Hawking hawks for stupid astronauts

In a rousing speech, Stephen Hawking suggests that we put idiots in space. He likens the search for extraterrestrial life to Columbus' discovery of America. Did Hawking forget that the reason no one else had sailed around the world is that the world is too big? Did Hawking forget that Columbus disagreed with every other explorer? Did Hawking forget that Columbus died never knowing that he discovered America?

Indeed, Columbus thought he was in Indonesia. Thus starting the long running confusion of Indian vs. Native American.

What's next? Putting Al Gore in charge of the environment? Oh, wait. Nevermind.

Read more about Hawking's speech at BBC News.