Space Disaster! Deep Impact probe hits comet

The Central Scrutinizer · 4th July 2005, 09:24 AM

After the shuttle disaster, this is the last thing NASA needs.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/0...act/index.html

Moon-Spinner · 4th July 2005, 09:51 AM

Er... um... This was a successful mission (or maybe you're being sarcastic). I think we can all breath a sigh of relief that NASA finally had a success.

Beady · 4th July 2005, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moon-Spinner
I think we can all breath a sigh of relief that NASA finally had a success.

Finally!!???

Voyager 1 & 2, Pioneer 10 & 11, Viking, Sojourner, the Mariners, Spirit, Endevour, Apollo, Mercury, Gemini...

Have you done the math, re success v failure?

Leif Roar · 4th July 2005, 10:03 AM

Actually, according to this article, http://www.aftenposten.no/viten/article1074132.ece (unfortunately only in Norwegian,) a Russion astrologer is suing Nasa for "upsetting the cosmic balance" and making her work inaccurate.

(I must admit, the story does seem a little too good to be true and I suspect a newspaper canard.)

The Central Scrutinizer · 4th July 2005, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moon-Spinner
Er... um... This was a successful mission (or maybe you're being sarcastic). I think we can all breath a sigh of relief that NASA finally had a success.

Quote:

At a cost of $330 million...

Think of how many children could be fed with that money. Won't someone please think of the children?

Skeptical Greg · 4th July 2005, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer

Think of how many children could be fed with that money. Won't someone please think of the children?

These babies only go for about $200 million each..

Since it's too late to spend the money on food, mayby they could be used for low cost housing..

Rob Lister · 4th July 2005, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diogenes
These babies only go for about $200 million each..

Since it's too late to spend the money on food, mabey they could be used for low cost housing..

Or de-housing.

Manny · 4th July 2005, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer
Think of how many children could be fed with that money. Won't someone please think of the children?

The impactor was made mostly from copper plates and a big honkin' battery. It would taste terrible and the kids would hate it. Besides, it's 83 million miles away. Who goes that far for a bite to eat?

The Central Scrutinizer · 4th July 2005, 12:13 PM

I can remember when I was a kid, my grandma complaining about the cost of the Apollo missions and how many starving kids could be fed with that money.

aerocontrols · 4th July 2005, 12:36 PM

Bang! Zoom! Way past the moon!

Chaos · 4th July 2005, 12:44 PM

That poor, defenseless rock... how could they do that?

I bet that, before the week is over, Bush will claim that the rock was Bin Laden in disguise.

Ziggurat · 4th July 2005, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob Lister
Or de-housing.

Is that anything like de-lousing?

crackmonkey · 4th July 2005, 02:34 PM

Not content to destroy our own environment, we are now destroying the environments of space rocks! What heartless Nazis.

Manny · 4th July 2005, 02:39 PM

See, you try to do something nice for somebody...

Every time we wanted to blow a stadium-sized hole in the earth just to see it go boom people would whine, whine, whine. So we try to do the right thing and move our fun an whole 83 million miles away, but nooooooo!

Lisa Simpson · 4th July 2005, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chaos
That poor, defenseless rock... how could they do that?

I bet that, before the week is over, Bush will claim that the rock was Bin Laden in disguise.

Or that the comet was a WMD.

Roadtoad · 4th July 2005, 04:10 PM

All I can say is, "Wow!" Someone, please, tell me how to build a telescope big enough to see this stuff!

This is great! NASA is getting back on track. Considering the cost effectiveness of a lot of NASA's missions, this is great news!

LostAngeles · 4th July 2005, 04:22 PM

Actually, the comet hit the probe. They forgot to program the probe to look both ways before crossing the comet's path.

Of course, like all comets, it didn't even bother to stop. I hope they catch that comet and sue the ice out of it.

The Fool · 4th July 2005, 04:29 PM

In the end folks....who gives a rats arse what comets are made of? My bet is that one was made of rock.....They could have called me for that info and saved the money for something usefull, like the worlds first zero G porno or something else that would sell.....

