Boeing Successfully Launches Mammoth Delta-4 Heavy

nick-bts writes "CNN, the BBC and Space.com are reporting the first successful launch of the new Boeing Delta-4 Heavy, capable of lifting 23 tonnes into a low-Earth orbit (similar to the space shuttle). Personally I think the Ariane 5 and 'Satan' are way sexier..."

Comments

This doesn't seem like progress to me

[hey]

How about a new approach.

Re:space shuttle why now?

[StressedEd]

You're like a liberal who thinks the gov't can end poverty by wealth redistribution.

[offtopic I know]

That implies a strange type of liberalism, I'm guessing you're American. A good round-up of Liberal* can be found here and the American flavour here.

It's always struck me as ironic that calling something or someone a liberal is viewed as a bad thing in the "Land of the Free". I assume it's just a FUD campaign by the ultra-wrongwingers to make people think "Liberal"==="Evil Satanist". [rant ends]

Re:space shuttle why now?

[slashdot_commentator]

That implies a strange type of liberalism, I'm guessing you're American.

Guilty as charged. You probably wouldn't think so from this post

A good round-up of Liberal* can be found here and the American flavour here.

Interesting too. Not a political scientist; wasn't aware of that sort of nuance in the definition of liberalism.

It's always struck me as ironic that calling something or someone a liberal is viewed as a bad thing in the "Land of the Free". I assume it's just a FUD campaign by the ultra-wrongwingers to make people think "Liberal"==="Evil Satanist".

To further compound the irony, I consider myself more liberal in political orientation. While I consider most American conservatives (that would vote for GWB) as blustering, whiney, cheerleading morons, I do think that American liberals will need to rehabilitate their image by precisely defining the label in more pragmatic terms and letting go of their policy failures. Gov't can't end poverty by wealth redistribution. LBJ's Great Society was a failure as a "liberal" program. Stop depending on traditional gov't structures to correct societal problems (except health care).

Example: if you're going to push for things like school lunch subsidy programs, make sure you point out how relatively inexpensive it is, and its results. Then do not go and say if you have feeding programs for anyone poor, that you'll get the same results and it will be worthwhile. Any "liberal" that does so needs to be verbally abused, badly. Or, carefully point out that the "progressive" aspects of tax policy is a good, "liberal" thing, and conservatives are thieves that don't want to pay any taxes, just stick the bill on the non-rich. (Assuming of course, one doesn't "want" a flat tax policy.) Start attacking gov't subsidy of corporations, and attach that thievery as "conservative". (Of course it won't happen, because the system is rigged.)

Re:space shuttle why now?

[StressedEd]

Of course it won't happen, because the system is rigged.

Ahh the classic rub. Come now, you're not coming over all cynical about your democracy are you? ;-)

Well, I'm off home for a well-earned break. All the best for the new year.