I've been bombarded time, and time again from some Right-wing juveniles from the US, that their military is superior to the one-man raft we call the Canadian military.
To make things simple, and painfully clear, the Canadian military is not as small and feeble as most let on to believe. Our troops are some of the best trained, highest elite, that any democractic nation has to offer (JTU2 is rumored to run Sniper Camps for US snipers). The only reason our military is stretched so thin now, is due to funding issues with the rather pacifistic liberal government. Most of our military issues could be solved by sacking the Govenor General, and then allocating her pay to the military, but I digress.
The point of this post, is to go beyond a national army, and to point out what would make the perfect army. This is something out of a nightmare, so those of you who think I would actually support any of my following statements should promptly re-evaluate your own mental health.
First of all, the backbone of any army, the Soldiers:
If it is absolutely necessary, only use the best trained soldiers. The type of soldier is depends on the situation. If stealth is required, nobody should even know that soldiers have been deployed. If it is a mass ground action, soldiers should be trained and equipped to the best of their abilities. Fibre-armor and combat aids also help, as well, every soldier should be able to fill any rank required, based on changing battlefield conditions.
Next, the equipment:
The weaponry should consist of a staple firearm. By firearm, I don't necessarily mean a regular gun. More often than not, US soldiers go into battle with an M16, or a modified M4A1, or something of that sort. Automatic Assault Rifle. These are good for heavy fighting, but their ratio of friendly fire fatalities is not good, as its very convenient to riddle any target full of holes in a matter of seconds. In the perfect army, soldiers would be armed with either powerful automatic (or even gatling) firearms, controlled with advanced Fire Support Software. Futuristic technology isn't out either. They could have weapons that deliver powerful clusters of ionized matter, delivered via a EM rail. The new LASER system the US is developing could also be adapted to a large weapon to replace the older SAWs and whatnot. Missile equipment could be upgraded to fire a volley, or even tactical self-guiding weapons (Short Range Ballistic Missiles). Anti-Personelle weapons could include burst cannons (big-daddy shotguns that mulch at short range), as well as a variety of non-lethal weapons, including a pistol that delivers a blast of brilliant light, triggering seizures, soft-shot rounds that bruise rather than break, and shooter-tazers that are fired like regular rounds, but incapacitate rather than kill.
The Armor:
Modern Tanks are touted as the ultimate land vehicles, but lets get something clear. They are by no means perfect, and all one need to do is be creative to thwart the beasts. Tanks of the perfect army hardly touch the ground, using a combination of aerial hover technology, and directed air vectoring (modified from old Harrier designs... exclude nothing). The armor on the tanks would be a layered polymer, with honey-combed interior metallic structures. A spray-on ablative (similar to Pam used on frying pans) would be used to bolster protection against missiles, RPG's, and other forms of directed explosives. Weaponry on the tank would be modular, changing from mission to mission. In fact, almost everything on the tank would be modular, including the engine.
The Air Force:
It has long been a rift that helecopters and VTOL aircraft be seperated from traditional fixed-wing fighters and bombers. In the Perfect Army, a single vehicle fills the role of both. Using technology derived from Harriers and the F-22 JSF program, it would only be a short leap to have a vehicle that could cover the rolls of both helecopter gunship, AND airborn fighter/bomber.
The Navy:
The Navy would be, for the most part, sub-surface. Surfacing only to launch air-craft, or to engage other sea, land, or air targets. Gaussian weaponry could be supported on sea-going collssus', allowing silent long-range bombardment with a variety of weapons, including nukes. Sub-ships could also be used to quietly launch and then base invasions (not for no good reason though).
Well, there you have it. The perfect army. Keep in mind, the army does what its told. This whole thing could be a blessing or a curse, depending on who picks up the keys. I would rather the whole thing got dumped in a binder somewhere are never mentioned again, as all this kind of power does is corrupt (ya hear that? Big army = power = corruption). Also, keep in mind, military superioity us just a button-click away from disappearing. I would rather there were no armies, and no nukes... but it seems some ambitious individuals are hell-bent on owning the world through force.
