NASA-circa-1969 look. I would not trust my life to the guys that were in the control room during the Curiosity landing. I'm sure they are good at their jobs but they just don't look very professional to me.
  I have a picture of my father when he was a NASA engineer for Apollo. Ponytail, beard, work shirt and jeans, which was pretty typical for those in his age group (the older engineers did tend toward the crew-cut-and-starched-shirt look). Yeah, the guys in the control room where the TV cameras could see them looked clean-cut and "professional," but a lot of the ones who actually built the machines and made them go didn't bother with that crap, because they knew--as any sensible person should--that real professionalism isn't something you can put on like a costume. This is as true now as it was then.
  
  --
  The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
13. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by cheekyjohnson · 2012-08-29 19:28 · Score: 1
  
  I'm sure they are good at their jobs
  Say no more, because that's all that matters.
  
  --
  Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
14. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by Sigg3.net · 2012-08-29 20:13 · Score: 2
  
  Where I work, everyone wearing suits wants to be bosses, everyone wearing loose shirts and baggy pants just want to get the job done.
  
  --
  Defining Statistics and Social Research
15. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by 1u3hr · 2012-08-29 22:21 · Score: 1
  
  As the saying goes, a wonderful face for radio.
  You don't get to work in Mission Control without being pretty good at your job, but that isn't what he's famous for: his hairdo..
16. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by DNS-and-BIND · 2012-08-29 22:59 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  You know, the whole 'ponytail and beard' thing has become a code of its own these days. Add big black nerd glasses with no lenses for that extra authenticity.
  
  --
  Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
17. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by mcvos · 2012-08-30 00:56 · Score: 2
  
  I recently read that Apollo 13 was actually saved by a hippie, and NASA quickly buried that fact, because they only wanted it to appear as if spacecraft were only designed and controlled by clean cut men..
18. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by overlordofmu · 2012-08-30 01:15 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  You do realize that suits and ties are dress-up costumes. They are in no way functional or necessary. Just like judge's robes are costumes.
  
  Business and law both rely on a great deal of theatrics to present the image of legitimacy. And these theatrics are enough for people like grandma and you that would prefer to make snap judgments based on illogical assumptions in place of actually thinking.
  
  Your apathy and love of tradition is holding the world back. Please begin to question the basic tenants of Western civilization so we can fix it before it is too late.
19. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by Feyshtey · 2012-08-30 03:41 · Score: 1
  
  If I were an astronaut I wouldnt particularly care if the people in mission control showed up dressed as Little Bo Peep, sucked on passifiers and refused to eat anything but blueberry waffles. If they were the most capable human beings on the planet of getting me safely home I'd completely support them, including buying them a herd of sheep, a baby stroller and lifetime passes to IHOP.
  
  --
  "But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
20. Re:What a wonderful face for JPL by spire3661 · 2012-08-30 03:41 · Score: 1
  
  I agree 1000%. NASA grow up. The Will I Am broadcast pissed me off. What an incredible waste of taxpayer resources to promote a shitty pop star. What the fuck was wrong with transmitting 'America the Beautiful"? or something not under copyright so EVERY american could enjoy it for free.
  
  --
  Good-bye
Yes by tanujt · 2012-08-29 15:16 · Score: 1, Flamebait

Let's make a celebrity out of this guy with hair a little out of the ordinary, while the rest of the team, who worked just as hard, goes unnoticed and under-appreciated. Also, let's praise this guy so much that the only thing he has to be thankful about is his decision to get a mohawk, and not his engineering degree.
1. Re:Yes by VortexCortex · 2012-08-29 15:22 · Score: 1
  
  To be fair, lots of engineering goes into the formation and maintenance of a proper mohawk. I should know, I had a green one myself when I was still a stupid attention seeking twit.
2. Re:Yes by afgam28 · 2012-08-29 15:23 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Ridiculous isn't it? A bunch of people land a fucking robot on Mars, and everyone's attention is on one of the guys' haircut.
3. Re:Yes by CanEHdian · 2012-08-29 15:42 · Score: 1
  
  Let's make a celebrity out of this guy with hair a little out of the ordinary, while the rest of the team, who worked just as hard, goes unnoticed and under-appreciated. Also, let's praise this guy so much that the only thing he has to be thankful about is his decision to get a mohawk, and not his engineering degree.
  It's just ye olde Standing Out In The Crowd. That is why a lot of "artists" nowadays don't know out of craziness what to do anymore: outrageous clothing, outrageous behavior, stupid-looking sunglasses, something to do with jewelry, etc. etc. Are they still good? Likely (sometimes with auto tune). Are there many, many artists who are far more accomplished but unknown? Absolutely. They just don't stand out hence are not noticed.
  Mohawk Guy got noticed. Great! Perhaps it goes to show that you don't have to look like a nerd to be an engineer or a scientist. If that inspires people to follow in his footsteps: mission accomplished.
  