Skeptic · 4th July 2005, 04:51 PM

As Eddie Izzard said: "They landed a man on the moon and found... grey rocks! Then they landed an unmanned probe on Mars and found... MORE rocks! RED ones this time! We've got the most boring solar system in the universe!!"

Kopji · 4th July 2005, 05:10 PM

This morning's Arizona Republic has a timely article on a Scottsdale charity called "The Presidential Prayer Team", established to encourage people to pray for the President.

3 million people have signed up and have donated over $6 million. Unfortunately the charity has been in the red since it was formed, and is now in the hole $531,891.

But... oh yeah... we were discussing all those starving children that could be fed with Nasa's budget. I suppose. -sigh- but it probably just go into more prayer donations.

Scientific research is a good thing. Feeding hungry children is a good thing too.

Roadtoad · 5th July 2005, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kopji
This morning's Arizona Republic has a timely article on a Scottsdale charity called "The Presidential Prayer Team", established to encourage people to pray for the President.

3 million people have signed up and have donated over $6 million. Unfortunately the charity has been in the red since it was formed, and is now in the hole $531,891.

But... oh yeah... we were discussing all those starving children that could be fed with Nasa's budget. I suppose. -sigh- but it probably just go into more prayer donations.

Scientific research is a good thing. Feeding hungry children is a good thing too.

Funny thing, how all that money that could go to feeding hungry kids never seems to make that trip from my wallet to the kid's mouth. While on the other hand, NASA seems to have figured out a way to make a five dollar bill cover what most folks would need a fifty to handle.

What's wrong with this picture?

rdtjr · 5th July 2005, 05:18 AM

Hmmmm, seems to me that this mission did indeed feed hungry children. There were probably dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of people involved in planning, designing, building, launching, and monitoring this mission. Then there's the folks who mined metals, synthesized plastics, fabricated parts, created software, and sold those products to the contractors and NASA folks building the mission. They all got paid. That's mortages paid for and dinners on tables. Isn't it?

So in effect, the money did feed and clothe hungry kids...

Nyarlathotep · 5th July 2005, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Fool
In the end folks....who gives a rats arse what comets are made of? My bet is that one was made of rock.....They could have called me for that info and saved the money for something usefull, like the worlds first zero G porno or something else that would sell.....

Then I am glad they didn't just call you for the information since comets are generally NOT made of rock, they are made of ice.

Maybe not as interesting as the zero-g porn, but still...

The Central Scrutinizer · 5th July 2005, 03:21 PM

I don't think any of you are thinking of the children.

Brown · 5th July 2005, 03:30 PM

I for one am tired of these filthy, smelly comets barging into our inner solar system, uninvited.

NASA has taken one giant leap toward cleaning up outer space by making an example of this particular comet. Let us hope that the other comets were paying attention.

The Fool · 5th July 2005, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
Then I am glad they didn't just call you for the information since comets are generally NOT made of rock, they are made of ice.

Maybe not as interesting as the zero-g porn, but still...

Bet you ten bucks that one was made of rock and not ice....I am never wrong except when I say something that is not correct.

The Fool · 5th July 2005, 03:58 PM

double

Chris O. · 5th July 2005, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Leif Roar
Actually, according to this article, http://www.aftenposten.no/viten/article1074132.ece (unfortunately only in Norwegian,) a Russion astrologer is suing Nasa for "upsetting the cosmic balance" and making her work inaccurate.

(I must admit, the story does seem a little too good to be true and I suspect a newspaper canard.)

I just saw a news story on the local news station saying the same thing, the astrologer is suing for $300 million. I hope the judge laughs her out of court.

Edited for spelling

nightwind · 6th July 2005, 06:06 AM

I have a feeling that one day in the future, we will be glad that we did develop an ability to contact a spacecraft with a comet, asteroid, etc.

Trust me, they are interested in more than just analyzing the makeup of the comet.

With several near misses by space objects, and the "big one" out there, we probably do need to practice some.

rdtjr · 6th July 2005, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Fool
Bet you ten bucks that one was made of rock and not ice....I am never wrong except when I say something that is not correct.

