In case you missed the news, it’s apparently been definitively proven that there’s lots of water on the moon. I’m assuming that we think it’s ours since we found it, but, as we seem to be phasing out human space travel, I’m not sure how we’ll enforce it if the Chinese want to land there and fill up their naked lady ice cube trays. Anyway, I think it’s an interesting question, and I’m sure we’ll be talking a lot about it over the coming decades.
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Actually, India found it first.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/space/article6846639.ece
This is a better article.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/24/water-moon-space-exploration-india
According to the doctrine of discovery, it is not enough that we put our flag on the moon. We would have to erect a few crosses and alert the inhabitants that they have a new “Great Father” whose ass they must kiss with great fervor. Then we kill everybody we see and start collecting taxes. And if anyone survies our little moon holocaust, we give them lots of liquor and watch them drink themselves to death and shoot each other.
Why doesn’t the United States sell the moon to somebody like Donald Trump at a bargain basement price? The US doesn’t have the money or inclination to develop it right now, but some enterprising person, developer, organization, or government might.
Israel? They are running out of room. The moon would be a steal for them right now. And Iran will never have a nuclear weapon that would reach the moon.
China? Well, they are running out of young people due to their enforcement of the one child policy. But on the moon, wow there would be room for growth.
Wal Mart? They could buy the moon.
It is an interesting question, Mark. What the hell good is the moon? I have a friend who likes conspiracy theories, and he once claimed that our explorers found something on the moon theat they didn’t like. And that is why they have not been back to the moon. I said, “Yeah. Nothing.”
Ah, space. A lot of horrible ways to die that look pretty from a telescope.
drink MoonWater™… since 1969
Apparently, Mark Maynard has a can of that water. ‘Cause that sure as hell ain’t beer. Sex in a canoe much?
I had to look up your reference, Curt. Very funny… It’s not my favorite beer. It’s just the only thing they had as this place. With that said, I’m not a beer snob, though. I’ll drink almost anything that isn’t marketed as light. My favorite beer for just regular drinking is Tecate, from Mexico.
And, Dan, I need to follow your links. I haven’t done so yet. My understanding, though, was that we just proved the presence of water by crashing a rocket into the moon. India can’t do shit like that. Bombing the moon is a uniquely American act.
With all that said, I’m still wondering what laws, if any, hold on the moon.
Squatters rights.
My wife and I just realized that we should tell you that we both think that this is a really good picture. We also want to say that my commenting about this picture in no way should provoke a response from you that includes: (1) a “well you’re inclined to swing that way anyway” comment about me (but, like, whatever); or (2) a “well, but look at the size-of-my-head” comment about you [link here to many of your “size-of-my-head” posts].
My list of caveats or predictions probably can/would go on ad infinitum had I world enough and time, simply because it’s an attempt to compliment you, and, well, because I know you. So, fine. I’m just going to post it. Take it. Just take it! Take your stupid damned comment on your stupid good-picture blog post.
From Dan’s first article.
“The discovery is a significant boost for India in its space race against China.”
So has the US passed the baton, or is space really that cluttered now?
As for the photo, I think the head looks rather smallish. It is a good photo, though.
According to the Great Father principle, all you have to do, Mark, to claim all that water for yourself is to; be the first Christian prince to land there, put up a flag and some crosses, and notify the local popluation that their sovereingty is officially shit and that you represent their new badass alpha male tax collector.
Are you planning an expedition yourself? Could I be your scribe?
Coke.
Coke owns it.
Dasani Moon.
Get used to it.
Good. I like Coke.
But if PepsiCo bought it, we could have one of those Taco Bell/Pizza Hut/KFC/Long John Silver combination express places on the moon. I would love to be assistant manager of the first moon fast food place.
It would be incredible to have the first shitty job on the moon. Someone has to run the deep fryer, take out the trash and clean the toilets so that the scientists can focus on whatever it is that scientists do, right? I wonder how I’d go about training for a gig like that.
Well, duh, water is an essential ingredient in cheese.
Someone has to carve the tub meat and fry up the slabs.
http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/scitech/release.cfm?ArticleID=1098
Here’s a post on the issue from the WSJ Law blog… http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/11/18/theres-water-on-the-moon-but-who-owns-it/
We got gipped. Jupiter’s moon has fish!
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091116-jupiter-moon-life-europa-fish.html