Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Out of Ideas, Governments Try a Bank Heist
A Chinese scientist who worked as a contractor for NASA was arrested yesterday on a plane about to leave for China.
A Chinese scientist who worked as a contractor for NASA was arrested yesterday on a plane about to leave for China.
Agents learned Friday that Jiang was to return to China on a one-way ticket Saturday, the affidavit said. He flew from Norfolk to Dulles International Airport outside Washington, where he boarded a plane bound for Beijing. Federal agents pulled him off the flight and searched his belongings. During what they called a “consensual encounter,” the agents asked Jiang what electronic media he had with him. He told an agent from the Department of Homeland Security that he had a cellphone, a memory stick, an external hard drive and a new computer.
But during the search, according to the affidavit, agents found an additional laptop, an old hard drive and a portable memory chip called a SIM card. He was arrested, and made his initial court appearance Monday.
It appears that the restrictions Congress placed on hiring foreign nationals had some merit. Moreover, it appears that the accusation by one congressman that NASA has been trying to circumvent those restrictions is true.
A Chinese scientist who worked as a contractor for NASA was arrested yesterday on a plane about to leave for China.
Agents learned Friday that Jiang was to return to China on a one-way ticket Saturday, the affidavit said. He flew from Norfolk to Dulles International Airport outside Washington, where he boarded a plane bound for Beijing. Federal agents pulled him off the flight and searched his belongings. During what they called a “consensual encounter,” the agents asked Jiang what electronic media he had with him. He told an agent from the Department of Homeland Security that he had a cellphone, a memory stick, an external hard drive and a new computer.
But during the search, according to the affidavit, agents found an additional laptop, an old hard drive and a portable memory chip called a SIM card. He was arrested, and made his initial court appearance Monday.
It appears that the restrictions Congress placed on hiring foreign nationals had some merit. Moreover, it appears that the accusation by one congressman that NASA has been trying to circumvent those restrictions is true.
Another computer glitch has put Curiosity back in safe mode.
Another computer glitch has put Curiosity back in safe mode.
The problem this time appears to be different from the previous computer issue that shutdown Curiosity’s A computer. Since it occurred on the backup B computer now in use, however, it is a problem that cannot be taken lightly.
Another computer glitch has put Curiosity back in safe mode.
The problem this time appears to be different from the previous computer issue that shutdown Curiosity’s A computer. Since it occurred on the backup B computer now in use, however, it is a problem that cannot be taken lightly.
According to a federal report, businesses nationwide remain reluctant to hire because of Obamacare.
According to a federal report, businesses nationwide remain reluctant to hire because of Obamacare.
Earlier this month, the Fed released its latest “beige book” – a monthly report on economic conditions across the country. The book noted that employers across the country have “cited the unknown effects of the Affordable Care Act as reasons for planned layoffs and reluctance to hire more staff.”
And it is only going to get worse. Read the whole article. The new taxes imposed by Obamacare are going to crush the healthcare industry.
According to a federal report, businesses nationwide remain reluctant to hire because of Obamacare.
Earlier this month, the Fed released its latest “beige book” – a monthly report on economic conditions across the country. The book noted that employers across the country have “cited the unknown effects of the Affordable Care Act as reasons for planned layoffs and reluctance to hire more staff.”
And it is only going to get worse. Read the whole article. The new taxes imposed by Obamacare are going to crush the healthcare industry.
Google Street View now includes views from four of the world’s seven largest mountain peaks.
Google Street View now includes views from four of the world’s seven largest mountain peaks.
More here.
Google Street View now includes views from four of the world’s seven largest mountain peaks.
More here.
Curiosity takes a panorama of Mount Sharp.
Curiosity takes a panorama of Mount Sharp.
A white balanced version, which isn’t as much like true color but looks better, can be found here.
Curiosity takes a panorama of Mount Sharp.
A white balanced version, which isn’t as much like true color but looks better, can be found here.
The space junk collision in January never happened.
The uncertainty of journalism: The space junk collision in January never happened.
The data instead shows that the Russian satellite merely broke up in orbit. The data shows that nothing ever came close to it or collided with it.
The uncertainty of journalism: The space junk collision in January never happened.
The data instead shows that the Russian satellite merely broke up in orbit. The data shows that nothing ever came close to it or collided with it.
The 6 most ridiculous science experiments ever funded
The 6 most ridiculous science experiments ever funded.
