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'Space Vikings' Spark (Unfounded) NASA Waste Inquiry
sciencehabit writes "For Ved Chirayath, a graduate student and amateur fashion photographer, a photo project that involved NASA researchers dressed as Vikings was just a creative way to promote space science. 'I started this project hoping maybe one day some kid will look at it and say, 'I want to work for NASA,' ' says Chirayath, a student at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, who also works nearby at NASA's Ames Research Center. He never suspected that his fanciful image would put him in the crosshairs of a government waste investigation triggered by a senior U.S. senator."
The project was funded by an outside art grant. The best part: the investigation into the non-existent waste probably cost more than the "waste" would have were it funded by NASA in the first place.
I had absolutely no trouble parsing the headline. It makes perfect sense.
Perhaps you did not finish high school?
Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
heck might as well get alex baldwin too...
never bring a twinkie to a food fight.
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Who else thought of Viking Space Program? I can't be the only one.
The best part: the investigation into the non-existent waste probably cost more than the "waste" would have were it funded by NASA in the first place.
What kind of logic is that? Does the OP have knowledge of the future?
This money could be better used for banker bonuses like our bailout money was.
No problems parsing the headline. However, my twisted mental faculties imagined things much more entertaining than what eventually played out.....
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
The headline sounds like there is a problem with how NASA handles unusable chemicals (waste), not about how employees were able to have some fun while making some congress critters mad unexpectedly.
Is his thought and mine parsed enough for ya'?
Remember folks its all about Bread and Circuses. Seriously I wonder why we bother to pretend that society still exists.
Facts are history now plebs have politics for religion on social media.
They probably all already had their own costumes, so they didn't have to spend anything there.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
FYI: If you check TFA, you'll find the Slashdot headline is merely a slight variation on the original, so please take it up with the folks over at Science Insider.
Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
"This year [2008], the government-watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste named Grassley the fourth biggest GOP earmarker. The senator has proven himself a champion spender of other people’s money." http://spectator.org/archives/2008/06/10/chuck-grassley-king-of-pork
It has to be depressing to work for an organization where any diversion at all sparks a congressional investigation into your work.
I got no beef with the financial side of this because I have no reason to doubt the claim that no taxpayer money was used.
But is the stereotypical image of a viking really the one we want to present to the rest of the universe? Do we really want to frighten them by basically saying that we are going to invade their planets, kill whatever mostly resembles males, rape whatever mostly resembles females, and burn whatever mostly resembels crops?
I for one propose that we take a more humble and peaceful tone with alien brethen. Perhaps Space Mimes? Who could find that threatening? Or maybe Space Teletubbies? No, wait, NASA couldn't afford to use that trademark, especially not with this kind of heat from Senator Grumpypants (of the Iowa Grumpypants).
Space Kittens? I think that pretty much sums up a lot of people on Earth. Space Muppets? Was there already a Muppets in Space movie?
One do-gooder congressman complained about seeing lots of people sitting around reading when he visited the National Science Foundation.
It's pointless to criticize if you don't offer an alternative. How about "Space Vikings Spark Unfounded Accusation of Wasteful Spending at NASA"
Me no like dotty things or curly things around words, dotty things and curly things around words so scary!
Seems perfectly valid to inquire as to why NASA employees are participating in a non-work activity during working hours. Since the photographs are identified as having been taken on Friday Dec 14, 2012 and the photos appear to have been taken during the day, it's completely valid to determine whether the NASA employees took a vacation day or whether they just slipped away from the office.
I heard a PR talk of NASA-funded 100 Starship Project earlier this year. before I heard the talk I thought it might be a good idea to plan for the next century, but now I am not sure. It seemed very emphemeral. They commission annual conferences and give talks to school kids. The technologies seemed way too hypotheticlal.
Senator Grassley has six offices in Iowa.
http://www.grassley.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
How much does that cost the taxpayers? /Potatoe
I doubt he's paying for that -- he isn't sitting in six different offices all the time, is he?
Wow NASA probably spent hundreds of dollars funding this extravagant photo-op. Yes, considering how small NASA's budget is, you can confidently say NASA spent the majority of its funding on this photo shoot.
Claiming that the waste investigation costs more than the loss from the waste is meaningless. In order to see if the cost is worth it, you can't compare the waste that was caught to the cost of the investigation. You have to compare the waste that there would be without any investigation, to the cost of the investigation. As investigation discourages waste, the latter number is larger than the former number.
