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The moon, Mars and now the Supreme Court
Los Angeles Times ^ | 10/5/10 | Dennis V. Byrnes

Posted on 10/05/2010 5:25:09 PM PDT by Nachum

I am the chief engineer for flight mechanics at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a NASA center operated under federal government contract by the California Institute of Technology. My responsibilities include technical oversight and review of all aspects of spacecraft dynamics, trajectory design, mission design and navigation for all missions at JPL from the earliest studies to the completion of flight operations. I also serve on several review boards for other NASA missions outside of JPL. But today, I will be at the Supreme Court listening to my lawyer argue against the acting solicitor general of the United States.

I began my career in 1968, working on the Apollo program, which landed the first humans on the moon. Over the last four decades, I have worked on the Viking Mars landers, the Voyager project to explore the outer solar system, the Galileo exploration of Jupiter and many other missions. Even though I am beyond normal retirement age, I love my work and wish to continue doing it. I am told by my peers, associates and by JPL and NASA management that I am very good at what I do. During my long career, my loyalty to my country has never been questioned.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: court; mars; moon; supreme

1 posted on 10/05/2010 5:25:10 PM PDT by Nachum
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To: Nachum

We must realize that this engineer has created more value than the entire contingent of congress critters who have ever disgraced our house and senate.

He will be dead for years before his IQ decays to that of our president and the members the West Wing.

I loathe, detest, and spit upon ALL democrats and other idiots who should have properly been aborted,

Yes, the liberals have made me an advocate of abortion.

Could we do it now to them and call it late abortions?

I apologize for the rant. What else is left save for the upcoming civil war?


2 posted on 10/05/2010 5:32:08 PM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: Nachum

Good grief.


3 posted on 10/05/2010 5:34:09 PM PDT by La Lydia
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To: Nachum
If only that Directive applied to Congress AND the White House (ESPECIALLY to THE CURRENT USURPER RESIDING THEREIN)
4 posted on 10/05/2010 5:34:52 PM PDT by traditional1 ("Don't gotsta worry 'bout no mo'gage, don't gotsta worry 'bout no gas; Obama go:nna take care o' me!)
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To: Nachum

Thank God for the (apparently very few) people who are willing to stand up for our Constitutional rights. I applaud both these JPL employees and those citizens doing “open carry” of firearms. Would that more folks would “rare back and roar” when faced with similar intrusiveness instituted by non-elected bureaucrats (OR elected ones, for that matter).


5 posted on 10/05/2010 5:50:15 PM PDT by Wonder Warthog
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To: Nachum

Too bad the commenter at the site doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
They stopped asking lifestyle questions some time ago.
The only issue is whether you’re hiding something that might make you susceptible to blackmail.


6 posted on 10/05/2010 5:51:07 PM PDT by G Larry
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To: Nachum

Sounds to me like the implementation of the directive went far beyond what is said in the directive.


7 posted on 10/05/2010 5:53:50 PM PDT by NonValueAdded ("It's amazing, A man who has such large ears could be so tone deaf" Rush Limbaugh 9/8/10)
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To: Nachum

I don’t believe in mandatory retirement ages for just about any position, public or private. Usually, to me, they - mandatory retirement ages - are loved most by younger ones seeking to force open higher positions for themselves; a process that ought to be left entirely to merit plus the “retirement” choices of the individual, not a blanket one-size-fits-all policy.


8 posted on 10/05/2010 5:56:00 PM PDT by Wuli
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To: Nachum
And the highest office in the land? Do we have any real documentation on Mr Transparency?
9 posted on 10/05/2010 6:04:20 PM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 623 of our national holiday from reality. - 0bama really isn't one of US.)
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To: Wuli
Do you suppose JPL had not been enthusiastic enough in their primary mission of Muzzie Glorification?
10 posted on 10/05/2010 6:14:52 PM PDT by barb-tex (What else did you expect from the likes of 0?)
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To: Nachum
"I authorize any investigator, special agent, or other duly accredited representative of the authorized federal agency conducting my background investigation, to obtain any information relating to my activities from schools, residential management agents, employers, criminal justice agencies, retail business establishments, or other sources of information. This information may include, but is not limited to, my academic, residential, achievement, performance, attendance, disciplinary, employment history, and criminal history record information." [Emphasis added]. Additionally, if other releases are required for things such as medical records or tax forms, they too must be given.

I signed a form like this many times during my 42 year career with the government and the private sector. To me it was the cost of doing business in the area of government (R&D) we wished to work. People reviewing the data knew what they were doing and did not waste time on trivialities I thought. They dealt with the information in a responsible manner. Pushing back might be unproductive.

11 posted on 10/05/2010 6:15:40 PM PDT by olezip
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To: Nachum

From the article “”I authorize any investigator, special agent, or other duly accredited representative of the authorized federal agency conducting my background investigation, to obtain any information relating to my activities from schools, residential management agents, employers, criminal justice agencies, retail business establishments, or other sources of information. This information may include, but is not limited to, my academic, residential, achievement, performance, attendance, disciplinary, employment history, and criminal history record information.” [Emphasis added]. Additionally, if other releases are required for things such as medical records or tax forms, they too must be given.”

The man must not get out much. When my daughter checked into volunteering at the local library they presented her with very much the same form. She on my advice refused to sign it. Oddly enough the library has had to reduce its hours and paid staff so you would think they would be encouraging volunteers.


12 posted on 10/05/2010 6:16:36 PM PDT by lastchance (Hug your babies.)
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To: Nachum

Rov v. Wade was decided on two main points, one of which was privacy, a right that the Supreme Court found in a previous case (Griswold v Connecticut) in the “penumbra” of the Constitution.

Clearly, citizens have this right only when it is associated with activities that liberals approve of. Since libs don’t care about JPL, no right to privacy exists.


13 posted on 10/05/2010 6:25:41 PM PDT by theBuckwheat
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To: olezip

So did I - my was much more intrusive, and I handle no classified info. Big deal, space man. Move on.


14 posted on 10/05/2010 8:36:54 PM PDT by uscabjd
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To: Nachum

O.K Ovomit..........I’ll show you mine if YOU SHOW ME YOURS FIRST!


15 posted on 10/05/2010 8:58:35 PM PDT by MODELSHIPS
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To: barb-tex

“Do you suppose.........”

With the current POTUS anything is possible, and often the worse case is likely.


16 posted on 10/06/2010 7:07:04 PM PDT by Wuli
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