NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory had its annual Open House event this past weekend. It was gratifying to see how packed it was – that so many people were inspired by science to head out to the West Coast, La Cañada Flintridge campus several miles north of Hollywood on a weekend. However, as I navigated the crowds and looked at the gadgets on display, it struck me how sad it was that now the Shuttle program is reduced to a terrestrial tourist attraction, our government has all but abandoned the space race.
There were a lot of satellites, robots and assorted landers on display, but without people it has all the excitement of sending a Kenwood Chef into space.
Like the Kenwood Chef, I’m sure these machines can multi-task and do lots of really cool things, but sending them into space isn’t going to inspire humanity like the Apollo and Shuttle missions did.
Is it just me, or does this blinged out, gold foil covered satellite look like it has eyes, a nose, and a silly hat? At least we’re sending something with a face into space!
Q: Why did the rover cross the road? A: Because NASA doesn’t have the funds to send it into space.
If science rocks your world, you might like to join SG’s Mad Scientists group. And if reaching for the stars is more you thing, check out our Space and Time group.
WHY DO YOU LOVE IT?: I love my cat, I love your cat, I love cats!!!! This group is a great place to talk to like minded kitty lovers and show off your feline kids. Not only are there cute pictures to swoon over daily, it’s really a great place for support from people who feel the same about their animals as you. When my kitty died I posted about it and everyone was really comforting.
DISCUSSION TIP: As long as you are all cat loving not much can go wrong. Don’t be asking for any diagnosis on your kitties health problems though – go to the vet for that.
BEST RANDOM QUOTE: “Why are you suddenly being so nice? Am I dying? Are you dying? Is one of us dying? …oh God, you finally planted the bomb that’s going to kill us both didn’t you?” from “Things you never thought you’d say but ended up saying to your cats.” That thread really makes me giggle.
MOST HEATED DISCUSSION THREAD: The group is pretty warm and fuzzy, unless there is mention of cruelty or mistreatment of cats in any way, and then understandably things get heated. I think the last one was “Declawing, just no. ”
WHO’S WELCOME TO JOIN?: Anyone with a fondness for felines.
“Well I’m crazy but a different kind of crazy.”
– Nick Nolte
Nick Nolte said it himself, he’s crazy and I would tend to believe the man. Nolte is easily one of the best actors in the world but he has never gotten an Academy Award and his work is often overlooked because he does mostly independent films now. His latest flick is The Beautiful Country, an amazing film about a half Vietnamese half American who leaves his native country to try and find his father in America.
