Canary Islands Announced as TMT 2nd Site

[punaticbychoice]

kalakoa: Depends on purpose and hardware.
But a good observation.

[Tink]

I believe the last recession stopped the gummit giving out money for anything, let alone "reparations". As well, if Hawai'i becomes a sovereign State, you really think all the "benefits" will keep on coming? Somebody told me a long time ago "you can sit in the corner and whine about a fried spam sandwich, or you can get up off your arse and go make one".

Community begins with Aloha

[Justin]

Reparations are a pipe dream, figuratively. And anyone thinking it's realistic must be taking a hit off the pipe - literally.

[punaticbychoice]

I agree Justin. Thank you.

[alaskyn66]

"Federal spending per capita net of income taxes: $13,709
Total federal spending per capita: $15,331
Federal income taxes per capita: $1,622
The Hawaiian Islands have 11 military bases, contributing to the country’s highest per capita federal expenditure from the Department of Defense in 2010. Along with a large number of military personnel on the government payroll, Hawaii also had the highest federal salaries and wages. Some 77 percent of the salaries and wages paid are for active military personnel. The state had the 10th highest federal procurement spending per capita, at $2,017.80. Since 2006, federal expenditure on salaries and wages in Hawaii has more than doubled."

http://business.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/0...eral-money

They've already been payed since hawaii became a state.

[TomK]

I suspect there were only two real possibilities for an alternative site, La Palma or San Pedro Martir in Mexico. The Mexican site is higher, but not by a huge amount (roughly 1500 feet higher). That would have benefited infrared observations, but it's still quite low for decent mid-infrared astronomy. Although both are regarded as "dark" sites, I think La Palma has slightly worse light pollution. Overall, though, my guess is the decision was influenced by La Palma's existing infrastructure, meaning the TMT would likely become operational more quickly there.

Chile has great sites, but to have all three of the world's giant optical telescopes in the southern hemisphere doesn't make a lot of sense.

[TomK]

The following article has just been posted by Nature:

http://www.nature.com/news/embattled-meg...ds-1.20903

It has a little more info and substance than most of the other articles I've seen.

[beepbeep]

It's too bad that what's in the best interests of science, which would benefit us all, doesn't matter in Hawaii'i, despite its proud astronomical history. Oh well, good jobs for Spain.

Pam in CA

[kalakoa]

Oh well, good jobs for Spain.

We can fly there to visit those jobs. (With a layover in Oahu or Maui.)

[Guest]

From 1861-1865 the USA fought a civil war over the issue of secession. Over a million people were killed and the US South was left devastated.

That the 'protectors' seriously believe that the USA will pay 'reparations' if Hawaii attempts to secede from the union shows the profound ignorance of history these people work from. Presumably their knowledge of their own history is not much better. That people this profoundly stupid continue to determine the course of the future of Hawaii via the courts is a mockery and a travesty of the very concept of civilization.

---------------------------

You can't fix Samsara.