Cost issues might force Europe to downsize its 2016 Mars mission
Cost issues might force Europe to downsize its 2016 Mars mission.
Cost issues might force Europe to downsize its 2016 Mars mission.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Cost issues might force Europe to downsize its 2016 Mars mission
Did the Earth once have two moons? And did they collide?
Did the Earth once have two moons?
Both satellites would have formed from debris that was ejected when a Mars-size protoplanet smacked into Earth late in its formation period. Whereas traditional theory states that the infant Moon rapidly swept up any rivals or gravitationally ejected them into interstellar space, the new theory suggests that one body survived, parked in a gravitationally stable point in the Earth–Moon system.
This new model also posits that the two moons eventually collided, producing the moon we have today.
Did the Earth once have two moons?
Both satellites would have formed from debris that was ejected when a Mars-size protoplanet smacked into Earth late in its formation period. Whereas traditional theory states that the infant Moon rapidly swept up any rivals or gravitationally ejected them into interstellar space, the new theory suggests that one body survived, parked in a gravitationally stable point in the Earth–Moon system.
This new model also posits that the two moons eventually collided, producing the moon we have today.
Israeli doctors protest their working conditions
The future of American medicine: Israeli doctors protested their socialized working conditions last week, closing clinics and delaying treatment in emergency rooms.
The future of American medicine: Israeli doctors protested their socialized working conditions last week, closing clinics and delaying treatment in emergency rooms.
Getting to know the Atlas 5
The Atlas 5 is the rocket that Boeing, Blue Origin, and Sierra Nevada plan to use to get astronauts into orbit.
The Atlas 5 is the rocket that Boeing, Blue Origin, and Sierra Nevada plan to use to get astronauts into orbit.
Lack of U.S. government interest in commercial refueling mission causes problems
A lack of U.S. government interest in a privately designed satellite refueling technology has caused the company to pull back its plans.
MDA had signed a contract with the communications satellite company Intelsat to refuel some of its orbiting satellites, but needed additional customers to make a go of it. It had hoped the U.S. Defense Department would show interest, but they have not.
This is exactly where the government should be investing its capital, and that it is not tells us a lot about the real lack of sincerity behind the Obama administration’s claims that it wants to encourage private space. I also suspect that the turf war with satellite companies and defense contractors helped discourage Defense Department interest.
A lack of U.S. government interest in a privately designed satellite refueling technology has caused the company to pull back its plans.
MDA had signed a contract with the communications satellite company Intelsat to refuel some of its orbiting satellites, but needed additional customers to make a go of it. It had hoped the U.S. Defense Department would show interest, but they have not.
This is exactly where the government should be investing its capital, and that it is not tells us a lot about the real lack of sincerity behind the Obama administration’s claims that it wants to encourage private space. I also suspect that the turf war with satellite companies and defense contractors helped discourage Defense Department interest.
“To Hell with You People”
Dow dives below 12,000
The Dow today dived below 12,000, a nine-month low.
The report above tries to look past the just signed debt agreement, but I wonder if maybe it was the debt deal itself that worried investors, since the deal really did little to gain control of the federal government’s out-of-control spending.
The Dow today dived below 12,000, a nine-month low.
The report above tries to look past the just signed debt agreement, but I wonder if maybe it was the debt deal itself that worried investors, since the deal really did little to gain control of the federal government’s out-of-control spending.
A look at the more than 450 tourists who have paid a deposit to Virgin Galactic to fly in space
A look at the more than 450 tourists who have paid a deposit to Virgin Galactic to fly in space.
They include comedian Russell Brand, Dallas star Victoria Principal, film director Bryan Singer, designer Philippe Starck, scientist Professor Stephen Hawking, property developers the Candy brothers, and PayPal developer Elon Musk.
A look at the more than 450 tourists who have paid a deposit to Virgin Galactic to fly in space.
They include comedian Russell Brand, Dallas star Victoria Principal, film director Bryan Singer, designer Philippe Starck, scientist Professor Stephen Hawking, property developers the Candy brothers, and PayPal developer Elon Musk.
The drought has uncovered a possible part of shuttle Columbia in Texas lake
The drought in Texas has uncovered in a lake a possible piece from the destroyed shuttle Columbia. More here.
The drought in Texas has uncovered in a lake a possible piece from the destroyed shuttle Columbia. More here.
Tea Partiers like “terrorists.”
Leftwing civility: Joe Biden accused the tea party Republicans today of “acting like terrorists” in the negotiations over the debt limit.
And why? Because they simply refused to back down to those who want to spend us into oblivion.
Then there’s this quote from Mike Doyle (D-Pennsylvania): “We have negotiated with terrorists. This small group of terrorists have made it impossible to spend any money.”
