A look back at the V2 rocket
A look back at the V2 rocket.
A look back at the V2 rocket.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
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.
US judge to rule on Obamacare today
Repeal it already! Another US judge is expected to rule on Obamacare today. Key quote:
The judge, Roger Vinson of the U.S. District Court in Pensacola, Florida, was expected to rule on a lawsuit brought by governors and attorneys general from 26 U.S. states, almost all of whom are Republicans. Obama is a Democrat. The plaintiffs represent more than half the U.S. states, so the Pensacola case has more prominence than some two dozen lawsuits filed in federal courts over the healthcare law.
Repeal it already! Another US judge is expected to rule on Obamacare today. Key quote:
The judge, Roger Vinson of the U.S. District Court in Pensacola, Florida, was expected to rule on a lawsuit brought by governors and attorneys general from 26 U.S. states, almost all of whom are Republicans. Obama is a Democrat. The plaintiffs represent more than half the U.S. states, so the Pensacola case has more prominence than some two dozen lawsuits filed in federal courts over the healthcare law.
As Egypt goes offline US Congress gets internet ‘kill switch’ bill ready
Freedom of speech alert: As Egypt goes offline some members of the US Congress are getting their own internet ‘kill switch’ bill ready.
Freedom of speech alert: As Egypt goes offline some members of the US Congress are getting their own internet ‘kill switch’ bill ready.
Teenager builds ‘death-ray’ which can burn through almost anything
Indiana teenager has built a “Solar death-ray” that can literally burn through almost anything!
Indiana teenager has built a “Solar death-ray” that can literally burn through almost anything!
The chimp that took America into space
The chimp that took America into space.
The chimp that took America into space.
Bigelow signs agreement with Dubai and United Arab Emirates
Bring on those private space stations! Bigelow Aerospace has signed an agreement with Dubai and United Arab Emirates.
Bring on those private space stations! Bigelow Aerospace has signed an agreement with Dubai and United Arab Emirates.
White House quietly exempts friends from Obamacare
Repeal the damn bill! And even the White House agrees as it quietly exempts its political friends from Obamacare. Key quote:
How can you get your own free pass from Obamacare? Maybe you can just donate $27 million to President Obama‘s campaign efforts. That’s what Andy Stern did as president of SEIU in 2008. He has been the most frequent guest at Mr. Obama‘s White House.
Repeal the damn bill! And even the White House agrees as it quietly exempts its political friends from Obamacare. Key quote:
How can you get your own free pass from Obamacare? Maybe you can just donate $27 million to President Obama‘s campaign efforts. That’s what Andy Stern did as president of SEIU in 2008. He has been the most frequent guest at Mr. Obama‘s White House.
Another freighter docks with ISS
Another freighter, this time from Russia, docks with ISS.
Another freighter, this time from Russia, docks with ISS.
TSA shuts door on private airport screening program
It’s all about power and control: The TSA has announced that it will no longer approve private airport screeners.
It’s all about power and control: The TSA has announced that it will no longer approve private airport screeners.
Renegade Star Rips Through Space
Using skateboards to test prototype lunar lander
Using skateboards to test a prototype lunar lander.
Using skateboards to test a prototype lunar lander.
Student sues University of Idaho over firearms ban
Another 2nd amendment battle: A student is suing the University of Idaho for banning firearms from his university-owned apartment.
Another 2nd amendment battle: A student is suing the University of Idaho for banning firearms from his university-owned apartment.
NASA’s Overbudget Mars Rover in Need of Another Cash Infusion
Here we go again: NASA’s already overbudget Mars Science Laboratory rover is in need of even more cash.
Here we go again: NASA’s already overbudget Mars Science Laboratory rover is in need of even more cash.
Electric cars and their cold-weather shortcomings
Reality meets feel-good politics: Electric cars and their cold-weather shortcomings. Key quote:
“If you live in an area where the winters get extremely cold an all-electric vehicle will have to be garaged and equipped with some kind of plug-in battery warmer for it to be effective in the coldest months of the year. Keep these thoughts in mind if you’re planning an electric car purchase; we don’t want you finding out the range of your car has been halved when it’s five below zero and you’re fifteen miles from home.”
Reality meets feel-good politics: Electric cars and their cold-weather shortcomings. Key quote:
“If you live in an area where the winters get extremely cold an all-electric vehicle will have to be garaged and equipped with some kind of plug-in battery warmer for it to be effective in the coldest months of the year. Keep these thoughts in mind if you’re planning an electric car purchase; we don’t want you finding out the range of your car has been halved when it’s five below zero and you’re fifteen miles from home.”
Egyptians brace for Friday protests as internet, messaging disrupted
The triumph of freedom: Protests spread to Egypt and Jordan.
We should recognize that though the overthrow of these Middle East dictatorships is certainly not a bad thing, the regimes that replace them are very likely not going to be much better, and could very well be worse. However, the free flow of information in the Arab world can only be a good thing, and in the long run can only lead to freedom and peace between nations.
The triumph of freedom: Protests spread to Egypt and Jordan.
We should recognize that though the overthrow of these Middle East dictatorships is certainly not a bad thing, the regimes that replace them are very likely not going to be much better, and could very well be worse. However, the free flow of information in the Arab world can only be a good thing, and in the long run can only lead to freedom and peace between nations.
Dilbert today
Today’s Dilbert strip says it all about the stupidity of the TSA.
Today’s Dilbert strip says it all about the stupidity of the TSA.
Japan on alert after volcano’s biggest eruption in 50 years
Japan is on alert today after the biggest volcanic eruption in 50 years took place on the nation’s southernmost main island, Kyushu. The pictures at the link are truly incredible!
