Author: Robert Zimmerman
The Great Moonbuggy Race
The future ups and downs of government spending in space
A new report says that government spending on space will flatten worldwide over the next five years. Some key quotes from the news story however suggest all is not going downhill:
A total of 692 satellites will be launched by governments in the coming decade, up 43% from the previous decade. This is a direct reflection of the increasing number of new space-capable countries across the globe. Civil agencies will launch roughly 75% of these satellites, a significant increase compared to the last decade during which they accounted for 67% of all government satellites launched.
Also, while certain areas will show a decline (the U.S. manned program) others appear robust.
Access to space (launch capability) investments reached $4.6 billion in 2010, and should be sustained in the coming years as more governments see independent access to space as a top priority of their space programs.
In both of the above examples, the areas where space activity will increase is because of the arrival of new space-faring nations (India, Japan, China to name only the most obvious), what I have been calling the new colonial movement. I also believe that as these new countries begin to show their stuff in space, their success will further fuel the competition, and the older space-faring nations will come back to life in order to stay in the game.
Ventana Canyon
An evening pause: Hiking in the Santa Catalina mountains overlooking Tucson, Arizona. Amazing shots of wildlife as well.
Squeals from the media
Squeals from the media. Key quote:
Now that budget battles have begun in earnest all around the country, those advocating spending cuts, Democrat and Republican, had better not expect any help in furthering their cause from the mainstream news media. In fact, the news media might be their most formidable foe. How so? Well, now that we know the targets of the cuts, the news media, suckers for a sob story, are already throbbing with carefully orchestrated, heart-rending tales about what devastation those cuts will cause.
Squeals from the media. Key quote:
Now that budget battles have begun in earnest all around the country, those advocating spending cuts, Democrat and Republican, had better not expect any help in furthering their cause from the mainstream news media. In fact, the news media might be their most formidable foe. How so? Well, now that we know the targets of the cuts, the news media, suckers for a sob story, are already throbbing with carefully orchestrated, heart-rending tales about what devastation those cuts will cause.
Union protesters fill Ohio Statehouse
Now for some union squealing in Ohio: Union protesters fill Ohio statehouse.
Now for some union squealing in Ohio: Union protesters fill Ohio statehouse.
A potential landing site for next Mars rover
This week’s release of cool images from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter included the color image below of a region on the floor of Holden Crater, one of the four possible landing sites for Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory planned for launch later this year. (If you want to see the entire image at higher resolution, you can download it here.)
Two things that immediately stand out about this image (other than this looks like an incredibly spectacular place to visit):
Tennessee bill targets teacher collective bargaining rights
The historical illiteracy of the Wisconsin union protesters
The historical illiteracy of the Wisconsin union protesters. The best is the photo of the protester with the sign “Impeach Bush.”
The historical illiteracy of the Wisconsin union protesters. The best is the photo of the protester with the sign “Impeach Bush.”
A Private Space Shuttle Replacement
Democrats flee to avoid participating in Wisconsin budget vote
The battle in Wisconsin: Democrat Senators in hiding to avoid participating in Wisconsin budget vote.
The battle in Wisconsin: Democrat Senators in hiding to avoid participating in Wisconsin budget vote.
Democrat congresswoman seeking to defund Army sponsorship of NASCAR
Now for some squeals from the right! A Democrat congresswoman is seeking to defund the Army sponsorship of NASCAR.
Now for some squeals from the right! A Democrat congresswoman is seeking to defund the Army sponsorship of NASCAR.
more voters view cutting spending rather than investing as the best way to do so
Pollster tells Senate Democrats that they better cut the budget or face defeat from voters.
Pollster tells Senate Democrats that they better cut the budget or face defeat from voters.
Showdown in Wisconsin
Showdown in Wisconsin. Key quote:
Government school teachers, among others, are not happy and have shut down entire school districts across the state for two days so they can protest.