  --
  When the copyright term is "forever minus a day", live every day like it's the last.
4. Re:Yes by paleo2002 · 2012-08-29 15:43 · Score: 2
  
  Remember when you were in school and bored? You'd look around the room or out the window for anything remotely distracting because you didn't understand or didn't care about what was going on in the classroom.
  
  Welcome to the current state of science journalism.
5. Re:Yes by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-29 15:45 · Score: 1
  
  There is precedent, though. Look at all the fuss they made about the inadequacy of Gabby Douglas's hairdo when she won her gold medals. We're one big country full of don't-give-a-fuck-about-anything-but-your-hair.
6. Re:Yes by WankersRevenge · 2012-08-29 15:51 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Well, he was actually interviewed on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me a few weeks ago (you can find it online at npr). Evidently, he gets a different haircut for each mission and it was the team who voted him the Mohawk.
  It's the other guy - the former rocker turned physicist who managed the landing of the rover - who I find to be the interesting one of the bunch.
  But really, I don't care who's getting the camera time. so much as the mission hasn't been forgotten.
  I swear, the landing of the rover reminded me of the ending of the truman show. Everyone goes nuts at Trumans escape, and when the show ends, some dude asks, "whats on next?"
7. Re:Yes by nospam007 · 2012-08-29 16:09 · Score: 1
  
  "It's just ye olde Standing Out In The Crowd. "
  Lord Gaga's Radio Show.
8. Re:Yes by MightyMartian · 2012-08-29 17:01 · Score: 1, Troll
  
  Anything that might convince the next generation of voters that space is cool gets my vote. If having a Mohawk and being "hip" or whatever does the trick, then so be it.
  You sound like one of those guys that was all pissed off that it took Harry Potter to get kids reading again, instead of "real literature".
  
  --
  The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
9. Re:Yes by Concerned+Onlooker · 2012-08-29 17:42 · Score: 1
  
  Bingo. Best post in here.
  
  --
  http://www.rootstrikers.org/
10. Re:Yes by _Shad0w_ · 2012-08-29 18:43 · Score: 2
  
  So basically he's doing what Gene Kranz used to do with waistcoats, but using his hair instead?
  
  --
  Yeah, I had a sig once; I got bored of it.
11. Re:Yes by bitingduck · 2012-08-30 02:57 · Score: 1
  
  Ridiculous isn't it? A bunch of people land a fucking robot on Mars, and everyone's attention is on one of the guys' haircut.
  Not just a robot, but a robot with a death ray
12. Re:Yes by circletimessquare · 2012-08-30 07:44 · Score: 1
  
  “Great minds discuss ideas;
  Average minds discuss events;
  Small minds discuss people.”
  
  -Eleanor Roosevelt
  The take home message is if you want people interested in a robot on mars, give the robot a mohawk haircut
  otherwise, you just need to make peace with the fact the greater mass of humanity just doesn't care, and will never care, unless it has kim kardashian's ass
  
  --
  intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Colorful Metaphors by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-08-29 15:26 · Score: 5, Funny

Some of you may not know who this "Mohawk Guy" is. He was originally born and raised in San Fransisco. By his early 20's he was a drifter, directionless and alone. He'd ride the bus all around downtown San Fran playing his boom-box too loud, much to the annoyance of the public. His spiked hair and bracelets discouraged just about everyone from voicing their opinion on the noise level until one day he met his match. Two brave men, both with thousands of hours of flight experience, boarded the bus and sat across from him. One man, noone ever knew his name, politely asked that he turn off that damn noise. He gestured rudely and turned his music up. The other man reached across the aisle and firmly pinched the man's neck, instantly rendering him unconscious, the boombox silenced the moment his head landed on it.
This unexpected event gave him a new direction in life to pursue. He went back to school and studied hard. Twenty years later he found himself working on the Curiosity Project. And the end result of that goal? He broadcast that damn noise as loud as he wanted where it would bother nobody: Mars.
Noone knows the fate of the two airmen that boarded the bus that fateful day. Rumors persist that one was a burnt-out hippy that went to Berkley. However, noone was able to find any documentation of a man entering the hospital overdosed on LDS.
One thing is certain: It will be centuries before we see all the profound effects this guy has had on the timeline.

