politics

Astrophysicist superstar Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson (Wikipedia bio), addressed the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Wednesday; only three of the committee’s 25 members were present. Below is a copy of Dr. Tyson’s submitted testimony, slightly modified from his speech at the hearing; anyone care to transcribe the entire hearing? I’ve also embedded other videos and links relevant to the hearing since I haven’t been able to find everything in one place on other websites.

neil-tyson-hearing — Tyson at March 7th Senate hearing

Takeaway quote:

At what cost? The spending portfolio of the United States currently allocates fifty times as much money to social programs and education than it does to NASA. The 2008 bank bailout of $750 billion was greater than all the money NASA had received in its half-century history; two years’ U.S. military spending exceeds it as well. Right now, NASA’s annual budget is half a penny on your tax dollar. For twice that—a penny on a dollar—we can transform the country from a sullen, dispirited nation, weary of economic struggle, to one where it has reclaimed its 20th century birthright to dream of tomorrow.

Before distracting yourself with BBQ and fireworks, take 20 minutes to brush up on your July 4th knowledge. Reading the Declaration of Independence this morning may even make for good conversation over a few beers tonight!

Engrossed copy (via <a href= — Engrossed copy (via NARA)

I’ve always had an interest in manuscript history. The Declaration of Independence is literally America’s most celebrated manuscript, and any historian will tell you that primary documents are gold. The Los Angeles Times gets right to the point and reminds us that responsible citizens should read the document yearly. They provide us with the “engrossed copy” text of The Declaration of Independence of these United Statef of America after a short, inspiring introduction. Wikisource is also an invaluable site for reading the various editions of the document, such as the Dunlap Broadside (earliest printing). Imagine the kind of confidence it requires to propose to a king “that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government….”

Peggy Noonan pays tribute to David McCullough, “America’s greatest living historian,” in yesterday’s WSJ opinion piece, Making History. In it, she uses passages from McCullough’s books to recreate the excitement of independence week in July 1776. Part 2 of HBO’s incredible John Adams series also reenacts this moment in history. For more details about The Declaration, see the Wikipedia article and the National Archives Charters of Freedom page.

Neil deGrasse Tyson’s testimony for space exploration (Senate hearing videos and documents)

Today, we declare