Dave Squires's Blog: Ungettablog-too
June 22, 2013
Prologue to Book 2 of The Ungettable Joke
Mocu-Mail, Postage Due
“Idiot!” I say to myself. Having used the amulet repeatedly, I should have known better. I know its astonishing abilities, but I take it for granted when it carries us effortlessly from one place to another. The bizarreness of that experience had become second nature. I trusted the thing too much. Now, my boneheaded actions put me into this predicament, separated from my friends and my home, a target in God knows where.
The artillery flashes blind me to whatever lies in the darkness nearby. I seem to be in a large unplanted farm plot, completely exposed. I hug the Earth beneath me, and keep my body flat in a furrow. Lifting my head as slightly as possible, I peer forward for signs of an exit. Something flits about on the ground ahead of me. Great, I think, some kind of rat is in my way. I remember the Twinkie in my pocket, and worry that it was almost certainly smashed beyond recognition; maybe the rodent wants it. No chance buck-tooth, this is mine. I begin crawling.
Each new explosion makes me wince, reminding me how I had reflexively closed my eyes when I was jerked into the amulet’s field of influence. I flew through the amulet’s necklace and arrived here in seconds. This seemed impossible because necklace was barely large enough to allow me through. But it happened, nonetheless. This passage was more violent than usual, and I became disoriented and dizzy to the point of nausea. Then, before I could gain my bearings, an explosion appeared in front of me. I was knocked out, and awoke in this battlefield…
The artillery impacts bounce me off the ground and pressure waves ripple through my body. The excavated debris from every impact pelts my back. I look desperately down the furrow, hoping to find some sign of cover. Again I see the small animal ahead of me, but now it is vaguely silhouetted in front of a light in the distance. The light moves left and right behind the animal. No… it’s impossible, I think. But, even in the smoke and dim light there is no mistaking Vidal’s bushy tail. How could he be here?
The sight of Vidal raises my hopes. A twinge in the pit of my stomach tells me I have a chance. I continue inching forward. Finally, I begin to make out the form of the light, maybe an old-fashioned oil lamp, I think. I can see a small group of men, dimly illuminated by the swinging lamp. I am close. I know I will get out. Hope surges in me even as the heat from the approaching explosions begins to sear my clothing.
I want to tell Bill and Dave about this. I want to go home… to Gladys. Odd that I should think of her at such a time. I suppose I care for her more than I want to admit -- though she seems to think of me only as her friend, the laughable old fool, Doctor M.
I smell burning hair. The men urge me on… there’s another white hot flash.
***
Watch for updates on the release of book 2 at www.ungettablejoke.com
Copyright, Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke ( http://www.ungettablejoke.com )
May 30, 2013
Book 2 Test Reader Reviews Arriving
February 24, 2013
Book 2 Almost Ready for Reviewers
If you want to be a test reader for book 2, go to our Fan Access page and send us a note saying "Make me a test reader." Test reader slots are limited, but we'll take as many as we can handle.
To discover more about The Ungettable Joke, and for links to all booksellers go to our Home Page.
The Ungettable Joke is only 99 cents everywhere.
Copyright, Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke ( http://www.ungettablejoke.com )
September 25, 2012
Free Sample From Book 2...
Dear Readers,
In book two of The Ungettable Joke book series (due to publish Q4-2012 to Q1-2013), Bill acquires a girlfriend. Well, "acquires" is not exactly accurate. He actually just passes by and she attaches to him like glue. Bill escapes this girl, Trixie, on our first encounter with her, but it turns out her core personality attaches to him -- even in other realities.
Here's an excerpt from an encounter with a Trixie from another reality:
Bill pulled up at the curb across the street from the bookstore and surveilled the place for a minute.
“Looks OK to me. No sign of the Billy-boy fan club,” I jabbed.
Bill smirked wryly. “Remember where Dave told you to look Doc… right side, near the back, bottom shelf. Just get it over with quickly.”
“OK then. Here I go,” Moculare stepped out and hobbled stiffly across the street, apparently trying to look normal.
We waited as the minutes dragged by.
“Can you see any movement in there?” Bill asked.
I just shook my head. The windows were reflecting the midday light so nothing could be seen within.
Finally, Moculare emerged. He stopped, while still holding the door, and talked to someone inside. He continued talking, standing with his back to the door as if holding it open for someone. In another moment Trixie emerged. Her hair was different, but it was definitely her. Bill panicked. He looked the other way and put his hand up to hide his face.
