Japan’s Mount Shinmoe erupts again
Japan’s Mount Shinmoe volcano erupted again today.
Japan’s Mount Shinmoe volcano erupted again today.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Japan’s Mount Shinmoe erupts again
Senate May Vote Today On Health Repeal
I guess it was the supermarket confrontation that’s making Harry Reid do it: The Senate may vote today on the repeal of Obamacare.
I guess it was the supermarket confrontation that’s making Harry Reid do it: The Senate may vote today on the repeal of Obamacare.
Harry Reid confronted in supermarket over lack of Obamacare repeal vote
Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) was confronted in a supermarket on Saturday over his refusal to allow a vote on the repeal of Obamacare.
Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) was confronted in a supermarket on Saturday over his refusal to allow a vote on the repeal of Obamacare.
Stardust refines its flight path towards comet Tempel
On Monday Stardust did a final mid-course correction in anticipation of its February 14 fly-by of of Comet Tempel 1.
On Monday Stardust did a final mid-course correction in anticipation of its February 14 fly-by of of Comet Tempel 1.
Crew of simulated Mars mission “arrives on Red Planet”
The crew of a simulated 500 day long Mars mission has reached “Mars orbit” after 8 months of confinement in a facility in Russia.
The crew of a simulated 500 day long Mars mission has reached “Mars orbit” after 8 months of confinement in a facility in Russia.
Israeli team enters Google Lunar X Prize competition
An Israeli team has entered the Google Lunar X Prize competition, hoping to land a nanosat on the moon for only $8 million.
An Israeli team has entered the Google Lunar X Prize competition, hoping to land a nanosat on the moon for only $8 million.
Russia regains contact with missing military satellite
Russia regains contact with missing military satellite, finds that it was placed in the wrong orbit.
Russia regains contact with missing military satellite, finds that it was placed in the wrong orbit.
Vapor trails
White nose confirmed on Indiana bats
White nose syndrome, a fungus that is linked to the death of approximately a million bats throughout the eastern United States, has now been confirmed on two Indiana bats. You can read the actual Indiana Department of Natural Resources press release here. [pdf]
The bats are thus finally spreading the fungus north, as has been expected.
White nose syndrome, a fungus that is linked to the death of approximately a million bats throughout the eastern United States, has now been confirmed on two Indiana bats. You can read the actual Indiana Department of Natural Resources press release here. [pdf]
The bats are thus finally spreading the fungus north, as has been expected.
FEMA considers, than cancels spending a billion on MREs
Government stupidity in action: FEMA considered then canceled (thank goodness) a proposal to spend more than a billion dollars on Meals-Ready-to-Eat on the very slim chance that the New Madrid fault in the midwest might produce a major earthquake sometime in the three years.
Unfortunately, they still haven’t canceled plans to buy 7 million emergency blankets and 550 million gallons of water in individual 1-liter plastic bottles.
Government stupidity in action: FEMA considered then canceled (thank goodness) a proposal to spend more than a billion dollars on Meals-Ready-to-Eat on the very slim chance that the New Madrid fault in the midwest might produce a major earthquake sometime in the three years.
Unfortunately, they still haven’t canceled plans to buy 7 million emergency blankets and 550 million gallons of water in individual 1-liter plastic bottles.
More McCarthyism, from the left
More McCarthyism from the left: How a university professor was threatened, then lost his job, because he disagreed with the mayor of Chicago.
More McCarthyism from the left: How a university professor was threatened, then lost his job, because he disagreed with the mayor of Chicago.
WISE Completes Scan for Asteroids and Comets
The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, WISE, has completed its four month extended mission, finishing a scan of the heavens that discovered more than 33,000 asteroids and comets.
The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, WISE, has completed its four month extended mission, finishing a scan of the heavens that discovered more than 33,000 asteroids and comets.
Fossil female pterosaur found with preserved egg
The fossil of a female pterodactyl has been found in China, including an about-to-be laid egg. Key quote:
The egg indicates this ancient flying reptile was a female, and that realisation has allowed researchers to sex these creatures for the first time.
The fossil of a female pterodactyl has been found in China, including an about-to-be laid egg. Key quote:
The egg indicates this ancient flying reptile was a female, and that realisation has allowed researchers to sex these creatures for the first time.
Russia loses contact with new military satellite
Russia loses contact with newly launched military satellite.
Russia loses contact with newly launched military satellite.
finding out what’s politically correct
Want to know what the academic elite think is or is not politically correct? Make two different Freedom of Information Act requests at the same university for two scientists who just happen to be on opposite sides of the global warming debate and see how the university responds.
Not surprisingly, the university was glad to do whatever it could to hurt the global warming skeptic, while stonewalling any requests for information about the global warming advocate.
Want to know what the academic elite think is or is not politically correct? Make two different Freedom of Information Act requests at the same university for two scientists who just happen to be on opposite sides of the global warming debate and see how the university responds.
