Poll warden denies a policeman in uniform the right to vote because he is wearing a gun
A poll warden, since dismissed, denied the right to vote on Friday to a policeman in full uniform because he refused to surrender his gun.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Poll numbers suggest largest Republican victory in generations
Gallup poll numbers suggest tomorrow’s Republican victory could be the largest in generations, and could exceed all predictions. Key quote:
It should be noted, however, that this year’s 15-point gap in favor of the Republican candidates among likely voters is unprecedented in Gallup polling and could result in the largest Republican margin in House voting in several generations. This means that seat projections have moved into uncharted territory, in which past relationships between the national two-party vote and the number of seats won may not be maintained. [emphasis mine]
Shuttle launch now set for Wednesday
The last launch of the space shuttle Discovery has been moved to Wednesday afternoon in order to give engineers time to test their repairs.
The suborbital commercial industry responds to smog accusations
The commercial suborbital industry responds to the recent science paper that said that the soot from their rocket engines might cause to global warming.
The telescope that ate astronomy
The telescope that ate astronomy. My just finished Sky & Telescope article (expected out early next year) covers some of the same ground, describing how the cost overruns on the James Webb Space Telescope has badly damaged much of NASA’s space astronomy budget, for this and possibly the next two decades.
A “man-caused disaster” averted
A “man-caused disaster” averted! Two packages from Yemen containing explosives and addressed to Chicago-area synagogues have been intercepted in transit.
Gore leaves engine idling for entire speech
Don’t you dare preach to me! It is reported that while Al Gore gave an hourlong environment speech in Sweden he left the engine on his rental car idling.
SpaceShipTwo completes second free flight test
Yesterday SpaceShipTwo completed its second successful free flight (via Clark Lindsey at www.rlvnews.com). The results:
Flew to more aggressive stall indication. Evaluated handling and stability through several maneuvers. Expanded envelope to 230 KTAS and 3g’s. Roll evaluation. Full stop landing.
University of Virginia elminates all speech codes
Some good news for freedom of speech: the University of Virginia has elminated all of its speech codes.
The first complete early sauropod dinosaur skeleton found
Scientists have discovered in China the first complete skeleton of an early ancestor of the gigantic sauropod dinosaurs.
NASA’s budget remains under threat
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the likely budget cuts expected from the next Congress are almost certainly going to threaten the extra shuttle flight that Congress authorized several weeks ago.
ISS has now passed Mir’s record for the longest continuous occupancy
On October 22, the International Space Station passed Mir’s record for the longest continuous occupancy, just short of 10 years.
Evidence of subsurface water found by Mars rover Spirit
Evidence of subsurface water has been found by the Mars rover Spirit at the location where the rover remains stuck.
SpaceX’s Dragon capsule cleared for launch but not landing by FAA
Our government at work! The FAA has given SpaceX a license to launch the Dragon capsule, scheduled for a November 18 launch on the Falcon 9 rocket, but not yet given them a license to land.
Sea Launch Exits Bankruptcy Under Russian Ownership
The rocket launch company Sea Launch has exited bankruptcy under Russian ownership.
Another moderator from the League of Women Voters resists saying the pledge of allegiance
Another moderator from the League of Women Voters resists saying the pledge of allegiance, forcing the audience to overrule her.
Advertise during the zero gravity beer test
Is this a great country or what? The company that is performing the zero gravity beer test on November 19 is selling advertising space on the astronaut’s flight suit to anyone with a few thousand dollars cash.
The most massive neutron star ever discovered
Astronomers have discovered the most massive neutron star ever, twice the mass of the Sun and far heavier than any theory had ever predicted.
Buckyballs discovered in another galaxy
Buckyballs, or carbon molecules called fullerenes, have been discovered all throughout the Milky Way as well as in another galaxy.
Will the Republicans actually cut spending?
If victorious on November 2, will the Republicans actually cut spending? This article outlines the issues.