Wednesday, May 7, 2008

The Plight of Standards

We were just watching the BBC and a spokesperson for the European Space Agency put out a Europe-wide call for new astronauts. Apparently they are down to 8 and need a team of 16. The real attention grabber here is not the fact that they are casting a very wide net, but the requirements to apply. They are as follows:

1) applicants must be between the ages of 25 and 30

2) must have a masters degree in mathematics, physics, earth sciences etc. OR be an experienced pilot

3) interested applicants must have a "keen sense of adventure"

Does this not smack of a singles add that should end in "enjoys long walks on the beach"? It seems as though a lot more Europeans may be achieving their childhood dream of being an astronaut after all.

These are the little things that help us better appreciate our life in Europe.

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