General Discussion

LongTomH

(8,636 posts)

31. Here's a great comment by Phil Plait: The Bad Astronomer

Mon Aug 6, 2012, 03:39 PM

Aug 2012

The news these days is filled with polarization, with hate, with fear, with ignorance. But while these feelings are a part of us, and always will be, they neither dominate nor define us. Not if we don’t let them. When we reach, when we explore, when we’re curious – that’s when we’re at our best. We can learn about the world around us, the Universe around us. It doesn’t divide us, or separate us, or create artificial and wholly made-up barriers between us. As we saw on Twitter, at New York Times Square where hundreds of people watched the landing live, and all over the world: science and exploration bind us together. Science makes the world a better place, and it makes us better people.

It’s what we can do, and what we must do.

Read the rest here: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/08/06/mars-orbiter-catches-pic-of-curiosity-on-its-way-down/

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To put the Mars landing in perspective... [View all] Locut0s Aug 2012 OP

Good cost comparison DontTreadOnMe Aug 2012 #1

Good Post dballance Aug 2012 #2

Science, exploration and knowledge are always worth it, IMHO. Warren DeMontague Aug 2012 #3

Republicans Detest Facts, Science and Knowledge. They Love War. They Paid For Their Blood Lust cantbeserious Aug 2012 #4

+10000 Missycim Aug 2012 #7

sadly we all pay barbtries Aug 2012 #8

Bingo. GaYellowDawg Aug 2012 #9

I'd bet that... Plucketeer Aug 2012 #22

I don't wanna talk to a scientist, y'all muther fuckas lyin' and gettin me pissed. progressoid Aug 2012 #12

Because nothing pays like war. Helps Wall St, creates jobs and gives some people pride. raouldukelives Aug 2012 #17

+1, Only 6% of US Scientist consider themselve GOP uponit7771 Aug 2012 #19

I don't think republicans should be allowed to celebrate Curiosity's successful delivery to Mars aka-chmeee Aug 2012 #44

It's another example of gubmint not doing anything right. bulloney Aug 2012 #5

Great post! longship Aug 2012 #6

Thanks, my spelling has always been atrocious, even though my prose is fairly good. nt Locut0s Aug 2012 #48

K&R! So very well said! Rhiannon12866 Aug 2012 #10

K & R. May I share this? mac56 Aug 2012 #11

Excellent post malaise Aug 2012 #13

I'll second that... Jeff In Milwaukee Aug 2012 #14

Sources for figures used in those calculations would be awesome. snot Aug 2012 #15

SOURCES... Locut0s Aug 2012 #46

Thank you! This I can use. snot Aug 2012 #59

When people say we need to go to Mars Johonny Aug 2012 #16

Great point. MatthewStLouis Aug 2012 #18

Good perspective! BrendaBrick Aug 2012 #20

Spending priorities Ron Obvious Aug 2012 #21

I might add one more thing freethought Aug 2012 #23

Squandered. That's the word I think of when I think of the Bush administration. CrispyQ Aug 2012 #24

Imagine what they could do with the climate change issue lunatica Aug 2012 #25

+1 Faygo Kid Aug 2012 #26

Yes. Most of the $2581 per US citizen remaining should have been invested in that, instead of Amonester Aug 2012 #28

Do you think the Curiosity budget, or even NASA's, could do all of that? Posteritatis Aug 2012 #32

Investing in space is a good long term tactic lunatica Aug 2012 #37

+1 mike_c Aug 2012 #47

+1000000000! FailureToCommunicate Aug 2012 #52

What else has the illegal and immoral war in Iraq accomplished? Raster Aug 2012 #27

I have no problem with the $7 per US citizen. RebelOne Aug 2012 #29

Mars mission cost less than Pentagon's A/C budget Nevernose Aug 2012 #30

Here's a great comment by Phil Plait: The Bad Astronomer LongTomH Aug 2012 #31

Hmmm. That *has* to be the worst $2588 I have ever spent (nt) Nye Bevan Aug 2012 #33

HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Aug 2012 #34

Maybe with 370 Mars Rovers we would have found the WMD ashling Aug 2012 #35

Bravo KauaiK Aug 2012 #36

Yeah, All of NASA's budget for all of time is equal to about RoccoR5955 Aug 2012 #38

Comparing apples to oranges magic59 Aug 2012 #39

Can you tell us what NASA's budget is, or how many people it employs, without using Google? (nt) Posteritatis Aug 2012 #41

Can you ol great one? magic59 Aug 2012 #53

Yes, actually, I can. If you think NASA's budget's the problem you need a few clues. (nt) Posteritatis Aug 2012 #56

The fail is so amazingly strong with this one.... (nt) eqfan592 Aug 2012 #43

Yes, NASA 1, the American tax payer 0 magic59 Aug 2012 #54

American tax payer 1 Austerians/know nothings/science haters 0 neverforget Aug 2012 #58

I will be happy to see NASA gutted along with the Pentagon... mike_c Aug 2012 #45

Great Post! burrowowl Aug 2012 #40

Well put ... N_E_1 for Tennis Aug 2012 #42

You're welcome :) nt Locut0s Aug 2012 #49

Excellent post! luv_mykatz Aug 2012 #50

Wiki says Iraq is more like $6,300 per citizen. I'll take space exploration, instead, Alex. DirkGently Aug 2012 #51

Now is not the time to point fingers.....n/t Hotler Aug 2012 #55

Your post covers a lot of ground. jaysunb Aug 2012 #57

Perspective... reeds2012 Aug 2012 #60

+1,000 Rec JohnnyRingo Aug 2012 #61

book marked for money references.... MrsBrady Aug 2012 #62