The above is a picture of that $3 million dollar earmark for an overhead projector that Barrack Obama requested for the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. John McCain's voice was dripping with sarcasm when he mentioned Obama's earmark for this system. Then McCain turns around and tells us how important education is to him. The old projector is over 40 years old, is in disrepair and parts can longer be found for it. Here's what a museum official has to say about the projector:
To clarify, the Adler Planetarium requested federal support - which was not funded - to replace the projector in its historic Sky Theater, the first planetarium theater in the Western Hemisphere. The Adler's Zeiss Mark VI projector - not an overhead projector - is the instrument that re-creates the night sky in a dome theater, the quintessential planetarium experience. The Adler's projector is nearly 40 years old and is no longer supported with parts or service by the manufacturer. It is only the second planetarium projector in the Adler's 78 years of operation.
Science literacy is an urgent issue in the United States. To remain competitive and ensure
national security, it is vital that we educate and inspire the next generation of explorers to
pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
2 comments:
Thanks so much for pointing this out. I just linked to you in my post today - this is something that has been annoying me about McCain's "earmarks" accusations!
Good post PCS.
I knew what he was talking about, but anyone who has not been to a planetarium would not understand or appreciate it.
Although, there are many who thing anything educational/scientific is a waste of money anyway. If it ain't in the Bible, it's not worth knowing.
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