So I was reading an article about Obama interviewing the ISS and Discovery astronauts in a conference call. He made the following comment:
quote: "This is really exciting," said Obama. "We're investing back here on the ground in a whole array of solar and other renewable energy projects. So to find out you're doing this up there at the space station is very exciting."
Taken out of context, it sounds as if Mr. Obama is surprised that NASA uses solar power on the space station. What, was he expecting a carburetor?
I suppose, giving him the benefit of the doubt, that he was keeping in mind the other audience to this conversation: the school-kids. After all, another question posed during this interview from the school kids was whether or not the astronauts had discovered extra-terrestrial life. But still, it struck me as a little odd that he is excited to 'find out' that NASA and the ISS are running on solar power.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
1. I have frequently been overly excited about all kinds of things I already know for the benefit of kids, but then I'm not the President of the United States.
2. I think what is "exciting" is not that they use solar power, but that they are "investing" in increasing their solar power capability in space just like "we" are "investing" in solar power here on the ground.
Posted by BandoCommando (Member # 7746) on :
I agree Teshi, on both counts. What struck me as odd was the use of his words "find out" in and amongst the other items.
I certainly don't mean to make a mountain out of an anthill, since this is really small beans. I'm sure that he was only referring to the students' 'finding out' about solar power on the ISS.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I'm pretty sure it's very small beans indeed.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
NOT such a small hill of beans. The interesting part of switching to solar and wind is that it also forces redesign of and large investments into the transmission infrastructure to create a smart grid, which also just happens to be the cure to prevent that catastrophic disruption of services.
Still wouldn't wanna be on the ISS when the CoronalMassEjection hits though. And there wouldn't be sufficient warning time to evacuate back down beneath the Earth's atmosphere.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
aspectre, I was referring to Obama's choice of words not the topic of the talk at all. The 'small beans' is picking up on the "finding out" word choice.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
the sad thing is fox news will probly chalk it up to Obama being inexperienced or something.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
"...I was referring to Obama's choice of words, not the topic..."
Yeah, I know. Just used the phrase as an excuse to link to an interesting article that gives a more immediate reason as to why the stimulus package is correct in devoting a large amount of funds for the switchover to a smart grid.