Pages

Showing posts with label nationalized healthcare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nationalized healthcare. Show all posts

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Potpourri CXIV

Got a lot of stuff that has backed up in my inbox, but I'll do my best to clear it out before I head off to do Food & Football Day with friends.

New from Hu:
  • A report that says Mars life might've been brought to Earth. Swell...so where did the Mars life go? Death by global cooling?
  • NASA looking at an asteroid mission as a prep for going to Mars.
From Doc: Jim Henson's company is still putting out new Muppet material. Here's Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" as rendered by the madness that is the Electric Mayhem. As Dr. OZMG would put it, "So cool it hurts."

From Lin:
  • It's possible...just possible, mind you...that there might be a lot of waste included in the proposed government health care bill.

Found this on YouTube: a video on the Ares I-X mission by one of the folks down at KSC. Some great sites you normally don't see.

Another item from YouTube...an "autotune" mashup of Richard Feynman, Carl Sagan, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and Neil de Grasse Tyson.

From Father Dan, an online app from Disney that allows you to enjoy personalized holiday greetings. Gotta confess, I could only handle the cute for about a minute before closing. Your mileage may vary.

Speaking of Dr. OZMG, she introduced me to a couple of very large words/terms from her world of Psych-Doc-ness, which seemed interesting enough to share:

And in case I can ever coax her into the space biz, she might give this book a look: Choosing the Right Stuff: The Psychological Selection of Astronauts and Cosmonauts.

Apparently the global warming/cooling/climate change debate isn't as "settled" as some would like to assume. A series of emails from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) show that there was quite a bit of argument behind the scenes, as well as accusations that any data or arguments that might prove the human-made climate change thesis wrong were suppressed. Meanwhile, documents coming out of Britain's University of East Anglia show that data might have been massaged to downplay or gloss over the fact that average global temperatures have been dropping the past several years. I have no problem with investigating how climate works and what impact humans have upon it, but I think it's a dubious practice, at best, to start with a conclusion in mind and start dictating very costly policies when the data are either still inconclusive--or worse, being fabricated.

And speaking of the climate debate, there's a video out there that is particularly gruesome. To the sound of jets flying overhead, we see polar bears falling from the sky and landing on a cityscape in rather horrific and bloody ways. The message being: every short-haul air flight you make generates 400 pounds of carbon dioxide, the equivalent weight of a polar bear. See my comments above. This is just nasty.

Eighty-one members of the House of Representatives have signed a bipartisan letter of support of the space program.

A good Science @ NASA article on the SOFIA airborne telescope.

From my AIAA news feed:

  • A cosmonaut complains that Russia's space program is falling behind and is unsustainable.
  • An Indian university is offering its first space law class. Good!

NASA announced two winners in its Centennial Challenge competition to develop new astronaut "space gloves."

Huntsville got an unwelcome rating recently: the second-most dangerous military town. I find this hard to believe, given how many seaport towns there are with MUCH rougher reps than ours.

Guess that'll do it for now. The inbox is mostly cleansed. Happy Thanksgiving, all. I've plenty to be thankful for this year, so I consider myself supremely blessed. If you can't think of anything to be thankful for, consider the fact that you're here and able to think in the first place and start from there.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Potpourri CXII

First, I need to get this out of my inbox because it hit there about 12 times. For those of you not in the know--or not Time Magazine subscribers--the Ares rockets were named Time's Invention of the Year. Apparently there's a voting process, though, so go to the site here and work with their system and cast your vote. Nice to have a little moral support, even if the aerospace press is trying to write off Ares as dead on arrival.

*

From Lin, several articles on the "progress" of nationalized healthcare and other activities by the Obama administration. I must confess I've stayed tuned out from the news and even talk radio for awhile now. It improves the mood, and I've got more fun things to do with my free time like exchange text messages with Dr. OZMG. Anyhow, if you are interested in such things, here you go:

  • An editorial by Thomas Sowell (part 4--no doubt parts 1-3 are available online as well).
  • An Investor's Business Daily article on the state of the financial industry.
  • A Michelle Malkin editorial on the tactics used by ACORN.
  • A Forbes.com editorial on the state of capitalism.