I'll take that bet. By definition it can't be a comet unless it is mostly, or at least heavily composed of, ices. If it wasn't mostly ices there would be nothing to heat up and vent off to make it a comet.

Nyarlathotep · 6th July 2005, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nightwind

Trust me, they are interested in more than just analyzing the makeup of the comet.

I heard one of the lead scientists on the project being interviewed a few days ago. He said on of the practical benefits of this mission is that if the day should ever come that we need to destroy or divert a comet on a collision course with Earth, we will want to know some things, like a comets density, that we will get from this mission.

Ausmerican · 6th July 2005, 10:23 AM

Headline from â€œThe Outer Rim Galactic Observerâ€
â€œEARTH BITCHSLAPS TOURIST RVâ€
Again the human race of Earth has shown its complete disregard for the other races that share their Universe. A family of Plutonians, those lovable microscopic party animals we all love, was wiped out this week.
The 15,000,000 members of the Ursharzz family were on a long awaited tour of the Solar System when their â€˜Cometâ€™ class RV was brutally punched in the face as it passed near the planet Earth. Earth has long been out of favor with many of the other sentient races in the Universe for its habit of leaving large pieces of litter behind every time any of itâ€™s inhabitants leave their atmosphere.
When asked to comment Interplanetary Task Force Commander Langarr ZZestin was quoted as saying the following.
â€œThe vicious bitchslapping of this craft will not go unpunished. A squadron is preparing to go to Earth immediately to respond with our normal retaliatory measures of making crop circles, mutilating cattle and appearing blurry in photographs. Why donâ€™t these humans ever learn? I heard it cost $330 million to stage this unprovoked attack on the Ursharzz vehicle! Do you know how many Earth children that would feed? Do they ever think of the children?â€

Roadtoad · 6th July 2005, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ausmerican
Headline from â€œThe Outer Rim Galactic Observerâ€
â€œEARTH BITCHSLAPS TOURIST RVâ€
Again the human race of Earth has shown its complete disregard for the other races that share their Universe. A family of Plutonians, those lovable microscopic party animals we all love, was wiped out this week.
The 15,000,000 members of the Ursharzz family were on a long awaited tour of the Solar System when their â€˜Cometâ€™ class RV was brutally punched in the face as it passed near the planet Earth. Earth has long been out of favor with many of the other sentient races in the Universe for its habit of leaving large pieces of litter behind every time any of itâ€™s inhabitants leave their atmosphere.
When asked to comment Interplanetary Task Force Commander Langarr ZZestin was quoted as saying the following.
â€œThe vicious bitchslapping of this craft will not go unpunished. A squadron is preparing to go to Earth immediately to respond with our normal retaliatory measures of making crop circles, mutilating cattle and appearing blurry in photographs. Why donâ€™t these humans ever learn? I heard it cost $330 million to stage this unprovoked attack on the Ursharzz vehicle! Do you know how many Earth children that would feed? Do they ever think of the children?â€

Congrats! You just got a nom for the language award!

kuroyume0161 · 6th July 2005, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris O.
I just saw a news story on the local news station saying the same thing, the astrologer is suing for $300 million. I hope the judge laughs her out of court.

Edited for spelling

I saw this on CNN last night and the newsanchor was visibly smirking and giggling while announcing the story.

This would a great chance to take astrology to court and shred it to little itty-bitty pieces. Make sure to get the "Bad Astronomy" guy on the stand and P&T can do some magic in the courtroom for real entertainment...

ETA: Since cometary and asteroid collisions happen on a regular (and frequent) basis through the solar system, I'd like to have her information on how she keeps track of all of these changes in the 'astrological dynamic'. Not even NASA, JSA, and ESA combined with all of the amateur astronomers could do that with thousands of times their budget. Wow! She is amazing............. ;{P

kuroyume0161 · 6th July 2005, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roadtoad
Congrats! You just got a nom for the language award!

Language award!? This is the most original idea for a Sci-Fi movie since 'Critters'.