Let the babies play. They haven't grown up yet, so likely they won't ever.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Those Three Little Words
Its really late, and I decided to turn on the TV before I retire for the night. Upon doing so, I promptly turned it off. Those three, meaningless, void words were bombarded upon my groggy brain, inducing an immediate and intense reaction of revulsion. You might be guessing by now of what those three words are, but I'll stop the mind games here, and explain exactly what these words are, and why they are so devoid of any meaning or purpose.
Fresh - Fresh is a word that is commonly associated with the food you eat. Usually at a fast food joint, or your local Atkins whore named Subway. Fresh is a word describing the state of your food. Fresh... unused, non-stale. Well, hell. If your food was un-fresh, the market would be out of business, now wouldn't it? Do marketers think they're getting cookie points for pointing out the obvious? 10 cents says yes, they think they are. But really, if you eat somewhere because its "fresh", perhaps its time you started cooking your own food for a change. It would do you good.
Freedom - This word has a dual standard. It can apply to the juxtaposition of politics, in which North American nations can flant and tout this word as if it were bread and butter to the masses (while simultaneously flaunting their new runners that were assembled by poorly paid sweat-slaves in some god-forsaken corner of China), or Freedom can be used to describe clothing. Shoe-X afford you the freedom to run-like-the-wind. Freedom means you can go to the Olympics (but you may not comment on what you do there, and you may not use beverages or goods not assigned to you as sponsors). Freedom is almost as bad as discussing politics for verbal masturbation. Get off your high horses ladies and gentlemen, the more you tout, the less its worth.
Life - Life is perhaps the most misused word in the English language (those who speak Chinese, Arabic, French, Spanish, or Portugese, let me know). Life is beyond a word, and yet we associate everything in our asinine existence to it. We even have bloody insurance for it. Should something happen to X's Life, Bobby will be paid $x. The average value of the human life has been calculated to $250 000... pending approval from the insurance bureau. Life has also been used to describe the daily drama that unfolds in our daily lives. We are so bored with our existence, that we weave menial betrayals and excitement to entertain ourselves through the drudgery of life. Life... it takes on a whole new meaning when its threatened. It becomes valuable, for one. Life takes on a whole knew level when there are bullets flying overhead, and you know that your stay in some foreign hell-hole might be permanent, pending some schmoozy politician gives his signature on a document for your soul. When life is the most threatened, it is the most valuable... when you see your life flashing before your eyes, you do not care who is screwing who's boy/girl friend. All you care about is your own role in life. How you've played, worked, lived. Lived, as in the past tense.
Drop the act. Once its over, its too late to go back, and when the curtain falls, you'll know its all just been a sham.
And for the love of life, start giving a damn for somebody other than yourself.
I'm going to bed now. Work will be calling me for tommorrow.
Fresh - Fresh is a word that is commonly associated with the food you eat. Usually at a fast food joint, or your local Atkins whore named Subway. Fresh is a word describing the state of your food. Fresh... unused, non-stale. Well, hell. If your food was un-fresh, the market would be out of business, now wouldn't it? Do marketers think they're getting cookie points for pointing out the obvious? 10 cents says yes, they think they are. But really, if you eat somewhere because its "fresh", perhaps its time you started cooking your own food for a change. It would do you good.
Freedom - This word has a dual standard. It can apply to the juxtaposition of politics, in which North American nations can flant and tout this word as if it were bread and butter to the masses (while simultaneously flaunting their new runners that were assembled by poorly paid sweat-slaves in some god-forsaken corner of China), or Freedom can be used to describe clothing. Shoe-X afford you the freedom to run-like-the-wind. Freedom means you can go to the Olympics (but you may not comment on what you do there, and you may not use beverages or goods not assigned to you as sponsors). Freedom is almost as bad as discussing politics for verbal masturbation. Get off your high horses ladies and gentlemen, the more you tout, the less its worth.