*

This might actually be a bigger story than Ares I-X, but what the heck, my work priorities come first: the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) impactor has produced data indicating the presence of water ice on the Moon. This is HUGE. As I indicated in a previous posting on the day of the impact, if we find water ice on the Moon, we can build long-term bases and permanent settlements there. Human civilization can expand this one world with its limited resources and at-risk biosphere. Bravo to the LCROSS team for this historic find!

*

On a completely personal note, I spent some time with a "planned giving" counselor from my Lutheran church synod setting up an outline for a will. No, I'm not planning to die anytime soon, but then neither did a young couple I worked with at Disney 15 years ago, and their affairs were left entirely in the hands of their respective families as the two died without a will. The end result was that the couple were buried in separate states. Do the deceased care? Probably not, but human beings tend to be sentimental about such things; and the only end result was probably a lot of bad blood between the survivors. Now being a single guy I don't have inlaws to argue with, nor do I have a particularly complicated or dire financial state. But there are things I would like to do for my family and friends in the event I shed this earthly coil. It's really a simple process, so if you haven't done it and you're no longer living in your parents' home, you should probably have a will. Here was a general overview of the items we discussed:

  • Assets - what kind I have and what they're worth.
  • Debts - what kind I have and how much I owe.
  • Beneficiaries - whom I want to get what out of my estate; in my case, members of my family would get the bulk of my estate, with specific items going to other individuals, as I see fit.
  • Distribution - which assets it makes most sense to give to whom; for example, it's better to distribute the items with the largest monetary value and lowest tax rates to those highest on your priority list and to work your way down from there.
  • Planned Giving - how much of my estate I wish to donate to charitable causes (in my case my local church and the Wisconsin Synod in general).
  • Terminal Care Instructions - What sorts of statements I want in my will regarding "terminal care" in the event I'm incapacitated.

No, this isn't particularly fun to think about, but it is useful for assessing the state of your life and your priorities. Next up: talking to a financial planner about increasing my assets so there's more for me on this side of death and more for my inheritors afterward. Jeez, this turning-40 thing is so...adult.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

A Step Closer to Socialized Medicine

So late last night the House Democrats managed to pass their version of nationalized health care in a 220-215 vote--a squeaker, but still a win. I cannot emphasize enough what a bad idea this is. This particular bill, in any case. There are ways to ensure that every American and legal immigrant has access to health care. Vouchers--payouts, coupons, checks, call 'em what you will--would be easy and much cheaper. And the legislation would be very short, as it would only require proof of no insurance, a dedicated source of funding, and a sunset clause for individuals who manage to get a job or their own insurance. You do NOT need additional taxes on new medical devices. You do NOT need penalties, fines, or jail time for people who do not WANT insurance. You do not need business-killing regulations covering illegal immigrants, when hospitals nationwide have already closed their doors because they were already compassionately covering people without insurance. You do not need this government "guaranteeing" supposedly low-cost insurance. They can't do it. This is the same government that...

The point is that NOTHING the government has done has been made cheaper, and in fact is very often made more expensive just by its presence in the economy. In the name of doing something for one segment of the public, our government will take away the freedom of others. Note again that if this bill passes, you will be arrested and thrown into prison if you do not have health insurance.

There are, in fact, people who deliberately choose not to have health insurance but have enough money to pay doctors directly as they go. Others are young and stupid and think they don't need it. Others would rather spend money on cable TV or nights at the bar. So if someone does not have health insurance by choice, it's none of the government's business.

It's time to rethink a government policy--led by our president and championed by his allies in Congress--that says government has the right to force you to do something for your own good. Now I know someone will say, "Yeah, but government forces you not to commit murder, steal, etc." Not the same at all. We are talking about optional activities. Items that fall under the umbrella of freedom and things not in the Constitution. Freedom used to connote the freedom to use it badly. Consider the idjits who win Lotto and go broke buying multiple cars and houses. They might be stupid, but they've got the money and they're free to use it as they see fit if it doesn't harm anyone.

If government can dictate that everyone gets health coverage, they can tell you that you must live your life in a prescribed "healthy" manner to reduce their costs. "What's the difference between that and businesses?" someone might ask. It's really simple, and this is why I trust businesses infinitely more than governments: a private insurance firm will give you a discount for healthy living (for example, my insurance company reimburses my health club membership up to $150 a year). If government is telling you to live healthier to be elligible for insurance and you don't, they throw you in prison. Can I make this any clearer? You do not want the government to have this much power over you, even in the name of "doing something for you."

