Jupiter’s Great Red Spot continues to shrink.
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot continues to shrink.
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot continues to shrink.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot continues to shrink.
Sea Launch is considering moving its base of operations out of the United States.
Sea Launch is considering moving its base of operations out of the United States.
Hm. The timing of this story, right after the election, is intriguing, is it not?
Sea Launch is considering moving its base of operations out of the United States.
Hm. The timing of this story, right after the election, is intriguing, is it not?
Boeing to cut 30 percent of its management ranks.
Boeing to cut 30 percent of its management ranks.
This could be good news for the company. If they do this right, they will reduce their costs without hurting their ability to produce. That they made this announcement today, the day after the election, and that the cuts mostly involve their defense work also suggests it is linked to sequestration, despite the company’s denial.
Boeing to cut 30 percent of its management ranks.
This could be good news for the company. If they do this right, they will reduce their costs without hurting their ability to produce. That they made this announcement today, the day after the election, and that the cuts mostly involve their defense work also suggests it is linked to sequestration, despite the company’s denial.
Five big stories the media will ‘discover’ after the election
Five big stories the media will ‘discover’ after the election.
Five big stories the media will ‘discover’ after the election.
The federal government is expected to hit its debt ceiling before the end of the year.
The day of reckoning looms: The federal government is expected to hit its debt ceiling before the end of the year.
The federal government is bankrupting the country, and it will take hard sacrifices to rein in that federal government. I fear that, regardless of how today’s election ends, neither party will be willing to propose those sacrifices, mostly because they will believe the voters are not willing either.
The day of reckoning looms: The federal government is expected to hit its debt ceiling before the end of the year.
The federal government is bankrupting the country, and it will take hard sacrifices to rein in that federal government. I fear that, regardless of how today’s election ends, neither party will be willing to propose those sacrifices, mostly because they will believe the voters are not willing either.
A federal judge has approved the installation of surveillance cameras by the police — on private property without a warrant.
Big Brother arrives: A federal judge has approved the installation of surveillance cameras by the police — on private property without a warrant.
Let me repeat that: The judge said that the police have the right to enter private property, without a warrant, in order to secretly install surveillance cameras so that they can record whatever happens on that property.
Doesn’t that make you feel safe?
Big Brother arrives: A federal judge has approved the installation of surveillance cameras by the police — on private property without a warrant.
Let me repeat that: The judge said that the police have the right to enter private property, without a warrant, in order to secretly install surveillance cameras so that they can record whatever happens on that property.
Doesn’t that make you feel safe?
The tragedy of Eritrea
The article is focused on the destruction by the Eritrean dictatorship of the country’s scientific and medical communities. I see this act of barbarism as merely a symptom of that country’s overall descent into tyranny.
The article is focused on the destruction by the Eritrean dictatorship of the country’s scientific and medical communities. I see this act of barbarism as merely a symptom of that country’s overall descent into tyranny.
Is GM headed for bankruptcy again?
Sierra Nevada is moving its mini-shuttle, Dream Chaser, into its own facility.
Sierra Nevada is moving its mini-shuttle, Dream Chaser, into its own facility.
This article isn’t really as positive as I’d like. For one, they haven’t even signed the lease for the building. Instead, it appears that the company is using this announcement, and the subsequent media coverage, to pressure the local city council to provide them subsidies. For another, the article mentions that drop tests of Dream Chaser will occur next spring, a significant delay from previous announcements. Both points make things appear far more tenuous than they should be.
Sierra Nevada is moving its mini-shuttle, Dream Chaser, into its own facility.
This article isn’t really as positive as I’d like. For one, they haven’t even signed the lease for the building. Instead, it appears that the company is using this announcement, and the subsequent media coverage, to pressure the local city council to provide them subsidies. For another, the article mentions that drop tests of Dream Chaser will occur next spring, a significant delay from previous announcements. Both points make things appear far more tenuous than they should be.
“We don’t hire for table manners.”
Genesis now available on Kindle
It took Amazon a bit longer than everyone else, but the ebook edition of Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 is now available for Kindle at amazon.com.
And of course, it can also be purchased at all other ebook bookstores, as well as here at Behind the Black.
Update: My Tuesday appearance on John Batchelor has been moved up to tonight (Monday) from 11 to 11:30 pm, during which we will be discussing Genesis, the election, and some space news of the day,
It took Amazon a bit longer than everyone else, but the ebook edition of Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 is now available for Kindle at amazon.com.
And of course, it can also be purchased at all other ebook bookstores, as well as here at Behind the Black.
Update: My Tuesday appearance on John Batchelor has been moved up to tonight (Monday) from 11 to 11:30 pm, during which we will be discussing Genesis, the election, and some space news of the day,
Why the polls will be wrong.
