Category Archives: politics and science

astronomy, mcain, overhead projector, Planetarium, Planetarium-related, politics, politics and science

An Interesting Use of Facts

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The Planetarium Projector Funds Never Got Out of Committee

As reported on Politifact, the funding that Mr. McCain says Mr. Obama voted for to help Adler to get a 40-year-old projection system replaced (NOT an overhead projector) was never allowed past the Senate Appropriations Committee. Mr. Obama did request the earmark, as was his right as a Senator (and Mr. McCain has requested quite a bit of money over the years, too).

So, Mr. McCain’s question, “do we need to spend that kind of money” is more rhetorical and just kinda glosses over the fact that the money was asked for but that appropriation request didn’t pass.  Kinda disingenuous of Mr. McCain to overlook that last part, you betcha. By golly.

The sad thing is that these facts could have been gleaned by Mr. McCain’s prep team if they’d bother to read the Congressional Record (paid for and made available by taxpayer dollars).  But they didn’t. So, the debate tactic of calling his opponent out on funding for a planetarium system that will benefit millions is an interesting one-sided use of facts and inferences, ignores an important point, and really just is a foul shot.

Once again it’s fair to ask: if Mr. McCain’s handlers got this one wrong, what else are they getting wrong?

Thanks to Mark for digging up the Politifact link.

UPDATE:

Here’s a statement from Adler Planetarium

STATEMENT ABOUT SENATOR JOHN McCAIN’S

COMMENTS AT THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

Last night, during the presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee, Senator John McCain made the following statement:

McCain: “While we were working to eliminate these pork barrel earmarks he (Senator Obama) voted for nearly $1 billion in pork barrel earmark projects. Including $3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois. My friends, do we need to spend that kind of money?”

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.

Senator McCain’s statements about the Adler Planetarium’s request for federal support do not accurately reflect the museum’s legislative history or relationship with Senator Obama. The Adler has approached the Illinois Congressional delegation the last few years for federal assistance with various initiatives. These have included museum exhibitions, equipment and educational programs we offer to area schools, including the Chicago Public Schools. We have made requests to Senators Durbin and Obama, as well as to 6 area Congressmen from both political parties. We are grateful that all of the Members we have approached, including Senator Obama, have deemed our activities worthy of their support, and have made appropriations requests on our behalf, as they have for many worthy Illinois nonprofit organizations.

As a result of the hard work of our bipartisan congressional delegation, the Adler has been fortunate to receive a few federal appropriations the past couple of years. However, the Adler has never received an earmark as a result of Senator Obama’s efforts. This is clearly evidenced by recent transparency laws implemented by the Congress, which have resulted in the names of all requesting Members being listed next to every earmark in the reports that accompany appropriations bills.

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Update 2: Here’s a link to a great article by my friend Jim Sweitzer — he writes about the Adler from his POV as someone who spent a long time working at Adler as an astrophysicist and now advises other facilities. Welcome to the fray, Jim!

Update 3:  A friend just pointed me to this great discussion at DailyKos (some comments are a bit salty).

(CCP here again —  U.S. citizens — have you registered to vote?)

mcain, overhead projector, Planetarium-related, politics, politics and science

Who Knew a Planetarium Was a Political Weapon?

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I Thought it was a Place to Learn about Astronomy

This is an overhead projector. NOT a planetarium projection system.
This is an overhead projector. NOT a planetarium projection system. There's a difference.

To quote my friend Phil Plait,

“The stupid–it burns!!!”

I really don’t like to discuss politics on here, but sometimes something really stupid comes down the pike out of the mouth of a political contender and it begs for correction.

So, here goes:  apparently John McCain’s presidential campaign advisors don’t know the difference between an overhead projector and a planetarium projection system. And apparently, neither does John McCain, since he pretty much appears to have bought whatever they told him to say in his most recent debate. So, he ranted about an overhead projector at Adler Planetarium.

Huh???

Most people who have been to a planetarium (and there are at least 110 million people who go each year) DO know the difference between the two, which makes them immediately much more experienced than both John McCain and his feckless vice-presidential partner. And don’t forget that the younger generation lives and breathes technology.  I figure a lot of them are laughing at this McCain technology gaffe right about now… along with the rest of us.

