Last night’s lunar eclipse
Last night’s lunar eclipse, as photographed by Jeff Bliss in Pleasanton, California.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
A Law student at Syracuse University is facing possible expulsion for “harassment,” but he doesn’t know who his accusers are or even why he’s in trouble. Syracuse University law student faces explusion without know why
A law student at Syracuse University is facing possible expulsion for “harassment,” but the university won’t tell him who his accusers are or even the details of his offense.
Christie commutes sentence of man serving seven years for possessing legal guns in N.J.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has commuted the sentence of man who was serving seven years for the possession of two legal handguns.
Continuing resolution in the Senate freezes NASA at 2010 numbers
The space war over NASA continues: The continuing resolution being offered by the Senate would freeze NASA’s budget at 2010 numbers through March. Also,
NASA would be prohibited from initiating new programs, and could be required to continue spending about $200 million per month on the Moon-bound Constellation program.
As I’ve said repeatedly, the whole thing is a mess.
Automakers suing EPA over higher ethanol mix gas
Good intentions strikes again! Automakers are suing the EPA over its decision to allow a higher ethanol mixture in gasoline. Key quote:
Automakers say they are worried the EPA decision would eventually lead to motorists unknowingly filling up their older cars and trucks with E15 and hurting their engines. The problem could be exacerbated if E15 fuels are cheaper than more conventional blends, prompting owners of older vehicles to use the fuel despite the potential engine problems.
Bat fungus more deadly that first thought
Bat researchers have concluded that the fungus seen on the dying bats in the northeast United States these past four years is far more deadly than any fungus previously studied, and is increasingly believed to be the primary cause of the bat deaths. Key quote:
“This fungus is amazingly destructive — it digests, erodes, and invades the skin — particularly the wings — of hibernating bats,” said Meteyer. “The ability of this fungus to invade bats’ wing skin is unlike that of any known skin fungal pathogen in land mammals.”
A Dalton Minimum Repeat is Shaping Up
Apropos my post yesterday on the sunspot cycle: A Dalton Minimum repeat is shaping up.
Electricity from wind plant so expensive no one will buy it
The electricity produced from a proposed wind plant will be so expensive the company can’t find customers. They do have one customer, however, but one wonders why:
In its 15-year deal, National Grid agreed to pay 18.7 cents per kilowatt hour for Cape Wind power beginning in 2013, with a 3.5 percent annual increase. The starting price is twice what National Grid pays today for power from fossil fuels, and regulators say the contract will add about 1.7 percent to its residential customers’ bills.
Read the whole article. It explains a lot about the failures of renewable energy, and how the efforts of the government and environmentalists to force it on us is misguided and downright foolish.
Subsidies have no effect on Spanish cinema productivity
This research has a bearing on NASA’s plans to subsidize the new space companies: Research has found that subsidies to the Spanish film industry had no effect on its productivity, while giving awards did, increasing “internal and external distribution demand.”
A team of explorers and scientists have today completed the first there-and-back crossing of Antarctica in wheeled vehicles.
A 10-man team of explorers and scientists today completed the first there-and-back crossing of the continent of Antarctica using wheeled vehicles. From the expedition blog:
We quickly took ourselves to the mess tent for some hot coffee and something which we had been craving for a while – Coca Cola. The feeling among the team was satisfaction and elation at what we had achieved and relief that the belt drive had held out! The first Expedition ever to travel coast to coast and back again, with the privilege of visiting the South Pole twice. We joked in the mess tent before deciding that we were not going to sleep and headed over to the Mechanic Area and back to the vehicles.
Radar data from the European satellite has been used to make a map of ocean circulation across the Arctic basin.
Radar data from the European satellite, Cryosat-2, has been used to map the ocean circulation across the Arctic basin.
Valve Leak Prompts ISRO To Delay Satellite Launch
A valve leak in the Russian-built upper stage of India’s GSLV rocket has caused India to delay the launch.
Continuing problems with Boeing’s new airplane
What does this tell us about Boeing’s manned spaceflight efforts? The problems continue to pile up with Boeing’s new airplane, the 787 Dreamliner.
A Few Words In Praise of Fear
A few words in praise of fear. Key quote:
In Washington and in statehouses around the country, the reality of the pending Fiscal Armageddon is starting to seep into the thick skulls of the elected class. Jerry Brown pronounced himself “shocked” once he got a good peek at California’s balance sheet. Off the record, politicians of both parties are starting to concede that a lot of the old ideological disputes at now moot, because there simply isn’t any money. It’s not a question of whether there are going to be deep cuts and fundamental restructuring, but when and how much. [emphasis mine]
The lack of money affects NASA’s future as much as anything. The future of space does not lie in government funding, no matter what people tell you.
Drop test of 15-percent scale model of private reusable spacecraft
Private meets government: Rather than build it themselves, NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center merely provided support for a drop test of a 15 percent scale model of a reusable spacecraft being designed and developed by the new-space company Sierra Nevada.
Academics reject the qualifications of a scientist because of his faith
Liberty of conscience? Emails reveal that a number of scientists questioned the qualifications of another scientist, causing him to be rejected for a job, merely because of his religious faith.
Good Samaritans Face Fine After Rescuing Deer From Icy Water
Abuse of power: Good samaritans rescue a deer from an icy river and are ticketed by a police officer who stood and watched.
Fed Reverses Ban on Christian Symbols, Verses at Oklahoma Bank
Shuttle Tank test yields no initial clues to fuel tank cracks
The initial results from the tank test performed today on the shuttle external tank are as yet inconclusive.
Soyuz capsule docks with International Space Station
The Soyuz capsule, carrying the next crew to the International Space Station, has docked safely with the station.