Want to invest in a spacesuit company? Now you can!
Want to invest in a spacesuit company? Now you can! (Hat tip Clark Lindsey.)
Want to invest in a spacesuit company? Now you can! (Hat tip Clark Lindsey.)
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Want to invest in a spacesuit company? Now you can!
Global warming: Second thoughts by an environmentalist.
Global warming: Second thoughts by an environmentalist.
For many years, I was an active supporter of the IPCC and its CO2 theory. Recent experience with the UN’s climate panel, however, forced me to reassess my position. In February 2010, I was invited as a reviewer for the IPCC report on renewable energy. I realised that the drafting of the report was done in anything but a scientific manner. The report was littered with errors and a member of Greenpeace edited the final version. These developments shocked me. I thought, if such things can happen in this report, then they might happen in other IPCC reports too.
He then very clearly outlines what we do and do not know about the Earth’s climate, and pinpoints the important uncertainties that presently exist.
Global warming: Second thoughts by an environmentalist.
For many years, I was an active supporter of the IPCC and its CO2 theory. Recent experience with the UN’s climate panel, however, forced me to reassess my position. In February 2010, I was invited as a reviewer for the IPCC report on renewable energy. I realised that the drafting of the report was done in anything but a scientific manner. The report was littered with errors and a member of Greenpeace edited the final version. These developments shocked me. I thought, if such things can happen in this report, then they might happen in other IPCC reports too.
He then very clearly outlines what we do and do not know about the Earth’s climate, and pinpoints the important uncertainties that presently exist.
A Wyoming think tank is suing the Federal Election Commission in behalf of three Wyoming residents who were denied the right to run a political ad hostile to Barack Obama.
A Wyoming think tank is suing the Federal Election Commission in behalf of three Wyoming residents who were denied the right to run a political ad hostile to Barack Obama.
What was that language again? I think the words are “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
A Wyoming think tank is suing the Federal Election Commission in behalf of three Wyoming residents who were denied the right to run a political ad hostile to Barack Obama.
What was that language again? I think the words are “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The FAA and NASA have worked out their differences concerning their regulation of private commercial space.
The FAA and NASA have worked out their differences concerning their regulation of private commercial space.
Essentially, NASA has finally conceded with this agreement that it has no control over a private space launch that is not flying to a NASA facility. That the FAA continues to have as much regulatory control is bad enough, but getting NASA out of the loop will at least ease the bureaucratic burden for private companies.
The FAA and NASA have worked out their differences concerning their regulation of private commercial space.
Essentially, NASA has finally conceded with this agreement that it has no control over a private space launch that is not flying to a NASA facility. That the FAA continues to have as much regulatory control is bad enough, but getting NASA out of the loop will at least ease the bureaucratic burden for private companies.
“[W]ith few exceptions, climate models not only fail to do better than random numbers, in some cases they are actually worse.”
A school bus used by a church to drive anti-abortion protesters to a local abortion clinic was firebombed Friday night.
Leftwing civility: A school bus used by a church to drive anti-abortion protesters to a local abortion clinic was firebombed Friday night.
Leftwing civility: A school bus used by a church to drive anti-abortion protesters to a local abortion clinic was firebombed Friday night.
The terrorist training that Gaza gives to kindergarten children. With pictures.
The terrorist training that Gaza gives to kindergarten children. With pictures.
I ask again: Why do we give these people millions?
The terrorist training that Gaza gives to kindergarten children. With pictures.
I ask again: Why do we give these people millions?
The TSA has tentatively approved a plan to allow private companies to screen passengers in Orlando.
How nice of them: The TSA has tentatively approved a plan to allow private companies to screen passengers in Orlando.
It’s all crap. In a free society there is no such agency as the TSA, and according to the Constitution, no one is screened by anyone without due cause.
How nice of them: The TSA has tentatively approved a plan to allow private companies to screen passengers in Orlando.
It’s all crap. In a free society there is no such agency as the TSA, and according to the Constitution, no one is screened by anyone without due cause.
An IBM supercomputer today became the fastest in the world.
The answer is 43: An IBM supercomputer today became the fastest in the world.
The answer is 43: An IBM supercomputer today became the fastest in the world.
China’s Shenzhou-9 capsule successfully docked with Tiengong-1 and the crew has entered the space module.
The competition heats up: China’s Shenzhou-9 capsule successfully docked with Tiengong-1 today and the crew has entered the space module.
The competition heats up: China’s Shenzhou-9 capsule successfully docked with Tiengong-1 today and the crew has entered the space module.
The X-37b that has been in orbit for the past 15 months successfully returned to Earth in a runway landing today.
The X-37b that has been in orbit for the past 15 months successfully returned to Earth in a runway landing today.
Video of the landing below the fold.
» Read more
The X-37b that has been in orbit for the past 15 months successfully returned to Earth in a runway landing today.
Video of the landing below the fold.
» Read more
China has successfully put into orbit its first three person crew, including its first female astronaut, on its first manned space docking mission.
