Wed, Dec 24, 2008
Reindeer Don't Need 17 Heavy Shock Absorbers To Quell
Vibrations...
Santa Claus is one of the most enduring symbols of the holiday
season. When you think about it, the fact he continues to be so
popular is especially surprising... given the widespread abuse of
his name and image by marketers.
As if it wasn't bad enough that he's impersonated in thousand of
shopping malls and at hundreds of car dealer lots every year, no
less than outgoing US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters
last week attempted to use an announcement of special
"Santa Skylanes" in US airspace to salvage some
credibility for anti-congestion measures the airlines say are at
best symbolic.
Now comes NASA. In a release sent out Tuesday, the agency
attempts to deflect criticism of its troubled Constellation manned
space program by publicly inviting Santa to tour the Kennedy Space
Center while he's out on Christmas Eve, and see the progress being
made on the Ares I rocket.
NASA's outreach specifically invites St. Nick to Launch Pad 39B,
where a giant crane is hoisting components of what will one day be
the lightning protection system for Ares launches. The first launch
is scheduled for July of next year... assuming NASA's
less-than elegant strategy to deal with excessive
vibration of the rocket is implemented
successfully.
NASA's PR department goes so far as to discuss future visits by
the Jolly Old Elf to future human colonies in space. "Word has it
Santa's elves began constructing a similar launch pad and lightning
protection system at the North Pole last year in preparation for
Santa's sojourns to the stars."
We can't be too annoyed with NASA for using Santa in the same
way that screaming car dealers do. After all, the Obama
administration will take over in a few days, giving NASA
Administrator Michael Griffin one more thing in common with the car
dealers...
A year-end
blow-out.
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