Oh, Look, NASA's UNMANNED Program is in Danger

Won't happen. There's not much money to be made in this type of fundamental research. I was always under the impression that civilized societies see the need for fundamental research with the sole purpose of advancing the human understanding of the universe. Unlike in applied sciences, there's no immediate monetary profit. I have a hard time considering a society civil when it doesn't believe in advancing the frontier of human knowledge. I really hope that the majority of people still want to pay taxes for an investment in research, and that the Obama just doesn't see this.

Or not.

You're arguing with a news article? Well, that explains that.

Oh, and your cat has misspelled "argument."

News articles also said we would get hope and change.

And Cats can't spell.

Once upon a time, one of them probably said you graduated from high school, too. So they all lie?

Then one has to wonder why you accept them as an authority on anything else.

My graduation wasn't that newsworthy and everybody likes a good pussy.

As to the first, you haven't yet clarified whether you believe all news articles are lies, and as to the second, I don't go that way, so I'll leave you to it, then.

Maybe you should try it.

See above.

You: News articles also said we would get hope and change.[/quote]

Me: So they all lie?

You: Something...something...pussy.

It's not as if that isn't where your mind eventually ends up, but not usually this quickly.

Me: So they all lie?

You: Something...something...pussy.

It's not as if that isn't where your mind eventually ends up, but not usually this quickly.[/QUOTE]

The mind goes where the heart is.

You should always follow your heart.

:tardfight:

And here I thought WF actually cared about the fate of NASA. Does Kepler's actually finding this planet so early on in its lifespan mean a renewed interest, possibly an extension of that lifespan? Does WF care?

WF doesn't care about NASA. WF cares about ripping Obama. Anything that happens that doesn't fit with that narrative is either ignored or mocked, even if it's entirely in keeping with their personal principles.

Doesn't make for much of a message board.

[Luke] I care. [/Luke]

The subjects, for good or ill, are inextricably intertwined, in case the two of you hadn't noticed. With the U.S. space exploration program being cut by our politicians, it's hard to get excited about the continuation of a program that just might get shut down at any time.

I know it's hard for you, g, to handle multiple thoughts in one post but you do realize this isn't an Obama program, right?

Okay, the manned program is in trouble...the unmanned program is in trouble...what do we have left but: "Right turn, Clyde"

(A) Perhaps you can show me where in this thread I have mentioned Obama

and

(B) Is this going to be one of those threads where you argue that Obama is a time traveler who went back to 2001 and changed the federal budget? Because here are the figures for those years (middle column is % of federal budget; right column is millions of dollars):


2001 /0.76%/ 15,427
2002 /0.72%/ 15,831
2003 /0.68%/ 16,021
2004 /0.66%/ 15,559
2005 /0.63%/ 16,016
2006 /0.57%/ 16,085
2007 /0.58%/ 15,861
2008 /0.60%/ 17,138

and

(C) Can you get through an entire day without blaming your ingrown toenails on Obama?

The reason I bring up Obama is that he's the president that's leading the charge to seriously cut the manned US program, AND the unmanned US program. I also bring him up to head off any cheerleading you and your ilk might do in showing off this program. He gets no credit for it but, if his record shows anything, he's likely to shut it down as well.

And since your memory is poor, it's not like I haven't criticized previous administrations vis a vis NASA and space research. It's that this one is so much worse. At least over the period you reference, there was some prioritization going that kept NASA and its true core mission alive. With this one, we're left making Muslims feel good about their scientific accomplishments while deciding to quit pursuing our own.

Or can't you remember that I've always said I voted for McCain a few years ago despite knowing that he was the far lesser of two evils I had to choose from?

No, you wouldn't remember that either, would you?

I keep telling you people that if we'll bill a lunar or martian colony as a government housing project, he'll go for it.

FTFY

So you really don't give a shit about what Kepler just discovered? Fine. Then there was no reason for you to respond to my post. There are plenty of other opportunities for you to about Obama, Lucy.

[/haliburton mind translator]

You're kidding, yeah?

Y'know, g? There's a thread about Kepler and its discoveries for just that talk. It's interesting reading. Just because I haven't commented doesn't mean I haven't read.

This thread, including my comments, is right on its topic.

The only person who's got a problem here is you.

What's the yearly cost to keeping Kepler running?

Which was started after (and perhaps because of) my comments here, but I realize "time" is one of those elusive "science" topics that might confuse you.

No idea. One source I checked indicates it cost $600 million to implement.

This thread went a long time discussing the politics of the elimination of NASA's exploration mission. Showing an example of a last gasp is nice in that context, but you shouldn't pretend that it changes the subject here from politics to pure science.

The thread in Tech devoted to exactly the subject should show you how and where you should have brought up the purely scientific discussion you claim you want.

Red Room rulz, y'know?

Ah, so now you're writing your own addendum to the RR rules? Really, Lucy, you need a new hobby.