China has successfully put into orbit its first three person crew, including its first female astronaut, on its first manned space docking mission.
China has successfully put into orbit its first three person crew, including its first female astronaut, on its first manned space docking mission.
Despite the continuing lack of an agreement, Kazakhstan today gave Russia permission to resume launches from the Baikonur spaceport.
Despite the continuing lack of an agreement, Kazakhstan today gave Russia permission to resume launches from the Baikonur spaceport.
Their new as yet unfinished spaceport in Vostochny must appear increasingly important to the Russians.
Despite the continuing lack of an agreement, Kazakhstan today gave Russia permission to resume launches from the Baikonur spaceport.
Their new as yet unfinished spaceport in Vostochny must appear increasingly important to the Russians.
Geologists think they have finally identified the volcano that in 1258 AD produced the largest eruption in 7,000 years — an event that was completely unnoticed by humanity at the time.
Geologists think they have finally identified the volcano that in 1258 AD produced the largest eruption in 7,000 years — an event that was completely unnoticed by humanity at the time.
Geologists think they have finally identified the volcano that in 1258 AD produced the largest eruption in 7,000 years — an event that was completely unnoticed by humanity at the time.
On exhibit in New York: A mock mission to Mars, built by an artist using, among other things, duct tape.
On exhibit in New York: A mock mission to Mars, built by an artist using, among other things, duct tape.
On exhibit in New York: A mock mission to Mars, built by an artist using, among other things, duct tape.
Orbital Sciences has delayed the first testing firing of its Antares rocket until late July or early August.
Orbital Sciences has delayed the first testing firing of its Antares rocket until late July or early August.
This fact is buried about halfway down in the article, and does not mention what caused the delay. (Hat tip to Clark Lindsey.)
Orbital Sciences has delayed the first testing firing of its Antares rocket until late July or early August.
This fact is buried about halfway down in the article, and does not mention what caused the delay. (Hat tip to Clark Lindsey.)
Scientists have concluded that a 460 foot diameter asteroid only has a 1 percent chance of hitting the Earth in 2040.
O goody: Scientists have concluded that a 460 foot diameter asteroid only has a 1 percent chance of hitting the Earth in 2040.
Observations to date indicate there is a slight chance that AG5 could impact Earth in 2040. Attendees expressed confidence that in the next four years, analysis of space and ground-based observations will show the likelihood of 2011 AG5 missing Earth to be greater than 99 percent.
It appears that they won’t really be able to pin down the impact odds for 2040 until 2023, when the asteroid passes the Earth at a distance of 1.1 million miles.
O goody: Scientists have concluded that a 460 foot diameter asteroid only has a 1 percent chance of hitting the Earth in 2040.
Observations to date indicate there is a slight chance that AG5 could impact Earth in 2040. Attendees expressed confidence that in the next four years, analysis of space and ground-based observations will show the likelihood of 2011 AG5 missing Earth to be greater than 99 percent.
It appears that they won’t really be able to pin down the impact odds for 2040 until 2023, when the asteroid passes the Earth at a distance of 1.1 million miles.
The federal government is on a pace to exceed its $16.394 trillion debt limit sooner than expected, by October, just before the election.
The day of reckoning looms: The federal government is on a pace to exceed its $16.394 trillion debt limit sooner than expected, by October, just before the election.
The day of reckoning looms: The federal government is on a pace to exceed its $16.394 trillion debt limit sooner than expected, by October, just before the election.
The EPA will propose today stricter standards for the release of soot by factories and power plants.
This should help the economy: The EPA will propose today stricter standards for the release of soot by factories and power plants.
This should help the economy: The EPA will propose today stricter standards for the release of soot by factories and power plants.
The nightmare of being a conservative on a modern college campus.
The nightmare of being a conservative on a modern college campus.
From my experience, the author only scratches the surface. The level of intolerance for conservative thought in academia has worsened in recent years, and in many cases has even risen to the level of physical danger for those who express any criticism of liberalism or the left.
The nightmare of being a conservative on a modern college campus.
From my experience, the author only scratches the surface. The level of intolerance for conservative thought in academia has worsened in recent years, and in many cases has even risen to the level of physical danger for those who express any criticism of liberalism or the left.
The IRS’s budget has grown by almost a billion dollars due to Obamacare.
And you thought Obamacare was about healthcare: The IRS’s budget has grown by almost a billion dollars due to Obamacare.
And you thought Obamacare was about healthcare: The IRS’s budget has grown by almost a billion dollars due to Obamacare.
China’s next manned mission, with one female astronaut aboard, will launch Saturday.
We have a date: China’s next manned mission, with one female astronaut aboard, will launch Saturday.
We have a date: China’s next manned mission, with one female astronaut aboard, will launch Saturday.
A UCLA professor who exposed corruption while also challenging the legitimacy of certain California fuel regulations, has sued the university for firing him.
The McCarthyism of the environmental movement: A UCLA professor who exposed corruption while also challenging the legitimacy of certain California fuel regulations, has sued the university for firing him.
