The first image from Mercury orbit
The first image from Mercury orbit.
The first image from Mercury orbit.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
The first image from Mercury orbit
Louisiana is the ninth state to seek a waiver from Obamacare
Repeal the goddamn thing already! It appears that Louisiana will be the ninth state to seek a waiver from Obamacare.
Repeal the goddamn thing already! It appears that Louisiana will be the ninth state to seek a waiver from Obamacare.
Congressmen rack up unpaid parking tickets
Congressmen rack up unpaid parking tickets.
As Glenn Reynolds would say, laws are for the “little people.”
Congressmen rack up unpaid parking tickets.
As Glenn Reynolds would say, laws are for the “little people.”
German electric airplane completes first flight
The first test flight of a German electric-powered airplane.
The single-seat Elektra One is claimed to have a three-hour endurance using rechargeable batteries and a range of more than 216 nm. The aircraft has a payload of 220 pounds and is claimed to cruise at 86 knots.
The first test flight of a German electric-powered airplane.
The single-seat Elektra One is claimed to have a three-hour endurance using rechargeable batteries and a range of more than 216 nm. The aircraft has a payload of 220 pounds and is claimed to cruise at 86 knots.
Death threat video attacking black conservative
More leftwing civility: A death threat video attacking a black conservative who opposes illegal immigration.
More leftwing civility: A death threat video attacking a black conservative who opposes illegal immigration.
NASA To Make Last Effort To Communicate With Mars Rover ‘Spirit’
NASA’s last effort to re-establish contact with the Mars rover “Spirit.”
NASA’s last effort to re-establish contact with the Mars rover “Spirit.”
Senator Schumer: “I always use the word extreme. . . That is what the caucus instructed me to use this week.”
Congress to NASA: follow the authorization act
The pigs rule! Congress to NASA: follow the authorization act.
In other words, Congress wants NASA to spend money (Pork!) on a rocket it can’t complete for the cash provided.
The pigs rule! Congress to NASA: follow the authorization act.
In other words, Congress wants NASA to spend money (Pork!) on a rocket it can’t complete for the cash provided.
Seven topics Americans can’t have an adult conversations about
Seven topics Americans can’t have an adult conversation about.
Seven topics Americans can’t have an adult conversation about.
University Protects Student Who Issued Jihadist Death Threats Against Conservatives and Jews
More craziness: McGill University has decided to protect the student who issued jihadist death threats against conservatives and Jews.
Some examples of the student’s threats: “I want to shoot everyone in this room,” followed by “I should have brought an M16.”
Here is McGill’s interpretation: “We have come to the conclusion that the messages don’t constitute a threat to the community.”
More craziness: McGill University has decided to protect the student who issued jihadist death threats against conservatives and Jews.
Some examples of the student’s threats: “I want to shoot everyone in this room,” followed by “I should have brought an M16.”
Here is McGill’s interpretation: “We have come to the conclusion that the messages don’t constitute a threat to the community.”
114 Pictures Of The Past Meeting The Present
How the IRS harasses and oppresses
How the IRS harasses and oppresses.
How the IRS harasses and oppresses.
Decommissioning of Discovery has started
The disassembly and decommissioning of the space shuttle Discovery has started.
The disassembly and decommissioning of the space shuttle Discovery has started.
DOD, DOT slam FCC over GPS interference concerns
The Defense and Transportation departments have slammed the FCC over its approval of a new broadband service that they think will interfere with GPS.
The Defense and Transportation departments have slammed the FCC over its approval of a new broadband service that they think will interfere with GPS.
Japan’s unmanned freighter undocks from ISS
Japan’s unmanned freighter undocked from ISS today.
Japan’s unmanned freighter undocked from ISS today.
Secret X-37B Space Plane Spotted Again by Amateurs
The X-37B space plane has been spotted again by amateurs.
The X-37B space plane has been spotted again by amateurs.
Wisconsin Republican legislators threatened at their homes
More leftwing civility: Wisconsin Republican legislators continue to face threats.
“Protesters have congregated at the homes of Republican legislators, surrounded their cars and jeered at them as they walk to work, Mr. Jefferson said,” the Journal reported.
More leftwing civility: Wisconsin Republican legislators continue to face threats.
“Protesters have congregated at the homes of Republican legislators, surrounded their cars and jeered at them as they walk to work, Mr. Jefferson said,” the Journal reported.
Operator of dam in Australia ‘invented’ rain data to justify release of water
It appears the operator of a dam in Australia ‘invented’ record rainfall data in order to justify the gigantic release of water that caused the flooding there in January.
It appears the operator of a dam in Australia ‘invented’ record rainfall data in order to justify the gigantic release of water that caused the flooding there in January.
Tiny church discovers it owns an original King James Bible
A tiny church in England has discovered that its church bible is actually an original 1611 King James bible, “one of perhaps 200 surviving 400-year-old original editions.”
