The spring rains (of methane) have arrived on Titan
The spring rains (of methane) have arrived on Titan.
The spring rains (of methane) have arrived on Titan.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
The spring rains (of methane) have arrived on Titan
The Wisconsin Assembly’s Bold Leap
The Wisconsin assembly’s bold leap. Key quote:
It was these freshman legislators who stood on the assembly floor following Knilans’ speech that day, while their orange-T-shirt-clad Democratic colleagues shouted “SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!” in their faces. They could feel the ambient rumble of the thousands of pro-union protesters that stood mere feet outside the assembly chamber. Newly elected representative Michelle Litjens had earlier been the target of a threat from a Democratic assemblyman, who pointed at her and said, “You’re f***ing dead.”
Knilans himself felt the intimidation. In his capitol office one day, he heard a group outside his door say, “We know where you live.” Picketers showed up at his house. He said he didn’t personally feel threatened, but he was anxious about the safety of his wife and two small children at home. One day, his five-year-old son asked him, “Do they hate you, Dad?”
Yet they stood together, endured the insults, and passed the bill on to Walker, who signed it the next day.
The Wisconsin assembly’s bold leap. Key quote:
It was these freshman legislators who stood on the assembly floor following Knilans’ speech that day, while their orange-T-shirt-clad Democratic colleagues shouted “SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!” in their faces. They could feel the ambient rumble of the thousands of pro-union protesters that stood mere feet outside the assembly chamber. Newly elected representative Michelle Litjens had earlier been the target of a threat from a Democratic assemblyman, who pointed at her and said, “You’re f***ing dead.”
Knilans himself felt the intimidation. In his capitol office one day, he heard a group outside his door say, “We know where you live.” Picketers showed up at his house. He said he didn’t personally feel threatened, but he was anxious about the safety of his wife and two small children at home. One day, his five-year-old son asked him, “Do they hate you, Dad?”
Yet they stood together, endured the insults, and passed the bill on to Walker, who signed it the next day.
Messenger probe set to orbit Mercury
After years of travel, the probe Messenger finally goes into orbit around Mercury tonight.
After years of travel, the probe Messenger finally goes into orbit around Mercury tonight.
Two Democrat leaders Charged in Tea Party Election Fraud
Two Democrat leaders in Michigan are facing nine felony charges for election fraud.
Two Democrat leaders in Michigan are facing nine felony charges for election fraud.
It’s okay to murder Jews
It’s okay to murder Jews.
It’s okay to murder Jews.
Satellite Builders express contempt for MDA’s refueling plans for Intelsat
Sour grapes: Satellite builders express contempt for MDA’s refueling plans for Intelsat orbiting satellites.
No surprise here. If Intelsat can extend the life of its satellites, than it won’t have to buy them as often from these builders, something the builders clearly don’t want.
Sour grapes: Satellite builders express contempt for MDA’s refueling plans for Intelsat orbiting satellites.
No surprise here. If Intelsat can extend the life of its satellites, than it won’t have to buy them as often from these builders, something the builders clearly don’t want.
D.C. GOP HQ Windows Shattered By Small Caliber Pellets
The new civility: The windows at Republican headquarters in Washington, DC were shattered by small caliber pellets last night.
The new civility: The windows at Republican headquarters in Washington, DC were shattered by small caliber pellets last night.
Mandatory Spending to Exceed all Federal Revenues — 50 Years Ahead of Schedule
And you think we aren’t spending our way to obliviion? Mandatory spending now exceeds all federal revenues, fifty years ahead of schedule.
And you think we aren’t spending our way to obliviion? Mandatory spending now exceeds all federal revenues, fifty years ahead of schedule.
In special vote voters oust Miami-Dade mayor for raising taxes
More please! In special recall election voters oust Miami-Dade mayor for raising taxes.
More please! In special recall election voters oust Miami-Dade mayor for raising taxes.
Three astronauts return safely to Earth in Soyuz capsule
Three astronauts return safely to Earth in Soyuz capsule.
Three astronauts return safely to Earth in Soyuz capsule.
The strange tale of the Lebanese space race
The strange tale of the Lebanese space program.
The strange tale of the Lebanese space program.
A boxing gym fighting state’s eminent domain proceedings gets its day in court
A boxing gym, fighting its state’s eminent domain proceedings for being “blighted”, gets its day in court.
A boxing gym, fighting its state’s eminent domain proceedings for being “blighted”, gets its day in court.
The strange link between samurai swords and Japan’s nuclear reactors
The strange link between samurai swords and Japan’s nuclear reactors.
The strange link between samurai swords and Japan’s nuclear reactors.
Winning the future 3 weeks at a time: Obama endorses House spending bill with $6 billion in cuts
The budget wars: Winning the future three weeks at a time. To me, this says it all:
The Obama White House on Tuesday endorsed the Republican House-passed federal spending extension bill and urged the Democratic-controlled Senate to pass it and avoid a federal government shutdown Friday.
The budget wars: Winning the future three weeks at a time. To me, this says it all:
The Obama White House on Tuesday endorsed the Republican House-passed federal spending extension bill and urged the Democratic-controlled Senate to pass it and avoid a federal government shutdown Friday.
The X-37B – what its first two flights have been about
The X-37B – what its first two flights have been about.
The X-37B – what its first two flights have been about.
Violence and unions: It’s in their blood
Violence and unions: It’s in their blood.
Violence and unions: It’s in their blood.
The nation was left reeling yesterday by the revelation that the presidential election of 2008 was a hoax.
The truth at last! The nation was left reeling yesterday by the revelation that the presidential election of 2008 was a hoax. Key quote:
O’Keefe said he also expected the ruse would be unmasked when Obama said that “under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket,” and again when Obama claimed, “I’ve now been in 57 (U.S.) states,” with “one left to go.”
