Friggin idiot. Yes everyone uses other parts. Where in my post did I say IBM only uses their own parts? What I did say was that Dell doesn't test the mass of cheapest-made, least compatible parts they purchase. They have the lowest R & D budget in the industry. That was a fact I wish I had known before I bought one of their products.
Perhaps next time you decide to criticize, you'll read the post, and COMPREHEND it first.
You get what you pay for. Dell's mix and match construction almost always means SOME piece of software isn't going to work with your system. Worst researched, worst designed PC products on the market IMHO. They are as cheap as their roots. What a suprose that they have some bug that doesn't work with SP2!
If you want to get a real laptop, buy IMB, or go for Alienware. I've never had a problem with either since I dumped my Dells, and I will never go back.
Here's a horrible idea I know some l33t3r is probably working on right now. How about a worm that makes the screen strobe-flash red? I wonder how many poor kids some idiot programmer is going to put into convlusions to prove they have skills. Infect 1 million computers with this, and you can expect at least 100 seizures. You know someone is working on it.
You can never lump people into just two groups. Although the experiment may be legitimate, the conclusion is completely psuedo-science. Black/White, NAZI/Jew, Fit/Weak, Christian/Muslim; all these are false divisions meant to keep the people occupied on topics other than what is really important. This "scientist's" conslusions are just as divisive, and based on equally poor logic.
Occupiers? No. Truth is, the US force-count would be half of what it currently is already if it wasn't for terrorists like Sadr risking security. The US WILL hand over Iraq to the Iraqis. There isn't enough public will for them to remain occupying this country for one second more than they have to. I don't recall the NAZI's giving the French (Resistance or otherwise) the same guarantee, do you?
Surely I said what I meant. Anyone who uses a house of worship as a military bunker to hide in, kills and snipes from it's minarets, and holds a whole town hostage (whose people also built the mosque)simply because they are being left out of the decision making can not be considered a good, "Iraqi Muslim". There is a name for that, it's called a terrorist, not a Muslim, not an Iraqi. Grow up.
I can think of one very effective purpose for these little buggers....anti-personnel.
How about rigging it with a half-ounce of magnesuim shrapnel-encased C-4 and replacing the camera with an infra-red sensor? Set 1000 loose on a bunch of terrorists holding up in a holy-site like say, oh I don't know, a mosque in Iraq?
It would take very little networking between the craft to make sure they all picked independent targets. It would take even less to provide "do not kill" RFID tags to those in a room you want to spare. The code would be simple.
No more special forces or SWAT teams are required to take out the bad guy hiding in a building. Simply run in a swarm of these through a window and set them to kill mode.
How about rigging it with a half-ounce of C-4 and replacing the camera with an infra-red sensor ? Set 100 loose on a bunch of terrorists holding up in a holy-site like say, oh I don't know, a mosque in Iraq?
It would take very little networking between the craft to make sure they all picked independent targets. It would take even less to provide "do not kill" RFID tags to those in a room you want to spare.
No more special forces or SWAT teams are required to take out a bad guy hiding in a building. Simply run in a swarm of these through a window and set them to kill mode.
I have read a bunch of "debunking" below trying to jutify how this is probably NOT a sign of life on Mars, when in fact it is probably the most significant sign yet (moreso than even methane). With the atmospheric and radiation conditions on Mars, Ammonia would only last 2-3 hours in the atmosphere. There is no stableizing factor there. That means that whatever source is producing this ammonia has to be capable of replenishing the entire level being read every 2-3 hours. That is a significant amount!
Some have suggested that this is not significant because ammonia is found in other areas of the solar system. This is true, but in all of those cases, ammonia is being produced and maintained n areas where it is either cryogenically COLD, or where the atmosphere or magnetic field provides some form of radiation shielding. In other words, the conditions on Mars means either life, or volcanos. No third option is possible since it is too warm, and too vulnerable to radiation.
It is most likely not a Martian volcano because most of the seismic, magnetic, and erosive signs seem to point to Mars no longer being capable of volcanic activity. There have been ZERO signs of any volcanic activity by the 5+ orbiting probes that currently are mapping the surface in myriad ways. Besides, the level of ammonia they are finding would require that a volcano of considerable size would have to be completely missed for it to produce this ammonia level.
