Comment Re:It's Easy (Score 5, Insightful) 483
I wish I had mod points for this - it's the most realistic answer yet!
I wish I had mod points for this - it's the most realistic answer yet!
The politics of NASA killed the plans of NASA.
At one time, they had a plan that would have put a base on the Moon by the end of the 70's and missions to Mars in the 80's. Some of the Apollo astronauts saw themselves as part of that.
After we went to the Moon, Nixon killed the hope. Under his 'leadership' we scrapped the last three planned Moon missions, stopped building anything new outside of an under-funded (and possibly ill-advised) Space Shuttle, and those that led us to space, from Astronauts to Engineers to Machinists and Janitors, left NASA with the cuts. We never regained the drive, or the ability we had since then. NASA had become a tool of politics, which it hadn't really been before.
Sure, we went to the Moon to beat the Russians. Along the way, we learned things, and we even maybe pulled the nation and the world a BIT more together. Is that so bad?
Whether you like Obama or not, whether the realities of our current crises are the end, are we not losing sight of the grand picture given us by those who came before?
No, not really.
I can't think why anyone would think that making such an international drama and giving up $600m in annual profit would be worth doing just to distract attention from the fact a handful of people are whining about getting the phone to use 3G instead of 2G in some areas on the Nexus One.
What next? Microsoft purchases a nuclear missile and launches it at Russia to distract everyone from the fact no one is buying the Zune?
Don't give them IDEAS!
We have 'uniform' shirts where I work. We travel to many customers, so I actually like them as an identifier. This is not the case you're in as your question states, but it's really not far off with a company location that size.
In our case, they are optional - We are expected to wear something professional or wear one of our work shirts. The boss came in with a catalogue with many different types and styles of shirts that get our logo sewn on, and that's it. It took a bit, but nearly all of us wear the work shirts. They are a style WE have chosen and WE can choose not to wear them, so, being a bunch of geeks, of course we do.
Besides, we barely have to dress ourselves that way! It keeps the bizarre color choices we come in with to a minimum.
Don't you see? It's a marketing ploy by Apple!
Hear, hear - I wish I had mod points.
Look, I love watching NASA TV when I can, as is. I also am very aware that the lack of commentary and descriptions makes it somewhat dull.
Why is it that the
Split the channel. Part of the reason that NASA TV exists is to provide raw footage to other networks anyway, so keep one as is, then put some commentary on another one.
Win.
You mean like this?
As an additional bonus, the only people that could find Bin Laden would be lawyers with a copyright ruling!
I'm sure they said the same thing when they started using metal instead of wood ribbing and fabric.
"it seems a little irresponsible to use your news site as a way to air personal grievances, at least if you want to continue to be regarded as a site for news."
It doesn't seem to bother most slashdot editors.
Actually, speaking from my own life here in Oregon, there are so many complexities to this issue.
I once truly believed we should stop clear-cutting and only allow select cut. I still do to some extent, but then the question becomes where do we sell that wood? The forestry industry has changed their cutting and added more machines and less men not just because of the cost (including liability, which is HUGE) but also to be able to compete with cheap lumber from around the world.
Then you go to Coos Bay and watch them dump wood chips into container ships for Asia and wonder where the mill jobs are.
I don't have a good answer. I know that this state was dependant for it's livelihood on timber at one time, and those times are gone. I just don't really know if we have enough left of anything else. It's sad - I consider it a beautiful place to live, yet we may be paying too much of a cost.
Whew - I'm glad you cleared THAT up!
Yes, the DMCA is stupid.
Now, can I ask WHY people buy T-Shirts, undies, etc from big designers?
I just don't see why you would buy something for $100 from a designer label when you can buy something without a name on it for $4. I mean, the amount of marketing that has to go into this must be insane! It would be one thing if the big fancy labels used legitimate, well-paid, non-sweatshop labor to make these things, but I don't see that happening.
OMSI is excellent, but I really have to recommend The Evergreen Air And Space Museum. The Spruce Goose itself is worth seeing, but the incredible collection sitting literally under it's wings is what makes it fun.
My wife and I got to the DC area and took in the Smithsonian last year, including Udvar-Hazy - It was incredible, but really didn't compare in many ways to Evergreen.
Understanding is always the understanding of a smaller problem in relation to a bigger problem. -- P.D. Ouspensky
