Somehow this stuff stopped exciting me after I went to college.

"This is the next generation of lunar exploration," said Doug Craig, NASA program's manager, as an astronaut took the vehicle for a spin over a broad lava field framed by craggy mountains [in Arizona].

The battery powered rover travels at speeds of up to 6 mph. It is part of a range of systems and equipment being developed by the space agency for its planned return to the moon over the next decade.

NASA hopes to build a permanent manned base on the moon's surface as a prelude to subsequent exploration missions to Mars. ...

The new prototype has a pressurized cab and is fitted out with leather seats and bunks. It would allow a crew of two astronauts to take extended exploration trips for up to two weeks at a time, covering distances of up to 625 miles, Craig said.

Prediction: Western Civilization's next great expansion isn't going to result from scrambling around in the regolith for two weeks at a time and permanent bases on the Moon and Mars aren't going to lead to extraterrestrial colonization.

If humanity ever does leave Earth, it will be in three situations: the first requires that science progresses beyond rocket, electric, and nuclear pulse propulsion. We're never going to be colonizing with present methods of travel. Establishing a base on the Moon isn't going to help with the needed scientific breakthroughs.

The second situation in which humanity leaves Earth is as a different kind of human. Face facts, the human body is not suited for interstellar travel. The solar system is hostile enough, but outside of the protection of the heliosphere interstellar radiation is going to make colonization or even exploration impossible. Again, the research necessary to adapt the human body to extraterrestrial travel, not to mention the colonization of alien biospheres, is not going to be conducted at Moon and Mars bases.

The third situation, of course, will be with both truly fantastic forms of travel and as-yet fictional adaptation to the human person.

*New headline stolen from commenter g, because I can.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 11:08 AM | Comments (88)
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So, Barack Obama's little "video that never made it to a campaign ad" about freezing development of new nuclear weapons and reducing existing arsenals, plus Joe Biden's "we're going to do something that might make the polls go down and won't seem right in the beginning, trust us" speech, might have some defense minded folks a little worried.

At least worried enough to make a statement to the press.

Their main concern is that our current weapons are largely from post WWII Cold War era and Reagan's build up in the 80's. Nuclear weapons can erode, even with general maintenance. It is one of the main issues with Russia's deteriorating nuclear arsenal. Nuclear proliferation is on the rise and the US military proficiency in handling the weapons has been notably slipping.

But, SecDef Gates' concern is that the loss of nuclear weapons is a loss of deterrence in a world with rapidly rising third world countries continually developing or attempting to develop a nuclear arsenal.

Obviously, someone is a little concerned about the re-emergence of the left's Cold War mentality that unilateral disarmament will convince others to do the same or that the US is not a threat so there is no need to develop such weapons or point them at the US. A mentality that is about to be elected into office.

Is anyone else concerned that, even electing a much younger person to office (if we do), it will still be the same issue with the 2004 election: Viet Nam radicals keep coming back to haunt us.

Aren't we done with this yet?

Is anyone else tired of having the Viet Nam syndrome still shoved up our batuskis? Obama doesn't come to his conclusion about nuclear disarmament from a post Cold War euphoria about a new world without real enemies that can seriously confront the remaining super power of the United States. Even though that is a false premise as well.

No, by Obama's own words, he came by his ideology the same way Kerry and the other Democrats that came from the Viet Nam era had: associating with radical sixties "make love, not war", "war crimes of the US" (don't forget "air raiding villages and bombing civilians " from Obama), and "continuous revolution". The variety of revolution in the US supported by and infiltrated by the KGB. The idea that it was US aggression that fostered aggression from other nations as opposed to the natural tensions of competitive interests.

Without giving into hysteria about Obama being a "communist", what continues to reverberate through our politics are these left over tentacles of that long ago time, echoing out through individuals that Barack has associated with, up to and including Bill Ayers.

Are we done with Viet Nam yet?

Please?

Posted by: Open Blog at 10:35 AM | Comments (48)
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I have a new attitude about polls.

Hell with em. I live in Texas. McCain has Texas.

Here's a couple of poll notices, from the commenters,

IBD. To be fair, they've shown 3 for the past three weeks. 2 today.

Zogby daily tracking showing a close today... 10 points yesterday, 5 today?

It's like CrazyWorld.

Question. Will these crazy polls close in the next 9 days? Can I make a couple of bucks on this?

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 11:56 AM | Comments (92)
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heh.

I'm sayin, heh.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 08:59 AM | Comments (33)
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Get your picks in and feel free to trash talk the chumps your team is playing today.

Me? Who cares? It's hockey season and the New York Rangers are off to a great start.

The only thing football has over hockey? This....

Posted by: DrewM at 07:59 AM | Comments (77)
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Posted by: Ace at 10:45 PM | Comments (165)
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The Strib did what? Seriously!?

I guess being an unfunny schlubby bespectacled avatar of hate has its drawbacks. Sorry, Al.

Posted by: Open Blog at 08:38 PM | Comments (82)
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Alright!! Which one of you morons broke the fucking blog?

Speak up! Didn't your daddy tell you that you can't wank and write at the same time?

It's moronically impossible
like a Mainstream Media apostle
stopping from blowing O
long enough to report on Joe

Spewing utter insanity
You think those plugs are just a vanity?
He receives his orders promptly
From Rove to act incompetently.

So stop fucking up the thread
Or the Ace's boot you dread
Will stomp your short, fat fingers
Until the only thing that lingers

Is the stinking, rotten corpse
Of your last inane retorts

Posted by: Open Blog at 07:25 PM | Comments (218)
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You know what the major problem of trying to keep up with all the Media bias is? We would need 24/7, minute by minute updates. In fact, it is so egregious right now, it is almost exhausting to even point it out. Like drowning in an ocean and pointing out that we're surrounded by water.

Your first response is, "No shit?"

Still, some things can be somewhat amusing...*glug*glug*

Analysis: Biden a reliable dumbass, but we're covering for him anyway.

more...

Posted by: Open Blog at 05:53 PM | Comments (117)
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Posted by: Ace at 05:44 PM | Comments (84)
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