Comments on: Sputnik I at 50 years – oh, how the mighty have fallen http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/ Think. It ain't illegal yet... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:11:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Scholars and Rogues » Blog Archive » Cloned meat is safe - and the peanut gallery explodes http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-12339 Scholars and Rogues » Blog Archive » Cloned meat is safe - and the peanut gallery explodes Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:25:29 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-12339 [...] this outcry is something that we’ve bemoaned here at S&R before: the ignorance of the public and of journalists regarding science, partly as a result of rampantly anti-science movements in [...] [...] this outcry is something that we’ve bemoaned here at S&R before: the ignorance of the public and of journalists regarding science, partly as a result of rampantly anti-science movements in [...]

]]> By: Brian Angliss http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-511 Brian Angliss Sun, 07 Oct 2007 13:10:31 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-511 <em>Shouldn Shouldn

]]> By: DomPierre http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-522 DomPierre Sat, 06 Oct 2007 21:32:15 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-522 <i>"And that “And that

]]> By: thenewg http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-524 thenewg Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:30:56 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-524 One thought: there was a post a while back about banned phrases for 2007 or something. Shouldn't "The collapse of The Soviet Union" be one of them? I mean, so long as they have one ICBM standing, it seems to me that they haven't collapsed that far. Perhaps we should say they diversified their portfolio. One thought: there was a post a while back about banned phrases for 2007 or something. Shouldn’t “The collapse of The Soviet Union” be one of them? I mean, so long as they have one ICBM standing, it seems to me that they haven’t collapsed that far. Perhaps we should say they diversified their portfolio.

]]> By: thenewg http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-523 thenewg Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:21:13 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-523 How true Martin, how true. How true Martin, how true.

]]> By: Martin http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-519 Martin Sat, 06 Oct 2007 13:51:53 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-519 We've lost the big ideas for one simple reason--the more we dream of a better world, the more we actually want to make one. And that's something the powers that be don't want us to have. This world--a corporatist aristocracy where human lives are cheaply bought and sold, and lulled into complacency with sedentary lifestyles and conspicuous consumerism/consumption--is what they want. I see signs of that changing, however, and I have hope. We just have to fan the flames of imagination everywhere we find them. We’ve lost the big ideas for one simple reason–the more we dream of a better world, the more we actually want to make one. And that’s something the powers that be don’t want us to have.

This world–a corporatist aristocracy where human lives are cheaply bought and sold, and lulled into complacency with sedentary lifestyles and conspicuous consumerism/consumption–is what they want.

I see signs of that changing, however, and I have hope. We just have to fan the flames of imagination everywhere we find them.

]]> By: DomPierre http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-515 DomPierre Sat, 06 Oct 2007 11:56:04 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-515 The BIg Idea still exists, it just doesn't live here in the US anymore. Case in points: <a>IBM Seeking Patent for Outsourcing</a> <a href="http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,278,116.PN.&OS=PN/7,278,116&RS=PN/7,278,116" rel="nofollow">IBM Seeks to Patent Checking a Box</a> Well, at least it's checking a box via a GUI. The Big Idea was last seen in London, moving in the direction of Tallinn. ;) Google does have some good ideas, but nothing I would consider The Big Idea, original, new, never been done before. The BIg Idea still exists, it just doesn’t live here in the US anymore.

Case in points:

IBM Seeking Patent for Outsourcing

IBM Seeks to Patent Checking a Box
Well, at least it’s checking a box via a GUI.

The Big Idea was last seen in London, moving in the direction of Tallinn. ;)

Google does have some good ideas, but nothing I would consider The Big Idea, original, new, never been done before.

]]> By: E Rocha http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-525 E Rocha Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:12:16 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-525 For me, I think the idea of thinking big still exist, however, it is compromised. It is all about making the big bucks instead nurturing it. We make it, but sell it right away to the highest bidder or end up making a really crappy product just to stay ahead of the competition. Just look at the iPhones, we are now talking about version 2. For me, I think the idea of thinking big still exist, however, it is compromised. It is all about making the big bucks instead nurturing it. We make it, but sell it right away to the highest bidder or end up making a really crappy product just to stay ahead of the competition. Just look at the iPhones, we are now talking about version 2.

