Category: Behind The Black
Send the space-bureaucrats to Mars
Human-caused climate change – then and now
The question of human-caused climate change – unclear now and unclear 8,000 years ago.
The question of human-caused climate change – unclear now and unclear 8,000 years ago.
Stardust to end its mission after twelve years
Stardust has ended its mission after twelve years and two comet flybys.
Ground controllers will command the spacecraft to fire up its four rocket thrusters one last time at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT) today to use up its remaining fuel. Engineers plan to watch closely while the probe’s propellant tank ran dry to help future missions gauge their fuel reserves more precisely.
Stardust has ended its mission after twelve years and two comet flybys.
Ground controllers will command the spacecraft to fire up its four rocket thrusters one last time at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT) today to use up its remaining fuel. Engineers plan to watch closely while the probe’s propellant tank ran dry to help future missions gauge their fuel reserves more precisely.
Thousands of Christians Displaced in Ethiopia After Muslims torch churches and homes
Islamic tolerance: Thousands of Christians displaced in Ethiopia after Muslims torch churches and homes.
Islamic tolerance: Thousands of Christians displaced in Ethiopia after Muslims torch churches and homes.
Kate & Anna McGarrigle – Talk to me of Mendocino
An evening pause: Kate & Anna McGarrigle – Talk to me of Mendocino
I bid farewell to the state of ol’ New York,
My home away from home.
In the state of New York I came of age
when first I started roaming.
X-ray stripes in the expanding remnant of a supernova explosion
X-ray stripes in the expanding remnant of a supernova explosion.
X-ray stripes in the expanding remnant of a supernova explosion.
Egypt Air removes Israel from map
Arab good will: Egypt Air removes Israel from map.
Arab good will: Egypt Air removes Israel from map.
Just when you think they finally get it
Another example of the great disconnect: Just when you think they finally get it.
Another example of the great disconnect: Just when you think they finally get it.
A modern journalist, disconnected from reality
First, watch this short youtube clip of NBC anchor Brian Williams on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Fallon expresses his discomfort with President Obama’s activities during the last week (picking the winners in the NCAA finals, traveling to South America) while simultaneously getting us involved in a war in Libya.
Williams, almost as if he is a White House press spokesman, immediately defends Obama.
During Williams’ aggressive effort to defend the actions of the Obama administration, he said two other things that I think are important, though not for the reasons Williams thinks. » Read more
A new Russian rocket
No Vision = No Innovation
An critique of NASA: No vision equals no innovation.
That NASA (and our government) lacks vision is not necessarily a bad thing. For the first time in decades, this is leaving room for new and independent companies to move in and fill the vacuum left by NASA. In the end, I think we will be far better off.
An critique of NASA: No vision equals no innovation.
That NASA (and our government) lacks vision is not necessarily a bad thing. For the first time in decades, this is leaving room for new and independent companies to move in and fill the vacuum left by NASA. In the end, I think we will be far better off.
Orbital Science facility at Wallops opens
The spaceport at Wallops Island, Maryland has unveiled its rocket assembly building to be used by Orbital Sciences in launching cargo to ISS.
The spaceport at Wallops Island, Maryland has unveiled its rocket assembly building to be used by Orbital Sciences in launching cargo to ISS.
Hideaki Akaiwa: Badass of the week
Surrounded by incredible hazards on all sides, ranging from obscene currents capable of dislodging houses from their moorings, sharp twisted metal that could easily have punctured his oxygen line (at best) or impaled him (at worst), and with giant fucking cars careening through the water like toys, he pressed on. Past broken glass, past destroyed houses, past downed power lines arcing with electrical current, through undertow that could have dragged him out to sea never to be heard from again, he searched.
Hideaki maintained his composure and navigated his way through the submerged city, finally tracking down his old house. He quickly swam through to find his totally-freaked-out wife, alone and stranded on the upper level of their house, barely keeping her head above water. He grabbed her tight, and presumably sharing his rebreather with her, dragged her out of the wreckage to safety. She survived.
And that’s only the beginning. Read the whole thing.
Surrounded by incredible hazards on all sides, ranging from obscene currents capable of dislodging houses from their moorings, sharp twisted metal that could easily have punctured his oxygen line (at best) or impaled him (at worst), and with giant fucking cars careening through the water like toys, he pressed on. Past broken glass, past destroyed houses, past downed power lines arcing with electrical current, through undertow that could have dragged him out to sea never to be heard from again, he searched.
Hideaki maintained his composure and navigated his way through the submerged city, finally tracking down his old house. He quickly swam through to find his totally-freaked-out wife, alone and stranded on the upper level of their house, barely keeping her head above water. He grabbed her tight, and presumably sharing his rebreather with her, dragged her out of the wreckage to safety. She survived.
And that’s only the beginning. Read the whole thing.
Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie
Top 10 Failures of ObamaCare After One Year
Repeal the damn bill! The top ten failures of ObamaCare after one year.
Repeal the damn bill! The top ten failures of ObamaCare after one year.
Kepler out of commission for six days
Kepler, out of commission for six days, is back in operation.
Kepler, out of commission for six days, is back in operation.
