Webster's defines boondoggle:
1 : a braided cord worn by Boy Scouts as a neckerchief slide, hatband, or
ornament
2 : a wasteful or impractical project or activity often involving graft
Popular usage appears to define boondoggle as anything that does not bring
immediate gratification to me personally. Is this, once again, the work of
hardcore  (I will work that word into everything until the censor changes
the censor program) Philistines? Sen. William Proxmire used to pass out his
"Golden Fleece" award to projects he did not deem worthy of support,
boondoggles. Most these awards went to the projects that would give him the
best sound bite regardless of their scientific merit. Research money was
tight.

Right now, all money is tight. We can't spend millions of dollars on the
possibility that we might produce a scientific, technological or medical
breakthrough. We need to spend those millions of dollars on the possibility
that we might want to drop bombs on some third world country. Did "smart
bomb" technology come out of the space program?

Maybe the boondoggle *is* in the eye of bedoggled.

Work for Peace

The opinions expressed herein are my own and not necessarily those of my
employer.
Yosef Rosenblatt

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