July 7, 2010

Imagine a world where all nations work together. Imagine if we rallied around a common cause and once again, with child-like wonder, looked up at the stars and wondered, “What if…”

Well, the right-wing in this country is seriously hampering my dreams, damn it!

In an interview with al-Jazeera, the current NASA administrator Charles Bolden said the following:

One, he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math; he wanted me to expand our international relationships; and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science and engineering — science, math and engineering.

What a lot of the pundits failed to mention, however, is that he made it clear this was not a diplomatic mission. Scientists don’t do politics (most anyway) and politicians don’t do science. This was purely an internal thing. Get the scientists and researchers to reach out to areas of the world they don’t usually reach to for support, knowledge, and inspiration.

Sounds reasonable.

But nooooo… Can’t have it. Won’t have it. Behold the Reverend Rush Limbaugh:

I guess this is a man that’s never used soap, math, or a watch. As pro-gun as the right is, you’d think they’d thank the Muslim world for inventing black powder (no, China got it later) and the other things like algebra and the power of medicine. These and many other inventions made our modern world possible. When Europe got stuck in the Middle Ages, the Muslim world took the torch and kept science alive.

That was then.

Now, Iran is actually declaring war of subversive haircuts. And let’s not forget BoobQuake.

Yes, the Middle East has fallen far since they ruled in the scientific fields, but they still have a lot to offer. Of course, don’t tell that to Nostradumbass himself, Glenn Beck:

Note how he goes on about how making a culture feel “good” about its history is such a “progressive” idea. And how he somehow forgot that he himself lauded the moon landing and NASA as one of the great achievements of our country.

I’m sorry, but isn’t this the man that goes on and on about American Exceptionalism? The idea that we are great and should teach our children we are great just because their mothers popped them out on this side of the border? No dice. Whatever the Muslim world is now, in the past, it helped science move along and sheltered knowledge from the Dark Ages.

NASA isn’t sending the scientists and engineers on goodwill missions. They’re still going to launch probes. They’re still going to work on the International Space Station. They’re still going to make you think that astronauts really eat astronaut ice cream.

They don’t.

To Another World by =qaz2008 on deviantART

NASA will continue doing what it does, except now it’s going to look in other parts of the globe for talent, ideas, and support. Is this so bad? I wonder if Beck and Limbaugh look at Star Trek and go, “Yeah, not white enough.”

Bad enough there aren’t Mexicans in science fiction with a few exceptions… now we can’t even work with ANYONE brown.

Beck, Limbaugh, kiss my dark matter cluster you intellectual white holes.

• New Jersey has a new Muslim mayor… and an orthodox Jew for deputy mayor. I smell sitcom!
• Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls is performing in Cabaret. Behold the awesome freak that is Miss Palmer in full costume striking a pose.
• Prince is leaving the internet because he says it’s over. he’s not selling through iTunes and even shut down his website. Do you think this will affect his sales at all? I think we can all agree at this point that the internet isn’t a fad. It’s not Dane Cook.
• This kid? Perhaps about to get jumped by every kid that recognizes him. You don’t talk smack to the internet and just walk away.
• 4Chan strikes again. Justin Beiber held a poll on Twitter to see where he would travel next. Apparently, he’s going to North Korea. Good luck there, buddy. Nice knowing you.
• I’m going to watch the first two Twilight movies this week to prepare for the inevitable reviews at work. And yet things like this remind me I’m not alone.
• Speaking of which, we all know Edward Cullen is no vamp. Want to know the truth and get some hilarious mental images at the same time? Trust me. It’s about the most hilarious thing I’ve read in a while.
• Despite her country losing, Larissa Riquelme will still strip for her nation! Although she’s bared it all before (NSFW), this is still a treat for millions of men (and some of you ladies). If you’re at work, here’s a safe gallery.
• And finally, once Ah-nold is done with this whole governor of California thing, maybe he’ll make the movie we all want to see: