Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
James Hansen and the corruption of science
A 70-million-year-old nest of fifteen baby dinosaurs has been found
A 70-million-year-old nest of fifteen baby dinosaurs has been found.
A 70-million-year-old nest of fifteen baby dinosaurs has been found.
The hunt for the “God Particle” enters the final stretch
The hunt for the “God Particle” enters the final stretch. And scientists might find it doesn’t exist!
The hunt for the “God Particle” enters the final stretch. And scientists might find it doesn’t exist!
FBI statistics show an increase in anti-semitism, not islamophobia
New FBI statistics once again show that while there is very little islamophobia in America, there is a great deal of anti-semitism.
Want to guess where that anti-semitism comes from?
New FBI statistics once again show that while there is very little islamophobia in America, there is a great deal of anti-semitism.
Want to guess where that anti-semitism comes from?
BLM backs off its attempt to ban shooting on public lands
BLM has apparently backed off from its attempt to ban shooting on public lands.
BLM has apparently backed off from its attempt to ban shooting on public lands.
Occupy Wall Street protesters stay at $700-a-night hotel
It’s good work if you can get it: Occupy Wall Street protesters stay at $700-a-night hotel.
It’s good work if you can get it: Occupy Wall Street protesters stay at $700-a-night hotel.
Some historical context in discussing the federal debt
Some historical context in discussing the federal debt.
When Bill Clinton was president, the national debt rose by an annual average of $193 billion; when the profligate George W. Bush was in the White House, the yearly debt increases averaged $612 billion. On Obama’s watch, by contrast, the federal debt has been skyrocketing by more than $1.5 trillion per year. It took 40 presidents and nearly two centuries, from George Washington to Ronald Reagan , for the US government to accumulate $1.5 trillion in indebtedness. The 44th president – aided and abetted by Congress – enlarges the federal debt by that amount every 12 months.
Some historical context in discussing the federal debt.
When Bill Clinton was president, the national debt rose by an annual average of $193 billion; when the profligate George W. Bush was in the White House, the yearly debt increases averaged $612 billion. On Obama’s watch, by contrast, the federal debt has been skyrocketing by more than $1.5 trillion per year. It took 40 presidents and nearly two centuries, from George Washington to Ronald Reagan , for the US government to accumulate $1.5 trillion in indebtedness. The 44th president – aided and abetted by Congress – enlarges the federal debt by that amount every 12 months.
An engineering prize to rival the Nobel
An engineering prize to rival the Nobel.
An engineering prize to rival the Nobel.
Canada is about to repeal its oppressive hate law
A victory for freedom: Canada is about to repeal its oppressive hate speech law.
A victory for freedom: Canada is about to repeal its oppressive hate speech law.
European Union bureaucrats forbid bottled water companies from advertising that their product prevents dehydration
Government in action! Regulators in the European Union have forbidden bottled water companies from advertising that their product — water — prevents dehydration.
Government in action! Regulators in the European Union have forbidden bottled water companies from advertising that their product — water — prevents dehydration.
light posting
Please forgive the light posting these past few days. I was down in Atlantic City, New Jersey, giving a speech to a joint meeting of the local AIAA/IEEE chapters (see the appearances list in the column to the right), then was off to Chicago to visit family for the Thanksgiving holidays. Posting will resume in more detail over the next few days.
Please forgive the light posting these past few days. I was down in Atlantic City, New Jersey, giving a speech to a joint meeting of the local AIAA/IEEE chapters (see the appearances list in the column to the right), then was off to Chicago to visit family for the Thanksgiving holidays. Posting will resume in more detail over the next few days.
Shenzhou for Dummies
The CERN experiment that appeared to see faster-than-light neutrinos has repeated its results, except that not everyone on the team agrees
The uncertainty of science: The CERN experiment that appeared to see faster-than-light neutrinos has repeated its results, except that not everyone on the team agrees.
The new tests, completed 6 November, did away with the statistical analysis by splitting each pulse into bunches just 1- to 2-nanoseconds long, allowing each neutrino detected at Gran Sasso to be tied to a particular bunch produced at CERN. These tests were carried out over 10 days and provided 20 events. The researchers confirmed that the neutrinos arrived 60 nanoseconds early, with an uncertainty of about 10 nanoseconds, comparable to that of the initial result. The collaboration has also checked its original statistical analysis, but today’s decision to submit the results to a journal was not unanimous. “About four people” among the group of around 15 who did not sign the preprint have signed the journal submission, according to a source within the collaboration, while “four new people” have decided not to sign. That leaves the number of dissenters at about 15, compared with about 180 who did sign the journal submission.
The uncertainty of science: The CERN experiment that appeared to see faster-than-light neutrinos has repeated its results, except that not everyone on the team agrees.