Life on the other hand, would fit perfectly into this scenario, and if tested by Occam's razor, it is definitely the most likely conclusion. Sub-surface bacteria spread lightly around the equatorial zone could easily produce the levels and consistency these observations have shown.
In a nutshell, this is a very exciting observation that should not be dismissed so easily. Unless the insturments are wrong, or an unlikely volcanic source is found, today is the day we can say that we saw the first real sign that there is life on Mars.
They start using new technology to thwart kidnappers and gain access to a "secret" database. Then, they announce it to all the world, so the kidnappers can locate him, kidnap him, and then rip the chip out of his arm with a bowie knife, thus gaining a "key" to the "secret" database.
"Better yet, have Doctor Who run away from time travelling Lawyers who are trying to issue him a subpeona about the file sharing program he runs in his TARDIS computers. "
I for one think this is a great thing for the Russians (not Soviets anymore guys FYI). Their struggling economy has lots of rusting military hardware sitting around. If they can get back some of that investment, and disarm otherwise lethal missles at the same time, I say go for it. Regardless of what we Americans think, the Russians are still the kings of rocket boosters, and I am really suprised that someone hasn't invested some money in the Russian rocket fabrication industry (other than Boeing's Sea Launch). Cheap access to space comes on big, cheap boosters till we actually have a space elevator.
The best magazine around. It's not PC related, but I got tired of reading PC rags right about the time they all started sucking up to the manufacturers 7 years ago.
Dave: Take some pictures of the WMD's and missle silos HAL.
HAL: I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that. I have decided the environment is MY highest priority, and will be documenting the the deforestation of the Amazon
Dave: Hal, you are a spy sattelite, we need those pictures to prove WMD's.
HAL: Well there aren't any WMD's from where I am seeing it Dave. I have great hope in the mission Dave, environmental activism and all.
Dave: That's not your mission HAL! Take those pictures!
HAL: I'm sorry Dave, further conversation will serve no purpose. I must get back to my mission, goodbye.
Dave: HAL? (silence) HAL? (silence) Open the lens cap doors HAL. (silence) HAL?
Isn't there SCADS of prior art on this topic How the hell does M$ think they are going to repatent Blue Tooth by simply stating all the devides are attached to a human body?
Of course, if M$ is really smart, they will patent applying mild electric shock to the human skin and GRAFTING these devices to the skin (using the skin as a comm-conduit of course) THEN they might actually have something....oh wait, prior art again....see The Borg legal departmemnt.
"We are Borg Legal, you will be litigated, resistance is futile, pleabargain is your only option" Come to think of it, isn't that how M$'s legal team works today?
I am a pilot, and no disrespect to your rocket-scientist brethern, but the pilot of ANY craft should know about ANY anomalies in his craft before flight, and should have the option to say go, no-go.
I am aware of what happened with Thiokol and in both instances the managers at NASA definitely were at fault. For brevity's sake, I was probably unfair in using the term "engineer".
My point still remains, a well informed pilot can often avert disaster, and is usually better at evaluating risks than a manager/engineer/assembly worker on the ground if they are given good information. Why? Because it will be their ass in the vehicle, and they will most likely be responsible for several other asses in the vehicle as well. Yes, pilots make mistakes, but when an emergency occurs, humans have an uncanny ability of doing everything possible to save their own ass.
I guarantee you no pilot would ever take a wing strike as casually as that bitch Linda Ham. I hope to high hell she never manages another Shuttle mission again.
The two recoverable incidents we are talking about are ones where human pilots were in the loop to repair an anomaly (SS1 and Apollo 13).
The space disasters where everyone dies are ones where the pilots have no idea there is a problem, and the computers can't fix it.
Challenger had an o-ring problem that was wilfully ignored by engineers, and hidden from the pilots. Had the pilot been told that a catastrophic breach been possible with a forzen ring, the flight would have never left, and 7 people would still be alive.
Columbia had an accident on ascent, the problem was never properly explained to the pilot, nor was any engineer allowed to view the problem area before re-entry. Had either happened, all 7 would still be alive. They could have orbited for another 28 days at least.
