A galaxy with two central supermassive black holes
A galaxy with two central supermassive black holes.
A galaxy with two central supermassive black holes.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
A galaxy with two central supermassive black holes
UK eliminates all but two climate-change projects to balance books.
The United Kingdom’s British Council is eliminating all but of its two climate-change projects in order to balance its books. Unfortunately, some taxpayer-funded propaganda will still continue:
The council says that two flagship global projects will continue: the ‘Climate Generation’ initiative, which engages young climate activists and the ‘Climate4Classrooms’ project, which provides resources for schoolchildren.
The United Kingdom’s British Council is eliminating all but of its two climate-change projects in order to balance its books. Unfortunately, some taxpayer-funded propaganda will still continue:
The council says that two flagship global projects will continue: the ‘Climate Generation’ initiative, which engages young climate activists and the ‘Climate4Classrooms’ project, which provides resources for schoolchildren.
Legislation to stop huge legal fee payments to environmental litigation factories
Two senators propose legislation to stop huge legal fee payments to litigious environmental groups like the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians.
Just as important would be for people to stop giving these organizations donations. They aren’t helping the environment in any way, and are probably doing it harm by creating anger and distrust against environmental groups.
Two senators propose legislation to stop huge legal fee payments to litigious environmental groups like the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians.
Just as important would be for people to stop giving these organizations donations. They aren’t helping the environment in any way, and are probably doing it harm by creating anger and distrust against environmental groups.
A new study finds that more than 80 percent of the mosques in the United States feature Islamic literature advocating violence.
A new study finds that more than 80 percent of the mosques in the United States feature Islamic literature advocating violence.
Further, 85 percent of the imams recommend this literature — both lay-written and authoritative Islamic texts (not including the Quran or Sunnah, writings said to be words and deeds of Mohammed). It is a slim 19 percent of the mosques that don’t feature such violent materials, and an even slimmer 15 percent of the imams who don’t recommend it. [emphasis mine]
Data like this once again illustrates how absurd it is to assume Islam has been hijacked by a small minority of violent radicals. Instead, the data horribly suggests that violence is a natural component of the religion.
A new study finds that more than 80 percent of the mosques in the United States feature Islamic literature advocating violence.
Further, 85 percent of the imams recommend this literature — both lay-written and authoritative Islamic texts (not including the Quran or Sunnah, writings said to be words and deeds of Mohammed). It is a slim 19 percent of the mosques that don’t feature such violent materials, and an even slimmer 15 percent of the imams who don’t recommend it. [emphasis mine]
Data like this once again illustrates how absurd it is to assume Islam has been hijacked by a small minority of violent radicals. Instead, the data horribly suggests that violence is a natural component of the religion.
“The moment of truth is about to arrive.”
Climate satellite launched to survey the saltiness of the Earth’s oceans
The climate satellite SAC-B was successfully launched today, designed to survey the saltiness of the Earth’s oceans.
The climate satellite SAC-B was successfully launched today, designed to survey the saltiness of the Earth’s oceans.
SpaceShipTwo’s test program ramps up
Scaled Composites continues to ramp up the test flight program of SpaceShipTwo. More here.
Scaled Composites continues to ramp up the test flight program of SpaceShipTwo. More here.
Utility decides to close five coal plants to comply with EPA regulations
In order to comply with EPA regulations a utility has decided to shut down five coal-fired power plants.
In order to comply with EPA regulations a utility has decided to shut down five coal-fired power plants.
Apollo spacesuits head to the museum
The modern American space effort: Apollo spacesuits head to the museum.
The modern American space effort: Apollo spacesuits head to the museum.
is preparing for large crowds next week as the Legislature begins the process of approving the governor’s budget
Wisconsin is preparing for new protests next week as the Legislature begins the process of approving the governor’s budget.
The Republicans here must stay the course, remembering always that they won the election handily and still represent the majority.
Wisconsin is preparing for new protests next week as the Legislature begins the process of approving the governor’s budget.
The Republicans here must stay the course, remembering always that they won the election handily and still represent the majority.
Israeli rocket victims sue Gaza flotilla organizers
I like this: Israeli victims of the Gaza rocket attacks are suing the Gaza flotilla organizers.
The complaint argues that since supplies that are delivered to Gaza run the risk of being seized by the Hamas government for use by its military wing, the defendants’ acts “amount to both a conspiracy to injure and a conspiracy to use unlawful means,” and that “the defendants are acting in concert with Hamas to achieve harm on the plaintiff.”
I like this: Israeli victims of the Gaza rocket attacks are suing the Gaza flotilla organizers.
The complaint argues that since supplies that are delivered to Gaza run the risk of being seized by the Hamas government for use by its military wing, the defendants’ acts “amount to both a conspiracy to injure and a conspiracy to use unlawful means,” and that “the defendants are acting in concert with Hamas to achieve harm on the plaintiff.”
Scientists may have licked the allergy to cats
Scientists may have licked the allergy to cats.
