Thomas James has another Carnival of the Space Moonbats.

[Update in the afternoon]

Oh, this is too weird. One of the people that Thomas links to is Elaine Supkis, but in a posting at his blog she calls herself Elaine Meinel (her maiden name, apparently). As an old L-5er, this made my antenna go up.

A little googling reveals something that I didn't know (assuming it's true). She's Carolyn Meinel's sister. I didn't know Carolyn had a sister. I also didn't know that Aden worked with the CIA.

Has Gagnon ever espoused exactly how he thinks NASA should supply power to probes that go past the ateroid belt? How was NASA supposed to supply power to Pluto Express? Were they supposed to build a solar power system over a square kilometer in size?

He just might be a mole for Boeing and Lockmart, he represents the ant-nuke side so hillariously you can't ever take them seriously.

If the luddite/anti-global/anti-everything-but-free range-bunnies crowd was smart, they'd approve of all of us going to the stars soonest. Regardless of the power source(s) needed.

Then they could stay behind and hug the trees and little bunnies and return Gaia to her pristine beauty.

Gagnon does not really reply to critics, but I believe his argument would be that if there is no other means of providing power to deep space spacecraft, then they should not fly at all until a safer technology is developed, no matter how long that takes. He does not think that the priority they have is greater than the risk they pose. And this is not that unusual a position for the left. After all, many people on the left believe that spacecraft are not more important than social services and their money should be spent on education and welfare programs. So for them it is not how "best" to do these things, but to not do them because they are unimportant.

You are right that Gagnon is so goofy that he does more to discredit his side than he does good. Clearly he has no real influence, whereas a more mainstream environmental or peace group could have influence. (It is worth noting that the Federation of American Scientists, for instance, never opposed nuclear power for planetary exploration.)

However, he is preaching to the converted, and he will simply reaffirm beliefs that they already have, even if his arguments are illogical, based on inaccurate information, or even inconsistent. But this is not that different from any partisan debate; plenty of people on the right will believe nonsensical things because they reaffirm their inherent beliefs.

I think that James is wrong about Elaine Supkis. After looking over her blog entries, I get the impression that she is crazy like a fox. Much of her stuff appears to be tongue in cheek and I suspect that she writes crazy things in order to get a rise out of her readers. Some of her stuff is a little too clever to be the rantings of a moonbat.

No, I think she's quite serious, Frank.

"The Permian Extinction was like this, I fear...."

You know, over the years I have had a hyperbole kill switch inadvertently installed in my brain.

One such statement as this and I find myself incapible of debating any other point they may have. Even if it is slightly valid, I tend to see everything issued from their orafice under the color of idiocy and dismiss it out of hand.

Perhaps that is why I have zero worries of global warming destroying the environemnt when its most ardent supporters are raving, dirt eating morons.

Keep reading - Elaine is a Renaissance Woman. She's done it all. If she hasn't done it her father has. Just ask her.

"You know, over the years I have had a hyperbole kill switch inadvertently installed in my brain."

"Perhaps that is why I have zero worries of global warming destroying the environemnt when its most ardent supporters are raving, dirt eating morons."

Are you deliberately trying for irony here?

Well... now we know, it wasn't a 'hunting accident.' He was actually shooting at LGM! It's another Bush coverup. ;-)

"Are you deliberately trying for irony here?"

I am sorry Frank, I could not understand you. Perhaps if you tried talking without the dirt in your mouth.

Now Frank, Thats Irony!

Thanks for that link -- I think. I'm still gobsmacked. Kucinich's space policy was by far the sanest thing linked to? Brrrrrr.

-- Chris[topher] Chittleborough, a regular reader from rural Australia

Woops, that was grossly unfair to Francisco Miraval. Apologies. Blame my gobsmacked state. (And I should explain that "gobsmacked" is British/Australian slang for dumbfounded.)

Hahaha. Love this.

It is very sad, watching people walk the plank when they think they are crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. Entertaining my darker nature, the side that is easily amused by human folly.

Alas, you guys are taking us ALL down this stupid plank and are plunking us down in to the sea of Fire. Thanks a lot.