Month: April 2011
Toyota says it will shut North American plants
The real disaster in Japan finally reaches the U.S. and it isn’t radiation: Toyota has announced it will shut its North American plants due to the shortage of parts caused by the earthquake/tsunami.
The real disaster in Japan finally reaches the U.S. and it isn’t radiation: Toyota has announced it will shut its North American plants due to the shortage of parts caused by the earthquake/tsunami.
Record loss of ozone over Arctic
I thought the banning of CFCs was going to change this? March sets a record for ozone loss over the Arctic.
Or to put it another way, climate science is far more complicated than too many climate scientists want to admit.
I thought the banning of CFCs was going to change this? March sets a record for ozone loss over the Arctic.
Or to put it another way, climate science is far more complicated than too many climate scientists want to admit.
Russia’s western spaceport to be ready for first launch by 2015
Russia’s launch capability continues to expand: Not only will they be able to launch rockets from French Guiana this year, it looks like Russia’s western spaceport will be ready for its first launch by 2015.
Russia’s launch capability continues to expand: Not only will they be able to launch rockets from French Guiana this year, it looks like Russia’s western spaceport will be ready for its first launch by 2015.
Exploring the floor of Copernicus
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter website recently announced a new way to tour the Moon. The website, called QuickMap, allows a user with any home computer to zoom into any spot on the lunar surface and see the high resolution images being taken by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Using QuickMap, I spent a few hours this past weekend strolling about on the northern half of the floor of the crater Copernicus. It is in this area, annotated in the image on the right, that NASA engineer James Fincannon has already located a slew of collapse features and possible caves, the images of which I have posted previously on behindtheblack. (Click on the image or here to see a larger version of this updated index map.)
(You also can go sightseeing there if you wish. Go to QuickMap and zoom in on 10.1 latitude and -20.1 longitude to get to the floor of Copernicus. Or pick your own spot on the lunar surface and do some of your own exploring!)
What I found in the northern half of Copernicus’s floor was a plethora of possible caves and collapse features. Literally, the crater floor is littered with what appear to be pits, fissures, rills, and sinks. More significantly, sometimes the cave entrances line up with long straight collapse features, suggesting strongly the existence of extensive underground passages beyond the initial entrance pits.
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NASA Endeavour Shuttle Launch Delayed
The Daily Beast reports today that the last flight of the shuttle Endeavour has been delayed due to a schedule conflict with a Russian Progress freighter.
Note that this has not yet been confirmed by NASA.
Update from spaceref: NASA has rescheduled Endeavour’s launch for April 29.
The Daily Beast reports today that the last flight of the shuttle Endeavour has been delayed due to a schedule conflict with a Russian Progress freighter.
Note that this has not yet been confirmed by NASA.
Update from spaceref: NASA has rescheduled Endeavour’s launch for April 29.
ATK pushes to build private Ares I
ATK is pushing hard for NASA commercial subsidizes to build a private version of Ares I.
ATK is pushing hard for NASA commercial subsidizes to build a private version of Ares I.
Ultralights!
More leftwing death threats, this time to New York state lawmakers
More leftwing civility: New death threat emails sent to New York state lawmakers. You can read the full email here.
More leftwing civility: New death threat emails sent to New York state lawmakers. You can read the full email here.
The London Rioters and Their Targets
Leftwing civility in London: The London rioters and their targets.
Leftwing civility in London: The London rioters and their targets.
GOP 2012 budget to make $4 trillion-plus in cuts
It’s a start, though it really isn’t enough: the Republican 2012 budget will call for $4 trillion-plus in cuts over the next decade.
Ryan said Obama’s call for freezing nondefense discretionary spending actually locks in spending at high levels. Under the forthcoming GOP plan, Ryan said spending would return to 2008 levels and thus cut an additional $400 billion over 10 years. [emphasis mine]
Note that no one was starving and children weren’t dying for lack of federal spending in 2008.
It’s a start, though it really isn’t enough: the Republican 2012 budget will call for $4 trillion-plus in cuts over the next decade.
Ryan said Obama’s call for freezing nondefense discretionary spending actually locks in spending at high levels. Under the forthcoming GOP plan, Ryan said spending would return to 2008 levels and thus cut an additional $400 billion over 10 years. [emphasis mine]
Note that no one was starving and children weren’t dying for lack of federal spending in 2008.
Winners of 18th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race
The winners of the 18th annual Great Moonbuggy Race.
The winners of the 18th annual Great Moonbuggy Race.
321 people in 26 terror attacks in just 7 days
Last week brought a sober reminder that every religion has its extremists, as Christian radicals burned one copy of the Quran (and Muslim radicals attacked a half-dozen churches, burned dozens of Bibles, and slaughtered 321 people in 26 terror attacks in just 7 days).
