Longplayer
An evening pause: This piece of music has been playing since 1999 and will continue until 2999. Very meditative.
Environmental activists have launched a petition drive to stop SpaceX from building a commercial spaceport in Brownsville, Texas.
The wrong side of history: Environmental activists have launched a petition drive to stop SpaceX from building a commercial spaceport near Brownsville, Texas.
“I love the space program as much, if not more, than anyone,” said Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger. “But launching big, loud, smelly rockets from the middle of a wildlife refuge will scare the heck out of every creature within miles and sprays noxious chemicals all over the place. It’s a terrible idea and SpaceX needs to find another place for their spaceport.”
This guy obviously doesn’t know that almost all of the Kennedy Space Center is a wildlife refuge, and a successful one at that. But then, what do facts have to do with most environmental causes?
The wrong side of history: Environmental activists have launched a petition drive to stop SpaceX from building a commercial spaceport near Brownsville, Texas.
“I love the space program as much, if not more, than anyone,” said Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger. “But launching big, loud, smelly rockets from the middle of a wildlife refuge will scare the heck out of every creature within miles and sprays noxious chemicals all over the place. It’s a terrible idea and SpaceX needs to find another place for their spaceport.”
This guy obviously doesn’t know that almost all of the Kennedy Space Center is a wildlife refuge, and a successful one at that. But then, what do facts have to do with most environmental causes?
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon, any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Not good: The Labor Department announced today that the U.S. economy only added 69 thousand jobs in May, the fewest in a year.
Not good: The Labor Department announced today that the U.S. economy only added 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year.
The unemployment rate went up slightly as well, Labor also adjusted downward the number of jobs created in the past two months to terribly comparable numbers.
While no president is ever entirely responsible for the state of the economy, Barack Obama’s policies have certainly done significant harm. High regulation, Obamacare, and a clear hostility to private enterprise in all fields except space exploration has helped produce what appears to be the longest period with a floundering economy in my lifetime.
Not good: The Labor Department announced today that the U.S. economy only added 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year.
The unemployment rate went up slightly as well, Labor also adjusted downward the number of jobs created in the past two months to terribly comparable numbers.
While no president is ever entirely responsible for the state of the economy, Barack Obama’s policies have certainly done significant harm. High regulation, Obamacare, and a clear hostility to private enterprise in all fields except space exploration has helped produce what appears to be the longest period with a floundering economy in my lifetime.
One entrepreneur and investor asks: Why isn’t Jon Corzine being prosecuted?
One entrepreneur and investor asks: Why isn’t Jon Corzine being prosecuted?
Jon Corzine stole from his customers. Until Corzine is put on trial in a court of law, no one will be able to get to the truth. He is being protected by the party in charge. The political waters are so virulent that they don’t want to see him tried. The event happened last October. Surely there is enough information available to convene a grand jury and begin indicting people. The public is being played. We are schmucks. [emphasis mine]
The party in charge is the Democrat Party. The man in charge of that party is Barack Obama. The voters should take note.
One entrepreneur and investor asks: Why isn’t Jon Corzine being prosecuted?
Jon Corzine stole from his customers. Until Corzine is put on trial in a court of law, no one will be able to get to the truth. He is being protected by the party in charge. The political waters are so virulent that they don’t want to see him tried. The event happened last October. Surely there is enough information available to convene a grand jury and begin indicting people. The public is being played. We are schmucks. [emphasis mine]
The party in charge is the Democrat Party. The man in charge of that party is Barack Obama. The voters should take note.
Now available in hardback and paperback as well as ebook!
From the press release: In this ground-breaking new history of early America, historian Robert Zimmerman not only exposes the lie behind The New York Times 1619 Project that falsely claims slavery is central to the history of the United States, he also provides profound lessons about the nature of human societies, lessons important for Americans today as well as for all future settlers on Mars and elsewhere in space.
Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space, is a riveting page-turning story that documents how slavery slowly became pervasive in the southern British colonies of North America, colonies founded by a people and culture that not only did not allow slavery but in every way were hostile to the practice.
