Mr. President,
The space program, NASA, is the best brand the United States has. Everywhere in the world, people respect and admire what NASA does. Right now, what NASA does best is explore the Solar System through the Planetary Science Program.
People around the world shared the seven minutes of terror as we lowered an extraordinary car bristling with extraordinary instruments onto the surface of Mars from a crane held aloft in that alien sky by rockets. Many thought it was impossible because nothing like it had ever been done before. You and your family remember applauding as a replica of that rover rolled by in the inaugural parade.
Over the last few years, Congress has added back funding for the planetary program that the Office of Management and Budget has cut. We all...
Lifestyle
Dear Future Boyfriends Who will Grow To Dislike Being With Me,
That's long, isn't it? Well, if you date me there could be a possibility of us ending. Who knows why our relationship would end. Maybe you like steak while I can eat seafood and chicken everyday. Maybe it's because I don't cook enough for you. It could also be because your baby mama has a nasty attitude. I can't stand baby mamas. It could definitely be the fact that I won't fight with you. If we don't think alike, I'm not going to stress about it. Man, there could be so many reasons you'd want to leave me.
Although who'd really break up with me? I'm beautiful, charming, a child of God. Did I mention sexy and loves to wear sneakers? I'm short, but even tall men love short women. I can cook, but I tend not to. If you don't...
2,144
Dear Duke of Edinburgh’s Award,
Having not managed to elicit a reply from the various email addresses on your site I thought I would try to reach you through an open letter.
This letter also applies to any other organisation similar to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (such as the Scout Association, the Guide Association, Raleigh International, Outward Bound, the British Schools Exploring Society, Partnership for Young London etc.)
Each year I visit scores of schools and speak to thousands of young people about my experiences of travel, adventure and expeditions. The enthusiasm and feedback generated from this brief snapshot of life outside the classroom is extremely positive.
However I am very aware of how busy school life is. Immediately after I finish my presentation the...
2,451
Dear Reader, forgive me for this interjection going beyond analysis,
Dear Expert, if I may have a moment of your precious time,
Malcolm Gladwell, the social media correspondent of The New Yorker has just posted the 438rd original smack-down of the "Twitter Revolution". In "Small Change --- Why The Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted", Gladwell reveals to the reader, "The world, we are told, is in the midst of a revolution. The new tools of social media have reinvented social activism."
Really? Who exactly says that 21st-century activism gets its primary strength from social media? Gladwell cites:
1. Mark Pfeifle, "a former national-security adviser": “Without Twitter the people of Iran would not have felt empowered and confident to stand up for freedom and democracy.”
2. James...
2,457
Dear future Dodgers Owner,
Greetings, first let me congratulate you on winning the bid for the Dodgers. I speak for all Dodger fans when I say we are ready for a change in ownership. So, welcome!
Lets talk about the future, and what we as Dodger fans expect from you as owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
1. Please do NOT mess with Dodger stadium.
This is really the most important of all. Please do not touch Dodger Stadium. I’ll say it again….DO NOT TOUCH DODGER STADIUM! I know there has been talk of an idea to build a new stadium downtown, and possibly tying that to bringing an NFL team back to Los Angeles. This is a terrible idea. Dodger Stadium is our home, and a national treasure. Chavez Ravine is one of the most beautiful ball parks in all of Baseball, and should stand...
2,380
Dear Mr. McNealy,
We’ve never met, but I was fascinated to read your tech overlord’s take on the NSA leaks:
In 1999, Scott McNealy, the chief executive of Sun Microsystems, summed up the valley’s attitude toward personal data in what became a defining comment of the dot-com boom. “You have zero privacy,” he said. “Get over it.”
MusÈe Bonnat - PsychÈ et l'Amour endormi - Peter Paul Rubens (ca. 1636)
Mr. McNealy is not retracting that comment, not quite; but like Mr. Metcalfe he is more worried about potential government abuse than he used to be. “Should you be afraid if AT...
2,680
Dear Mayor and City Council:
The San Antonio River Authority (SARA) wishes to express its support for the proposed expansion of the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program and the Linear Creekway Parks Development Program to address existing water quality threats to the aquifer, rivers and creeks. Expanding the two programs to incorporate targeted water quality projects will enhance the economic vitality of our community by further protecting the health and use of important natural water resources.
(Read More: Aquifer Protection and Trail Expansion Headed for May 9 Ballot)
The springs of the Edwards Aquifer serve as the headwaters for the San Antonio River and other creeks within the watershed. Existing pollutants on the recharge zone not only threaten the drinking water supply, they...
2,419
I am very upset this morning and rightfully so. How can you write and or promote an article about a group of people you are not fully educated about? Now those people are upset and in a uproar, as in the Spina Bifida Community. Nicole Ari Parker...
2,222
Dear Len Wiseman…
I'm going to do my best to avoid making the obvious joke here about your last name, since my last name is McWeeny, and nothing good can come from that particular war.
However, I would like to drop you a few quick thoughts regarding your proposed pre-boot (part prequel, part reboot) of the "Die Hard" series before you go too far down a road that dead ends in Stupid Town.
Obviously, I have not been in any of the conversations you're having about the film. Maybe the folks over at Deadline completely screwed up the reportage on the idea that you have. I certainly hope so, because if not, you are on the verge of doing something monumentally dumb, and I'd love to explain why.
There is only one great "Die Hard" movie. Unfortunately, you did not direct it.
Maybe...
2,229
Dear President Sarkozy,
The Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus (IGC) is an open forum of individual and organisational civil society actors who came together in the context of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to promote global public interest objectives in Internet governance policy making (see http://www.igcaucus.org).
We understand that the French Presidency of the G8 proposes to hold a G8 Internet meeting - the "eG8 Forum" - immediately prior to the G8 Summit in Deauville, with a view to prepare or influence the agenda for the G8 Summit regarding key global Internet issues. We also understand that many heads of states of G8 countries are expected to attend this meeting. The meeting is especially important since in the past G8 has set up the global agenda...
2,369