In light of the IRS making Star Trek training videos I really don't see any problem with digging into all Government entities searching for waste. Glad they didn't find it here, but I'm also glad the checked.
Do not meddle in the affairs of sysadmins, for they are subtle, and quick to anger.
This shouldn't surprise anyone. The federal bureaucracy has recently been astonished to discover that their excess money disposal activities aren't particularly amusing to the public. One of the symptoms of this disconnect has been stupid parody video productions emerging from both the GSA and IRS. Confusing this NASA vikings thing with that is understandable.
Damage from corruption is subtle; the chilling effects of suspicion not the least of these.
I think they are just checking that NASA isn't wasnting money like the IRS did. The IRS used govemerment funds to create Star Trek videos with upper managment in them.
Senators should be spending their time creating work-around laws to the Constitution, rather than waste it with this nonsense.
When the vikings came to North America they didn't commit genocide... just sayin'...
Using your somewhat misinformed perspective: Only because they were outnumbered, had no firearms and were wiped out by the natives. The vikings hardly abstained from raiding, warfare or colonization.
Why is your perspective somewhat misinformed? The genocide of native american peoples was not really from guns and steel, it was really from germs. Vikings would also have carried european diseases that native americans had little to no immunity against.
Even if european colonists had been friendly, honest, fair and caring neighbors the native americans would have been largely wiped out by european diseases.
If you want to go fishing for corruption, why not go look in more obvious place like where 24% of the budget gets spent? That would be a much better payoff if you want to clean up corrupt funding. Otherwise, I would file this under "because, space geeks" and stop spending money on the witch hunt.
[*] http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/federal_budget_actual
Join the Slashcott! Feb 10 thru Feb 17!
*sigh*
'Space Vikings' Spark (Unfounded) NASA Waste Inquiry
{Adjectival Noun + Noun} | Verb | {(Adjective) + Adjectival Noun + Adjectival Noun + Noun}
Subject | Verb | Object
I can tell the US education system has gone to shit when I'm reduced to defending Slashdot editors' word choices by diagramming sentences for dunderheads who were allowed to sleep all the way through 8th grade.
Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
Grassley has to pander to his base. Verifiable facts, science, and technical achievement make them feed inadequate. He knows exactly what he is doing. Generally the places where the GOP is in control are the places where stupidity is considered a virtue.
Why is Snark Required?
Someone should contact Paul Gazis, as he's the author of the (un)official NASA procedure for dealing with Viking raids.
http://paulgazis.com/Humor/Vikings.htm
The history of the procedure is here.
http://paulgazis.com/Humor/Vikings_History_Of_This_Page/Vikings_History_Of_This_Page.htm
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Funny thing, I didn't even have to read TFA to know it was a Republican congresscritter.
Correct response to Grassley: (in baby talk) "who's a braying ass? YOU're a braying ass, yes you are!
Here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20728
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
I know what you mean, I guessed it was a Republican who was complaining about waste. The only time Republicans complain about waste is when a Democrat has the Office of President, otherwise they are the largest wasters if money around.
Most headlines not matter where it is, are very rarely complete sentences. It would be like bitch about a title to a book because it is not a complete sentence.
FTA:
Last year, Chirayath began working at ARC, where he helps develop small, compact research satellites known as “CubeSats.” The technology, developed in part at Stanford, reminded him of Viking explorers who, from the eighth through 11th centuries, “travelled farther and saw more in much smaller ships than had been used before their time.”
mission is to try to send a rocket to heaven and find Jesus.
You, good gentleperson, have won one (1) internets. Please spend wisely.
Bits of code, random ramblings: jakimfett.com
"Hey, lets shed our nerdy image by cosplaying!"
Table-ized A.I.
Sure, the government (and its employees) sometimes blow money on amazingly stupid stuff. Sometimes the amounts of money involved seem mind-boggling to thee and me. But take a step back and look at things in perspective; compared to the real gross abuses going on (corruption from post-facto bribes and regulatory capture, the implementation of secret programs of all stripes, idiotic policies, and poor implemention) 'waste' isn't anywhere near being one of the U.S. Federal Government's more serious problems.
What planet are you from? No one loves big government, programs, and initiatives more than the Left, that's just well accepted. (well.. unless it's defense, then the Right sort of takes a lead)
No, I guessed it was a republican because this is slashdot, and some of us must make them look bad at every single, tiny, inconsequential opportunity.
