After a day delay due to bad weather, Dragon’s return from space has been scheduled for Tuesday.
After a day delay due to bad weather, Dragon’s return from space has been scheduled for Tuesday.
Author: Robert Zimmerman
Comet ISON is not brightening as much as expected, suggesting it will not be as spectacular as some had hoped.
Comet ISON is not brightening as much as expected, suggesting it will not be as spectacular as some had hoped.
Cyprus has agreed to confiscate a percentage of the savings of large depositors in order to satisfy demands from the European Union creditors..
The day of reckoning looms: Cyprus has agreed to confiscate a percentage of the savings of large depositors in order to satisfy demands from its European Union creditors..
This is only a hint of what’s coming for us here in the U.S. Like the European Union, eventually the federal government is going to go bankrupt, and when that happens it (being the politicians in charge) will then decide that the savings and pensions of private citizens will have to save them somehow.
The strange polar vortexes of Venus.
The strange polar vortexes of Venus.
The large-scale cyclone extends vertically in Venus’ atmosphere over more than 20 kilometers, through a region of highly turbulent, permanent clouds. However, the centers of rotation at two different altitude levels (42 and 62 km above the surface) are not aligned and both wander around the south pole of the planet with no established pattern at velocities of up to 55km/h. The study also finds that even when averaged cross-winds are roughly the same at both altitudes, there is still a strong vertical gradient, with winds increasing by as much as 3km/h for every kilometer of height and leading to possible atmospheric instabilities.
“I do think there are certain times we should infringe on your freedom.”
Today’s modern politician: “I do think there are certain times we should infringe on your freedom.”
Prepare for a fascist future, as it appears that this kind of politician is popular with far too many of the American people.
Curiosity marks the return to full science operations by producing a new panorama.
Curiosity marks the return to full science operations by producing a new panorama.
We made it.
Getting to the Window in the Santa Catalinas is a challenge, mostly because of the 4000 foot elevation gain. In the past two years Diane and I have made three previous attempts, all of which were aborted because we simply either ran out of time or energy.
Today, we left very early in the morning, and because we are right now in very good shape, made it with little trouble, completing the entire hike in just under eleven hours. Some pictures below the fold.
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Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry – Librarian Sketch
An evening pause: Why does this comedy sketch remind me so much of modern intellectual debate?
Virgin Galactic reports that the recent tests of the engine for SpaceShipTwo have been a complete success.
The competition heats up: Virgin Galactic reports that the recent tests of the engine for SpaceShipTwo have been a complete success.
It appears that they are getting very close to putting the engine on the spaceship for the first powered flights. Things should get very exciting when they do.
Hiking to the Window in Ventana Canyon
An evening pause: My posting on Sunday will be light until the evening, as Diane and I will be doing a 13.2 mile hike up Ventana Canyon to a giant natural bridge called the Window. This canyon is in the Santa Catalina mountains that overlook Tucson. These mountains are quite rugged, with some intense elevation gain in a very short time, comparable to the Grand Canyon. For this hike we will gain 4,000 feet in 6.6 miles.
Below is a video of this hike but only going about halfway up the canyon.
British scientists have located the underwater remains of one of the man-made Mulberry harbours built by the British to support the D-Day Normandy invasion.
British scientists have located the underwater remains of one of the man-made Mulberry harbours built by the British to support the D-Day Normandy invasion.
The Democrats in the Senate passed their first budget in four years yesterday.
Pigs fly! The Democrats in the Senate passed their first budget in four years yesterday.
The budget cuts practically nothing while increasing taxes by almost $1 trillion, which essentially illustrates how little the Democrats want to bring the debt under control. That four Democrats who face a tough election in 2014 voted against the budget also suggests that the Democrat’s traditional spendthrift approach might finally be becoming dangerous at the polls.
NASA has issued a clarification specifically excluding its press announcements from the suspension of all public outreach efforts.
NASA has issued a clarification specifically excluding its press announcements from the suspension of all public outreach efforts due to sequestration.
I am not surprised. These budget cuts are aimed at grabbing the most publicity as possible, without harming NASA’s ability to lobby for funding. Ironically, the truth is that much of NASA’s education and outreach work can be cut, will not be missed, and so these cuts should illustrate this fact quite effectively.
In two different court decisions yesterday the courts ruled in favor of professors who had been punished by their university because of their opinions.
Some good news: In two different court decisions yesterday the courts ruled in favor of professors who had been punished by their university because of their opinions.
The top ten horror stories caused by Obamacare.
The top ten horror stories caused by Obamacare.
I’ve posted many of these stories already, but seeing them all together is somewhat sobering.
Meatloaf and Patti Russo – Couldn’t have said better
An evening pause: Man, can Meatloaf and Patti Russo belt out a song.
NASA has suspended all spending for education and public outreach.
NASA has suspended all spending for education and public outreach because to the sequester cuts.
The list of programs suspended are as follows:
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Obamacare may cost small business as much as 65% of their profits.
Obamacare may cost small business as much as 65% of their profits.
At these levels, the question that will soon occur to the business owner is “Why am I bothering?” If he can shrink his business to less than 50 employees and avoid the Obamacare costs, he will.
And in related news: Health insurers are privately warning brokers that premiums may double next year for many individuals and small businesses due to Obamacare.
How big will the Stratolaunch first stage aircraft be? Big. Very big.
How big will the Stratolaunch first stage aircraft be? Big. Very big.
Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) has reversed course and will allow a tough gun bill to be introduced in the Senate.
Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) has reversed course and will allow a tough gun bill to be introduced in the Senate.
In 2010 the NRA backed Reid in a close election because they said he had an “A” rating, always defending the right to bear arms. I thought this was a very very bad mistake, as Reid is also a very partisan liberal Democrat, which generally means you can’t trust him on any conservative issue. Lo and behold, we now learn you can’t trust him on this conservative issue.
Had the NRA put its support behind Reid’s challenger, that challenger would have had a much better chance at winning. They did not, and here we are. Thank you, NRA.