On Dec. 30, 1930, the first-ever photo of the Earth’s curvature was taken by Lieutenant Colonel Albert William Stevens, who was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps and an aerial photographer.
This photo is one Williams took over South Dakota in 1936 during a record-breaking balloon flight, which also shows Earth’s curvature.
(Image credit: National Geographic/Albert William Stevens 1930)


and from the native speakers, i’d like an opinion - is he singing oblate spheroid at the beginning of 3rd paragraph? or is he singing old blade, which is what i hear, and is it some strange poetic phrase?
It is “oblate spheroid.”
thank you
Thank you more! I can hardly believe you went all that trouble to transcribe my stupid song.