And again, this WILL cost more. So Washington will raise taxes to pay for this. Except that raising taxes takes more money out of the economy that otherwise would be used for private investment and spending. You might recall that there's a recession on--10.2% unemployment and rising. If companies have to pay for part of this healthcare mandate by the employee, it makes sense for them to have a few employees as possible. Therefore, they will NOT hire more people and unemployment will stay high or increase. This is not going to help the broader economy, it will hurt very badly.

Call your senators and write them. Stop this. Please. I intend to. Repeatedly.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Why Conservatives Fight Nationalized Healthcare

If just providing healthcare coverage were the emphasis of the Democrats, conservatives might not have that much of an objection to the matter. In fact, if the government just provided vouchers for uninsured people to go out and purchase a private insurance plan, the bill could probably sweep through Congress with bipartisan support (never mind the fact that Democrats control both houses and that Republicans can't stop anything at the moment).

However, the wizards of smart on Capitol Hill are not content to do just that. They want government to be the sole provider of healthcare, so that instead of multiple private companies deciding whom to cover based on business decisions, we will have one provider deciding whom to cover based on political decisions. Consider a little-mentioned addendum to the existing bill, which would punish individuals for lifestyle choices like smoking or obesity. Now admittedly people who smoke or overeat will most likely end up with more health issues down the road, which will cost more to care for...to that extent, the government is acting like business in that it is trying to reduce expenses. However, unlike government, a private insurer does not have the legal power to punish you for your lifestyle choices; they can only withhold coverage. The government position comes down to control: you must have healthcare insurance--it might be the law eventually, and you will meet the government's behavior/fitness guidedlines, or you will be punished.

Regardless of the high-sounding words surrounding government health insurance, it is not just about the insurance, it is about controlling the behavior of the recipients of said insurance. A government-run program, not forced to make a profit, can and will out-compete private insurers, thereby driving the private insurers out of business. A mandatory government program can and will punish those who do not participate in it or follow its regulations. A private citizen, faced with needing health insurance and having no choice besides the government plan, will be forced to obey all of the laws, rules, and regulations attached to that plan or face some sort of penalty. How, then, is this any different from forcing people to do what the government wants?

Freedom used to include the freedom to err or use one's freedom badly. However, regulations on smoking, fatty foods, alcohol, or whatever comes next allow government to take away your freedom "for your own good." (While it's mostly a big, dumb action movie, I highly recommend the Sylvester Stallone sci-fi film Demolition Man as an excellent example of what can happen to a society when it is regulated minutely.) Government-run health insurance is not just about making sure you've got a way to pay for doctor visits. It's about controlling your behavior, and it needs to be reined in before it's in place and nobody--not even our cigarette-smoking president--can stop it.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Potpourri CIV

Another mixed bag this evening. Two days until vacation. Thank goodness. The blathersphere is starting to wear me down (as, no doubt, the pack-mentality piling on is intended to do).

If you read this piece from the L.A. Times, it becomes quickly apparent from the writer's tone that you are just too stupid to realize that government-run health care is good for you. It's that tone alone that puts off people--something to consider when going out to sell the superiority of your ideas to "the rubes"--why should people listen if you act as if you're an idiot?

Speaking of L.A., I've been watching the news of the L.A. fires sporadically--more specifically, about the fires' proximity to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Mt. Wilson Observatory, two organizations close to my heart. The good news is that it appears both facilities are out of danger for the moment. One thing that has fascinated me about the firefighting effort has been the size of the aircraft doing the work now. It used to be small transports like C-130s; now they're using DC-10s and 747s. Wow! That's a lot of water or flame retardant!

This one came from my "foodie" friend Michelle, and it's just too good to pass up: a blow-by-blow email chain from a company attempting to get its first Twitter posting approved. Too funny!

Some gratuitous pictures of aircraft. Before the space geekitude kicked in, I loved airplanes. Still do, obviously.

New from Hu: an interesting video splicing together some of the discussions of the Augustine Panel.

Does President Obama want to politically pre-program your kids? Perish the thought.

Need a Science Cheerleader t-shirt? Sure you do! And now you can buy one--at a $4 discount, if you do well on Dar's science literacy test. And speaking of Dar, she's made another interview appearance, this time on TheScientist.com. Gooooo Dar!

