Status Updates From Truth, Lies, and O-Rings: I...

And the deputy administrator went unto the Congress and sayeth unto it: “This new Plan will actively promote growth and efficiency of the Space Program, and these areas in particular.” And the Congress looked upon the Plan and knew that it was good, and the Plan became Policy. This is how shit happens
—ANONYMOUS

And the local politicians amongst themselves, saying one to another: “It contains that which aids plant growth, and it is very strong.” And the local politicians went unto the deputy administrator to sayeth unto him: “It promotes growth and is very powerful.”

And the lab directors went unto their center director and sayeth unto him: “It is as a container of excrement and it is very strong, such that none may abide by it.” And the center director went unto the local politicians and sayeth: “It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength.”

In the beginning was the Plan, and then came the Assumptions, and the Assumptions were without form, and the Plan was completely without substance. And the darkness was upon the face of the engineers. And they spoke amongst themselves, saying: “It is a crock of shit, and it stinketh.” And the engineers went unto their lab directors and sayeth: “It is a pail of dung and none may abide the odor thereof.”