World Destroyer

very interesting...

That was amazing.

I wonder if Charles is trying to patch things up with the ID folks.

Short films like this are becoming the way artists can really break into the film world today.

Gordi will end up imagining himself another co-worker girlfriend.

Great story about "American Culture"

black/white and the rest.

Anti-GM propoganda I tells ya. Not one car.

re: #5 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Short films like this are becoming the way artists can really break into the film world today.

Been that way for some time now. Cannes has been a showcase for this type of thing for decades. Sundance Film Fest since it's inception also

re: #6 bosforus

Guess I'm only a semi-trekie since his name is actually spelled Jordi.

I'm getting old. I remember when claymation was the cutting edge.

Probably a promo reel for a SFX production outfit.

re: #11 Creeping Eruption

I'm getting old. I remember when claymation color TV was the cutting edge.

re: #9 sattv4u2

Been that way for some time now. Cannes has been a showcase for this type of thing for decades. Sundance Film Fest since it's inception also

To a degree, but the advent of video sharing sites allows film makers to bypass venues such as those and get straight to the public and build broader interest.

OT:

UN Address of PM Netanyahu

Full Text.

OK-- now I need a drink.

Been working ass off-- little sleep-- feel exhaustion turning to depression.

re: #15 Bagua

The struggle against this fanaticism does not pit faith against faith nor civilization against civilization. It pits civilization against barbarism, the 21st century against the 9th century, those who sanctify life against those who glorify death.

Did he get any standing ovations?

re: #15 Bagua

OT:

UN Address of PM Netanyahu

Full Text.

Cliff Notes Version

This place is an anti Israeli joke

re: #15 Bagua

OT:

UN Address of PM Netanyahu

Full Text.

Thank you!

Funny, the UN site still doesn't have it.

Honda unveils 'Segway-style' unicycle that travels in any direction you want

The vehicle looks like a very modern unicycle and to ride it you simply lean your weight in the direction you want to go, whether that's forward, backwards or even sideways. It maintains its own balance travelling up to 3.7MPH.

I got something just like that. I call them legs.

re: #17 bosforus

Did he get any standing ovations?

I did not see the address yet.

re: #19 Kosh's Shadow

Thank you!

Funny, the UN site still doesn't have it.

When you were a kid ,, didn't you try to hide the scathing note of your bad behavior from your teacher to your parents??

re: #20 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I got something just like that. I call them legs.

And you know how to use them.

/cue ZZ Top

re: #20 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Honda unveils 'Segway-style' unicycle that travels in any direction you want

I got something just like that. I call them legs.

And that Honda can't do any direction ... "up" comes to mind.

/I want my flying car

re: #22 sattv4u2

When you were a kid ,, didn't you try to hide the scathing note of your bad behavior from your teacher to your parents??

I forgot my sarc tag. I'm not surprised the UN site doesn't have it.

re: #17 bosforus

Did he get any standing ovations?

None. Had delegates walking out though. Palestinian Lady for one.

re: #24 OldLineTexan

And that Honda can't do any direction ... "up" comes to mind.

/I want my flying car

Not quite a flying car, but a flying Honda.

re: #13 sattv4u2

re: #11 Creeping Eruption

I'm getting old. I remember when claymation color TV was cutting edges were the cutting edge.

Awesome. I remember being awed at the special effects in 2001 A Space Odyssey when I was a young teenager, look at how far the technology has come. Technology in general is advancing exponentially toward the singularity.

re: #24 OldLineTexan

/I want my flying car

"Meet George Texan!... Jane, his wife!..."

re: #29 turn

Awesome. I remember being awed at the special effects in 2001 A Space Odyssey when I was a young teenager, look at how far the technology has come. Technology in general is advancing exponentially toward the singularity.

I know. In 2001, the computer displays (on the pilots' consoles) were hand drawn. Nowadays, we use computers to generate the spacecraft images.

re: #30 Occasional Reader

"Meet George Texan!... Jane, his wife!..."

The "Family Guy" take on the wallet thing was a little disturbing.

re: #27 Kosh's Shadow

Not quite a flying car, but a flying Honda.

Pffft! I'd have to be Al Gore to have one of those.

Will the United Nations serve the purpose of its founding, or will it be irrelevant?"

