Slashdot Mirror


1st Heinlein Prize Awarded

baxissimo writes "The first ever Heinlein prize for Advances in Space Commercialization is going to be awarded to Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, for various activities including his efforts as Founder and Chairman of the Ansari X Prize. The prize is a cool 1/2 million USD plus a few other nifty trinkets -- a gold Heinlein Medallion, the Lady Vivamus Sword (as described in Heinlein's book Glory Road) and a Laureate's Diploma. The award ceremony will be held in Houston, July 7, 2006. This prize has been around a good while (since Heinlein's death in 1988?) with no awardees. Hopefully this will make the existence of the prize a little more widely known, and help spur further developments like the X Prize."

11 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. Space commercialization? by daniil · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is this like selling air?

    --
    Man is a slave because freedom is difficult, whereas slavery is easy.
    1. Re:Space commercialization? by GundamFan · · Score: 3, Funny

      No more like selling airplanes... You can have all the free space you want (remember to hold your breath). Me? I'm going to pay for a seat on the spaceship (with things like air and heat) if I go.

      --
      I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
      Mark Twain
    2. Re:Space commercialization? by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Get on the plane, get on the plane... I tell them FUCK YOU, I'm getting in the plane. Let Evel Knievel get ON the plane!"

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:Space commercialization? by Eric+S.+Smith · · Score: 3, Funny

      “space commercialization”:

      Is this like selling air?

      That could be the “Gillette” business model, sure. Send ’em up for cheap, and then ding ’em for the oxygen and the CO2 scrubbers. A little less transparently exploitative than the more obvious launch-for-free-and-charge-for-re-entry scam.

  2. So Good! by bepolite · · Score: 3, Funny

    I just hope after this Dr. Peter H. Diamandis remembers TINSTAAFL! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TINSTAAFL

    --
    Always be polite.
  3. Let me get this straight... by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...this is a prize for offering a prize?

    --
    Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.
    1. Re:Let me get this straight... by spezz · · Score: 5, Funny

      ...this is a prize for offering a prize?

      Exactly. And now that the first Heinlein prize has been handed out, the first Alfred Bester Award for excellence in the field of distributing the first Heinlein Prize can be given out as well.

  4. The best part? by dr_dank · · Score: 4, Funny

    He can yell "front!" at any time and have beautiful women available to do his bidding 24 hours a day. He even gets a fair witness included at no extra charge.

    --
    Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
  5. Re:The perfect lady by celardore · · Score: 4, Funny

    [Insert cutting remark here]

  6. Re:What is it with Heinlein? by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The problem with extreme left-wing socialistic science fiction is that there's no boobs or underage sex. It's soooo boring. :P

  7. Misplaced recognition by amightywind · · Score: 3, Funny
    awarded to Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, for various activities including his efforts as Founder and Chairman of the Ansari X Prize

    An award for someone who gave out an award? Why don't we recognise actual innovators?

    --
    an ill wind that blows no good