I just got the following email from a “Joe Wander” (joe_1der@hotmail.com)

Hello There,

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Joseph Wander and I am an Advertising Coordinator for an Internet Company. I am currently working on increasing our products and services presence on the internet. I came across your site and found it to be very useful. I am very much interested in advertising my product on www.interglobal.org/weblog/ and any others that may be part of your network.

We can pay you $20/month for 2 static text links or if you already have your media kit or advertising rates I will appreciate it if you can send it to me. Thank you again and I hope to hear from you soon.

Best Wishes,
Joseph Wander

It’s clear that he hasn’t actually visited my site. At least there’s nothing in the email to indicate that–it reads like a form letter. Note that it doesn’t address me by name. Also note that the email address is hotmail.

Any other bloggers out there gotten one of these, and do you have any idea what the deal (or catch) is? I’m hesitant to reply, because it may just be confirming my email address to a spamlist.

Discovery Channel has an interview with Jim Oberg about NASA’s culture problem (you’ll need a media player).

Discovery Channel has an interview with Jim Oberg about NASA’s culture problem (you’ll need a media player).

Discovery Channel has an interview with Jim Oberg about NASA’s culture problem (you’ll need a media player).

Mitchell Burnside Clapp, of Pioneer Rocketplane, has started an interesting discussion on regulatory issues for space transports over at sci.space.policy.

I respond, as well as Henry Spencer (and Dan DeLong, Chief Engineer of XCOR). And no, I don’t really think that Mitchell is an ignorant slut…

And for those interested in this issue in the DC area, there’s a meeting on the subject of suborbital spaceflight on Capitol Hill tomorrow. The public is invited, and you can listen in on the web via a link at the Pro-Space site.

Chris (the Weasel) Lehane is bailing out of the Kerry campaign.

Diapers are catching on in ever-modernizing China. Next step is a man in space…

It looks like Isabel is heading for Hampton Roads. They’ve already evacuated Ocracoke Island (one of the barrier islands on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which was one of Blackbeard’s hangouts).

Expect a lot of wind and rain for the tarheels and cavaliers later this week.

Jeff Foust has a good overview on current prospects for building a space elevator.