Bob is a Racist
An evening pause: Apropos of the uplifting nature of modern political debate, especially on the left, let’s find out why “Bob is a racist.”
Year: 2012
Armstrong and the world
In space, science, and technology, there really is very little new news to report today. Instead, almost all the stories are about the passing of Neil Armstrong. On spacetoday.net alone I count almost seventy stories on Armstrong, practically everything posted since yesterday, And that is only a sampling.
This response tells us several things.
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On the air
Tomorrow, Monday, August 27 at 7:30 pm (Eastern), I will be joining David Livingston of the Space Show and the One Giant Leap Foundataion on the John Batchelor Show to talk about Neil Armstrong and his life and impact on history. If you can’t listen live, the podcast of the show will be available here one hour later.
Science Bob’s Crazy Foam Experiment
An evening pause: Everybody needs a little foam.
The world’s most complex borders.
Neil Armstrong
I think the gracious statement by Neil Armstrong’s family sums up his life quite well.
We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.
Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
Neil Armstrong was also a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job. He served his Nation proudly, as a navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. He also found success back home in his native Ohio in business and academia, and became a community leader in Cincinnati.
He remained an advocate of aviation and exploration throughout his life and never lost his boyhood wonder of these pursuits.
As much as Neil cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of good will from people around the world and from all walks of life.
While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves.
For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.
“My healthcare plan I put in place in my state has everyone insured.”
Romney on Thursday: “My healthcare plan I put in place in my state has everyone insured.” Also, it is an “important accomplishment” that is “working, by and large, pretty well.”
Oy. Romney apparently still does not realize that Romneycare is as politically toxic as Obamacare, which probably explains why he has not been able to pull ahead of Obama in the polls. It also once again explains why Republicans looked long and hard for an alternative before finally settling on Romney.
Nonetheless, Romney has been very clear about his opinion of Obamacare itself. He considers it an improper overreach of the federal government and a bad law. He has also been very clear about what he will do about it once in office: Repeal it. For this reason, voters will eventually choose him, even if the moment they finally make that choice will be in the voting booth on election day.
R.I.P. Neil Armstrong
R.I.P. Neil Armstrong.
One of the longest bridges in northern China collapsed on Friday, just nine months after it opened.
One of the longest bridges in northern China collapsed on Friday, just nine months after it opened.
This was the sixth major bridge collapse in China since 2011, raising questions about — wait for it … government corruption!
The war on children
The launch of two satellites to study the Van Allen radiation belts has been delayed again, this time due to weather.
The launch of two satellites to study the Van Allen radiation belts has been delayed again, this time due to weather.
The Russians are once again pushing for a one year long mission on ISS, while NASA once again appears unenthusiastic.
The Russians are once again pushing for a year long mission on ISS, while NASA once again appears unenthusiastic.
Though from this article it appears that this time NASA officials are at least considering the idea.
The artist who sculpted a secret message in code — in plain view in the courtyard of CIA headquarters and unsolved now for twenty years — has now provided codebreakers a tiny clue to its solution.
The artist who sculpted a secret message in code — in plain view in the courtyard of CIA headquarters and unsolved now for twenty years — has now provided codebreakers a tiny clue to its solution.
The final mystery of Kryptos – it means “hidden” in Greek – is known as the “Everest of codes” among the thousands of cryptographers who are obsessed with deciphering it. … Three passages were unravelled in 1999. But the fourth and toughest remains defiantly obscure, to the surprise of nobody more than Jim Sanborn, the sculptor who created the enduring puzzle.
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary
An evening pause: Live performance, Albert Hall, 1970.
NASA today announced that recent research on ISS into bone loss due to weightlessness has found that proper exercise and diet can stabilize bone loss.
Good news! NASA today announced that recent research on ISS into bone loss due to weightlessness has found that proper exercise and diet can stabilize bone loss.
Past Russian research on Mir had found that exercise and diet could limit the bone loss, but not stop it entirely. The key difference in this recent work seems to be the use of more sophisticated exercise equipment.
If this research holds up, it eliminates one of the most serious obstacles to interplanetary travel.
Todd Akin, whose stupid comments about rape have practically destroyed his campaign, is receiving death threats to himself, his family, and his staff.
Modern political civility: Todd Akin, whose stupid comments about rape have practically destroyed his Senate campaign in Missouri, is receiving death threats against himself, his family, and his staff.
I don’t know if the threats are coming from either the left or the right. The left kind of wants Akin to stay in the race so that Claire McCaskill has a better shot at winning. Yet, the left has also been quite willing in recent years to express and even commit violence against their opponents. For these kinds of death threats to come from the left would not be unusual or surprising. The right meanwhile is furious at Akin, mostly because of the absolute stupidity and ignorance exhibited by his comments. It is likely that the comments will cost them an easy Senate win, which in turn might cost them control of the Senate. Yet, threats of violence from the right are rare.
Thus, it is hard to say what politics might be instigating these threats.
It really doesn’t matter. The threats are horrible, and are far worse than anything Todd Akin said. I hope the police find and arrest every single person who sent a threat.
“Where people are encouraged to think that solving society’s ills is primarily a job for government, charity tends to evaporate.”
Seven ways Star Trek changed the world.
Seven ways Star Trek changed the world.
The Friday launch of two NASA satellites designed to study the Van Allen radiation belts was scrubbed at least 24 hours because of the failure of ground tracking equipment needed during launch.
The Friday launch of two NASA satellites designed to study the Van Allen radiation belts was scrubbed at least 24 hours because of the failure of ground tracking equipment needed during launch.
Coeur de Pirate – Wood & Wires Session
An evening pause: Beatrice Martin, aka Coeur de Pirate, performs two songs, “Place de la Republique” and “Adieu” live in Toronto’s the Great Hall. That the songs are in French makes no difference.