President Bush during his address to the UN

re: #29 turn

Awesome. I remember being awed at the special effects in 2001 A Space Odyssey when I was a young teenager, look at how far the technology has come. Technology in general is advancing exponentially toward the singularity.

Kind of.

It's leaped ahead in information technology since that movie came out; but dragged its feet (IMHO) in transportation and in space travel (among other things). As some critic noted about the movie Apollo 13: We have the technology to make these incredibly realistic-looking movies about going to the Moon... but we're no longer actually going to the Moon.

re: #36 Occasional Reader

Kind of.

It's leaped ahead in information technology since that movie came out; but dragged its feet (IMHO) in transportation and in space travel (among other things). As some critic noted about the movie Apollo 13: We have the technology to make these incredibly realistic-looking movies about going to the Moon... but we're no longer actually going to the Moon.

The NASA budgets (little books, actually) of 1970-1972 explain it all.

re: #33 OldLineTexan

Pffft! I'd have to be Al Gore to have one of those.

Or Nancy Pelosi to have five.

/

re: #36 Occasional Reader

Fake, but accurate.

It's a whole culture.

/

re: #31 Kosh's Shadow

I know. In 2001, the computer displays (on the pilots' consoles) were hand drawn. Nowadays, we use computers to generate the spacecraft images.

There is some info on that here

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

Interesting, technique is called rotoscoping

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

re: #39 OldLineTexan

Fake, but accurate.

It's a whole culture.

/

Of course, the "real" Moon landings were done on a sound stage, too, duh.

That is a nice little movie. Very sweet.

re: #32 OldLineTexan

The "Family Guy" take on the wallet thing was a little disturbing.

The fact that Family Guy has survived beyond two episodes is a little disturbing.

re: #34 buzzsawmonkey

The establishment of Israel is, in fact, the one unqualified success that the UN can claim in its entire history.

I don't know if it's the only one. For instance, UN forces (mostly US) did manage to prevent the communist takeover of South Korea.

re: #44 Occasional Reader

I don't know if it's the only one. For instance, UN forces (mostly US) did manage to prevent the communist takeover of South Korea.

so far
/kinda

re: #32 OldLineTexan

The "Family Guy" take on the wallet thing was a little disturbing.

Not being a FG viewer, I have no idea what you're referring to.

Afternoon/evening, lizards... the workday is done, and I'm here to declare the official start of happy hour.

I'm mixing up a pitcher of Bloody Mary as I write this... extra spicy.
Anyone?

"The conduct of the Iraqi Iranian regime is a threat to the authority of the United Nations, and a threat to peace. Iraq Iran has answered a decade of U.N. demands with a decade of defiance. All the world now faces a test, and the United Nations a difficult and defining moment. Are Security Council resolutions to be honored and enforced, or cast aside without consequence? Will the United Nations serve the purpose of its founding, or will it be irrelevant?"

I have updated President Bush's address to the UN as an alternative to President Obama's Address.

Please vote + or - if you prefer or reject this version.

re: #46 Occasional Reader

Not being a FG viewer, I have no idea what you're referring to.

The short version.

re: #26 midwestgak

None. Had delegates walking out though. Palestinian Lady for one.

Hope she tripped on the way out.

re: #27 Kosh's Shadow

Not quite a flying car, but a flying Honda.

I like this Honda better

Honda unicycle.

re: #36 Occasional Reader

Kind of.

It's leaped ahead in information technology since that movie came out; but dragged its feet (IMHO) in transportation and in space travel (among other things). As some critic noted about the movie Apollo 13: We have the technology to make these incredibly realistic-looking movies about going to the Moon... but we're no longer actually going to the Moon.

I sort of agree, however actually traveling in space is no measure of the advance of technology. Why travel when we now have the technology to make smart rovers like Spirit and Opportunity? (I know there is no substitute for the human mind - yet) Compare the technology of the 1968ish lunar rover to the mars rovers and the exponential growth is obvious.

re: #52 turn

Why travel when we now have the technology to make smart rovers like Spirit and Opportunity?

Because it's there, dude.

re: #47 Irish Rose

Afternoon/evening, lizards... the workday is done, and I'm here to declare the official start of happy hour.

I'm mixing up a pitcher of Bloody Mary as I write this... extra spicy.
Anyone?