RandFan · 6th July 2005, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ausmerican
Headline from â€œThe Outer Rim Galactic Observerâ€
â€œEARTH BITCHSLAPS TOURIST RVâ€
Again the human race of Earth has shown its complete disregard for the other races that share their Universe. A family of Plutonians, those lovable microscopic party animals we all love, was wiped out this week.
The 15,000,000 members of the Ursharzz family were on a long awaited tour of the Solar System when their â€˜Cometâ€™ class RV was brutally punched in the face as it passed near the planet Earth. Earth has long been out of favor with many of the other sentient races in the Universe for its habit of leaving large pieces of litter behind every time any of itâ€™s inhabitants leave their atmosphere.
When asked to comment Interplanetary Task Force Commander Langarr ZZestin was quoted as saying the following.
â€œThe vicious bitchslapping of this craft will not go unpunished. A squadron is preparing to go to Earth immediately to respond with our normal retaliatory measures of making crop circles, mutilating cattle and appearing blurry in photographs. Why donâ€™t these humans ever learn? I heard it cost $330 million to stage this unprovoked attack on the Ursharzz vehicle! Do you know how many Earth children that would feed? Do they ever think of the children?â€

Dr Adequate · 6th July 2005, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Fool
They could have called me for that info and saved the money for something usefull, like the worlds first zero G porno or something else that would sell.....

ARRRRRRRRRGH!

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS ZERO GRAVITY!

YOU MEAN "FREE FALL" AND YOU WILL SAY "FREE FALL" OR I UNLEASH THE WINGED MONKEYS!

Oh, and the porn thing has been done, though not by NASA.

TragicMonkey · 6th July 2005, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr Adequate
ARRRRRRRRRGH!

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS ZERO GRAVITY!

YOU MEAN "FREE FALL" AND YOU WILL SAY "FREE FALL" OR I UNLEASH THE WINGED MONKEYS!

Memo
To: Dr A
From: Winged Monkey Squadron Commander

Sorry, won't be able to make the scheduled attack on The Fool. It seems most of the squad has gotten stuck in a zero-gravity environment. They seem to be making pornography.

Maybe next time.

PS: I had what I thought was free fall at the Pottery Barn, but it turned out to be rather expensive, as I ran into some breakable objects. I had them charge it to your expense account. Hope that's okay.

The Fool · 6th July 2005, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr Adequate
ARRRRRRRRRGH!

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS ZERO GRAVITY!

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH. I was using a common term to make a cheap sex joke, not presenting a physics paper..

YOU MEAN "FREE FALL" AND YOU WILL SAY "FREE FALL" OR I UNLEASH THE WINGED MONKEYS!

refuse to say free fall, unleash the monkeys......

Oh, and the porn thing has been done, though not by NASA.
evidence? Links? copy sent to me in plain brown paper wrapper?

4th July 2005, 09:24 AM	#1
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Pither Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,268	Space Disaster! Deep Impact probe hits comet After the shuttle disaster, this is the last thing NASA needs. http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/0...act/index.html
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him.

4th July 2005, 10:03 AM	#3
Beady Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: 44:57:19N, 73:16:18W Posts: 5,490	Quote: Originally posted by Moon-Spinner I think we can all breath a sigh of relief that NASA finally had a success. *Finally!!???* Voyager 1 & 2, Pioneer 10 & 11, Viking, Sojourner, the Mariners, Spirit, Endevour, Apollo, Mercury, Gemini... Have you done the math, re success v failure?
	__________________ I tolerate with utmost latitude the right of others to differ with me in opinion without imputing to them criminality. I know too well all the weaknesses and uncertainty of human reason to wonder at its different results. -- Thomas Jefferson

4th July 2005, 10:03 AM	#4
Leif Roar Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,800	Actually, according to this article, http://www.aftenposten.no/viten/article1074132.ece (unfortunately only in Norwegian,) a Russion astrologer is suing Nasa for "upsetting the cosmic balance" and making her work inaccurate. (I must admit, the story does seem a little too good to be true and I suspect a newspaper canard.)
Leif Roar Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,800	__________________ "Our feature on cloud seeding (16 Apr, p40) should have started with the words 'Cannons blazed'. No clergy were set on fire in China's rainmaking experiment." -- New Scientist, 7th May 2005

4th July 2005, 11:13 AM	#5
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Pither Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,268	Quote: Originally posted by Moon-Spinner Er... um... This was a successful mission (or maybe you're being sarcastic). I think we can all breath a sigh of relief that NASA finally had a success. Quote: At a cost of $330 million... Think of how many children could be fed with that money. Won't someone please think of the children?
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him.

4th July 2005, 11:25 AM	#6
Skeptical Greg Agave Wine Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Just past 'Resume Speed' Posts: 12,873	Quote: Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer Think of how many children could be fed with that money. Won't someone please think of the children? These babies only go for about $200 million each.. Since it's too late to spend the money on food, mayby they could be used for low cost housing..
	__________________ " Somewhere between Jesus dying on the cross, and a giant bunny hiding eggs,there seems to be a gap in information. " Stan - Southpark Prove your computer is not a wimp ! Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232

4th July 2005, 09:51 AM	#2
Moon-Spinner Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Within a star too far to dream of Posts: 1,484	Er... um... This was a successful mission (or maybe you're being sarcastic). I think we can all breath a sigh of relief that NASA finally had a success.

4th July 2005, 11:29 AM	#7
Rob Lister Suspended Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 8,523	Quote: Originally posted by Diogenes These babies only go for about $200 million each.. Since it's too late to spend the money on food, mabey they could be used for low cost housing.. Or de-housing.

4th July 2005, 11:37 AM	#8
Manny Illuminator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,295	Quote: Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer Think of how many children could be fed with that money. Won't someone please think of the children? The impactor was made mostly from copper plates and a big honkin' battery. It would taste terrible and the kids would hate it. Besides, it's 83 million miles away. Who goes that far for a bite to eat?
Manny Illuminator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,295

4th July 2005, 12:13 PM	#9
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Pither Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,268	I can remember when I was a kid, my grandma complaining about the cost of the Apollo missions and how many starving kids could be fed with that money.
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him.

4th July 2005, 12:36 PM	#10
aerocontrols Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,445	Bang! Zoom! Way past the moon!
	__________________ Misunderestimated in 2000. Unredefeated in 2004. My dog does his tricks. My roomate's dog tries to escape the kitchen. We call you to be a people of manners, principles, honour, and purity; to reject the immoral acts of fornication, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling's, and trading with interest. Source

4th July 2005, 12:44 PM	#11
Chaos TAM Chocolate Dispenser Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Heart of Old Europe Posts: 9,778	That poor, defenseless rock... how could they do that? I bet that, before the week is over, Bush will claim that the rock was Bin Laden in disguise.
	__________________ Grand Master, Knights of the Question Mark Illusion: too good to be true - Reality: too true to be good Authors build castles in the sky, readers live in them and publishers collect the rent. - Maxim Gorki Folks enjoy a witch-hunt as long as they are on the blunt end of the pitchfork. - Suezoled You can't use logic to talk a man out of a position that he didn't use logic to get himself into - passed down by Nyarlathotep Kids these days are better than their parents since they constitute the newest edition, the beta version of our societies - Cleopatra YouÂ´ll have to accept the fact that some people are just plain nuts. - Paul C. Anagnostopolous

4th July 2005, 02:30 PM	#12
Ziggurat Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 26,189	Quote: Originally posted by Rob Lister Or de-housing. Is that anything like de-lousing?
	__________________ "As long as it is admitted that the law may be diverted from its true purpose -- that it may violate property instead of protecting it -- then everyone will want to participate in making the law, either to protect himself against plunder or to use it for plunder. Political questions will always be prejudicial, dominant, and all-absorbing. There will be fighting at the door of the Legislative Palace, and the struggle within will be no less furious." - Bastiat, The Law

4th July 2005, 02:34 PM	#13
crackmonkey Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,057	Not content to destroy our own environment, we are now destroying the environments of space rocks! What heartless Nazis.