It is very simple: the electorate is no longer tilted Democratic. Sadly, too many pollsters — and liberal pundits — refuse to recognize this fact.
It is very simple: the electorate is no longer tilted Democratic. Sadly, too many pollsters — and liberal pundits — refuse to recognize this fact.
How our bitter election will end
“We don’t want you unless you’re part of the union.”
Look for the union label: “We don’t want you unless you’re part of the union.”
The result: no power for people in New York and New Jersey for far longer.
Look for the union label: “We don’t want you unless you’re part of the union.”
The result: no power for people in New York and New Jersey for far longer.
“Comet Hergenrother is splitting apart.”
The next launch of the X-37B has been delayed again.
The next launch of the X-37B has been delayed again.
The next launch of the X-37B has been delayed again.
Curiosity has found evidence showing how Mars lost its atmosphere.
Curiosity has found evidence showing how Mars lost its atmosphere.
Curiosity has found evidence showing how Mars lost its atmosphere.
The most distant supernova ever found.
Meteorite hunters in Poland have found Eastern Europe’s larges meteorite weighing almost 700 pounds.
Meteorite hunters in Poland have found Eastern Europe’s larges meteorite, weighing almost 700 pounds.
Meteorite hunters in Poland have found Eastern Europe’s larges meteorite, weighing almost 700 pounds.
A New Jersey town tells a volunteer utility crew from Alabama to go home — because they are non-union.
A New Jersey town tells a volunteer utility crew from Alabama to go home — because they are non-union.
A New Jersey town tells a volunteer utility crew from Alabama to go home — because they are non-union.
“The U.S. is currently in an extended and intense hurricane ‘drought.'”
A federal judge in Detroit has ruled that a Catholic-owned private business does not have to comply with the Obama administrations contraceptive mandate.
We’ve only just begun: A federal judge in Detroit has ruled that a Catholic-owned private business does not have to comply with the Obama administrations contraceptive mandate.
We’ve only just begun: A federal judge in Detroit has ruled that a Catholic-owned private business does not have to comply with the Obama administrations contraceptive mandate.
More evidence of past glaciers on Mars.
More evidence of past glaciers on Mars.
More evidence of past glaciers on Mars.
Realtime coverage of today’s spacewalk on ISS.
Realtime coverage of today’s spacewalk on ISS.
Update: It appears the spacewalk was a success. The astronauts installed a bypass radiator to isolate the radiator where it is believed the coolant leak is located.
Realtime coverage of today’s spacewalk on ISS.
Update: It appears the spacewalk was a success. The astronauts installed a bypass radiator to isolate the radiator where it is believed the coolant leak is located.
The proposed IRS tax form every American will have to fill out when Obamacare goes into effect.
Finding out what’s in it: A proposed IRS tax form every American will have to fill out when Obamacare goes into effect.
This form is not from the IRS, but it is based on the actual law, and is I think a reasonably good facsimile of the kind of information the IRS will require when the individual mandate goes into effect and the IRS will have to determine whether you have health insurance or need to pay higher taxes because you don’t.
I especially like the section of the form that asks these questions:
- Are you claiming a religious exemption from the individual responsibility mandate?
- Are you an incarcerated criminal and therefore exempt from the personal mandate?
- Are you an illegal immigrant and therefore exempt from the personal mandate?
All three exemptions exist, though the Obama administration has already made it clear that the first will only be available to actual religious organizations, and even there the exemption will be limited. However, if you are a criminal or illegal immigrant (also a lawbreaker) you are exempt from this law, though you receive all its benefits.
As I’ve said, Repeal this turkey! And vote out every idiot that supported it.
Finding out what’s in it: A proposed IRS tax form every American will have to fill out when Obamacare goes into effect.
This form is not from the IRS, but it is based on the actual law, and is I think a reasonably good facsimile of the kind of information the IRS will require when the individual mandate goes into effect and the IRS will have to determine whether you have health insurance or need to pay higher taxes because you don’t.
I especially like the section of the form that asks these questions:
- Are you claiming a religious exemption from the individual responsibility mandate?
- Are you an incarcerated criminal and therefore exempt from the personal mandate?
- Are you an illegal immigrant and therefore exempt from the personal mandate?
All three exemptions exist, though the Obama administration has already made it clear that the first will only be available to actual religious organizations, and even there the exemption will be limited. However, if you are a criminal or illegal immigrant (also a lawbreaker) you are exempt from this law, though you receive all its benefits.
As I’ve said, Repeal this turkey! And vote out every idiot that supported it.
Facebook has apologized and reinstated the anti-Obama posts it had previously censored.
Facebook has apologized and reinstated the anti-Obama posts it had previously censored.
Facebook has apologized and reinstated the anti-Obama posts it had previously censored.