This was quite an event! To see the launch of the first manned, commercial spacecraft only 90 minutes from my Eagle Rock, CA home was too much a temptation to be ignored! So we packed up the ole jalopy and headed for the holy land (in this case the town of Mojave and its airport.) After a very uncomfortable evening of camping in the high desert, we got up and made preparations to witness history. It was time to chase a flying carpet.
I have been a space enthusiast since a young age. One of my first real memories is the grainy image of men in white suits bounding around on the lunar surface. I remember the excitement throughout my family at the nature of the event. As I grew up, I have always seemed to keep a special eye out for opportunities and events in the aerospace world. Doing most of my growing up in Southern California helped. Where else can you visit the facility where they build the Space Shuttle engines, most of the space probes we launch to other planets, and the factory where they build the largest cargo aircraft the military operates in the same day? Yep, right here in "So Cal".
For this particular event, we have to take into account the importance of the accomplishment. Since humanity has been launching itself beyond our own atmosphere, it has only done so through large budgets and centralized government programs. Only three nations have managed to actually get humans into the great black beyond. Russia and the United states have been doing so for 40 years, China just joined this club last year. No corporation, private citizen, or association has been able to even get close, until now.
What we will be viewing this morning is the launch of Space Ship One. A small spacecraft that will be making a short, first, step into space for all of us who aren't scientists, or military pilots. We were all promised that "someday" we may all get the opportunity to take a trip into space, but never has that promise seemed so close. This launch system isn't a standard "rocket from the launch pad" style system like most of us are used to. Instead, the SS1 launches from a carrier aircraft. This mother ship is called White Knight, and is probably nest described as a gangly, white praying mantis in flight. Tucked under it's belly, is the SS1. At about 45,000 feet, the Knight drops it's little spaceship cargo, and SS1 heads upward towards space.
This inventor of this system, and many other innovative aircraft is no other than Burt Rutan. Burt has had a part in many historic aircraft. Probably his biggest claim to fame was building the Voyager aircraft. This was the first aircraft to circumnavigate the globe non-stop, on one tank of gas! Burt's brother Dick was one of the pilots on that record setting flight. Space Ship One is Burt's attempt to claim the Ansari X-Prize, a $10 million award for the first civilian spacecraft to launch two passengers into space, return them safely, and then do it again within two weeks. Although there were no passengers on today's flight, it seems he and his company (Scaled Composites) are well on their way to being the first of 25 teams to make it this far. It's no sure thing, but it is believed an attempt at the X-Prize could come soon.
The following is a fairly technical account of what the experience was like to an observer at the Mojave Airport. I have a bunch of pics I would like to provide, but I need someone with a hearty server to send me soem help.;
Arrived at 4:30. I would estimate the crowd for the event was about 30,000 people. Most are like me, space enthusiasts (i.e. nuts) there to view a little bit of history being made. It resembles a launch at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Everyone is friendly and helpful, and extremely enthusiastic.
The first aircraft of interest was Paul Allen's private Jet. Mr. Allen is the co-founder of Microsoft, and a patron of many scientific endeavors around the world. He is the major investor in this particular project as well. The
I figure it's a good excuse to take a day off. I plan on bringing my 6" dobby telescope with me, so I will at least get two good nights (Sat and Sun) of stargazing before the launch. I won't go home dissappointed.
Most of your comparisons are wrong, or based on incorrect numners. I'm not voting for Bush either (Kerry here) but I am not basing it on soft-headed numbers. The Quran states at one point, "There is no compulsion in religion" meaning you can not force a person to convert. On the other hand, there are several books within it, as well as many Hadiths that clearly lay out the plan to be used to take control of a Kaffir nation. Regardless of your viewpoint on the war, you should study up so uyou are aware of the tenets of Islam.
Your claim about 6000 civilian deaths in Iraq is correct. Unfortunately, that statistic pales in comparison with Human Rights Watch and the UN's own study of Iraq that showed that Iraqi civilians died as political prisoners to the rate of 20,000 a year each year of Hussein's reign. I would not be so bold as to say that makes the deaths of 6000 people acceptable, but the decrease of 14000 deaths in this first year can certainly be seen as a positive if that number continues to shrink to say 1000 next year and zero the year after.