4th July 2005, 02:39 PM	#14
Manny Illuminator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,295	See, you try to do something nice for somebody... Every time we wanted to blow a stadium-sized hole in the earth just to see it go boom people would whine, whine, whine. So we try to do the right thing and move our fun an whole 83 million miles away, but nooooooo!
Manny Illuminator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,295

4th July 2005, 03:20 PM	#15
Lisa Simpson THE Lisa Simpson Administrator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 123 Fake Street Posts: 20,057	Quote: Originally posted by Chaos That poor, defenseless rock... how could they do that? I bet that, before the week is over, Bush will claim that the rock was Bin Laden in disguise. Or that the comet was a WMD.
	__________________ That's what the Internet does -- you get a free bonus prize of Stupid Lies with every box of Delicious Facts. - cracked.com Facts are satanic litter on the heavenly highway to blind faith! - Betty Bowers

4th July 2005, 04:10 PM	#16
Roadtoad Bufo Caminus Inedibilis Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Gone. Posts: 15,738	All I can say is, "Wow!" Someone, please, tell me how to build a telescope big enough to see this stuff! This is great! NASA is getting back on track. Considering the cost effectiveness of a lot of NASA's missions, this is great news!

4th July 2005, 04:22 PM	#17
LostAngeles Anti-WM Jihadist Join Date: May 2004 Location: Having a cup of tea. Posts: 10,159	Actually, the comet hit the probe. They forgot to program the probe to look both ways before crossing the comet's path. Of course, like all comets, it didn't even bother to stop. I hope they catch that comet and sue the ice out of it.
	__________________ "There is also a likelihood that the settlement will fall between two biomes, potentially hazardous if the player expects a peaceful oceanside meadow, without realizing the ocean is full of amphibious zombie whales." - Dwarf Fortress Wik

4th July 2005, 04:29 PM	#18
The Fool Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 11,558	In the end folks....who gives a rats arse what comets are made of? My bet is that one was made of rock.....They could have called me for that info and saved the money for something usefull, like the worlds first zero G porno or something else that would sell.....
	__________________ And what is good, Phaedrus,and what is not good. Need we ask anyone to tell us these things? R. M. Pirsig. (Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance) Lose half your IQ....Ask me how.

4th July 2005, 04:51 PM	#19
Skeptic Banned Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Behind the chessboard Posts: 18,361	As Eddie Izzard said: "They landed a man on the moon and found... grey rocks! Then they landed an unmanned probe on Mars and found... MORE rocks! RED ones this time! We've got the most boring solar system in the universe!!"

4th July 2005, 05:10 PM	#20
Kopji Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mogollon Rim Posts: 7,697	This morning's Arizona Republic has a timely article on a Scottsdale charity called "The Presidential Prayer Team", established to encourage people to pray for the President. 3 million people have signed up and have donated over $6 million. Unfortunately the charity has been in the red since it was formed, and is now in the hole $531,891. But... oh yeah... we were discussing all those starving children that could be fed with Nasa's budget. I suppose. -sigh- but it probably just go into more prayer donations. Scientific research is a good thing. Feeding hungry children is a good thing too.

5th July 2005, 04:58 AM	#21
Roadtoad Bufo Caminus Inedibilis Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Gone. Posts: 15,738	Quote: Originally posted by Kopji This morning's Arizona Republic has a timely article on a Scottsdale charity called "The Presidential Prayer Team", established to encourage people to pray for the President. 3 million people have signed up and have donated over $6 million. Unfortunately the charity has been in the red since it was formed, and is now in the hole $531,891. But... oh yeah... we were discussing all those starving children that could be fed with Nasa's budget. I suppose. -sigh- but it probably just go into more prayer donations. Scientific research is a good thing. Feeding hungry children is a good thing too. Funny thing, how all that money that could go to feeding hungry kids never seems to make that trip from my wallet to the kid's mouth. While on the other hand, NASA seems to have figured out a way to make a five dollar bill cover what most folks would need a fifty to handle. What's wrong with this picture?