The AFL-CIO is suggesting that the government put a tax on every single stock sale/transaction. No doubt they hope to stir up populist resentment against "Wall Street fat cats" and other capitalists, hoping that the angry public won't recall that half of the populace owns stocks via pensions or 401(k) plans. For gosh sakes...will someone please put a BRAKE on these guys? They passed the point of overreach several months ago.

From Rhonda at Learn to Read: a site with adult literacy resources.

From Stephanie at work: a do-it-yourself podcast program for students to create their own space-related podcast. Cool!

You know, with all these old TV shows being brought back in one form or another, I would love to see Night Court on DVD...NOT remade into a sequel or "reboot" or whatever. I just want to savor some of the zaniness. The example here will suffice; this one stars the usual cast plus Brent Spiner, later known as Commander Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

And a last little bit of silliness for your day: the wife of the new Japanese prime minister claims to have been abducted by aliens.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Potpourri CI

The Ares Projects were supposed to have the first static (ground) test of the five-segment solid rocket motor. Unfortunately, the computer shut down the countdown 20 seconds before firing due to a problem with the auxiliary power unit in the thrust vector control system. If that sounded like Greek to you, it doesn't really matter. The test was stopped because of a problem, which can happen when it's a test, but of course NASAWatch's Keith Cowing will probably be working overtime tonight, wallowing in the "joy" (for him) of a perceived problem with Ares.

Oh, yes: and the Ares Projects Manager, Steve Cook, is resigning from the agency. Interesting times indeed. One wonders what tomorrow will bring.

Some articles/podcasts from the National Academies Press on communicating about science:

Florida Today has a good summary of the most likely options the Augustine Panel is going to offer to President Obama regarding human spaceflight. It's focused on its impact on Florida's "Space Coast" (Kennedy Space Center), but is still a useful read.

From my NASA PAO feed, an academic scholarship opportunity:

NASA ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR AERONAUTICS SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

WASHINGTON -- NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate will begin accepting scholarship applications on Sept. 1, 2009, for the 2010 academic year. The application deadline is Jan. 11, 2010.

"These scholarships are a fantastic way to support our brightest students and encourage them to finish their education, expose them to NASA's research programs and inspire them to pursue a career in aeronautics," said Jaiwon Shin, associate administrator for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

NASA expects to award 20 undergraduate and five graduate scholarships to students in aeronautics or related fields. Undergraduate students entering their second year of study will receive up to $15,000 per year for two years and the opportunity to receive a $10,000 stipend by interning at a NASA research center during the summer. Graduate students will receive up to $35,000 per annually for up to three years, with an opportunity to receive a $10,000 stipend interning at a NASA research center up to two consecutive summers.

Students who have not committed to a specific academic institution or program still may apply. However, if accepted, they must be admitted by fall 2010 into a suitable aeronautical engineering program or related field of study at an accredited U.S. university. All applicants must be U.S. citizens. Scholarship money may be used for tuition and other school-related expenses.

NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate conducts cutting-edge, fundamental research in traditional and emerging disciplines. The intent is to help transform the nation's air transportation system and to support development of future air and space vehicles. Goals include improving airspace capacity and flexibility; aviation safety and aircraft performance; reducing overall noise, engine emissions and fuel usage.

For details about this scholarship program, including how to apply, visit: http://asee.org/nasaasp

From Lin:

  • Newt Gingrich on why government can't and shouldn't run health care.
  • The Democrats are going to use the death of Senator Ted Kennedy to push through nationalized health care.

Dominick Dunne, an astute and clever writer with a unique niche--crime and punishment among America's upper class--has passed away. A shame. His abiding sense of justice, fueled by his daughter's murder, gave his fiction a fierce quality quite at odds with his restrained, upper-crusty characters. A great writer.

Popular Mechanics has an article about SpaceX.

Want to know the average internet connection speed in your neighborhood? Check this out.

A story from my old home town of Lombard, Illinois: a little "incident" at the fire department. Whups!

From Gwen: a story by CNN that beer prices are likely to go up due to "commodity" prices. Reading between the lines, beer prices are going up because energy (petroleum) prices are going up, and you need petroleum/hydrocarbons to make fuel for tractors and chemicals for fertilizer. This is why we need to pump more oil.

Did you know Cheryl Ladd (of Charlie's Angels fame) had her own web site? Well, jeez, who doesn't?

