The Mars Rover Made It!

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
41

[quote]orion wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Cortes wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
This is the kinda stuff I do not mind spending tax dollars on.[/quote]

Last place we need to spend money.[/quote]

Totally disagree. [/quote]

Why?[/quote]

Because it’s space, bitch. The final frontier.

No, but seriously, I agree with Cortes. 2.5 billion dollars is a pittance in the grand scheme of things.[/quote]

I’m not saying it isn’t, but right now I think the United States needs some Rice and Beans, instead of that $5 Burger.
[/quote]

Horseshit. America needs to take back its crown.

You motherfuckers were the first on the moon, if someone beats you to Mars you aren’t going to hear the end of it.

You’re concerned about money? I’m sure you can trim your military budget back that 2.5 billion and not even miss it.

You could stop giving Churches tax exempt status and use that money. That kind of money could fund several of these Mars trips a year.[/quote]

Ah, debates on how to spend other peoples money.

Always refreshing. [/quote]

Could always ban potato chips and use the 7 billion per year the US would save from that.

43

And don’t you forget it.

45

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Cortes wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
This is the kinda stuff I do not mind spending tax dollars on.[/quote]

Last place we need to spend money.[/quote]

Totally disagree. [/quote]

Why?[/quote]

Because it’s space, bitch. The final frontier.

No, but seriously, I agree with Cortes. 2.5 billion dollars is a pittance in the grand scheme of things.[/quote]

I’m not saying it isn’t, but right now I think the United States needs some Rice and Beans, instead of that $5 Burger.
[/quote]

Horseshit. America needs to take back its crown.

You motherfuckers were the first on the moon, if someone beats you to Mars you aren’t going to hear the end of it.

You’re concerned about money? I’m sure you can trim your military budget back that 2.5 billion and not even miss it.

You could stop giving Churches tax exempt status and use that money. That kind of money could fund several of these Mars trips a year.[/quote]

Of course. Should have known you’d bring up Christianity.

46

[quote]Chushin wrote:

[quote]orion wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Cortes wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
This is the kinda stuff I do not mind spending tax dollars on.[/quote]

Last place we need to spend money.[/quote]

Totally disagree. [/quote]

Why?[/quote]

Because it’s space, bitch. The final frontier.

No, but seriously, I agree with Cortes. 2.5 billion dollars is a pittance in the grand scheme of things.[/quote]

I’m not saying it isn’t, but right now I think the United States needs some Rice and Beans, instead of that $5 Burger.
[/quote]

Horseshit. America needs to take back its crown.

You motherfuckers were the first on the moon, if someone beats you to Mars you aren’t going to hear the end of it.

You’re concerned about money? I’m sure you can trim your military budget back that 2.5 billion and not even miss it.

You could stop giving Churches tax exempt status and use that money. That kind of money could fund several of these Mars trips a year.[/quote]

Ah, debates on how to spend other peoples money.

Always refreshing. [/quote]

X2

Though I’m surprised to see you making that point.[/quote]

I dont think I made the point you think I made.

47

[quote]Chushin wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]orion wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Cortes wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
This is the kinda stuff I do not mind spending tax dollars on.[/quote]

Last place we need to spend money.[/quote]

Totally disagree. [/quote]

Why?[/quote]

Because it’s space, bitch. The final frontier.

No, but seriously, I agree with Cortes. 2.5 billion dollars is a pittance in the grand scheme of things.[/quote]

I’m not saying it isn’t, but right now I think the United States needs some Rice and Beans, instead of that $5 Burger.
[/quote]

Horseshit. America needs to take back its crown.

You motherfuckers were the first on the moon, if someone beats you to Mars you aren’t going to hear the end of it.

You’re concerned about money? I’m sure you can trim your military budget back that 2.5 billion and not even miss it.

You could stop giving Churches tax exempt status and use that money. That kind of money could fund several of these Mars trips a year.[/quote]

Ah, debates on how to spend other peoples money.

Always refreshing. [/quote]

Could always ban potato chips and use the 7 billion per year the US would save from that.[/quote]

I’d like to see us charge foreigners a surcharge for using US-based internet sites.

Especially know-it-all ones.[/quote]

Jajajaja, cause if their Umericun, all other Umericans have a say in da matter, unlike those filthy forugnors.

