America Needs Another Space Race

The United States is in a rut. The politicians are worthless, nobody has a job, and kids are getting fatter by the minute. The only thing anyone seems to be looking forward to is the iPhone 5 release. But if NASA could go build a moon base or send the first human to Mars, hell even I would think science is cool.

Just think about it, when was the last time you saw any national excitement? Sure, Osama bin Laden getting two lead implants from Navy SEALs stirred up some patriotism, but there was no build up to it. Even Landon Donovan's World Cup goal only succeeded in getting people pumped up until the US team tanked in the next game. That's why we need another space race. Americans need something to look forward to and then be proud of for more than a few days.

But the best part would be how America could rub it in every other country's face. The Apollo missions were basically America's way of marking its territory since there's no more room on Earth. That's why we need to go back and reclaim our lunar land before Japan gets all uppity and builds that Domino's they're talking about.

And with the Europeans busy simulating a mission to Mars to study the effects of the trip on humans, America failed to participate. We better get on it soon, because I for one am not to keen on the idea of the Euro becoming the first inter-planetary currency. Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Jackson, Grant, and Franklin better be the only bills on Mars.

We can definitely do it, we just need to get our butts in gear and take pride in being Americans again.

That and I really want to retire on Mars.

Mandatory Reading: The Guru of Badassery

Yes, I was a history major, and yes the best part about history is war. So you can bet that my mind was thoroughly blown when my brother gave me Badass: A Relentless Onslaught of the Toughest Warlords, Vikings, Samurai, Pirates, Gunfighters, and Military Commanders to Ever Live. Yes, the title's exhausting, but the real workout is trying to keep your brain from melting while absorbing the awesomeness within.

Ben Thompson, author of Badass, Badass: The Birth of a Legend, and www.BadassOfTheWeek.com, describes himself as "the world's foremost expert on badassitude" and I can't argue with him. His books and website give you all the A-list badasses like Leonidas, The Red Baron, and John McClane, but he also brings to light the badass deeds of Peter the Great, who was apparently the ultimate partier, Atalanta, an ass-kicking chick who was a member of the Argonauts, and Ben Francisco, a sword-swinging giant who wrecked faces during the American Revolution. Yup, apparently nut job brought a sword to a musket fight and still dominated.

So do yourself a favor and check out the epic writings of Ben Thompson, the Guru of Badassery.

And I don't recommend reading about badasses on Sundays; it makes it that much harder to get motivated to sit in your office cubicle Monday morning.