I especially like the one that definitively proved “there is absolutely no difference between a college student and a horny chicken.”
The 6 most ridiculous science experiments ever funded.
I especially like the one that definitively proved “there is absolutely no difference between a college student and a horny chicken.”
Sooner or later progressives will get around to you
Sooner or later progressives will get around to you.
You can call them liberals, leftists, socialists, communists, do-gooders, busy-bodies, or fascists, but no matter what, the bottom line is that they want to use the power of government to tell you how to live your life, even if it makes life not worth living.
Sooner or later progressives will get around to you.
You can call them liberals, leftists, socialists, communists, do-gooders, busy-bodies, or fascists, but no matter what, the bottom line is that they want to use the power of government to tell you how to live your life, even if it makes life not worth living.
Orbital Sciences has now set April 16-18 as the launch window for its first test launch of its new Antares rocket
The competition heats up: Orbital Sciences has now set April 16-18 as the launch window for its first test launch of its new Antares rocket.
The competition heats up: Orbital Sciences has now set April 16-18 as the launch window for its first test launch of its new Antares rocket.
Sarah Brightman’s visit to ISS in doubt.
Sarah Brightman’s visit to ISS in doubt.
Soyuz taxi flights normally visit the International Space Station for a period of about eight days. NASA and Roscosmos are considering extending a 2015 visit to one month, however. If that happens, Brightman would have to give up her seat to a scientific researcher, who would perform some short-term experiments aboard the space station.
Roscosmos manned space flight director Alexei Krasnov had previously indicated that Russia might consider carrying two paying customers on the 2015 taxi flight. So, it would be theoretically possible for Russia to fly Brightman and the researcher. It’s unknown whether Brightman would want to spend that long aboard the space station, however, and pricing policy to longer-duration stays have not been worked out.
Sarah Brightman’s visit to ISS in doubt.
Soyuz taxi flights normally visit the International Space Station for a period of about eight days. NASA and Roscosmos are considering extending a 2015 visit to one month, however. If that happens, Brightman would have to give up her seat to a scientific researcher, who would perform some short-term experiments aboard the space station.
Roscosmos manned space flight director Alexei Krasnov had previously indicated that Russia might consider carrying two paying customers on the 2015 taxi flight. So, it would be theoretically possible for Russia to fly Brightman and the researcher. It’s unknown whether Brightman would want to spend that long aboard the space station, however, and pricing policy to longer-duration stays have not been worked out.
Building a lunar base by baking lunar dust and shaping it with a 3D printer.
Building a lunar base by baking lunar dust and shaping it with a 3D printer.
Building a lunar base by baking lunar dust and shaping it with a 3D printer.
A federal judge has ruled against the Obamacare contraceptive mandate imposed by the Obama administration on private businesses.
A federal judge has ruled against the Obamacare contraceptive mandate imposed by the Obama administration on private businesses.
A federal judge has ruled against the Obamacare contraceptive mandate imposed by the Obama administration on private businesses.
“[We] don’t think there’s a problem.”
The Democratic Party leadership: “The debt is not endangering us a bit — not at all.”
And then there’s this comment on Wednesday from President Obama: “We don’t have an immediate crisis in terms of debt.”
The Democratic Party leadership: “The debt is not endangering us a bit — not at all.”
And then there’s this comment on Wednesday from President Obama: “We don’t have an immediate crisis in terms of debt.”
The return today of three astronauts from ISS has been delayed due to an ice storm in Russia.
The return today of three astronauts from ISS has been delayed due to an ice storm in Russia.
The return today of three astronauts from ISS has been delayed due to an ice storm in Russia.
The first Democratic Party budget from the Senate in four years calls for a 62% increase in federal spending over the next ten years.
Fiddling while Rome burns: The first Democratic Party budget from the Senate in four years calls for a 62% increase in federal spending over the next ten years.
The worst aspect of this story is that this is what the voters requested in the November elections. Bankruptcy, here we come!
Fiddling while Rome burns: The first Democratic Party budget from the Senate in four years calls for a 62% increase in federal spending over the next ten years.
The worst aspect of this story is that this is what the voters requested in the November elections. Bankruptcy, here we come!
Water and carbon monoxide detected in the atmosphere of a super-sized exoplanet 129 light years away.
Water and carbon monoxide have been detected in the atmosphere of a super-sized exoplanet 129 light years away.
