Sequestration could be Pentagon pork killer, CBS
“You might be surprised that as part of the Defense Department’s mission to protect Americans, your tax dollars funded a workshop about aliens from “Star Trek” entitled: Did Jesus Die for Klingons, Too? It’s just one questionable projects under the microscope of fiscal conservative Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who’s taking his red pen to cuts that he sees as no-brainers.”
Not Such a Stretch to Reach for the Stars, NY Times (2011)
“… the government’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or Darpa, drew hundreds this month to a symposium on the 100-Year Starship Study, which is devoted to ideas for visiting the stars. … Other talks ruminated on theological and philosophical questions. “Did Jesus Die for Klingons, Too?” was the title of one.”

Biologist, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Biologist and Payload integrator, Editor of NASAWatch.com and Astrobiology.com, Lapsed climber, Explorer, Synaesthete, Former Challenger Center board member 🖖🏻

5 replies on “Sen. Coburn Doesn't Like Klingons”

  1. This comes down to whether aliens with starships exist or not.  If they do not exist then defences against them are fun but waste.  If they do exist then a very much bigger budget is needed.

  2. The “hundred year starship” study is more of an attempt by DOD to network with futurists than an actual design project for interstellar flight. As such, the scope of potential topics is broad. That said, I’m not sure about the exact rationale of the study in question..

  3. Now, now, Mike.  We must be tolerant of other people’s beliefs, and make sure that they never see us shaking our heads and snickering when they’re looking the other way.  I’ve been told my whole life that “it takes all kinds.”  Unfortunate, that.

    On a brighter note, who would have imagined ever seeing Klingons and Jesus being discussed in the same sentence?  What do you suppose Klingon loaves and fishes taste like, and do you have to catch and kill them first?

    Steve

  4. Sounds a bit like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I bet Senator Coburn could find one questionable item under lots of projects. Cut them all!

    On a side note, how can I become a futurist? 🙂

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