This entire article is much ado about nothing, must be a slow news day; it's set to throw off suspicion of waste because they found *one* false positive, (stop the presses!) so they try to totally discredit the guy trying to prevent waste, while it's actually a good thing he's doing all in all. Sure, he screwed it up this time because the funding source wasn't what he thought, but there is truly stupid crap they catch too.
Lesson, kids: let's not try to prevent waste in government, that's just mean-spirited; instead, thou shalt not question the government's judgement in spending!
Wasteful spending of both Left and Right is something we should be on the lookout for, and crucifying a guy for a stupid mistake doesn't help.
Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
I suppose I'm the only one who misread "unfounded" in the headline as "unfunded", given the general topic. Here it would work even nicer.
Ezekiel 23:20
I'll disagree somewhat. We have constant campaigns against 'Fraud, Waste, and Abuse'. An earmark that actually results in a bridge(that will be used) being built would be Abuse, not waste.
Fraud: Selling/buying counterfeit Chinese parts rather than the real ones that will actually last through use.
Waste: Contracting construction of a building, screwing up the work document such that they end up tearing it down due to safety concerns.
Abuse: Claiming porn/alcohol/pay per view on your travel voucher.
I don't read AC A human right
This reminds me of the CDC's Zombie preparedness memo.
Some people bitched about the 'waste of funds' and such. The CDC pointed out that from their metrics it was viewed OVER 100X as much as their normal releases, for approximately equal preparation cost. Plus, well, if you're prepared for zombies, you're prepared about as well as you can be for many natural and unnatural disasters. The advice in the release was still standard disease/disaster prep stuff.
I don't read AC A human right
Clearly they have violated Standard NASA Ames Procedures for dealing with this sort of thing.
They failed to fill out a both the DARC-820AD -- 'Identifying a Barbarian Attack' and FF-1066AD -- 'Report of Viking Raid' forms.
I'm going to print myself a bumper sticker that says "Fund NASA, not NSA".
I've been politically aware since Carter was president and during that whole time the Democrats have been labeled the party of "tax and spend", the party without fiscal restraint. During that whole time I've also been witness to the utter hypocrisy of every Republican administration 1) expanding spending grotesquely, 2) expanding government employment, and 3) reducing revenues dramatically. Chart the federal deficit for the last half century and then come back and tell me which party has the most questionable judgement about spending. (Hint: there has only been one administration in a hundred years that ran a budget surplus.)
Much as I loathe the Democrats, the Republicans are even worse on every single issue that I can think of except the Second Amendment.
"Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
A "senior US Senator" can sense waste like Yoda sensed the death of billions. The odor of PORK draws those strong in the dark side and no one is stronger in the dark side than the dysfunctional losers who run for political office in this country
errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?
I think actually the issue in question is poking fun at those who have raised "Picking Nits" to an artform. Yes, its a wee bit childish.
NASA is required to engage in educational outreach. They even have a budget for it. A member of the House was questioning why it was cut during recent budget cuts. Hiring a local cosplay group might cost several thousands at most. I guess the Senator could have some teachers investigate its educational efficacy.
Well, as long as you have a replacement for your penis, nothing else really matters, does it?
Don't fool yourself, the Republicans and small government parted ways years ago. They also parted ways with government staying out of people's lives. DHS, and the TSA weren't invented and over-funded by a Democrat (to be fair they haven't been de-funded by a Democrat either). The trillion dollar bank bailouts and the needless trillion dollar war weren't started by a Democrat either (again, also not ended by one). We did have a balanced budget under Clinton. I guessed it was a Republican because the complaint was about NASA and there's a Democrat in office.
The conservatives who wanted a small government that stays out of people's lives have mostly given up on the neocon dominated Republican party now.
The congress, who authorizes all the spending and provides the taxpayer money to each agency, was not aware that the IRS had spent millions of dollars making itself a nice shiny new TV recording/broadcasting setup... they are SUPPOSED to be collecting taxes and publishing clear, understandable tax forms and booklets. They're supposed to be PROFESSIONALS who should not even need "training" to learn to work as a team or to do their basic jobs. The specific Star Trek video abomination was just the frosting on the cake
Sheeesh, try watching something other than the in-the-tank-for-obama media (ABC,CBS,CNN,NBC,MSNBC,PBS...)
I didn't say they were right about the Second Amendment, just that they are slightly less-wrong.
"Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
You are deflecting...
It does not matter how much of a wasteful pig the investigator is... the congress is charged with oversight of how the executive branch spends the money that the congress gives it. The President is supposed to make sure his branch, the executive, is spending the money wisely, and the congress is supposed to be there overseeing this as a check on him. The investigator might be the most-honest and least-wasteful guy or he might be the most-dishonest and most-wasteful guy, but that has nothing to do with whether or not, or to what degree, the executive branch is misbehaving and wasting money. The two items are entirely separate issues... unless you are at MSNBC and desperate to help the Obama administration hide its failures.
This seems to be the dog-ate-my-homework administration; every misdeed (whether unintentional or intentional...I'm not making that judgement here) is responded to with excuses and misdirections:
Oooh, look over there!
Squirrel!
The dog did it!
George did it!
We lost the paperwork!
I don't remember!
Everybody else gets away with it! ......
The IRS employees are not qualified for their jobs and so the taxpayers need to spend millions of dollars building a studio and making "training films" and sending the employees to resorts so they can learn "teamwork" and learn to do their jobs.
Yeah
right
Fire 'em all and next time hire people who are qualified... oh, and don't allow them to join a Democrat-party-affiliated labor union that will tempt them to use their positions and access to private tax records to go after non-Democrats
I've got a great idea... let's not reform them at all... and then next time a Republican is president he should stack the IRS full of Jerry Falwell followers and they in-turn should use the IRS to go after Democrats and and gays .... that would be just fine with you and a "phony scandal" right? If you are ok the actions of team obama but you would be upset by THIS scenario then you are just a disingenuous partisan hack... go back under your bridge!
Republicans have long backed the space program and were an integral part of the effort that blocked Obama's 2010 attempt to end the US manned spaceflight program. It was a Republican, named Bush, who created the constellation program to go back to the moon and on to mars and also created the commercial cargo program to encourage companies like spacex to build rockets and capsules to re-supply the ISS. Without the Republicans, there would be NO manned spaceflight efforts at NASA today (the Obama "commercial crew" program was in response to congress refusing to allow Obama to kill American manned spaceflight; it's built upon the Bush commercial cargo program and meant to justify and distract from Obama's 2010 Kill program)
Even now, Obama is only reluctantly building a large rocket that will be needed for a moon or mars program (because bi-partisan congressional actions are FORCING him to) but he is slow-walking the program while he works to get rid of the facilities needed to actually support a moon or Mars mission; He is currently trying to get rid of Pad39A... which will leave only Pad39B for launching SLS (which will mean there will be insufficient launch facilities to launch multiple SLS vehicles in a short window for a mars mission) Multiple pads would be needed for such a mission because pads need to be refurbished between launches and fuel in an upper-stage in orbit boils-off at a fairly high rate... and as big as SLS would be, it will still require several launches to place the mass of a full mars mission into orbit.
It was Democrat senator Walter Mondale who worked hardest to kill the Apollo program in the 60's and 70's (in the usual Democrat mindless appeal of shifting all money for progress and technology over into hand-out programs for the poor) and it was Democrat Lyndon Johnson's administration that killed-off the production lines for the giant Saturn moon rockets. By the time Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon in 1969 (just 6 months into Nixon's presidency) the last Saturn rocket parts had been built and stored and the production lines had already been idled. Nixon was a jerk, but he DID order and fund the shuttle program, without which NASA's manned spaceflight program could have ended in the early 1970's
Take your faux Republicans-are-anti-science propaganda to a place like kos or huffpo where mindless fools will fall for it. Republicans are for all sorts of high tech engineering and science that many Democrats hate/fear like nuclear power, missile defense systems, supersonic jets, even things like nuclear rocket engines (Bush even briefly re-started that effort before tight budgets stopped it). Democrats are often anti-GM-crops (an anti-science position) and refuse to accept the science that says unborn children have their own unique genetic codes and can feel pain at 20 weeks, etc. Many democrats are ant-science when it comes to power generation, refusing to even believe that wind and solar are insufficient sources of energy for the national power grid (not understanding the way the grid works and the FACT that their favored sources of power must be backed-up by reliable high-capacity sources (like nuclear or fossil-fueled plants) to fill-in all the dips in power provided sun and wind which are always fluctuating in the real-world.
Try facts next time
Did Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), the Senate Judiciary Committee’s top Republican, think they were real Vikings?