Oh yeah--and score one more for the Science Cheerleader! Darlene was profiled on her local (Philadelphia) CBS affiliate. Gooooo Dar!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Potpourri C

One hundred of these mixed-bag entries already. Wow. Guess it's becoming a habit. So let's see what's up next, shall we?

The ever-classy Bill Maher on what Obama needs to do to pass healthcare. Did you know we all are stupid? That Obama should force nationalized healthcare through, even if the majority of Americans don't want it? That a Republican congressman "should wake up with an intern's head in his bed"? This is scary stuff, if only because I'm afraid he believes it.

The Daily Mail has a fun article on a recycling shower. This would be really useful if we ever built a spacecraft/space habitat with artificial gravity.

More sweetness and light on the Constellation Program, this time from the New York Times. Did I mention I go on vacation soon? Not a moment too soon, apparently...

And here's another from Aviation Week. Reading the news is becoming bad for me.

Someone has decided to make a movie out of quite possibly the worst book I've ever read: I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. Some friends gave it to me, thinking I'd find it amusing. Actually, no I didn't. I've gotten stuffy in my creaky old age. Lewd, rude, sexist, offensive, degrading...and those were the tame parts, from what I've been told. I read two or three chapters and recycled the thing. As Gertrude Stein once wrote of Atlas Shrugged, "This book should not be thrown away lightly. It should be thrown with great force!"

Oh, hey! Just saw this: it's the 400th anniversary of Galileo inventing the telescope. Cool!

From Melissa: "Don't Inject Me (The Swine Flu Vaccine Song)." Hm. Medical rap. Gotta admit, that's a new one.

From Anthony: a video explaining healthcare "on the back of a napkin." Actually a pretty decent explanation.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Potpourri XCVIII

Must post this stuff, some of it evil, just to get it out of my inbox.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that NASA might have to outsource its crew access to the International Space Station. Well, duhhhh...

NASAWatch's Keith Cowing is reporting that Charlie Bolden (the new NASA Administrator) suggested that it made sense not to launch Ares I-X if Ares I were cancelled. Here's hoping he got the rumor wrong.

Several from Lin:

  • "A Justice Department investigation is now apparently investigating whether photos of covert CIA officials surreptitiously taken by the American Civil Liberties Union's "John Adams Project" were unlawfully shown to terrorist detainees charged with organizing the attacks of 9/11."
  • "Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA, hospitals can't even ask for a patient's immigration status or ability to pay prior to delivering treatment. They also can't keep such uninsured patients waiting, even if their problem isn't an emergency. Nor can they discharge them until they're fully stabilized and have safe transportation."
  • A variety of editorials (the primary link, plus the four-part series cited in the article) by Thomas Sowell on Obama's approach to getting his healthcare program sold.
  • Last week President Obama closed down the email address flag@whitehouse.gov, which he asked people to email if they found individuals "spreading lies" about the president's healthcare program. This might sound reasonable, but what it amounts to is a "turn in your neighbor" hotline that allows the White House to know whom to target if they face increasing resistance to their program. Think I'm kidding? Then why did individuals sent to the "flag" email find themselves the recipients of emails from members of the Administration? Well, Obama has thrown the PR firm responsible for sending out the emails under the bus (political speak for "allowed them to take the blame"). If any of you reading this have referred this site to the "flag" email, rest assured that I did not receive an email from the Administration...yet.
  • Congressional Democrats are prepared to "go it alone" to get healthcare passed. They could've done this in the first place, but by trying to push for "bipartisanship," the Democrats can get the GOP to share some of the blame when (not if) the plan is passed and screws up the country. If there was ever a time to be the "party of no," this is it. Of course the GOP should have a shopping list of reforms that can be done that don't require massive government interference--and, in fact, reduce government interference in the healthcare biz.
  • Sears' web site was the victim of some nasty hacking.
  • A web site is stating that Obama's science advisor favors global efforts to enforce population control. I'd heard this on a news report, but the book is here, if you're curious. Paul Ehrlich, his cowriter, was author of "The Population Bomb," a 1970 book stating that we would all be starving by now (2000) thanks to overpopulation. It didn't happen thanks to improvements in technology and agriculture, as well as the expansion of freedom in the former Communist Bloc, but of course no one pays attention to such things now. One wonders what the fate of Al Gore will be in 40 years.

I got this one from Darlene the Science Cheerleader. It's just weird. How does the Internet see you? Based on what sort of content you put out and how you are cited on various sites.

