[Sly Fox]

I'm not sure outside of El Scorcho and perhaps jacksparrow how many others on the board even pay the slightest attention to NASA. Since I live in its backyard, I follow its closer than most. Check out this video of NASA administrator Charlie Bolden doing an interview on Al Jazeera ...

[youtube]

[/youtube]

For those who can't access Youtube at work, here's the jawdropper from Bolden about what Obama told him:

When I became the NASA administrator -- or before I became the NASA administrator -- he charged me with three things. One was he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science ... and math and engineering.

[ATrain]

To play devil's advocate here for a second, there IS a saying that goes keep your friends close and enemies closer.

*Coming out of devil's advocate role* Just what historical advances in science and engineering have muslim nations contributed?

[Sly Fox]

Perhaps but wouldn't space travel normally be among the top 3 priorities for a space agency?

[Rooster Cogburn]

aw come on sly, stop being so literal.

[LUconn]

To play devil's advocate here for a second, there IS a saying that goes keep your friends close and enemies closer.

*Coming out of devil's advocate role* Just what historical advances in science and engineering have muslim nations contributed?

Algebra

[SumItUp]

To play devil's advocate here for a second, there IS a saying that goes keep your friends close and enemies closer.

*Coming out of devil's advocate role* Just what historical advances in science and engineering have muslim nations contributed?

Algebra

False

[LUconn]

The word Algebra?

[SumItUp]

The word Algebra?

Now, Muslims may have come coined the word "Algebra". That will take a little more research.

[01LUGrad]

Yikes. Funny, I didn't see this on CNN or MSNBC.

[jack_sparrow81]

Yeah, I found this out Saturday morning from my mom who works for NASA on the constellation program as a computer enginneer(sp?). I couldn't find anyone giving criticism on it on google, so I posted the link on facebook and wrote my own little rant. It's especially bad timing to give that sort of interview when NASA and fellow contractors are on the verge of laying off thousands of employees across the nation that will trickle down into other areas of the workforce. I don't Ron John's can hole up our county's economy alone. The word is definitely getting out about this though, I just saw a story about it on the Fox News Website.

[Sly Fox]

Most of the layoffs are expected to be in Houston with the Astronaut program. But yeah, the timing couldn't be worse.

[ALUmnus]

Yeah, I found this out Saturday morning from my mom who works for NASA on the constellation program as a computer enginneer(sp?).

Hah! Sometimes when the apple falls from the tree, it rolls all the way down a hill, and into the river, and then gets washed out into the ocean.

[4everfsu]

Most of the layoffs are expected to be in Houston with the Astronaut program. But yeah, the timing couldn't be worse.

Thousands of jobs are being cut next year in Fl, Cape Kennedy area, because of the shuttle program coming to an end.

[thepostman]

Most of the layoffs are expected to be in Houston with the Astronaut program. But yeah, the timing couldn't be worse.

Thousands of jobs are being cut next year in Fl, Cape Kennedy area, because of the shuttle program coming to an end.

was about to say this...Sly get out of your texas bubble!

[Sly Fox]

You guys are hearing different things than we are here in Houston ... although it is primarily speculation at this point. But if it is the Astronaut program getting shuttered, where would most jobs be?

[thepostman]

You guys are hearing different things than we are here in Houston ... although it is primarily speculation at this point. But if it is the Astronaut program getting shuttered, where would most jobs be?

I don't know much about it because i haven't looked much into it, but my parents both live over there and my Dad works for Lockheed out on the Cape...there hasn't been any sure thing said about jobs, but Obama didn't really give much confidence to the workers out there...there is a lot of fear and from what I have heard from my Dad people out there are searching for jobs elsewhere

so you're right, its not for sure...but there is a lot of fear...that is for sure

[jack_sparrow81]

I've heard from valid sources and reports that the space coast alone will lose 75,000 jobs (this is included in the trickle down effect that will effect the other jobs around the area). The only relief i've heard is that Boeing is opening up a huge 747 plant in Charleston, SC that hopefully will pick-up alot of the workers from down here. That Obama press conference at KSC didn't accomplish anything. His team handpicked the reporters that were going to be at the undisclosed location, told everyone up front that he wouldn't be taking any questions. It was later disclosed that the only reason he stopped by because he was heading to a party hosted by Gloria Estafan down in Miami later that evening. By the way, all this was from the local newspaper which is widely considered as liberal. If Florida votes the same way in 2012 as they did in 2008, they need to start giving IQ tests to vote.

[01LUGrad]

His team handpicked the reporters that were going to be at the undisclosed location, told everyone up front that he wouldn't be taking any questions. It was later disclosed that the only reason he stopped by because he was heading to a party hosted by Gloria Estafan down in Miami later that evening.

This is completely shocking to me.

[ATrain]

I've heard from valid sources and reports that the space coast alone will lose 75,000 jobs (this is included in the trickle down effect that will effect the other jobs around the area). The only relief i've heard is that Boeing is opening up a huge 747 plant in Charleston, SC that hopefully will pick-up alot of the workers from down here. That Obama press conference at KSC didn't accomplish anything. His team handpicked the reporters that were going to be at the undisclosed location, told everyone up front that he wouldn't be taking any questions. It was later disclosed that the only reason he stopped by because he was heading to a party hosted by Gloria Estafan down in Miami later that evening. By the way, all this was from the local newspaper which is widely considered as liberal. If Florida votes the same way in 2012 as they did in 2008, they need to start giving IQ tests to vote.

I agree, unfortunately Obama won Virginia easier than he won Florida. Let's hope this fall at least makes it far more difficult for Obama to get things through Congress.