I've always been extra spicy. Thanks for noticing!

re: #52 turn

I sort of agree, however actually traveling in space is no measure of the advance of technology. Why travel when we now have the technology to make smart rovers like Spirit and Opportunity? (I know there is no substitute for the human mind - yet) Compare the technology of the 1968ish lunar rover to the mars rovers and the exponential growth is obvious.

Orbit, shmorbit...you got money, you can travel.

re: #47 Irish Rose

Afternoon/evening, lizards... the workday is done, and I'm here to declare the official start of happy hour.

I'm mixing up a pitcher of Bloody Mary as I write this... extra spicy.
Anyone?

Count me in Rose. I rarely clip anything from travel magazines when I fly but I clipped the recipe on my flight to Rehoboth Beach this week. Not a big tequila drinker but I can't wait to try it.

[Link: www.spiritmag.com...]

Speaking of technology:

For the first time, a vaccine has proved successful (at least, partially) in preventing HIV infection.

Big step forward...

re: #53 Occasional Reader

Because it's there, dude.

True; manned space missions are cool. But in terms of bang for the buck, where bang is measured in information retrieved, unmanned missions outperform manned missions by a couple orders of magnitude.

In addition to the huge advances made in those areas, there's also the quieter advancement in engineering practices that have made it possible to almost completely repurpose spacecraft that have had components fail en route. Missions that would have been deemed complete failures just a few years earlier have been salvaged through some really remarkable engineering feats and wound up returning nearly as much data as originally planned, despite major systems failures.

re: #57 Occasional Reader

Speaking of technology:

For the first time, a vaccine has proved successful (at least, partially) in preventing HIV infection.

Big step forward...

Sure, now ya have autism.

/

re: #57 Occasional Reader

Speaking of technology:

For the first time, a vaccine has proved successful (at least, partially) in preventing HIV infection.

Big step forward...

Wow that is amazing work.

re: #58 SixDegrees

But in terms of bang for the buck, where bang is measured in information retrieved

I measure my space travel "bang" in terms of Orion Slave Girls, thank you very much. Quite literally. So "unmanned" missions just don't do it.

re: #58 SixDegrees

True; manned space missions are cool. But in terms of bang for the buck, where bang is measured in information retrieved, unmanned missions outperform manned missions by a couple orders of magnitude.

In addition to the huge advances made in those areas, there's also the quieter advancement in engineering practices that have made it possible to almost completely repurpose spacecraft that have had components fail en route. Missions that would have been deemed complete failures just a few years earlier have been salvaged through some really remarkable engineering feats and wound up returning nearly as much data as originally planned, despite major systems failures.

The one thing a human can do that these machines can't is to change the experiments.
If we had people and a lab on Mars, the Viking lander's ambiguous results would no longer be ambiguous.

And the other reason is to go there. Space is not just for research; we need to expand there as well.

Finally, I ask people who think robotic exploration is sufficient, if they're willing to take their next vacation by controlling a robot over the web at their destination.

re: #61 Occasional Reader

I measure my space travel "bang" in terms of Orion Slave Girls, thank you very much. Quite literally. So "unmanned" missions just don't do it.

Well, there's that.

Sometimes I wonder if LGF need a Pause button, because when I see video that's embedded on the site, it always stutters in playback (On my admittedly slow machine) but plays fine on the host site. There's just too much script going on, I guess.

I had a few thoughts watching it. At the beginning "Hey, a live-action Second Life" which was closer than I thought.

And about halfway through "Uh oh, here comes Gordon Freeman to smash things up." (Because it looked like an early level from HL2.)

Did the World Builder video make anyone think of The Langoliers by Stephen King?

re: #62 Kosh's Shadow

Finally, I ask people who think robotic exploration is sufficient, if they're willing to take their next vacation by controlling a robot over the web at their destination.

Will said robot be armed with dual .50 cal machine guns, flechette lanuchers and flame throwers?

re: #62 Kosh's Shadow

The one thing a human can do that these machines can't is to change the experiments.
If we had people and a lab on Mars, the Viking lander's ambiguous results would no longer be ambiguous.

And the other reason is to go there. Space is not just for research; we need to expand there as well.

Finally, I ask people who think robotic exploration is sufficient, if they're willing to take their next vacation by controlling a robot over the web at their destination.

Only if it's a heavily armed indestructible robot.

The opening sequence of this video reminded me of Google Sketchup. For those who haven't tried it - it's loads of fun:

[Link: sketchup.google.com...]

