So it was highlighted in the second Presidential Debate - to much fanfare of Senator John McCain - but what does the earmarked $3 million (it actually was $2.5 million to be fair) planetarium projector really look? Well, this is no boring transparency slide lightbox.  It’s a carefully engineered piece of quality optics, calibration, and beautiful, nerdy spacegasm.

The Carl Zeiss Universarium Model IX was the much-mentioned 3.5 mil earmark - and, had it passed and the funds provided, it would have given Chicago quite a view of the night sky. Apparently Science and Technology is not high on the Republic earmark agenda - I guess bridges to nowhere and toxic trailers for Hurricane Katrina victims are, though.