"Iran aims to send man into space by 2019"

[MIJ-VI]

"Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his country plans to send a man into space by 2019, official state media report.

Mr Ahmadinejad said he had brought the date forward in response to pressure from Western powers over Iran's nuclear programme...."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10747390

[MadMan118]

Im going to laugh so hard when they actually do put a guy in space.

[Otter]

This is not a joke. They really are trying to accomplish this. The technology necessary to put a man in orbit is nearly identical to building ICBM's.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Otter

This is not a joke. They really are trying to accomplish this. The technology necessary to put a man in orbit is nearly identical to building ICBM's.

Our problem? Sure. Russia's problem? Definitely. I wouldn't be surprised if Russia goes to war with them over this if it gets serious enough. They've been tired of Iran's BS for a long time now.

[MIJ-VI]

Kinda puts the SCUD in perspective, eh?

[jrthebassguy]

Doesn't surprise me - the technology has been around for ages. When I was a tour guide at the Johnson Space Center, in a factbook they gave us tour guides for random info to use on tour, stated that the average cell phone has the same computing power as what they had during the Mercury-era missions....and that was when I started working there in 2005. Yeah, they really where working with that little computing power back then.

[MiniMoose234]

The scariest thing to me, is the generation of young adults that are going to be dealing with these issues with china and iran and korea in a number of years will be the kids in highschool now. And while there are a good few who know their stuff, the vast majority dont.. there are kids in my honors world history class that were unaware their were 2 koreas, and couldnt point them out on a map when told which is north korea, and 3 people thought the war in iraq and afganistan was over months ago....

But this is gonna be causing problems very soon. scary

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by jrthebassguy

Doesn't surprise me - the technology has been around for ages. When I was a tour guide at the Johnson Space Center, in a factbook they gave us tour guides for random info to use on tour, stated that the average cell phone has the same computing power as what they had during the Mercury-era missions....and that was when I started working there in 2005. Yeah, they really where working with that little computing power back then.

Ah, but they were whizzes with a slide rule, and they used the oldest computer known to man - the human brain!

[champbassist]

Note: they say they'll send a man into space. Not that they plan on bringing him back

[MEKer]

Originally Posted by MiniMoose234

The scariest thing to me, is the generation of young adults that are going to be dealing with these issues with china and iran and korea in a number of years will be the kids in highschool now. And while there are a good few who know their stuff, the vast majority dont.. there are kids in my honors world history class that were unaware their were 2 koreas, and couldnt point them out on a map when told which is north korea, and 3 people thought the war in iraq and afganistan was over months ago....

But this is gonna be causing problems very soon. scary

Bingo!

The level of ignorance is amazing and very threatening for this country.
I find very few people with any historical perspective as they look at issues, much less any knowledge of history and consequence---not even US history. That same ignorance shows in their inability to analyze, to get to the crux of a matter or simply sift BS from truth.

Much easier to go with catch phrases and "cute" factoids.
Too often they go with: Don't let facts get in the way of opinion.

Don't even try to talk economics and economic history. And for God's sake don't bring up sciences. Or literature. Or moral values upon which nations are based and have then fallen.
Or anything deeper than their favorite TV show.

Not saying they have to around grimly reciting Shakespeare or Einstein or DeTocqueville or Aristotle, BUT HOW ABOUT EVEN KNOWING FROM WHICH COUNTRY WE WON OUR OWN INDEPENDENCE or EVEN THE YEAR OF OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE or WHAT FORCED US INTO WWII.
You know---the real easy stuff FOR STARTERS.

And what makes me want to REALLY puke is they are, or soon will be, voting.

There---rant done. Now I'm pissed. Everybody can just kiss....................

BTW, I hope Iran's manned rocket crap blows up and rains poisonous fuel down on their facilities.

[blendermassacre]

I think that we, as westerners (mainly americans) can highly underestimate a country like Iran. My wife is half persian, and so this gives me an insight into iranian culture. They're not dumb. Their leaders are dumb. They'll go to space within the next 5 years, I'll bet.

[bmc]

Originally Posted by MEKer

Bingo!

The level of ignorance is amazing and very threatening for this country.
I find very few people with any historical perspective as they look at issues, much less any knowledge of history and consequence---not even US history. That same ignorance shows in their inability to analyze, to get to the crux of a matter or simply sift BS from truth.

Much easier to go with catch phrases and "cute" factoids.
Too often they go with: Don't let facts get in the way of opinion.

Don't even try to talk economics and economic history. And for God's sake don't bring up sciences. Or literature. Or moral values upon which nations are based and have then fallen.
Or anything deeper than their favorite TV show.

