And the chutzpah of the year award goes to...

The BBQ Pit
1

…Congressman Sherwood Boehlert! (Yeah, the year’s still young. Sue me.)

While on a mission to Antarctica with his fellow legislators (paid for by the taxpayers, natch), Boehlert had the balls to try to justify his pleasure trip by claiming that the lawmakers were reviewing research funded by the National Science Foundation:

“We came here to see if those tax dollars are being spent wisely,” said Boehlert.

Hmm, somehow I doubt it. Given the fact that neither Boehlert nor any of his colleagues have any scientific background or knowledge whatsoever, and couldn’t even describe any of the research being done in Antarctica, I highly doubt that the team was asking probing questions to the scientists, reviewing relevant paper work, etc. Tell me congressman, when’s the next trip to Shithole, Crapistan, to make sure our research projects there are running smoothly?

As to whether tax dollars are being spent wisely, well, I think the trip itself answered that question.

2

Um… I’m sorry, but did you say “Antarctica?”

Admittedly, I don’t know diddly about this congressman or his situation, but if I was a congressman, doing a little porkbarrel dipping on the side, I can think of lots of places I’d rather do a fact finding junket than ANTARCTICA…

Are you SURE he wasn’t, like, kinda sorta on the level? I mean, I can’t think of a single thing that would make me want to go to EITHER pole, except a LARGE pile of money, deposited in my account before I even went parka shopping…

3

Hey, them penguins is HOT!

4

Wang-Ka: Antarctica is a very popular, “chic” tourist destination. The jet set go there for bragging rights and the coolness factor associated with it (no pun intended). But, in case you’re still doubtful, I’ll point out that the congressmen also went to Australia and New Zealand to study the Great Barrier Reef.

5

I dunno. Antarctica has always been a place I’d like to visit. Then again I lived in Canada for 2 years by choice.

6

I thought Antartica was there sent Army officers to get them to resign or commit suicide when they’ve derailed their careers.

7

:eek: You lived in Canada ** by choice?**

You poor misguided soul. What size would you like your straightjacket? :smiley:

8

The National Science Foundation? What program is the National Science Foundation running in Antarctica? A search of their website for “Antarctica” turns up nothing. I thought the NSF was mainly concerned with product certifications, on a world-wide scale, similar to Underwriter’s Laboratories.

Is the NSF even funded by the U.S. Gov’t?

9

QUOTE]*Originally posted by happyheathen *
**Hey, them penguins is HOT! **
[/QUOTE]

Why thank you…

Huh?

Wadda ya mean “out of context”!!?

The heathen said pengiuns are hot. I am a penguin. Therefore, I am hot.

[fingers in ears]
Lalalalalalala… I can’t hear you.
[\fingers in ears]

10

Isn’t it ironic that Opus is complaining of a trip to Antarctica.

11

With all due respect, Unc, you need to refine your research skills a bit. :wink:

From the National Science Foundation home page:

NSF is the main funder of U.S. research programs in Antarctica. My search on their website yielded 978 documents:
http://www.nsf.gov/search97cgi/vtopic

12

Shit, if I could get somebody else to foot the bill, I’d go to Antarctica in a freakin’ heartbeat.

13

Hmmm. The egg is on my face, Colibri. I went to www.nsf.org, which also calls itself the National Science Foundation.