Hey, its is not your money to spend even of they live right next to you, maybe, if you polish the knob of your suggardaddy on the regular and without fail.

Then you are entitled to the occasional shopping spree.

48

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]orion wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Cortes wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
This is the kinda stuff I do not mind spending tax dollars on.[/quote]

Last place we need to spend money.[/quote]

Totally disagree. [/quote]

Why?[/quote]

Because it’s space, bitch. The final frontier.

No, but seriously, I agree with Cortes. 2.5 billion dollars is a pittance in the grand scheme of things.[/quote]

I’m not saying it isn’t, but right now I think the United States needs some Rice and Beans, instead of that $5 Burger.
[/quote]

Horseshit. America needs to take back its crown.

You motherfuckers were the first on the moon, if someone beats you to Mars you aren’t going to hear the end of it.

You’re concerned about money? I’m sure you can trim your military budget back that 2.5 billion and not even miss it.

You could stop giving Churches tax exempt status and use that money. That kind of money could fund several of these Mars trips a year.[/quote]

Ah, debates on how to spend other peoples money.

Always refreshing. [/quote]

Could always ban potato chips and use the 7 billion per year the US would save from that.[/quote]

Could always cut everything down to the bare minimum and let people keep the money they made.

Daring?

Yes!

Utopian?

Certainly!

Breathtaking in its moral vision?

Without question.

But, the country that landed on the moon could try to be the freest nation on this planet, now there would be a new frontier.

49

[quote]orion wrote:
Could always cut everything down to the bare minimum and let people keep the money they made.

Daring?

Yes!

Utopian?

Certainly!

Breathtaking in its moral vision?

Without question.

But, the country that landed on the moon could try to be the freest nation on this planet, now there would be a new frontier. [/quote]

You could, but it won’t happen. At least American liberals are open about their penny pinching.

50

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Cortes wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
This is the kinda stuff I do not mind spending tax dollars on.[/quote]

Last place we need to spend money.[/quote]

Totally disagree. [/quote]

Why?[/quote]

There are so many reasons I couldn’t list them all, but if I had to sum them up into a motto, it would be this: Pride, purpose, and the pioneer spirit. America was born of the pioneer spirit. It has always been one of the defining characteristics of our country. We go where none have gone before, even at the risk of our lives. We set goals that are larger than life, and we meet them. We set the standard for the limits of human ability, pushing the bar ever farther.

The Revolutionary War and the founding of our country, the Westward expansion and settlement (for better or worse), the construction of Mt. Rushmore, putting a man on the moon, to name a few. In addition to the other concrete benefits these endeavors have provided us, the most important one, I think, is that they served to define exactly what it is to be an American. All of this is part of the American dream. We force ever wider the parameters of the possible.

That’s not to say that another country cannot derive the same benefits from similar endeavors, either. Austria should been insanely proud of Red Bull and their financing and thus far successful Stratos Project, which is just about the coolest thing I can think of. I have a total man-crush of Felix Baumgartner.

The influence these projects have is very, very far reaching. They let people know that they should never put limits on what they think they can do. They serve as a concrete example to others to emulate in their own way, trying harder, pushing themselves farther, striving to do and achieve more.

I have no way of measuring, much less proving it, but I firmly believe that these kinds of projects have a return on investment exponentially higher than whatever sum of money and labor it takes to pull them off.

I can say, at least, for me, that I have been absolutely fired up through the roof with motivation the past few weeks of Baumgartner’s skydive from space, the Olympics and now the SUCCESSFUL execution of this mission. It’s been one bad-ass summer.

51

[quote]orion wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]orion wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Makavali wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Cortes wrote:

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
This is the kinda stuff I do not mind spending tax dollars on.[/quote]

Last place we need to spend money.[/quote]

Totally disagree. [/quote]

Why?[/quote]

Because it’s space, bitch. The final frontier.

No, but seriously, I agree with Cortes. 2.5 billion dollars is a pittance in the grand scheme of things.[/quote]

I’m not saying it isn’t, but right now I think the United States needs some Rice and Beans, instead of that $5 Burger.
[/quote]

Horseshit. America needs to take back its crown.

You motherfuckers were the first on the moon, if someone beats you to Mars you aren’t going to hear the end of it.