“Bill, she doesn’t know you in this reality, remember?”
“So. I’m not taking any chances. This chick keyed on me like a homing pigeon.”
“Oh, I see. You’re irresistible. Is that it? You’re a magic man, and she’s just got to sprinkle you with Trixie dust.”
“Shut up. I don’t even know what that means… but shut up.”
“It might be safer for you stay in the car, Bill.”
“Why?”
“Well maybe she’s just a freak for tall guys. If you stay in the car she’ll have a hard time noticing how tall you are.”
“Maybe.”
Bill was not totally convinced. He started the car, locked the door and rolled the window halfway up, presumably to prevent Trixie from crawling in and sitting in his lap.
Moculare shrugged as he approached the car.
“This young lady said she just had to meet the guy who was so interested in Gödel.”
“Great. That’s you Dave.” Bill reached across the car, opened my door and pushed me to exit.
I got out to meet Trixie.
“So, it is unusual that anyone wants to read Gödel. I mean, some people have heard his theories… usually misinterpreted by some college professor. But, I think I have only sold his book twice in three years. Why the interest?”
“Well, thanks for asking. I am not sure my explanation will –“
“Who’s that?” Trixie asked, eyes widening, as she peered around me toward Bill who was still trying to hide his face.
“Oh. I’m very sorry. This is Bill. He is the other research assistant I told you about,” Moculare said. “Bill, this is Trixie from the bookstore.”
Trixie walked toward the car. Bill looked halfway in her direction and said hello, then quickly turned his head away again. Trixie said hello with a rising tone that hinted to her perception of Bill’s odd behavior, and she began to circle the car in an effort to get look at Bill’s face.
“Ahem! So, Trixie. Why the interest in Gödel?” I asked.
Trixie responded as if she had been awoken from a light, sleepy, daze. “What? Uhm… well, I uh, I did a paper on him in college, and I guess I became amazed by the fact that everyone else was still believing that science can prove everything. They don’t believe that anything is beyond equations and machines to understand or control.”
“And you do? Just because of Gödel?”
“Yes, but not only because of Gödel. I have seen things that… Hey, why won’t he look at me?”
Bill hunkered down tighter in his seat, still looking away.
“Oh, he’s really shy. Actually it’s because of the disfigurement.”
“Oh dear. I’m sorry Bill. I’ve been so rude.”
“It’s not your fault. Anyway, I’m used to rudeness. I spend a lot of time with Dave and the Doc there.”
“Well, you have a very nice voice… and, uhm, hair too. That’s some very nice hair you have there.” Trixie blushed.
“Thanks. It was nice talking to you.” Bill clenched, sensing he had said something too nice, maybe too encouraging. “…but we really must be going.”
“That’s too bad,” she said “I was really hoping to talk more about Gödel and his theories. So, few people understand it. Maybe you can give me your phone number and I’ll call so --”
“No!” Bill snapped.
Trixie jumped a bit, her face showing instant distress.
“He just means we won’t be around any phones for a while. We can drop by again soon; maybe next week. How would that be?” I said.
“That would be great.”
We said our farewells to Trixie, who could not suppress her curiosity, and never stopped trying to get a look at Bill’s disfigured face...That is all for now. Tell us what you think.
Copyright, Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke ( http://www.ungettablejoke.com )
How Does This Strike You?
Dear Readers,
In book two of The Ungettable Joke book series (due to publish Q4-2012 to Q1-2013), Bill acquires a girlfriend. Well, "acquires" is not exactly accurate. He actually just passes by and she attaches to him like glue. Bill escapes this girl, Trixie, on our first encounter with her, but it turns out her core personality attaches to him -- even in other realities.
Here's an excerpt from an encounter with a Trixie from another reality:
Bill pulled up at the curb across the street from the bookstore and surveilled the place for a minute.
“Looks OK to me. No sign of the Billy-boy fan club,” I jabbed.
Bill smirked wryly. “Remember where Dave told you to look Doc… right side, near the back, bottom shelf. Just get it over with quickly.”
“OK then. Here I go,” Moculare stepped out and hobbled stiffly across the street, apparently trying to look normal.
We waited as the minutes dragged by.
“Can you see any movement in there?” Bill asked.
I just shook my head. The windows were reflecting the midday light so nothing could be seen within.