The twenty most bizarre scientific experiments of all time.
The twenty most bizarre scientific experiments of all time.
Though bizarre, some of these experiments produced profound results. See especially numbers 2, 7, 13, 18, and 19.
The twenty most bizarre scientific experiments of all time.
Though bizarre, some of these experiments produced profound results. See especially numbers 2, 7, 13, 18, and 19.
The B612 foundation has signed its first contract for building Sentinel, its private infrared space telescope designed to find asteroids that might impact the Earth.
The B612 foundation has signed its first contract for building Sentinel, its private infrared space telescope designed to find asteroids that might impact the Earth.
The B612 foundation has signed its first contract for building Sentinel, its private infrared space telescope designed to find asteroids that might impact the Earth.
One of the major backers has pulled out of a solar energy power plant plan for Africa and the Middle East.
One of the major backers has pulled out of a solar energy power plant plan for Africa and the Middle East.
“We see our part in Dii as done,” says spokesman Torsten Wolf of Siemens, one of 13 founding partners of the consortium, which is also based in Munich. Siemens also said that it will pull out of the solar-energy business altogether. Its decision was made in response to falling government subsidies for solar energy and a collapse in the price of solar equipment. But to DESERTEC’S critics, Siemens’ exit also adds to doubts about the plan, which is expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars. “DESERTEC is an ambitious attempt to do everything at once,” says Jenny Chase, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance in Zurich, Switzerland. “I think it’s something that will be achieved organically, bit by bit, which will probably be cheaper, easier and achieve the same results.” [emphasis mine]
The cited reasons suggest some fundamental problems with this particular project. That Siemens is abandoning the solar energy entirely, citing the lose of government subsidies as one reason, also suggests there is something fundamental wrong with the industry itself.
Then again, it could be just like the new commercial space industry. Some companies are willing to take the risks to make the money even without subsidies, while others are not.
One of the major backers has pulled out of a solar energy power plant plan for Africa and the Middle East.
“We see our part in Dii as done,” says spokesman Torsten Wolf of Siemens, one of 13 founding partners of the consortium, which is also based in Munich. Siemens also said that it will pull out of the solar-energy business altogether. Its decision was made in response to falling government subsidies for solar energy and a collapse in the price of solar equipment. But to DESERTEC’S critics, Siemens’ exit also adds to doubts about the plan, which is expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars. “DESERTEC is an ambitious attempt to do everything at once,” says Jenny Chase, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance in Zurich, Switzerland. “I think it’s something that will be achieved organically, bit by bit, which will probably be cheaper, easier and achieve the same results.” [emphasis mine]
The cited reasons suggest some fundamental problems with this particular project. That Siemens is abandoning the solar energy entirely, citing the lose of government subsidies as one reason, also suggests there is something fundamental wrong with the industry itself.
Then again, it could be just like the new commercial space industry. Some companies are willing to take the risks to make the money even without subsidies, while others are not.
For the second time, a Progress freighter has launched and, after only four orbits, docked with ISS.
For the second time, a Progress freighter has launched and, after only four orbits, docked with ISS.
This was the fourth Progress launched this year, the second to follow an abbreviated four-orbit rendezvous with the space station. Russian flight controllers normally implement two-day rendezvous profiles, but they are perfecting procedures for single-day flights for possible use with manned Soyuz missions to shorten the time crews are forced to spend in the cramped ferry craft.
The Russians have used the leisurely two-day rendezvous path now for almost a half century. So, why are they suddenly trying to shorten the travel time to ISS to six hours? Though there are many good engineering reasons, I also suspect it is because they are now feeling the pressure of competition. The shorter travel time probably lowers their costs at mission control. It also makes using the Soyuz for manned flights more appealing. Dragon for example is presently using the two-day rendezvous path. And Dragon will soon become a direct competitor to Soyuz, when it begins flying humans in the next three to five years.
For the second time, a Progress freighter has launched and, after only four orbits, docked with ISS.
This was the fourth Progress launched this year, the second to follow an abbreviated four-orbit rendezvous with the space station. Russian flight controllers normally implement two-day rendezvous profiles, but they are perfecting procedures for single-day flights for possible use with manned Soyuz missions to shorten the time crews are forced to spend in the cramped ferry craft.
The Russians have used the leisurely two-day rendezvous path now for almost a half century. So, why are they suddenly trying to shorten the travel time to ISS to six hours? Though there are many good engineering reasons, I also suspect it is because they are now feeling the pressure of competition. The shorter travel time probably lowers their costs at mission control. It also makes using the Soyuz for manned flights more appealing. Dragon for example is presently using the two-day rendezvous path. And Dragon will soon become a direct competitor to Soyuz, when it begins flying humans in the next three to five years.