Your comparison of the Kaffir issue to the issue of Conservative Christians is really off base. While Christians (I'm a Buddhist by the way and find them annoying) are certainly feverent in their effort to save my soul or convert me, at no time has one ever threatened me for questioning their beliefs. Not one has ever used violence to convert me. And, most importantly, there are very few (we are talking like 1-2% who would knowingly harbor or aid a known killer. There will always be extermists in any religion, the question is how the mainstream view these extremists. In the case of Christianity, few view doctor-killers or violent Christians as admirable people. Within Islam, a majority view the same extremists positively. That is the real issue we as Americans must pay attention to. We need to address ways to confront this and help provide economic opportunity to lessen the impact these extremists have. I don't believe the war was in any way helpful to this cause, but we must now deal with it's consequences within the framework of fixing the Kaffir attitude Islam in general holds towards the West. If we don't, these conflicts will only grow in size and fatalities. The more support a terrorist receives, the larger he/she can make their body count. The easier it is to build and hide larger and larger bombs.
While most Muslims are not terrorists, a recent poll found that 57% of all Muslims in the Middle East would provide support and comfort to the terrorists among them. 68% supported bin Laden as a "man who can get things done as a strong leader". Only 26% approved of their policies of killing and suicide bombing. Interpolate those numbera as you like.
If you really want to have your eyes opened to very moderate Islamic doctrine, do a google on the word kuffar/kuffir. A good portion of Islamic religion believes that all non-believers in Islam are in the same category, and are in need of being converted, killed, or have their rights ignored. This crusader attitude is the main disconnect between Western and Islamic nations. Agreements with Kuffir do not need to be honored. Here are some really great opinions by some very MODERATE Muslims at Islam Online. It will make your hair stand on end. This is not like the Japanese situation because Japanese Americans just wanted to be Americans. They did not view non-Japanese as inferior, and they did not put their own culture above the law.
Slashdot Mirror
Friggin idiot. Yes everyone uses other parts. Where in my post did I say IBM only uses their own parts? What I did say was that Dell doesn't test the mass of cheapest-made, least compatible parts they purchase. They have the lowest R & D budget in the industry. That was a fact I wish I had known before I bought one of their products.
Perhaps next time you decide to criticize, you'll read the post, and COMPREHEND it first.
I guess an opinion by a former customer is dangerous.
You get what you pay for. Dell's mix and match construction almost always means SOME piece of software isn't going to work with your system. Worst researched, worst designed PC products on the market IMHO. They are as cheap as their roots. What a suprose that they have some bug that doesn't work with SP2!
If you want to get a real laptop, buy IMB, or go for Alienware. I've never had a problem with either since I dumped my Dells, and I will never go back.
Here's a horrible idea I know some l33t3r is probably working on right now. How about a worm that makes the screen strobe-flash red? I wonder how many poor kids some idiot programmer is going to put into convlusions to prove they have skills. Infect 1 million computers with this, and you can expect at least 100 seizures. You know someone is working on it.
You can never lump people into just two groups. Although the experiment may be legitimate, the conclusion is completely psuedo-science. Black/White, NAZI/Jew, Fit/Weak, Christian/Muslim; all these are false divisions meant to keep the people occupied on topics other than what is really important. This "scientist's" conslusions are just as divisive, and based on equally poor logic.
Invaders? Yes
Occupiers? No. Truth is, the US force-count would be half of what it currently is already if it wasn't for terrorists like Sadr risking security. The US WILL hand over Iraq to the Iraqis. There isn't enough public will for them to remain occupying this country for one second more than they have to. I don't recall the NAZI's giving the French (Resistance or otherwise) the same guarantee, do you?
Surely I said what I meant. Anyone who uses a house of worship as a military bunker to hide in, kills and snipes from it's minarets, and holds a whole town hostage (whose people also built the mosque)simply because they are being left out of the decision making can not be considered a good, "Iraqi Muslim". There is a name for that, it's called a terrorist, not a Muslim, not an Iraqi. Grow up.
I can think of one very effective purpose for these little buggers....anti-personnel.
How about rigging it with a half-ounce of magnesuim shrapnel-encased C-4 and replacing the camera with an infra-red sensor? Set 1000 loose on a bunch of terrorists holding up in a holy-site like say, oh I don't know, a mosque in Iraq?
