Does it mention anti-matter production and containment research? Because thats kind of necessary for photon torpedos.

Oh and funding for moving the research labs to somewhere safe like, say, the Oort Cloud.

Rather have Predator drones with frickin' lasers on them. Would be cheaper. ;-)

I excerpted and linked at Old War Dogs >> Bill's Bites -- 2006.10.01. Still can't leave you trackbacks.

They can do all the photon research they want but what are the chances of Clinton or Schumer ever seeing the light?

If we have Photon torpedos, then we can re-deploy our troops to Alpha Centurie (sp?)

Marvin ... if the Senators from New York got this research funded, how about the funding for the next-generation Iludyian Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator?

I think that you, of all people, would be in a position to know ...

Nope, they have to protect the B1RD and GU11 funding.

Not to mention, the Iludyian lobby has another political liability ... any day now, the Senate may pass a bill defining the rehydration of Martians as "torture" a la waterboarding ...

... and PETA's going to be up in arms about dressing up dogs in Roman leather and sneakers.

Rigel Kentaurus A (Alpha Centauri)

HEEEEEEYYYYY! I am a rocket scientist. I think photon research is valuable. How else will we find out how photons mate and reproduce and then be able to control their minds to do our bidding. Imagine billions and billions of photons working together shoulder to shoulder to develop the Iludyian Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator?

And we'll straighten out all of those bad directions people get (No more wrong left turns at Albuquerque). I'd support this with all of $50 just for the laughs.

Seriously, I am sure there are any number of useful research projects into photons which could be funded. I don't know whether this one is valid or not, but I think we might be jumping to conclusions as to whether or not these are justified. I'd like a little more information before saying it is a waste.

Subsunk

Imagine billions and billions of photons working together shoulder to shoulder to develop the Iludyian Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator?

Are we talkin' about frickin' la-zer's here, Subsunk? Throw me a bone!

Next thing you know, you'll want to mount them frickin' la-zers on the heads of frickin' sharks ... either the kind PETA loves, or the steel-skinned/nuclear-powered/XXXL kind within whose taut bellies you used to reside.

We would be wise to take your advice, and check this out before passing judgment ...

... we just react this way to the initial reports because, unlike Dr. Evil's organization, Congress does tolerate "fail-ure" ... for even "fail-ures" can be the catalyst for the converting of our tax dollars by Congress' fast-breeder political reactors (like the two Senators mentioned) into prodigious amounts of pork, which brings further fuel to the process.

(and, didya' notice, since the advent of GPS, the reports of rabbits making wrong turns at Albequerque have dropped sharply. Wonder if Warner Bros. bought their star a TomTom?)

Rich,

I've been traveling. Sorry to get back to you so late.

You're correct. In this day and age, no rabbits need ever make wrong turns anymore. I wonder whether it was a breeding program or whether GPS receivers are all so cheap that even poor rabbits can afford them now? See, who knows? Those photons might become so cheap through this research that producing them may one day become as common as flipping on a light switch!

That being said, is there a breeding program for more curvaceous female humans and where do I sign up??? --- to judge their breeding, obviously. After all, the Submarine Force IS an all volunteer force and I certainly want to do my share to help out my country in the improved female department. (Is that a non sequitur? They obviously are as close to perfect as anything I've ever come across.)

Subsunk

PS,

Almost missed the Taut Dog reference, Rich. You've been researching so well, haven't you? We used to dream of the Laser Persicope one day in the future. Flip up the guard over the button, push it and bore a 6 foot hole into the side of the Kara class cruiser screaming across the ocean to get to us. Bye Kara!

Yes, indeed, I was a Taut Dog once upon a time. Before that I was just a Dog at Texas A&M. And a repository for every Aggie joke ever written.

My, times have changed. Now, I'm just stupid, fat, senile, old and my nuts seem to have developed some kind of rash, according to certain folks around here. Maybe there's a treatment for that.

I know, it's called humor.

Have a nice day, Rich.

Subsunk out.