Our Hopes Once Flew So High
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This past week, as the mud wrestling in the U.S. Congress over the debt ceiling continued and people began to wonder just how deep the slime pit in Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp actually goes, a couple of events seem to have gotten pushed to the back of people’s minds.
The events were (1) the 42nd anniversary of man’s first walk on the moon; and (2) the landing of the final mission of Atlantis, the last space shuttle. The space shuttle’s last hurrah got some passing mentions throughout the week; it seemed the moon-walk anniversary barely got noticed at all.
That’s a shame. Maybe if we were paying a little bit more attention to these two events, they might remind us of just how far our aspirations can go and the great things we can accomplish if we try.
As I watch the old videos of the moon landing today (courtesy of YouTube), I can still remember that sense of wonder as I sat in the darkened living room of the house I grew up in and watched the grainy pictures being beamed back to us from so far away.
I remember the tension in the room as Eagle, the tiny, buglike lunar exploration module, descended toward a lunar surface that appeared to be littered with boulders the size of Volkswagens.
I remember being impressed by the cool, almost drawling way astronaut Buzz Aldrin called out altitude and velocity as mission commander Neil Armstrong guided the vehicle down, while an increasingly tense voice from Mission Control called out their rapidly dwindling fuel supply (“Sixty seconds. ... Thirty seconds. ...”). Even at 7 years old, I knew this was huge.
Then, of course, there was that amazing moment when a ghostly figure dressed in a bulky white space suit gave a little hop off the ladder and set his feet, for the first time, on the surface of another world, saying, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
It wasn’t until years later that I realized that really didn’t make sense. Later I read that Armstrong admitted he’d blown the line, that it should have been, “one small step for [a] man.” Since he’d been up for 24 hours and was, you know, on the freakin’ moon, he can, I think, be forgiven.
The end of the space shuttle program marks the end of another amazing chapter in human history. At its initial roll-out in the late ’70s, the concept — a reusable spaceship that could take off, land on Earth, and then do it all over again — seemed both revolutionary and completely familiar, at least to us science fiction readers.
It was intended to be a cheaper and more practical way to haul humans and cargo into orbit, and it was going to be vital in the construction of the first truly international space station. Not only did the program accomplish that goal of giving us a toehold in space, but it also launched satellites that, among other things, have let us look deeper into the universe than ever before.
One unintended consequence of the shuttle program, however, was that it made space travel seem almost routine. Back in the day, we used to get pulled out of class to watch the “moon shot,” as we used to call it. Networks would cancel other programming to follow the progress of the moon missions.
Eventually, however, shuttle launches and landings got mentioned way down around the 15-minute mark on the network news and “below the fold” in most newspapers — unless something went terribly wrong, as it did on two dark days when shuttles and their entire crews were lost.
Maybe that’s why a lot of the public seems to have lost its fascination with space exploration and its own sense of wonder at the spectacle of men and women riding into the sky atop pillars of fire, on voyages of discovery that even Columbus could never have imagined.
There was a time when we looked to the stars. A time when we tried to accomplish great things, not, as President Kennedy said, because they were easy, but because they were hard. Now, it’s all about what we can’t do, what we can’t afford. Aspiration and the ambition to do great things, to take on seemingly impossible challenges as a nation, have become something to sneer at.
I hope, someday soon, we can start looking up again. We need it. Not just as a country, but as a human race.
Dusty Rhoades lives, writes and practices law in Carthage. Contact him at dustyr@nc.rr.com.
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Comments
DaveyNC 1 year, 9 months ago
Well, apparently we need to re-purpose the NASA budget towards outreach to the Muslim world to make them feel better about themselves. Much more important than technological achievements and advances.
SH59 1 year, 9 months ago
What are you? Psychotic? Where the hell did that come from?
dustyrhoades 1 year, 9 months ago
Davey, like most wingnuts, had taken one small part of a comment from the NASA director and has blown it completely out of all proportion. It's impossible to have rational conversations with people who do that.
DaveyNC 1 year, 9 months ago
I wouldn't call direct instructions from the President inconsequential.
MikeNC 1 year, 9 months ago
Just google it and it will take you to many sources...here are Mr. Boldens own words. They do not seem to be a "small part of a comment" from the NASA director nor has it been blown out of proportion as you have been led to believe. I agree however...It is very hard to have rational conversations with people who constantly refute the reality of things that have been actually said or done; and claim them to be nonconsequential or meaningless....Mike NOTE...Notice at what point the NASA director chooses his words of "Perhaps foremost" while punctuating what his new mission priorities shall be.
