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Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Sheila Jackson Lee Likens Islamic Radicals to ‘Christian Militants’ in U.S.
An idiot speaks: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) yesterday equated Islamic terrorists with “Christian militants” in the United States.
Since 9/11 Islamic terrorists have carried out more than 17,000 attacks, killing tens of thousands. In that same time, you could count on one hand the number of attacks by “Christian militants,” if that many. For Representative Lee, it seems it is hard for her to tell the difference.
Why Are Taxpayers Paying for Wine Tasting?
IPCC in trouble again over using Greenpeace employee for energy report
The IPCC is in trouble again for using a Greenpeace activist to help write one of its recent energy reports.
Republicans refuse to cut farm and ethanol subsidies, cut international food aid instead
Some pigs win, some lose: Republicans refuse to cut farm and ethanol subsidies, but cut international food aid instead.
The cowardice of politicians from both parties to honestly face the federal deficit problem sadly continues.
National Speleological Society responds to the demand that all caves be closed to protect bats
The National Speleological Society has responded in strong opposition [pdf] to the demand by the Center for Biological Diversity that all caves on public land be closed to protect bats.
Calling for blanket cave closures across the U.S. is unnecessary, unenforceable, and counterproductive. While cave closures on some federal lands have been implemented, particularly in the eastern U. S., there is no evidence that this action has done anything to contain [white nose syndrome] (WNS). Most people working on WNS understand that bat to bat transmission is overwhelmingly the primary method of transmission, and administrative closing of caves and mines does nothing to prevent that.
Vandals who spray-painted an historic cave in Oregon in April have been caught
Vandals who spray-painted an historic cave in Oregon in April have been caught. A video of the vandalism can be seen here.
San Francisco’s Animal Control and Welfare Commission is recommending that the City ban the sale of goldfish, tropical fish and guppies in its borders
Busybodies forever at work: San Francisco’s Animal Control and Welfare Commission has recommended the city ban the sale of goldfish, tropical fish and guppies in its borders.
How pasta became the world’s favourite food
How pasta became the world’s favourite food.
ESA controllers buy time to solve problems on comet probe Rosetta
This ain’t good. One of the reasons ESA controllers recently put the comet probe Rosetta into hibernation for two and a half years was in order to buy time to solve a serious technical problem.
Mission managers said the hibernation will permit Rosetta to rest its four reaction wheels, two of which have shown signs of degradation. The satellite needs three to function, and one of the two problem wheels will be used only as a spare when the satellite is awakened in January 2014 in preparation for its approach to a comet.
Iran launched a satellite into orbit today
Iran launched its own home-built satellite into orbit today, according to its state-run news service.
A tanking test for the last shuttle flight encounters problems
During a tanking test of the space shuttle Atlantis today a valve to the main engines leaked, requiring replacement and raising questions whether the July 8 launch date can be met.