Impossible to spend any money? What kind of fantasy world does this idiot live in? The federal budget has doubled in the past ten years. Meanwhile, this debt ceiling bill does nothing to reduce the size of government. On the contrary, the so-called reductions in the deficit merely slow the growth of government. Under the agreed plan, in each of the next ten years the federal government’s budget will still grow, and it will do so at a rate far exceeding inflation in an dying economy choked by regulation and government interference.
How is it even possible to deal with this problem if you have to deal with people like this, who are so divorced from reality and consider anyone who disagrees with them the worst sort of monster? Sadly, it is impossible. Until we see a wholesale change in government, with most of these idiots thrown from office, we will see no change in how our government is operated.
Leftwing civility: Joe Biden accused the tea party Republicans today of “acting like terrorists” in the negotiations over the debt limit.
And why? Because they simply refused to back down to those who want to spend us into oblivion.
Then there’s this quote from Mike Doyle (D-Pennsylvania): “We have negotiated with terrorists. This small group of terrorists have made it impossible to spend any money.”
Impossible to spend any money? What kind of fantasy world does this idiot live in? The federal budget has doubled in the past ten years. Meanwhile, this debt ceiling bill does nothing to reduce the size of government. On the contrary, the so-called reductions in the deficit merely slow the growth of government. Under the agreed plan, in each of the next ten years the federal government’s budget will still grow, and it will do so at a rate far exceeding inflation in an dying economy choked by regulation and government interference.
How is it even possible to deal with this problem if you have to deal with people like this, who are so divorced from reality and consider anyone who disagrees with them the worst sort of monster? Sadly, it is impossible. Until we see a wholesale change in government, with most of these idiots thrown from office, we will see no change in how our government is operated.
Oxygen molecules detected in star-forming region
Oxygen molecules have been detected for the first time in space, and they were found in the Orion nebula, a giant molecular cloud where stars are being born. More here.
Oxygen molecules have been detected for the first time in space, and they were found in the Orion nebula, a giant molecular cloud where stars are being born. More here.
Cancer-stricken WTC worker gets $0 settlement check from lawyers
No wonder lawyers have a such a bad reputation: A cancer-stricken World Trade Center worker received a check for $0 after his lawyers deducted their fees and other unspecified “liens.”
No wonder lawyers have a such a bad reputation: A cancer-stricken World Trade Center worker received a check for $0 after his lawyers deducted their fees and other unspecified “liens.”
Guess what happened to that Obama recovery?
Guess what happened to that Obama recovery?
There never was one. And this graph from the article says it all. The Obama recession stands out as the worst by far.
Guess what happened to that Obama recovery?
There never was one. And this graph from the article says it all. The Obama recession stands out as the worst by far.
Six of the most ridiculous scientific studies ever commissioned
Six of the most ridiculous scientific studies ever commissioned.
Six of the most ridiculous scientific studies ever commissioned.
Reactions to the debt deal: almost all unhappy
Reactions to the debt deal: almost all unhappy.
Reactions to the debt deal: almost all unhappy.
Why Obama should be re-elected
Why Obama should be re-elected.
The guy has done absolutely everything he’s promised… that’s mattered. Like remember how he said he was going to pass a big stimulus and keep unemployment from being 8%? Well, he passed his stimulus, and now unemployment… is not 8%. It’s an entirely different number than that. If you really didn’t want 8% unemployment, well guess what: You’re not dealing with that level of unemployment. Promise kept. And look at all the work he did for it: He spent $666 billion to bypass 8% unemployment. Could you spend that much money? No way. If I sat you down in front of a computer, logged you in to Amazon, and said, “Spend $666 billion,” it would be futile. You’d be clicking “Buy Now” until your mouse broke. But Obama did it; the man’s got hustle.
Read the whole thing. It will surely change your mind about Obama.
Why Obama should be re-elected.
The guy has done absolutely everything he’s promised… that’s mattered. Like remember how he said he was going to pass a big stimulus and keep unemployment from being 8%? Well, he passed his stimulus, and now unemployment… is not 8%. It’s an entirely different number than that. If you really didn’t want 8% unemployment, well guess what: You’re not dealing with that level of unemployment. Promise kept. And look at all the work he did for it: He spent $666 billion to bypass 8% unemployment. Could you spend that much money? No way. If I sat you down in front of a computer, logged you in to Amazon, and said, “Spend $666 billion,” it would be futile. You’d be clicking “Buy Now” until your mouse broke. But Obama did it; the man’s got hustle.
Read the whole thing. It will surely change your mind about Obama.
A day in the life of a gun owner
How the end of NASA affects national security
How the end of NASA affects national security.