Create your own virtual world.

Mike ////\////

re: #65 Drogheda

Did the World Builder video make anyone think of The Langoliers by Stephen King?

I thought of one of the "new" twilight zones where people slipped behind time and saw the work crews who put reality together.

re: #34 buzzsawmonkey

---so as to give the UN a perfect record of abject failure throughout the world.

re: #68 mjwsatx

Yeah, Sketchup is pretty cool. Occasionally a little frustrating, but only because it's so intuitive in other ways.

re: #66 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Will said robot be armed with dual .50 cal machine guns, flechette lanuchers and flame throwers?

GMTA.
Iran, anyone?

re: #62 Kosh's Shadow

Space is not just for research; we need to expand there as well.

What IS it with you joos and settlements?!

/

Glenn Beck may be having his big meltdown this afternoon.

He just gave a full-on Paulian rant about bailing out of Afghanistan and Iraq and bringing home all the troops ... right now.

re: #69 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I thought of one of the "new" twilight zones where people slipped behind time and saw the work crews who put reality together.

Do you mean the "new" ones from the 90's (I think that's when they were last making those.) If I saw that particular one I can't recall it.

re: #74 Occasional Reader

What IS it with you joos and settlements?!

/

Well, we already control the whole world...

re: #75 Charles

Glenn Beck may be having his big meltdown this afternoon.

He just gave a full-on Paulian rant about bailing out of Afghanistan and Iraq and bringing home all the troops ... right now.

Was he saying we should or shouldn't?

re: #76 Drogheda

Do you mean the "new" ones from the 90's (I think that's when they were last making those.) If I saw that particular one I can't recall it.

late 80s, early 90s, that time frame.

re: #75 Charles

Glenn Beck may be having his big meltdown this afternoon.

He just gave a full-on Paulian rant about bailing out of Afghanistan and Iraq and bringing home all the troops ... right now.

Full blown isolationist crap

re: #71 Mauser

Try using any other CAD modeling software and Sketchup's foibles will seem pretty minor. It's an amazing piece of software and the limited version is FREE. What more could one want?

re: #61 Occasional Reader

I measure my space travel "bang" in terms of Orion Slave Girls, thank you very much. Quite literally. So "unmanned" missions just don't do it.

Funny story from the making of ST:TOS. They kept having to re-shoot the scenes with Yvonne Craig, the original Orion Slave Girl because she never came out green enough. They kept making her greener and greener, and nothing worked. They finally went to consult with the film processor, who was curious about what the heck they were doing in shooting because it was so difficult for them to color-correct their prints for fleshtones...

re: #75 Charles

Glenn Beck keeps lowering the bar

Beck just attacked me again.

re: #81 mjwsatx

Try using any other CAD modeling software and Sketchup's foibles will seem pretty minor. It's an amazing piece of software and the limited version is FREE. What more could one want?

A nice french dip sandwich with hot mustard and a pickle.

Just in the mood for that right now.

re: #62 Kosh's Shadow

The one thing a human can do that these machines can't is to change the experiments.
If we had people and a lab on Mars, the Viking lander's ambiguous results would no longer be ambiguous.

And the other reason is to go there. Space is not just for research; we need to expand there as well.

Finally, I ask people who think robotic exploration is sufficient, if they're willing to take their next vacation by controlling a robot over the web at their destination.

I don't think it's sufficient, either. But it's important to keep the costs in mind along the way. Right now, we're in the exploratory phase when it comes to the solar system, and we can accomplish much more in terms of surveying the road ahead with unmanned missions. They're necessary pathfinders for eventual human exploration.

Not sure I agree about Viking. You're still limited by what you send along, but more importantly, if you're there looking for evidence of life, the presence of humans will inevitably contaminate the site, making it difficult or even impossible to sort out any results. With unmanned craft, the multi-month exposure to intense radiation, along with pre-flight sanitation, is more than sufficient to ensure against such problems.

Not that I have a problem with manned flights to Mars at this point. It's apparent to me that Mars is dead, so contamination isn't really a concern. At best, we might get lucky and find some fossils, but my gut feeling is that there's no life there now and there never has been.

He just quoted LGF too.

re: #84 Charles

Maze tov.

re: #84 Charles

Beck just attacked me again.

