Inter Lake editorial
NASA's current exploration of Mars doesn't quite rival the imagination of writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose Mars was famously inhabited by the naked red princess, Dejas Thoris, as well as four-armed green creatures who had a penchant for battle.
Nonetheless, we find the notion of human beings on earth controlling a spacecraft lander on Mars and digging up ice and soil samples to be inspiring and, yes, dramatic.
Of course, some of the drama is the kind that NASA would prefer to do without - such as when the orbiting vehicle, Mars Reconnaissance, lost its radio power on Tuesday. But good planning in the form of redundant orbiters meant everthing proceeded smoothly anyway as MASA switched control of the lander to the Mars Odyssey orbiter.
We know there are many skeptics and "realists" who would prefer to see the space program killed or diminished because they don't see the value of "pure science" on Mars as long as poverty remains on earth.
They make a compelling argument, but the meanness of human life has always been partly ameliorated by the grandeur of human aspirations. Whether we find evidence of life on Mars is only part of the story.
Equally important is what we find in our own dreams.
Do you need any more evidence that this is a benchmark year for Montana politics?
Consider that on Tuesday a major presidential candidate, Sen. Hillary Clinton, made a campaign stop in, of all places, Pablo.
Now that was a logical place for Clinton to expound on her Indian policy - but it's not the usual place for a national campaign to stop.
The senator's visit to Northwest Montana is an affirmation of this most unusual of election seasons when Montana voters are actually being courted by presidential hopefuls.
Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton have been repeat visitors to the Big Sky state in recent weeks as the primary election race comes to a close.
Enjoy the limelight, Montanans. It ought to last until Tuesday's primary election.
The Mooseman
Honey, I left this note on the fridge cause you were still sleeping when I left for Job Service this morning to find work. I was balancing the check book last night. I was thinking that MARS trip you think you'd like us go on is going to cost us more money than we can borrow. I don't see any way to pay for this trip. Maybe we can use the money we save from my military benefits, and our IRA and retirement plus all our kids, grandkids, and their kids and grandkids money to pay for it. Do you think they would mind going without education and health care for the next 10 generations so we can afford the Mars trip next summer? Love Dad
faithful reader
While I may not agree with you, Mooseman, you have style! Nice post.
The Mooseman
Hey Dad... on your way home will you pick up a new toilet and some TP for the International Space Station, please? There is only one working now and there is a line one deep for it most of time now. I think I heard they were on sale at Poopskis R Us for only 19 million dollars. Thanks dear!
kyzer123
Nasa is mainly privately funded. I dont know the exact date but the government quit funding NASA along time ago. Corporations pay for most of NASA's budget. So go right ahead and ask them to support schools, health care, heck why not ask them to pay for our gas. I agree the world we live in is circling the toilet bowl, but maybe if the world could come together on just one subject or goal who knows what would happen. There is just to many people that BELIEVE that if you dont think like them then your wrong (over opioninated, close minded people). If you can not view something from more than 1 angle (view) then your a 1 dimensional person and we live in a 3D world. Hey lets try and make a moonbase, do you know how many jobs that would create? Oh it will cost to much so lets just keep crowding this planet and using up all its natural resource til it can no longer sustain us. Damn wish had explored space more oh well here comes extinction.