As an adjunct and side-note...

[j2k4]

...to the latest global-warming thread about NASA, there is this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/29/toyota-recall-nasa-to-inv_n_517999.html

I know the rest of you are too tight-assed to see the humor in this, since yours truly is pointing it out, but there you are.

I'm laughing so fucking hard I can barely type this.

[clocker]

What is it that you find so humorous?

Please, share with the class.

[j2k4]

NASA, casting about for something to do...gonna solve Toyota's mysterious problems?

That I find this funny and you do not is your own dilemma, I think.

[clocker]

Oh, I see.
Let's laugh at the husk of the greatest scientific organization ever- which we politicized and underfunded to the brink of irrelevancy- as they apply their expertise to a problem that directly affects daily life.

I thought the right's whole problem with NASA (which, I suspect, is the exemplar of "science" in general) was that all this space shit had no relevance to the common man.
All that money poured into an apparent black hole...should've been used to pave roads (as long as they're not paved SOCIALISTICALLY), build dams or kill terrorists.

So NASA attempts to bridge this divide and you find it humorous.

Would you find it more appropriate for Toyota to bring in a cadre of evangelicals to pray over their problem?

[j2k4]

Oh, I see.
Let's laugh at the husk of the greatest scientific organization ever- which we politicized and underfunded to the brink of irrelevancy- as they apply their expertise to a problem that directly affects daily life.

I thought the right's whole problem with NASA (which, I suspect, is the exemplar of "science" in general) was that all this space shit had no relevance to the common man.
All that money poured into an apparent black hole...should've been used to pave roads (as long as they're not paved SOCIALISTICALLY), build dams or kill terrorists.

So NASA attempts to bridge this divide and you find it humorous.

Would you find it more appropriate for Toyota to bring in a cadre of evangelicals to pray over their problem?

Who's this "we" you speak of?

I don't have the problems with NASA that I have with, say, AMTRAK, but tell me:

What in Good Christ is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration doing fixing Toyotas?

Should we change the name to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Automotive Consultants?

It just doesn't make sense unless you do that, you see?

I wonder if they'd re-model my kitchen?

[chriswall39]

Yeah, it seems weird NASA is wasting their time with fixing foreign cars...

[clocker]

NASA is using their technical expertise in the integration of software and hardware to solve a control problem...this strikes you all as outlandish and humorous.

Bet Toyota is paying a pretty penny for the help...how is it again that we are against a government agency making money?

[j2k4]

NASA is using their technical expertise in the integration of software and hardware to solve a control problem...this strikes you all as outlandish and humorous.

Bet Toyota is paying a pretty penny for the help...how is it again that we are against a government agency making money?

Well, then.

If they'll go with the name-change, I give it my blessing.

[devilsadvocate]

On your other thread you talked about how precarious your business is. If the company you contract to decides to save a buck you are out.
I admit I don't know how many, if any, other options you have, but It sounded like you have all your eggs in one basket relying on just one customer instead of spreading the gene pool.

NASA has some of the finest engineering minds around. Why not utilize them? Surely as a business man you understand how important flexibility is?

I'm actually surprised you have a pretty old style rigid union stance of one man one job.

[clocker]

I think his rigid stance has less to do with unions and more to do with ridiculing anything connected to the government, specifically, a Democratically lead one.

[j2k4]

On your other thread you talked about how precarious your business is. If the company you contract to decides to save a buck you are out.
I admit I don't know how many, if any, other options you have, but It sounded like you have all your eggs in one basket relying on just one customer instead of spreading the gene pool.

NASA has some of the finest engineering minds around. Why not utilize them? Surely as a business man you understand how important flexibility is?

I'm actually surprised you have a pretty old style rigid union stance of one man one job.

1. My position is no more-or-less precarious than most small-businesses; that is to say, more of them are at risk just now due to the economy, and Obama's health-care plan certainly doesn't help - me, or anybody else.

2. I have my eggs in several baskets, with prospects for several more.

I will survive.

Some of my employees may not, however.

Your "gene-pool" analogy is inferior to many others you might have made, but my expectations weren't high.

3. Well, I don't have anything for your last, because I can't identify the leap you apparently want me to make in order to make sense of it.

[j2k4]

I think his rigid stance has less to do with unions and more to do with ridiculing anything connected to the government, specifically, a Democratically lead one.

Wrong again; ass backwards, in fact.

Btw-

I actually liked Obama's speech to the troops in Kabul.

Surprised the fuck out of me.

So there.

[clocker]

Gee, what a big boy you're turning into.