And yet he is paying you to advertise on your site. Take his money and laugh.

re: #84 Charles

Beck just attacked me again.

Yup...Time to open registration
*wink*

re: #84 Charles

I meant to say - Mazel tov

re: #81 mjwsatx

Oh yeah, it's great. Like I said, very intuitive. I like it and I've been slowly trying to put some of my furniture designs into it. I just haven't has as much time to play with it.

There IS an education program going out there where you can get a certification for SolidWorks and a trial version.

re: #79 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

late 80s, early 90s, that time frame.

You're right. Late 80's. I had to Google it. I used to watch that and Tales from the Darkside and Amazing Stories. Not to mention the original Twilight Zone episodes. Loved shows like that. Still do for that matter.

re: #85 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

You can model it in sketchup, but actually tasting it might be difficult. Call it a CADiet

re: #84 Charles

Beck just attacked me again.

Quite obviously that simpering idiot is deeply stung by your exposure of his absurd behaviour and ideas.

He put up an image from LGF -- showing that I didn't accuse him of actually killing a frog at all, but was very clear that it was doubtful.

And yes, it was still a disgusting stunt.

re: #86 SixDegrees

Not that I have a problem with manned flights to Mars at this point. It's apparent to me that Mars is dead, so contamination isn't really a concern. At best, we might get lucky and find some fossils, but my gut feeling is that there's no life there now and there never has been.

It's a god-awful small affair
to the girl with the mousy hair...

re: #84 Charles

Beck just attacked me again.

That's all he's got - attacks. It's not like he's got a basket of facts he can draw upon.

re: #84 Charles

Beck just attacked me again.

It's a white culture thing... you wouldn't understand.

//

re: #92 Mauser

Just attended a BIM seminar. Three years ago I hadn't even heard of BIM and now it's taking over my profession.

Glenn Beck's final viewers in 2010.

re: #100 mjwsatx

Never heard of it. What is it?

I guess I'm so insignificant that Glenn Beck has to attack me on his show. Oh woe is me.

re: #101 Gus 802

Named Darrell and Darrell

re: #103 Charles

I guess I'm so insignificant that Glenn Beck has to attack me on his show. Oh woe is me.

On the same show he hoisted the white flag on Afghanistan and Iraq?

re: #97 Occasional Reader

It's a god-awful small affair
to the girl with the mousy hair...

But that's only about the movies.
"And she's hooked on the silver screen
But the film is a crashing bore
'Cause she's lived it ten times before"

re: #93 Drogheda

You're right. Late 80's. I had to Google it. I used to watch that and Tales from the Darkside and Amazing Stories. Not to mention the original Twilight Zone episodes. Loved shows like that. Still do for that matter.

Here is the episode I had in mind: A matter of minutes

re: #105 Gus 802

On the same show he hoisted the white flag on Afghanistan and Iraq?

Yes.

re: #103 Charles

Is your middle name Van by any chance?

re: #85 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

A nice french dip sandwich with hot mustard and a pickle.

Just in the mood for that right now.

With the right CAD/CAM, you can order that right up.

"Tea, Early Grey, Hot."

/Did Captain Picard ever consider the GARGANTUAN amounts of energy required to "beam" him his cup of tea, converting it back and forth to pure energy? As opposed to, say, just stocking some tea bags, and boiling some water? Did he consider his Dilithium Footprint?

re: #103 Charles

I guess I'm so insignificant that Glenn Beck has to attack me on his show. Oh woe is me.

Well, a man is known by his enemies.

Clearly you need to step up your game and get some better enemies. :-)

re: #108 Charles

Yes.

Perfect.

Wonder how this will play out.

re: #103 Charles

Great, and now all his viewers can show up here and see his refusal to define "white culture".

re: #103 Charles

I guess I'm so insignificant that Glenn Beck has to attack me on his show. Oh woe is me.

Any word of when the stalker site is going to be mentioned on national television?

/

Primo Geek Porn.

re: #75 Charles

Glenn Beck may be having his big meltdown this afternoon.

He just gave a full-on Paulian rant about bailing out of Afghanistan and Iraq and bringing home all the troops ... right now.

*headbang*

re: #103 Charles

Before that - (he used a nice screen shot of the post here last night) - he was on a rant advocating a Paulian foreign policy ie isolationism.