Finally, Moculare emerged. He stopped, while still holding the door, and talked to someone inside. He continued talking, standing with his back to the door as if holding it open for someone. In another moment Trixie emerged. Her hair was different, but it was definitely her. Bill panicked. He looked the other way and put his hand up to hide his face.
“Bill, she doesn’t know you in this reality, remember?”
“So. I’m not taking any chances. This chick keyed on me like a homing pigeon.”
“Oh, I see. You’re irresistible. Is that it? You’re a magic man, and she’s just got to sprinkle you with Trixie dust.”
“Shut up. I don’t even know what that means… but shut up.”
“It might be safer for you stay in the car, Bill.”
“Why?”
“Well maybe she’s just a freak for tall guys. If you stay in the car she’ll have a hard time noticing how tall you are.”
“Maybe.”
Bill was not totally convinced. He started the car, locked the door and rolled the window halfway up, presumably to prevent Trixie from crawling in and sitting in his lap.
Moculare shrugged as he approached the car.
“This young lady said she just had to meet the guy who was so interested in Gödel.”
“Great. That’s you Dave.” Bill reached across the car, opened my door and pushed me to exit.
I got out to meet Trixie.
“So, it is unusual that anyone wants to read Gödel. I mean, some people have heard his theories… usually misinterpreted by some college professor. But, I think I have only sold his book twice in three years. Why the interest?”
“Well, thanks for asking. I am not sure my explanation will –“
“Who’s that?” Trixie asked, eyes widening, as she peered around me toward Bill who was still trying to hide his face.
“Oh. I’m very sorry. This is Bill. He is the other research assistant I told you about,” Moculare said. “Bill, this is Trixie from the bookstore.”
Trixie walked toward the car. Bill looked halfway in her direction and said hello, then quickly turned his head away again. Trixie said hello with a rising tone that hinted to her perception of Bill’s odd behavior, and she began to circle the car in an effort to get look at Bill’s face.
“Ahem! So, Trixie. Why the interest in Gödel?” I asked.
Trixie responded as if she had been awoken from a light, sleepy, daze. “What? Uhm… well, I uh, I did a paper on him in college, and I guess I became amazed by the fact that everyone else was still believing that science can prove everything. They don’t believe that anything is beyond equations and machines to understand or control.”
“And you do? Just because of Gödel?”
“Yes, but not only because of Gödel. I have seen things that… Hey, why won’t he look at me?”
Bill hunkered down tighter in his seat, still looking away.
“Oh, he’s really shy. Actually it’s because of the disfigurement.”
“Oh dear. I’m sorry Bill. I’ve been so rude.”
“It’s not your fault. Anyway, I’m used to rudeness. I spend a lot of time with Dave and the Doc there.”
“Well, you have a very nice voice… and, uhm, hair too. That’s some very nice hair you have there.” Trixie blushed.
“Thanks. It was nice talking to you.” Bill clenched, sensing he had said something too nice, maybe too encouraging. “…but we really must be going.”
“That’s too bad,” she said “I was really hoping to talk more about Gödel and his theories. So, few people understand it. Maybe you can give me your phone number and I’ll call so --”
“No!” Bill snapped.
Trixie jumped a bit, her face showing instant distress.
“He just means we won’t be around any phones for a while. We can drop by again soon; maybe next week. How would that be?” I said.
“That would be great.”
We said our farewells to Trixie, who could not suppress her curiosity, and never stopped trying to get a look at Bill’s disfigured face...That is all for now. Tell us what you think.
Copyright, Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke ( http://www.ungettablejoke.com )
July 20, 2012
Higgs Proves Hawking Wrong: Boson the Cloner Coming Soon
By Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke
It
was, I'm sure, not the intent of Professor Peter Higgs to run afoul of
the grand assertions of his colleague from Cambridge. But, nonetheless
he has taken Doctor Hawking's godless Grand Design theory and
thrown it on the ash heap. Hawking himself said he had $100 "bet with
Gordon Kane of Michigan University that the Higgs particle wouldn't be
found." With one or two caveats, and a smile, he admits he may have lost
the bet. I appreciate that Mr. Hawking has a sense of humor.
Hawking previously spoke of his conviction that the whole model of the Universe was complete and did not require God (see external article). Given
that he had bet against the Higgs particle and the Standard Model of
the Universe that it confirms, and in view of the self-contradictory
nature of the theory he previously posed, should Hawking now retract his
previous assertions of a Godless Universe? I confess, I do not know if
the two ideas are completely and mutually exclusive. But, perhaps Mr.
