Ah, finally. After the longest two days I can recall, this week is on its way out. And it may be a big day, as (if the weather cooperates, which last I saw was unlikely), today will be the 135th and final launch of the 30 year space shuttle program. That’s an average of 4.5 launches a year (and you may recall there were a couple gaps in there, after one shuttle exploded on takeoff and another burned up on reentry), turning manned spaceflight into something about as pedestrian as a flight to Hawaii. In a sign of how far we’ve fallen, the nation that put a man on the moon (or constructed one of the most elaborate hoaxes in modern history – take your pick) will soon not even have the ability to launch people into orbit. Instead, we have to grovel to the Russians (of all people) to hitch a ride. In my humble opinion, this is pretty humiliating. I also feel the need to point out that the NASA budget is something like $18 billion, amounts to just a hair more than one half of one percent of the US Federal budget, and has been responsible for an amazing amount of private sector science and technology. Personally, I think it’s been a bargain. But we don’t approve of all that sciencey stuff these days, and that money would be better off being spent by Wall Street millionaires, so let’s give it to them.

Speaking of NASA and the space program, I caught the tail end of this rather excellent documentary on JFK last night on HBO. I hesitate to compare Kennedy with the current president, because, well, I’m kind of tired of this particular president. Let’s just say I didn’t know John Kennedy, but Barack Obama is no John Kennedy.

Oh well, time to read up on what’s new on Casey Anthony, and then get ready for work.