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Paul - I have my doubts the show will have any impact on the TMT mainly because those that are opposing the TMT are not basing their arguments on science. The latest news is that the appeal by the TMT opponents was dismissed by the court but they are now thinking of appealing that decision. It's a shame, in my opinion, that one of the more prominent opponents to the TMT used to work at the summit and certainly didn't respect it in my opinion. Littering the summit area with cigarette butts certainly doesn't fit in with my idea of respecting the summit.
If you haven't seen the news, it's here:
http://www.tmt.org/news-center/hawaii-th...use-permit
There are also some funding issues. I believe there will be more news about this in the next few weeks, but don't know for certain since I'm not involved in the process. But I do hear things...
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I've noticed that - enviromentalists almost always smoke! Very hard to explain.
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It's not so much the smoking I was thinking of, more the littering with cigarette butts which I and many others witnessed. No respect for the mountain at all there nor for those of us who have to clean that stuff up afterwards.
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Smokers have no problem with polluting their own bodies so they have absolutely no problem with polluting everywhere else, but I digress.
I hope sanity prevails.
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Don't want to get this into a smoking vs. non-smoking debate, but what I and others saw for many years was someone who is currently calling the summit of Mauna Kea a sacred place but had no problem littering the place while they worked there. It'd be the same if I went to some christian church, told everyone that this is a sacred place and then left a bunch of used meth pipes scattered around the church floor. Or my leftovers from McDonalds.
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We grow our own Nicotine - If you drive any type of vehicle we all have to breathe the fumes and in the fumes are GMO corn syrups .
I dislike pot smoke.Yet plenty people smoke that and pollute my air also.
Where do you draw the line.
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Mimosa, it's a personal thing, but if you called some place sacred would you dump your litter there?
Sorry, this is going so far off topic now I'll not respond further other than to astronomy or Hawaii-related posts about Cosmos, but I will ask that people just think about the motives of some of those opposed to astronomy on Mauna Kea and consider they may not have the motives they claim.
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I get your point, Tom. It's about people desecrating a place they claim is sacred, not the evils of smoking. (Lost both parents to smoking and hate it, but that's beside the point.)
I've missed the last several episodes of Cosmos as I'm currently in Japan. Can't wait to catch up when I get back. In the meantime, I appreciate your insights and commentary Tom. Thanks for starting this thread and posting your thoughts.
Tim
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions--Confucius
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I find I am really enjoying the show.
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The Europeans don't mess around, just blow the top off the mountain for a level building spot. Very interesting article about the European Extremely Large Telescope construction beginning in a few weeks. The astronomer off work area is amusing.
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/...pe-chilean
The telescope big enough to spot signs of alien life on other planets
"This island Hawaii on this island Earth"
*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*