5th July 2005, 05:18 AM	#22
rdtjr Thinker Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 166	Hmmmm, seems to me that this mission did indeed feed hungry children. There were probably dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of people involved in planning, designing, building, launching, and monitoring this mission. Then there's the folks who mined metals, synthesized plastics, fabricated parts, created software, and sold those products to the contractors and NASA folks building the mission. They all got paid. That's mortages paid for and dinners on tables. Isn't it? So in effect, the money did feed and clothe hungry kids...
rdtjr Thinker Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 166

5th July 2005, 07:48 AM	#23
Nyarlathotep Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 7,514	Quote: Originally posted by The Fool In the end folks....who gives a rats arse what comets are made of? My bet is that one was made of rock.....They could have called me for that info and saved the money for something usefull, like the worlds first zero G porno or something else that would sell..... Then I am glad they didn't just call you for the information since comets are generally NOT made of rock, they are made of ice. Maybe not as interesting as the zero-g porn, but still...
	__________________ Why stay sane in a sick world?

5th July 2005, 03:21 PM	#24
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Pither Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,268	I don't think any of you are thinking of the children.
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him.

5th July 2005, 03:30 PM	#25
Brown Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 12,150	I for one am tired of these filthy, smelly comets barging into our inner solar system, uninvited. NASA has taken one giant leap toward cleaning up outer space by making an example of this particular comet. Let us hope that the other comets were paying attention.

5th July 2005, 03:51 PM	#26
The Fool Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 11,558	Quote: Originally posted by Nyarlathotep Then I am glad they didn't just call you for the information since comets are generally NOT made of rock, they are made of ice. Maybe not as interesting as the zero-g porn, but still... Bet you ten bucks that one was made of rock and not ice....I am never wrong except when I say something that is not correct.
	__________________ And what is good, Phaedrus,and what is not good. Need we ask anyone to tell us these things? R. M. Pirsig. (Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance) Lose half your IQ....Ask me how.

5th July 2005, 03:58 PM	#27
The Fool Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 11,558	double
	__________________ And what is good, Phaedrus,and what is not good. Need we ask anyone to tell us these things? R. M. Pirsig. (Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance) Lose half your IQ....Ask me how.

5th July 2005, 04:07 PM	#28
Chris O. Critical Thinker Join Date: May 2005 Location: M-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-Humpback-Humpback-I Posts: 457	Quote: Originally posted by Leif Roar Actually, according to this article, http://www.aftenposten.no/viten/article1074132.ece (unfortunately only in Norwegian,) a Russion astrologer is suing Nasa for "upsetting the cosmic balance" and making her work inaccurate. (I must admit, the story does seem a little too good to be true and I suspect a newspaper canard.) I just saw a news story on the local news station saying the same thing, the astrologer is suing for $300 million. I hope the judge laughs her out of court. Edited for spelling
	__________________ "Maybe Republicans - like Democrats, like blacks and gays and servicemen and soccer moms and 30-somethings - are not some monolithic force, marching in lockstep to the cadence of their drill sergeant?" -BPSCG "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence." - Christpher Hitchens

6th July 2005, 06:06 AM	#29
nightwind Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 398	Space Rock I have a feeling that one day in the future, we will be glad that we did develop an ability to contact a spacecraft with a comet, asteroid, etc. Trust me, they are interested in more than just analyzing the makeup of the comet. With several near misses by space objects, and the "big one" out there, we probably do need to practice some.
	__________________ "A Wise Man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can see from the top of a mountain" "Sure there have been injuries and deaths in boxing - but none of them serious." - Alan Minter, Boxer

6th July 2005, 08:39 AM	#30
rdtjr Thinker Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 166	Quote: Originally posted by The Fool Bet you ten bucks that one was made of rock and not ice....I am never wrong except when I say something that is not correct. I'll take that bet. By definition it can't be a comet unless it is mostly, or at least heavily composed of, ices. If it wasn't mostly ices there would be nothing to heat up and vent off to make it a comet.
rdtjr Thinker Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 166

6th July 2005, 09:17 AM	#31
Nyarlathotep Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 7,514	Re: Space Rock Quote: Originally posted by nightwind Trust me, they are interested in more than just analyzing the makeup of the comet. I heard one of the lead scientists on the project being interviewed a few days ago. He said on of the practical benefits of this mission is that if the day should ever come that we need to destroy or divert a comet on a collision course with Earth, we will want to know some things, like a comets density, that we will get from this mission.
	__________________ Why stay sane in a sick world?