Conscious Choice does more however. In telling the tragic history of the Virginia colony and the rise of slavery there, Zimmerman lays out the proper path for creating healthy societies in places like the Moon and Mars.
“Zimmerman’s ground-breaking history provides every future generation the basic framework for establishing new societies on other worlds. We would be wise to heed what he says.” —Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society.
All editions are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all book vendors, with the ebook priced at $5.99 before discount. All editions can also be purchased direct from the ebook publisher, ebookit, in which case you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
Autographed printed copies are also available at discount directly from the author (hardback $29.95; paperback $14.95; Shipping cost for either: $6.00). Just send an email to zimmerman @ nasw dot org.
Sea Launch successfully put an Intelsat communications satellite into orbit today from its floating launch platform in the Pacific.
The competition heats up: Sea Launch successfully put an Intelsat communications satellite into orbit today from its floating launch platform in the Pacific.
This is the company’s second successful launch since it was reorganized after bankruptcy.
The competition heats up: Sea Launch successfully put an Intelsat communications satellite into orbit today from its floating launch platform in the Pacific.
This is the company’s second successful launch since it was reorganized after bankruptcy.
What is the current state of the six American flags planted on the Moon by Apollo astronauts? One NASA engineer takes a look.
What is the current state of the six American flags planted on the Moon by Apollo astronauts? One NASA engineer takes a look.
James Fincannon has been an important contributor here at Behind the Black, sending me some interesting tips from time to time that have resulted in some good posts, such as this one about caves on the Moon.
What is the current state of the six American flags planted on the Moon by Apollo astronauts? One NASA engineer takes a look.
James Fincannon has been an important contributor here at Behind the Black, sending me some interesting tips from time to time that have resulted in some good posts, such as this one about caves on the Moon.
Leaving Earth: Space Stations, Rival Superpowers, and the Quest for Interplanetary Travel, can be purchased as an ebook everywhere for only $3.99 (before discount) at amazon, Barnes & Noble, all ebook vendors, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit.
If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big oppressive tech companies and I get a bigger cut much sooner.
Winner of the 2003 Eugene M. Emme Award of the American Astronautical Society.
"Leaving Earth is one of the best and certainly the most comprehensive summary of our drive into space that I have ever read. It will be invaluable to future scholars because it will tell them how the next chapter of human history opened." -- Arthur C. Clarke
Images from Messenger now appear to support past radio telescope observations that suggested there was water-ice in the permanently shadowed craters of Mercury.
Images from Messenger now appear to support past radio telescope observations that suggested there was water-ice in the permanently shadowed craters of Mercury.
Images from Messenger now appear to support past radio telescope observations that suggested there was water-ice in the permanently shadowed craters of Mercury.
The trial of seven earthquake scientists in Italy on charges of manslaughter for not correctly predicting the earthquake in L’Aquila continued yesterday with each of the defendants testifying.
The trial of seven earthquake scientists in Italy on charges of manslaughter for not correctly predicting the earthquake in L’Aquila continued yesterday with each of the defendants testifying.
The trial will not resume again until the fall.
The trial of seven earthquake scientists in Italy on charges of manslaughter for not correctly predicting the earthquake in L’Aquila continued yesterday with each of the defendants testifying.
The trial will not resume again until the fall.
Kate Wolf – Eyes of a Painter
An evening pause: Kate Wolf sadly passed away prematurely in 1986. Here is a live performance from 1985.
How a trucking company employee solved the mystery of the missing NASA telescope.
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have determined that the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are on a collision course, and will meet head on in 4 billion years.
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have determined that the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are on a collision course, and will meet head on in 4 billion years.
You can download the science paper describing these results in detail here [pdf].
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have determined that the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are on a collision course, and will meet head on in 4 billion years.
You can download the science paper describing these results in detail here [pdf].
The FDA has rejected changing the name of high fructose corn syrup to corn sugar.
