The day it failed?
I think that comparing most of the people in Washington to men is a little unfair to the latter.
Our Space Journalism Award
As some of you may have heard, I was presented with an award for New Space Journalism on Saturday night. As I said when I accepted it, I thought that it was a grave injustice, so I let the teddy bears, or dogs, or whatever they are accept it instead. The thing that I like about these guys is that they are brutally honest, whether when discussing venal politicians in space districts or space-journalism poseurs. It can sometimes be a problem, though, as you’ll see.
I have to admit, it was a little embarrassing. Don’t kids just say the darndest things?
I’m still looking for all the women I supposedly get. And if any rocket scientists out there can recommend a materials-compatible lubricant for the suggested procedure, I’d appreciate it.
[Update a few minutes later]
For those people worried that she really won’t do any more videos, don’t sweat it. Sometimes the talent can be temperamental, but I’ll calm her down. I’m thinking I’ll buy her a cute little poodle skirt and a pair of pom poms, so she can cheer for SLS. She’ll love it.
Rah.
The Real Story Of The Debt-Limit Fight
It’s not about a Tea-Party Victory, but the death of the socialist left:
Most pundits are crediting this U-turn to the political muscle of the Tea Party and it’s true that President Obama would never have agreed to this deal if the Tea Party Republicans in the House of Representatives hadn’t engaged in the brinkmanship of the past few weeks. But to focus on the Tea Party is to ignore the tectonic political shift that’s taken place, not just in America but across Europe. The majority of citizens in nearly all the world’s most developed countries simply aren’t prepared to tolerate the degree of borrowing required to sustain generous welfare programmes any longer.
Let’s hope, though socialism is driven by innate human traits, primarily laziness and envy (and to be fair, misplaced compassion), so it will always rear its ugly head as long as we remain human.
[Update a while later]
Was this Obama’s “read my lips” moment?
And so we have the best of both worlds politically: a deal that leaves the Tea Party unsatisfied and therefore fired up for the next battles and election cycle, and a demoralized liberal base that can’t come to grips with the fact that socialism is over because we’ve run out of other people’s money…
Is it almost the end of the beginning?
Light Posting
Conference is over, and Patricia and I are driving down the coast highway. We’ll be stopping in Cambria tonight, and then back to LA tomorrow. I might keep an eye on things with my phone, but I won’t be posting much, if at all. Be good in comments.
The Consequences Of Default
…are too horrifying to contemplate, but Iowahawk contemplates them anyway. Avert thine eyes.
Jack Marburger
I agree with Paul Spudis that he was one of the few people in the Bush administration who really understood the purpose of the Vision for Space Exploration, and was able to articulate it. Unfortunately, he either didn’t recognize how much Mike Griffin was perverting that vision, or didn’t have sufficient clout to do anything about it.
Gunwalker
…walking one step closer to the Oval Office.
“Halfway To Anywhere”
Everyone knows the famous quote from Heinlein. Does anyone have an actual attribution/citation for it? Or is it apocryphal?
Next, Tic Tac Toe, The Movie
Yes, apparently Hollywood is running out of ideas.
[Update on Friday morning]
MfK has a good idea in comments: Pong. Maybe even King Pong.
But this could be the next Hollywood blockbuster: Blockbuster, The Movie.
That NASA Subpoena
Some people think that this is such an Important Story that it’s worth making fools of themselves and threadjacking to point it out. I agree with this commenter’s take:
Congress: We demand that you say 2+2 = 5. Oh, and in metric — no, English – no, wait Metric — tonnes.
NASA: Uh… What?
Congress: Well, we just passed a law that says you must say that 2+2=5 metric-English tonnes. You have one month to get back to us.
One month later…
NASA: 2+2=4.
Congress: Stop lying! You have another six months to think this over and come to the correct answer.
Six months later…
NASA: Well, we found that “2+2…+1 = 5 metric-English tonnes.” But, we’re having another guy look at it, to be sure.
Congress: Stop lying! Subpoena!
NASA: ….
I imagine that the teddy bears (or dogs, or whatever they are) will have something to say about this soon.