You’re concerned about money? I’m sure you can trim your military budget back that 2.5 billion and not even miss it.

You could stop giving Churches tax exempt status and use that money. That kind of money could fund several of these Mars trips a year.[/quote]

Ah, debates on how to spend other peoples money.

Always refreshing. [/quote]

Could always ban potato chips and use the 7 billion per year the US would save from that.[/quote]

Could always cut everything down to the bare minimum and let people keep the money they made.

Daring?

Yes!

Utopian?

Certainly!

Breathtaking in its moral vision?

Without question.

But, the country that landed on the moon could try to be the freest nation on this planet, now there would be a new frontier. [/quote]

I lolled.

52

[quote]UtahLama wrote:
[Starship Troopers meme-pic]

3[/quote]

I lolled at this too, but it’s actually true.

http://news.discovery.com/space/china-moon-resources-bigelow-111020.html

53

[quote]Neuromancer wrote:

[quote]Mufasa wrote:
My feeling is that in order to the Exploration of space to truly advance…we HAVE to go though and “Alien/Bladerunner” phase.

In other words, where it becomes first profitable to explore space.

Thoughts?

Mufasa[/quote]

I agree, but we’re fairly far from that.
Lots of public cash has and will have to be spent before this point is reached, not only in the US but the rest of the more advanced countries, EU, China, India etc…
[/quote]

Agree, Neuro:

Almost every historical innovation has often been “born” in the Public Sector.

Yes…there are some historic private R@D labs (like at GE and IBM)…but a lot of questions and early “kinks” are often worked out within University Research and/or via public grants and/or funding.

At some point, (IMO); Space Exploration, if not profitable initially, has to at least pay for itself.

And while the Worlds of “Alien” or “Bladerunner” are presented as cold, calculating and driven ONLY by profit…I think that the “profitability of Space” is a step that has to occur in order to truly open up Exploration.

Mufasa

54

[quote]Mufasa wrote:

[quote]Neuromancer wrote:

[quote]Mufasa wrote:
My feeling is that in order to the Exploration of space to truly advance…we HAVE to go though and “Alien/Bladerunner” phase.

In other words, where it becomes first profitable to explore space.

Thoughts?

Mufasa[/quote]

I agree, but we’re fairly far from that.
Lots of public cash has and will have to be spent before this point is reached, not only in the US but the rest of the more advanced countries, EU, China, India etc…
[/quote]

Agree, Neuro:

Almost every historical innovation has often been “born” in the Public Sector.

Yes…there are some historic private R@D labs (like at GE and IBM)…but a lot of questions and early “kinks” are often worked out within University Research and/or via public grants and/or funding.

At some point, (IMO); Space Exploration, if not profitable initially, has to at least pay for itself.

And while the Worlds of “Alien” or “Bladerunner” are presented as cold, calculating and driven ONLY by profit…I think that the “profitability of Space” is a step that has to occur in order to truly open up Exploration.

Mufasa
[/quote]

Blasphemy!

And kind of circular, because most innovations have most certainly not begun in the public sector, EXCEPT for the last 100 years where it started to heavily crowd out the private sector.

So now its public, because its public.

Not, better, not more efficient, not more innovative, just resource hogging public.

55

[quote]orion wrote:

[quote]Mufasa wrote:

[quote]Neuromancer wrote:

[quote]Mufasa wrote:
My feeling is that in order to the Exploration of space to truly advance…we HAVE to go though and “Alien/Bladerunner” phase.

In other words, where it becomes first profitable to explore space.

Thoughts?

Mufasa[/quote]

I agree, but we’re fairly far from that.
Lots of public cash has and will have to be spent before this point is reached, not only in the US but the rest of the more advanced countries, EU, China, India etc…
[/quote]

Agree, Neuro:

Almost every historical innovation has often been “born” in the Public Sector.

Yes…there are some historic private R@D labs (like at GE and IBM)…but a lot of questions and early “kinks” are often worked out within University Research and/or via public grants and/or funding.

At some point, (IMO); Space Exploration, if not profitable initially, has to at least pay for itself.

And while the Worlds of “Alien” or “Bladerunner” are presented as cold, calculating and driven ONLY by profit…I think that the “profitability of Space” is a step that has to occur in order to truly open up Exploration.

