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==COSMOLOGY==> 'Uhhh ... how sure are we that everything is made of these?'
this post was submitted on 16 May 2024
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At my work, we meet astronauts fairly often (I met Jonny Kim last year), and it's amazing how many of them are like this. They'll usually pass out their headshots that have their bio on the back, and the number of advanced degrees and impressive accomplishments is jaw dropping. Like I feel like I'd think my life was worthwhile if I did one of those things by the end of it, and a lot of the astronauts are hardly more than half my age. And to really rub it in, they all seem incredibly genuine, personable, and well adjusted.
There are a giant number of people who want to be astronauts, and NASA only needs a small number in a given year, so they can pick the very cream of the crop.
At least we're sending space our best.
Could you imagine what the world would be like if we let their like lead our countries?
Ah, a meritocracy instead of a plutocracy. Maybe someday, if we survive.
When you rule, you get to pick what qualities have merit, which is how we end up of administrations of The Master Race or lispy Spaniards, or ruthlesd billionaires.
We're still trying to figure out how to get to government tha implements public-serving ideas.