Science And Society, Technology and Society

The Florida Pythons

February 2, 2012 Rand Simberg 20 Comments

Wow, this has really become an ecological disaster:

In areas where the pythons have established themselves, marsh rabbits and foxes can no longer be found. Sightings of raccoons are down 99.3%, opossums 98.9% and white-tailed deer 94.1%, according to a paper out Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“What if the stock market had declined that much? Think of the adjectives you’d use for that,” says Gordon Rodda, an invasive-species specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) who published research in 2008 showing that Burmese pythons could conceivably expand across the southern portion of the United States.

“Pythons are wreaking havoc on one of America’s most beautiful, treasured and naturally bountiful ecosystems,” says USGS Director Marcia McNutt.

I remember when we drove down to Flamingo, on Florida Bay, the only place in the world (I think) where alligators and crocodiles coexist, and seeing a family of raccoons on a hike.

At least they’re not endangered species. If they can figure out some way to exterminate the snakes, they could be repopulated in the Everglades from other regions. I suspect that the solution may be some kind of engineered tasty poison that only affects Burmese pythons, but we probably aren’t that far along in the tech yet.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary

Schadenfreude For Eric Holder

February 2, 2012 Rand Simberg 1 Comment

He really is a contemptible little man. And I’m referring to his moral, not his physical stature. I’m glad to see that CNN gave Hayden an outlet.

[Update a few minutes later]

Fisking the liar’s prepared remarks for this morning’s hearing.

[Update a few minutes later]

A failed “Fast and Furious” whitewash:

By turns whiny, petulant and deceitful, Holder would rather accuse his critics of racism than substantively address the scandal. But with each “withdrawn” letter, Friday-night document dump and sudden resignation, it becomes ever more clear that the man who facilitated the outrageous Marc Rich pardon for President Bill Clinton is incapable of shame.

The people who should really be ashamed are the senators, on both sides of the aisle, who voted to confirm this corrupt, sniveling, lying, gun-grabbing racist hack to the nation’s highest position in law enforcement.

I should note that my Twitter timeline is pretty busy with the hearings.

[Update mid-morning]

“Eric Holder should become a campaign issue today.”

Space, Technology and Society

NASA’s Technology Priorities

February 1, 2012 Rand Simberg 16 Comments

The National Research Council has come out with a list of sixteen. Does anyone else see something conspicuous by its absence? Hint: it’s necessary for orbital refueling.

[Late afternoon update]

Here’s the full report.

[Bumped]

Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Space

Newt’s Lunar Ambitions

February 1, 2012 Rand Simberg 4 Comments

AP (at the Huffington Post, of all places) says he got a bum rap. I still think that we could get back to the moon by 2020. But NASA can’t, not as long as Congress is in charge.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Space

Nine Years Of Space Policy Disaster

February 1, 2012 Rand Simberg 2 Comments

I have some thoughts about the current state of affairs, on the ninth anniversary of the loss of Columbia.

Business, Economics, Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Technology and Society

The Peak Oil Myth

February 1, 2012 Rand Simberg 8 Comments

Will the fracking boom finally put a stake through its heart?

Of course not. Malthusians are never stopped by reality. They just pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and go unmerrily on their way.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Space

Newt’s Mars Prize

February 1, 2012 Rand Simberg 9 Comments

Thoughts and some history from Bob Zubrin. The plan, at least as stated by Bob, has a (as Newt would say) “fundamental” flaw in it:

There would be at least two prizes: a $5 billion prize to develop and demonstrate a heavy-lift booster capable of lifting at least 100 tons to low Earth orbit, and a $10 billion prize for the first human mission to Mars. In addition, the winners of these prizes would be given contracts for the purchase by NASA of an additional five copies of their flight systems at a recurring cost of 20 percent of the respective prize per copy.

Prizes should specify the goal, not the means to achieve it. It presumes without evidence the need for an arbitrarily-sized heavy lifter. Bob, if you want to get to Mars, then put out a prize for Mars, but don’t tell people how to do it.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Science And Society