Life - Life is perhaps the most misused word in the English language (those who speak Chinese, Arabic, French, Spanish, or Portugese, let me know). Life is beyond a word, and yet we associate everything in our asinine existence to it. We even have bloody insurance for it. Should something happen to X's Life, Bobby will be paid $x. The average value of the human life has been calculated to $250 000... pending approval from the insurance bureau. Life has also been used to describe the daily drama that unfolds in our daily lives. We are so bored with our existence, that we weave menial betrayals and excitement to entertain ourselves through the drudgery of life. Life... it takes on a whole new meaning when its threatened. It becomes valuable, for one. Life takes on a whole knew level when there are bullets flying overhead, and you know that your stay in some foreign hell-hole might be permanent, pending some schmoozy politician gives his signature on a document for your soul. When life is the most threatened, it is the most valuable... when you see your life flashing before your eyes, you do not care who is screwing who's boy/girl friend. All you care about is your own role in life. How you've played, worked, lived. Lived, as in the past tense.
Drop the act. Once its over, its too late to go back, and when the curtain falls, you'll know its all just been a sham.
And for the love of life, start giving a damn for somebody other than yourself.
I'm going to bed now. Work will be calling me for tommorrow.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Balance of Power
I've read numerous articles explaining the New World Order, and the balance of power therein.
The US has all the super-weapons, all the military might, and they use that to champion the cause of Democracy and Freedom. Aggressor nations need not even attempt to challenge the US superiority, as they will just be quashed back to the stone-age.
You don't need a crystal ball to see that the US isn't exactly "championing" anything, save military might, and unilateral action. Mr. Bush's plan to upgrade the nuclear arsenal is completely unnecessary, as is his ressurrection of the archaic "Star Wars" program. He's still fighting a Cold War that ended in 1991. Against who?
My guess is, its the terrorists. His hated enemies. Problem is, they don't have a nation that can be bombed into submission. (Or do they?) Instead, perhaps he is stockpiling to face off against North Korea, a nation which he is allowing to become a critical threat.
Or, perhaps, he's just waiting for somebody to develop something more frightening than the atomic bomb.
Perhaps a bomb that can fission the particle/waves of light? The energy released with equal amounts of light vs. matter in a fission bomb is a ratio of n:1, where n is a multiple of the Speed of Light. Lots of bang. Or perhaps a satillite that fires controlled bursts of plasma, fuelled from the sun? Ever seen a human body burned? Imagine that at the approximate temperature of a lightning bolt...
Not pleasant, and it must not be allowed to happen...
But how will building up a doomsday aresenal ever prevent that?
It won't. If anything, it will hasten it. Prepare yourselves Earthlings, for the Art of War is entering a new age.
The age of Techno-Death.
The only cure: Finance Fairness, Disarmament, and Understanding.
The US has all the super-weapons, all the military might, and they use that to champion the cause of Democracy and Freedom. Aggressor nations need not even attempt to challenge the US superiority, as they will just be quashed back to the stone-age.
You don't need a crystal ball to see that the US isn't exactly "championing" anything, save military might, and unilateral action. Mr. Bush's plan to upgrade the nuclear arsenal is completely unnecessary, as is his ressurrection of the archaic "Star Wars" program. He's still fighting a Cold War that ended in 1991. Against who?
My guess is, its the terrorists. His hated enemies. Problem is, they don't have a nation that can be bombed into submission. (Or do they?) Instead, perhaps he is stockpiling to face off against North Korea, a nation which he is allowing to become a critical threat.
Or, perhaps, he's just waiting for somebody to develop something more frightening than the atomic bomb.
Perhaps a bomb that can fission the particle/waves of light? The energy released with equal amounts of light vs. matter in a fission bomb is a ratio of n:1, where n is a multiple of the Speed of Light. Lots of bang. Or perhaps a satillite that fires controlled bursts of plasma, fuelled from the sun? Ever seen a human body burned? Imagine that at the approximate temperature of a lightning bolt...
Not pleasant, and it must not be allowed to happen...
But how will building up a doomsday aresenal ever prevent that?
It won't. If anything, it will hasten it. Prepare yourselves Earthlings, for the Art of War is entering a new age.
The age of Techno-Death.
The only cure: Finance Fairness, Disarmament, and Understanding.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Beneficial Dictatorship
The election in Venezuela has ended and Chavez will be staying. That is what the people wanted, and with a 95% poll turnout, the "people have spoken."