I have two thoughts on this…
1. Hell yes.
2. About time.
Public employees should not be allowed to unionize or if they are, they should be forbidden to contribute to political campaigns. The current system essentially allows the employees to buy off the managers (politicians) in order to rip off the owners (the public). It’s a system that is corrupt by it’s very existence. The proof of this is the public pension and benefits schemes that threatens to crush the fiscal solvency of many states.
Update and bumped. This New York Times article summarizes the situation nicely. To me, however, the key quote is this:
Scott Fitzgerald, the Republican leader in the State Senate, slipped out of the Capitol Wednesday morning with his sunglasses on, head down. Protesters had gone to his home earlier in the week, forcing his family (including his wife, a school guidance counselor) to go elsewhere for a bit.
You can see some video of the protests here: Union hate rally in Wisconsin: Protests rife with Hitler, gun targets, death threats.
So, another demonstration of how the left tones down the rhetoric: threatening the family of a lawmaker.
Showdown in Wisconsin. Key quote:
Government school teachers, among others, are not happy and have shut down entire school districts across the state for two days so they can protest.
I have two thoughts on this…
1. Hell yes.
2. About time.
Public employees should not be allowed to unionize or if they are, they should be forbidden to contribute to political campaigns. The current system essentially allows the employees to buy off the managers (politicians) in order to rip off the owners (the public). It’s a system that is corrupt by it’s very existence. The proof of this is the public pension and benefits schemes that threatens to crush the fiscal solvency of many states.
Update and bumped. This New York Times article summarizes the situation nicely. To me, however, the key quote is this:
Scott Fitzgerald, the Republican leader in the State Senate, slipped out of the Capitol Wednesday morning with his sunglasses on, head down. Protesters had gone to his home earlier in the week, forcing his family (including his wife, a school guidance counselor) to go elsewhere for a bit.
You can see some video of the protests here: Union hate rally in Wisconsin: Protests rife with Hitler, gun targets, death threats.
So, another demonstration of how the left tones down the rhetoric: threatening the family of a lawmaker.
Dick Durbin Is Stealing Your Free Checking!
Arsenic, silicon, and alien life
Arsenic, silicon, and alien life.
Arsenic, silicon, and alien life.
Obama’s energy secretary squeals.
Steven Chu, Obama’s energy secretary, gave us his own version of a pig’s squeal yesterday.
Steven Chu, Obama’s energy secretary, gave us his own version of a pig’s squeal yesterday.
Google Lunar X Prize has announced the final roster of teams competing for its $30 Million prize
The Google Lunar X Prize has announced the final roster of teams competing for its $30 Million prize.
The Google Lunar X Prize has announced the final roster of teams competing for its $30 Million prize.
‘Watson’ the computer creams human ‘Jeopardy!’ champs
‘Watson’ the computer creams human ‘Jeopardy!’ champs. Key quote:
“I for one welcome our new computer overlords,” contestant Ken Jennings — who holds the “Jeopardy!” record of 74 straight wins — cheekily wrote on his answer screen at the conclusion of the much-hyped three-day showdown.
‘Watson’ the computer creams human ‘Jeopardy!’ champs. Key quote:
“I for one welcome our new computer overlords,” contestant Ken Jennings — who holds the “Jeopardy!” record of 74 straight wins — cheekily wrote on his answer screen at the conclusion of the much-hyped three-day showdown.
He should get rid of as many of them as possible.
Two TSA agents busted at JFK for stealing $160,000 from checked bags
Homeland security strikes again! Two TSA agents were busted today at JFK for stealing $160,000 from checked bags.
Homeland security strikes again! Two TSA agents were busted today at JFK for stealing $160,000 from checked bags.
Democrats campaign to save funding for public television
The squealing of puppets! The Muppets (and Democrats) lobbied today in DC to save funding for public television.
The squealing of puppets! The Muppets (and Democrats) lobbied today in DC to save funding for public television.