Got this little bit of good news on the swine flu in my inbox yesterday:

Marshall Space Flight Center has experienced its first case of what is thought to be H1N1 flu. All employees are reminded that if you experience flu symptoms such as fever, body aches and coughing, you should remain home until 24 hours after you are fever free and not using any fever reducing medications in order to prevent the spread of the flu. Also, you should call the MSFC Medical Center at 544-2390 for illness tracking purposes but should not go to the Medical Center for evaluation or treatment. To fight against becoming infected with the H1N1 flu, employees should frequently wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer, especially after participating in group activities or spending time in common areas such as bathrooms, conference rooms and cafeterias. According to medical personnel, H1N1 flu has been no more severe than the normal annual seasonal influenza.

Let's be careful out there. And for gosh sakes, wash your hands!

Boeing has successfully tested the Airborne Laser program. The ABL, which will likely get cut under the Obama Administration, is mounted in the nose of a 747. That's a cool and useful toy to have, given the number of hostile countries trying to acquire nuclear weapons.

Here's the web site for the people who plan to cover Huntsville's full-size Saturn V mockup in a quilt made of kids' refrigerator art. The only other argument I can find against this project is just that it's sinfully ugly. Mosaics tend to depict actual pictures or include geometric patterns of some kind. A vague attempt is made to simulate the markings of the Saturn V, but it is, naturally, a patchwork. And did I mention it's ugly? Seriously. It brightened my day not at all to hear that NASA Administrator Bolden favored the project. The best way for NASA (or anyone else) to inspire kids to go into space is to go into space and do something inspiring! Anything else is trying too hard.

And on a completely different note, No wonder I have a complicated job! I was ruminating this morning, and I started listed all of the different items that we need to account for when we’re trying to sell space exploration to the public:

  • Technology
    o How it works
    o What level of readiness it has (TRL)
    o Complexity
    o Number of manufacturers
    o Science being performed
    o Materials used
    o Amount of automation
  • Politics
    o Federal budget priorities
    o Election cycle
    o Location of NASA centers/contractors
    o Seniority of senators/congressmen in space-related districts
    o State of the world (wars, rivalries, etc.)
    o State of the nation (boom/recession, civil peace/unrest, etc.)
    o National defense/security needs
    o Job programs
    o Public interest
    o Media coverage
    o Advocacy/lobbying activities/effectiveness
    o Other space activities (e.g. commercial)
  • People
    o Workforce aging
    o Workforce size/availability
    o Workforce skills
    o Job location (see Politics)
    o Management behavior/practices/personalities
    o Organizational culture(s)
  • Programmatic issues
    o Funding/competition for resources
    o Schedule
    o Technical readiness
    o Quality
    o Management structure
    o Public affairs responsiveness

This might explain some of my end-of-day headaches, but it still beat checking in tourists or answering guest letters at Disney World. I still maintain that engineers and physicists have it easy because the laws and factors they deal with don’t change.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Good News, But...

Okay, the good news is that Obama looks like he might be backing off from nationalizing the healthcare industry in our country. And seriously, that is good news. One might talk about a public option "keeping the private sector honest," but once the government gets in there, the private sector would be unable to compete, and then you'd have exactly ONE option for health insurance--the government--and if you don't like that option, you're in deep yogurt, pal.

So here's the opening line from the Associated Press:

Bowing to Republican pressure, President Barack Obama's administration signaled on Sunday it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance as part of a new health care system.

Facing mounting opposition to the overhaul, administration officials left open the chance for a compromise with Republicans that would include health insurance cooperatives instead of a government-run plan. Such a concession probably would enrage Obama's liberal supporters but could deliver a much-needed victory on a top domestic priority opposed by GOP lawmakers.

Officials from both political parties reached across the aisle in an effort to find compromises on proposals they left behind when they returned to their districts for an August recess. Obama had sought the government to run a health insurance organization to help cover the nation's almost 50 million uninsured, but he never made it a deal breaker in a broad set of ideas that has Republicans unified in opposition. (Italics mine)

Dear Readers (all 20 of you), I shouldn't need to point this out, but because AP seems unable to tell a straight story anymore, I'll just repeat the obvious: the Democrats control the Presidency and both Houses of Congress. The Republicans do not have the votes to stop anything the Democrats propose. There is no need for Obama to compromise with the Republicans on anything. The only pressure Obama is bowing to would be "Blue Dog" (conservative) Democrats and the number of private citizens showing up at town hall meetings and arguing with their congressmen/women/children about the attempt at nationalization. Describing this report as "disingenuous" is being polite. Very polite.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Potpourri XCV

First, something to brighten my rather rough week: the Ares I-X rocket has been stacked fully in the Vehicle Assembly Building, all 327 feet of her. Saaaaaa-lute!

