Biologists have discovered a disgusting new creature. Though unfortunately, it’s not actually all that new, or unusual, other than the octopedality.
California’s Once…
…and future governor?
Note to Jesse Walker. The California comsat thing was one of the reasons for the “Governor Moonbeam” appellation, but a more significant one (as was mentioned) was the Stewart-Brand/Whole-Earth-Catalog connection. Stewart was one of those promoting the ideas of Gerry O’Neill and L-5, and Brown was reportedly quite fascinated by the concept, and space in general. The only time I saw him in person was in April, 1981, when we shared a flight to Orlando from LAX (though he was in first class) for the first launch of the Shuttle (I flew back to see it land as well — he may have as well, but if so, it was on a different flight). And in an “n degrees of Jerry Brown” thing, I sat next to Linda Ronstadt at a concert at McCabe’s in Santa Monica a few years later, but I think they had broken up by then.
One thing not mentioned was the ignominious end to his governorship, in which he took a lot of flak for the fruit-fly spraying, first dithering and delaying it, and then changing his mind and infuriating his supporters on the left. It probably wrecked his chances for Senate. But as the article notes, he’s a resilient guy.
Test Your Eyeballing Capability
I scored about a five, which puts me in with most of the herd. I was best at judging right angles (typically close to a one) and splitting them, and worst at judging distance (centering the line and circle, where I averaged nine or so).
In Case You Didn’t Get Enough Yesterday
More zombie thoughts. This topic is also turning into a lot of inadvertent pans of World War Z
Why We Aren’t A Spacefaring Civilization
Here’s one of the big reasons:
Someone in the AO-100 aviation section of the FAA, who was previously unaware of Armadillo, saw video of their NGLLC flights and decided that while Armadillo had proper permissions to fly above the airport, they did not have permission to fly from a federally subsidized airport. The AST section was surprised to learn about this issue. John says it will be worked out eventually but unfortunately in the meantime they cannot even do tethered tests because of the crazy ruling last year that labeled such tests as launches.
As a commenter notes, imagine if the government had required the Wright Brothers to get permission to fly from Kitty Hawk. It is a shame that the Armadillo team has to waste time and resources learning how to negotiate bureaucracies instead of how to develop safe and effective vehicles.
[Late afternoon update]
The problem seems to have been resolved.
The Left’s War Against Women
The latest in their sights: Liz Cheney. I can see why they fear her so.
An Iranian Woman’s Thoughts
…on the Nobel hypocrisy:
When Europeans talk about peace and human rights they mean it for themselves only, and not anyone else. As their history of imperialism has proven, they are the number one enablers and supporters of the oppressors and violators of human rights the world over.
It’s quite disgusting, really. We really should move the UN to Brussels. Or Oslo.
The Baucus Bill
“A fiscal fantasyland.”
That’s actually a pretty good description of the District of Columbia in general.
[Update a few minutes later]
The drug pusher in DC:
An initial bailout of state governments eases their pain and makes them feel better for a little while, after which they’re going to crash without another fix.
It’s all part of the goal of making us all dependent on them.
“Progressive” Hollywood Propaganda
From the early thirties. Some things never change. Unfortunately.
Why Star Trek Isn’t Science Fiction
Charles Stross explains.