QotD: Oh, Grow Up! Edition

Answering the (rhetorical) question "How old should someone be to have the right to defend themselves?" in the comments section at Marko's, Rauðbjorn responds:

You’re old enough when you decide to take on that responsibility for yourself. It’s one of the hallmarks of adulthood. An adult who relies on others to defend him is just a grown-up child.

Word.
.

QotD: At ease, there, Mr. President Edition

Regarding Mr. Obama's alleged "ordering" of House leadership to meet with him (at least, that's how it's being phrased in the media), The Travis McGee Reader notes:

Mr. President, this is a constitutional republic, and, absent an indictment, you do not have the goddamn authority to order my dog Libby to show up in your office.

Word.

Quote of the Day:

In about 5 billion years, Sol, our star, will enter its red giant phase, and engulf the orbit of the earth. After this event, the universe will continue for at least 10^100 years. Well prior to that, Earth's atmosphere will boil away. Earth will be entirely, 100% destroyed, down to the last molecule, taking humanity with it.

The only way to avoid that fate is to attain star faring capability and get off this rock.

I submit therefore, that while stewardship of our resources is a laudable and necessary thing, that ultimately, our planet is 100% expendable, down to the very last molecule towards the goal of our ultimate escape.


Humanity needs exactly two game changing things: a compact, self contained, potent clean energy source along the lines of the fictional ZPM, and a star drive.


Such items will be the product of freedom, prosperity, and the material application of the intellect of man, and won't be dropped out of the sky as a result of granola munching Gaia worship.

Nature is pleased to eat us, or kill us in any of a number of lingering, nasty, painful ways.

Word.

(Inevitably, I am reminded of one of my favorite gags from the graves of academe:

Droning Prof: "...and in approximately five billion years, the sun will swell into a red giant, destroying the earth..."

Inattentive student: "Huh!? What?!?"

Droning Prof: "I said 'in about five billion years, the sun will swell into a red giant, destroying the earth.'"

Inattentive student: "Oh, whew! I thought you said five million years.")


(H/T to Kevin.)

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