# From Orbit, You Can’t see America Sliding Backward into Mediocrity **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [April 15, 2010, 12:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422 "2010-04-15T12:45:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/1 "2010-04-15T12:45:26Z")
Great read from this month’s Car and Driver > **[Car Reviews - New Cars for 2016 and 2017 at Car and Driver](https://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q1/aaron_robinson_from_orbit_you_can_t_see_america_sliding_backward_into_mediocrity-column)** > > Research 2016 and 2017 cars on Car and Driver. Our new car reviews and car buying resources help you make informed decisions. Car and Driver car reviews are designed to help you to make a smart purchase. Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson made pretty much the same comment at his recent lecture at UB. (I’ll include a link for the 98% of you saying, “Who the fuck is Neil deGrasse Tyson”) > **[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_deGrasse_Tyson)** > > Neil deGrasse Tyson (/dəˈɡræs/; born October 5, 1958) is an American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator. Since 1996, he has been the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City. The center is part of the American Museum of Natural History, where Tyson founded the Department of Astrophysics in 1997 and has been a research associate in the department since 2003. Tyson studied at Harvard University, the University of Texa... ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/2 "2010-04-15T12:55:11Z")
good read. ---
**Author:** ![dirtye30](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dirtye30/32/7333_2.png) [@dirtye30](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dirtye30)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/3 "2010-04-15T12:55:54Z")
Good read! ---
**Author:** ![Geehee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geehee/32/7238_2.png) [@Geehee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geehee)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/4 "2010-04-15T12:56:06Z")
good read ---
**Author:** ![OfficerK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4da419/32.png) [@OfficerK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OfficerK)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/5 "2010-04-15T12:58:40Z")
good read ---
**Author:** ![Geoff](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geoff/32/6104_2.png) [@Geoff](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geoff)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/6 "2010-04-15T12:59:26Z")
good read. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/7 "2010-04-15T13:00:16Z")
Discussion fail ---
**Author:** ![TrueBlue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/trueblue/32/7245_2.png) [@TrueBlue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TrueBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/8 "2010-04-15T13:03:49Z")
> A country that desires its engineers and technicians to keep the pace must demonstrate that it values their work, that it offers a future to them besides continuous frustration and third-place finishes. Can I get a hallelujah. I heart ARob 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/9 "2010-04-15T13:50:02Z")
The US needs something grand to inspire a new generation like the space program did four our parents. Our country is screwed because it’s values are off… Guys that can dunk a basketball do not deserve more respect than those that can send it into obit. ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/10 "2010-04-15T14:16:29Z")
Wait, NASA only operates on $18 billion per year??? And it’s getting axed after Obama pledged to make math and science a priority? I’m sorry but as much as trickle down economics doesn’t work trickle down science does. And one of our own fucking Senators is right now proposing to spend $1 billion subsidizing retail grocery stores in the ghetto?!?! That’s it. It’s fucking pitchfork time. ---
**Author:** ![TORQDSS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/torqdss/32/5125_2.png) [@TORQDSS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TORQDSS)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/11 "2010-04-15T15:17:55Z")
> [@Fry](#): > > Wait, NASA only operates on $18 billion per year??? And it’s getting axed after Obama pledged to make math and science a priority? I’m sorry but as much as trickle down economics doesn’t work trickle down science does. > > And one of our own fucking Senators is right now proposing to spend $1 billion subsidizing retail grocery stores in the ghetto?!?! > > That’s it. It’s fucking pitchfork time. NObama and our entire government need to be fired in whatever way necesary to get our country back to the greatness it used to have. 18 billion is wasted by the feds on toilet paper and they want to scrap NASA… that’s fucking brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/12 "2010-04-15T15:23:27Z")
dammit! I want some space ice-cream. who’s with me? ---
**Author:** ![RedGoober4Life](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redgoober4life/32/7610_2.png) [@RedGoober4Life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RedGoober4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/13 "2010-04-15T15:30:07Z")
[quote=“drvnkd,post:9,topic:153422"”] The US needs something grand to inspire a new generation like the space program did four our parents. Our country is screwed because it’s values are off… Guys that can dunk a basketball do not deserve more respect than those that can send it into obit. [/quote] I think the next generation did have something – the human genome project. ---
**Author:** ![Tunerfreak](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tunerfreak/32/7427_2.png) [@Tunerfreak](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Tunerfreak)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/14 "2010-04-15T16:09:15Z")
yeah i think its a complete joke that we are scrapping NASA, i think space exploration is fascinating and love hearing about it. why did we even build that space station that cost how ever much it did and cant even use it now unless we go up with russia? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bing/32/7211_2.png) [@bing](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/15 "2010-04-15T20:46:33Z")
[quote=“drvnkd,post:9,topic:153422"”] The US needs something grand to inspire a new generation like the space program did four our parents. Our country is screwed because it’s values are off… Guys that can dunk a basketball do not deserve more respect than those that can send it into obit. [/quote] and guys that can dunk a basketball deserve more respect than the people who play them on TV. ---
**Author:** ![PureXTC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/purextc/32/5223_2.png) [@PureXTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/PureXTC)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/16 "2010-04-15T21:09:20Z")
I visited NASA in Jan. and I was very disappointed. This was supposed to be a highlight of our vacation but when we got there, so many buildings were empty that you were left wondering “Does anything go on here anymore?”. Seems as if we missed the real NASA tour by about 40 years. On a side note, if anyone could tell me what the cattle ranch, smack dab in the middle of the complex is for, please do tell. ---
**Author:** ![dirtye30](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dirtye30/32/7333_2.png) [@dirtye30](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dirtye30)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/17 "2010-04-15T21:15:24Z")
> [@PureXTC](#): > > I visited NASA in Jan. and I was very disappointed. This was supposed to be a highlight of our vacation but when we got there, so many buildings were empty that you were left wondering “Does anything go on here anymore?”. Seems as if we missed the real NASA tour by about 40 years. > > On a side note, if anyone could tell me what the cattle ranch, smack dab in the middle of the complex is for, please do tell. uhhh aliens LOVE cattle… ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/18 "2010-04-15T21:43:06Z")
I just don’t get how the Republicans are against “Get the government out of an industry, and let private companies compete for who can do the best job and earn subsidies.” It’s like the whole basis of their platform for EVERYTHING. I mean, I’m against this because it’s WAAAY too republican-y. Oh yeah, cause Obama said it. I mean, if it was the other way around there would be 10 million ads on about goverment takeovers of outer space, astronaut death panels, and government waste. Also as per requirements they have to work socialism in there somewhere. Can someone dig up that post about JayS et al bitching that we wasted all that money on the thing to see if there was water on the moon? Too much effort for me. ---
**Author:** ![Jam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jam/32/7235_2.png) [@Jam](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jam)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/19 "2010-04-15T22:31:55Z")
who goes to dennys, the fuck EDIT: plus, that robbinson guy? he looks like a fag either way, he lost me after he said he eats at dennys ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422/20 "2010-04-16T05:44:23Z")
> [@RedGoober4Life](#): > > I think the next generation did have something – the human genome project. Thats true, but most Americans can relate to something tangible like big rockets err… penis enlargement. I wonder how many random citizens would know what the genome project is? The way knowledge work is being commoditized, we better start inventing more cool shit and developing new white collar jobs. Just yesterday the guy giving a seminar at work had a pretty computer model showing the deformation of a steel gas cylinder cap as the cylinder dropped onto it from a height of 1.2 meters. The question was asked about who made the model… Yup. Some company in India. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/from-orbit-you-can-t-see-america-sliding-backward-into-mediocrity/153422.md?page=2)