Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Three Little Kittens
Support for health care law drops again
Repeal it, dammit! Support for Obamacare continues to plummet.
Repeal it, dammit! Support for Obamacare continues to plummet.
Obama to call for tax increases in tonight’s speech
Tone deaf: The day before tax day, Obama is expected tonight to call for more tax increases.
More here about what Obama is proposing.
I meanwhile ask this obvious question: Why didn’t Obama make this proposal in his earlier budget proposals? Could it be that he isn’t serious, and is simply responding to the pressure he is getting from the right?
Tone deaf: The day before tax day, Obama is expected tonight to call for more tax increases.
More here about what Obama is proposing.
I meanwhile ask this obvious question: Why didn’t Obama make this proposal in his earlier budget proposals? Could it be that he isn’t serious, and is simply responding to the pressure he is getting from the right?
Soviet space capsule sold for $2.9M at NYC auction
A Soviet-era Vostok space capsule, flown prior to Gagarin as a test, has sold for $2.9M at a New York auction.
A Soviet-era Vostok space capsule, flown prior to Gagarin as a test, has sold for $2.9M at a New York auction.
“Afterwards she broke down with crying because she really didn’t understand what she’d done wrong.”
More on TSA child abuse: “Afterwards she broke down with crying because she really didn’t understand what she’d done wrong.”
More on TSA child abuse: “Afterwards she broke down with crying because she really didn’t understand what she’d done wrong.”
‘Hope Sarah Palin Dies’ Page Is Still Up and Running on Facebook
Leftwing civility: The “I hate when I wake up and Sarah Palin is still alive” Facebook page is still up and running.
Leftwing civility: The “I hate when I wake up and Sarah Palin is still alive” Facebook page is still up and running.
Town Bans political signs in Public Park to silence Tea Party protest
Freedom of speech alert: A Michigan town passed a ban on all political signs in a public park in order to silence a Tea Party protest.`
Freedom of speech alert: A Michigan town passed a ban on all political signs in a public park in order to silence a Tea Party protest.`
Details on the $38 billion budget deal
Some details on the $38 billion budget deal.
Overall, it looks like more of the same, gimmicks disguised as budget cuts. Nonetheless, considering that most of government is still controlled by status quo spenders — in both parties — the deal is still a good one, as it clearly sets that political tone for the future: budget cuts and more budget cuts.
Some details on the $38 billion budget deal.
Overall, it looks like more of the same, gimmicks disguised as budget cuts. Nonetheless, considering that most of government is still controlled by status quo spenders — in both parties — the deal is still a good one, as it clearly sets that political tone for the future: budget cuts and more budget cuts.
TSA agent gropes 6-year old, preventing nothing
Fine print of spending deal ’still under negotiation’
The fat lady hasn’t sung yet: The budget deal fine print is “still under negotiation.”
The fat lady hasn’t sung yet: The budget deal fine print is “still under negotiation.”
Stagnation fears haunt Russian space program
Stagnation haunts Russian space program.
Stagnation haunts Russian space program.
Virgin Galactic Hiring SpaceShip Pilots
Virgin Galactic is now hiring for spaceship pilots.
Virgin Galactic is now hiring for spaceship pilots.
Government shutdown averted as congressional leaders reach agreement on budget deal
A government shutdown is averted as congressional leaders have reached an agreement on a budget deal. Here’s some analysis of the political ramifications.
A government shutdown is averted as congressional leaders have reached an agreement on a budget deal. Here’s some analysis of the political ramifications.
Government Shutdown Would Idle All but 500 NASA Workers
A government shutdown would idle all but 500 NASA workers.
A government shutdown would idle all but 500 NASA workers.
ISS Plans Week-Long Simulated Mars Mission
ISS plans week-long simulated Mars mission.
This is the right idea, but to really learn something NASA needs to commit to a year-plus long simulated mission.
ISS plans week-long simulated Mars mission.
This is the right idea, but to really learn something NASA needs to commit to a year-plus long simulated mission.