Another step closer to Beck's implosion...

re: #114 Bagua

Any word of when the stalker site is going to be mentioned on national television?

/

When Beck gets his membership there. If he isn't there already.
I'm sure they'll forgo the "banned from LGF" requirement since he would be banned if he had ever posted here.

re: #110 Occasional Reader

Early = Earl

This has been a truly champion day for typos for me. Have I had a minor stroke or something?

re: #112 Gus 802

Perfect.

Wonder how this will play out.

I think it'll go over well with his crazy base. The neocon thing is over with and Ron Paul's isolationism has been becoming more popular since the election. The next round of Tea Parties could easily become anti-war protests.

re: #119 Occasional Reader

This has been a truly champion day for typos for me. Have I had a minor stroke or something?

I just washed my fingers and now I can't do a damned thing with them.

re: #119 Occasional Reader

Early = Earl

This has been a truly champion day for typos for me. Have I had a minor stroke or something?

If a few typos is a minor stoke to you then turn must be brain dead. Later lizards, time to go walk the lab along the American.

re: #105 Gus 802

On the same show he hoisted the white flag on Afghanistan and Iraq?

Is Beck trying to become the "new" Walter Cronkite?

re: #120 Killgore Trout

I think it'll go over well with his crazy base. The neocon thing is over with and Ron Paul's isolationism has been becoming more popular since the election. The next round of Tea Parties could easily become anti-war protests.

They very well could. Like I said in the past. With Glenn Beck Afghanistan and Iraq have now become "Obama's War" for the non-Paulians -- so there will be that factor. The Paulians of course have always been a part of the Beck-base.

That was a beautiful short, Charles. Thanks. Makes the ugliness of Beck and all the current craziness even more jarring.

re: #123 Cheechako

Is Beck trying to become the "new" Walter Cronkite?

In a way I suppose. There's also George Will who came out with his take on pulling out of Afghanistan.

re: #120 Killgore Trout

I think it'll go over well with his crazy base. The neocon thing is over with and Ron Paul's isolationism has been becoming more popular since the election. The next round of Tea Parties could easily become anti-war protests.

That would be a huge mistake for the Paulians - as that would clearly put them into a position that the center would oppose them on. No one who has really advocated a policy of isolationism gets traffic these days - too many people know how that failed in the 30's.

If they overstep like this - then the dividing line between the fringe and the center would be clear - and the fringe will be cast out once again just on that issue.

re: #123 Cheechako

Is Beck trying to become the "new" Walter Cronkite?

People trusted Walter. Beck, on the other hand...

re: #127 Athos

and the fringe will be cast out once again just on that issue.

Ojalá, and Inshallah, and Fuckin' A, and all that.

Do not feed the Beck troll.

re: #127 Athos

I'm not so sure about that. Even mainstream conservatives like George Will are claiming that Afghanistan is an unwinnable quagmire. The Dems did well in the election despite all promising to immediately surrender in Iraq.

re: #130 bosforus

Do not feed the Beck troll.

Who is the Beck troll?

re: #123 Cheechako

Is Beck trying to become the "new" Walter Cronkite?

Beck has always admired Orson Wells. Not news. Drama.

Cute video... I didn't know Lightwave was still around, let alone still used.

Pushing the American military to give up is fucking pathetic, no matter who is the one saying it.

re: #132 Occasional Reader

Who is the Beck troll?

Beck.

re: #126 Gus 802

In a way I suppose. There's also George Will who came out with his take on pulling out of Afghanistan.

But that was from an historical perspective of that country. Both are wrong, but for different reasons.

Now, let's keep in mind that no one has ever "won" in Afghanistan since the days Alexander. You cannot conquer and occupy the place for very long unless you plan to do some serious population reduction/removal. We "won" in 2001-2 by toppling the Taliban and having the Karzai government installed. The trick is keeping them there.

Do we do it by increasing troops? Possibly, but everyone who "double-downed" in Afghanistan has lost (Brits and Russians especially). The idea of the Iraq model of imbedding the troops with the Afghan military has merit, though. Likewise, helping the present regime establish stability and control in certain regions will foster confidence in the citizens that this might work and they will be more inclined to turn on the Taliban instead of allowing themselves to be bullied into aiding them.

But, pulling out now will be an unmitigated disaster for the US as well as the Afghan people. I want the troops brought home--but not as part of a shameful retreat.

re: #133 mjwsatx

Beck has always admired Orson Wells. Not news. Drama.

