Re: JPL: Mars polar lander update

Spike Jones (spike66@ibm.net)
Wed, 03 Nov 1999 11:53:39 -0800

> [Spike Jones] was *sure* some yahoo would work this into a
> >kilometers vs miles gag. spike
> Amara Graps wrote:
> Believe it or not, there were a few hundred scientists making jokes
> (knowing that it is not a laughing matter, but sometimes all one can
> do is find humor in it) about the conversion of units thing...

I believe it. Some yahoo at the rocket ranch put out a gag memo saying that if anyone posted baby announcements with the traditional weight and length, it was required to be in kg and cm.

If a "rocket scientist" loses a mission due to *units* screwup [fer cryin out loud!] then he deserves to be the butt of cruel jokes until he resigns in utter disgrace. Unexcusable! I cant think of a softer way to state that opinion. Had it been me, I would have been gone *that day* begging for a job pumping gas, never again to attempt reviving my ruined career. spike