A rose by any other name: The FDA has rejected changing the name of high fructose corn syrup to corn sugar.
A rose by any other name: The FDA has rejected changing the name of high fructose corn syrup to corn sugar.
A county government in California, rather than buy private property through eminent domain, is using zoning regulations to force owners out so the county doesn’t have to pay any compensation.
Theft by government: A county government in California, rather than buy private property through eminent domain, is using zoning regulations to force owners out so the county doesn’t have to pay any compensation.
Theft by government: A county government in California, rather than buy private property through eminent domain, is using zoning regulations to force owners out so the county doesn’t have to pay any compensation.
Dragon has successfully splashed down.
A government study has found that the more educated in science and math an American is the more likely they will be skeptical of the dangers of global warming.
A government study has found that the more educated in science and math an American is, the more likely they will be skeptical of the dangers of global warming.
The results of the survey are especially remarkable as it was plainly not intended to show any such thing: Rather, the researchers and trick-cyclists who carried it out were doing so from the position that the “scientific consensus” (carbon-driven global warming is ongoing and extremely dangerous) is a settled fact, and the priority is now to find some way of getting US voters to believe in the need for urgent, immediate and massive action to reduce CO2 emissions.
Having discovered that educating the public will defeat these activists in their goals, the researchers than suggest, like Paul Krugman, that maybe the U.S. government should stop trying to educate people and focus on fake propaganda instead.
A government study has found that the more educated in science and math an American is, the more likely they will be skeptical of the dangers of global warming.
The results of the survey are especially remarkable as it was plainly not intended to show any such thing: Rather, the researchers and trick-cyclists who carried it out were doing so from the position that the “scientific consensus” (carbon-driven global warming is ongoing and extremely dangerous) is a settled fact, and the priority is now to find some way of getting US voters to believe in the need for urgent, immediate and massive action to reduce CO2 emissions.
Having discovered that educating the public will defeat these activists in their goals, the researchers than suggest, like Paul Krugman, that maybe the U.S. government should stop trying to educate people and focus on fake propaganda instead.
Dragon has successfully fired its engines.
Dragon has successfully fired its engines and released its trunk or service module. Splashdown is expected at 11:44 AM (Eastern).
Dragon has successfully fired its engines and released its trunk or service module. Splashdown is expected at 11:44 AM (Eastern).
The missing truck carrying a NASA balloon space telescope has been located.
The missing truck carrying a NASA balloon space telescope has been located.
We still have a television-like mystery, however, as the trailer for the truck was apparently at one location while the driver and his cab were found at another. We don’t know why yet.
The missing truck carrying a NASA balloon space telescope has been located.
We still have a television-like mystery, however, as the trailer for the truck was apparently at one location while the driver and his cab were found at another. We don’t know why yet.
Dragon has undocked from ISS.
“They are essentially accountable to no one. That is a very dangerous combination for anything.”
The Muslim Brotherhood candidate in Egypt: “[Christians] need to know that conquest is coming, and Egypt will be Islamic, and that they must pay jizya [tribute] or emigrate.”
The Muslim Brotherhood candidate in Egypt: “[Christians] need to know that conquest is coming, and Egypt will be Islamic, and that they must pay jizya [tribute] or emigrate.”
So, how’s that Arab Spring doing for ya, Obama?
The Muslim Brotherhood candidate in Egypt: “[Christians] need to know that conquest is coming, and Egypt will be Islamic, and that they must pay jizya [tribute] or emigrate.”
So, how’s that Arab Spring doing for ya, Obama?
The hatch is closed and Dragon is ready for its return to Earth tomorrow morning.
Ten science fiction episodes that changed television.
Ten science fiction episodes that changed television.
I don’t know if these particular episodes changed anything. I do know, however, that any single episode that people are still talking about fifty years after it was aired (such as “Walking Distance” from the original Twilight Zone) as got to be special.
Ten science fiction episodes that changed television.