Mufasa
[/quote]

Blasphemy!

And kind of circular, because most innovations have most certainly not begun in the public sector, EXCEPT for the last 100 years where it started to heavily crowd out the private sector.

So now its public, because its public.

Not, better, not more efficient, not more innovative, just resource hogging public.

[/quote]

The space program got its start (as did many others, like the one that allows us to type this to each other) by military spend/ research (often given to private enterprises, so they DO collaborate).
That is public money , last time I looked. While of course it’s quite trendy to say that the ‘market’ would have invented or developed these things more efficiently…fact is, they didn’t. And dealing if ‘what could’ve beens’ or ‘may have beens’ is a waste of time and just fantasy speculation.
The private sector would have NEVER put the resources at scientist’s disposal that got America to the moon. Never. Ever. What company or corporation would have told its shareholders “wait, we’re going to the moon cos it’s a matter of national pride and maybe military necessity…profitable return? why, none in the foreseeable future! But let’s GO!”

So I will stick to the reality as it is. Public spend, funneled to private enterprise without a pure profit motivation at this time. Will it become profitable? I have no doubt in time it will be. Just not now.

So cry blasphemy all you want :slight_smile:

56

[quote]Neuromancer wrote:

[quote]orion wrote:

[quote]Mufasa wrote:

[quote]Neuromancer wrote:

[quote]Mufasa wrote:
My feeling is that in order to the Exploration of space to truly advance…we HAVE to go though and “Alien/Bladerunner” phase.

In other words, where it becomes first profitable to explore space.

Thoughts?

Mufasa[/quote]

I agree, but we’re fairly far from that.
Lots of public cash has and will have to be spent before this point is reached, not only in the US but the rest of the more advanced countries, EU, China, India etc…
[/quote]

Agree, Neuro:

Almost every historical innovation has often been “born” in the Public Sector.

Yes…there are some historic private R@D labs (like at GE and IBM)…but a lot of questions and early “kinks” are often worked out within University Research and/or via public grants and/or funding.

At some point, (IMO); Space Exploration, if not profitable initially, has to at least pay for itself.

And while the Worlds of “Alien” or “Bladerunner” are presented as cold, calculating and driven ONLY by profit…I think that the “profitability of Space” is a step that has to occur in order to truly open up Exploration.

Mufasa
[/quote]

Blasphemy!

And kind of circular, because most innovations have most certainly not begun in the public sector, EXCEPT for the last 100 years where it started to heavily crowd out the private sector.

So now its public, because its public.

Not, better, not more efficient, not more innovative, just resource hogging public.

[/quote]

The space program got its start (as did many others, like the one that allows us to type this to each other) by military spend/ research (often given to private enterprises, so they DO collaborate).
That is public money , last time I looked. While of course it’s quite trendy to say that the ‘market’ would have invented or developed these things more efficiently…fact is, they didn’t. And dealing if ‘what could’ve beens’ or ‘may have beens’ is a waste of time and just fantasy speculation.
The private sector would have NEVER put the resources at scientist’s disposal that got America to the moon. Never. Ever. What company or corporation would have told its shareholders “wait, we’re going to the moon cos it’s a matter of national pride and maybe military necessity…profitable return? why, none in the foreseeable future! But let’s GO!”

So I will stick to the reality as it is. Public spend, funneled to private enterprise without a pure profit motivation at this time. Will it become profitable? I have no doubt in time it will be. Just not now.

So cry blasphemy all you want :)[/quote]

Blasphemy!

57

figures

58

[quote]jehovasfitness wrote:
figures[/quote]

beat Starbucks…

59

[quote]Neuromancer wrote:

[quote]orion wrote:

[quote]Mufasa wrote:

[quote]Neuromancer wrote:

[quote]Mufasa wrote:
My feeling is that in order to the Exploration of space to truly advance…we HAVE to go though and “Alien/Bladerunner” phase.

In other words, where it becomes first profitable to explore space.

Thoughts?

Mufasa[/quote]

I agree, but we’re fairly far from that.
Lots of public cash has and will have to be spent before this point is reached, not only in the US but the rest of the more advanced countries, EU, China, India etc…
[/quote]

Agree, Neuro:

Almost every historical innovation has often been “born” in the Public Sector.