Not saying they have to around grimly reciting Shakespeare or Einstein or DeTocqueville or Aristotle, BUT HOW ABOUT EVEN KNOWING FROM WHICH COUNTRY WE WON OUR OWN INDEPENDENCE or EVEN THE YEAR OF OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE or WHAT FORCED US INTO WWII.
You know---the real easy stuff FOR STARTERS.

And what makes me want to REALLY puke is they are, or soon will be, voting.

Most poignant post I've read on any forum in a long time. It actually gives me hope.

The most serious security breach in US history happened two days ago, and I found it buried in US media. I was stunned. HUGE story in the intl press. The impact on US soldiers and Americans in general coukd be substantial.

But let's get back to the important stuff. Did Lindsay Lohan pack thongs for her prison term? Poor girl.

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

I think that we, as westerners (mainly americans) can highly underestimate a country like Iran. ... They're not dumb.

They sure aren't! Young students from Iran do well at international events such as Science Olympiads as well.

Originally Posted by bmc

The most serious security breach in US history happened two days ago, and I found it buried in US media. I was stunned. HUGE story in the intl press. The impact on US soldiers and Americans in general coukd be substantial.

I was wondering why no one made a thread on it. I didn't because I thought it would spark a political discussion.

Seriously, do you guys know what happened? If not, how come?

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by MEKer

WHAT FORCED US INTO WWII.
You know---the real easy stuff FOR STARTERS.

Two words:
Oil Embargo.

Two more words (for the European front):
Endangered Allies.

I'm not even going to deal with the rest of your post, its as uninformed, bumper-stickery, and laughable as the people it decries.

Originally Posted by bmc

Most poignant post I've read on any forum in a long time. It actually gives me hope.

The most serious security breach in US history happened two days ago, and I found it buried in US media. I was stunned. HUGE story in the intl press. The impact on US soldiers and Americans in general coukd be substantial.

But let's get back to the important stuff. Did Lindsay Lohan pack thongs for her prison term? Poor girl.

I (for one) think that the "security breach" was well deserved. Can't expect an informed populace when we're being kept in the dark, can we?

I suppose Woodward and Bernstein should've just ignored the Watergate break in, too...

(Also, I found the story on my google homepage the day it happened... didn't have to do a lot of searching for that one.)

On topic: good for Iran. I'd rather have them shooting for the moon than shooting at other countries.

[basstotheface]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

On topic: good for Iran. I'd rather have them shooting for the moon than shooting at other countries.

Hehehe.

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

On topic: good for Iran. I'd rather have them shooting for the moon than shooting at other countries.

Of course, if any country wanted to thinly "disguise" its ICBM development program, a good way to do that would be to lauch a space exploration program. That's largely what the US and Russia were doign as part of the "space race".

[bmc]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Can't expect an informed populace when we're being kept in the dark, can we?

Nobody seemed to mind when there were embedded journalists be lead around Iraq during the early days.

I don't think many, in the US, will pay attention to this for a variety of reasons. It's not flashy, it's not Hollywood and it's three day old news. Plus, if the big networks aren't making a fuss, it's not newsworthy.

It is good from the standpoint of facing up to the atrocities caused by "the good guys".

As for Iran......I truly hope the people here make a distinction between the people of Iran and the leadership. Much like, I'm sure, Americans would want to judged as well.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by champbassist

Note: they say they'll send a man into space. Not that they plan on bringing him back

With any luck it'll be Mahmoud Ahmadinejad himself

[MEKer]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

I'm not even going to deal with the rest of your post, its as uninformed, bumper-stickery, and laughable as the people it decries.

Uninformed, huh?
Bumper-stickery, huh?
Laughable, huh?

1. I would believe that results of the many scholastic evaluations where American students simply SUCK support my contention. Over and over again. Go ahead and deny it, but its a documented fact---much less talking to people on the street.

2. My post is not a bumper sticker. Too long to comfortably fit on a sticker. Its a car door poster.

3. The only things laughable are the answers you get about things from too many people.
Such as your obviously uninformed, bumper-stickery and laughable opinion of my post.
But then, you are entitled to your "opinion".

[blendermassacre]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

With any luck it'll be Mahmoud Ahmadinejad himself

Iran would be such a better place.


I really want to go visit with my wife sometime soon, but daily that looks like it would end as national news, and I'm not down with that (obviously). Iran is one of the oldest / most culturally rich countries in the world. It is a beautiful country, their food is amazing, and the people are extremely friendly and accomodating.

I only hope the political climate gets better there so I can visit at some point.