6th July 2005, 10:23 AM	#32
Ausmerican Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,381	Headline from â€œThe Outer Rim Galactic Observerâ€ â€œEARTH BITCHSLAPS TOURIST RVâ€ Again the human race of Earth has shown its complete disregard for the other races that share their Universe. A family of Plutonians, those lovable microscopic party animals we all love, was wiped out this week. The 15,000,000 members of the Ursharzz family were on a long awaited tour of the Solar System when their â€˜Cometâ€™ class RV was brutally punched in the face as it passed near the planet Earth. Earth has long been out of favor with many of the other sentient races in the Universe for its habit of leaving large pieces of litter behind every time any of itâ€™s inhabitants leave their atmosphere. When asked to comment Interplanetary Task Force Commander Langarr ZZestin was quoted as saying the following. â€œThe vicious bitchslapping of this craft will not go unpunished. A squadron is preparing to go to Earth immediately to respond with our normal retaliatory measures of making crop circles, mutilating cattle and appearing blurry in photographs. Why donâ€™t these humans ever learn? I heard it cost $330 million to stage this unprovoked attack on the Ursharzz vehicle! Do you know how many Earth children that would feed? Do they ever think of the children?â€
Ausmerican Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,381

6th July 2005, 07:13 PM	#33
Roadtoad Bufo Caminus Inedibilis Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Gone. Posts: 15,738	Quote: Originally posted by Ausmerican Headline from â€œThe Outer Rim Galactic Observerâ€ â€œEARTH BITCHSLAPS TOURIST RVâ€ Again the human race of Earth has shown its complete disregard for the other races that share their Universe. A family of Plutonians, those lovable microscopic party animals we all love, was wiped out this week. The 15,000,000 members of the Ursharzz family were on a long awaited tour of the Solar System when their â€˜Cometâ€™ class RV was brutally punched in the face as it passed near the planet Earth. Earth has long been out of favor with many of the other sentient races in the Universe for its habit of leaving large pieces of litter behind every time any of itâ€™s inhabitants leave their atmosphere. When asked to comment Interplanetary Task Force Commander Langarr ZZestin was quoted as saying the following. â€œThe vicious bitchslapping of this craft will not go unpunished. A squadron is preparing to go to Earth immediately to respond with our normal retaliatory measures of making crop circles, mutilating cattle and appearing blurry in photographs. Why donâ€™t these humans ever learn? I heard it cost $330 million to stage this unprovoked attack on the Ursharzz vehicle! Do you know how many Earth children that would feed? Do they ever think of the children?â€ Congrats! You just got a nom for the language award!

6th July 2005, 08:10 PM	#34
kuroyume0161 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Loveland, CO, USA Posts: 1,628	Quote: Originally posted by Chris O. I just saw a news story on the local news station saying the same thing, the astrologer is suing for $300 million. I hope the judge laughs her out of court. Edited for spelling I saw this on CNN last night and the newsanchor was visibly smirking and giggling while announcing the story. This would a great chance to take astrology to court and shred it to little itty-bitty pieces. Make sure to get the "Bad Astronomy" guy on the stand and P&T can do some magic in the courtroom for real entertainment... ETA: Since cometary and asteroid collisions happen on a regular (and frequent) basis through the solar system, I'd like to have her information on how she keeps track of all of these changes in the 'astrological dynamic'. Not even NASA, JSA, and ESA combined with all of the amateur astronomers could do that with thousands of times their budget. Wow! She is amazing............. ;{P

6th July 2005, 08:17 PM	#35
kuroyume0161 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Loveland, CO, USA Posts: 1,628	Quote: Originally posted by Roadtoad Congrats! You just got a nom for the language award! Language award!? This is the most original idea for a Sci-Fi movie since 'Critters'.