He's starting to fill out like him. Do they still sell Paul Masson wine?

re: #62 Kosh's Shadow

The one thing a human can do that these machines can't is to change the experiments.
If we had people and a lab on Mars, the Viking lander's ambiguous results would no longer be ambiguous.

And the other reason is to go there. Space is not just for research; we need to expand there as well.

Finally, I ask people who think robotic exploration is sufficient, if they're willing to take their next vacation by controlling a robot over the web at their destination.

For the same expense as a human expedition to Mars, we could put a semi-autonomous lab down at several points on Mars, with Rovers, drilling rigs, and more. Machines can be sent on one way missions. Machines don't require nearly as much radiation shielding. Machines don't need as much life support; a little sunlight will suffice nicely.

By the time we're able to mount a manned expedition to Mars, the machines we'll be able to make at a price comparable to the price of the rest of the mission will be far more advanced than what we have now, let alone what we had then.

Space colonization is a necessary step for humanity, but it's a step that should be taken when feasible. Right now, any colony we tried to plant would probably fail. When we do plant a colony, it will involve doing things that today we cannot afford to do or do not know how to do. Some measure of terraforming, for example. We're a couple of centuries away from being ready, at current rates of scientific progress. The video this thread is about assumes far reaching progress, but along lines we already can glimpse.

If we achieve some sort of singularity, (superhuman artificial intelligence? superhuman biologically enhanced intelligence?) all bets are off.

re: #131 Killgore Trout

I'm not so sure about that. Even mainstream conservatives like George Will are claiming that Afghanistan is an unwinnable quagmire. The Dems did well in the election despite all promising to immediately surrender in Iraq.

In '08 - Iraq was seen as mostly won and the key issue was less on national security / foreign policy and more on the economic conditions.

Remember how many were also saying Iraq was unwinnable in '05-07.

Afghanistan is a lot tougher because it has far less infrastructure, education, and far more corruption / terrain issues combined with a convenient safe haven for the jihadi's. But without the political will to do the job - it's not going to happen. I think some of the comments for abandoning Afghanistan is because they see no real political will from the present Administration.

Is this what they mean by I.D. ? /

re: #139 lostlakehiker

For the same expense as a human expedition to Mars, we could put a semi-autonomous lab down at several points on Mars, with Rovers, drilling rigs, and more. Machines can be sent on one way missions. Machines don't require nearly as much radiation shielding. Machines don't need as much life support; a little sunlight will suffice nicely.

By the time we're able to mount a manned expedition to Mars, the machines we'll be able to make at a price comparable to the price of the rest of the mission will be far more advanced than what we have now, let alone what we had then.

Space colonization is a necessary step for humanity, but it's a step that should be taken when feasible. Right now, any colony we tried to plant would probably fail. When we do plant a colony, it will involve doing things that today we cannot afford to do or do not know how to do. Some measure of terraforming, for example. We're a couple of centuries away from being ready, at current rates of scientific progress. The video this thread is about assumes far reaching progress, but along lines we already can glimpse.

If we achieve some sort of singularity, (superhuman artificial intelligence? superhuman biologically enhanced intelligence?) all bets are off.

You are right; we need both.
But too often is is portrayed as either/or. Too many people pushing unmanned missions seem to never say we should develop the capability for manned missions.

re: #87 avanti

He just quoted LGF too.

What did he say?

re: #139 lostlakehiker

Space colonization is a necessary step for humanity, but it's a step that should be taken when feasible.

If accepted, that argument will never take us anywhere, unfortunately.

re: #47 Irish Rose

Afternoon/evening, lizards... the workday is done, and I'm here to declare the official start of happy hour.

I'm mixing up a pitcher of Bloody Mary as I write this... extra spicy.
Anyone?

Boy, that sounds good. Not even 3:00 here, though.

I'm in a bidding war for a lower rate on my refinance. I'm getting a huge headache. If I can get this 4.25 rate and knock some ridiculous origination fees off, I'll have a deal and a pitcher of something tasty. Wish me luck.

re: #84 Charles

Beck just attacked me again.

Congratulations, again.

I'm liking this video very, very much. High tech and poignant (poignancy?) rarely go so well together. Somehow it reminded me of the SciFi movie Sunshine. Not sure why.