Yes…there are some historic private R@D labs (like at GE and IBM)…but a lot of questions and early “kinks” are often worked out within University Research and/or via public grants and/or funding.

At some point, (IMO); Space Exploration, if not profitable initially, has to at least pay for itself.

And while the Worlds of “Alien” or “Bladerunner” are presented as cold, calculating and driven ONLY by profit…I think that the “profitability of Space” is a step that has to occur in order to truly open up Exploration.

Mufasa
[/quote]

Blasphemy!

And kind of circular, because most innovations have most certainly not begun in the public sector, EXCEPT for the last 100 years where it started to heavily crowd out the private sector.

So now its public, because its public.

Not, better, not more efficient, not more innovative, just resource hogging public.

[/quote]

The space program got its start (as did many others, like the one that allows us to type this to each other) by military spend/ research (often given to private enterprises, so they DO collaborate).
That is public money , last time I looked. While of course it’s quite trendy to say that the ‘market’ would have invented or developed these things more efficiently…fact is, they didn’t. And dealing if ‘what could’ve beens’ or ‘may have beens’ is a waste of time and just fantasy speculation.
The private sector would have NEVER put the resources at scientist’s disposal that got America to the moon. Never. Ever. What company or corporation would have told its shareholders “wait, we’re going to the moon cos it’s a matter of national pride and maybe military necessity…profitable return? why, none in the foreseeable future! But let’s GO!”

So I will stick to the reality as it is. Public spend, funneled to private enterprise without a pure profit motivation at this time. Will it become profitable? I have no doubt in time it will be. Just not now.

So cry blasphemy all you want :)[/quote]

That is…very logical.

60

[quote]bigflamer wrote:

[quote]Neuromancer wrote:

[quote]orion wrote:

[quote]Mufasa wrote:

[quote]Neuromancer wrote:

[quote]Mufasa wrote:
My feeling is that in order to the Exploration of space to truly advance…we HAVE to go though and “Alien/Bladerunner” phase.

In other words, where it becomes first profitable to explore space.

Thoughts?

Mufasa[/quote]

I agree, but we’re fairly far from that.
Lots of public cash has and will have to be spent before this point is reached, not only in the US but the rest of the more advanced countries, EU, China, India etc…
[/quote]

Agree, Neuro:

Almost every historical innovation has often been “born” in the Public Sector.

Yes…there are some historic private R@D labs (like at GE and IBM)…but a lot of questions and early “kinks” are often worked out within University Research and/or via public grants and/or funding.

At some point, (IMO); Space Exploration, if not profitable initially, has to at least pay for itself.

And while the Worlds of “Alien” or “Bladerunner” are presented as cold, calculating and driven ONLY by profit…I think that the “profitability of Space” is a step that has to occur in order to truly open up Exploration.

Mufasa
[/quote]

Blasphemy!

And kind of circular, because most innovations have most certainly not begun in the public sector, EXCEPT for the last 100 years where it started to heavily crowd out the private sector.

So now its public, because its public.

Not, better, not more efficient, not more innovative, just resource hogging public.

[/quote]

The space program got its start (as did many others, like the one that allows us to type this to each other) by military spend/ research (often given to private enterprises, so they DO collaborate).
That is public money , last time I looked. While of course it’s quite trendy to say that the ‘market’ would have invented or developed these things more efficiently…fact is, they didn’t. And dealing if ‘what could’ve beens’ or ‘may have beens’ is a waste of time and just fantasy speculation.
The private sector would have NEVER put the resources at scientist’s disposal that got America to the moon. Never. Ever. What company or corporation would have told its shareholders “wait, we’re going to the moon cos it’s a matter of national pride and maybe military necessity…profitable return? why, none in the foreseeable future! But let’s GO!”

So I will stick to the reality as it is. Public spend, funneled to private enterprise without a pure profit motivation at this time. Will it become profitable? I have no doubt in time it will be. Just not now.

So cry blasphemy all you want :)[/quote]

That is…very logical.
[/quote]

No, it really is not, because this whole power grab was implemented by people who told anyone willing to listen how much better things would be if governments ran them.

But, bringing up that government intervention necessarily has replaced things which could have been better is somehow illegitimate and utopian?

Either both is bullshit or both is valid, but let us use the same yardstick, shall we?