It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, after seeing and reading the reactions recieved in the North American sector of the world. Washington openly supported the Chavez opposition, citing that Chavez was a "dictator". One of my own home newspapers, shame of shames, aired a half-page story about a "radical Chavez supporter" opening fire on a "peaceful protest" of opposition supporters... while giving the actual results of the election little more space than probably the width of your two most middle fingers. Much like we used to smear and slander the old Communist nations, and their supporters. Shameful, and it leaves me bitter and resentful of us, the bastions of democracy.
With our last Canadian election getting "record" turnouts of over 45%, it makes me believe that our elections are little more than a sham. The US elections have never been very big with the entire population. The richest 8% always vote republican, and the middle 20% always vote democrat. The rest are either too impoverished to care, or are simply too disenfranchised to worry about the election. After all, its not the number of votes that count, but rather, where they're from.
Shameful.
I suppose that makes us the most hypocritical continent in the history of mankind. Champions of uexercised democracy, Crusading ever to oust the tyrranical, unless of course, they are in league with us.
We must be the Bastard of Democracy.
On a side note, I would like to thank the Canadian soldiers out in Afghanistan for their hard work, especially my neighborhood PPCLI. Even though I'm not sure you men and women should have been out there in the first place, you're still doing a good job. Come home okay.
It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, after seeing and reading the reactions recieved in the North American sector of the world. Washington openly supported the Chavez opposition, citing that Chavez was a "dictator". One of my own home newspapers, shame of shames, aired a half-page story about a "radical Chavez supporter" opening fire on a "peaceful protest" of opposition supporters... while giving the actual results of the election little more space than probably the width of your two most middle fingers. Much like we used to smear and slander the old Communist nations, and their supporters. Shameful, and it leaves me bitter and resentful of us, the bastions of democracy.
With our last Canadian election getting "record" turnouts of over 45%, it makes me believe that our elections are little more than a sham. The US elections have never been very big with the entire population. The richest 8% always vote republican, and the middle 20% always vote democrat. The rest are either too impoverished to care, or are simply too disenfranchised to worry about the election. After all, its not the number of votes that count, but rather, where they're from.
Shameful.
I suppose that makes us the most hypocritical continent in the history of mankind. Champions of uexercised democracy, Crusading ever to oust the tyrranical, unless of course, they are in league with us.
We must be the Bastard of Democracy.
On a side note, I would like to thank the Canadian soldiers out in Afghanistan for their hard work, especially my neighborhood PPCLI. Even though I'm not sure you men and women should have been out there in the first place, you're still doing a good job. Come home okay.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Space and Time
Anyone who reads this blog knows that I have too much time to think about things.
Well, this is something I've thought about a lot. This, ladies and gentlemen, will absolutely shake down your perception of the world.
Space and Time as something other than money and market. Think of it this way, when you wake up in the morning, what's the first thing you think about? Usually your routine... eating, showering, stuff like that. You don't care where that stuff comes from, its outside your sphere of influence... unless of course, it inconveniences you. You don't care two hoots that while you were sleeping, some 10, 000 people might have died across the world, maybe more, depending on if there was any fighting. Its outside of your "Space"... and it would take too much "Time" to think about it in a reasonable way, so its best just to ignore it.
Well, do you feel like a participating member of this world yet? If not, don't be alarmed. I won't feign superiority here. I'm also fairly out-of-step with the rest of the world, and I'll tell you something. Its very hard to try and keep track of everything thats happening. Very hard, but not impossible. You just need to free up some space and time, and think about things a little more. Stop worrying about the latest fall styles at Aldo, their shoes are imported anyway. Start worrying about whats going to happen if North Korea actually puts a Nuclear Sub in the water (thanks to Mr. Bush's waffling with N. Korea, we might face another Cold War, good news for his military budget).
Start worrying about what will happen when all news companies are owned by corporations, or government draft agencies. Your freedoms are fast slipping off the toilet paper they were scribed on, and the last bastion of freedom might very well be somewhere not on this world, but rather in your mind.
Space and Time, think about it.
And while your at it, get outside before fall comes. You'll be glad you did.
Well, this is something I've thought about a lot. This, ladies and gentlemen, will absolutely shake down your perception of the world.