Water and carbon monoxide have been detected in the atmosphere of a super-sized exoplanet 129 light years away.
For the first time in 25 years the U.S. has begun producing plutonium, to be used in future planetary space missions.
For the first time in 25 years the U.S. has begun producing plutonium, to be used as a power source for future planetary space missions.
For the first time in 25 years the U.S. has begun producing plutonium, to be used as a power source for future planetary space missions.
The top ten organizations slashing jobs and hours in order to deal with Obamacare.
The top ten organizations slashing jobs and hours in order to deal with Obamacare.
And we’ve only just begun!
The top ten organizations slashing jobs and hours in order to deal with Obamacare.
And we’ve only just begun!
Europe today inked a partnership deal with Russia for its two spacecraft ExoMars mission, planned to launch in 2016 and 2018.
Europe today inked a partnership deal with Russia for its two spacecraft ExoMars mission, planned to launch in 2016 and 2018.
Russia essentially replaces the United States, which backed out of the deal last year when the Obama administration eliminated the funding for most of NASA’s planetary program.
Europe today inked a partnership deal with Russia for its two spacecraft ExoMars mission, planned to launch in 2016 and 2018.
Russia essentially replaces the United States, which backed out of the deal last year when the Obama administration eliminated the funding for most of NASA’s planetary program.
Astronomers today celebrate the official turning-on of ALMA, the world’s largest telescope.
Astronomers today celebrate the official turning-on of ALMA, the world’s largest telescope.
ALMA is an array of 66 dishes tuned to wavelengths in the millimeter to submillimeter range of the electromagnetic spectrum, between the infrared and radio frequencies.
Astronomers today celebrate the official turning-on of ALMA, the world’s largest telescope.
ALMA is an array of 66 dishes tuned to wavelengths in the millimeter to submillimeter range of the electromagnetic spectrum, between the infrared and radio frequencies.
China says it will by 2015 do a re-entry test of the spacecraft it will use to return a lunar sample from the Moon by 2020..
The competition heats up: China says it will by 2015 do a re-entry test of the spacecraft it will use to return a lunar sample from the Moon by 2020..
The competition heats up: China says it will by 2015 do a re-entry test of the spacecraft it will use to return a lunar sample from the Moon by 2020..
Physicians fight back against Obamacare.
Physicians fight back against Obamacare.
Dr. Ryan Neuhofel, 31, offers a rare glimpse at what it would be like to go to the doctor without massive government interference in health care. Dr. Neuhofel, based in the college town of Lawrence, Kansas, charges for his services according to an online price list that’s as straightforward as a restaurant menu. A drained abscess runs $30, a pap smear, $40, a 30-minute house call, $100. Strep cultures, glucose tolerance tests, and pregnancy tests are on the house. Neuhofel doesn’t accept insurance. He even barters on occasion with cash-strapped locals. One patient pays with fresh eggs and another with homemade cheese and goat’s milk. “Direct primary care,” which is the industry term for Neuhofel’s business model, does away with the bureaucratic hassle of insurance, which translates into much lower prices. “What people don’t realize is that most doctors employ an army of people for coding, billing, and gathering payment,” says Neuhofel. “That means you have to charge $200 to remove an ingrown toenail.” Neuhofel charges $50.
Neuhofel is not alone in this. The article describes other doctors who have done the same. As the bureaucratic mess from Obamacare expands and becomes increasingly impossible for anyone to handle, we are going to see this happen more and more.
Physicians fight back against Obamacare.
Dr. Ryan Neuhofel, 31, offers a rare glimpse at what it would be like to go to the doctor without massive government interference in health care. Dr. Neuhofel, based in the college town of Lawrence, Kansas, charges for his services according to an online price list that’s as straightforward as a restaurant menu. A drained abscess runs $30, a pap smear, $40, a 30-minute house call, $100. Strep cultures, glucose tolerance tests, and pregnancy tests are on the house. Neuhofel doesn’t accept insurance. He even barters on occasion with cash-strapped locals. One patient pays with fresh eggs and another with homemade cheese and goat’s milk. “Direct primary care,” which is the industry term for Neuhofel’s business model, does away with the bureaucratic hassle of insurance, which translates into much lower prices. “What people don’t realize is that most doctors employ an army of people for coding, billing, and gathering payment,” says Neuhofel. “That means you have to charge $200 to remove an ingrown toenail.” Neuhofel charges $50.
