Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Penguin on March 26, 2011, 09:00:35 PM

Title: Answering the Call
Post by: Penguin on March 26, 2011, 09:00:35 PM
Of Duty.  No, I'm neither stating that I am a CoD fiend or that I am joining the armed forces (if either of those come to be true, please hit me with a shovel- I deserve it).

I've come to ask a question.  Imagine that the year is 2050, and you're a young man only a few years out of college.  You're married with a newborn and kid #2 on the way.  Life is good, you earn a six-figure paycheck and drive Ferrari. 

You've studied physics, engineering and biology in college, and have the body of a Greek god.  You are the heir-apparent to the CEO of a major medical firm, which will give you another figure to your salary by age thirty.  However, on TV you see an ad by Uncle Sam.

It reads: I want YOU for the Mars mission!  You have all the credentials needed to become an astronaut, and the background to make you a shoe-in.  The call has gone out for volunteers, will you answer it?

The mission details:

I'd do it.  I don't care how dangerous it is, I want to make something of myself.  I don't want to die out there, but if dying's what it's gotta be- I'll face the void with courage; the cosmos isn't free.

-Penguin

EDIT: I corrected an error which was downright freaky, and clarified the mission parameters
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: Vudu15 on March 26, 2011, 09:07:10 PM
what are you smokin dude?
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: fbWldcat on March 26, 2011, 09:14:08 PM
what are you smokin dude?

Some pretty good stuff, I'd guess.

That's pretty deep, but I'd doubt that in today's (and the future's as well) society, they'd let people go out to Mars and have NO intent of even having a chance of bringing them back safe.
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: Spikes on March 26, 2011, 09:31:37 PM
If I'm making six figures and driving a Ferrari, I think I've already made something of myself.
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: Tupac on March 26, 2011, 09:34:03 PM
I'd go.
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: vorticon on March 26, 2011, 09:36:30 PM
"
    * It's a one-way ticket, and your family can't come along
    * You will die on Mars, and your ashes will be thrown to the sandstorms
    * Your odds of survival are 50:50"


huh? the first 2 say my odds of survival are zero.
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: Gh0stFT on March 26, 2011, 09:37:29 PM
...You're married with a newborn and kid #2 on the way...
-Penguin

because of that above it would not work,
but as long as you are solo, do what you like, kill yourself the way you like it,
be it on the earth or mars, nobody will miss you ;)
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: MaSonZ on March 26, 2011, 09:38:33 PM
If I'm making six figures and driving a Ferrari, I think I've already made something of myself.
i agree...


but it depends, if its do or die for our country. i will do it. life isnt about being rich, its about being happy..and i sure as hell would be happier dead fighting for my country then enslaved by some martians.
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: Tac on March 26, 2011, 09:41:18 PM
Errr.. no. If I'm so wealthy and with such an amazing life why the heck would I throw it away?

If they asked me as I am in RL though.. heck yes I'd go.
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: Penguin on March 26, 2011, 10:19:43 PM
"
    * It's a one-way ticket, and your family can't come along
    * You will die on Mars, and your ashes will be thrown to the sandstorms
    * Your odds of survival are 50:50"


huh? the first 2 say my odds of survival are zero.


You will live out the rest of your days preparing the colony for future inhabitants.

-Penguin
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: Vudu15 on March 26, 2011, 11:08:55 PM
Mars or stuck in hell with my back broke.

hmm decisions decisions.
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: ink on March 26, 2011, 11:36:15 PM
first off by that time 6 figures will be the new poverty level

second off they wont ask you, they will make you :aok
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: M0nkey_Man on March 26, 2011, 11:38:58 PM
first off by that time 6 figures will be the new poverty level

second off they wont ask you, they will make you :aok
:rofl
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: MarineUS on March 26, 2011, 11:46:26 PM
No. I'm a family guy.

Plus they already offer rides to space if you have the cash.
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: 68ZooM on March 26, 2011, 11:47:29 PM
Of Duty.  No, I'm neither stating that I am a CoD fiend or that I am joining the armed forces (if either of those come to be true, please hit me with a shovel- I deserve it).

I've come to ask a question.  Imagine that the year is 2050, and you're a young man only a few years out of college.  You're married with a newborn and kid #2 on the way.  Life is good, you earn a six-figure paycheck and drive Ferrari. 

You've studied physics, engineering and biology in college, and have the body of a Greek god.  You are the heir-apparent to the CEO of a major medical firm, which will give you another figure to your salary by age thirty.  However, on TV you see an ad by Uncle Sam.

It reads: I want YOU for the Mars mission!  You have all the credentials needed to become an astronaut, and the background to make you a shoe-in.  The call has gone out for volunteers, will you answer it?

The mission details:
  • It's a one-way ticket, and your family can't come along
  • You will live out the rest of your life on Mars, and your ashes will be thrown to the sandstorms
  • Your odds of surviving the trip are 50:50
  • The trip is twelve months locked in a 500 cubic meter craft with three others

I'd do it.  I don't care how dangerous it is, I want to make something of myself.  I don't want to die out there, but if dying's what it's gotta be- I'll face the void with courage; the cosmos isn't free.

-Penguin

EDIT: I corrected an error which was downright freaky, and clarified the mission parameters

When are you leaving, tomarrow?  :aok
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: Masherbrum on March 27, 2011, 12:00:05 AM
You will live out the rest of your days preparing the colony for future inhabitants.

-Penguin

In 3.5 Billion Years it will have been for naught. 
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: Meatwad on March 27, 2011, 12:08:06 AM
No way, man

To me family is and always will be #1
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: fbWldcat on March 27, 2011, 07:54:09 AM
In 3.5 Billion Years it will have been for naught. 

I thought they had the sun going boom (loosely said) in 5.5 Billion?
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: katanaso on March 27, 2011, 08:51:51 AM
Write down your answers to your dream scenarios, put them somewhere, and when you become an adult in 20-30 years, answer them again to compare how your answers might change. :)

It's interesting to see how the values of family change as you grow older.
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: smoe on March 27, 2011, 12:21:43 PM
The whole Mars thing seems feasible:

1. Imagine living with 2 people for the rest of your life in a cave.

2. Mars has polar ice caps with solid carbon dioxide, not frozen water like on earth.

3. Has Mars ever been in the Goldilocks zone to support life or will it ever be? Its current mean temperature is: 210 K, -63°C, -81.5°F

4. With the thin atmosphere and the Suns radiation levels on the surface, living on Mars would be about the same as living on Earth's moon. Its mean surface level pressure of 0.087 psi, compared to Earth's sea level average of 14.69 psi.  That means water boils at 0.01°C on the surface of Mars.

Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: mbailey on March 27, 2011, 04:17:09 PM
 .
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: Ping on March 27, 2011, 05:49:16 PM
I guess this is the conversation you would expect from a penguin.
Title: Re: Answering the Call
Post by: Penguin on March 27, 2011, 07:03:47 PM
I guess this is the conversation you would expect from a penguin.

 :(

-Penguin