Yeah, "Mohawk Guy" is better than Bobak.

Nice addition to the freak show

Maybe he will get the flu and puke on her...

I wouldn't need to flu if I sat on stage... I might just stick my finger down my throat..

WOOPS SORRY!

God I love America.

You can wear a freaking mohawk to work at NASA and still have a job. That is FREEDOM! I love this place.

Rock on dude!

Oh yes, those are two fine fashion disasters! That fits OK.

thomas,

With you all the way brotha! I love this place! Plus, Mohawks kick ass!...If you work at NASA and are ballzy enough to come to work with a Mohawk, you are either too smart to get rid of or trying to loose your job. This guy proved he is the former.

FREEDOM always brings the cream to the top of the barrel.

I don't get it. Isn't he supposed to advocate better jobs for Americans?

Derp, I can't do any good jobs because I dunno any science or numbers and stuff derp.

Shouldn't he be advocating incentives for American companies to partner w/ NASA to train and develop the best and brightest right here in the USA?

Muh ma taught me the world is only 5000 years old.

He was born in Philadelphia, fella. Are you suggesting that Italian-Americans and Polish-Americans and Irish-Americans should self-deport to the land of their ancestors and give the Native Americans their jobs...?

I'm an italian-american who self-deported to Rome...bad idea...

Anyway- politics aside- that is an awesome mohawk...complimenti!

The sad fact is that Ted Nugent will get more attention tonight than this guy (who actually has a brain!).

Which one would you rather have representing America? I will take Mohawk Guy anyday!

He was born in Philadelphia, fella. Are you suggesting that Italian-Americans and Polish-Americans and Irish-Americans should self-deport to the land of their ancestors and give the Native Americans their jobs...?

definitely this. Bobak was born in Philly, I have no problem with him gaining a PhD and being employed at NASA.

That being said, CC-444638 DOES have a point to some extent. They're using Bobak to make the case that there should be more Visa's for immigrants skilled in math, science, and engineering and I don't necessarily agree with that.

We SHOULD be training American citizens to do these jobs, not provide more H1B Visas and bring immigrants in to do them. In this case, Bobak is an American citizen born on American soil, more power to him. But we should be training people like Bobak, NOT bringing in more immigrants. I don't quite understand why you would use someone born in the US as an example of why we should bring in people NOT born in the US to do math, science, and engineering jobs. There is a disconnect there?

So we should pick a few kids from hospital nurseries and say this: You, you and you are going to study math, science or engineering and you "vill" excel at your studies.

Right?

In my opinion, it going to take parents insisting, pushing even, their young'uns to buckle down and study. I see the opposite all around me. If there is any pushing, it's into sports with the assumption that their pee wee sports star will become an instant multi-millionaire after a couple of seasons of college ball.

Kid's gonna be lucky if he makes it into some junior college as a bench warmer. And he's still not going to know enough to support himself adequately when (if) he makes it through two years of academics -- so-called academics.

And the girls? Math and the sciences? Engineering? Are you kidding? It's not much better now than it was in the 1950s in terms of nudging them in that direction if they are talented in those areas.

THAT'S why we need more folks graduating in math, science and engineering, even if they have to be imported.

So who do YOU think is at fault?

Importing smart people (real job creators) is a good thing. The work they do can lead to lots of jobs for not so smart people. If we import 100 scientists and 25% of them contribute to establishing a brand new buisness, importing those 100 people can lead to thousands of jobs.

Side note: if we want better scientists to develop in this country people need to stop writing off science they don't agree with on a faith or moral basis. Creationists and Climate deniers being the leading contenders on my list. why would a child choose to study science after hearing people disrespect the scientific community?

First, he's not a foreigner. Second, if there aren't enough smart Americans to do the job, go ahead and import them! We got a windfall of smart people thanks to Hitler, and more thanks to chairman Mao. Immigrants have made this country great- and brought some really good food with them. Smart Americans are not at a disadvantage in the workplace. Our poor education system just isn't cranking them out fast enough. Go ahead, keep teaching creationism. McDonald's has plenty of jobs waiting....