The new tests, completed 6 November, did away with the statistical analysis by splitting each pulse into bunches just 1- to 2-nanoseconds long, allowing each neutrino detected at Gran Sasso to be tied to a particular bunch produced at CERN. These tests were carried out over 10 days and provided 20 events. The researchers confirmed that the neutrinos arrived 60 nanoseconds early, with an uncertainty of about 10 nanoseconds, comparable to that of the initial result. The collaboration has also checked its original statistical analysis, but today’s decision to submit the results to a journal was not unanimous. “About four people” among the group of around 15 who did not sign the preprint have signed the journal submission, according to a source within the collaboration, while “four new people” have decided not to sign. That leaves the number of dissenters at about 15, compared with about 180 who did sign the journal submission.
An analysis of the sun’s past solar cycles suggests that the sun might not be going into a prolonged minimum
A new analysis of the sun’s past solar cycles suggests that the sun might not be going into a prolonged minimum, as indicated by its recent lack of sunspot activity.
A new analysis of the sun’s past solar cycles suggests that the sun might not be going into a prolonged minimum, as indicated by its recent lack of sunspot activity.
The giant storm on Saturn
Shenzhou 8 has returned successfully to Earth after completing its docking and rendezvous mission with China’s first space station
Shenzhou 8 has returned successfully to Earth after completing its docking and rendezvous mission with China’s first space station.
Shenzhou 8 has returned successfully to Earth after completing its docking and rendezvous mission with China’s first space station.
Obamacare threatens to cripple the American medical device industry
Repeal it! Obamacare is forcing the American medical device industry out of business.
The 2010 law imposed a crippling 10-year, $20 billion tax on revenues — not on profits — earned by companies that make medical devices, such as catheters, artery-clearing stents, scalpels and pacemakers. The tax is prompting American companies to shed jobs, move factories overseas and reconsider niche-market research projects, said Paulson, whose district include medical device companies.
Repeal it! Obamacare is forcing the American medical device industry out of business.
The 2010 law imposed a crippling 10-year, $20 billion tax on revenues — not on profits — earned by companies that make medical devices, such as catheters, artery-clearing stents, scalpels and pacemakers. The tax is prompting American companies to shed jobs, move factories overseas and reconsider niche-market research projects, said Paulson, whose district include medical device companies.
Testimony at a House hearing yesterday suggests OMB plans to end NASA’s planetary program are true
Testimony at a House hearing yesterday, including the refusal of an OMB representative to appear, lend weight to the rumors that OMB plans to end NASA’s planetary program.
Testimony at a House hearing yesterday, including the refusal of an OMB representative to appear, lend weight to the rumors that OMB plans to end NASA’s planetary program.
Scientists have found evidence of a great lake below the surface of Europa
Scientists have found evidence for the existence of great shallow lakes below the surface of Europa.
Scientists have found evidence for the existence of great shallow lakes below the surface of Europa.
Obama administration pushes to limit gun use on pubic lands
Under the radar: The Obama administration is pushing to limit gun use on pubic lands.
Gun owners who have historically been able to use public lands for target practice would be barred from potentially millions of acres under new rules drafted by the Interior Department, the first major move by the Obama administration to impose limits on firearms.
Under the radar: The Obama administration is pushing to limit gun use on pubic lands.
Gun owners who have historically been able to use public lands for target practice would be barred from potentially millions of acres under new rules drafted by the Interior Department, the first major move by the Obama administration to impose limits on firearms.
Is shooting down Phobos-Grunt an option?
Is shooting down Phobos-Grunt an option?
Is shooting down Phobos-Grunt an option?
Curing cancer using DNA and drugs
Curing cancer using DNA and drugs.
Curing cancer using DNA and drugs.
Soyuz capsule had docked with ISS
The Soyuz capsule with three astronauts has successfully docked with ISS.
The Soyuz capsule with three astronauts has successfully docked with ISS.
Another ObamaCare Glitch
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act offers “premium assistance”—tax credits and subsidies—to households purchasing coverage through new health-insurance exchanges. This assistance was designed to hide a portion of the law’s cost to individuals by reducing the premium hikes that individuals will face after ObamaCare goes into effect in 2014. (If consumers face the law’s full cost, support for repeal will grow.)
The law encourages states to create health-insurance exchanges, but it permits Washington to create them if states decline. So far, only 17 states have passed legislation to create an exchange.
This is where the glitch comes in: ObamaCare authorizes premium assistance in state-run exchanges (Section 1311) but not federal ones (Section 1321). In other words, states that refuse to create an exchange can block much of ObamaCare’s spending and practically force Congress to reopen the law for revisions.
The Obama administration’s solution? Ignore the law as written.