Neuhofel is not alone in this. The article describes other doctors who have done the same. As the bureaucratic mess from Obamacare expands and becomes increasingly impossible for anyone to handle, we are going to see this happen more and more.
NASA has clamped down on travel expenses, reducing it by 30 percent in the past year.
My heart bleeds: NASA has clamped down on travel expenses, reducing it by 30 percent in the past year.
I’ve been to too many science conferences where there was a whole slew of NASA engineers and scientists from all across the country, there because they were getting a free ride from the taxpayer. Often it was absolutely worthwhile for NASA engineers or scientists to be there. More often, it was a complete waste of money that could have been used elsewhere to better effect.
In related news: NASA’s inspector general has suggested the agency could save a lot more money by closing many of its almost 5,000 facilities nationwide.
Here too I’ve visited many NASA operations and found the work being done there redundant, completely unnecessary, or there was no real work being done at all. In the last case a lot of what I’ve seen is featherbedding, this time imposed by Congress to keep the money flowing to their constituents as pork. Unfortunately this last fact will probably make it very difficult to shut any of these facilities, as our representatives, from both parties, appear completely uninterested in serving the country. They’d rather act as union reps for these government employees.
My heart bleeds: NASA has clamped down on travel expenses, reducing it by 30 percent in the past year.
I’ve been to too many science conferences where there was a whole slew of NASA engineers and scientists from all across the country, there because they were getting a free ride from the taxpayer. Often it was absolutely worthwhile for NASA engineers or scientists to be there. More often, it was a complete waste of money that could have been used elsewhere to better effect.
In related news: NASA’s inspector general has suggested the agency could save a lot more money by closing many of its almost 5,000 facilities nationwide.
Here too I’ve visited many NASA operations and found the work being done there redundant, completely unnecessary, or there was no real work being done at all. In the last case a lot of what I’ve seen is featherbedding, this time imposed by Congress to keep the money flowing to their constituents as pork. Unfortunately this last fact will probably make it very difficult to shut any of these facilities, as our representatives, from both parties, appear completely uninterested in serving the country. They’d rather act as union reps for these government employees.
Computer simulations suggest that Pluto might have as many as ten undiscovered additional moons.
Computer simulations suggest that Pluto might have as many as ten undiscovered additional moons.
The planet already has five, so if this is true space is really crowded there, which might pose a problem for the New Horizons spacecraft that plans to fly past in 2015.
Computer simulations suggest that Pluto might have as many as ten undiscovered additional moons.
The planet already has five, so if this is true space is really crowded there, which might pose a problem for the New Horizons spacecraft that plans to fly past in 2015.
Boeing is considering building a civilian version of the X-37B mini-shuttle.
The competition heats up: Boeing is considering building a civilian version of the X-37B mini-shuttle.
The competition heats up: Boeing is considering building a civilian version of the X-37B mini-shuttle.
Hoyer told employees at the Goddard Space Flight Center yesterday that sequester might force some layoffs there.
My heart bleeds: Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) told employees at the Goddard Space Flight Center yesterday that sequester might force some layoffs there.
So, who does Hoyer work for, the employees at Goddard or the taxpayer? He apparently thinks he is the union rep for government employees.
My heart bleeds: Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) told employees at the Goddard Space Flight Center yesterday that sequester might force some layoffs there.
So, who does Hoyer work for, the employees at Goddard or the taxpayer? He apparently thinks he is the union rep for government employees.
Curiosity’s first drilling sample has found that the ancient watery conditions in Gale Crater were especially suitable for life.
Curiosity’s first drilling sample has found that the ancient watery conditions in Gale Crater were especially suitable for life.
Curiosity’s first drilling sample has found that the ancient watery conditions in Gale Crater were especially suitable for life.
New Obamacare regulations produce a stack of regulations seven feet high.
Finding out what’s in it: New Obamacare regulations produce a stack of regulations seven feet high.
And then there’s this: The burger chain Five Guys plans to raise the price of burgers and hot dogs in order to pay for Obamacare.
Finding out what’s in it: New Obamacare regulations produce a stack of regulations seven feet high.
And then there’s this: The burger chain Five Guys plans to raise the price of burgers and hot dogs in order to pay for Obamacare.
Astronomers discover a trinary — of quasars.
Astronomers discover a trinary — of quasars.
Astronomers discover a trinary — of quasars.