]]> By: Sam Smith http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-512 Sam Smith Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:42:41 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-512 Cody: Thanks for helping us catch those errors. As you're no doubt aware, S&R is a non-paying hobby for all of us, and when you're trying desperately to make a few minutes in a day packed with tasks from your real job (and family concerns, etc.) it's easy for an error or two to get by. This is true for a guy like Brian, who's an engineer by trade, and it's also true for a guy like me, who's been teaching a variety of university communication and writing courses on and off since the late '80s. So we appreciate everybody's indulgence, and editorial help is always welcome. Cody: Thanks for helping us catch those errors. As you’re no doubt aware, S&R is a non-paying hobby for all of us, and when you’re trying desperately to make a few minutes in a day packed with tasks from your real job (and family concerns, etc.) it’s easy for an error or two to get by. This is true for a guy like Brian, who’s an engineer by trade, and it’s also true for a guy like me, who’s been teaching a variety of university communication and writing courses on and off since the late ’80s.

So we appreciate everybody’s indulgence, and editorial help is always welcome.

]]> By: Brian Angliss http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-513 Brian Angliss Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:29:53 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-513 Cody - Ouch.... Yeah, I did forget to proofread this one, although I don't see the error in the second fragment you quoted. I've corrected the other two, though. Grammar and spelling are definitely suffering in our instant gratification blogging world as people (like me this time) post before proofreading or editing for coherence. Cody – Ouch…. Yeah, I did forget to proofread this one, although I don’t see the error in the second fragment you quoted. I’ve corrected the other two, though.

Grammar and spelling are definitely suffering in our instant gratification blogging world as people (like me this time) post before proofreading or editing for coherence.

]]> By: Cody Jarrett http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-516 Cody Jarrett Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:19:33 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-516 I just saw "In the Shadow of the Moon" with two of my sons. In a way, it was disheartening to be reminded of a time when this country stood for something good and believed in "Big Ideas". How did we lose our way so drastically? On a separate disheartening note, you write: "And the transcripts of discussions between then President Eisenhower, his aids, ..." " ...fundamentally change the way we do literally everything about our lives." "Our President and many of his advisers doesn I just saw “In the Shadow of the Moon” with two of my sons. In a way, it was disheartening to be reminded of a time when this country stood for something good and believed in “Big Ideas”. How did we lose our way so drastically?

On a separate disheartening note, you write:
“And the transcripts of discussions between then President Eisenhower, his aids, …”

” …fundamentally change the way we do literally everything about our lives.”

“Our President and many of his advisers doesn

]]> By: Brian Angliss http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-514 Brian Angliss Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:40:46 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-514 Dom - I read the article (for not the first time, I discovered as I read), and some of what he talks about is undoubtedly true. That's part of why I so strongly support the expansion of nuclear power - only nuclear power is currently advanced enough to bridge us from our current energy needs to a future where our civilization operates on the energy available from the sun and moon (tidal, solar, wind, dams, even geothermal are all solar-based). And the ongoing improvements in energy efficiency give me a great deal of hope that we'll be able to mitigate many of the worst-case scenarios he proposes. Dom – I read the article (for not the first time, I discovered as I read), and some of what he talks about is undoubtedly true. That’s part of why I so strongly support the expansion of nuclear power – only nuclear power is currently advanced enough to bridge us from our current energy needs to a future where our civilization operates on the energy available from the sun and moon (tidal, solar, wind, dams, even geothermal are all solar-based). And the ongoing improvements in energy efficiency give me a great deal of hope that we’ll be able to mitigate many of the worst-case scenarios he proposes.