Though I don’t agree with all of Dinerman’s points, he provides a complete and excellent analysis of the present political state of NASA. To me, the key quote is this:
NASA’s Administrator and his Deputy worked hard, along with the President’s science advisor and the rest of the White House team, to alienate a critical mass of members of Congress by ignoring their concerns, rejecting their advice and blindsiding them with critical space policy decisions. The Obama administration then wrecked the previous program on the grounds that it was underfunded and behind schedule, and replaced it with a new program that looks as if it is now underfund and behind schedule. Congressmen and women being human, and under massive pressure to cut spending, have now cut the guts out of the space agency’s proposed budget.
How the end of NASA affects national security.
Though I don’t agree with all of Dinerman’s points, he provides a complete and excellent analysis of the present political state of NASA. To me, the key quote is this:
NASA’s Administrator and his Deputy worked hard, along with the President’s science advisor and the rest of the White House team, to alienate a critical mass of members of Congress by ignoring their concerns, rejecting their advice and blindsiding them with critical space policy decisions. The Obama administration then wrecked the previous program on the grounds that it was underfunded and behind schedule, and replaced it with a new program that looks as if it is now underfund and behind schedule. Congressmen and women being human, and under massive pressure to cut spending, have now cut the guts out of the space agency’s proposed budget.
The story of Hayabusa inspires three major movie releases
The story of Hayabusa, the Japanese space probe that was the first to successfully return material from an asteroid despite serious technical failures, has now inspired three major movies.
The story of Hayabusa, the Japanese space probe that was the first to successfully return material from an asteroid despite serious technical failures, has now inspired three major movies.
10 years after concealed weapons law, the fearful claims of opponents turn out false
Ten years after the passage of concealed carry laws, the fearful claims of opponents are proven false.
During the debate, opponents of the change warned of gun-toting, trigger-happy citizens loose on the streets. But violent crimes have been rare among carrying a concealed weapon license holders. Only 2% of license holders have been sanctioned for any kind of misbehavior, State Police records show.
Not that the facts matter to these anti-gun advocates:
Still, anti-gun activists say changing the law was a grave mistake. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence Web site describes state reforms like the one enacted in Michigan as “a recipe for disaster.”
Ten years after the passage of concealed carry laws, the fearful claims of opponents are proven false.
During the debate, opponents of the change warned of gun-toting, trigger-happy citizens loose on the streets. But violent crimes have been rare among carrying a concealed weapon license holders. Only 2% of license holders have been sanctioned for any kind of misbehavior, State Police records show.
Not that the facts matter to these anti-gun advocates:
Still, anti-gun activists say changing the law was a grave mistake. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence Web site describes state reforms like the one enacted in Michigan as “a recipe for disaster.”
Outlines of debt ceiling deal leaked to press
The outlines of a possible debt ceiling deal have been leaked to the press. No tax increases, and a lot of promised cuts, some real but many that are probably likely not to happen.
If true, this deal will represent a victory for the Republicans, despite what appear to be the weak nature of the cuts. And John Podhoretz explains why in a very cogent column today, using the Cold War as an analogy.
Everyone on the Right agrees that the U.S. is on an unsustainable fiscal path that must be altered. The difference comes down to the acceptance of political realities. Just as the United States could not effect rollback in the late 1940s (or any time thereafter), so too the Right and the Republican Party cannot effect a revolutionary change of course on July 31, 2011 with the Senate and the White House in liberal Democratic hands. The strategy, like containment, must have a longer time horizon, though it has the same goal: Ending the entitlement state before it swallows up the rest of the country.
The outlines of a possible debt ceiling deal have been leaked to the press. No tax increases, and a lot of promised cuts, some real but many that are probably likely not to happen.
If true, this deal will represent a victory for the Republicans, despite what appear to be the weak nature of the cuts. And John Podhoretz explains why in a very cogent column today, using the Cold War as an analogy.
Everyone on the Right agrees that the U.S. is on an unsustainable fiscal path that must be altered. The difference comes down to the acceptance of political realities. Just as the United States could not effect rollback in the late 1940s (or any time thereafter), so too the Right and the Republican Party cannot effect a revolutionary change of course on July 31, 2011 with the Senate and the White House in liberal Democratic hands. The strategy, like containment, must have a longer time horizon, though it has the same goal: Ending the entitlement state before it swallows up the rest of the country.
Has DB Cooper been nabbed at last?
Has the hijacker DB Cooper been nabbed at last?
Has the hijacker DB Cooper been nabbed at last?
Senate Republicans reject Reid debt limit plan
The votes are not there: Senate Republicans have rejected Reid’s debt limit plan. Also, it looks like the House Republicans are going to reject it also.
Update: the House has rejected Reid’s plan. More here.
