The MECA story, A place for speculation Options

[Paul Fjeld]

I honestly don't understand that guy sometimes.

He has some good things to say, but he just doesn't know how to play with the other kids...

[nprev]

Er....let's not add to the admin's headaches here, guys. Starting a pie fight with this bunch does not seem productive; unlike grade-school bullies, it really is best to ignore this with dignity.

Worst comes to worst, I'll just call Chuck Norris.

[Stu]

That's a great shame, because I find NASAWATCH very informative and quite a treasure trove of stuff-you-can't-find-anywhere-else...

The NASAWATCH website's banner declares: This is not a NASA Website. You might learn something. Well, anyone coming here from that story will learn something; they'll read no diatribes, only a lot of informed debate and discussion, which will help them make sense of the story just like it has helped all of us. So in a way KC has done his curious readers a favour by pointing them in our direction. And ironically, any NASA readers who come here will find only support for them and their work, so I think his attack on us, and Doug in particular, is kind of wasted. NASA readers will find only friends here.

[djellison]

I honestly don't understand that guy sometimes.

You're not alone. Somehow, the fact that I don't think Craig picked the best time or place to ask Pete what the story was, and the fact that we are now talking about the story now it has broken, are contradictory.

But hey - getting flamed by Cowing twice - that's got to be something worth feeling smug about.

[Paul Fjeld]

Starting a pie fight with this bunch does not seem productive; unlike grade-school bullies, it really is best to ignore this with dignity.

Right! Sorry. (But I have so much pie...)

[stevesliva]

I was enjoying both the speculation and the meta conversation until I read the NASA watch post. I agree with the point, but there's no reason to be ad hominem.

The speculation's been interesting, just because it gets folk's thoughts out there on what some really cool results would be. And we know it's just speculation.

The meta-conversation about Aviation Leak has been interesting as well. Can't really get ticked at anyone doing their job. And the non-photo instruments could actually hold their cards less closely it might help the public understand that there's a scientific method before these scientific pronouncements. Far too many people think that scientists shake up their facts like a boggle game and find only exactly what they're looking for. Global warming denialists especially. For the team to flat out say "We aren't sure yet, but we're excited," just rams home the skeptical nature of science. On the other hand, announcing that NASA scientists have some exciting results but they're unsure might be fodder for conspiracy theorists--AWST always has been--but they're lost souls anyways.

[centsworth_II]

Scientists face increasing pressure from interested outsiders (often invoking the chant: "My tax dollars payed for this.") demanding to look over their shoulders as they undergo the difficult task of reading and interpreting their data.

Perhaps they should hang a sign similar to that used by some car mechanics:

[djellison]

One thing's for sure - it's going to be an exciting month!

[Paul Fjeld]

Scientists face increasing pressure from interested outsiders (often invoking the chant: "My tax dollars payed for this.") demanding to look over their shoulders as they undergo the difficult task of reading and interpreting their data.

I think that misses the point. I don't want to look over their shoulder while they do the work (well I do really, but I get it). However, when they have a press conference I want them to be able to describe the state of their work with the appropriate caveats. Your mechanic analogy is more like hearing an explosion from the garage and asking, what was that? "I'll tell you when I know exactly what happened" is not as useful as "your car blew up, but I don't know why yet."

[dvandorn]

But hey - getting flamed by Cowing twice - that's got to be something worth feeling smug about.

I was going to say -- I *am* a smug elitist. Don't know about the rest of y'all...

-the other Doug

[PFK]

One minute it was all about ice delivery to ovens, and now this crops up! In a matter of hours we've gone from the sublimed to the ridiculous

[Stu]

One minute it was all about ice delivery to ovens, and now this crops up! In a matter of hours we've gone from the sublimed to the ridiculous

Genius sir, absolute genius.

( I am SO going to use that on my blog and in my talks!! )

[nprev]

...good one, PFK!

In a way, I'm honored...never been accused of being elite and/or association with same in ANY way, shape or form before!

Well...<stretches>...time to go outside, fire up a stogie, crack a beer, and watch the neighborhood crackheads panhandle while the kids paint graffiti on my apartment building...just another day for us LA elitists here...

[gpurcell]

Just saw a post on this on the general political discussion board I frequent, so it is definitely beginning a break out into the wider media.

How long before the Drudge Report link, ya think?

[nprev]

Oh, crap. Probably not long at all; propogation times are short absent major international news of other types.

Fasten your seat belts.