6 Pages of Obamacare Equals 429 Pages of Regulations
This monstrosity has got to be repealed: Six pages of Obamacare equals 429 pages of regulations.
This monstrosity has got to be repealed: Six pages of Obamacare equals 429 pages of regulations.
Let’s dump trash at Boehner’s pad
Leftwing civility: “Let’s dump trash at Boehner’s pad.”
Leftwing civility: “Let’s dump trash at Boehner’s pad.”
NASA braces for possible government shutdown
NASA backs out of space gravitational wave mission
NASA, crunched for money due to overages on James Webb Space Telescope, has cancelled its participation in the space gravitational wave mission LISA.
NASA, crunched for money due to overages on James Webb Space Telescope, has cancelled its participation in the space gravitational wave mission LISA.
Two Americas: Public vs. Private Employees
Two Americas: public vs. private. The graph illustrates our nation’s problems quite clearly.
Two Americas: public vs. private. The graph illustrates our nation’s problems quite clearly.
Conservative judge wins in Wisconsin
After much fussing in the vote-counting process, the conservative judge has won in Wisconsin. This probably ends the debate over the union law passed last month, which will now become law.
After much fussing in the vote-counting process, the conservative judge has won in Wisconsin. This probably ends the debate over the union law passed last month, which will now become law.
Spaceship Lands at San Francisco Airport
The future is here: Spaceship lands at San Francisco airport. And yes, that is an accurate headline!
The future is here: Spaceship lands at San Francisco airport. And yes, that is an accurate headline!
Picking the landing spot for the next Mars rover is down to four finalists
Picking the landing spot for the next Mars rover: down to four finalists.
Picking the landing spot for the next Mars rover: down to four finalists.
The strange fluctuating polar vortex over Venus’s pole
The strange fluctuating polar vortex over Venus’s south pole.
The strange fluctuating polar vortex over Venus’s south pole.
Lettuce alone
Kepler tracks the tiny light variations and oscillations of 500 stars
Kepler does asteroseismology on 500 sunlike stars. The data says that the theories of star formation need to be revised.
Kepler does asteroseismology on 500 sunlike stars. The data says that the theories of star formation need to be revised.
Russian Spaceship ‘Gagarin’ Arrives at Space Station
Russian spaceship “Gagarin” arrives at ISS.
Russian spaceship “Gagarin” arrives at ISS.
Newly discovered asteroid orbits in union with Earth
Newly discovered asteroid follows the Earth as it orbits the Sun, and has been doing it for a quarter million years.
Currently, three other horseshoe companions of the Earth are known to exist but, unlike 2010 SO16, these linger for a few thousand years at most before moving on to different orbits. Also, with an estimated diameter of 200–400 metres, 2010 SO16 is by far the largest of Earth’s horseshoe asteroids. The team has already used the Las Cumbres Observatory’s Faulkes Telescope in an on-going campaign to track the object and refine its orbit further. “It is not that difficult to spot with a medium-sized professional telescope”, says Dr Asher. “It will remain as an evening object in Earth’s skies for many years to come.”
Newly discovered asteroid follows the Earth as it orbits the Sun, and has been doing it for a quarter million years.
Currently, three other horseshoe companions of the Earth are known to exist but, unlike 2010 SO16, these linger for a few thousand years at most before moving on to different orbits. Also, with an estimated diameter of 200–400 metres, 2010 SO16 is by far the largest of Earth’s horseshoe asteroids. The team has already used the Las Cumbres Observatory’s Faulkes Telescope in an on-going campaign to track the object and refine its orbit further. “It is not that difficult to spot with a medium-sized professional telescope”, says Dr Asher. “It will remain as an evening object in Earth’s skies for many years to come.”
A galaxy eats a star
Nyiragongo Crater: Journey to the Center of the World
Walking in Nyiragongo Crater in Africa. The pictures are stupendous.
Walking in Nyiragongo Crater in Africa. The pictures are stupendous.