Here's the official press release:

NASA COMPLETES ASSEMBLY OF ARES I-X TEST ROCKET

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- For the first time in more than a quarter-century a new space vehicle stands ready in NASA's Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building. The Ares I-X rocket, its simulated crew module and launch abort system are assembled on a mobile launch platform at Kennedy in preparation for launch this fall.

The final segments of the Ares I-X were stacked on Aug. 13, completing the 327-foot launch vehicle and providing the first look at the finished rocket's distinctive shape. The Ares I-X flight test is targeted for Oct. 31.

"More than three years of hard work with the NASA and contractor team has brought us to this historic moment," said Bob Ess, Ares I-X mission manager. "This flight test is a critical step in continuing our design process for the Ares vehicle and the first flight for the Constellation Program."

The Ares I-X is wired with more than 700 sensors to gather data during the two-and-a-half minute flight test. The launch will provide NASA an early opportunity to test and prove hardware, facilities and ground operations associated with the Ares I crew launch vehicle. The data collected during the launch will allow NASA to gather critical data during ascent of the integrated Orion spacecraft and the Ares I rocket.

Now that the Ares I-X is assembled, numerous evaluations will be run on all the rocket systems, including complex instruments that will constantly measure the vehicle's movements as it launches and the first stage separates. The evaluations include a process called "modal testing," which will shake the stack slightly to test stiffness of the rocket, including the pinned and bolted joints.

CEOs should stay quiet on politics? Right. Like Michael Eisner kept quiet about sending money to Hillary…

The Miami Herald has a story on the Augustine Panel…


A dog cloning business has started in South Korea. This is not a good sign. Once again, our technology advances are outstripping the ability of our culture to absorb, slow, or stop them.


Michael Vick has found a new gig in Philadelphia after spending time in jail for running a dog fighting ring from his home. You know, I think the man was punished enough legally. One would have thought that the social stigma and bad publicity about his bad actions would be enough to keep him out of professional football. This not a good sign for the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles, or the culture at large. Shame on them and shame on us. Eagles fans still have a chance to stop this by not showing up for games when Michael Vick shows up to play.

And while I do have concerns about the advances our technologies make, it is nice to see that some tech is being used for constructive (or at least neutral) purposes. This site has some very intriguing work.

From the office, a story on Mars not being an immediate plan, but a goal.

Got this from Doc, and just had to share because it is oh so true about my line of work:

1. Ask engineer how the damn thing works.
2. Deafening silence.
3. Crickets.
4. Tumbleweeds.
5. Just start writing something. Anything.
6. Give this something to the engineer.
7. Watch engineer become quite upset at how badly you’ve missed thepoint of everything.
8. As the engineer berates you, in between insults he will also throwoff nuggets of technical information.
9. Collect these nuggets, as they are the only reliable technicalinformation you will receive.
10. Try like hell to weave together this information into somethingenlightening and technically accurate.
11. Go to step 6.

Sigh...yet another story on the dismal prospects for what might come out of the Augustine Panel. I must confess that even if I understand what options the panel will offer to Obama, I have no clue what option he will take, what its full impact will be, or how long it will take for said course to be taken. I'm just along for the ride, albeit I'm one of the folks at the front of the roller coaster, so I'll see the next curve before some folks, but that doesn't make the ride any more fun.

In other space news, India has started an astronaut training center, while Bulgaria's scientists want that nation to join the European Space Agency. So while we're debating in this country if we should even have a space program, dirt-poor former Eastern Bloc countries are trying to do what we seem willing to throw away. Why don't our leaders pay attention to these things? Perhaps it would be worth asking those nations, "What do you know about space that we don't?"

Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI) has a good take on government healthcare on his site.

And that'll do for now.

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Potpourri XC

I'm back on duty after visiting with my family over the weekend. I was glad that they came. We just hung out together to celebrate my b-day, and I was able to disconnect a little bit from the usual wackiness that fills my day. Huzzah! Now that I'm back online, I've got a bunch of links and notes to share, so off we go...

