Peter, Paul, and Mary — I have a song to sing o
An evening pause: Peter, Paul, & Mary singing Arthur Sullivan’s “I have a song to sing o” in Australia.
Month: May 2011
Pawlenty calls for phasing out ethanol subsidies — in Iowa
Republican Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty today called for phasing out ethanol subsidies — in Iowa.
We need more candidates like this, willing to say these kinds of things face-to-face with the very people who benefit from the funding.
Republican Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty today called for phasing out ethanol subsidies — in Iowa.
We need more candidates like this, willing to say these kinds of things face-to-face with the very people who benefit from the funding.
New results from Kepler
New results from Kepler.
New results from Kepler.
Want to go to an asteroid?
A paper published today on the Los Alamos astro-ph preprint website has taken a close look at identifying the best nearby asteroids ideal for mounting a manned mission. The conclusion: our survey of such asteroids is very incomplete (only 65 known), and due to their location in Earthlike orbits they are very difficult to study.
Ultra-low delta-v NEOs are not readily found. Their closely Earth-like orbits mean that most of the time they are in the daytime sky, as seen from the Earth, and so are effectively undetectable. As they approach within <1AU of the Earth they start to lie near quadrature, and so come into the dawn or dusk sky on Earth. The strong scattered sunlight background makes optical surveys toward the dawn or dusk much less sensitive and, in practice, surveys do not look in these directions, preferring to observe where the sky is dark, within 45 degrees, and at most 60 degrees, of the anti-Sun, opposition, direction. As a consequence the lowest delta-v NEOs are undercounted by current surveys, and the factor by which they are undercounted is not yet known.
The paper proposes building a dedicated unmanned infrared mission and placing it in a Venus-like orbit where it would be better placed to see these difficult but important objects.
No decline in polar bear population
Though the data is sketchy in places, it appears there has been no decline in the polar bear population for the past four years.
Though the data is sketchy in places, it appears there has been no decline in the polar bear population for the past four years.
Repent! The End of Keynesian Economics Is At Hand!
“It seems like politics, and the federal government is picking winners and losers out of all of this.”
An excellent analysis of Obama’s Middle East speech
An excellent analysis of Obama’s Middle East speech, and why the reaction to it has been so hostile.
The crisis, then, was caused by three factors: The ignorance of the Obama Administration over the issues involved; Obama’s chronic lack of friendliness toward Israel; and his refusal to recognize the threat from revolutionary Islamism.
An excellent analysis of Obama’s Middle East speech, and why the reaction to it has been so hostile.
The crisis, then, was caused by three factors: The ignorance of the Obama Administration over the issues involved; Obama’s chronic lack of friendliness toward Israel; and his refusal to recognize the threat from revolutionary Islamism.
No restrooms at 9/11 Memorial and Museum
Our government in action: No restrooms were included in the soon-to-open 9/11 memorial at ground zero.
The nonprofit foundation running the $508 million project is expecting millions of visitors from across the globe to flock to lower Manhattan when it opens this year on the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. But there won’t be a single toilet available on the eight-acre green plaza — a planning oversight now raising concerns in closed-door meetings.
Our government in action: No restrooms were included in the soon-to-open 9/11 memorial at ground zero.
The nonprofit foundation running the $508 million project is expecting millions of visitors from across the globe to flock to lower Manhattan when it opens this year on the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. But there won’t be a single toilet available on the eight-acre green plaza — a planning oversight now raising concerns in closed-door meetings.
Analysis shows damaged tile no threat to re-entry
Analysis has shown that the damaged shuttle tile on Endeavour is not a problem for re-entry.
Analysis has shown that the damaged shuttle tile on Endeavour is not a problem for re-entry.
“I cannot imagine someone hanging out their underwear and having it immortalized.”
Iceland’s most active volcano erupts
Grimsvotn, Iceland’s most active volcano, has started a new eruption, the first since 2004.
Grimsvotn, Iceland’s most active volcano, has started a new eruption, the first since 2004.
Images of Robert Bigelow’s ambitious private space station plans
Images of Robert Bigelow’s ambitious private space station plans.
Images of Robert Bigelow’s ambitious private space station plans.