"Mr Bolden said: "When I became the Nasa administrator, he [Mr Obama] charged me with three things.
"One, he wanted me to help reinspire children to want to get into science and math; he wanted me to expand our international relationships; and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering."
He added: "It is a matter of trying to reach out and get the best of all worlds, if you will, and there is much to be gained by drawing in the contributions that are possible from the Muslim [nations]."
DaveyNC 1 year, 9 months ago
Dude/Dudette, you need to read more: http://goo.gl/mGH51
sgmartin 1 year, 9 months ago
Great article DR as always. Thanks for the memories of days of awe and wonder
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
Nice article, Dusty. Like you, my sense of awe and pride in the accomplishments of our country were at their highest during these times.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 9 months ago
Thank you, sgmartin and JER.
It's sad that some people can't see that and have to try and make the discussion all about their pet hatreds.
teufelhunden 1 year, 9 months ago
Isn't that what you normally do? Come on man!
Anyway...
I too enjoyed this piece, plain and simple...
golflady 1 year, 9 months ago
Now There Are Two I'm waiting for teufelhunden's comment on the new green recycling containers Pinehurst distributed today. It can't beat his story about his aunt falling into one. I'll need to build a shed beside the house to hold these monsters as they both won't fit in our two car garage. Feel sorry for elderly folks who have to wrestle with these containers.
honesty2 1 year, 9 months ago
dr, I enjoyed this article. Our space program has been a symbol of national pride and accomplishment and heralded breakthroughs in technology/medicine/communications and many other areas which help us in our everyday lives here on earth. I will have to say, however, that I do not find DaveyNC's comment out of line. haven't you found it strange that a NASA goal would be muslim outreach?
Roorke 1 year, 9 months ago
I find this administration's NASA goal of muslim outreach no more stranger than the fact that NASA'S control of the international spacestation is at the mercy of the former Soviet Union. What could the US do now if the Russians just threw the Americans off and made the space station a floating above the Earth missle launcher?
OldPilot 1 year, 9 months ago
Sad to denigrate and dismiss the entire record of NASA achievments based on one comment. Orbital flight, the moon missions, and the shuttle program & space station were huge engineering feats and the spinoff technology of immense value. We need to keep going, get out of low earth orbit, head for Mars, and one day develop a propulsion system that will take us further. Hope I live to see it happen!
MikeNC 1 year, 9 months ago
I agree with most of what you say, but nobody is dismissing all the great NASA achievements. Much of DR's article is spot on. It is sad to see such a vehicle as the shuttle moth balled without a replacement.
One thing we will see in the near future is our tax dollars paying Russia 62.7 million dollars per astronaut seat to shuttle our astronauts to the space station. That is....I don't have quite the words to describe just what that is....Mike
emb6683 1 year, 9 months ago
I saw a more recent estimate: the Russians will fly our astronauts to the space station at no cost.
They will charge us $62.7M to bring them home.
DaveyNC 1 year, 9 months ago
Not denigrating NASA's achievements at all. Only a willful misreading of my comment could lead you to say so. In fact, I would much rather see those achievements expanded, but apparently our Dear Leader has other priorities, as noted in his instructions to the head of NASA.
HillTopper 1 year, 9 months ago
Good times and even better memories. Once the government started paying $150 for a $10 hammer, NASA was doomed. The costs spiraled out of control. The number of people required to support the space shuttle program is absolutely ridiculous. We live in a different America today folks. Gotta pay 20 people to do a one person job. That's our government ... Republican and Democrats to blame. Absolutely and totally out of control.
Cosmo4slice 1 year, 9 months ago
What in the wide Wild World of Sports are ya'll yapping about. You really think that America don't have a replacement for the Shuttle on the drawing board or stashed somewere. I'm not a "Conspiracy Theorist", thinkind that Elvis, Little Green Men from Roswell & other things that go bump in the night, are hidden at Area 51. The US has more Black Projects, than Carters has Liver Pills. I bet the next spaceship rolled out will knock your sock off. If they need the shuttle again, for any reason, they will grab one out of retirement, spruce her up and fly her again, just like they did with the SR-71 Blackbird. Also I don't think we will have much problem out of Russia, they need money worse than we do. So what if it cost 62.7 million bucks. How much per Astronaut did it cost to fly the Shuttle???? Have Faith, the US will be going to the Stars oneday. What we thought was fiction 50 yars ago, is now reality. Things we think are fiction now will become a reality in the future.
moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago
What spinoff technology'engineering did our space program produce that has helped us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels? Or alleviate poverty? Or make clean water? Or feed the hungry? Dusty, you wrote an excellent piece. I really remember those days so well too because they were so special. Astronauts were like gods. Teachers were respected. When the tv was wheeled in for us to watch a lift-off, it was well, magical. No more. It became mundane and unspecial. In my early tv days I watched "The Outer Limits", "Lost in Space", and 'Star Trek". So did most of the youth back then and it seemed that so many of earth's "ills" were going to be solved by space exploration. It didn't happen. Why?, I of course do not know. A lot of money was spent on NASA and what do we have that we didn't have before that makes a difference to our society. We are in such a disconect today with so many things, I agree. The stars held promise back then. Now, the stars have also dimmed their lights.
Cosmo4slice 1 year, 9 months ago
Oh I can think of a few.
•Tang •Resoration of ancient documents •Fighting Forest Fires •Firefighting Equipment
•Composite Materials (Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, Ect) •Lightning Protection •Windshear Prediction • Aircraft Collision Avoidance •"Cool" Laser Heart Surgery •Space Telescope Looks for Cancer •Body Imaging •New Arms and Legs •Infrared Thermometer •Light emitting diodes (LED) •Composite Forceps •Pill-Sized Transmitter •Chromosome Analysis •Digital Mammography •Camera on a Chip •Cordless Power Tools and Appliances •Smoke Detector •Clean Water for the Home •Home Insulation
HillTopper 1 year, 9 months ago
moonchild7 ... you're depressing. Cosmo4slice ... paying the Russians is a STEAL! I read recently that the shuttle was suppose to cost us about 30 million a mission by now. Didn't happen. It's in the billions ... PER MISSION! and I don't think we have squat up our sleeves. Sad.
HillTopper 1 year, 9 months ago
By the way ... great article Dusty. FYI ... the ONLY day I ever worked in tobacco and anyone that ever has knows the job starts EARLY, is HOT and not a lot of fun ... was the morning after man first walked on the moon. I had about an hour sleep before the truck pulled in my driveway to take me to work. Horrible day. I had quit my summer job at the city swimming pool a few days before because I thought, being the youngest I was being treated unfair. I went back down there after the awful tobacco experience and "begged" for my job back ... which I got.. I think I smiled the whole rest of the summer. I mean really, how hard is it for a 15 year old kid to sit in a chair and take up admission money to a swimming pool from people all day. Tons of pretty girls. To this day ... BEST JOB I EVER HAD!
HillTopper 1 year, 9 months ago
Good job Cosmo4slice! Wonder what moonchild actually does about anything or than just complain.
moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago
I'm depressing? I don't think so, I just became a REALIST about our world and society. How many of you went to the 1963/64 World's Fair in NYC? Well, My parents took me twice and it was so fantastic, futuristic, happy, fun, clean, positive, and thrilling. We saw the first man and jet pack take off and fly around. The "City of the FUTURE" with no electric wires or cables along the streets. Energy was going to be clean and cheap. Cars could run on perfume and whiskey. I was enthralled by it all and so looking forward to the future. I like to see progress and problems solved. I don't like continued arguments that go no where and accomplish nothing. whatever they do with NASA money from now on I do hope they plan to solve more problems in the world. Cosmo4slice, how many of those things could have actually been discovered on earth?
honesty2 1 year, 9 months ago
Here are some more: Solar energy, cooling systems, food systems, biochemical analysis, imaging and scanning techniques, communication networks, satellites, sensors/transmittors, remote medical monitoring. So, yeah, NASA has done some GREAT things for us here on earth! Some of the best and brightest scientists in the word.
honesty2 1 year, 9 months ago
oops- "world"
Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
Cosmo4slice 1 year, 9 months ago
It's not where they were discovered, but why they where discovered. The need to solve problems and make space flight.more safe and economical. Too many people live in the past. I would much rather my money go to NASA, than some "Third World Country", that don't even want to help themselves and only want handouts. The world need the talents of these excellent scientist doing exactly what their doing solving problems. Man has a built in requirement to explore. At one time people thought the world was flat, until someone went exploring and fiqured out it was round. Space travel was pure fantasy 100 years ago.
buddysmith 1 year, 9 months ago
i saw a news piece a short while ago, dont remember the channel, but it was a space vehicle that needed no booster rockets. it was shaped like a small plane. wish i could remember the news piece. it is suppose to cost millions less to operate once it is available. heaven knows though what it is costing to develop!