Space and Time as something other than money and market. Think of it this way, when you wake up in the morning, what's the first thing you think about? Usually your routine... eating, showering, stuff like that. You don't care where that stuff comes from, its outside your sphere of influence... unless of course, it inconveniences you. You don't care two hoots that while you were sleeping, some 10, 000 people might have died across the world, maybe more, depending on if there was any fighting. Its outside of your "Space"... and it would take too much "Time" to think about it in a reasonable way, so its best just to ignore it.
Well, do you feel like a participating member of this world yet? If not, don't be alarmed. I won't feign superiority here. I'm also fairly out-of-step with the rest of the world, and I'll tell you something. Its very hard to try and keep track of everything thats happening. Very hard, but not impossible. You just need to free up some space and time, and think about things a little more. Stop worrying about the latest fall styles at Aldo, their shoes are imported anyway. Start worrying about whats going to happen if North Korea actually puts a Nuclear Sub in the water (thanks to Mr. Bush's waffling with N. Korea, we might face another Cold War, good news for his military budget).
Start worrying about what will happen when all news companies are owned by corporations, or government draft agencies. Your freedoms are fast slipping off the toilet paper they were scribed on, and the last bastion of freedom might very well be somewhere not on this world, but rather in your mind.
Space and Time, think about it.
And while your at it, get outside before fall comes. You'll be glad you did.
Monday, August 09, 2004
The Potential Exists
In spite of the 24 hour newscasts declaring that we are living in a dangerous world, frought with imminent danger, I feel about the same as I always have. Whether or not a terror attack is imminent or not is somewhat of a moot point. If we give them that kind of attention, and worse, fear them for it, then they win.
Mr. Bush's Homeland security plans are fraught with fear-enticing tactics, meant to confuse and frighten the masses. Don't believe me? Answer me this, then.
What exactly does the Alert Status Orange/Amber mean? They call it Elevated.... but an elevated what? Risk? Iminence? Arrogance? I can't tell you, and odds are, not many people can. There's probably a description of the Alert system out there, but its likely not in a place the common joe can find it, or would want to find it. My personal theory is that the Alert Status system is little more than a fear gauge designed to invoke a desired reaction in the American people.
The Alert Status is Orange: Begin fearing the rumoring of a possible attack from a shadowy and bogus source.
The Alert Status is Yellow: Begin fearing the threat of rumoring of a possible attack from a shadowy and bogus source.
The Alert Status is Blue: Begin a guarded routine, living normally, but subconciously targetting suspicious individuals for arrest and questioning.
The Alert Status is Red/Green: Either the entire world is at war with you, or your nation has just launched it entire nuclear arsenal at the Middle East.
See the trend? Its just fearmongering. Bush likes having the looming threat handy, because it makes the American people more open to molding and directing. I'll spare the lecture of how 9/11 gave him an excuse to wage two wars, but lets face it. The American people virtually let him get away with it, since their grievous hurt had not yet been given time to heal. He promised closure, but look now.
We're still fighting a war for nothing but bloody vengeance.
Mr. Bush's Homeland security plans are fraught with fear-enticing tactics, meant to confuse and frighten the masses. Don't believe me? Answer me this, then.
What exactly does the Alert Status Orange/Amber mean? They call it Elevated.... but an elevated what? Risk? Iminence? Arrogance? I can't tell you, and odds are, not many people can. There's probably a description of the Alert system out there, but its likely not in a place the common joe can find it, or would want to find it. My personal theory is that the Alert Status system is little more than a fear gauge designed to invoke a desired reaction in the American people.
The Alert Status is Orange: Begin fearing the rumoring of a possible attack from a shadowy and bogus source.
The Alert Status is Yellow: Begin fearing the threat of rumoring of a possible attack from a shadowy and bogus source.
The Alert Status is Blue: Begin a guarded routine, living normally, but subconciously targetting suspicious individuals for arrest and questioning.
The Alert Status is Red/Green: Either the entire world is at war with you, or your nation has just launched it entire nuclear arsenal at the Middle East.
See the trend? Its just fearmongering. Bush likes having the looming threat handy, because it makes the American people more open to molding and directing. I'll spare the lecture of how 9/11 gave him an excuse to wage two wars, but lets face it. The American people virtually let him get away with it, since their grievous hurt had not yet been given time to heal. He promised closure, but look now.