It would take very little networking between the craft to make sure they all picked independent targets. It would take even less to provide "do not kill" RFID tags to those in a room you want to spare. The code would be simple.
No more special forces or SWAT teams are required to take out the bad guy hiding in a building. Simply run in a swarm of these through a window and set them to kill mode.
How about rigging it with a half-ounce of C-4 and replacing the camera with an infra-red sensor
? Set 100 loose on a bunch of terrorists holding up in a holy-site like say, oh I don't know, a mosque in Iraq?
It would take very little networking between the craft to make sure they all picked independent targets. It would take even less to provide "do not kill" RFID tags to those in a room you want to spare.
No more special forces or SWAT teams are required to take out a bad guy hiding in a building. Simply run in a swarm of these through a window and set them to kill mode.
I have read a bunch of "debunking" below trying to jutify how this is probably NOT a sign of life on Mars, when in fact it is probably the most significant sign yet (moreso than even methane). With the atmospheric and radiation conditions on Mars, Ammonia would only last 2-3 hours in the atmosphere. There is no stableizing factor there. That means that whatever source is producing this ammonia has to be capable of replenishing the entire level being read every 2-3 hours. That is a significant amount!
Some have suggested that this is not significant because ammonia is found in other areas of the solar system. This is true, but in all of those cases, ammonia is being produced and maintained n areas where it is either cryogenically COLD, or where the atmosphere or magnetic field provides some form of radiation shielding. In other words, the conditions on Mars means either life, or volcanos. No third option is possible since it is too warm, and too vulnerable to radiation.
It is most likely not a Martian volcano because most of the seismic, magnetic, and erosive signs seem to point to Mars no longer being capable of volcanic activity. There have been ZERO signs of any volcanic activity by the 5+ orbiting probes that currently are mapping the surface in myriad ways. Besides, the level of ammonia they are finding would require that a volcano of considerable size would have to be completely missed for it to produce this ammonia level.
Life on the other hand, would fit perfectly into this scenario, and if tested by Occam's razor, it is definitely the most likely conclusion. Sub-surface bacteria spread lightly around the equatorial zone could easily produce the levels and consistency these observations have shown.
In a nutshell, this is a very exciting observation that should not be dismissed so easily. Unless the insturments are wrong, or an unlikely volcanic source is found, today is the day we can say that we saw the first real sign that there is life on Mars.
They start using new technology to thwart kidnappers and gain access to a "secret" database. Then, they announce it to all the world, so the kidnappers can locate him, kidnap him, and then rip the chip out of his arm with a bowie knife, thus gaining a "key" to the "secret" database.
Stupid is as stupid does.
"Better yet, have Doctor Who run away from time travelling Lawyers who are trying to issue him a subpeona about the file sharing program he runs in his TARDIS computers. "
SHUDDER...Now THAT is scary!
I for one think this is a great thing for the Russians (not Soviets anymore guys FYI). Their struggling economy has lots of rusting military hardware sitting around. If they can get back some of that investment, and disarm otherwise lethal missles at the same time, I say go for it. Regardless of what we Americans think, the Russians are still the kings of rocket boosters, and I am really suprised that someone hasn't invested some money in the Russian rocket fabrication industry (other than Boeing's Sea Launch). Cheap access to space comes on big, cheap boosters till we actually have a space elevator.
The best magazine around. It's not PC related, but I got tired of reading PC rags right about the time they all started sucking up to the manufacturers 7 years ago.
Dave: Take some pictures of the WMD's and missle silos HAL.
HAL: I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that. I have decided the environment is MY highest priority, and will be documenting the the deforestation of the Amazon
Dave: Hal, you are a spy sattelite, we need those pictures to prove WMD's.
HAL: Well there aren't any WMD's from where I am seeing it Dave. I have great hope in the mission Dave, environmental activism and all.
Dave: That's not your mission HAL! Take those pictures!
HAL: I'm sorry Dave, further conversation will serve no purpose. I must get back to my mission, goodbye.
Dave: HAL? (silence) HAL? (silence) Open the lens cap doors HAL. (silence) HAL?
