Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Day 10 - H.O.P.E.

Humanities Objectives for Prosperity and Exploration

A new thought I had this morning about an idea that, I think, could change the world. 

Awhile back, maybe a month or so, I read some various articles pertaining to space exploration.  These articles provided an interesting concept: Turn space exploration into an adventure for those willing to sacrifice everything for the ultimate journies.  The concept has been mulling around in my brain since then because it really struck home.

First, the idea.  Humanity's past is loaded with literally thousands of stories of adventure.  How a group of people organizaed a boat, loaded up and set sail.  They had no certainties, barely any equipment or food supplies, and some (probably most) of them were thought to be facing certain death.  This didn't stop them though... they had the desire and the motivation to put everything on the line in the name of Humanity.  These pioneers paved the way for culture and life to permeate around the globe.  However, we have reached a point where the Earth is no longer a mystery, at least on land.  Our planet is crowded, our resources are dwindling, and, in general, our planet has a finite amount of time to exist.  Anywhere from 1 millisecond to billions of years.  That is a chance, an intelligent society, should not be willing to take.  This, of course, is what H.O.P.E. is all about.

There are many, many human beings on this planet.  In the coming years, of course, there will be many, many more.  We are going to reach a critical mass for population and resources, if we haven't already.  Beyond the "walls" of our planet exist an unlimited number of possibilities.  Moons, planets, planetoids, and who know's what else for other universal bodies exist in the vast reaches of space.  There is no better time than now to embark on the most important adventure to our species.  We are on the very beginning of space exploration and need to sieze that opportunity to begin moving outward.

What is HOPE?  In my concept, HOPE is an organization dedicated to making two things happen.
1) Finding individuals willing to put everything they have aside.  The willingness to risk their own life in the name of science and Humanity.  These individuals simply need to have the desire and the motivation.  Of course, one individual most likely will not be enough, instead there will be teams and each team will have a leader.  The leader will post what s/he thinks is needed for their team to be successful.  This includes manpower, equipment, funding, supplies, etc.  An example of this might be:
-Team Freedom : Leader-Me
  -Crew Requirements
    (1) Biologist
    (2) Pilots
    (1) Physicist
    (1) Chemist
    (5) Shiphands
 -Equipment Reqs
    (1) Planetary travel capable ship
    (1) Terrain vehicle
    (1) Biodome
 -Supplies Reqs
    (5) Years worth of food and water for 10 people
 -Mission
    To travel to Mars and colonize a lava tube inside of Crater XYZ

Anyway, that is just an example, of course there are more details to it, but that gives the general idea.  At this point, people could apply to join the team, perhaps there are certain requisites and some type of "hiring" process.

2) Companies and organizations could sign up for the different material requirements or provide funding for those requirements.  The benefits, of course, to the companies is to be involved in this adventure and paving the path for humanity by risking monetary assets versus their lives, unless of course they wanted to do both!

There is so much to talk about here, it's mind boggling.  The payoff would be enormous, it wouldn't require extra taxes and "wasteful NASA spending" (which I put in quotes because I don't think it exists).  Instead, NASA could be used as a sort of "inspector".  Once their plans are in motion and such, the Team could pay NASA (revenue) to inspect and make sure that it meets the requirements, as far as they are aware.  Of course, if the ship doesn't make it, explodes, everyone dies, etc. it will be sad.  But this is the risk they knew they were going to take.  However, when it succeeds (because it will succeed at some point), the return will be priceless.  A whole new industry will explode open and, instead of the sky, space will be the limit.  It is necessary to make these steps, put the desire and motivation in the hands of the people and businesses willing to fund them.

