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Stefano,<br>
<br>
Hold on just one dern minute here! Sending vehicles to the moon is
fun science, even if there isn't much to be gained from it beyond
the basic research, and the spin-off technologies. Ignoring that we
may have more immediate needs for the money spent on these pursuits,
such as finding a cure for idiocy, and addressing the emerging
epidemic of low IQ in some nations, I, as a scientist and engineer
engaged primarily in the field of fun science, would be the last to
suggest we don't send ships up there. The objection is limited to
sending humans to do a robot's job. No scientist made the decision
to do that.<br>
<br>
In regards to Spain, et al., sending ships out to explore the
oceans, visit new lands, meet exciting new people and then kill
them, was driven by motives much superior to science alone; namely
spices and gold, and other commodities in short supply, such as
Negroes.<br>
<br>
I agree that we may be posed to follow the dinosaurs into
extinction, although not out of a surplus of common sense. If that
gets started, we may need to build a few rockets and fly ourselves
to the moon to live.<br>
<br>
--<br>
FutureMan<br>
(note; I'm actually Gary Livick, but prefer the Nom de Clavier of
FutureMan to retain some anonymity. For what purpose anonymity, I
don't know, but I beg your forbearance.)<br>
<br>
<br>
On 7/21/2011 3:09 AM, Stefano Vaj wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAPoR7a7CzQCUJJfHwnuCWHD3U4TkOW5S4ERwhpECUhdtJ4ivEg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div class="gmail_quote">2011/7/21 GLivick <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:glivick@sbcglobal.net">glivick@sbcglobal.net</a>></span><br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> Humans going to the
moon is, and always was, a bad idea scientifically. It was
a political decision to go there. </div>
</blockquote>
<div><br>
Sure. This is also true for America, by the way. An entirely
political decision.<br>
<br>
There was never any real scientific rationale for Europeans in
crossing the ocean and taking the pain of stealing local
natives their territory.<br>
</div>
</div>
<br>
It is just a consolation that by now we know better, and are ready
to follow dinosaurs and other extinct populations on the path of
common sense and practicalities.<br>
<br>
-- <br>
Stefano Vaj<br>
<br>
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