Not surprisingly, the university was glad to do whatever it could to hurt the global warming skeptic, while stonewalling any requests for information about the global warming advocate.
Georgia Lawmaker Proposes Doing Away With Driver’s Licenses
An intriguing idea: A Georgia lawmaker proposes doing away with driver’s licenses.
An intriguing idea: A Georgia lawmaker proposes doing away with driver’s licenses.
Senate vote to repeal Obamacare could come this week
A Senate vote to repeal Obamacare could come as early as this week.
Repeal it already! From the courts to the White House, everyone knows this law is a turkey.
A Senate vote to repeal Obamacare could come as early as this week.
Repeal it already! From the courts to the White House, everyone knows this law is a turkey.
Using fishing nets to catch space junk
Using fishing nets to catch space junk.
Using fishing nets to catch space junk.
Discovery rolls out to launch pad again
Discovery has once again rolled out to the launch pad for its final mission.
Discovery has once again rolled out to the launch pad for its final mission.
A proposal to bypass the effort of Egypt (or any government) to shut down the internet
A proposal to bypass the effort of Egypt (or any government) to shut down the internet.
A proposal to bypass the effort of Egypt (or any government) to shut down the internet.
“This is the kind of ‘civil debate’ the left wants to have after Tucson?”
Looser gun laws proposed in Arizona
Here’s the right way to respond to the Tucson shootings: Less restrictions on gun use proposed in Arizona.
Here’s the right way to respond to the Tucson shootings: Less restrictions on gun use proposed in Arizona.
Air Force’s second X-37B space plane nears launch
The Air Force’s second X-37B space plane is now scheduled for a March 4 launch. Key quote:
“We want to be able to put an object up into space, materials, technology and so forth, test them out, bring them back and examine them,” said Richard McKinney, deputy under secretary of the Air Force for space programs. “In that respect, this is a test vehicle.”
The Air Force’s second X-37B space plane is now scheduled for a March 4 launch. Key quote:
“We want to be able to put an object up into space, materials, technology and so forth, test them out, bring them back and examine them,” said Richard McKinney, deputy under secretary of the Air Force for space programs. “In that respect, this is a test vehicle.”
The Sky Is Falling … More Than We Thought
Chicken Little was right! The sky is falling!
Chicken Little was right! The sky is falling!
Florida Judge Rules Against Health Law.
Big news! A Florida judge today has ruled the entire Obamacare law is unconstitutional. Key quote:
In his ruling, Judge Roger Vinson, a Republican appointee, said that the law’s requirement to carry insurance or pay a fee “is outside Congress’ Commerce Clause power, and it cannot be otherwise authorized by an assertion of power under the Necessary and Proper Clause. It is not constitutional.” The ruling also said that the entire law “must be declared void,” because the mandate to carry insurance is “not severable” from the rest of the law. [emphasis mine]
Big news! A Florida judge today has ruled the entire Obamacare law is unconstitutional. Key quote:
In his ruling, Judge Roger Vinson, a Republican appointee, said that the law’s requirement to carry insurance or pay a fee “is outside Congress’ Commerce Clause power, and it cannot be otherwise authorized by an assertion of power under the Necessary and Proper Clause. It is not constitutional.” The ruling also said that the entire law “must be declared void,” because the mandate to carry insurance is “not severable” from the rest of the law. [emphasis mine]
GOP pushing for ISPs to record user data
The Republicans in Congress are considering laws to force internet companies to record user data.
God damn it, that is not what they were sent there to do. We have an out-of-control federal budget issuing out-of-control regulations, and these turkeys want to expand their ability to pry into our private lives?
The Republicans in Congress are considering laws to force internet companies to record user data.
God damn it, that is not what they were sent there to do. We have an out-of-control federal budget issuing out-of-control regulations, and these turkeys want to expand their ability to pry into our private lives?
A look back at the V2 rocket
A look back at the V2 rocket.
A look back at the V2 rocket.
Hollywood: land of intolerance
Hollywood: the land of intolerance.
Hollywood: the land of intolerance.
Obama Administration Has Given Obamacare Waivers to 28 Union Locals that Spent $673,309 to Get Obama Elected
More proof this bill stinks: The Obama administration has given Obamacare waivers to 28 union locals that spent almost $700,000 to get Obama elected.
More proof this bill stinks: The Obama administration has given Obamacare waivers to 28 union locals that spent almost $700,000 to get Obama elected.
Poll finds that an overwhelming majority of Americans from both parties want politicians to heed the ‘tea party’
Surprise, surprise! A poll has found that an overwhelming majority of Americans from both parties want politicians to pay attention to tea party demands.
Surprise, surprise! A poll has found that an overwhelming majority of Americans from both parties want politicians to pay attention to tea party demands.