Local authorities warn gun owners that they will be “inconvenienced” if they carry unconcealed handguns legally in Philadelphia
Local authorities warn gun owners that they will be “inconvenienced” if they carry unconcealed handguns legally in Philadelphia.
Or to put it another way, the police have decided they can harass citizens who happen to be obeying the law.
Local authorities warn gun owners that they will be “inconvenienced” if they carry unconcealed handguns legally in Philadelphia.
Or to put it another way, the police have decided they can harass citizens who happen to be obeying the law.
NASA sting nets woman offering moon rock for $1.7M
All your Moon rocks are belong to us: A NASA sting nets a woman offering to sell a Moon rock for $1.7M.
All your Moon rocks are belong to us: A NASA sting nets a woman offering to sell a Moon rock for $1.7M.
Departing Soyuz crew to snap space station portrait
The departing Soyuz crew will do a photo-op fly around on Monday to photograph the completed station with a docked shuttle.
The departing Soyuz crew will do a photo-op fly around on Monday to photograph the completed station with a docked shuttle.
Damaged shuttle tile to get closer look
Damaged shuttle tile to get closer look.
Damaged shuttle tile to get closer look.
Chinese Journalists Barred From Shuttle Launch
Chinese journalists were barred from all official press areas during the Endeavour launch.
A NASA spokesperson says the agency was simply following instructions in last month’s 2011 spending bill that averted a government-wide shutdown. The legislation prohibits NASA from using any resources to host visits by a Chinese official to any NASA facility as well as for collaborations with any Chinese government entity. The Chinese journalists work for Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, and thus are considered government employees.
Chinese journalists were barred from all official press areas during the Endeavour launch.
A NASA spokesperson says the agency was simply following instructions in last month’s 2011 spending bill that averted a government-wide shutdown. The legislation prohibits NASA from using any resources to host visits by a Chinese official to any NASA facility as well as for collaborations with any Chinese government entity. The Chinese journalists work for Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, and thus are considered government employees.
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
The real Obama and gun control
The real Obama and gun control.
On March 30, the 30th anniversary of the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, Jim Brady, who sustained a debilitating head wound in the attack, and his wife, Sarah, came to Capitol Hill to push for a ban on the controversial “large magazines.” Brady, for whom the law requiring background checks on handgun purchasers is named, then met with White House press secretary Jay Carney. During the meeting, President Obama dropped in and, according to Sarah Brady, brought up the issue of gun control, “to fill us in that it was very much on his agenda,” she said.
“I just want you to know that we are working on it,” Brady recalled the president telling them. “We have to go through a few processes, but under the radar.”
In the meeting, she said, Obama discussed how records get into the system and what can be done about firearms retailers. Her husband specifically brought up the proposed ban on large magazine clips, and she noted that even former vice president Dick Cheney had suggested that some restrictions on the clips might make sense.
“He just laughed,” Sarah Brady said approvingly of the president. Both she and her husband, she emphasized, had absolute confidence that the president was committed to regulation. [emphasis mine]
The real Obama and gun control.
On March 30, the 30th anniversary of the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, Jim Brady, who sustained a debilitating head wound in the attack, and his wife, Sarah, came to Capitol Hill to push for a ban on the controversial “large magazines.” Brady, for whom the law requiring background checks on handgun purchasers is named, then met with White House press secretary Jay Carney. During the meeting, President Obama dropped in and, according to Sarah Brady, brought up the issue of gun control, “to fill us in that it was very much on his agenda,” she said.
“I just want you to know that we are working on it,” Brady recalled the president telling them. “We have to go through a few processes, but under the radar.”
In the meeting, she said, Obama discussed how records get into the system and what can be done about firearms retailers. Her husband specifically brought up the proposed ban on large magazine clips, and she noted that even former vice president Dick Cheney had suggested that some restrictions on the clips might make sense.
“He just laughed,” Sarah Brady said approvingly of the president. Both she and her husband, she emphasized, had absolute confidence that the president was committed to regulation. [emphasis mine]
Hamas TV praises jihadi suicide bombers and encourages young men to seek jihad martyrdom by killing Jews
Hamas TV praises jihadi suicide bombers and encourages young men to seek jihad martyrdom by killing Jews.