Bflat 1 year, 9 months ago
MC7, I went to World's fair in 63/64 and to Expo 67 in Montreal.
carlj1161 1 year, 9 months ago
Somewhere along the line this country has lost its vision. As a country, we have elected representatives who care little about the people and more about their self interests, Democrats and Republicans alike. NASA was a source of pride for the country, something we could hold up and say we accomplished something. But now we can not get out of our own way, let alone have something to have pride in. Now it appears this country, lead by Congress, is stuck in a bad episode of "Jerry Springer" or "Maury Povitch." We have become the joke of the international community. I just hope the American people have enough sense and guts to stand up and say enough, before this country destroys itself. When we get leaders who are willing to compromise, willing to listen, and willing to have a broad vision maybe we can start moving forward again.
moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago
If NASA helped so much with SOLAR ENERGY why doesn't every home and business each have at least a SOLAR HOT WATER HEATER by now? I priced one about 2 yrs ago at a "GREEN ENERGY FAIR" in CT. They were $5000.00 and when I asked the salesperson where it was made she took her time but finally told me in the Phillipines. I asked her why they weren't made here in the US but she had no answer. So, more than likely they cost a $100.00 to be made overseas and then sold here for a huge profit. Our Space Programs with the huge amount of money that they cost should have produced and accomplished more than they did. There was so much hope and promise. Where did it go?
freedomisdaonlyway 1 year, 9 months ago
Beautifully said. If NASA invented something, why does it cost money and people have to, like, buy it? That just doesn't make sense.
moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago
I was only trying to answer honesty2 about NASA and the great things that it has done for us. The Space Shuttle Program has cost us $200 BILLION. I was wondering why then if they discovered better ways to help make/produce solar energy(in any manner), American companies weren't knowledgeble about said information where say, Hot Water Heaters could be produced ENMASS here in the US for about the cost of conventional heaters. $100.00-$300.00? Couldn't one of the old auto manufacturing plants be re-tooled to make them now? Why is it that I have tried to find and purchase one now for almost 30 yrs and CAN'T? I don't have $5000.00 to pay for an item that shouldn't cost more than $300.00.
MikeNC 1 year, 9 months ago
Why blame NASA on solar energy. There has been an energy commission since 1979 with the mission statement..."To get us off the dependancy of foreign oil" or words of that same effect. Tax payers have poured trillions of dollars into this government boondoggle; and where has it gotten us? They supposedly studied wind, solar, nuclear and whatever other types of green energy which are out there. If and when we ever get such a green solution to affordable and recyclable energy; it will most likely come from private enterprise, not goverment. And if the poor guy who discovers it, does so during this administration, and makes unimaginable wealth overnight; he will be villafied as the filthy rich and demanded to give up his wealth and spread it to others more deserving...Mike
TOYTIME 1 year, 9 months ago
Goodnight john_boy!
MikeNC 1 year, 9 months ago
The truth never gets old or wrong, while all you can say or add here equals nothing....Mike
moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago
There are already FILTHY RICH owners of Solar Energy Co.'s who probably get every tax break imaginable. The town in CT where the Green Energy Fair was that I went to has a median income of $150,000 and a median house value of $975,000. I am responding to the comment that seemed to say that NASA has helped to make solar energy better(as in more affordable? more efficient? Since it isn't?). I was told that if I installed the entire system(they wouldn't tell me how much)that I could get a $10,000 energy credit. This is NOT going to help America one bit. when will this stop? Gotta go and email my Senator Hagen about the Republican lies they just spouted out after President Obama's speech.
honesty2 1 year, 9 months ago
First, I simply listed solar energy as something in which NASA assisted development. Why are you going all ballistic (and how exactly does the town's median house value coorelate with one company's earnings? And surely you recall that the pres. gave lots of stimulus money to solar- didn't quite work). Second, how do you know solar energy is not better? I say it is better- not perfect, but better ( will never be the total answer to our energy problems though). Also, Google is your friend. You should try it sometime. Here are two examples found in about 2 minutes time. http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/news/nasa-maps-reveal-solar-intensity-levels-around-the-globe/ http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/nasa-inventions/nasa-improve-solar-energy1.htm Lastly, patience is a virtue. Scientific answers are not usually found overnight. .
moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago
If every household had at least a solar hot water heater(that NASA perfected?)then there would be a massive improvements in our energy problems. Cars and trucks are NOT the major users of energy but rather homes and buildings. I mentioned the average income and home value in my statement because these are/were the people who could most afford the big "expensive" systems and several there were applying for estimates for their homes. I just needed/wanted something simplier, since there are more people out there like me and NOT them. We are trying to solve a lot of our problems with totally "out-of-this-world" experiments. NASA to me was such a great thing when I was young but I grew more and more disappointed after each flight that seemed to come back from the "outer-limits" with less and less. And of course after losing astronauts it was even worse. Can anyone think in simple terms anymore and make sense instead of nonsense?
honesty2 1 year, 9 months ago
Thank you for the explanation. Your above post was more of a rant and did not explain what you have here in your last post. It would be very helpful if you would continue to explain things in this last manner without the negativity. Now, if some of those "rich" people in CT were at that solar fair trying to get info to install on their houses, why would you be railing against them? Finally, I'm sure many of us did not follow the last shuttle flights as closely (as they became more common), and therefore, we don't know what kinds of experiments they may have been working on (though most of the advances probably came from on the ground but in preparation for the space flights). Everyone have a nice day.
moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago
The rant against the wealthy/rich is usually not just about all the things that they do, but the things that they don't do. In CT the family members who I have there are not the ultra rich and wealthy. One of them is a millionaire but not a bizillionare and they lost half of their wealth in the 2008 crash(they budget now). My sister and her families friends consist mostly of blue collar workers, contractors, landscapers, truck drivers, policemen, store clerks, van drivers, hairdressers, etc.They know and see so much of what is going on in these homes and I just retell some of their observations. Then when I visit I usually get to see it first hand but to a lesser degree. So many of the homes are absolutely gorgeous mansions yet there are few solar energy panels on the roofs. They are the ones who could most afford them but aren't buying them and installing them. Why not? They could be the EXAMPLE to follow when it comes to our energy needs...and those mansions use a lot of energy. Maybe some of that NASA $$$$$ could go to the Energy Dept.
TOYTIME 1 year, 9 months ago
Heard this the other day... What do the economy and the space shuttle have in common?...
They both soared under Reagan and ended under Obama.
(crickets chirping)
honesty2 1 year, 9 months ago
Good one.
Cosmo4slice 1 year, 9 months ago
Moonchild, If everytimg is wrong in the US, why don't you immigrate to some other country. Constatly berating the wealthy for what they do with "THEIR MONEY". Do people of less wealth than you tell you what you should do with your money. Nuclear Energy is cheap & clean, but so many people cry foul, because they dont want a Nuke plant near them. Before you go yapping about the Nuclear plant in Japan, when was the last time they had a Tsunami in the United States. Sharon Harris has been pumping out power since 1987. I don't see the residents of New Hill glowing in the dark. If one person is saved by medical breakthroughs made by NASA, it's worth ever cent spent on it. Why the Solar Panels were not made in the US, simple economics. A 1000.00 per week Union employee vs. $100.00 week Phillipino, do the math. If it was made in the US it would cost 10 times as much.
TOYTIME 1 year, 9 months ago
Extreme liberals are always generous with other peoples money... helps their conscience.
freedomisdaonlyway 1 year, 9 months ago
Yeah! Extreme liberals don't pay taxes.
Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago
Extreme liberals usually lack income and don't pay taxes, therefore they want the wealthy wingnuts to pay for them.
TOYTIME 1 year, 9 months ago
My point was while liberals always seem to be the ones to champion the down-trodden, their charitable giving is substantially less than conservatives. And on balance the median income for of liberals is higher than conservatives.
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2682730&page=1
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
Notice you are all having a liberal hate fest here so I thought I would crash your Party. As long as we're making stuff up, I say that liberals are better looking than conservatives, have nicer smiles, are taller, wear their clothes better, have better manners, are safer drivers, love their moms more and have superior intellect. Liberals give less to charity because they are out there in the streets actually trying to do something. Conservatives, on the other hand, hold $1000.00 a plate fundraisers and toast each other with champagne for caring about the little people.
Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago
Jer, when it comes to looks I hope you're not talking about conservative women vs liberal women are you?
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
Let me just ask this: If you just had a $200.00 dinner and a nice night out with someone you are dating for the first time, would you want her to be "conservative" or "liberal"?
Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago
Momma always said date the liberals for fun, but marry a conservative for a wholesome American upbringing to care for your offspring.
TOYTIME 1 year, 9 months ago
How did you know, this isn't the first time you crashed our party is it? You forgot one though... we don't like kittens and other small defensless animals.