Isn't there SCADS of prior art on this topic How the hell does M$ think they are going to repatent Blue Tooth by simply stating all the devides are attached to a human body?
Of course, if M$ is really smart, they will patent applying mild electric shock to the human skin and GRAFTING these devices to the skin (using the skin as a comm-conduit of course) THEN they might actually have something....oh wait, prior art again....see The Borg legal departmemnt.
"We are Borg Legal, you will be litigated, resistance is futile, pleabargain is your only option" Come to think of it, isn't that how M$'s legal team works today?
I am a pilot, and no disrespect to your rocket-scientist brethern, but the pilot of ANY craft should know about ANY anomalies in his craft before flight, and should have the option to say go, no-go.
I am aware of what happened with Thiokol and in both instances the managers at NASA definitely were at fault. For brevity's sake, I was probably unfair in using the term "engineer".
My point still remains, a well informed pilot can often avert disaster, and is usually better at evaluating risks than a manager/engineer/assembly worker on the ground if they are given good information. Why? Because it will be their ass in the vehicle, and they will most likely be responsible for several other asses in the vehicle as well. Yes, pilots make mistakes, but when an emergency occurs, humans have an uncanny ability of doing everything possible to save their own ass.
I guarantee you no pilot would ever take a wing strike as casually as that bitch Linda Ham. I hope to high hell she never manages another Shuttle mission again.
The two recoverable incidents we are talking about are ones where human pilots were in the loop to repair an anomaly (SS1 and Apollo 13).
The space disasters where everyone dies are ones where the pilots have no idea there is a problem, and the computers can't fix it.
Challenger had an o-ring problem that was wilfully ignored by engineers, and hidden from the pilots. Had the pilot been told that a catastrophic breach been possible with a forzen ring, the flight would have never left, and 7 people would still be alive.
Columbia had an accident on ascent, the problem was never properly explained to the pilot, nor was any engineer allowed to view the problem area before re-entry. Had either happened, all 7 would still be alive. They could have orbited for another 28 days at least.
Chasing the Flying Carpet Chris McCoy
.
This was quite an event! To see the launch of the first manned, commercial spacecraft only 90 minutes from my Eagle Rock, CA home was too much a temptation to be ignored! So we packed up the ole jalopy and headed for the holy land (in this case the town of Mojave and its airport.) After a very uncomfortable evening of camping in the high desert, we got up and made preparations to witness history. It was time to chase a flying carpet.
I have been a space enthusiast since a young age. One of my first real memories is the grainy image of men in white suits bounding around on the lunar surface. I remember the excitement throughout my family at the nature of the event. As I grew up, I have always seemed to keep a special eye out for opportunities and events in the aerospace world. Doing most of my growing up in Southern California helped. Where else can you visit the facility where they build the Space Shuttle engines, most of the space probes we launch to other planets, and the factory where they build the largest cargo aircraft the military operates in the same day? Yep, right here in "So Cal"
For this particular event, we have to take into account the importance of the accomplishment. Since humanity has been launching itself beyond our own atmosphere, it has only done so through large budgets and centralized government programs. Only three nations have managed to actually get humans into the great black beyond. Russia and the United states have been doing so for 40 years, China just joined this club last year. No corporation, private citizen, or association has been able to even get close, until now.
What we will be viewing this morning is the launch of Space Ship One. A small spacecraft that will be making a short, first, step into space for all of us who aren't scientists, or military pilots. We were all promised that "someday" we may all get the opportunity to take a trip into space, but never has that promise seemed so close. This launch system isn't a standard "rocket from the launch pad" style system like most of us are used to. Instead, the SS1 launches from a carrier aircraft. This mother ship is called White Knight, and is probably nest described as a gangly, white praying mantis in flight. Tucked under it's belly, is the SS1. At about 45,000 feet, the Knight drops it's little spaceship cargo, and SS1 heads upward towards space.
This inventor of this system, and many other innovative aircraft is no other than Burt Rutan. Burt has had a part in many historic aircraft. Probably his biggest claim to fame was building the Voyager aircraft. This was the first aircraft to circumnavigate the globe non-stop, on one tank of gas! Burt's brother Dick was one of the pilots on that record setting flight. Space Ship One is Burt's attempt to claim the Ansari X-Prize, a $10 million award for the first civilian spacecraft to launch two passengers into space, return them safely, and then do it again within two weeks. Although there were no passengers on today's flight, it seems he and his company (Scaled Composites) are well on their way to being the first of 25 teams to make it this far. It's no sure thing, but it is believed an attempt at the X-Prize could come soon.