Scientists may have licked the allergy to cats.
House Panel Slams Obama’s Decision to Shut Yucca Mountain
A House panel today slammed President Obama’s decision to shut the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage facility.
The House committee’s report challenges the basis for the Administration’s rejection of the site, which was submitted for licensing review in 2008. “Despite numerous suggestions by political officials—including President Obama—that Yucca Mountain is unsafe for storing nuclear waste, the Committee could not identify a single document to support such a claim,” it says. The report includes a number of documents to support its charge that career government officials and scientists opposed the decision to close Yucca Mountain but were not consulted. In recent testimony to the committee, a former acting director of the Yucca Mountain program, Christopher Kouts, said of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu’s decision to terminate the program, “Technical information was not part of the secretary’s decision making process.”
The report highlights a section of an unpublished safety evaluation report by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the facility’s potential long-term effects. The evaluation, according to the committee, found that, in most details, the project proposed by the Department of Energy (DOE) met the government’s technical, safety, and environmental requirements—including the need to safeguard the site 200,000 years into the future.
A House panel today slammed President Obama’s decision to shut the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage facility.
The House committee’s report challenges the basis for the Administration’s rejection of the site, which was submitted for licensing review in 2008. “Despite numerous suggestions by political officials—including President Obama—that Yucca Mountain is unsafe for storing nuclear waste, the Committee could not identify a single document to support such a claim,” it says. The report includes a number of documents to support its charge that career government officials and scientists opposed the decision to close Yucca Mountain but were not consulted. In recent testimony to the committee, a former acting director of the Yucca Mountain program, Christopher Kouts, said of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu’s decision to terminate the program, “Technical information was not part of the secretary’s decision making process.”
The report highlights a section of an unpublished safety evaluation report by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the facility’s potential long-term effects. The evaluation, according to the committee, found that, in most details, the project proposed by the Department of Energy (DOE) met the government’s technical, safety, and environmental requirements—including the need to safeguard the site 200,000 years into the future.
Special Needs Son Harassed by TSA at Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Don’t you feel safer? TSA agents confiscate toy hammer.
The TSA took away one toy hammer, but they were still able to take another toy hammer on board the airplane. How did that happen? Drew’s mother, always prepared, had another one in her backpack and that backpack passed through security with no problem.
Don’t you feel safer? TSA agents confiscate toy hammer.
The TSA took away one toy hammer, but they were still able to take another toy hammer on board the airplane. How did that happen? Drew’s mother, always prepared, had another one in her backpack and that backpack passed through security with no problem.
China’s lunar probe leaves lunar orbit
China’s second lunar probe, Chang’e 2, has been boosted out of lunar orbit and beyond.
China’s second lunar probe, Chang’e 2, has been boosted out of lunar orbit and beyond.
Second X-51 hypersonic flight scheduled for week of June 13
The second X-51 hypersonic flight is now scheduled for the week of June 13.
The second X-51 hypersonic flight is now scheduled for the week of June 13.
Looking for life with the god of death
Magnetic bubbles at the edge of the solar system
Magnetic bubbles at the edge of the solar system.
Magnetic bubbles at the edge of the solar system.
How a Teachers’ Rally Made Me Anti-Education
Ohio restaurant referenced by Obama is closing
The ironies are endless: An Ohio restaurant referenced by President Obama last week as a beneficiary of the auto bailout is going out of business this week due to the bad economy and increased regulation.
The ironies are endless: An Ohio restaurant referenced by President Obama last week as a beneficiary of the auto bailout is going out of business this week due to the bad economy and increased regulation.
Camera being added to the last shuttle external tank
A camera has been installed on the last shuttle external tank so that its destruction in the atmosphere can be observed.
A camera has been installed on the last shuttle external tank so that its destruction in the atmosphere can be observed.
Space weather expert downplays threat to Earth from solar flare
Space weather expert downplays threat to Earth from solar flare.
My god, a reporter actually talked to a scientist on this subject, instead of the normal political hacks swilling for bigger budgets, and found out that we aren’t going to die!
Space weather expert downplays threat to Earth from solar flare.
My god, a reporter actually talked to a scientist on this subject, instead of the normal political hacks swilling for bigger budgets, and found out that we aren’t going to die!
Opportunity Heads Toward ‘Spirit Point’
Opportunity’s target on the rim of Endeavour crater has been dubbed “Spirit Point” by the science team in honor of the now defunct rover.
Opportunity’s target on the rim of Endeavour crater has been dubbed “Spirit Point” by the science team in honor of the now defunct rover.
Human bones taken to ISS for long space flight experiments.
Human bones were part of the cargo on board the Soyuz capsule launched to ISS today.
“The fragments of human bones will be used to study the causes and dynamics of decalcination of bone tissue in a long space flight,” the head of the experiment, Tatiana Krasheninnikova told Itar-Tass. The problem of decalcination is a headache for medics responsible for spacemen’s health. Researches in this area are conducted by scientists from many ISS member states. However it is impossible to take sample of spacemen’s bones, only their urine is being examined, and a complete picture of dynamics of changes in human bones is not clear, she noted.