I'm confused by this as well.

First, Bobak is NOT an immigrant. He's of Iranian descent, but was born in Philly. He's a natural born American citizen, he could even be President some day (something a true immigrant like Arnold Schwarzenegger can not be).

Second, I agree that we should be training people born here in the US to do these jobs, not bringing in immigrants on H1B visas to do them while Americans take jobs in the "service economy."

While I was getting my PhD in Chemical Engineering, I wasn't surprised to see the number of foreigners (mostly from Korea, Japan, and China) getting their PhD's with me, I think that's great.

What I was surprised to find out was that 55% (if not more) OF ALL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PHD'S HANDED OUT BY US COLLEGES AND INSTITUTIONS GO TO FOREIGN BORN PEOPLE. I Personally know of people from my undergraduate program who were rejected from certain graduate schools (and were good students mind you) so that foreign born people could take their place.

I have NO PROBLEM with giving PhD's to foreigners who earn them, but I do have a problem with denying American citizens that ability to make room for foreign immigrants. We're giving out PhD's in math, science, and engineering in this country to foreigners AT THE EXPENSE of American born US citizens, and then making political speeches about how we need to train "future mathematicians, scientists, and engineers." That rubs me the wrong way.

And yes, I know this is not very "liberal" of me to say...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_born_scientists_and_engineers_in_the_United_States

What ever your political leanings, this should disturb everyone.

Dude, he is Iranian-AMERICAN. Just like there are Irish-Americans, Chinese-Americans and Italian-Americans. Bloody hell, he was born in Philly. For once in your little life, try not to be xenophobic.

One thing that is missing from this discussion is the fact that the majority of young Americans lack the math and science skills necessary to do the work that this young man does. If on average the American school system was producing students with a higher level of skills in the aforementioned areas of study there would be no need to encourage students with these skills to come to work here in the United
States. As a former high school teacher, I know that this is a problem and that it is going to take a while to be corrected. So, that being said, don't shoot the messenger as this young man is a positive example of what can be the American dream and as a native born American we should be proud to claim him as one of our own.

Americans want lower taxes, not better schools.

Americans want lower taxes, not better schools.

This--quoted for truth. You want smarter kids, you have to start paying for it, and you also have to realize that it should be a broad based education. You can't expect to simply drill them on math and science and have them develop the creative capacities and the contextual support for the levels of creative problem solving they will need to innovate and grow in major fields.

I get Ted's point. Why more visas for skilled immigrants? At the same time, I know that America's schools are lagging far, far behind in the sciences and maths, as well as other areas. I guess that's one of the results of resting on your laurels. It's cheaper to tell the world you're number one than to actually maintain that position.

Americans want lower taxes, not better schools.

^this times 1,000

What is wrong with training AMERICANS to do this work?

Bobak IS an American citizen, born in Philly.

But I also understand the larger point you were trying to express and despite being quite "liberal" myself, happen to agree with it. See my posts #3.5 and #4.1

I get Ted's point. Why more visas for skilled immigrants?

Agreed. Bobak isn't even an immigrant, he's a terrible example to hold up when arguing for more visa's for immigrants, as he's a natural born US citizen and never had to get a visa to work in this country.

He is an American. Are you dense?

Training Americans to do these jobs??? That statement alone encapsulates the problem with our schools, our culture, and is the reason we are falling behind. Everyone wants to be led by the hand and "trained", that is not how science and technology works. Science, Math, Tech-these are all creative pursuits, you can be trained to be a scientist but your success depends on your own drive and creativity. Why would anyone beside a few fools like me choose to pursue science and math, the pay is low, no one has any respect for what you do, if you fail your accused of being a parasite and if you don't have all the answers (like on TV) than all of your work is discounted. Our culture has evolved to produce short sighted fools that can't see much beyond the next fiscal year and failed entertainers.