Japan is on alert today after the biggest volcanic eruption in 50 years took place on the nation’s southernmost main island, Kyushu. The pictures at the link are truly incredible!
Arab world shaken by power of Twitter and Facebook
The truimph of freedom: The Arab world, shaken by the power of the internet. Key quote:
On Dec. 17, in Sidi Bouzid, deep in the interior, Mohamed Bouazizi set himself aflame in front of a government building, in protest after police confiscated his produce stand. Horrible images of his act circulated lightning-fast on the Internet. Protests followed.
“Thanks to Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, images of those first protests went around the world instantly, and everyone knew about it,” says Tlili. “Even 20 years ago, you could have had those uprisings in the interior and few would have known.”
The truimph of freedom: The Arab world, shaken by the power of the internet. Key quote:
On Dec. 17, in Sidi Bouzid, deep in the interior, Mohamed Bouazizi set himself aflame in front of a government building, in protest after police confiscated his produce stand. Horrible images of his act circulated lightning-fast on the Internet. Protests followed.
“Thanks to Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, images of those first protests went around the world instantly, and everyone knew about it,” says Tlili. “Even 20 years ago, you could have had those uprisings in the interior and few would have known.”
A Fizzy Ocean on Enceladus
A fizzy ocean on Enceladus? Key quote:
[Scientists believe] that gasses dissolved in water deep below the surface [of Enceladus] form bubbles. Since the density of the resulting “sparkling water” is less than that of the ice, the liquid ascends quickly up through the ice to the surface. “Most of the water spreads out sideways and ‘warms’ a thin surface ice lid, which is about 300 feet thick,” explains Matson. “But some of it collects in subsurface chambers, builds up pressure, and then blasts out through small holes in the ground, like soda spewing out of that can you opened.”
A fizzy ocean on Enceladus? Key quote:
[Scientists believe] that gasses dissolved in water deep below the surface [of Enceladus] form bubbles. Since the density of the resulting “sparkling water” is less than that of the ice, the liquid ascends quickly up through the ice to the surface. “Most of the water spreads out sideways and ‘warms’ a thin surface ice lid, which is about 300 feet thick,” explains Matson. “But some of it collects in subsurface chambers, builds up pressure, and then blasts out through small holes in the ground, like soda spewing out of that can you opened.”
Night-Shining Clouds are Getting Brighter
For reasons unknown, for the past thirty years high altitude noctilucent clouds have been getting brighter.
For reasons unknown, for the past thirty years high altitude noctilucent clouds have been getting brighter.
New research finds that the Himalayan glaciers are not melting
New research finds that the Himalayan glaciers are not melting. Key quote:
The new study by scientists at the Universities of California and Potsdam has found that half of the glaciers in the Karakoram range, in the northwestern Himlaya, are in fact advancing and that global warming is not the deciding factor in whether a glacier survives or melts.
The last part of the above quote, on global warming, is almost certainly an overstatement of what we do or don’t know. Warming will cause glaciers to melt, but how much and when are factors that are still not understood. Moreover, we are still not sure how much warming has even occurred.
New research finds that the Himalayan glaciers are not melting. Key quote:
The new study by scientists at the Universities of California and Potsdam has found that half of the glaciers in the Karakoram range, in the northwestern Himlaya, are in fact advancing and that global warming is not the deciding factor in whether a glacier survives or melts.
The last part of the above quote, on global warming, is almost certainly an overstatement of what we do or don’t know. Warming will cause glaciers to melt, but how much and when are factors that are still not understood. Moreover, we are still not sure how much warming has even occurred.
Ex-state official who illegally searched “Joe the Plumber’s” private records gets county job
Meanwhile, here’s another reason why everyone should be disgusted with the government we presently have: The former state official who illegally searched “Joe the Plumber’s” private records has now gotten another government job, working for the Montgomery County Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board in Ohio.
Meanwhile, here’s another reason why everyone should be disgusted with the government we presently have: The former state official who illegally searched “Joe the Plumber’s” private records has now gotten another government job, working for the Montgomery County Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board in Ohio.
Man Acquitted of refusing to give his id to police or TSA
Freedom wins! A man who was arrested for refusing to give his ID to TSA agents and videotaping his arrest has been acquitted of all charges. You can watch the videotape at the link. Also, more here.
Freedom wins! A man who was arrested for refusing to give his ID to TSA agents and videotaping his arrest has been acquitted of all charges. You can watch the videotape at the link. Also, more here.
Japan’s second robot cargo vehicle successfully docks at ISS
Another Japanese space success today: Its second robot cargo vehicle has successfully docked at ISS.
Another Japanese space success today: Its second robot cargo vehicle has successfully docked at ISS.
Ikaros takes a picture of Venus
Ikaros takes a picture of Venus.
Ikaros takes a picture of Venus.
ObamaCare Waivers Jump from 222 to 729 Covering 2.2 Million Employees
Repeal the damn bill! The number of companies who have received waivers from ObamaCare has jumped from 222 to 729, and now exempts over two million employees.
If the bill was so great, why are more and more companies trying to get out of participating?
Repeal the damn bill! The number of companies who have received waivers from ObamaCare has jumped from 222 to 729, and now exempts over two million employees.
If the bill was so great, why are more and more companies trying to get out of participating?
NYC Lawmaker Proposes Ban On Talking And Walking
More government foolishness: A New York city lawmaker wants to ban the use of cell phones or any electronic devices while walking on the street.
More government foolishness: A New York city lawmaker wants to ban the use of cell phones or any electronic devices while walking on the street.