Neil deGrasse Tyson

[longlegged]

Do you buy Neil's argument on expanding the the space frontier to spur economic and social innovation and progress?

Regardless, he seems like a fun guy. He's been making the rounds doing interviews at the various outlets for the last few weeks.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mo...xrs=share_copy

[longlegged]

His latest stint on Real Time with Bill Maher was really good too.

Kinda cringe-worthy as he made Bob Lutz look like a complete idiot.

[rec head]

I just saw this on G+

[ericpmoss]

I'd pay tax $ for more space exploration, more telescopes and a LOT more ocean exploration. It's important to do it to get us out of the state of ignorance that has smothered the species for millennia. It might spur the economy, but that's not what motivates me.

I can't stand the fact we'll gladly blow a trillion $ on weapons to guarantee oil flow but not a hundredth of that on efficiency or cleaning the trash out of the ocean or figuring out how to get the remaining CFCs out of the stratosphere or any of a zillion things that would make life better. Instead we have people literally saying that bike paths are a United Nations plot to destroy God and freedom. I swear we are a doomed species, despite the bright spots among us like Tyson.

[quickag]

I'd pay tax $ for more space exploration, more telescopes and a LOT more ocean exploration. It's important to do it to get us out of the state of ignorance that has smothered the species for millennia. It might spur the economy, but that's not what motivates me.

I can't stand the fact we'll gladly blow a trillion $ on weapons to guarantee oil flow but not a hundredth of that on efficiency or cleaning the trash out of the ocean or figuring out how to get the remaining CFCs out of the stratosphere or any of a zillion things that would make life better. Instead we have people literally saying that bike paths are a United Nations plot to destroy God and freedom. I swear we are a doomed species, despite the bright spots among us like Tyson.

Hey now...I make my money in that military-industrial complex...

And I agree with you.

Neil is a hero. We need scientists that can relate to people. Brian Cox is another...to listen to that video and to focus on the space exploration part is to miss the point completely.

[XR2]

I like to see it divert spending from "defense" budgets. The Apollo program was the biggest step forward for humans in history. It never fails to stupefy me that space exploration is considered a waste of money by so many.

I love the joy in Brian Cox's manner when he explains difficult concepts.