Category: Behind The Black
The 50th anniversary of Gagarin’s spaceflight
I am on the road today, so posting will be light. Though I have many things to say about today’s historic anniversary, fifty years after the first manned spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin, I simply won’t be able to post them. However, I plan to express some of my thoughts on the John Batchelor Show at 11:30 pm (Eastern time) tomorrow. Listen in live, or on his podcast posted shortly after the live show.
The ironies, however, are amazing, and quite depressing. On the same day we celebrate the start of manned space exploration, NASA administrator Charles Bolden will announce where the United States’s three retired shuttles will be put on display. Note also that he does this on the thirtieth anniversary of the first shuttle flight. It is almost as if the Obama administration’s desire to kill the American government space program is so strong that they have to rub salt in the wound as they do it.
I say this not so much because I am in favor of a big government space program (which I am not) but because the timing of this announcement once again illustrates how astonishingly tone-deaf the Obama administration continues to be about political matters.
‘Hope Sarah Palin Dies’ Page Is Still Up and Running on Facebook
Leftwing civility: The “I hate when I wake up and Sarah Palin is still alive” Facebook page is still up and running.
Leftwing civility: The “I hate when I wake up and Sarah Palin is still alive” Facebook page is still up and running.
Town Bans political signs in Public Park to silence Tea Party protest
Freedom of speech alert: A Michigan town passed a ban on all political signs in a public park in order to silence a Tea Party protest.`
Freedom of speech alert: A Michigan town passed a ban on all political signs in a public park in order to silence a Tea Party protest.`
Details on the $38 billion budget deal
Some details on the $38 billion budget deal.
Overall, it looks like more of the same, gimmicks disguised as budget cuts. Nonetheless, considering that most of government is still controlled by status quo spenders — in both parties — the deal is still a good one, as it clearly sets that political tone for the future: budget cuts and more budget cuts.
Some details on the $38 billion budget deal.
Overall, it looks like more of the same, gimmicks disguised as budget cuts. Nonetheless, considering that most of government is still controlled by status quo spenders — in both parties — the deal is still a good one, as it clearly sets that political tone for the future: budget cuts and more budget cuts.
TSA agent gropes 6-year old, preventing nothing
12 Girls Band
Fine print of spending deal ’still under negotiation’
The fat lady hasn’t sung yet: The budget deal fine print is “still under negotiation.”
The fat lady hasn’t sung yet: The budget deal fine print is “still under negotiation.”
Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush -Don’t Give Up
Stagnation fears haunt Russian space program
Stagnation haunts Russian space program.
Stagnation haunts Russian space program.
Escher´s waterfall
Virgin Galactic Hiring SpaceShip Pilots
Virgin Galactic is now hiring for spaceship pilots.
Virgin Galactic is now hiring for spaceship pilots.
Government shutdown averted as congressional leaders reach agreement on budget deal
A government shutdown is averted as congressional leaders have reached an agreement on a budget deal. Here’s some analysis of the political ramifications.
A government shutdown is averted as congressional leaders have reached an agreement on a budget deal. Here’s some analysis of the political ramifications.
Government Shutdown Would Idle All but 500 NASA Workers
A government shutdown would idle all but 500 NASA workers.
A government shutdown would idle all but 500 NASA workers.
ISS Plans Week-Long Simulated Mars Mission
ISS plans week-long simulated Mars mission.
This is the right idea, but to really learn something NASA needs to commit to a year-plus long simulated mission.
ISS plans week-long simulated Mars mission.
This is the right idea, but to really learn something NASA needs to commit to a year-plus long simulated mission.
Celtic Woman – Danny Boy
6 Pages of Obamacare Equals 429 Pages of Regulations
This monstrosity has got to be repealed: Six pages of Obamacare equals 429 pages of regulations.
This monstrosity has got to be repealed: Six pages of Obamacare equals 429 pages of regulations.
Let’s dump trash at Boehner’s pad
Leftwing civility: “Let’s dump trash at Boehner’s pad.”
Leftwing civility: “Let’s dump trash at Boehner’s pad.”
NASA braces for possible government shutdown
NASA backs out of space gravitational wave mission
NASA, crunched for money due to overages on James Webb Space Telescope, has cancelled its participation in the space gravitational wave mission LISA.
NASA, crunched for money due to overages on James Webb Space Telescope, has cancelled its participation in the space gravitational wave mission LISA.
Two Americas: Public vs. Private Employees
Two Americas: public vs. private. The graph illustrates our nation’s problems quite clearly.
Two Americas: public vs. private. The graph illustrates our nation’s problems quite clearly.
Conservative judge wins in Wisconsin
After much fussing in the vote-counting process, the conservative judge has won in Wisconsin. This probably ends the debate over the union law passed last month, which will now become law.
After much fussing in the vote-counting process, the conservative judge has won in Wisconsin. This probably ends the debate over the union law passed last month, which will now become law.
Spaceship Lands at San Francisco Airport
The future is here: Spaceship lands at San Francisco airport. And yes, that is an accurate headline!
The future is here: Spaceship lands at San Francisco airport. And yes, that is an accurate headline!
Picking the landing spot for the next Mars rover is down to four finalists
Picking the landing spot for the next Mars rover: down to four finalists.
Picking the landing spot for the next Mars rover: down to four finalists.
The strange fluctuating polar vortex over Venus’s pole
The strange fluctuating polar vortex over Venus’s south pole.
The strange fluctuating polar vortex over Venus’s south pole.
Lettuce alone
Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze
Kepler tracks the tiny light variations and oscillations of 500 stars
Kepler does asteroseismology on 500 sunlike stars. The data says that the theories of star formation need to be revised.
Kepler does asteroseismology on 500 sunlike stars. The data says that the theories of star formation need to be revised.
Russian Spaceship ‘Gagarin’ Arrives at Space Station
Russian spaceship “Gagarin” arrives at ISS.
Russian spaceship “Gagarin” arrives at ISS.
Newly discovered asteroid orbits in union with Earth
Newly discovered asteroid follows the Earth as it orbits the Sun, and has been doing it for a quarter million years.
Currently, three other horseshoe companions of the Earth are known to exist but, unlike 2010 SO16, these linger for a few thousand years at most before moving on to different orbits. Also, with an estimated diameter of 200–400 metres, 2010 SO16 is by far the largest of Earth’s horseshoe asteroids. The team has already used the Las Cumbres Observatory’s Faulkes Telescope in an on-going campaign to track the object and refine its orbit further. “It is not that difficult to spot with a medium-sized professional telescope”, says Dr Asher. “It will remain as an evening object in Earth’s skies for many years to come.”
Newly discovered asteroid follows the Earth as it orbits the Sun, and has been doing it for a quarter million years.
Currently, three other horseshoe companions of the Earth are known to exist but, unlike 2010 SO16, these linger for a few thousand years at most before moving on to different orbits. Also, with an estimated diameter of 200–400 metres, 2010 SO16 is by far the largest of Earth’s horseshoe asteroids. The team has already used the Las Cumbres Observatory’s Faulkes Telescope in an on-going campaign to track the object and refine its orbit further. “It is not that difficult to spot with a medium-sized professional telescope”, says Dr Asher. “It will remain as an evening object in Earth’s skies for many years to come.”