Inspector Dan Rather returns, and is on the case.
Transterrestrial’s lawyers recommend that I warn you to put down all beverages while reading, in the interest of not being sued for keyboard and monitor replacement.
Not Impressive
I know a lot of space enthusiasts (particularly Democrat space enthusiasts) would like to see Bill Richardson as president (or at least as vice president, a role that has traditionally had space as part of its portfolio), because of his friendliness to commercial space, as evidenced (among other things) by his support for Spaceport America in New Mexico. But it’s hard to take his campaign seriously, when you read about things like this. If you can’t develop a coherent policy position on arguably the most important issue facing the nation, or manage a campaign properly, why should we trust you to run the country?
Not to mention the fact that as a former UN ambassador, he was unaware that France was a permanent member of the Security Council.
Stupid Criminal Tricks, Part 1,543,789
You know, if you’re going to steal a car, you ought to make sure you know how to drive it, first:
Two teenage robbers spent valuable getaway time Monday night trying to drive off in a stolen car
Space Blogging Up A Storm
I hate to link to Kos, and wish that Ferris Valyn would find some other place to blog (like just getting his own domain), but he’s got a lot of links and commentary that are worth perusing.
Just As Well
Who would want to work for morons like this, anyway? I expect that, with this news story, he’ll get lots of job offers from non-morons.
Interview with Charles Miller
My Lunar vendor CSI just got a Space Act Agreement with NASA for their LEO Express system.
- Sam Dinkin, Transterrestrial Musings:
- Any reason other than testing that this system can’t be used for human passengers?
- Charles Miller, CEO, Constellation Services, Inc.:
- Yes. Unless the passengers plan to take up permanent residence in orbit, we would need to provide a way to return the passengers to Earth. In addition to a safe re-entry system, we would need to add some other systems that people tend to like, such as air and water and seats. There is a significant hit in terms of mass and financial cost to add all the systems are necessary to carry passengers. Nothing that has not been done before, but the canister that carries passengers will be much less cost effective for delivering cargo.
CSI studied concepts for recoverable canisters for NASA under in Phase 1A of our Alternate Access to Station contract in 2003-04. We have also looked at placing our canister inside RLVs, such as the Kistler K-1, for return to Earth. We received high marks from NASA’s AAS program for our ability to adapt our system to include a recoverable cargo capability.
A New Truther
Michael Moore says that 911 could have been an inside job. His idiotic comment about the difficulty of flying airplanes takes him into Rosie-stupidity territory.
[Update an hour or so later]
Speaking of the Stupid White Man, Kyle Smith is less than impressed with his latest crockumentary:
Even Moore does not believe what he says, and his films don
“Get Off The Computer”
Here’s an article at the WaPo on nature deficit disorder.
I wasn’t that big on playing outside as a kid, myself, though I do remember messing around in a small woods near our house. I also used to fish at our cottage up in northern Michigan in the summer, and pick berries. But I always preferred to read.
But I enjoy nature now, as an adult, particularly when I lived out west, and there seemed to be so much more of it.
[Afternoon update]
Lileks has some related thoughts:
The reasons for the decline seem fairly obvious. The fewer kids growing up on farms or in small rural communities, the less hunting you have. The more expensive cabins get, the less access the middle-class has to the lakes, so kids don
“Get Off The Computer”
Here’s an article at the WaPo on nature deficit disorder.
I wasn’t that big on playing outside as a kid, myself, though I do remember messing around in a small woods near our house. I also used to fish at our cottage up in northern Michigan in the summer, and pick berries. But I always preferred to read.
But I enjoy nature now, as an adult, particularly when I lived out west, and there seemed to be so much more of it.
[Afternoon update]
Lileks has some related thoughts:
The reasons for the decline seem fairly obvious. The fewer kids growing up on farms or in small rural communities, the less hunting you have. The more expensive cabins get, the less access the middle-class has to the lakes, so kids don
“Get Off The Computer”
Here’s an article at the WaPo on nature deficit disorder.
I wasn’t that big on playing outside as a kid, myself, though I do remember messing around in a small woods near our house. I also used to fish at our cottage up in northern Michigan in the summer, and pick berries. But I always preferred to read.
But I enjoy nature now, as an adult, particularly when I lived out west, and there seemed to be so much more of it.
[Afternoon update]
Lileks has some related thoughts:
The reasons for the decline seem fairly obvious. The fewer kids growing up on farms or in small rural communities, the less hunting you have. The more expensive cabins get, the less access the middle-class has to the lakes, so kids don