I don’t know if these particular episodes changed anything. I do know, however, that any single episode that people are still talking about fifty years after it was aired (such as “Walking Distance” from the original Twilight Zone) as got to be special.
The high school football star who was imprisoned for six years on a false rape charge now has four auditions with NFL teams.
The high school football star who was imprisoned for six years on a false rape charge now has four auditions with NFL teams.
We should all pray he makes it. And I hope Wanetta Gibson, the woman who made up the whole story and who won a $1.5 million court suit from the school based on her false testimony, goes to jail, especially because she still has the nerve to say that this about the settlement: “I don’t want to have to pay it back.”
The high school football star who was imprisoned for six years on a false rape charge now has four auditions with NFL teams.
We should all pray he makes it. And I hope Wanetta Gibson, the woman who made up the whole story and who won a $1.5 million court suit from the school based on her false testimony, goes to jail, especially because she still has the nerve to say that this about the settlement: “I don’t want to have to pay it back.”
The Whitewater-Baldy wildfire in New Mexico is now the largest in that state’s history, covering 266 square miles.
The Whitewater-Baldy wildfire in New Mexico is now the largest in that state’s history, covering 266 square miles.
I flew over this fire on my way from Tucson to Chicago on Tuesday. The smoke cloud itself was astonishingly large, extending eastward far beyond the fire itself.
The Whitewater-Baldy wildfire in New Mexico is now the largest in that state’s history, covering 266 square miles.
I flew over this fire on my way from Tucson to Chicago on Tuesday. The smoke cloud itself was astonishingly large, extending eastward far beyond the fire itself.
Antonio Breschi – Language of the Land
An evening pause: Antonio Breschi again, this time with a piece of his own, from his album At the Edge of the Night. Last week I posted a breathtaking piano performance by Breschi, but unfortunately, I can’t find a video of him playing this particular piece, which I first heard back in the mid-1980s. Nonetheless, the music so beautiful it is really doesn’t need fancy visuals.
A truck transporting a NASA balloon telescope worth millions has disappeared in Dallas in route from Minnesota to Texas.
Life imitates a television mystery: A truck transporting a NASA balloon telescope worth millions has disappeared in Dallas in route from Minnesota to Texas.
Life imitates a television mystery: A truck transporting a NASA balloon telescope worth millions has disappeared in Dallas in route from Minnesota to Texas.
A black former Democrat Congressman who also gave the seconding speech for Obama’s nomination in 2008 has decided to switch parties and become a Republican.
What does this tell us? A black former Democrat Congressman who also gave the seconding speech for Obama’s nomination in 2008 has decided to switch parties and become a Republican.
What does this tell us? A black former Democrat Congressman who also gave the seconding speech for Obama’s nomination in 2008 has decided to switch parties and become a Republican.
A college has been forced to double the healthcare fees charged to its students, and lays the blame solely on Obamacare.
Finding out what’s in it: A college has been forced to double the healthcare fees it charges its students, and lays the blame solely on Obamacare.
Finding out what’s in it: A college has been forced to double the healthcare fees it charges its students, and lays the blame solely on Obamacare.
A U.S. senator has demanded the NIH explain how it could give a $2 million grant to a researcher previously punished for not reporting financial conflicts of interest who is also under investigation by the Department of Justice.
Corruption in Big Science: A U.S. senator is demanding the NIH explain how it could give a $2 million grant to a researcher previously punished for not reporting financial conflicts of interest who is also under investigation by the Department of Justice.
Corruption in Big Science: A U.S. senator is demanding the NIH explain how it could give a $2 million grant to a researcher previously punished for not reporting financial conflicts of interest who is also under investigation by the Department of Justice.
The FAA has granted Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic a launch permit to begin rocket-powered test flights of SpaceShipTwo.
The competition heats up: The FAA has granted Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic a launch permit to begin rocket-powered test flights of SpaceShipTwo.
The competition heats up: The FAA has granted Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic a launch permit to begin rocket-powered test flights of SpaceShipTwo.