Hawking and Mr. Higgs do know, and can offer an answer.
In any case, it seems once again that Kurt Godel's proof (see previous article) has placed an impenetrable wall between human logic and the founding of the Universe. We may discover how it functions, but perhaps never mathematically define why
it came about. My own sense is, that mathematics is a product of the
Universe and its Creator. That is, math is a tool that allows for
measurements and definitions of what is, not of why it came to be.
Godel's proof would seem to agree, and the true source and reason of
existence seems securely hidden from prying human eyes.
Curiously
though, the Higgs boson is a creative particle, perhaps reflecting part
of the Creator's nature: somehow, the particle emits a field that
imparts mass to passing particles. This is quite a trick since E=MC2
says that energy must be drawn from the universe to create mass. It
seems the Higgs boson might be an "anti-Michael Bloomberg" particle --
making everything fat instead of stealing sodas from kids in New York.
Anyway, can we now envision replicating things from pure energy? Who
knows -- perhaps the RonCo "Boson the Cloner" will show up soon at an
electronics store near you.
By Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke
Copyright, Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke ( http://www.ungettablejoke.com )
June 24, 2012
Testing the "Keyword Theory"
By Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke
As
part of this blog, I occasionally want to inform readers about some
discoveries made as we work to promote our book The Ungettable Joke. In
this particular article, I am going to talk about an experiment I am
running to explore the value of using keyword-focused articles to earn
money on the Internet. Perhaps that sounds a bit shallow, so let me
elucidate further. I do NOT intend to talk about writing meaningless
articles, packed with keywords, just for the purpose of gaining an
audience. That is not only silly, but also counterproductive. Any
blogger or author wants to attract the right audience, and audience that
will be interested in what they are selling.
In that regard, I have an especially tough row to hoe. The Ungettable Joke
is an unusual book. It explores the connections between the human mind
and the mysteries of the universe and its founding. "So," I ask myself,
"how do I gain an audience online? What keywords and tools can I use to
attract reader who will buy my book, and become energized by enough to
be sales ambassadors for me?"
In the search for the
right keywords, I need to identify the character of a loyal reader and
follower of of The Ungettable Joke book and overall concept. Here's how I
define the reader:
1. They think like me and are interested in where the Universe comes from.
2. They believe that coincidences are telling them something, that they often happen for an important reason.
3.
They are not satisfied with "common sense" that they are told should be
taken at face value. They believe as I do that common sense is often
uncommonly bad.
4. They enjoy science and love to think in the realm of possibilities.
5. Movies like Back to The Future and Star Trek and Iron Man
intrigue them because they show credible possibilities for a noble and
exciting future of applied science, and our ability to move out into the
Universe.
6. They believe in honesty, integrity, the rewards of hard work, and honor.
7.
They are grateful for the sacrifices made by others to secure our
freedoms and improve our lives. They might have made such sacrifices
themselves.
8. They believe our Constitution is an inspired
document, perhaps divinely inspired, and that those who violate it do
not have the best interest of the country at heart.
9. Most importantly, they believe there is such a thing as universal truth and they want to know it.
That
is the beginnings of a definition of a loyal UJ reader and fan
according to me. My co-author Bill might see it a little differently,
but by and large we tend to agree on things. Clearly, this definition
leans well away from readers of romance novels, and leans strongly in
the direction of science fiction and heroic adventure. Those genre's are
close to defining The Ungettable Joke, but not perfect. That's OK. I
believe that no book should perfectly fit a genre, or it risks showing
lack of originality.
So, what keywords will work best
in the meta data and content of an article to sell this book? A very
good question. There are some Internet experts and businesses that serve
the purpose of listing the most used keywords on a daily basis. So, for
my first experiment, I might try using some of these keywords. But,
search engines are smart. Very smart. They can tell if the content of
your site does not match the keywords and meta tags you have embedded in
your pages. That means they'll give you low scores and shove you way
down the page list when the search results return to the searcher (e.g. a
Google search result). So, HOW on Earth do I get The Ungettable Joke to show up in search results unless someone searches for it by name?
[Mind numbing thoughts accompanied by dull humming sound.]
