Humans to the Moon and Mars
I think space exploration is generally a good idea. Retrieving information about other planets and space allows us to confirm and improve scientific knowledge, and new inventions are often created in the process of creating space technology. Plus, NASA provides lots of scientists with good jobs.
Recently, George W. Bush announced his plans for increased space exploration, focusing on putting a space station on the moon, and sending humans to Mars. Yes, it is true that I think space exploration is good, but this plan is utter lunacy. I say this not because I don't like George W. Bush (although this statement may be true), but because human spaceflight carried to this degree is incredibly stupid. There is very little that humans can do on another planet that unmanned robots cannot. In fact, robots may be able to do quite a bit more. In essence, there is no reason why we should send humans rather than robots into space. In the president's address, he touched on this by asserting some nebulous claim that the human spirit of exploration cannot be assuaged by exploration per robots. This still presents no fundamental logical reasoning for why to send humans to Mars. The fact remains that 2/3 of all Mars missions have failed, and human spaceflight is extremely dangerous. Why would we endanger people for no reason? This I cannot determine.
It takes landers about 8 months to reach Mars with current propulsion technology. Consider how much more fuel will be needed to create lift for a vehicle that will be able to sustain multiple humans on an 8 month (at least) mission. Unless we construct the craft in space (which would cause the need the construction of yet another human space facility), this plan seems extremely infeasable. As for the proposed station on the moon, all I can say is "WHY?" Apparently it would be used as a launching pad for a mission to Mars. If there is no reason to go to Mars, why should we be building space stations on the moon. I do not believe that spaceflight is safe enough to be sending humans into space. The only reason that we did it in the 1960s and 1970s was because of the space race with the Soviet Union. That was incredibly stupid (the stupidity is compounded by the fact that the Saturn V was entirely analog). Again, there was not fundamental reason why we did it, other than to say "We did it!"
All of this simply does not make sense. I can only surmise that this is a tactic of George W. Bush for the coming election. Space exploration with humans is very cool, even though not logical. I mean, it's very difficult not to think of Star Trek and what it would be like to travel to other planets etc. This dream of humans in space tends to conjure up visionary and patriotic feelings, which are beneficial to the Bush campaign. But Star Trek isn't real, and other planets cannot naturally sustain humans. Most people probably don't conciously realize this though. I was talking to my mom who have been transformed into somewhat of a passive Bush supporter, and she wasn't even sure if there was oxygen or not on Mars! George W. Bush has found the perfect niche that he can exploit for popular support, which rests not at all in reason, but in emotional inspiration.
Just visited your site, reminds me a bit of my own unpublished diatribes written in my journal. Glad by the end of the music chatter that you too conluded it was a stream of consciousness as I hardly made head nor tails of it, but then I listen to very little music. Personally my two free hours are spend reading. I too like and have some celtic music, including harp, but prefer the poetry, as you describe it, which you find dissatisfying. I listen to no jazz as it does not speak to me, but Bryan does enjoy listening to jazz. If you really want to torture me play rap. I suspect that I could become homicidal if someone forced me to listen to that form of "music" for longer than 33 seconds. I do use the term music loosley as I find it violent, especially toward women, profane and...well sick, but hey it's rumored to be a free country, so to each his own.
As regards your comments about manned space flight. I say go for it. Observing from a camera's perspective may have its appeal to a vicarious adventurer, but not to those who seek a new frontier and choose to accept the risks. I suspect there is a greater danger of one getting killed traveling by car daily. However, I can see why you may hold this view having grown up in our extremely risk averse society where one should encounter no risk and if one does, someone ought to be sued.
I do enjoy your blog and the opportunity to respond!