Here's a case of "art imitates politics:"

John Cramer, a physicist at the UW, is also a successful science fiction
author.  In a recent book, "Einstein's Bridge," Cramer takes us into a near
future in which the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) is built near
Waxahachie, TX.  In that future, humankind communicates with an alien race
through a black hole, and that race tries to destroy them.  Two characters
go back in time and save humanity from the invasion by blocking the SSC's
creation.  Here's what Cramer's characters take credit for:

George Bush Sr.'s selection of Dan Quayle as a running mate over Bob Dole
(because the VP has become the executive office that drives scientific
inquiry, and Quayle is a NASA-supporter, whereas Dole was a SSC man).

(Ironically, the Bush-Dole administration actually takes care of Saddam
Hussein long before 2003 in the "original future."  George Sr. writes the
book "Boris, Saddam and I," exploring his apparently aggressive foreign
policy in that future.)

George Sr.'s vomiting during his visit to Japan (they gave him a virus to
inhibit his remembering to ask the Japanese Prime Minister for a
contribution to the SSC project)

Bill Clinton's election.  Don't ask me to explain this one.  I have a
love/hate relationship with the Clinton presidency, and it's pretty clear
that Cramer has some pretty strong feelings about Bill and his science
policy.

Such a book makes me wonder what might have been.  Politics is such a "what
have you done for me lately" business, and our culture has become (in my
opinion) infused by the idea -- do it quick, do it now, or lose your chance.
Cramer seems to be saying:  progress takes time, and failure is as important
as success.  Interesting viewpoint.

Scott

----- Original Message -----
From: Kat <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 8:00 AM
Subject: Re: Voucher Plan Removes Disabled Preference.


> You just reinforced my opinions about George Jr. being out of touch with
the average American!
>
> Kat
>
> -------Original Message-------
> From: "Cleveland, Kyle E." <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: 05/22/03 10:52 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Voucher Plan Removes Disabled Preference.
>
> >
> > Joy,
>
> George Sr. had a photo-op in a grocery store.  In a nutshell, there were
> two
> actions that plainly indicated that he was out of touch with the average
> citizen:
>
> 1)  He hadn't the foggiest idea of the price of a gallon of milk.  I don't
> recall his estimate, but it was pretty silly (something like 50
> cents/gallon, but I could be wrong).
>
> 2)  He marveled over the UPC scanner at the checkout.  He hadn't been in a
> store since items were rung up by a cashier manually entering prices into
> the cash register.  Unit Price Coding (UPC) had been ubiquitous for years
> before the President's visit to the grocer.
>
> Tell us about your new job when you get rested up!
>
> Kyle
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: - Joy - [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 11:58 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Voucher Plan Removes Disabled Preference.
>
>
> Kyle,
>
> Can you explain "George Sr.'s faux pas with a gallon of milk at a D.C.
> supermarket"?  It's not something I'm old enough to remember (I was 9 when
> Clinton got elected... I'm not trying to make y'all feel old, but it's
> true,
> and seeming young is better than seeming ignorant, I think).  It sounds
> like
> a great story.  I tried searching for it on Google, but couldn't find
> anything.  Thanks!
>
> On another note:
> There are lots of things I want to reply to, but I started a new job
> recently, and it's taking up a lot of my time and leaving me really tired.
> Right now, all I want is to go to bed.  So, I hope that you all will put
> up
> with me commenting on some old threads in a few days (probably the
> weekend).
> This, though, I couldn't wait to hear!
>
> ~Joy~
> >
>