So, in the interests of schooling yet another clueless politician about reality, here are some pictures to help McCain’s crack team of researchers understand the magnitude of their ignorance.  An overhead projector is a piece of 20th century technology used in a classroom. It’s pretty old-fashioned, but it gets the job done in a pinch. It’s sort of the predecessor to PowerPoint. A planetarium instrument (or projection system) is used in a dark dome-shaped room to teach about astronomy and space science. The two systems are not the same thing. Period.

This is Evans & Sutherlands Digistar system. It also uses computers and video projection systems to create immersive environments.
This is Evans & Sutherland's Digistar system. It also uses computers and video projection systems to create immersive environments.
This is Sky-Skans Definiti system. It uses computers and video projection systems to create immersive science education environments.
This is Sky-Skan's Definiti system. It uses computers and video projection systems to create immersive science education environments.

There are various forms of planetarium systems, including computer-and-digital-video projector-based products from Sky-Skan, Inc., (based in Nashua, New Hampshire), Evans & Sutherland (based in Salt Lake City), Spitz, Inc., in Pennsylvania, Konica-Minolta (Japan), Global Immersion (UK), Digitalis Education Systems, e-planetarium, and the Elumenati. Of course there are also the beautiful opto-mechanical systems built by Zeiss (in Germany), and Konica Minolta and GOTO (based in Japan).

A Zeiss Universarium
A Zeiss Universarium-a blend of opto-mechanical and digital systems.

All planetarium projection systems are sophisticated instruments. Some, including one at Adler Planetarium in Chicago, are computer-based visualization systems quite far removed from the simplicity of the overhead projectors that are apparently Mr. McCain’s (and his handlers) perception of a planetarium instrument. I figure they either misunderstood what was purchased by the Adler Planetarium for one of its domes (and didn’t check it out before letting their guy make a fool of himself on stage) or they didn’t care as long as they had a weapon to brandish.

Let’s talk about what these systems do, shall we?

Sure, these systems cost a few bucks but they are worth it for what they can do to help kids learn about astronomy (which is a gateway science to other sciences). I would suggest that $3 million spent at Adler Planetarium is far more likely to benefit the education of millions of people over time, and that it will pay itself back faster than a bridge to nowhere or tax cuts for those who don’t need them.

And, $3 million is a drop in the bucket compared to what each American is going to pay (and future Americans will have to pay) to for the financial system bailout. At least with a planetarium, we will see a very big intellectual and educational return on our relatively small financial investment at Adler (and other science centers and institutions of higher learning that ALSO get grants (and no doubt some earmarks) to build science educational facilities, including some in Mr. McCain’s home state of Arizona).

Compared to bailouts, money given to such endeavors is well-spent in the long run. How so?

Planetariums and science centers are where students, parents, teachers, and members of the public go to learn about science. It may have slipped the attention of Mr. McCain and his handlers in their fumbling fervor to find “facts” to fling at his opponent, but many scientists (including astronauts, astronomers, physicists, doctors and so on) got their interest in science when they went to a planetarium. Many others, including writers, teachers, actors, and even some enlightened politicians, also got interested in science when they went to a planetarium.

In case the McCain campaign has missed it, the U.S. has been a technological leader for decades based on its dedication to science education and technology as a way to create jobs and get ahead. And traditionally planetariums in schools and colleges, as well as those in museums and science centers, have given people the basics about science and nourished their interest in the subject.

I’m just sayin’…

So, Mr. McCain and handlers, here are a couple of pieces of advice from a regular American citizen and voter:  1) an overhead projector isn’t a planetarium, so you might want to learn the difference before you show your technological ignorance in public again, and 2) slagging planetariums is pretty much slagging science education and the American voters who trust that science education is important (which comprises a huge number of us). And, by slagging Adler in your quest to attack your opponent, you’re slagging some good, hardworking people, the citizens of Illinois, and some high-tech companies that made science education a priority around the world as well as in the U.S. On top of that, those companies and the Adler are providing JOBS and technology.  So, good going on the insults and ignorance, McCainites.

And finally, here’s a question for you:  if you and your handlers got this one wrong, what else are you getting wrong?

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(Note: U.S. citizens — have you registered to vote?)