Budget negotiations — and the possibility of a shutdown — are coming to a head
Budget negotiations — and the possibility of a shutdown — are coming to a head.
Budget negotiations — and the possibility of a shutdown — are coming to a head.
Category: Behind The Black
Budget negotiations — and the possibility of a shutdown — are coming to a head
Five anti-hunger organization leaders plan open-ended fasts to protest proposed cuts
The pigs continue to squeal: Five anti-hunger organization leaders plan open-ended fasts to protest proposed cuts.
The pigs continue to squeal: Five anti-hunger organization leaders plan open-ended fasts to protest proposed cuts.
Russia and Israel agree on cooperation in outer space
Not bigots: Russia and Israel have agreed on a framework for cooperating in outer space.
Not bigots: Russia and Israel have agreed on a framework for cooperating in outer space.
Johannesburg University Ends Research With Israeli School
Bigots: The University of Johannesburg has ended research with an Israeli School, “a step hailed as a ‘boycott’ by proponents of an international academic campaign to shun Israeli researchers.”
Bigots: The University of Johannesburg has ended research with an Israeli School, “a step hailed as a ‘boycott’ by proponents of an international academic campaign to shun Israeli researchers.”
Japan Reopens Space Station Control Room After Quake
Good news: Japan has reopened its space station control room following the earthquake.
Good news: Japan has reopened its space station control room following the earthquake.
The NASA space war mess
The NASA space war mess.
Congress is now looking to flatline or cut NASA budget (or not enact new ones) while also playing its own game of telling NASA to do things it simply does not have the budget to do. A new slow motion train wreck is in the making.
The NASA space war mess.
Congress is now looking to flatline or cut NASA budget (or not enact new ones) while also playing its own game of telling NASA to do things it simply does not have the budget to do. A new slow motion train wreck is in the making.
Move on from Sunday in the Park with George
An evening pause: Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin sing “Move On” from Steven Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George.
Stop worrying where you’re going.
Move on.
If you can know where you’re going,
You’ve gone.
Just keep moving on.
I chose and my world was shaken.
So what?
The choice may have been mistaken,
The choosing was not.
You have to move on.
Snow
Quarter-mile diameter asteroid to pass only 200,000 miles from the Earth on November 8, 2011
Get those telescopes out! A asteroid, a quarter-mile in diameter, is going to pass only 200,000 miles from the Earth on November 8, 2011. Key quote:
Although classified as a potentially hazardous object, 2005 YU55 poses no threat of an Earth collision over at least the next 100 years. However, this will be the closest approach to date by an object this large that we know about in advance and an event of this type.
Get those telescopes out! A asteroid, a quarter-mile in diameter, is going to pass only 200,000 miles from the Earth on November 8, 2011. Key quote:
Although classified as a potentially hazardous object, 2005 YU55 poses no threat of an Earth collision over at least the next 100 years. However, this will be the closest approach to date by an object this large that we know about in advance and an event of this type.
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.