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I went to APC9 in Boston mainly because brian1789 was going. I started reading the newsgroup after that. I read it for a while after that but at some point because of a server/software issue I could never figure out, I lost the ability to read the newsgroup. (It happened about the time dslextreme.com bought out telocity.com)
Lately, because of Google groups, I have been reading the newsgroup.
And I thought LJ could turn into a timesink.
I spent this afternoon arguing with someone who thinks that sending one ounce of Eugene Shoemaker's ashes to the moon on board the Lunar Prospector was a waste of taxpayer dollars. Yep, even though it didn't really cost any taxpayer dollars, or push aside any other experiments (he argued that it had -- I pointed out that probably none of the experiments that did not make it on board weigh an ounce). You see, it shows that NASA doesn't really keep in mind who they work for. (I suppose that there may some really small incremental cost to having one more ounce aboard the LPM, but I seriously doubt it.)
This isn't a troll, but a garden variety idiot. The leaps of logic are stunning. Although I think what is really going on is that he had a notion (NASA is profligate because it paid money to send somebody's ashes to the moon) and when presented with evidence to the contrary, would not admit defeat gracefully.
I find this irresistible. Walking away is even harder than on LJ.
Bad Pat.
Lately, because of Google groups, I have been reading the newsgroup.
And I thought LJ could turn into a timesink.
I spent this afternoon arguing with someone who thinks that sending one ounce of Eugene Shoemaker's ashes to the moon on board the Lunar Prospector was a waste of taxpayer dollars. Yep, even though it didn't really cost any taxpayer dollars, or push aside any other experiments (he argued that it had -- I pointed out that probably none of the experiments that did not make it on board weigh an ounce). You see, it shows that NASA doesn't really keep in mind who they work for. (I suppose that there may some really small incremental cost to having one more ounce aboard the LPM, but I seriously doubt it.)
This isn't a troll, but a garden variety idiot. The leaps of logic are stunning. Although I think what is really going on is that he had a notion (NASA is profligate because it paid money to send somebody's ashes to the moon) and when presented with evidence to the contrary, would not admit defeat gracefully.
I find this irresistible. Walking away is even harder than on LJ.
Bad Pat.
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You know, of course, that sometimes it's okay to make your point and walk away. You don't have to keep tussling if you don't want to (hard though sometimes).
Anyway I'm glad you spoke up and I enjoyed reading what you had to say. (And had realized that it may have resulted in too much annoyance or unpleasantness for your comfort--I get used to people being pretty tough on Usenet). I look forward to seeing you at APC12.
--she who is also fmmo, but doesn't post much these days.
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Devil's Advocate (surprise surprise)
They are starting to send ashes to space for a fee and the company that I know about, charges a price that's high enough that I'd be upset if I thought the govt was paying it. I could see where a person could mix those up.