Along a thirteen mile stretch of California 62 a few miles west of Vidal Junction, the highway runs beside both a railroad and an irrigation canal. There are no houses, no restaurants, no filling stations, not even any deserted shacks. Just the canal, the tracks and the road.

I asked him, “When you’re not traveling, Joe, where’s home?”

Curiosity is on it’s way this morning to Mars for the next eight months. Launched this morning atop an Atlas V vehicle, Curiosity is the size of a small car, several times the weight, and carries many times the scientific instruments of its predecessor rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

I found this quote that nails it.

If you choose not to shoulder responsibilities, that’s a choice you can make. But don’t expect me to finance you or the results of your irresponsible actions. I’m taking care of me, my family, my city, county, state and country, and then humanity and life in general. In that order.

I just love engineers.