Mars is closer and more scientifically interesting and important than the empty space outside our solar system.
It's not actually empty, it's just likely nothing more than gas. In terms of interesting and important, I think that depends on one's interests and priority. Mars is closer, so to me, it doesn't seem as an important, since it takes less time to get something back there. In terms of interest, the heliopause seems more mysterious to me. But, to each his own.
I wonder if this is related to Bush's goal of getting a man to Mars. The more we know about Mars, the better we might achieve that goal. Then again, if we kept Voyager going... the more we know about interstellar space, yeah, I know, we can't plant a nice big American flag in interspace.
First of all, there is no "national school system" in the United States.
The "no child left behind" program might be thought of as a step toward a national school system. That program ties money for running the school into teaching reading in through a particular method. If the school system won't play ball, no money.
The trend of tying Federal money into decisions that should be made by states or towns seems to parallel the "one size fits all" mentality of the schools.
Slashdot Mirror
I wonder if this is related to Bush's goal of getting a man to Mars. The more we know about Mars, the better we might achieve that goal. Then again, if we kept Voyager going... the more we know about interstellar space, yeah, I know, we can't plant a nice big American flag in interspace.
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20041028. html
The "no child left behind" program might be thought of as a step toward a national school system. That program ties money for running the school into teaching reading in through a particular method. If the school system won't play ball, no money.
The trend of tying Federal money into decisions that should be made by states or towns seems to parallel the "one size fits all" mentality of the schools.
That's SIR Al Gore to you.