A just published study (actually still in preprint) suggests that Earth like planets may be quite uncommon. I’m a little skeptical about the reasoning (based on the discussion in the link: I haven’t read the paper). It’s quite possible that the reason we haven’t found system’s like Sol’s is just that we don’t yet have the capability. The existence of systems which evolved in an entirely different way doesn’t really bear on the number of solar systems like our own except very indirectly.
The Kerry Space Bunny
…just keeps going, and going, and going…
Here’s the latest from Florida Today. The Kerry people didn’t just shoot themselves in the unlucky rabbit’s foot on this one. They kept reloading:
Kerry’s campaign team asked for the pictures and helped pass them out to reporters, NASA said. Once the photos surfaced on Web sites and in newspapers, becoming joke fodder for pundits at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Kerry’s campaign got defensive.
The Kerry team hinted at dirty tricks. Campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill said the pictures were not meant to go public.
NASA routinely photographs touring dignitaries and posts them online. Kerry’s group included four current or former U.S. senators. Two of them, Glenn and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Melbourne, flew in space. So there was nothing unusual about publicizing the photos…
…NASA did not elaborate on whether lawyers deemed the Kerry campaign event Monday was an improper use of the Visitor Center. Nor did the agency say how it differed from the ways other politicians have used NASA locations and high-profile space events for political purposes.
It’s wabbit season!
That’s what irritated me about this. There was no “high-profile space event” here. It was simply using a NASA center as a prop to talk about things that had nothing to do with space. It was purely a campaign event, and despite Lori Garver’s flimsy defense of him (and I like Lori), the senator continues to strike me as someone who is as profoundly unserious on the space issue as he is on all others, except for achieving his lifelong dream of being the second JFK.
Susan Collins
…is, to me, one of the most irritating people in public life. I’m listening to the 911 hearing stuff on the Hill. Like Algore, she talks to us like a kindergarten teacher, and she sounds a little slow herself. I really think of her as one of the dimmer bulbs in the Senate (which is really saying something, considering all the competition), and it’s a little frightening to have her playing a significant role in this activity.
What She Said
I agree with Virginia Postrel:
Aside from the much-remarked-upon flag-waving-veteran talk, the speech was mostly made up of (in Kerry’s anti-GOP words) “narrow appeals masquerading as values.” Better a tongue-tied president than a demagogue.
To the limited (perhaps none) degree that it was possible, last night’s speech only increased my antipathy to the junior Senator from Massachussetts.
What A Pathetic Life
You have to feel sorry for the poor schmuck just interviewed at the convention who said that tonight was “…the greatest moment of my life up to now.”
Can’t Go All The Way
I couldn’t avoid watching Kerry’s speech. I switched to Fox to watch a Simpsons rerun, but it was on every channel.
It was mostly platitudes, as expected. My summary of Kerry’s foreign policy (which, assuming that the economy continues to improve, will be the main campaign issue): We will go to all lengths to avoid war, and we will only do so if we can get the French on board.
My recommendation for Karl Rove: We will go to all lengths to avoid another September 11th.
Can’t Go All The Way
I couldn’t avoid watching Kerry’s speech. I switched to Fox to watch a Simpsons rerun, but it was on every channel.
It was mostly platitudes, as expected. My summary of Kerry’s foreign policy (which, assuming that the economy continues to improve, will be the main campaign issue): We will go to all lengths to avoid war, and we will only do so if we can get the French on board.
My recommendation for Karl Rove: We will go to all lengths to avoid another September 11th.
Can’t Go All The Way
I couldn’t avoid watching Kerry’s speech. I switched to Fox to watch a Simpsons rerun, but it was on every channel.
It was mostly platitudes, as expected. My summary of Kerry’s foreign policy (which, assuming that the economy continues to improve, will be the main campaign issue): We will go to all lengths to avoid war, and we will only do so if we can get the French on board.
My recommendation for Karl Rove: We will go to all lengths to avoid another September 11th.
His Helices Unwind
Francis Crick has died. Sadly, this event wasn’t prevented by being a discoverer of the secret of life.
Damned If I Know Either
From Lileks–too spot on to not quote a large section of:
I was at both conventions in 1992, and the GOP version was a dispirited affair. Clinton had sparkle, the big mo, and a foundering economy to hammer; Bush was your father