I guess everyone's in a silly mood today. Thanks to Manuel for this one:
Don't worry, it's not a flash comic of the situation. It's just a transcript of a funny SNL skit.
Look at the cute little rhinovirus!
Sorry, no other updates lately. The world just hasn't been interesting enough. :)
I can't wait for the extended version of The Two Towers to come out! December 17... that's too late for my birthday, but not too late for a Yule present!
So let's see... if FotR is 3 and a half hours, and TTT is 3 hours 45 minutes... who's up for the 12-hour Extended Marathon at my house in 2005?
I'm glad that papers are finally devoting space to hard questions about the Iraqi invasion. I just wish these questions had been asked before the war.
UPDATE: I'm amazed at the carefully-reasoned analyses that have been appearing lately.
...because Bush doesn't rely on it when making decisions.
I know it's a bit harsh, but I'm tired of watching the administration slowly reveal the real answers to questions asked before the war. There are no WMDs. There is no link. There was no imminent danger. There was no reason. These were all presented as weak justification for a war in the works since 1991.
Hmph. Good morning. Maybe some tea will make me less cranky.
Joan Chittister sums up my continued thoughts on our invasion of Iraq in a well-written opinion piece.
Thanks to Deana for sending me the article.
SpaceDaily has an interesting opinion piece about NASA's role in the future of space exploration. Most intriguing is the author himself; he's a scientist who was part of the Apollo program, which gives him real credibility in these matters.
UPDATE: I think this is the leading edge of a group of dire, bitter pronouncements about NASA. Just remember, folks, NASA isn't the only way into space.
Be sure to read the entire article, but my take on it is this: if we're really going to explore the solar system to any useful extent, it will have to be done without (or in spite of) NASA's help. Government funding just doesn't have enough stamina to support real work in space. 30 years of committing to, then cutting back, expensive programs has proven that beyond a doubt. Some NASA projects (like Hubble) have been stunning successes, but no manned program in the last 30 years has even lived up to expectations.
I wish the author had taken his op-ed piece to the next logical conclusion, but I'll do that here instead. The future of humans in space lies in the hands of those who wish to go exploring. Groups like the Mars Society, the Lunar Underground, and the Planetary Society, paired with companies like SpaceDev, Scaled Composites, and Space Adventures, can answer the call of prizes like the X Prize to get folks into space and onto other planets. From there, we'll do what we have for centuries; eke out a living, make lots of mistakes, and live, live, live!