TOYTIME 1 year, 9 months ago
JER, Go to the link in my post that you responded to and try reading it. It's from ABC News, then come back and tell me it's made up. You'll only prove that liberals are selfish and liars on top of that.
honesty2 1 year, 9 months ago
Pretty subjective there, and I would beg to differ on more than a few of those issues.
Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago
Jer - I'll give you that the Libs have superior intellect, but lack wisdom to use it properly. I would say that the libs have more of a hatefest, mostly because the conservatives have and the libs have not - human nature. And who doesn't love champagne?
TOYTIME 1 year, 9 months ago
"The problem with liberals is that they know so much, that isn't so."...Ronald Wilson Reagan
irkim13 1 year, 9 months ago
And how much were the plates at Obama's fundraisers?
Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago
They were paper plates & plastic utensils.
irkim13 1 year, 9 months ago
"Liberals give less to charity because they are out there in the streets actually trying to do something." JER What exactly are liberals trying to do, other than tell others what to do with their money.
honesty2 1 year, 9 months ago
protesting
moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago
Liberals study The ARTS&HUMANITIES while the Conservatives study Math and Brain Washing. When you have less $$$$$$ to give(as many liberals do)then you have to give of yourself. And they give for the sake of giving not for the next tax deduction.
TOYTIME 1 year, 9 months ago
No moonchildish, I graduated from a fairly conservative university and brain washing was not a required course, only an elective. Truth, I know hurts, but the fact is you democrats just don't give of yourselves enough! You need to be compelled by force to pay more taxes to even the field with conservetives who give more of their money.
honesty2 1 year, 9 months ago
So, if conservatives are the ones studying math/science, are you admitting they are smarter?
Cosmo4slice 1 year, 9 months ago
Yep, there is a real job market for "11th Century Mongolian Art" Majors. While people whom study math can become Engineers & Scientist, and actually build something or discover something that helps mankind. My mind has not been Brainwashed in at least 2 weeks, I feel rejected.
irkim13 1 year, 9 months ago
WOW MC7 you have proof conservatives give for tax deduction?
TOYTIME 1 year, 9 months ago
By the way, Dusty I enjoyed very much your article. Well done.
irkim13 1 year, 9 months ago
Yes, I agree TOYTIME I too enjoyed the article thanks Dusty.
Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago
And a programming side note Through The Wormhole is on tonight 10pm http://science.discovery.com/tv/through-the-wormhole/
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
Glad I could help move the discussion along. We even have all these hard core conservatives saying nice things abaout Dusty.
TOYTIME 1 year, 9 months ago
Thanks for shephearding us JER I knew your intentions were noble. Dustys' articles are almost always a good read. I also watch MSNBC almost every night and I visit the democraticunderground.com sight daily. All reaffirm my beliefs.
Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago
JER, I’m sure Dusty is glad you’re on his team along with MC7. Just remind Dusty that it was your witty responses to the conservatives that led this discussion to harmonic conclusion. The three of you should meet at the nearest post office and promulgate to the intellectually inferior conservatives that big government is more fiscally responsible than those dirty rich people. Then you guys can take your comedy tour I mean liberal tour on the road….. You know like GM, GE, UAW and maybe land a time slot on Air America.
TOYTIME 1 year, 9 months ago
When you say Air America you do mean MSNBC right?
Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago
Sorry you're correct MSNBC
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=326585
irkim13 1 year, 9 months ago
It is not the first time JER, from multiple sources.
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
????
golflady 1 year, 9 months ago
If you think the heat is depressing read what every American needs to know about our elected representatives and how they are "suffering" in this economy. Term limits folks!! http://governmentgonewild.org/thelist
moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago
No honesty2, studying math and science only means that a person is "Technically" smart. Studying the ARTS&HUMANITIES means a person is UNIVERSALLY smart. Scientists like to deconstruct everything down to the smallest molecule. LIBERAL ARTISTS like to learn and teach others in the wholeness of their being. Term limits are called being smart enough NOT to VOTE jerks into office in the first place and to vote them out when they don't do their jobs. Looks like a lot of those TEAPOTS in Congress will be losing some of their steam in 2012. They've shown how little they know or care about humanity, life and compassion.
Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago
Yes, let's vote out the Teapots who had nothing to do with Bush's debt and have taken a stand to cut spending, but leave the Congressmen & Senators that have been in office for the last 10+ years - that makes total sense.