--

"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
1. Re:Colorful Metaphors by ackthpt · 2012-08-29 15:36 · Score: 1
  
  They both turned to a singing -- which was enough to discourage anyone turning their boom-box up.
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
2. Re:Colorful Metaphors by MightyMartian · 2012-08-29 17:21 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  As opposed to the guy who invented transparent aluminum, and ended up floating face down in the swimming pool of his sprawling Bel Air mansion, a pound of cocaine on the patio table, fourth wife, a 21 year old named Bunny passed out in the living room after a two-day long crystal meth binge and a couple of beach bums living in the guest house and using the hot tub to wash their clothes. Poor bastard couldn't deal with success and in his last months was heard blaming his out of control irritable bowel syndrome and his wife's predilection for cheating on him with the entire male staff of a nearby Starbucks on some crazy Scotsman who had given him the secret formula for transparent aluminum, talked into computer mice and consulted some grizzled-looking weirdo about the effects of time travel.
  
  --
  The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
3. Re:Colorful Metaphors by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-08-29 17:52 · Score: 1
  
  Well... double-dipstick on you!!
  
  --
  
  "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
4. Re:Colorful Metaphors by jrumney · 2012-08-29 21:17 · Score: 1
  
  However, noone was able to find any documentation of a man entering the hospital overdosed on LDS.
  Maybe he didn't go to hospital, maybe he went to Utah where he now lives with his 3 wives and 11 children.
5. Re:Colorful Metaphors by circletimessquare · 2012-08-30 07:41 · Score: 1
  
  someone overdosed on Latter Day Saints?
  I didn't know Mormonism was that powerful
  
  --
  intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
6. Re:Colorful Metaphors by GiganticLyingMouth · 2012-08-30 08:46 · Score: 1
  
  They were denied the iPad because they expressed intent to send it to a family member in Iran.
7. Re:Colorful Metaphors by Concerned+Onlooker · 2012-08-31 02:21 · Score: 1
  
  I think you might be one letter short yourself. It's Spock.
  
  --
  http://www.rootstrikers.org/
Cool! by ackthpt · 2012-08-29 15:34 · Score: 1

Maybe he can shed some light on sugar around a planet Organic origins or just dumb luck, formed by a shock wave from nova/super nova.
Or Galactus having a quick one for tea

--

A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
I dont care if you call it Radio by Osgeld · 2012-08-29 16:00 · Score: 2

if its internet only its a live stream or a podcast, for it to be a radio show it needs to be broadcast on ... I dunno RADIO?
any moron can stream audio on the internet, its not quite the same as fighting for limited air time.
1. Re:I dont care if you call it Radio by Osgeld · 2012-08-29 17:17 · Score: 1
  
  why AC why
  rolls eyes?
  cause anyone with a phone line can upload a podcast, thats the same as being somewhat significant enough to warrant even 10 seconds of real time live broadcast even on AM radio?
  yea I am stupid happy anyone can have a voice, but anyone's voice is useless in a sea of noise, hince why people seek out beacons, those beacons happen to be in realtime radio where people still go out of their way to listen to someone speak when they speak, instead of downloading a mp3 and calling at a cute name at leisure.
2. Re:I dont care if you call it Radio by Osgeld · 2012-08-30 12:21 · Score: 1
  
  dumbshit AC's on slashdot
"renewed interest in science" by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-29 16:14 · Score: 1

Dream on. A couple of weeks of being on the pop-culture radar maybe...
No offense to the guy... by GodfatherofSoul · 2012-08-29 19:17 · Score: 1

But, I think he got a lot of unwarranted attention; possibly at the expense of other coworker due more credit for the success of the landing. Another note, I was disappointed at the casual dress in the mission control center. Jeans and shirts, etc. Seems like they could have at least gone business casual for one day. It just looked unprofessional to me.

--
I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
1. Re:No offense to the guy... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-29 20:34 · Score: 1
  
  oh, stop bitching. they were there to get the job done. dressing them as monkeys would not make them do it better.
  i'm sure they all are more professional than many slashdotters, especially those who whine about "suits !!!". they put a damn car on mars.
  i'm starting to suspect that all this complaining is coming from those who are forced to wear suits and are jealous of others :>
2. Re:No offense to the guy... by blueg3 · 2012-08-30 01:07 · Score: 1
  
  It just looked unprofessional to me.
  They landed a robot on the moon. Maybe we should be taking tips on professional dress from them. It seems to have worked out.
3. Re:No offense to the guy... by blueg3 · 2012-08-30 01:14 · Score: 1
  
  on the moon
  On Mars. On Mars. That's what I get for switching the order of Slashdot and coffee.
4. Re:No offense to the guy... by Jedi+Alec · 2012-08-30 01:19 · Score: 2
  
  When I read posts like yours, I can't help but see a Dalek screaming: "Conformity! Conformity!"
  You may want to consider just to what extent you've been programmed to automatically associate certain looks with certain values. While prejudice saves a lot of time, it tends to make one miss out on a lot of interesting folks.
  