Oh,
are you still there? Sorry, I think I took a nap. Marketing might be
exciting to some, but I really just want to write books and live well
off the revenues. So, in the ongoing quest for success, I am now
experimenting with keywords and meta tags.
One Internet
site recently listed the following top twelve searched keywords and
phrases on their top 1,000 list (Please ignore the use of lower case.
Internet software ignores it too.):
Can you see connections to my core audience in these? It's a
real stretch. The mere fact that I included them in this article won't
help much because my loyal UJ reader (LUJR) is not necessarily looking
for these things. Or, are they?
Here's the experiment I
propose: Create key phrases that describe the loyal UJ reader with
those that seem to align with the top search words.
Examples
(it's OK to laugh -- the same way you might laugh at a wobbling two
year old as he learns to walk. Warning: Some of these are ungettable,
but you might laugh anyway.):
I seriously doubt this will work, but it let's me stay on topic -- and it's fun.
By Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke
Copyright, Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke ( http://www.ungettablejoke.com )
June 10, 2012
Stephen Hawking: Blind Squirrel Finds Nut
By Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke
Stephen Hawking, the famous wheelchair bound physicist, has declared himself the founder of reality and truth. He pusports to have found something, and gives himself credit for it, but his own mathematics (or rather the mathematics of his contemporaries) defy his conclusion.
"But", you say, "isn't he a brilliant scientist?"
Perhaps,
but he is not sufficiently brilliant to understand who God is, or how
God could exist before the big bang. If fact, like the blind squirrel
that finally finds a nut, it could well be that Stephen Hawking has
accidentally discovered a law that guarantees God's existence. If he can
interpret it correctly.
He explains that God could not
exist before the big bang because time did not exist before the big
bang. This is like saying that bacteria did not exist until we
discovered the microscope. The idea that Mr. Hawking could understand
the nature of God without an instrument through which to view Him is
ludicrous. The bible itself says in many ways that God is timeless. God
describes himself as having no beginning and no end. In fact, he
describes himself AS the beginning and the end. That may be said to be
description of time collapsed upon itself in an infinite loop so small
that no time passes as you go around the loop.
To
illustrate Mr. Hawking's lack of imagination, let me provide you with an
example that he gave on his television series "Stephen Hawking's Grand
Design". (From this title you might get the idea that Mr. Hawking would
like to be seen as the father of the godless universe he defines. I
believe you are right.)
Here is Mr. Hawking's unimaginative example:
He
said that looking for God before the big bang, before time existed, is a
question that makes no sense. He says it is like asking for directions
to the edge of the Earth. In his explanation, you cannot find the edge
of the Earth because the Earth is a globe.
This is a
poor analogy and simply incorrect. Mr. Hawking, and his wheel chair are
sitting ON the edge of the Earth. The edge of a solid globe is its
surface! We are all on the edge of the Earth unless we are airborne,
underground, or underwater.
Now, the fact that Mr.
Hawking cannot understand what a timeless being is, or how such a being
could bring the known universe, or universes, into existence, does not
mean this being cannot exist anymore than the bacteria that killed many a
hapless plague victim did not exist because they had no microscope with
which to view them. An unseen thing can be very real yet remain unseen
until we learn how to see it. Will we ever learn how to "see" God? I
suspect that will be up to Him. No person or quantity of people who
pretend He does not exist will have any effect on His existence.
I
am an engineer with a few years of physics under my belt as well. This
does not make me the worlds greatest physicist, nor do I presume to be.
But, in my work with other engineers and scientists, I have learned
something about imagination, and what I do presume and assert is that
Mr. Hawking's conclusion is unimaginative. He is like a proverbial blind
man claiming to understand the complete description of an elephant by
touching only its trunk.
His theory, by his own logic,
cannot be proven. For, if time did not exist prior to the big bang, and
he asserts that it is logical to conclude that God could not cause the
big bang, then I assert that it is much more logical to conclude that
the big bang could not cause itself. If there is no time, then there are
no actions -- all clocks and motion are stopped as Mr. Hawking
illustrated in his program.
To find the answer, Mr. Hawking may appreciate this interesting fact:
In
the bible Moses asks God whom he should say has sent him to lead the
Israelites out of Egypt. God says: "I AM THAT I AM... Thus shalt thou
say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." In other
words, God calls himself self-existent, and therefore timeless, having
no cause and no creator. If Mr Hawking has discovered anything, it is
this. That is, his calculations almost certainly prove the opposite of
what he asserts. They prove that self-existence is possible, and that
time must be started by something that is both self-existent but also animated.
