As I wrote about previously in these pages, there’s a petition on the White house website regarding the building of the Death Star.  Because of my intrepid reporting, and let’s face it, the death many Bothans, the White House has issued an official statement regarding said plan.  Unfortunately, we will not be building a Death Star.  Still, this is a proud moment for the Non Blogosphere.

You may recall from the original post that all I wanted was an official statement saying something about it.  Anything actually.  As long as the official statement had the words “Death Star” in it.  I didn’t care if it came from the head stewardess on Air Force One or the sous chef at Camp David.  But what I got was so much more awesome than I could have imagined.  First up, the name of the response is “This isn’t the petition response you’re looking for.”  Written by none other than Paul Shawcross, the Chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget.  Not too shabby.  Now as for why we aren’t building a space station the size of a moon that’s capable of destroying planets with its lasers, the administration got very serious.

The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn’t on the horizon. Here are a few reasons:

• The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We’re working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.
• The Administration does not support blowing up planets.
• Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?

Clearly the geeky gauntlet has been thrown down.  The petition response goes on to talk about the science and technology that we do possess including a successor to the Hubble Telescope and flying robot assistants on the International Space Station.  But the conclusion is just masterful.

If you do pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field, the Force will be with us!  Remember, the Death Star’s power to destroy a planet, or even a whole star system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force.

This is the definition of winning!  Nice job Non-Blogospherians? Non-Blogospherites?  Nice job whatever it is you call yourselves.  And the Bothans, poor bastards, know that your sacrifice has not been in vain. Sometimes I think about closing down the blog for lack of inspiration.  But it looks like I’m going nowhere.

Categories: Geekery, Politics Fix

Tags: #winning, Death Star, Star Wars, White House