We're still fighting a war for nothing but bloody vengeance.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Best Before Date
Homo Sapiens
Nutritional Information:
% daily recommended intake.
Idiocy: 128%
War: 99%
Exploitism: 963%
Suffering: 10938%
Compassion: 23%
Profit: 210%
Science: 1%
Education: 0%
Understanding: 0.2%
Ego: 100%
Best Before: The corruption of Democracy.
Warning: If Homo Sapiens develops nationalist, pro-destructive policies, discard at once. If Homo-Sapiens develops illness, debt, or dislike, discard at once. If Homo-Sapiens builds, develops, or tests, nuclear equipment, burn all containers of Homo Sapiens. Your health depends on it.
Nutritional Information:
% daily recommended intake.
Idiocy: 128%
War: 99%
Exploitism: 963%
Suffering: 10938%
Compassion: 23%
Profit: 210%
Science: 1%
Education: 0%
Understanding: 0.2%
Ego: 100%
Best Before: The corruption of Democracy.
Warning: If Homo Sapiens develops nationalist, pro-destructive policies, discard at once. If Homo-Sapiens develops illness, debt, or dislike, discard at once. If Homo-Sapiens builds, develops, or tests, nuclear equipment, burn all containers of Homo Sapiens. Your health depends on it.
Friday, August 06, 2004
I think he's the Fodder
If I could find myself the time to laugh during the day, I would, and at such idioventions as those made by the current US president, Mr. Bush, and those of the common bigot.
Mr. Bush is planning on "protecting" the American society from the blight of same-sex marriage. This much we have known ever since the Republicans aligned themselves with the Ultracon wing of Christianity, religious bigots, and Neocons everywhere. Ever since the Senate shot down the amendment Bush proposed, he has become that much more adamant to make it so.
What I don't get, is what exactly he is protecting. How can gay marriage negatively impact a free society? I see no harm in letting same-sex couples marry. If you want something that is a threat to society, an internation revocation of Driver's Liscences would be in order, 9/10 drivers forget what exactly they are driving, and are completely oblivious to the hazards they cause.
Also, lets not forget the irrepairable damage that Mr. Bush has done to the US culture as it is. Ladies and Gentlemen of the US of A, your nation is the most hated nation on the face of the world. You can brag that you care not a whit about how other people view your nation, and with the biggest boom-stick army in the world, you can back that position up. But just remember, if Bush's reckless foreign policy continues, as well as his sodomy of the civil rights in America, the USA will be less a free country, and more a hostage-taker.
The hostage being the rest of the world.
Also, your rights are being squelched. The Patriot Act, designed to protect you, is actually more of a threat to you than any terrorists (fictual or otherwise) ever could be.
The Patriot Act also applies to non-American peoples, perhaps only stopping over for a short break before returning home (Mr. Arar for example, had a nightmare that lasted a year when he was illegally deported by US authorities to Syria where he was tortured).
Keep in mind, these are dark times.
Dark times indeed.
Mr. Bush is planning on "protecting" the American society from the blight of same-sex marriage. This much we have known ever since the Republicans aligned themselves with the Ultracon wing of Christianity, religious bigots, and Neocons everywhere. Ever since the Senate shot down the amendment Bush proposed, he has become that much more adamant to make it so.
What I don't get, is what exactly he is protecting. How can gay marriage negatively impact a free society? I see no harm in letting same-sex couples marry. If you want something that is a threat to society, an internation revocation of Driver's Liscences would be in order, 9/10 drivers forget what exactly they are driving, and are completely oblivious to the hazards they cause.
Also, lets not forget the irrepairable damage that Mr. Bush has done to the US culture as it is. Ladies and Gentlemen of the US of A, your nation is the most hated nation on the face of the world. You can brag that you care not a whit about how other people view your nation, and with the biggest boom-stick army in the world, you can back that position up. But just remember, if Bush's reckless foreign policy continues, as well as his sodomy of the civil rights in America, the USA will be less a free country, and more a hostage-taker.
The hostage being the rest of the world.
