Germany remains divided. History can remain destiny for a long time.
The Phony War On Women
The Democrats have lost it:
What happened? For one thing, Republican candidates had better message discipline in 2014, depriving Democrats of opportunities for their demagoguery.
The incessant harping on contraception may have finally repelled women who have other concerns, such as the economy and national security, just like the millennials. But perhaps the desperation of Democrats to play this card with the same effectiveness as two years ago finally opened their eyes to the paternalistic attitude that Democrats took in positioning themselves as protectors, which implies that women can’t act on their own behalf.
Couldn’t have happened to a more vile bunch of demagogues.
[Update a couple minutes later]
WhiteKnightTwo
Took off a few minutes ago in Mojave. Looks like a powered flight attempt, if the weather cooperates (there’s a front coming in, that’s supposed to bring us some much-needed Halloween rain this evening).
[Update a few minutes later]
Here’s the story from Alan Boyle.
[Update at 10:26]
Uh oh. RT @virgingalactic: #SpaceShipTwo has experienced an in-flight anomaly. Additional info and statement forthcoming.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) October 31, 2014
[Update a few minutes later]
Alan Stern just tweeted, after I asked if they had chutes, that they are (or were) on chute.
@AlanStern Hard to see how you avoid vehicle loss, if they're on chute. Don't think it can fly itself.
— Rand Simberg (@Simberg_Space) October 31, 2014
[Update a few minutes later]
Still no update, but as Charles Lurio just emailed, “Statement forthcoming” is always a bad sign.
[Update at 11 AM]
OK, some confusion about whether or not pilots bailed, but reports on police scanner of a downed aircraft, and Bakersfield reports sending Kern County fire equipment north of Mojave.
This is getting to be a spooky way to end what was already a bad week for commercial spaceflight. @virgingalactic
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) October 31, 2014
[Update at 11:23]
One pilot reported dead, news conference at 2 PM PDT. They’re covering it at NASASpaceflight.
[Update a few minutes later]
Doug Messier is back in Internet range, and reporting that he saw it light, then stop, then relight, then got lost in clouds. Saw it blow up in the air, came down in pieces. Went to crash site with debris field, saw a body in a seat.
[Update, just before press conference in Mojave]
Streaming at NBC.
Longevity
Thoughts, from Trifecta.
But Bill Whittle gets it wrong. It’s NOT “Slow traffic keep right.” It’s “LEFT LANE FOR PASSING ONLY.”
Candy
How it conquered Halloween.
Of course, we now know that the sugar is pretty bad for us, health wise.
There’s A Giant Spot On The Sun
…and it’s acting weird.
With modern technology, and a soft grid, another Carrington event would be a societal disaster.
Social Psychology
Is it biased against Republicans?
Of course it is.
Another Interstellar Review
This one has some spoilers.
“Wallops Island Is Burning”
Stephen Clark has an intense first-hand account over at Spaceflight Now.
The Eclipse Of Man
I just got a review copy of what appears to be an interesting new book