]]> By: Brian Angliss http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-517 Brian Angliss Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:25:16 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-517 Bluebeetleone - I never said that Sputnik and the subsequent space race wasn't a boon in many, many ways. I left that out intentionally because everyone and their uncle was doing the same thing. I wanted a different kind of tribute to Sputnik, one that didn't bemoan the post-Apollo space exploration doldrums. You're absolutely right that a massive number of the conveniences and technologies that we use today were direct outgrowths of the Space Race. But we're now coasting on successes that were hard earned 30+ years ago, and my point is that we can't coast any more. Bluebeetleone – I never said that Sputnik and the subsequent space race wasn’t a boon in many, many ways. I left that out intentionally because everyone and their uncle was doing the same thing. I wanted a different kind of tribute to Sputnik, one that didn’t bemoan the post-Apollo space exploration doldrums.

You’re absolutely right that a massive number of the conveniences and technologies that we use today were direct outgrowths of the Space Race. But we’re now coasting on successes that were hard earned 30+ years ago, and my point is that we can’t coast any more.

]]> By: DomPierre http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-526 DomPierre Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:47:55 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-526 I'm reading James Howard Kunstler's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0871138883?v=glance" rel="nofollow">The Long Emergency</a> ( <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7203633/the_long_emergency" rel="nofollow">article here</a> ) and it seems we're only starting the long path of devolution. Things may not go very well without any cheap gas. And then the fun really starts. He also posts over at <a href="http://jameshowardkunstler.typepad.com/clusterfuck_nation/" rel="nofollow">Clusterfuck Nation</a>. I’m reading James Howard Kunstler’s book The Long Emergency ( article here ) and it seems we’re only starting the long path of devolution.

Things may not go very well without any cheap gas. And then the fun really starts.

He also posts over at Clusterfuck Nation.

]]> By: Bluebeetle(one) http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-518 Bluebeetle(one) Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:22:05 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-518 Hi Brian, In one way we owe so much to Sputnik (the Spatial race) that brought us: - satellite TV - mobile phones - GPS - weather forecasts & much more. Who tought this launch will have so such applications in the future? cu, Bluebeetle(one). Hi Brian,

In one way we owe so much to Sputnik (the Spatial race) that brought us:
- satellite TV
- mobile phones
- GPS
- weather forecasts
& much more.

Who tought this launch will have so such applications in the future?

cu,
Bluebeetle(one).

]]> By: Jim Booth http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-521 Jim Booth Fri, 05 Oct 2007 01:18:02 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-521 Damn, Brian, you nailed it. One has only to read the preamble of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Huron_Statement" rel="nofollow">the manifesto</a> of Students for a Democratic Society to see the seeds of our own destruction within the Boomers. That preamble? It begins thusly: "We are people of this generation, bred in at least modest comfort, housed now in universities, looking uncomfortably to the world we inherit..." Then the unthinkable happened and we changed.... I think this important to reflect upon: we went in roughly 12 weeks from a country where every kid wanted to be President (Nov. 21, 1963) to one where every kid wanted to be a rock star (Feb. 10, 1964). To paraphrase Chairman Mao, never underestimate the power of a guy with a gun - or a guitar, I guess,,,, Damn, Brian, you nailed it. One has only to read the preamble of the manifesto of Students for a Democratic Society to see the seeds of our own destruction within the Boomers.

That preamble? It begins thusly: “We are people of this generation, bred in at least modest comfort, housed now in universities, looking uncomfortably to the world we inherit…”

Then the unthinkable happened and we changed….

I think this important to reflect upon: we went in roughly 12 weeks from a country where every kid wanted to be President (Nov. 21, 1963) to one where every kid wanted to be a rock star (Feb. 10, 1964).

To paraphrase Chairman Mao, never underestimate the power of a guy with a gun – or a guitar, I guess,,,,

]]> By: Sam Smith http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/10/04/sputnik-i-at-50-years-oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/comment-page-1/#comment-520 Sam Smith Thu, 04 Oct 2007 22:51:34 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=83#comment-520 Real education and a commitment to pure research. Yeah, I'd vote for that. Real education and a commitment to pure research. Yeah, I’d vote for that.

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