100% with ckneeley too. It's not as simple as running drills and hitting kids with books. You train a dog, not a person. We used to focus on the idea of providing people with knowledge, stimulating intellectual curiosity, creating thinking, problem-solving human beings. Now we want worker-bees that sit, roll over, play dead. Right now, NYS is trying to push through budget legislation for all 2-year and community colleges that, if there are not, right now, at this very moment, jobs available in the field that your are offering a degree in, then there's no longer any funding for that program. Do you live in upstate NY and want to train for the trooper academy? Well, if there's already enough troopers where you are, too bad--even if you're planning to move to NYC to go into your career.

Studies are increasingly showing that what we major in on the collegiate level is rarely what our career is afterwards, but politicians, who for some reason have seized the reign of creating curriculum by controlling the purse strings, want everything streamlined, boiled down the basic essentials of what a person needs to do one specific job, and then sent out into the workforce until they aren't needed anymore. Then we either retrain them or call them a leech when they don't have work. Brilliant plan. :/

(Another NYS initiative that the pencil pushers are trying to enact right now is requiring that students finish their four-year degrees in three years or less.)

We've been banging on about Math and Science- from what I'm seeing in some of these posts there are also basic Reading problems in the good ol' US...

Its still a great country though (siiiigh)

He's not getting attention for the hairstyle. He's getting attention for the incredible work he and others have done on the Curiosity project. The hairstyle is secondary. Try not to let it distract you.

He inspirational for the younger generations. I know alot of folks who will never go for public sector jobs because how restrictive they are. Private sector at that level of intelligence doesn't drug test you, doesn't care what you wear to work, and gives you alot more freedom to be you. Maybe that's just the west coast though.

tigntink: Ummmm.... I hate to tell you this, but NASA is NOT the private sector. And public (hint: tax-payer funded) universities generally have more laid back atmospheres than corporations. I know. I've worked in both. And private companies DO drug test employees. No one wants someone who's high on drugs working for them.

Spoken like a true Racist!! Ray - 2194047 you need to look at the positive nature of the report and not let your own personal hang ups get in the way of what good solid rational thinking is.

Andres-1484680, Go to any Iranian function. Meet more then two Iranians anywhere. Then listen to what they talk about.

Andres,

," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that "beautiful speeches" could not remove the hatred felt in the Muslim world against America.

"People of the Middle East, the Muslim region and North Africa -- people of these regions -- hate America from the bottom of their heart," Khamenei said at a gathering to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the father of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution and Khamenei's predecessor as the predominantly Shiite Muslim country's supreme religious leader.

The Iranian, Mohawk Guy — Bobak Ferdowsi will always be a Iranian first, American second.

Uh, considering he was born in PHILADELPHIA, I'd say you're probably wrong.

Take your racism and xenophobia elsewhere....

Go to any Iranian function. Meet more then two Iranians anywhere. Then listen to what they talk about.

it's funny you mention that. While obtaining my PhD in Chemical Engineering I had the wonderful opportunity to mentor two Iranian professors from the University of Tehran for a full year. It was one of the best experiences I've had, and no, they did not hate America. In fact, they desperately wished they could STAY in America (with their young son) because of how much they loved it.

We used to have quite a good laugh at comparing how they perceived Ahmadinejad to how I perceived Bush. After listening to me talk about Bush like he was a clown, they'd giggle and talk about how they, and most of their friends, thought the same of Ahmadinejad...

DrowningGrover, You have been undermined. Go talk to your two Iranian professors today. You think you know people. You have a lot to learn.

How's that racism going for you?

DrowningGrover, You have been undermined. Go talk to your two Iranian professors today. You think you know people. You have a lot to learn.

Not sure what you're trying to suggest, or how I have been "undermined"? I'd be more than willing to bet they STILL hate Ahmadinejad. The Iranian people, much like the American people are NOT monolithic and they DO NOT all support the Islamic fundamentalist point of view.

Much like red states and blue states, there are pro-Ahmadinejad and anti-Ahmadinejad sentiments prevalent in Iran. Anti-Ahmadinejad forces are quite prevalent, especially in more westernized, middle-class, highly educated places like Tehran (and their universities).

Or do you think the Green Revolution and things like THIS:

http://itsmypulp.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/green-revolution_3.jpg

and THIS: http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/iranelect_06_12/i03_19316351.jpg

and THIS:http://www.irannewsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Iranian-protesters.jpg

...never happened?