Sure, let’s give them a state. What could go wrong?
And how about this: Hamas co-founder admits that any “peace accord” would merely be a prelude to war.
Saying Hamas would accept a PA state based on the “1967 borders,” Zahar made it clear a peace accord would only serve as a prelude to Israel’s destruction. [emphasis mine]
Hamas TV praises jihadi suicide bombers and encourages young men to seek jihad martyrdom by killing Jews.
Sure, let’s give them a state. What could go wrong?
And how about this: Hamas co-founder admits that any “peace accord” would merely be a prelude to war.
Saying Hamas would accept a PA state based on the “1967 borders,” Zahar made it clear a peace accord would only serve as a prelude to Israel’s destruction. [emphasis mine]
Spacesuit Glitch shortens spacewalk at ISS
Spacesuit malfunction shortens spacewalk at ISS.
Spacesuit malfunction shortens spacewalk at ISS.
Last shuttle launch scheduled for July 8
Last shuttle launch scheduled for July 8.
Last shuttle launch scheduled for July 8.
Harry Reid says it would be “Foolish” for the Democrats to offer budget plan
The court jester speaks: Harry Reid said Thursday it would be “foolish” for the Democrats to offer their own budget plan.
The court jester speaks: Harry Reid said Thursday it would be “foolish” for the Democrats to offer their own budget plan.
Family Facing $4 Million in Fines for Selling Bunnies
A family in Missouri faces a federal fine of over $90,000 for simply selling bunny-rabbits.
“She said, ‘Well, Mr. Dollarhite, I’ve got the report on my desk, and I’m just gonna tell you that, once I review it, it’s our intent to prosecute you to the maximum that we can’ and that ‘we will make an example out of you.” When John once again tried to determine which law he and his wife had violated, he said the USDA lady replied, “We’ll forward you everything.”
“Ma’am, what law have we broken,” John said.
“Well, you sold more than $500 worth of rabbits in one calendar year,” she replied, according to John.
Thugs.
A family in Missouri faces a federal fine of over $90,000 for simply selling bunny-rabbits.
“She said, ‘Well, Mr. Dollarhite, I’ve got the report on my desk, and I’m just gonna tell you that, once I review it, it’s our intent to prosecute you to the maximum that we can’ and that ‘we will make an example out of you.” When John once again tried to determine which law he and his wife had violated, he said the USDA lady replied, “We’ll forward you everything.”
“Ma’am, what law have we broken,” John said.
“Well, you sold more than $500 worth of rabbits in one calendar year,” she replied, according to John.
Thugs.
Dear Congress: Your credit application has been turned down
Dear Congress: Your credit application has been turned down.
You may also wish to contact a consumer credit counseling agency. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling can help you locate a reputable counseling agency in your area. You may also wish to visit the NFCC’s website for helpful tips on such subjects as
•drawing up a budget
•living within your means
•saving during tough economic times
•steps to take when your finances get out of control
Dear Congress: Your credit application has been turned down.
You may also wish to contact a consumer credit counseling agency. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling can help you locate a reputable counseling agency in your area. You may also wish to visit the NFCC’s website for helpful tips on such subjects as
•drawing up a budget
•living within your means
•saving during tough economic times
•steps to take when your finances get out of control
Climate cleansing: Google to censor skeptics?
From JunkScience: Google to censor climate skeptics?
From JunkScience: Google to censor climate skeptics?
Shell gas plant to be biggest floating object ever
Liquified gas plant to be the biggest floating object ever built.
Liquified gas plant to be the biggest floating object ever built.
AARP the latest to receive Obamacare break
Finding out what’s in it: AARP, which campaigned for Obamacare, is getting an Obamacare exemption from the Obama administration.
Finding out what’s in it: AARP, which campaigned for Obamacare, is getting an Obamacare exemption from the Obama administration.
Recent college grads sour on Obama, surveys say
A sea-change? Two new surveys find that recent college graduates have soured on Obama.
A sea-change? Two new surveys find that recent college graduates have soured on Obama.