Industry report reveals that consumers may be paying billions of dollars more in out-of-pocket health care expenses due to Obamacare
Repeal the damn bill! An industry report has revealed that consumers may be paying billions of dollars more in out-of-pocket health care expenses due to Obamacare.
Repeal the damn bill! An industry report has revealed that consumers may be paying billions of dollars more in out-of-pocket health care expenses due to Obamacare.
House Prices Will Drop Another 20%
If you think the state of the federal budget is irrelevant, read this: House prices predicted to drop another 20%.
The data in the article above is depressing, and suggests the consequences for the unrealistic craziness of the past decade have not yet played out entirely.
If you think the state of the federal budget is irrelevant, read this: House prices predicted to drop another 20%.
The data in the article above is depressing, and suggests the consequences for the unrealistic craziness of the past decade have not yet played out entirely.
Messenger confirmed in orbit
Three days of data has confirmed that Messenger is in orbit around Mercury and is doing well.
On March 29, 2011, the Mercury Dual Imaging System will be powered on and will take its first images. The year-long science observation campaign will begin on April 4, 2011.
Three days of data has confirmed that Messenger is in orbit around Mercury and is doing well.
On March 29, 2011, the Mercury Dual Imaging System will be powered on and will take its first images. The year-long science observation campaign will begin on April 4, 2011.
Texas Cites EPA Error in Testing of Wells
The war between Texas and the EPA continues: Texas is accusing the EPA of doing bad research about gas drilling.
The war between Texas and the EPA continues: Texas is accusing the EPA of doing bad research about gas drilling.
Sony Shuts More Plants, Toyota Extends Production Halts as Recession Looms
The real disaster in Japan: Scores of factories (including Sony and Toyota) remain closed due to power shutdowns and the inability to get supplies and power.
The real disaster in Japan: Scores of factories (including Sony and Toyota) remain closed due to power shutdowns and the inability to get supplies and power.
Roman cities and aqueducts
Hoyer Calls $100 Billion in Cuts to $3.7 Trillion Budget ‘A Meat-Axe Approach’
My idiotic congressman: Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) today called the $100 billion in cuts to the $3.7 trillion federal budget “A meat-axe approach.”
Way to go, Steny! Show us all how you can’t add or subtract. Somehow, to your childish brain, cutting less than three percent of a budget that was doubled (increased by 100 percent) in the years you and your party were in charge in Congress is “reckless.”
What a fool.
My idiotic congressman: Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) today called the $100 billion in cuts to the $3.7 trillion federal budget “A meat-axe approach.”
Way to go, Steny! Show us all how you can’t add or subtract. Somehow, to your childish brain, cutting less than three percent of a budget that was doubled (increased by 100 percent) in the years you and your party were in charge in Congress is “reckless.”
What a fool.
Chavez says capitalism may have ended life on Mars
You can’t make this stuff up: The socialist leader of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, said today that he thinks capitalism is to blame for the lack of life on Mars.
You can’t make this stuff up: The socialist leader of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, said today that he thinks capitalism is to blame for the lack of life on Mars.
Hamas protests UN plans to teach Gazans about the Holocaust
O horrors! Hamas is protesting the UN’s plans to teach Gazan children about the Holocaust. Key quote:
[UN] officials were hesitating because they feared Hamas would incite loyalists to damage UN schools or harm their teachers if they introduce the materials. He requested anonymity because he was barred from discussing the matter with the media.
O horrors! Hamas is protesting the UN’s plans to teach Gazan children about the Holocaust. Key quote:
[UN] officials were hesitating because they feared Hamas would incite loyalists to damage UN schools or harm their teachers if they introduce the materials. He requested anonymity because he was barred from discussing the matter with the media.
Mining and jobs versus radio astronomy
Mining and jobs versus radio astronomy.
Mining and jobs versus radio astronomy.
The meltdown that wasn’t
The death panels of Obamacare
Repeal the damn bill! The death panel that is part of Obamacare.
The board would cap the total amount of money Medicare recipients could get for care. Roe, a practicing doctor before he entered politics, said that means health care decisions will end up being based solely on cost, instead of what the best possible option is for Medicare patients. . . . Congress can recommend different spending amounts, but has to offset any increase in one area with a decrease in another. If Congress doesn’t change anything in the board’s “recommendations” for how much money should be spent per Medicare recipient, their recommendations become law – even without congressional approval or the president’s signature.
Repeal the damn bill! The death panel that is part of Obamacare.
The board would cap the total amount of money Medicare recipients could get for care. Roe, a practicing doctor before he entered politics, said that means health care decisions will end up being based solely on cost, instead of what the best possible option is for Medicare patients. . . . Congress can recommend different spending amounts, but has to offset any increase in one area with a decrease in another. If Congress doesn’t change anything in the board’s “recommendations” for how much money should be spent per Medicare recipient, their recommendations become law – even without congressional approval or the president’s signature.
The leftwing roots of that judge in Wisconsin
Want to know why that judge in Wisconsin ruled against the anti-union legislation? Well, it wasn’t because she was interpreting the law: Her son is a union activist and her husband is a leftwing environmentalist.
Want to know why that judge in Wisconsin ruled against the anti-union legislation? Well, it wasn’t because she was interpreting the law: Her son is a union activist and her husband is a leftwing environmentalist.