Based on your post, I would say it is YOU who has a lot to learn about the world...

To truly understand the Iranian regime’s radical principles, one need not look further than the preamble to the State Constitution of Iran: “The basic characteristic of this revolution, which distinguishes it from other movements that have taken place in Iran during the past hundred years, is its ideological and Islamic nature.”

The role of the revolutionary government is “opening up before them [the nation] the true path of Islamic ideological struggle, and giving greater intensity to the struggle of militant and committed Muslims both within the country and abroad.”

The spiritual leader of the Islamic Revolution of 1979 was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, one of the main opponents of the Shah Pahlavi who had brought modernity to Iran. Khomeini went from exiled opponent of the regime to Supreme Leader of Iran, the highest ranking political and religious authority—a lifetime position created by the nation’s newly formed constitution. He changed his religious title to Imam, a label given by Shiites to the descendants of Mohammad believed to be part of his prophetic dynasty. Prior to Khomeini’s self-appointment, there had not been a living Imam for close to 1,000 years. The state was renamed the Islamic Republic of Iran.

...uh, ok... yeah. Thanks for the history lesson I guess (not that I didn't already know most of that).

My personal favorite part was:

The spiritual leader of the Islamic Revolution of 1979 was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, one of the main opponents of the Shah Pahlavi who had brought modernity to Iran.

along with authoritarian rule (after the 1953 coup), cheap exportation of Iran's natural resources to the US and Britain (the leaders of said coup), and public backlash that culminated in said 1979 overthrow via the Islamic Revolution.

Still, i'm not quite sure how quotes from the Iranian Islamic Constitution supposedly prove that the whole of the Iranian people support Ahmadinejad and Islamic Fundamentalism in general...

or are you just here beating the drums of war for ANOTHER military engagement in the middle east?

International Atomic Energy Agency, which under its leader ElBaradei consistently said there was no objective, scientifically verifiable evidence that there was a nuclear weapons program in Iran.

Thank you!! It is good to know there are people that have RATIONAL skills of argument. Your point is right on, and without all of the embellishment.

Obamas ideas and ideals SUCK!

And all you that are complaining about having foreigners running the math, physics and engineering programs, check out the % of foreigners in those programs???

foreigners obtain 55% of all PhD's handed out inside the US for math, science, and engineering (see my link above, post #4.1 above).

Despite being quite liberal, I think this is wrong. I have no problem with educating these people, but not if it comes at the expense of educating American citizens, which it undoubtedly does.

And by the way, Bobak was born in Phili, so he is American. Racist POS...

yep, born in Philly. Which is why the people denigrating him are wrong. But it's also why he should not be held up as an example of why we should provide more visas to immigrants to take American jobs in math, science, and engineering.

Obama is wrong on this, and I generally agree with most of what he does and voted for him twice. But he's wrong on this particular topic.

International Atomic Energy Agency, which under its leader ElBaradei consistently said there was no objective, scientifically verifiable evidence that there was a nuclear weapons program in Iran.

DrowningGrover- I've been on graduate school admissions committees, and I have NEVER seen an American passed over in favor of a foreign-born immigrant unless the American really wasn't qualified. It's very hard to judge what a GPA or degree really means when it's coming from a foreign school of unknown quality. They hand out medical degrees like candy in China. American students are more of a known quantity. This puts immigrants at a disadvantage, not to mention the fact that they are often not completely fluent in English. Many schools struggle to attract American students. If almost all of the applicants are foreign, what are schools supposed to do? The American education system is the problem, and private schools aren't much better than public schools. Schools are underfunded, overcrowded, and staffed by poorly-paid teachers. Parents who don't value education make matters worse. It's not the immigrants' fault.

if people go to collage here and return to there Owen country its because they want to they like their Owen country.

I'm guessing you failed the entrance exam.

The MEDIA, all media including FOX, focused on Bobak, not POTUS. Because Bobak has become the unofficial face of the mission due to the media attention, I don't see a problem with POTUS working what the media already gave him.