Human bones were part of the cargo on board the Soyuz capsule launched to ISS today.
“The fragments of human bones will be used to study the causes and dynamics of decalcination of bone tissue in a long space flight,” the head of the experiment, Tatiana Krasheninnikova told Itar-Tass. The problem of decalcination is a headache for medics responsible for spacemen’s health. Researches in this area are conducted by scientists from many ISS member states. However it is impossible to take sample of spacemen’s bones, only their urine is being examined, and a complete picture of dynamics of changes in human bones is not clear, she noted.
The remnant of supernova 1987a Lights Up
The remnant of supernova 1987a lights up.
This supernova is the only naked eye supernova since the invention of the telescope, and has been tracked by Hubble for two decades.
The remnant of supernova 1987a lights up.
This supernova is the only naked eye supernova since the invention of the telescope, and has been tracked by Hubble for two decades.
Delta charged returning GIs $2,800 in bags fees
Another example of airline stupidity, which is why I drive whenever I can: Delta Airlines charges returning GIs $2,800 in bags fees.
Most of the GIs, it seems, had four bags. Delta only allows three for free in coach, “and anything over three bags, you have to pay for,” another soldier said, “even though there’s a contract between the U.S. government and Delta Airlines.”
Another example of airline stupidity, which is why I drive whenever I can: Delta Airlines charges returning GIs $2,800 in bags fees.
Most of the GIs, it seems, had four bags. Delta only allows three for free in coach, “and anything over three bags, you have to pay for,” another soldier said, “even though there’s a contract between the U.S. government and Delta Airlines.”
NASA Inspector General notes continuing worries about the Mars Science Lab
A NASA Inspector General report issued today [pdf] notes continuing worries about the Mars Science Laboratory, scheduled for launch later this year.
Remaining Unresolved Technical Issues: Although Project managers have overcome the majority of technical issues that led to the [2009] launch delay, as of March 2011 three significant technical issues remain unresolved. . . . Because of technical issues related to these three and other items, Project managers must complete nearly three times the number of critical tasks than originally planned in the few months remaining until launch. [emphasis mine]
A NASA Inspector General report issued today [pdf] notes continuing worries about the Mars Science Laboratory, scheduled for launch later this year.
Remaining Unresolved Technical Issues: Although Project managers have overcome the majority of technical issues that led to the [2009] launch delay, as of March 2011 three significant technical issues remain unresolved. . . . Because of technical issues related to these three and other items, Project managers must complete nearly three times the number of critical tasks than originally planned in the few months remaining until launch. [emphasis mine]
Dept. of Education SWAT team breaks down man’s door
The abuse of power: The U.S. Department of Education used a SWAT team to break down a man’s door and hold him and his three children, aged 3, 7, and 11, for six hours, all because his wife had defaulted on her student loans.
The abuse of power: The U.S. Department of Education used a SWAT team to break down a man’s door and hold him and his three children, aged 3, 7, and 11, for six hours, all because his wife had defaulted on her student loans.
Whistle-blower claims his accusations cost him his job
A whistle-blower from a Wisconsin research lab claims his accusations cost him his job.
After months of friction that culminated in his openly questioning the reproducibility of data published by his supervisor, a postdoc at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s zoology department was presented with three options. The department’s chairman said he could wait to be fired, resign voluntarily or accept a “gracious exit strategy” that would give him time to prepare a paper for publication, if he dropped his “scientific misconduct issues”.
When geneticist Aaron Taylor objected that the third option sounded like a “plea bargain” meant to discourage him from pressing his concerns about the lab’s data, the chairman, Jeffrey Hardin disagreed. But Hardin also said: “I think you’d have to decide which is more important to you.” He later added: “You have to decide whether you want to kind of engage in whistle-blowing.” [emphasis mine]
A whistle-blower from a Wisconsin research lab claims his accusations cost him his job.
After months of friction that culminated in his openly questioning the reproducibility of data published by his supervisor, a postdoc at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s zoology department was presented with three options. The department’s chairman said he could wait to be fired, resign voluntarily or accept a “gracious exit strategy” that would give him time to prepare a paper for publication, if he dropped his “scientific misconduct issues”.
When geneticist Aaron Taylor objected that the third option sounded like a “plea bargain” meant to discourage him from pressing his concerns about the lab’s data, the chairman, Jeffrey Hardin disagreed. But Hardin also said: “I think you’d have to decide which is more important to you.” He later added: “You have to decide whether you want to kind of engage in whistle-blowing.” [emphasis mine]
Market research firm predicts over 1,600 satellites worth $250 billion will be launched in the next fifteen years
A bright future for commercial space: A market research firm predicts the launching of more than 1,600 satellites, worth $250 billion, in the next fifteen years.
A bright future for commercial space: A market research firm predicts the launching of more than 1,600 satellites, worth $250 billion, in the next fifteen years.