Colonization of Near Space

I posted this comment today on a blog called Damn Interesting. The thread was Transforming the Earth (December 2007). While the idea presented was not really feasible, I was most impressed with both the large quantity of comments and the serious thoughts that some of the contained. I have not looked at any of the other threads yet, but they are on my to do list.

Having worked as a production manager in an aerospace supply company during our original moon program, I was exposed to some compellingly idiotic actions increasing the costs and reducing the probabilities of success in our first efforts to land a man on the moon.

In spite of that, I feel great pride in having played a tiny part in the ultimate success in the first human departure from the Earth, landing on another astronomical body, albeit not even a quarter of a million miles away, and then returning the explorers safely back to Earth. That project took about a decade from start to finish. We sacrificed mightily and the rewards have certainly been commensurate with our efforts. Still, we skirted many disasters and had some as well along the way. Good luck outweighed the bad.

It is hubris in the extreme to consider such a fantasy project which would require such a long time frame and have so many insurmountable problems. We have not even shown the ability to sort out regional and political differences on the globe as it exists and a runaway extinction is underway.

There are solutions for mankind in space. We should be tackling short term projects like our original moon program. And we should do them in some sort of reasonable order. In spite of some notable exceptions, NASA set some priorities very well, particularly with the examination of the outer solar system.

Priorities are the issue. And costs. Each effort we make in space should not be a bottomless pit of expense, without fairly immediate potential for profits clearly in prospect. It is those potential profits which will drive a successful effort to colonize and utilize the solar system. The first step is the mining of the Amore (Earth approaching) asteroids. I will stop here and discuss this further with anyone who has a serious interest in such matters at
eurekaideasunlimited.blogspot.com.

Anyone with something interesting to say on the Colonization of near space may comment here.

Open Casting Call

Auditions now being held for a one act, multi act improv for two to six actors. This is the film noir version. Bring your own props.

Edit: How silly of me. I forgot to mention that the name of the production is the final line of the comedic production... The Aristocrats. But we are looking for a better title, since this one gives away the punchline.

A Thread Locked On Skin Cell Forum

My feelings are not as strong as the usually are when a thread is locked. I believe that there are other effective ways of dealing with differences. I went to the Rant and Rave section to express my opinion. But Rant and Rave is a section only open to the membership, not to guests of the forum. So readership is limited. The original thread which was locked is open to all and is worth a look. It is called "Wild Kingdom." For now, I will post here only my comment on the locking of the thread:

A thread has been locked, with a certain apparent justification. It may be that when things cool a bit, it will re-open under the watchful eye of the sheriff and his able deputies.

Allow me to just say this, with all respect, and without addressing directly the issues that the thread was examining. It is a useful thread on an important subject. And in spite of the rather surprising heat that has been generated it is worth eventually reopening when it is not at a rolling boil.

My blog, on the other hand, is more of a rough and tumble place, and anyone who wishes is certainly welcome to express themselves there, even if that expression is that I am a hate monger, or that I am wrong, or that I am an idiot, or that I stick oil up my nose, or drink beverages and eat foods replete with wild yeasts and bacterias as I do, or am goofy in any other way.

I cannot say that I will get around to this subject right away, due to my current schedule. However, if anyone is impatient to get started without me getting the ball rolling, they are invited to post their comment on any of my current threads or any thread in the archives, and I will figure out a way to start a new thread with the comment.

Viva la free exchange of ideas! ...even if some of them are wrong or hateful. Being wrong is nothing more than a stepping stone to being right, once the wrong is recognized. I suspect that cooler heads will prevail. I would sooner that a person who disagrees with me or hates me, expresses that, rather than use an ignore button, or to have the thread permanently locked because of a certain "rudeness" or even more extreme hostility.

Democracy is untidy. It is cumbersome. Participation is the magic component. Not politeness. The Challenger explosion was caused by politeness! The politeness of several engineers in NASA and employed by several different contractors that prevented them from "rocking the boat." Tragedy which could have been averted was the result.

Our deeply felt differences generate enthusiasms that get us involved. We are seeing the best of that today in American politics. For the first time in decades people are coming out in record numbers and getting deeply involved. Young, old and in the middle. How exciting! If we revile a Shrub and some Weeds and the effects that they have unskillfully wrought, let us not get so overwrought that we pick our next leaders as unskillfully as we have done on some previous occasions.

I am Anthropositor and I approved this message.

A Thread llocked on Skin Cell Forum