Also, your rights are being squelched. The Patriot Act, designed to protect you, is actually more of a threat to you than any terrorists (fictual or otherwise) ever could be.
The Patriot Act also applies to non-American peoples, perhaps only stopping over for a short break before returning home (Mr. Arar for example, had a nightmare that lasted a year when he was illegally deported by US authorities to Syria where he was tortured).
Keep in mind, these are dark times.
Dark times indeed.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
$250 000
$250 000 is the estimated value of the Human life, fame, fortune, and position modifiers notwithstanding.
If such is the case, Astronauts, you are getting the shaft (minus the foam).
The fruit of the Columbia Disaster inquiry should have been insight into dangerous design flaws that could pave the way to ingenious new ways of keeping our astronauts safe. For example, a contained cockpit that would act as a life-pod should the rest of the ship crumble.
Is this the case?
No, of course not. In an effort to avoid looking the money/result ratio problem in the eye, NASA has come up with an ingenious solution to reduce damage, and therefore the risk, to our Astronauts.
Cut down on the amount of foam used in the monopod liquid fuel drum.
Somehow, I get the feeling there should have been more from the inquiry...
But somehow, I also know that the 8.1 billion dollars that NASA needs would be "better spent on national defense."
If such is the case, Astronauts, you are getting the shaft (minus the foam).
The fruit of the Columbia Disaster inquiry should have been insight into dangerous design flaws that could pave the way to ingenious new ways of keeping our astronauts safe. For example, a contained cockpit that would act as a life-pod should the rest of the ship crumble.
Is this the case?
No, of course not. In an effort to avoid looking the money/result ratio problem in the eye, NASA has come up with an ingenious solution to reduce damage, and therefore the risk, to our Astronauts.
Cut down on the amount of foam used in the monopod liquid fuel drum.
Somehow, I get the feeling there should have been more from the inquiry...
But somehow, I also know that the 8.1 billion dollars that NASA needs would be "better spent on national defense."
Sunday, August 01, 2004
Petit Grandois
Its always pained me to think that I'm some kind of freaky asshole magnet, that somehow, my quiet demeanor and strong ideals always attracts the brash, stupid, and abrasive in society. I know now, that I'm wrong. It has nothing to do with me being a magnet, and more to do with the sheer numbers of fucktards walking the planet. Or should I say, North America. I doubt that in Kenya, a stranger would cuss and elbow you in the ribs simply for being there.
I'm surprised that North American culture has gotten as far as it has, Its like we've been raising a culture of ignorant assholes who, as Matt put in one of his songs, "take what we wanna." I feel like an asshole myself for not being able to do anything about it, as acting could cost me any of the following things:
1) My health
2) My safety
3) The safety of those I love
4) My job
5) The reputation of my place of employ
6) My status as a law abiding citizen
See, the way things work, I just have to grin and bear it.
However, I can only grin for so long before my teeth start to grind. I can only fray so much before the threads get bare. I can only stay silent for so an so long.
Ladies and gentlemen, regardless of consequences, you are living in a culture of assholes. Your obsession with money and power has stripped you of that which makes you human. YOU have opened the rift between yourself and the world, and only YOU can build the bridge back. If I call to you from across the rift, do not take offence at the noise.
It's just an insecure young man calling to anyone who will listen.
"What's wrong with you?"
I'm surprised that North American culture has gotten as far as it has, Its like we've been raising a culture of ignorant assholes who, as Matt put in one of his songs, "take what we wanna." I feel like an asshole myself for not being able to do anything about it, as acting could cost me any of the following things:
1) My health
2) My safety
3) The safety of those I love
4) My job
5) The reputation of my place of employ
6) My status as a law abiding citizen
See, the way things work, I just have to grin and bear it.
However, I can only grin for so long before my teeth start to grind. I can only fray so much before the threads get bare. I can only stay silent for so an so long.
Ladies and gentlemen, regardless of consequences, you are living in a culture of assholes. Your obsession with money and power has stripped you of that which makes you human. YOU have opened the rift between yourself and the world, and only YOU can build the bridge back. If I call to you from across the rift, do not take offence at the noise.
It's just an insecure young man calling to anyone who will listen.
"What's wrong with you?"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)