I'm very much considering trying to put this together.  If anyone reads this and is interesting please contact me: jason.wilczak@gmail.com

Friday, April 8, 2011

Day 9 - The Agenda

Generally, I try to keep my opinions to myself, especially with religion and poitics.  I think, however, I have reached my limit.  I keep reading about this government shutdown, I keep reading people's "thoughts" on the subject, from all sides of the political spectrum.  I try to respect other's perspectives, no matter how "bat shit crazy" they may seem to me.  Then, it happened.  A small twitter feed post that has sent me over the edge and "causing" me to write this blog.  (I put "causing" in quotes because I don't think anything forces you to do anything, I'm simply just evoking this idea for emphasis.)  Let's start with what set it off and then we'll work backwards from there.

Let us start with the link:
http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/04/bill-allowing-teachers-to-challenge.html?ref=hp

Okay, now that you've fully embraced that article, I hope you understand.  The "premise" of the bill is to allow an intelligent discussion amongst a classroom about the short comings of evolution.  As put by one of the commenters, this is actually a decent concept, in theory.  It is a wonderful idea to present a scientifically sound and accepted theory and allow students to explore loopholes, shortcomings, etc. .  Then take it one step further and allow intelligent debate within the class.  Unfortunately, this is not going to be the case.  This is a transparent way to put down evolution and build up Inteligent Design (ID).  This angers me for many reasons, but more because it is becoming the national agenda, not ID, but religious (namely Catholicism) doctrine attempting to overturn years of forward progress because things aren't "panning out" for religion.  Why, in the name of anything, should we be teaching Intelligent Design!?  There is literally 0 evidence.  Even though evolution from monkies to humans is theoretical, there is evidence supporting that theory.  Also, evolution is a real thing.  It does happen, we can witness it now and we can even affect and predict it's outcomes with our current technology.  That means, at the very least, evolution IS REAL. 

So let's move a little further on to how this all ties in.  This all is based around this budget battle business.  Below is a list of 'riders' attached to the original House approved budget plan:
  • Prohibits funding for the Wetlands Reserve Program
  • Prohibits funding for the Conservation Stewardship Program.
  • Prohibits funding for the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act.
  • Prohibits funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program or the State Energy Program.
  • Prohibits funding for various environmental projects in California.
  • Prohibits funding for a climate change czar in the White House.
  • Prohibits funding for EPA efforts to regulate greenhouse gases.
  • Prohibits funding for the EPA to change a rule regulating water.
  • Prohibits funds for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
  • Prohibits funds for the EPA to implement regulations to designate coal ash residue as hazardous waste.
  • Prohibits funding for the IRS to implement health care reform.
  • Prohibits funds for a White House Director of Health Care reform.
  • Prohibits the District of Columbia from using its own, non-federal funds to pay for abortions beyond the very limited circumstances in which federal funds are currently available (in circumstances of rape or incest and to save the life of a pregnant woman).
  • Prohibits funding for needle-exchange programs.
  • Prohibits funding for sections of the Public Health Service Act.
  • Prohibits funds to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., or any of its affiliates.
  • Prohibits funds to pay any employee, officer or contractor to implement the provisions of the health care reform law.
  • Strips funding for any provision of the health care reform law.
  • Prohibits funding for the US Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, UN Population Fund, or for foreign NGOs that use their own non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services.
Okay, so besides the Health Care Reform, it's planned parenthood and the EPA, more specifically: the environment and abortions.  This is the battle, this is the problem.  They've agreed on the dollar amount, well came to an agreement around 30 billion.  It's these riders that are holding it back.  Yes, I am liberal, yes I do follow that political stance.  However, I completely understand the need to regulate spending.  I even researched GOP Ryan's extreme budget proposal.  I think there are, of course, more conservative views on what to budget and not budget, however, he makes some very good points...
That being said, in the end, America, we did this to ourselves.  We, the liberals, got lazy and didn't fully support the liberal agenda.  The people that voted conservative followed along the bullshit that the Tea Party promised.  In reality, this party cares nothing for "smaller government", they simply wish to shove religious doctrined rules and society down our throats.  It would be very simple to remove these riders, agree on the budget, and then discuss this stuff later.  However, the budget needs to passed so there's bargaining power.  I for one, though, on this situation, would rather see the shutdown than give on these measures...