So,
Mr. Hawking, like a blind squirrel, might indeed have rediscovered a
nut -- but he thought it was a rock. His self-existent particle from
which he says the universe sprang is, again by his own assertion, frozen
in time -- that is, it is NOT animated. Hence, the logical conclusion
is that an animated entity is required to set things in motion. This
animated entity must also be timeless. Such an entity has made Himself
known to us. He has a name. He calls himself I AM. We call him God.
Sorry, Mr, Hawking, the name of the ultimate animated being is not Stephen Hawking, and the Grand Design is not yours, but His.
You
can come back down to the edge of the Earth now. Welcome to reality.
Now, go read Kurt Godel and King James and get your head on straight.
By Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke
Copyright, Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke ( http://www.ungettablejoke.com )
May 10, 2012
Rob Thy Neighbor
Perhaps
you know someone, a neighbor or family member, who truly started with
nothing in his life. Brought up in a poor, maybe broken, family
this person had no head starts, no family business to work in, and no
inheritance. He had only himself, his dreams, his determination, his
faith that God had a plan for him, and a conviction that hard work would make him
useful in God's plan.
After working his way through college, largely on his own, this guy began to build a life, probably losing
sleep, working long hours for years while he built a career, paying his
taxes, helping whom he could along the way, buying a house and
remodeling it, and raising a family. After 20-30 years or so, maybe this
person has reached a point where he is ready to build a bigger business,
he might invest in something new, he might just want to take his family
on a vacation.
Now, he is told by people who have yet
to do anything with their God given abilities, that he must give up all
he has built; give it to those who have squandered their time, talents,
and treasure on idleness and frivolity. They say "he can afford it". Can
he? After already giving
his whole life to building a home and security for his wife and children, building retirement savings, can he afford to
start over, just so lazy, greedy people can have an easy life?
Through one immoral act, the do-nothings want to steal
the rewards of a life of effort and sacrifice. The Occupy Wall Street
people want everything for free. They call this "wild futuristic
thinking". I call it government-backed theft. Will these oh-so-superior
futuristic thinkers hold a gun to the head of the hard working man and
steal his life's work? Or will they simply shoot first and steal latter?
Having most of their lives in front of them, isn't it really they who
can "afford" to invest themselves in productive activity? ...and where
is the true leadership to point them in the right direction?
By Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke
Copyright, Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke ( http://www.ungettablejoke.com )
April 21, 2012
A Symbol of Freedom
The US Space Shuttle, and America's space program overall have been symbols of the greatness of our system of freedom. These symbols have been torn down and the plan for replacing them is not funded (no official budget or spending authority exists). While some will argue the value of a space program, or call it a luxury we cannot afford in this economy, it has demonstrably provided more value, and created more progress than most government programs. If you watch television, check on weather reports, fly on a commercial jet, use GPS, listen to satellite radio, or search for Google maps, you are using space technology. Even the commercial rockets that launch the satellites that provide telecommunications, weather observation, space telescopes, exploration vehicles, and military satellites are spinoffs of the our space program.
I have spent 21 years working inside NASA as a contract engineer and consultant, and have gained some insight on the subject. I have looked at the value NASA provides compared to the money spent, and I have spoken on this topic to schools and colleges. The real fact is that NASA's budget is a minuscule part of the overall federal budget. It represents a budget fraction of 0.004 (only about four one thousandths) of all spending. So, let's say you pay 10,000 dollars in federal taxes in a year, this means you pay only about $40 per year or $3.33 per month for NASA!
Now, maybe you are not interested in discovering other habitable planets, finding out if there was life on Mars, tracking asteroids that might destroy the Earth, or learning about physics from the universe that produces effects that are impossible to recreate in miniature here on Earth. Perhaps you would like to destroy all those Hubble images and the science they provided, or maybe you don't care that a drug can be created in space that cannot be created on Earth (due to gravity), or that such drugs might cure cancer or treat other diseases. Personally, I like all this stuff and I'm excited to think that humanity's future could include colonies on other planets, advanced space travel and propulsion, and scientific discoveries that create a more hopeful future.
Many of the things I talked about above are part of the search for the unknown. That is , the discoveries that illuminate the reality of the universe and prove the theories upon which it operates. It is a search for knowledge that cannot be replicated in a laboratory. This search challenges human intellect to look beyond petty ideologies and into our own future, and that seems a whole lot better than fighting wars over Earth's limited resources.