The votes are not there: Senate Republicans have rejected Reid’s debt limit plan. Also, it looks like the House Republicans are going to reject it also.
Update: the House has rejected Reid’s plan. More here.
Could weird lunar crater be the crash site for Lunar Orbiter 2?
Could this weird lunar crater be the crash site for Lunar Orbiter 2?
Could this weird lunar crater be the crash site for Lunar Orbiter 2?
Senate kills Boehner debt ceiling plan
That didn’t take long: The Senate has killed the Boehner debt ceiling plan that passed the House.
What the Democrats are missing in all this is that if no debt limit extension is passed, it is their beloved programs that will be hurt the most. The Republicans have more or less always preferred limiting government, so imposing the debt ceiling will only serve their purposes.
Thus, it is the Democrats who need the debt ceiling extended more than anyone. That they seem unwilling to agree to any deal or even propose one of their own seems the height of stupidity. Talk about cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face!
That didn’t take long: The Senate has killed the Boehner debt ceiling plan that passed the House.
What the Democrats are missing in all this is that if no debt limit extension is passed, it is their beloved programs that will be hurt the most. The Republicans have more or less always preferred limiting government, so imposing the debt ceiling will only serve their purposes.
Thus, it is the Democrats who need the debt ceiling extended more than anyone. That they seem unwilling to agree to any deal or even propose one of their own seems the height of stupidity. Talk about cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face!
How High Would Taxes Have to Be to Close the Budget Gap This Year?
How high would taxes have to be to close the budget gap this year? One blogger took a look:
I decided to look at the IRS data and calculate exactly how high would the tax rates have to be close this year’s budget gap of around $1.6 trillion (it’s $1.65 trillion according to the White House and $1.55 trillion according to the CBO). What I found was certainly not surprising but still quite disturbing.
Take a look yourself. It is very clear that increased taxes cannot solve the debt problem. It can’t even make a dent in it.
In other words, those advocating a “balanced approach” are really only avoiding the problem. In order to get the federal budget under control we have to cut spending. Nor should that be hard, considering that the federal budget has literally doubled since 1999. If we simply went back to 2000 numbers we’d almost certainly have a surplus, and no one would die nor would the world end.
How high would taxes have to be to close the budget gap this year? One blogger took a look:
I decided to look at the IRS data and calculate exactly how high would the tax rates have to be close this year’s budget gap of around $1.6 trillion (it’s $1.65 trillion according to the White House and $1.55 trillion according to the CBO). What I found was certainly not surprising but still quite disturbing.
Take a look yourself. It is very clear that increased taxes cannot solve the debt problem. It can’t even make a dent in it.
In other words, those advocating a “balanced approach” are really only avoiding the problem. In order to get the federal budget under control we have to cut spending. Nor should that be hard, considering that the federal budget has literally doubled since 1999. If we simply went back to 2000 numbers we’d almost certainly have a surplus, and no one would die nor would the world end.
The GOP is putting “a gun to the head of 310 million people”
Leftwing civility: The GOP is putting “a gun to the head of 310 million people”.
Leftwing civility: The GOP is putting “a gun to the head of 310 million people”.
Busting Posse Comitatus
Busting Posse Comitatus: Though forbidden by law in most cases, the military is increasingly being used to enforce civilian law within the United States.
Busting Posse Comitatus: Though forbidden by law in most cases, the military is increasingly being used to enforce civilian law within the United States.
Tea Party Members ‘Bloody and Beaten,’ But Still in ‘No’ Column
Tea party members still in the no column.
The debt ceiling situation is really very simple. The Democrats won’t propose anything, nor will they vote for anything that cuts anything. And a large percentage of the new Republicans elected to office in November won’t vote for anything that doesn’t include real and significant cuts. The result is there simply aren’t enough votes to pass a bill. This might change, but based on what I’m reading I suspect that come next week, the federal government will have to find a way to live within its means. And I think that will be a good thing, despite the short term pain it will certainly cause to us all.
Tea party members still in the no column.
The debt ceiling situation is really very simple. The Democrats won’t propose anything, nor will they vote for anything that cuts anything. And a large percentage of the new Republicans elected to office in November won’t vote for anything that doesn’t include real and significant cuts. The result is there simply aren’t enough votes to pass a bill. This might change, but based on what I’m reading I suspect that come next week, the federal government will have to find a way to live within its means. And I think that will be a good thing, despite the short term pain it will certainly cause to us all.
Summer break for testing of SpaceShipTwo
Wondering why there have been no recent test flights of SpaceShipTwo? Virgin Galactic is taking a summer break.
Wondering why there have been no recent test flights of SpaceShipTwo? Virgin Galactic is taking a summer break.