McCain IS worried about the high cost of planetarium projectors

[Patiod]

Great remark from Matt Yglesias's blog comments section:

"At least McCain managed to bring back Topic A from the last debate, namely the high cost of planetarium projectors."

That was driving me crazy last night (well, that and trying to hear Obama and McCain over all the Dodger fans yelling on my other TV) -- not exactly funding the manufacture of wooden arrows or studying fish reproduction - this is an important investment for the children of Chicago.

[saltpoint]

1. Lord yes, I'm worried sick over the cost of planetarium projectors.

There is not Lunesta enough in all the galaxies of the heavens to assure me a night's slumber when upon the precarious markets of Cook County planetarium projector costs rob us all of our freedoms.

And may the angels bless John McCain for raising the topic.

[DemNoir]

5. Screw those kids and their planitariums

John McCain didn't see any stars for 5 1/2 years and he's just fine.

[saltpoint]

LOL! And about the only stars he's seeing now are Hank Williams Jr. and

Chuck Norris.

[shadowknows69]

2. Maybe if we had more planetariums in this country

We'd be on Mars by now or kicking it on Io or Europa with the locals. I don't know how our podunk little city ever afforded one but there's been a pretty good one in a local school here for 25 years. It always gave me a thirst for knowledge and I don't believe it would do anything but that with today's youth.

[Patiod]

9. I bet it's actually been there since the 60's

My junior high had one, courtesy of the Space Race - Congress funded a LOT of planetariums back when we were racing the Ruskies to the moon.

[patrice]

3. Hey, those kids don't need that projector to work for McDonalds and mow our lawns.

:sarcasm:

[Brewman_Jax]

4. He is? This from the same guy

that doesn't know how many houses he owns. :eyes:

[KharmaTrain]

6. A "Projector"...

Here's what he's refering to...



Every year, several million people visit the Adler Planetarium to see that "projector". As a kid, a visit to this theater was the highlight of my school year, and I'm certain it had a similar affect on many, many others. Each year as my children were growing up, a trip to the Adler was always in our summer plans...it was neat to be able to share this learning experience with the next generation.

The original projector was installed in 1930 and then updated in the 80's, but it's long outdated...especially in light of all the scientific discoveries and technical innovations that have come about just in the past decade. You better be sure that if this were a weapon system that was as old, Gramps would be humping to throw billions at defense contractors.

This was also part of an effort by McCain to degrade education...which was evident in last night's debate. Ya know, when you edjumacate 'em, they become commie socialist libruls. :sarcasm:

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

7. We had a planetarium when I was a kid. It was called THE SKY.

GET OFF MY LAWN, YOU KIDS!!!

:sarcasm:

[Brotherjohn]

8. Really?! He brought this up AGAIN? REALLY?!? (nt)

[Patiod]

10. He did indeed

It made me stop cheering at the Phils and go over and yell at my other TV

All night running back and forth between Phillies/Dodgers and Obama/Biden - at least the best team decisively won both series......

[InkAddict]

11. BREAKING: Astronaut Lisa Novak to open livin-in Astronomy charter school

for K-12 on reservation; slot vouchers available for students nationwide; wins Fed grant for planatarium projector

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

12. It's called EDUCATION and if it inspires kids to want to learn about astronomy and other

sciences, what's wrong with that? It isn't like spending the money to see how fast ketchup runs out of a bottle.

[Javaman]

13. why does science hate mcinsane?

oh yeah...

[hunter]

14. Looking up makes McCain dizzy.

He'd much rather stare at your ass.

[youthere]

15. Clearly the planetarium projector manufacturers are in the tank for Obama.

:eyes:

[bigtree]

16. Adler device not just 'overhead projector' says president of the Adler Planetarium

. . . at a news conference Wednesday, Adler President Paul Knappenberger defended the request. The museum wants to spend $10 million to update its original, 78-year-old domed Sky Theater auditorium, including replacement of the huge, 40-year-old Zeiss planetarium projection system, which is falling into disrepair with no replacement parts available.

Knappenberger also took issue with McCain's use of the phrase "overhead projector." Knappenberger stood in front of the giant Zeiss projector, while beside him was a much smaller overhead projector used by generations of classroom teachers.

"These cost maybe $300 new," he said of the classroom projector, "and you can pick them up for 10 bucks on eBay now."

More than 30 million people have seen the Zeiss sky shows at the Adler, at least a third of them schoolchildren, Knappenberger said. He noted that planetariums in New York and Los Angeles received federal funding in recent years to replace aging Zeiss systems.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-adler-projectoroct09,0,1534078.story

[Patiod]

17. As a big fan of Derrick Pitts and Philadelphia's Fels planetarium

I was REALLY angered by this last night (the first time he mentioned it, in a previous debate, he wasn't clear what he was talking about).

OK, John, we'll give you a pass on the first reference - you might not have known what you were talking about. But by now, you and your people should have crossed something this useful and valuable off your list of "rotten earmarks".

[road2000]

18. He's just confused.

He doesn't want to see any money going to that cheerleader from "Heroes."