<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>I've been several times to Cape Canaveral and JPL in CA. I have friends in both institutions and I know how hard they work. They deserve a break and a pat on the back. <br /><p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />It's probably a stupid question, but with all the rocket scientists at NASA, but are there any actual, bona fide blue-collar jobs, aside from the greasers servicing the crawler tracks on the MLP, or the dudes that paint the launch towers after launches? <br /><br />What kind of parties are they getting? <br /><br />Higher paid people, as it is, get all kinds of breaks. Tax breaks, all expense paid banquets, etc. <br /><br />If it wasn't for the ground pounders of the world; the grease monkeys, wrench turners covered in hydraulic fluid, busted knuckles and updog, nothing would get done. Do they get 400,000 dollar parties after <b>EVERY LAUNCH?</b> or a couple stacks of pizza boxes on a toolbox and a 'thanks!'? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>