Enstrom charged in 2008 that his colleagues exaggerated the adverse effects of particulate matter in order to justify expensive diesel fuel regulations to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Enstrom testified in the same year to the state Senate that the lead contributor to the CARB report, Hien T. Tran, paid $1,000 for his Ph.D. from a fake university, and members of a CARB panel had exceeded their mandated three-year term limits by decades.
Shortly after Enstrom revealed the misconduct, UCLA began sending him notices of termination and has refused to compensate him for more than a year’s worth of work….
Tran was eventually suspended for 60 days, and one professor who had served on the CARB panel for 26 consecutive years was removed and later put back on the panel. John Froines, who has publicly supported diesel fuel regulations, was on a committee that voted to dismiss Enstrom.
Read the whole thing. It illustrates why attending UCLA for a science education is clearly a waste of time. They don’t want to teach their students science. They want to teach them propaganda.
The McCarthyism of the environmental movement: A UCLA professor who exposed corruption while also challenging the legitimacy of certain California fuel regulations, has sued the university for firing him.
Enstrom charged in 2008 that his colleagues exaggerated the adverse effects of particulate matter in order to justify expensive diesel fuel regulations to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Enstrom testified in the same year to the state Senate that the lead contributor to the CARB report, Hien T. Tran, paid $1,000 for his Ph.D. from a fake university, and members of a CARB panel had exceeded their mandated three-year term limits by decades.
Shortly after Enstrom revealed the misconduct, UCLA began sending him notices of termination and has refused to compensate him for more than a year’s worth of work….
Tran was eventually suspended for 60 days, and one professor who had served on the CARB panel for 26 consecutive years was removed and later put back on the panel. John Froines, who has publicly supported diesel fuel regulations, was on a committee that voted to dismiss Enstrom.
Read the whole thing. It illustrates why attending UCLA for a science education is clearly a waste of time. They don’t want to teach their students science. They want to teach them propaganda.
“The latest data indicate that we are clearly in a new region where things are changing more quickly. It is very exciting. We are approaching the solar system’s frontier.”
Engineers have successfully tested a spare reaction wheel on Mars Odyssey in their effort to bring the spacecraft back into full operation.
Engineers have successfully tested a spare reaction wheel on Mars Odyssey in their effort to bring the spacecraft back into full operation.
After more than 11 years of non-operational storage, the spare reaction wheel passed preliminary tests on Wednesday, June 12, spinning at up to 5,000 rotations per minute forward and backward. Odyssey engineers plan to substitute it for a reaction wheel they have assessed as no longer reliable. That wheel stuck for a few minutes last week, causing Odyssey to put itself into safe mode on June 8, Universal Time (June 7, Pacific Time).
Engineers have successfully tested a spare reaction wheel on Mars Odyssey in their effort to bring the spacecraft back into full operation.
After more than 11 years of non-operational storage, the spare reaction wheel passed preliminary tests on Wednesday, June 12, spinning at up to 5,000 rotations per minute forward and backward. Odyssey engineers plan to substitute it for a reaction wheel they have assessed as no longer reliable. That wheel stuck for a few minutes last week, causing Odyssey to put itself into safe mode on June 8, Universal Time (June 7, Pacific Time).
Copenhagen Suborbitals: The crazy DIY spaceflight project that just might work.
Copenhagen Suborbitals: The crazy DIY spaceflight project that just might work.
Copenhagen Suborbitals: The crazy DIY spaceflight project that just might work.
A painted red disk of cave art has now been dated at 40,800 years old, making it the oldest known art that might even have been painted by the Neanderthals.
A painted red disk of cave art has now been dated at 40,800 years old, making it the oldest known art that might even have been painted by the Neanderthals.
A painted red disk of cave art has now been dated at 40,800 years old, making it the oldest known art that might even have been painted by the Neanderthals.
Has Voyager 1 finally left the solar system?
A new poll in Nevada repeats what was found in North Carolina: Obama appears to be losing a significant percentage of the black vote.
A new poll in Nevada repeats what was found in North Carolina: Obama appears to be losing a significant percentage of the black vote.
Both polls could be noise. If true, however, the Democrats cannot win. Without 95% of the black vote they just do not garner enough votes from any other group to win.
And if this is true, it will also mean that the racism in the black community might finally be abating. Voting for a candidate merely because of skin color is still bigotry, no matter what the skin color. If the black community is finally gaining the ability to see past skin color it will be a very good thing.
A new poll in Nevada repeats what was found in North Carolina: Obama appears to be losing a significant percentage of the black vote.
Both polls could be noise. If true, however, the Democrats cannot win. Without 95% of the black vote they just do not garner enough votes from any other group to win.
And if this is true, it will also mean that the racism in the black community might finally be abating. Voting for a candidate merely because of skin color is still bigotry, no matter what the skin color. If the black community is finally gaining the ability to see past skin color it will be a very good thing.
Watch an asteroid a third of a mile across zip past the Earth tonight.
Watch an asteroid a third of a mile across zip past the Earth tonight.
Watch an asteroid a third of a mile across zip past the Earth tonight.