Here’s an interesting article from the National Post, that says the SCO lawsuit may be a blessing in disguise for the open source movement.

Eric Raymond says that Thomas Kuhn’s theories about the structure of scientific revolution are wrong.

I’ve always bought into them, but never examined them deeply. Now I guess I’ll have to.

Burt Rutan’s SpaceShipOne had a successful drop test yesterday. This demonstrated the ability to take off with the vehicles mated (which had already been demonstrated in previous captive-carry flights), to smoothly separate the mated vehicles, and for both vehicles to fly safely back to Mojave. A couple more tests, and they’ll be ready to integrate propulsion into the vehicle, and go for altitude.

It’s quite conceivable to me that, due to Burt’s regulatory shenanigans, getting a launch license may end up being the pacing item on his schedule, since it requires at least six months notice, and he only recently decided to apply for one.

Some pictures can be found here.

Arnold Kling says that, contrary to official statistics, by unconventional (but probably more useful) measures, we’ve actually been in a deep recession for a while, and are not coming out soon.

Bush being on vacation reminds me of this Iowahawk report, from happier times two years ago (before most people had heard of Al Qaeda) about the tribulations of pampered reporters in Crawford, Texas.

E.J. Dionne of the Washington Post described a common experience of the visiting press. “When I arrived in Crawford, I had a sudden craving for a quick brioche and mineral water, and set out in search of a decent Belgian patisserie,” he recalled. “Two hours later, the horrible truth dawned on me. In Crawford, there are no decent Belgian patisseries.”

Panic stricken, Dionne said he began asking for help from local passers-by.

“I kept asking them, ‘where can I get a brioche? Where can I get a brioche?’, only to see blank stares,” he recalled. “Finally, one man in a pickup truck said he hadn’t heard of that brand of beer, but offered me a Shiner Bock.”

Tragic.

What will the handwringers in Europe and at Human Rights Watch have to say about this? The mother of one of the Russian prisoners in Gitmo would rather have him stay there than be returned to Russia. Guess he prefers the tropics.

Her son Andrei Bakhitov is one of eight Russian detainees, and the newspaper quoted a letter he wrote to his mother.

“I think that there is not even a health resort in Russia on the level of this place,” the letter said.

You know, maybe Ashcroft should be fired for making it too appealing to be a terrorist suspect.

OK, anyone want to take bets on whether or not Rainier Wolfcastle runs for governor of whatever the heck state Springfield is in this fall on The Simpsons?

For those interested, here’s Gary Coleman’s campaign platform. It’s got a lot of stuff on it, but hey, a guy like him needs a big platform…

I’m actually in favor of his anti-politician, anti-tax, anti-union, pot-reform, and anti-bus planks, but I’ve got problems with his enthusiasm for eminent domain. And as someone with a pond in their backyard, I live in constant fear of having my home declared a wetland.

Also, I’m not sure that, given how screwed up the water markets are in California (particularly considering that they don’t really exist–it’s a political spoils system), “free water” is all that hot an idea. Besides, the stuff is dangerous.

For those interested, here’s Gary Coleman’s campaign platform. It’s got a lot of stuff on it, but hey, a guy like him needs a big platform…

I’m actually in favor of his anti-politician, anti-tax, anti-union, pot-reform, and anti-bus planks, but I’ve got problems with his enthusiasm for eminent domain. And as someone with a pond in their backyard, I live in constant fear of having my home declared a wetland.

Also, I’m not sure that, given how screwed up the water markets are in California (particularly considering that they don’t really exist–it’s a political spoils system), “free water” is all that hot an idea. Besides, the stuff is dangerous.

For those interested, here’s Gary Coleman’s campaign platform. It’s got a lot of stuff on it, but hey, a guy like him needs a big platform…

I’m actually in favor of his anti-politician, anti-tax, anti-union, pot-reform, and anti-bus planks, but I’ve got problems with his enthusiasm for eminent domain. And as someone with a pond in their backyard, I live in constant fear of having my home declared a wetland.

Also, I’m not sure that, given how screwed up the water markets are in California (particularly considering that they don’t really exist–it’s a political spoils system), “free water” is all that hot an idea. Besides, the stuff is dangerous.