UPDATE:  SOLVED at 12:06 CDT by Emily

The most suspenseful riddle of the day was whether or not I was going to get one of my computers working in time to file today’s riddle!  You know how trouble seems to come in threes?  Well, I’d be happy with only three troubles this week.  Try three laptops and two desktops, down for the count.  I think I repel technology.

Finally, I’m up and running… okay, up and limping… and more than ready to play riddle.  We’re collecting another crowd of folks to play the bonus riddle, and I’d sure like to add your name to the list.

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Today’s answer is a single object.

It is visible to the unaided eye.

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Many people think today’s object was the “first”, but it was not.

Although it wasn’t first, it is associated with many things that are.

Surrounded by controversy, this object was initially ridiculed and thought of as a joke.

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It has made an appearance in popular fiction.

It has a strong representation in non-fiction.

Today’s object does something for which it is very well known.

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A-a-a-a-a-a-a-and we’re OFF!
You know where to find me, so good luck.

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I found it!  The perfect spider – the one we can all appreciate!  I’m not lurking in this, but I doubt it’d be much of a hardship.

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2009 Ferrari Scuderia Spider