I have a better idea: Repeal the damn thing!
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act offers “premium assistance”—tax credits and subsidies—to households purchasing coverage through new health-insurance exchanges. This assistance was designed to hide a portion of the law’s cost to individuals by reducing the premium hikes that individuals will face after ObamaCare goes into effect in 2014. (If consumers face the law’s full cost, support for repeal will grow.)
The law encourages states to create health-insurance exchanges, but it permits Washington to create them if states decline. So far, only 17 states have passed legislation to create an exchange.
This is where the glitch comes in: ObamaCare authorizes premium assistance in state-run exchanges (Section 1311) but not federal ones (Section 1321). In other words, states that refuse to create an exchange can block much of ObamaCare’s spending and practically force Congress to reopen the law for revisions.
The Obama administration’s solution? Ignore the law as written.
I have a better idea: Repeal the damn thing!
Is Newt Gingrich America’s Churchill?
Is Newt Gingrich America’s Churchill?
As the author himself says, “The thought startles.” However, it is quite a fascinating read, founded strongly in history.
Is Newt Gingrich America’s Churchill?
As the author himself says, “The thought startles.” However, it is quite a fascinating read, founded strongly in history.
Congress has slashed the budget of John Holdren’s White House Science Office
The Senate/House final deal for the White House Science Office has slashed its budget by one third.
Frustrated that White House officials [i.e. John Holdren] have ignored congressional language curtailing scientific collaborations with China, legislators have decided to get their attention through a 32% cut in the tiny budget of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
See this story for more background.
The Senate/House final deal for the White House Science Office has slashed its budget by one third.
Frustrated that White House officials [i.e. John Holdren] have ignored congressional language curtailing scientific collaborations with China, legislators have decided to get their attention through a 32% cut in the tiny budget of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
See this story for more background.
Government inspector forces private citizens in a private house to pour bleach on home-grown food
We’re here to help you: A government inspector arrives during a meal and forces private citizens on private property to destroy the home-grown food.
Susan [the inspector] deemed our food unfit for consumption and demanded that we call off the event because:
1. Some of the prepared food packages did not have labels on them. (The code actually allows for this if it is to be consumed within 72 hours.)
2. Some of the meat was not USDA certified. (Did I mention that this was a farm to fork meal?)
3. Some of the food that was prepared in advance was not up to temperature at the time of inspection. (It was being prepared to be brought to proper temperature for serving when the inspection occurred.)
4. Even the vegetables prepared in advance had to be thrown out because they were cut and were then considered a “bio-hazard”.
5. We did not have receipts for our food. (Reminder! This food came from farms not from the supermarket! I have talked with several chefs who have said that in all their years cooking they have never been asked for receipts.)
I don’t actually agree with most of the ideas of the organic farm-to-fork movement. However, I find it beyond disgusting that our government thinks it has the right tell us what we can eat.
We’re here to help you: A government inspector arrives during a meal and forces private citizens on private property to destroy the home-grown food.
Susan [the inspector] deemed our food unfit for consumption and demanded that we call off the event because:
1. Some of the prepared food packages did not have labels on them. (The code actually allows for this if it is to be consumed within 72 hours.)
2. Some of the meat was not USDA certified. (Did I mention that this was a farm to fork meal?)
3. Some of the food that was prepared in advance was not up to temperature at the time of inspection. (It was being prepared to be brought to proper temperature for serving when the inspection occurred.)
4. Even the vegetables prepared in advance had to be thrown out because they were cut and were then considered a “bio-hazard”.
5. We did not have receipts for our food. (Reminder! This food came from farms not from the supermarket! I have talked with several chefs who have said that in all their years cooking they have never been asked for receipts.)
I don’t actually agree with most of the ideas of the organic farm-to-fork movement. However, I find it beyond disgusting that our government thinks it has the right tell us what we can eat.
The Wisconsin doctors who issued fake sick notes during the protests earlier this year will face the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board on Wednesday
The Wisconsin doctors who issued fake sick notes during the labor protests earlier this year will face disciplinary hearings on Wednesday.
The Wisconsin doctors who issued fake sick notes during the labor protests earlier this year will face disciplinary hearings on Wednesday.
Firing Incompetent Employees ‘Would Harm The Agency’s Work,’ SEC Chief Says
A wonderful example of why government does such a poor job: Firing incompetent employees “would harm the agency’s work,” according to the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission. More here.
A wonderful example of why government does such a poor job: Firing incompetent employees “would harm the agency’s work,” according to the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission. More here.
NASA extends Messenger mission at Mercury one year
No surprise here: NASA has extended the Messenger mission at Mercury for one more year.
No surprise here: NASA has extended the Messenger mission at Mercury for one more year.