Thousands of previously unknown tombs in Saudi Desert spotted from space
Thousands of previously unknown ruins in Saudi Desert spotted from space.
Thousands of previously unknown ruins in Saudi Desert spotted from space.
House votes to move money from NASA to local law enforcement
The House votes to shift $298 million from NASA to local law enforcement.
What idiocy. I can accept the idea of cutting NASA considering the state of the deficit. However, for Congress to instead spend the money for local police work, something that is definitely not the responsibility of the federal government, is plain foolishness. The need now is to cut, cut, cut, until the budget is under control. Only then can we reasonably consider spending money on these programs.
The House votes to shift $298 million from NASA to local law enforcement.
What idiocy. I can accept the idea of cutting NASA considering the state of the deficit. However, for Congress to instead spend the money for local police work, something that is definitely not the responsibility of the federal government, is plain foolishness. The need now is to cut, cut, cut, until the budget is under control. Only then can we reasonably consider spending money on these programs.
Russian spacewalk finishes early
Meanwhile, up on ISS two Russians have successfully completed a five hour spacewalk, getting all their work done early.
Meanwhile, up on ISS two Russians have successfully completed a five hour spacewalk, getting all their work done early.
Europe’s ISS freighter launches successfully
Europe’s second ISS freighter, dubbed Johannes Kepler, launched successfully today.
Europe’s second ISS freighter, dubbed Johannes Kepler, launched successfully today.
The federal government shuts down 83,990 websites by mistake
Freedom of speech alert: The federal government shut down 83,990 innocent websites this past weekend, mistakenly labeling them as child porn traffickers.
It was a mistake, I know, but think about how this power can so easily be misused.
Freedom of speech alert: The federal government shut down 83,990 innocent websites this past weekend, mistakenly labeling them as child porn traffickers.
It was a mistake, I know, but think about how this power can so easily be misused.
Why more railroad subsidies make no sense
Why high-speed rail makes no sense. Key quote:
High-speed rail would transform Amtrak’s small drain [on the government] into a much larger drain. Once built, high-speed rail systems would face a dilemma. To recoup initial capital costs — construction and train purchases — ticket prices would have to be set so high that few people would choose rail. But lower prices, even with favorable passenger loads, might not cover costs. Government would be stuck with huge subsidies. Even without recovering capital costs, high-speed rail systems would probably run in the red. Most mass-transit systems, despite high ridership, routinely have deficits.
Why high-speed rail makes no sense. Key quote:
High-speed rail would transform Amtrak’s small drain [on the government] into a much larger drain. Once built, high-speed rail systems would face a dilemma. To recoup initial capital costs — construction and train purchases — ticket prices would have to be set so high that few people would choose rail. But lower prices, even with favorable passenger loads, might not cover costs. Government would be stuck with huge subsidies. Even without recovering capital costs, high-speed rail systems would probably run in the red. Most mass-transit systems, despite high ridership, routinely have deficits.
The next flight of the Chinese manned spacecraft could last three weeks
China on the march! The next flight of their Shenzhou manned spacecraft could be a three week unmanned mission designed to test rendezvous and docking with their soon-to-launch Tiangong 1 space laboratory.
China on the march! The next flight of their Shenzhou manned spacecraft could be a three week unmanned mission designed to test rendezvous and docking with their soon-to-launch Tiangong 1 space laboratory.
The delay in the launch of the European cargo ship could delay the next Shuttle launch
The delay yesterday of the launch of the European cargo ship to ISS might also delay the next Shuttle launch.
The delay yesterday of the launch of the European cargo ship to ISS might also delay the next Shuttle launch.
Democratic Congressman says Republicans want kids to get asthma
This is how we rationally debate the budget? Democratic Congressman Jay Inslee (D-Washington) today accused Republicans of wanting kids to get asthma by their effort to trim the budget.
This is how we rationally debate the budget? Democratic Congressman Jay Inslee (D-Washington) today accused Republicans of wanting kids to get asthma by their effort to trim the budget.