We had a little situation on the air yesterday and it is worth taking a minute to explain it. After chatting with folks after the shows yesterday, some of it was missed.
So here is what happened. The discussion started when we got a call about a possible phone scam that used the recent contracting of new air refueller to Northrup Grumman/EADS instead of Boeing. Seeking donations to help fight this outsourcing, etc. That led to a talk about labor unions.
Things got rather negative on unions, so I tried to balance things out a bit by reminding folks that like our own government, the original intent of unions and our government were both very good. However, along the way things got a bit askew.
Then I made a very wide blanket statement. "There are a lot of things about our heritage that I would like to go back to." This happened just before the 10:00 news, so the statement was left to lie on its own for seven minutes.
Well, an intellectually dishonest listener decided that she would jump on that statement. The first call of the 10:00 hour came from this listener, who warned that making such a statement was dangerous. I asked how....then it spun out of control when she spun my comments.
She said, and I am paraphrasing because I am not in a position to transscribe, that my statement implies that I would like to go back to the times of slavery.
WHAT?? Really?
I cut her off right there. I could NOT allow her to finish that line of thought because it was so flawed.
First, and my mother taught me this a long time ago, she INFERRED something from my statement. I did not imply that. I clarified that I would like to go back to a time of citizen legislators, not professionals. She insisted that I implied more.
Again, someone who is looking for an inferrence will find it. Just like the psychos who think the U.S. Government masterminded the 9/11 attacks.
I was explaining the difference between what is IMPLIED and what she INFERRED.
She hung up on me.
Rick, who as host of Partyline, the show where these events took place, used his host's prerogative. He banned her from the show due to showing a lack of respect in hanging up on me. He warned her, if she was still listening, that her calls were no longer welcome to the show.
Since that time, other callers chuckled about it. Chatting with Rick this morning, we both had people come and talk to us about the "on-air incident" and gave us their approval for our actions.
We even had a phone message from yesterday afternoon.
Now, some may say that I was a little rude by cutting her off. And maybe I was, but I will not let someone insinuate that I am a bigot and let them get away with it.
Unless that is to insinuate that I am bigoted against idiots. Then maybe. But an idiot could not process that enough to state that.
Nor even imply it...making an inferrence, well, impossible.
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Yesterday, my trivia question was about NASA's next manned space exploration project. For those who do not know, it is called Project Constellation.
The space shuttle has been in service since 1981 and gets retired in 2010. The Apollo project wrapped in 1975 with the Apollo-Soyuz mission. That left a nearly six year lag in American manned missions to space.
Project Constellation comes on line in the next few years. First, understand the makeup of Project Contellation.
First, you have the Ares launch vehicles. Ares I and Ares V, but more on those in a minute. Next is the crew capsule, Orion. Think Apollo capsule on steriods, both in size and capability. Then the generically named Earth Departure Stage, which helps the mission depart the Earth's gravity...catchy name, huh? And finally, their is Altair, the lander vehicle. I think Altair is for the moon only, but there may be a variant for Mars. That remains to be seen.
OK, so the first rocket test for Ares is next year. The advanced rocket test will be in 2013. The first manned mission will be in 2014.
2014!!!!!
The first manned mission to the moon is scheduled for 2019.
2019!!!!!
I am a HUGE proponent of manned space exploration. So, I am appalled that there will be a 4 year delay in American manned missions. That means that NASA will be depending on the Russians to get crew and equipment to the International Space Station. While I know the Cold War is over, but Putin is hell bent on getting it started again. I don't think this is responsible.
Furthermore, where is the passion for this that we had in the 1960's?
Earlier space programs from NASA brought a number of technological advances that have improve the lives of people around the world. We could use a lot more of those advances. And I am not referring to Tang.
But there have been a LOT of medical advances over the last fifty years that can have their roots traced directly or indirectly to NASA. There have been lifestyle improvements as well.
What can be done to bring the passion for these programs that once existed? To me, it is much more important than some version of nationalized healthcare.
Besides, money spent with NASA could actually improve our health. Insurance NEVER will.
Oh, and something beside steriod using athletes would be a nice inspiration for the youth of America.
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Yes, I did see Hillary Clinton try to recant her story about the trip to Bosnia. She said the same story so many times, I think she convinced herself it was true.
She is still a damned liar.
If you vote for her, you deserve her. But please do NOT force that liar on your country. Unless you truly do not love your country.
Because a vote for Hillary, tells me EXACTLY that.
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Add your comments as you see fit.
