Politics & News LC thread - Vivek and John Candy were right

[goofy]

For random stuff that probably isn’t worthy of its own thread. I’ll open with this interesting blog post, arguing that we shouldn’t go to Mars (if bobman makes it over here, this sounds like his jam):

Why Not Mars (Idle Words)

The buildup to Mars would not look like Apollo, but a long series of ISS-like flights to nowhere. If your main complaint about the International Space Station is that it’s too exciting and has a distracting view of Earth out the window, then you’ll love watching ISS Jr. drift around doing bone studies in deep space. But if you think rockets, adventure, exploration, and discovery are more fun than counting tumors in mice, then the slow and timorous Mars program will only break your heart.

Sticking a flag in the Martian dust would cost something north of half a trillion dollars [1], with no realistic prospect of landing before 2050 [2]. To borrow a quote from John Young, keeping such a program funded through fifteen consecutive Congresses would require a series “of continuous miracles, interspersed with acts of God”. [3] Like the Space Shuttle and Space Station before it, the Mars program would exist in a state of permanent redesign by budget committee until any logic or sense in the original proposal had been wrung out of it.

As for that space station, the jewel of human spaceflight, it exists in a state of nearly perfect teological closure, its only purpose being to teach its creators how to build future spacecraft like it. The ISS crew spend most of their time fixing the machinery that keeps them alive, and when they have a free moment for science, they tend to study the effect of space on themselves. At 22 years old [12], the ISS is still as dependent on fresh meals and clean laundry sent from home as the most feckless grad student.

But the fact that a Mars landing stopped making sense has not had the slightest impact on NASA’s plan to go there in a rocket-propelled terrarium. Though facts may change, and technology may change, one thing will always remain the same—we’re going to Mars, 1950’s style.

It is difficult to get NASA leadership to explain the purpose of this mission, not because they’re obdurate, but because they seem genuinely confused by the question. We’ve already been to the Moon, and Mars comes after the Moon. What part of that is not clear? The idea that a human landing might be in tension with other forms of exploration, or that the might need to make a case for the mission, does not enter into their thinking.

It’s quite long, this is all from the first ~third of it, but there’s some really interesting stuff here about recent discoveries about life on earth and why it means we shouldn’t send anything but robots to other planets.

[commonWealth]

As a wise man once said, “It’s what’s next.”

[chuckleslovakian]

So former Kentucky Governer Matt Bevin tweeted for the first time today (well yesterday now) for the first time since September

Matt Bevin

Oh no he is filing for governor…

Matt Bevin

So the significance of this is it was the last day to file to run for governor. He just did a news conference that said nothing before leaving. Solid troll job.

Dude was such a horrendous governor it was a solid relief it was a troll job

[goofy]

Why would someone even do that? Missing the attention of being in the spotlight?

[boredsocial]

Matt Bevin couldn’t win a GOP primary in 2023. That guy was so unpopular he lost the general in KY lol.

[BasicBlue]

I wasn’t sure where else to park this, but I think It’s worth reiterating that not only are we dealing with some incredibly bigoted people out in the world, but these also may be some or the dumbest motherfuckers around. The correlation seems strong. https://twitter.com/donlew87/status/1611410228553072641?s=46&t=8L0l-8rNcsz7SEudTxZ1uA

[goofy]

If you put the tweet on its own line (same with links, usually) its content will be embedded:

Don Lewis

[Jman220]

[commonWealth]

[skydiver8]

Not sure if DeSantis stuff should go in its own thread, but I’m excited to complete this survey!

[Jman220]

Interesting that Desantis is targetting people who live in the California area.

[goofy]

A story in 3 parts:

Katy Tur

Alien Truther Wildwest

John Wayne Ferguson

[LouisCyphre]

At first I read it as „Ass assault w/ deadly weapon“

[DrChesspain]

Ditto LOL

[commonWealth]

I’d like Ted Cruz to chug a bottle of champagne with me, can I throw it at him?

[VoteForSocialists]

you can in texas

[Jman220]

:vince1:

[Surf]

@LouisCyphre

At first I read it as „Ass assault w/ deadly weapon“

That was the only way I read it and was thinking must be an abbreviation for something lol

[SensiblePerson]

“Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon” seems a little… ambitious to me? I’m not a lawyer, but it seems like they would have had a better chance of the grand jury returning an indictment for a lesser charge?

[Jman220]

It’s really hard to get no-billed as a prosecutor. Unless you are trying to get no-billed. That happens occasionally. I wonder if that prosecutor was trying to get no-billed.