New Jersey man serving 7 years for guns he owned legally
A New Jersey man is serving a seven year sentence for posessing guns he owned legally.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
How One Astronomer Became the Unofficial Exoplanet Record Keeper
How one astronomer became the unofficial exoplanet record keeper.
Obamacare forces union to drop insurance for children
This bill is going to dog Democrats for years: The Obama healthcare bill is forcing a New York union to drop insurance coverage for the children of its members.
Wheelchair-bound nun searched by TSA
I feel so much safer! Wheelchair-bound nun searched by TSA. With a picture!
No hurricane landfalls in US for second year in a row
The hurricane season is about to end, and though it appears that the predictions for this season were just about right, no hurricanes touched down in North America for the second year in a row. Key quote:
“There was only a 2% or 3% chance of getting this many hurricanes and not having one hit the U.S.”
Cuts in military budget would hit North Texas programs
The squealing ain’t just coming from cheese-eating social program advocates: The Defense Department is gearing up to protest proposed cuts in the military budget as outlined by the deficit commission.
Deficit commission rewrites its recommendation, but keeps it
Jeff Foust has noticed that the Obama’s deficit commission has rewritten its recommendation that the NASA subsidies to commercial space be cut. The rewrite doesn’t really change the recommendation. Instead, it merely corrects the language to more accurately describe the subsidy program.
The radiation risks from the TSA scanners
The radiation risks from the TSA scanners.
Why Hayabusa failed to fire its projectile at asteroid
Japanese scientists have determined that a programming error was the reason why Hayabusa failed to fire its projectile at the asteroid Itokawa in 2005.
Travelers shifting to charter jets and rental cars to avoid airport security
It seems I’m not the only one avoiding the airport security madness. A poll finds that travelers are shifting to charter jets and rental cars to avoid airport security.
Two TSA Agents Steal Pizza & Assault A Store Clerk
Thugs and boneheads: Two TSA agents steal a pizza and assault a store clerk, after using one of their credit cards to purchase liquor (which is how the police identified them).
Leslie Nielsen Dead at 84
Leslie Nielsen Dead at 84. R.I.P.
ELISABETH SABADITSCH-WOLFF’s November 23 court hearing
As the court proceedings occurred during Thanksgiving week, I am late reporting this: On November 23 Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff had her court hearing in Austria, where she faces imprisonment for speaking out against Islam. You can see a very detailed report of the hearing here. The next hearing is now scheduled for January 18, 2011.
All in all, this whole trial is a travesty of justice. Sabaditsch-Wolff merely quoted the Koran in describing why she considers it a threat. More importantly, doesn’t freedom of speech mean freedom of speech? That some Muslims were offended by her comments is completely irrelevant.
You can send money to Sabaditsch-Wolff’s legal fund here.
Spanish woman claims ownership of the Sun
Then again, this is taking land ownership a bit too far: Spanish woman claims ownership of the Sun.
12 Ridiculous Regulations That Are Almost Too Bizarre To Believe
And on a similar note: Twelve more government regulations that are as stupid as killing bats to save them.
A billion people will lose their homes due to climate change
From the “We’re all gonna die!” department: A billion people will lose their homes due to climate change, according to a global warming advocacy group.
And for those who don’t notice the sarcasm above, let me state unequivocally that I consider this report to be total twaddle, propaganda timed for release just before the start of the Cancun summit on climate.
Laid off NASA workers can’t find comparable paying jobs in Florida
Reality strikes! Laid off NASA workers can’t find comparable paying jobs in Florida.
Palin and NASA
Sarah Palin comments on the Obama administration’s policies towards NASA.
Animal rights terrorists make death threats against scientist
Thugs! Animal rights terrorists have repeatedly threatened a scientist with death, including blowing up his car . Key quote:
The researcher, who experiments on monkeys, opened a letter left in his mailbox to discover razor blades and a death threat. “We follow you on campus,” Jentsch recalled the note reading. “One day, when you’re walking by, we’ll come up behind you, and cut your throat.”
Six arrested after melee at anti-violence rally in northern NJ
You can’t make this stuff up: Six people arrested after melee at an anti-violence rally in northern New Jersey.