A tiny church in England has discovered that its church bible is actually an original 1611 King James bible, “one of perhaps 200 surviving 400-year-old original editions.”
The brightest supernovae yet found
The brightest supernovae yet found.
Supernova 2008am is 3.7 billion light-years away. At its peak luminosity, it was over 100 billion times brighter than the Sun. It emitted enough energy in one second to satisfy the power needs of the United States for one million times longer than the universe has existed.
The brightest supernovae yet found.
Supernova 2008am is 3.7 billion light-years away. At its peak luminosity, it was over 100 billion times brighter than the Sun. It emitted enough energy in one second to satisfy the power needs of the United States for one million times longer than the universe has existed.
“Worldwide-temperature increase has not produced acceleration of global sea level over the past 100 years”
From Watts Up With That: New sea level data shows that there has been “no acceleration of global sea level over the past 100 years,” despite the increase in temperatures. Key quote from the paper:
It is essential that investigations continue to address why this worldwide-temperature increase has not produced acceleration of global sea level over the past 100 years, and indeed why global sea level has possibly decelerated for at least the last 80 years.
From Watts Up With That: New sea level data shows that there has been “no acceleration of global sea level over the past 100 years,” despite the increase in temperatures. Key quote from the paper:
It is essential that investigations continue to address why this worldwide-temperature increase has not produced acceleration of global sea level over the past 100 years, and indeed why global sea level has possibly decelerated for at least the last 80 years.
Senate Democrats and the White House offer $20B more in cuts
Senate Democrats and the White House offer $20B more in cuts.
This is further evidence that the political winds favor trimming the government. However, to find out how serious the Democrats are we’d need to find out some details about their specific proposed cuts.
Senate Democrats and the White House offer $20B more in cuts.
This is further evidence that the political winds favor trimming the government. However, to find out how serious the Democrats are we’d need to find out some details about their specific proposed cuts.
More on the NASA space war
More on the space war over NASA from Jeff Foust of The Space Review. Also read this Aviation Week article.
Overall, it is still a mess, with much of the money allocated to NASA a complete waste that will not get us into space.
More on the space war over NASA from Jeff Foust of The Space Review. Also read this Aviation Week article.
Overall, it is still a mess, with much of the money allocated to NASA a complete waste that will not get us into space.
The incremental approach is working
He has a point: Fred Barnes argues that the Republican incremental approach to cutting the budget makes sense politically. Key quote:
The end zone is far away, however, and impatience won’t get Republicans there. Impatience is not a strategy. It may lead to a government shutdown with unknown results. To enact the sweeping cuts they desire, Republicans must hold the House and capture the Senate and White House in the 2012 election. Then they’ll control Washington. Now they don’t.
He has a point: Fred Barnes argues that the Republican incremental approach to cutting the budget makes sense politically. Key quote:
The end zone is far away, however, and impatience won’t get Republicans there. Impatience is not a strategy. It may lead to a government shutdown with unknown results. To enact the sweeping cuts they desire, Republicans must hold the House and capture the Senate and White House in the 2012 election. Then they’ll control Washington. Now they don’t.
The MSM Kills the ‘Kill Team’ Story
More proof of media partisan bias: A Democratic President, and suddenly the press isn’t interested in a military murder scandal in Afghanistan.
More proof of media partisan bias: A Democratic President, and suddenly the press isn’t interested in a military murder scandal in Afghanistan.
Frenzy in Washington grows over nation’s debt
Frenzy in Washington grows over nation’s debt.
I like the headline alone, because it suggests the political tide might finally be turning in the direction of actually cutting down the size of federal spending. And the article itself reinforces that sense.
Frenzy in Washington grows over nation’s debt.
I like the headline alone, because it suggests the political tide might finally be turning in the direction of actually cutting down the size of federal spending. And the article itself reinforces that sense.
A statistical study says big quakes don’t trigger others far away
A new statistical study has concluded that big quakes don’t trigger others large quakes far away.
A new statistical study has concluded that big quakes don’t trigger others large quakes far away.
Budget negotiations — and the possibility of a shutdown — are coming to a head
Budget negotiations — and the possibility of a shutdown — are coming to a head.
Budget negotiations — and the possibility of a shutdown — are coming to a head.
Five anti-hunger organization leaders plan open-ended fasts to protest proposed cuts
The pigs continue to squeal: Five anti-hunger organization leaders plan open-ended fasts to protest proposed cuts.
The pigs continue to squeal: Five anti-hunger organization leaders plan open-ended fasts to protest proposed cuts.
Russia and Israel agree on cooperation in outer space
Not bigots: Russia and Israel have agreed on a framework for cooperating in outer space.
Not bigots: Russia and Israel have agreed on a framework for cooperating in outer space.