Last week brought a sober reminder that every religion has its extremists, as Christian radicals burned one copy of the Quran (and Muslim radicals attacked a half-dozen churches, burned dozens of Bibles, and slaughtered 321 people in 26 terror attacks in just 7 days).
Defiant Japanese boat captain rode out tsunami
Another hero: Defiant Japanese boat captain who rode out tsunami.
Another hero: Defiant Japanese boat captain who rode out tsunami.
More waivers to Obamacare
So, why did we pass this piece of garbage again? The Obama administration has issued another 129 waivers to Obamacare (almost half to unions), bringing the total to 1,168.
So, why did we pass this piece of garbage again? The Obama administration has issued another 129 waivers to Obamacare (almost half to unions), bringing the total to 1,168.
Playing with mercury
A Pakistani actress smacks down a mullah
We need more Muslims doing this: A Pakistani actress smacks down a mullah. Be sure to watch the video, also available here!
We need more Muslims doing this: A Pakistani actress smacks down a mullah. Be sure to watch the video, also available here!
FDA issues new Obamacare regulations requiring calorie counts on menus
More idiotic regulations from Obamacare: On Friday the FDA issued new Obamacare regulations, requiring calorie counts on restaurant menus.
More idiotic regulations from Obamacare: On Friday the FDA issued new Obamacare regulations, requiring calorie counts on restaurant menus.
Investigators look into additional threats allegedly emailed by Cross Plains woman
More leftwing civility: Investigators look into additional threats allegedly emailed by Wisconsin teacher.
More leftwing civility: Investigators look into additional threats allegedly emailed by Wisconsin teacher.
“The tyrannies are doomed.”
Bernard Lewis: “The tyrannies are doomed.” I hope he’s right.
Bernard Lewis: “The tyrannies are doomed.” I hope he’s right.
EPA Whistleblower Criticizes Global Warming Science and Policy in New Peer-Reviewed Study
EPA whistleblower slams global warming science and policy in new peer-reviewed study. The paper’s conclusion:
The scientific hypotheses underlying global warming alarmism are overwhelmingly contradicted by real-world data, and for that reason economic studies on the alleged benefits of controlling greenhouse gas emissions are baseless.
EPA whistleblower slams global warming science and policy in new peer-reviewed study. The paper’s conclusion:
The scientific hypotheses underlying global warming alarmism are overwhelmingly contradicted by real-world data, and for that reason economic studies on the alleged benefits of controlling greenhouse gas emissions are baseless.
Southwest cancels 300 flights to inspect planes after fuselage cracks open on Sacramento-bound flight
Yow! Southwest cancels 300 flights to inspect its planes after the fuselage cracks open on a Sacramento-bound flight.
Yow! Southwest cancels 300 flights to inspect its planes after the fuselage cracks open on a Sacramento-bound flight.
The annual spaghetti crop
The first permanent building at the South Pole, built in the mid-1950s, has been destroyed
The first permanent building at the South Pole, built by the U.S. in the mid-1950s, has been demolished with dynamite.
The first permanent building at the South Pole, built by the U.S. in the mid-1950s, has been demolished with dynamite.
April Fools’ Roundup
Two beheaded and eight others murdered in protest against Koran burning
The religion of peace: Two beheaded and eight others murdered in Afghanistan today in protest against Koran burning.
Burning the Koran might have been a poor idea, but such an act doesn’t justify murder.
Then there’s this: Penn State students assaulted for putting up a display outlining what they considered Palestinian lies.
Once again, the only answer Islam can give to criticism is violence.
The religion of peace: Two beheaded and eight others murdered in Afghanistan today in protest against Koran burning.
Burning the Koran might have been a poor idea, but such an act doesn’t justify murder.
Then there’s this: Penn State students assaulted for putting up a display outlining what they considered Palestinian lies.
Once again, the only answer Islam can give to criticism is violence.
China’s second lunar orbiter, Chang’e 2: still in operation after 180 days
China’s second lunar orbiter, Chang’e 2: still in operation after 180 days.
Unfortunately, little of its scientific results have been released.
China’s second lunar orbiter, Chang’e 2: still in operation after 180 days.
Unfortunately, little of its scientific results have been released.
Neighbouring volcanoes on Mars
Ohio and New Hampshire follow Wisconsin, passing laws limiting union power
It’s a trend! Ohio and New Hampshire have followed Wisconsin, their legislatures passing laws limiting union power.
Note that in New Hampshire, the law still has to be approved by the state Senate.
It’s a trend! Ohio and New Hampshire have followed Wisconsin, their legislatures passing laws limiting union power.
Note that in New Hampshire, the law still has to be approved by the state Senate.
Soyuz launch site in French Guiana finally ready
After seven years of work, the Soyuz launch site in French Guiana is finally ready for its first launch.
After seven years of work, the Soyuz launch site in French Guiana is finally ready for its first launch.