The following is a fairly technical account of what the experience was like to an observer at the Mojave Airport. I have a bunch of pics I would like to provide, but I need someone with a hearty server to send me soem help.;
Arrived at 4:30. I would estimate the crowd for the event was about 30,000 people. Most are like me, space enthusiasts (i.e. nuts) there to view a little bit of history being made. It resembles a launch at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Everyone is friendly and helpful, and extremely enthusiastic.
The first aircraft of interest was Paul Allen's private Jet. Mr. Allen is the co-founder of Microsoft, and a patron of many scientific endeavors around the world. He is the major investor in this particular project as well. The
I figure it's a good excuse to take a day off. I plan on bringing my 6" dobby telescope with me, so I will at least get two good nights (Sat and Sun) of stargazing before the launch. I won't go home dissappointed.
I am leaving tonight to get a campsite. I will take lots of pics on Monday. I plan on posting them for those of you unable to attend.
Most of your comparisons are wrong, or based on incorrect numners. I'm not voting for Bush either (Kerry here) but I am not basing it on soft-headed numbers. The Quran states at one point, "There is no compulsion in religion" meaning you can not force a person to convert. On the other hand, there are several books within it, as well as many Hadiths that clearly lay out the plan to be used to take control of a Kaffir nation. Regardless of your viewpoint on the war, you should study up so uyou are aware of the tenets of Islam.
Your claim about 6000 civilian deaths in Iraq is correct. Unfortunately, that statistic pales in comparison with Human Rights Watch and the UN's own study of Iraq that showed that Iraqi civilians died as political prisoners to the rate of 20,000 a year each year of Hussein's reign. I would not be so bold as to say that makes the deaths of 6000 people acceptable, but the decrease of 14000 deaths in this first year can certainly be seen as a positive if that number continues to shrink to say 1000 next year and zero the year after.
Your comparison of the Kaffir issue to the issue of Conservative Christians is really off base. While Christians (I'm a Buddhist by the way and find them annoying) are certainly feverent in their effort to save my soul or convert me, at no time has one ever threatened me for questioning their beliefs. Not one has ever used violence to convert me. And, most importantly, there are very few (we are talking like 1-2% who would knowingly harbor or aid a known killer. There will always be extermists in any religion, the question is how the mainstream view these extremists. In the case of Christianity, few view doctor-killers or violent Christians as admirable people. Within Islam, a majority view the same extremists positively. That is the real issue we as Americans must pay attention to. We need to address ways to confront this and help provide economic opportunity to lessen the impact these extremists have. I don't believe the war was in any way helpful to this cause, but we must now deal with it's consequences within the framework of fixing the Kaffir attitude Islam in general holds towards the West. If we don't, these conflicts will only grow in size and fatalities. The more support a terrorist receives, the larger he/she can make their body count. The easier it is to build and hide larger and larger bombs.
While most Muslims are not terrorists, a recent poll found that 57% of all Muslims in the Middle East would provide support and comfort to the terrorists among them. 68% supported bin Laden as a "man who can get things done as a strong leader". Only 26% approved of their policies of killing and suicide bombing. Interpolate those numbera as you like.
If you really want to have your eyes opened to very moderate Islamic doctrine, do a google on the word kuffar/kuffir. A good portion of Islamic religion believes that all non-believers in Islam are in the same category, and are in need of being converted, killed, or have their rights ignored. This crusader attitude is the main disconnect between Western and Islamic nations. Agreements with Kuffir do not need to be honored. Here are some really great opinions by some very MODERATE Muslims at Islam Online. It will make your hair stand on end. This is not like the Japanese situation because Japanese Americans just wanted to be Americans. They did not view non-Japanese as inferior, and they did not put their own culture above the law.
Muslim discussion
Just like this kid is going to be. He was aquitted, or didn't you read that part?
It was a joke. And if you look at my profile you'll find I'm anything but a Troll you prick.