  --
  
  People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
How should NASA reach out to adults in tech? by trout007 · 2012-08-29 21:45 · Score: 4, Insightful

I am curious to hear what /.ers would like to see from NASA in terms of outreach. It seems most of the work goes towards kids. I'm not against that but many technical people would like to know more about what NASA is doing at a more technical level.
What types of things should NASA be doing? For instance release CAD models of rovers so people can build one in ther 3D printer or release the code for the software flight systems.

--
I love Jesus, except for his foreign policy.
1. Re:How should NASA reach out to adults in tech? by spire3661 · 2012-08-30 03:47 · Score: 2
  
  I recently wrote a letter to NASA asking them to step up their 'adult' coverage. Kids are great but god damn it, i love space too.
  
  --
  Good-bye
2. Re:How should NASA reach out to adults in tech? by trout007 · 2012-08-30 06:20 · Score: 2
  
  Please give examples of what you want.
  
  --
  I love Jesus, except for his foreign policy.
3. Re:How should NASA reach out to adults in tech? by spire3661 · 2012-08-30 06:30 · Score: 2
  
  What i want is for them to NOT cut coverage of the lander SECONDS after we got confirmation it was safe. The landing team checklist was valuable info and they cut out to the NASA TV anchor. What I want is to NOT focus on a team members haircut to pander to kids. What I want is for them to realize sending a teacher to space is stupid. I want NASA to be NASA, a bastion of science, not pandering
  
  --
  Good-bye
4. Re:How should NASA reach out to adults in tech? by Chris+Burke · 2012-08-30 16:47 · Score: 1
  
  Watch the Curiosity press conferences, then. Nice and adult.
  Also, for every person who says NASA should be a bastion of science, not pandering, there's another who says that NASA needs to sell itself to the public to keep interest up and thus Congress willing to give NASA money. Since despite their attempts at popular outreach NASA is still undoubtedly, unequivocally, unassailably, a tremendous bastion of science, I think the latter has the better point.
  
  --
  
  The enemies of Democracy are
Skip a few steps by PopeRatzo · 2012-08-29 23:35 · Score: 2

OK, now that the "Mohawk Guy" is on the fame conveyer belt, how long before he's on Dancing with the Stars?
Maybe we can just skip straight to the Mohawk Guy porn parody.

--
You are welcome on my lawn.
1. Re:Skip a few steps by circletimessquare · 2012-08-30 07:47 · Score: 1
  
  how does the robot on mars figure in the porn parody?
  i need to know
  no, i mean, i really need to know!
  tell me, please
  (breathing heavily, sweating)
  
  --
  intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Re:Oh for God's sake by jon3k · 2012-08-30 02:07 · Score: 2

Wow you really don't get it do you? This is about changing the image of a group of people who've typically considered boring. It was INTERESTING because it was DIFFERENT. Not sure how you don't understand that.
the dude thinks his mohawk is just a gimmick by circletimessquare · 2012-08-30 05:16 · Score: 4, Informative

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobak_Ferdowsi

Ferdowsi became a media "sensation", or "meme",[8] when during the August 6, 2012, landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars, he wore an unusual mohawk hairstyle that was seen on NASA TV's live broadcast of the event. As the Flight Director he was in a prominent camera position and his mohawk unexpectedly became an iconic image of the landing.[9][10][11] Ferdowsi explained that he wore a new haircut for every mission and the mohawk was chosen by his team by popular vote.[12]
When President Barack Obama called to congratulate the team, he noted the popularity of the "Mohawk guy," saying "You guys are a little cooler than you used to be."[13] Ferdowsi said in another interview that he did it to help lighten the seriousness of the workplace and "If my mohawk gets a few more people excited about science and this mission, that’s awesome."[6]

--
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
The guy does have a name, you know. by loshwomp · 2012-08-30 07:27 · Score: 1

We're not second graders. Neither the radio program title nor the slashdot headline could be bothered, but why not at least give him the respect of using his name?