Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Tip of the hat tonight to Felix:
Edited to add:
Although he had no trouble jumping off buildings and bridges, and soaring across the English Channel in a carbon-fiber wing, he found himself suffering panic attacks when forced to spend hours inside the pressurized suit and helmet. At one point in 2010, rather than take an endurance test in it, he went to an airport and fled the United States. With the help of a sports psychologist and other specialists, he learned techniques for dealing with the claustrophobia.
One of the techniques Mr. Baumgartner developed for dealing with claustrophobia was to stay busy throughout the ascent. Mr. Baumgartner conversed steadily, in Austrian-accented English, with Mr. Kittinger, a former fighter pilot whose deep voice exuded the right stuff as he confidently went through a 40-item checklist rehearsing every move that Mr. Baumgartner would make when it came time to leave the capsule — tasks like sliding his seat forward, checking his parachutes and carefully opening the hatch.
9 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
instead of bullets, bombs & tanks. 
Even a quarter of their budget! 
‘U.S. Department of Peace’ may never get its chance
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-department-of-peace-may-never-get-its-chance/2012/05/18/gIQAJg4iYU_story.html
By David A. Fahrenthold, Published: May 18, 2011
It is the Hope Diamond of liberal ideas: pure, breathtaking and highly impractical in the real world.
The proposal has been submitted for consideration in every Congress since 2001, and the idea behind it is that the federal government could stop wars, pacify street gangs, and distill violence out of the American soul itself. All it would take was a new Cabinet-level department and $10 billion a year in taxpayer money.
But now the ultimate Capitol Hill long shot — the “U.S. Department of Peace” — is looking even less likely than usual. It is losing its champion in the House.
“Of course it could work,” said Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) in an interview last week. “It’s very practical. You know, I’m a practical politician.”
Dennis
that ship like thingy a balloon. 
Science is so fab! 
It gives you things you never thought of, like velcro. 
Ok, so that seems modest, but most importantly of all, scientific discovery fires the imagination! 
I feel sorry for those who fear that. I look forward to what comes from that!
Celebrate the Spirit of Felix!