“We modeled the 57-states gaffe on Dan Quayle’s ‘potatoe’ mistake,” said O’Keefe, referring to a 1992 incident at a Trenton, N.J., elementary school in which then-Vice President Dan Quayle added an “e” to “potato.” “We figured Obama would become a national laughingstock like Quayle, (but we) underestimated the tendency of the press and the public to forgive mistakes by people they like.”
Read the whole thing.
The truth at last! The nation was left reeling yesterday by the revelation that the presidential election of 2008 was a hoax. Key quote:
O’Keefe said he also expected the ruse would be unmasked when Obama said that “under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket,” and again when Obama claimed, “I’ve now been in 57 (U.S.) states,” with “one left to go.”
“We modeled the 57-states gaffe on Dan Quayle’s ‘potatoe’ mistake,” said O’Keefe, referring to a 1992 incident at a Trenton, N.J., elementary school in which then-Vice President Dan Quayle added an “e” to “potato.” “We figured Obama would become a national laughingstock like Quayle, (but we) underestimated the tendency of the press and the public to forgive mistakes by people they like.”
Read the whole thing.
Time to stop nuke hysteria
Time to stop the nuke hysteria. Key quote:
It’s not bad enough that thousands of people may be dead from Japan’s earthquake and devastating tsunami. No, the media is instead obsessing over a nuclear reactor that has killed no one and probably never will.
Time to stop the nuke hysteria. Key quote:
It’s not bad enough that thousands of people may be dead from Japan’s earthquake and devastating tsunami. No, the media is instead obsessing over a nuclear reactor that has killed no one and probably never will.
A college student who was arrested for stripping down at airport security to reveal the Fourth Amendment written across his chest is now suing the U.S. government for violating his rights.
A college student who was arrested for stripping down at airport security to reveal the Fourth Amendment written across his chest is now suing the U.S. government.
A college student who was arrested for stripping down at airport security to reveal the Fourth Amendment written across his chest is now suing the U.S. government.
Two Dogs Defy the Wave
Two dogs defy the wave. This is the key quote, however:
Mr. Kikuchi and his daughter said they will come back every day to look after the dogs, but they are not going to bring the dogs to the shelter. “There are lots of people dead and it’s too much to ask to bring the dogs,” said Mr. Kikuchi. “It would be inconsiderate to other people’s sadness.”
Two dogs defy the wave. This is the key quote, however:
Mr. Kikuchi and his daughter said they will come back every day to look after the dogs, but they are not going to bring the dogs to the shelter. “There are lots of people dead and it’s too much to ask to bring the dogs,” said Mr. Kikuchi. “It would be inconsiderate to other people’s sadness.”
Fear the Media Meltdown, Not the Nuclear One
Intelsat signs MDA to perform in-space refueling of its communications satellites
Intelsat signs MDA to perform in-space refueling of its communications satellites.
The concept of refueling geosynchronous satellites has been lurking about the aerospace industry for years. According to this deal, we should see an actual mission in about five years.
Intelsat signs MDA to perform in-space refueling of its communications satellites.
The concept of refueling geosynchronous satellites has been lurking about the aerospace industry for years. According to this deal, we should see an actual mission in about five years.
Please save Sticky the kitten
Union-Controlled National Labor Relations Board approves union violence in union election
This is beyond belief: The National Labor Relations Board (its members appointed by the Obama administration) has approved the use of physical threats and abuse by unions in union elections.
This is beyond belief: The National Labor Relations Board (its members appointed by the Obama administration) has approved the use of physical threats and abuse by unions in union elections.
Russians raise the ticket price on a Soyuz again, from $56 to $63 million per ride
Those private companies better get cracking! The Russians have raised their ticket price again, from $56 to $63 million per astronaut ride on a Soyuz.
Those private companies better get cracking! The Russians have raised their ticket price again, from $56 to $63 million per astronaut ride on a Soyuz.
“Our worst crisis since World War Two”
How the White House Bullies the Press
How the White House bullies the press.
How the White House bullies the press.
First results from the Hayabusa asteroid samples
First results from the Hayabusa asteroid samples.
A preliminary analysis of asteroid samples returned last year by Japan’s Hayabusa probe show evidence the dust grains have a similar composition to stony meteorites that commonly fall to Earth. . . . The initial research also shows the samples inspected so far contain no organic molecules. Scientists also say the analysis confirms the rocks at Itokawa were formed 4.6 billion years ago at the dawn of the solar system.
First results from the Hayabusa asteroid samples.
A preliminary analysis of asteroid samples returned last year by Japan’s Hayabusa probe show evidence the dust grains have a similar composition to stony meteorites that commonly fall to Earth. . . . The initial research also shows the samples inspected so far contain no organic molecules. Scientists also say the analysis confirms the rocks at Itokawa were formed 4.6 billion years ago at the dawn of the solar system.
Space Shuttle Worker Dies in Fall at Launch Pad
Very sad: A space shuttle worker has died from a Fall at the launchpad.
Very sad: A space shuttle worker has died from a Fall at the launchpad.
Russia Delays Launch of Soyuz Capsule to Space Station
Problems going up and going down: Not only are there issues with the Soyuz capsule that is scheduled to return to Earth on Wednesday, a problem in the communications system of the next Soyuz capsule has caused the Russians to delay its launch by at least one week.
Problems going up and going down: Not only are there issues with the Soyuz capsule that is scheduled to return to Earth on Wednesday, a problem in the communications system of the next Soyuz capsule has caused the Russians to delay its launch by at least one week.