But, if you like political science and ideologies, there is something more in all of this, something that is right in front of our eyes and often ignored. The greatness of our space program is in the fact that it was created by a free people. When NASA was establish in 1958 under the Eisenhower administration, it was the people who demanded it. Sure, it might have initially been a response to Sputnik, but We The People supported this response long after the Cold War purpose of the space race was over. Americans want exploration. Americans want to be the leaders in advanced technology, and Americans who pay thousands in taxes, do not generally begrudge NASA the few dollars per month it takes to make all this possible.
Some ask if NASA could be run more efficiently. Certainly. But, what government agency gives you so much for such a small investment?
The retirement of the Space Shuttle is appropriate. Although the Shuttle was an enormously effective system, it is old and limited to low Earth orbit. However, we have now lost our flagship in space exploration, and it must be replaced with something. This is an opportunity to reach higher and farther than ever before. But, where is our new program? I'm working inside NASA, and despite the claims of the present administration, the new launch program is merely puttering along at snail's pace. If there were a truly vibrant program for development of the Space Launch System, I would hear and see much more about it. All I hear are crickets -- and I can't see them at all.
The present schedule for the new launch system shows only 13 launches over a 15 year period. Of these launches, two are for show (loops around the moon with no landing), and the rest have no mission objectives established -- they are for either cargo or crew, most likely to service the ISS. While service to the ISS may be useful, it is perhaps the one of the most cost-ineffective part of what we can do in space. We need to reach higher.
A base on the Moon would be a good start. Given the recent discovery of water on the Moon (LCROSS mission), we now know that an extended stay on the Moon is possible with far less effort and investment than previously thought. Such a base provides a close neighborhood in which to practice landed space operations as a step to Mars and the asteroids. There are many things to learn in the process of moving out into space, and working on the Moon provides a near-perfect training ground for practicing our craft, doing some new science, testing new technologies, and reducing future risks.
You might wonder how I can know such things. Well, there is no single absolute expert on the array of subjects relating to space flight and missions, but I have been involved in a few programs that gave me useful insight. I was the supervisor of an electrical engineering group performing the development of multiple space shuttle payloads. I was the task leader and systems engineer for the Integrated Vehicle Health Management task under the Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle (2nd Gen RLV) program. I was the lead systems engineer and risk manager for Nano-satellite missions including GeneSat-1 and PharmaSat. I was the project manager for the O/OREOS astrobiology satellite, and I was the risk manager for the LCROSS lunar impactor mission that discovered water at the south pole of the Moon. I presently work as a consultant on University satellite projects and NASA's LADEE mission. I have also been the lead electrical engineer on numerous ground and airborne projects that support NASA's space and flight research.
Through all of this, I have seen some waste, but I mostly see engineers and scientists who are so dedicated to the work that they are willing to do it for far less income than they would get in industry, working long hours to meet ridiculously tight schedules, and achieving amazing feats of engineering and science in the process. Why? Because they have a spirit of exploration and they hope that what they do will advance humanity farther and faster than any other endeavor or political ideology could. They also have, at their core, a love for what they do and an appreciation for helping to bring something new into the human consciousness. They believe, as I do, that you cannot discover what "nobody knew" if you merely accept what "everyone knows". They have a heart for research and exploration that is released in a free country to do things that can scarcely be dreamed of in other societies. Our few dollars per taxpayer frees all of this drive and intellect to achieve great things on our behalf.
I hope this article gave you some real hope in our technological destiny, but not just in space. Our space exploration is comparable to exploration in other Earth-bound sciences that get far less attention, but are also seeking to pull back the curtain that covers hidden knowledge in the Universe. Discoveries in physics, nano-technology, micro/molecular-biology, bio-medical technology, and other areas can move us forward tremendously too, and they also benefit symbiotically from space research.
These are some of the things in which hope for the future of Americans might be well placed; and I believe that such hope comes only from a free people who can freely vote for those who support these things. We need leadership that can clearly state a vision as well as their commitment to it. Our present leadership has played political games with America's future and set us back years, if not a decade or more, in our progress.
I hope you also see the value in rebuilding our Space Program, and once again creating a new American flagship as a Symbol of Freedom to the world.
By Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke
Copyright, Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke ( http://www.ungettablejoke.com )
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