Backslapping at the Broadmoor

I consider the invitation ill-advised. If Spock would have had blown that supernova earlier, Romulus, Vulcan and Kirk's Dad would still be alive.

While we're at it, let's dispense with all professional conferences everywhere, and spend that money on college scholarships too. All that NASA backslapping at AMS, AAS, AGU, SPIE, etc. In Florida, Hawaii, and even FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

Have a couple chardonnays, Keith. I'm not saying every nickel spent on conferences is painstakingly planned for the best possible benefit, but really, this is picayune and shortsighted.

Editor's note: gee "Papa" have you ever checked out what goes on at these things - and the way the throw money around? You can almost imagine what it was like in Nero's palace while Rome was burning ...

Yes. Thank you for asking.

An equally valid question is how much is the publicity that will be generated by a high profile speaker and first class event that is likely to actually receive widespread mainstream media coverage worth?

This is outreach to a wider audience, something that NASA Watch has been harping on repeatedly of late. Will ti cost some money? Yes, but it is an investment as well. It may not even prove fruitful for some time, but I suspect it will at least make some people more aware of what is happening and, perhaps, encourage some of those college students to enter into an aerospace career. If so, I think it is money well spent.

Editor's note: If indeed the meeting organizers sought to make Mr. Nimoy's remarks available - live or recorded - to a wider audience, then I would agree. But they do not. This is simply entertainment for the attendees who pay the exorbitant fees to attend this event - a substantial portion of which end up in the Space Foundation's bank account.

Keith,

Usefulness is in the eye of the beholder. Many folks would consider the cost of climbing Mt. Everest a waste of money. How much money could you and Scott P. have provided for college scholarships. The point is as you stated in your last response is that the attendees paid for this themselves. So aren't they allowed to spend thier money just as you and Scott P.?

Editor's note: not the same at all. We travelled - as individuals - and went out of our way to make everything we did available to the widest audience possible and did so in an instructional manner. Indeed that was the only reason I went. However, the money that is being spent at this meeting is paid for by NASA and large aerospace firms and Mr. Nimoy's comments will only be heard by those in attendance.

It's a cost of doing business, Keith, because conferences are a cost-effective way to stay on top of the field. In fact, the govt can't afford to stay home and still try somehow to keep informed. Remember the ill-considered congressional limits on NASA attendance at conferences?

This conference fee is higher than most that I've gone to, but this conference is also much higher profile than most. For most of those attending, the fee is on the same scale as a week's salary and the lodging/M&IE -- peanuts compared to the value of contacts you make there. Actual business gets transacted -- this is no TEDxNASA. By contrast, I've attended others that are basically an excuse to ski; it was frustrating that so many speakers put so little energy into their presentations. I like skiing, but I don't go to those if I can help it.

I agree it's basically an internal, waste-of-money boondoggle but do you really think anybody that's not already a Trekkie or a space nut cares what an over-the-hill actor has to say about actual space and its realities? How many "recruits" will Nemoy pull into the fold? Let'em have their "fun"--Nasa's wasting tons more of our tax dollars on stupid rocket designs!