Need a sign to hold if you choose to show up at a Tea Party rally or a congressional town hall? Lin recommends this. Some protesting needs to be done, because the healthcare bill the President and Congress want to push is bad for the country. Protest loudly, however, and you're a mob. Protest politely, and you're shouted down or intimidated by union guys or your character and motivations are impugned. Frustrating.

Also from Lin:

  • An editorial on some of these town hall meetings, and a video of one of the town halls that turned nasty.
  • The Onion has a creepy satire on an alternative means of dealing with the federal debt.
  • The Obama Administration hopes to reform the nationwide efforts used to deal with illegal immigrants. Any bets on a presidential pardon?
  • A Huffington Post (left-wing) look at the Beer Summit.

New from Hu: another article about the Augustine Human Space Flight Panel. This Wednesday will be the last public meeting of the Panel. We might learn what options the HSF Panel will offer, and maybe not. Their final report will be due August 31. Of course as my buddy Doc pointed out, even if Augustine, et al., issue their report at the end of this month, it'll be a few months before Obama makes any decision, and then longer than that for the effects to be felt within NASA. I'm not so sure about that last point, but we'll see.

From Father Dan:

From Gwen, a story on a Texas prisoner who was caught hiding a weapon in the rolls of his fat. Yuck.

Former Bush Administration Science Advisor John Marburger testified before the Augustine Panel on the shape of the Constellation Program. His remarks are worth reading, though I must take issue with one of his statements:

NASA decision-making grew increasingly constrained by real budget shortfalls created in part by larger than estimated return to flight costs for the Shuttle.

Marburger overlooks the fact that those "real budget shortfalls" were, in fact, the result of both the Congress and the Bush Administration not requesting the money Constellation needed to do the job it was assigned to do. Oh yeah, and Marburger was part of the Bush Administration making the NASA budget decisions! Mike Griffin paid politically for daring to speak this unpleasant truth aloud, and he no longer holds the NASA Administrator's position.

'Tis the season for the Perseid meteor shower, which is caused by the Earth passing through the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet. Look to the skies!

The Kepler telescope has proven that it can find Earth-size planets around other stars. Now it just needs to start finding them around stars we haven't investigated before.

The last of the Futures Channel videos on Ares has been posted. It covers the outreach team that puts together videos, conference papers, collateral pieces, posters, etc., for the Ares Projects. In short, the team Your Humble Narrator works on. While I was not put on camera for this video, my buddies Jason, Camille, and Wayne do a great job of explaining what we do for a living. Huzzah!

That should do for now. 27 days until Europe.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Potpourri LXXXV

Nothing like getting off to a bumpy start. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) was evacuated for 12 hours after "authorities" (who?) observed a guy carrying a suspicious package. It turned out to be a fake bomb. Stupid.

You can find an image of the first stage of the Ares I-X forward structures on line. The rocket is now about halfway done with its physical stacking. Looks like a giant flashlight right now, but it'll be rocket-shaped in no time! Huzzah!

From Yohon, a Hulu promo clip for the ABC remake of V. Again I must ask: what consumer need is this fulfilling? Or is Hollywood really that bankrupt of ideas?

From Lin: Tired of people yakking on their cell phone while you're trying to eat? You might want to consider this little gadget. Personally, I like the notion of turning off CNN at the airport so I can get some quiet in the concourse.

The state of California is facing major financial problems, which it is trying to shore up by taking money from local municipalities and issuing IOUs to banks. But never mind all that--the state's largest union for government workers has authorized a strike to protest furloughs of state workers. Brilliant. That'll show 'em.

The Democrats in the House have managed to get a health care bill out of committee, which could go to the floor for a vote in September. Time to write my senators and congressman again. I wonder if the House guys actually read the bill this time.

Fox News is reporting that al-Qaeda might have penetrated the British Secret Service (MI5). Whups.

The Japanese are developing a humanoid robot. Also on this video: the Russians are working on plastic surgery to make people taller. Yuck.

Star Trek IV fans may now rejoice: we might soon have transparent aluminum.

And Darlene the Science Cheerleader has some provocative thoughts about women in the science and engineering fields.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Potpourri LXXXIII

Moving right along...

WFTV in Orlando covers job loss issues at Kennedy Space Center.

Brother Karl's dad is at Oshkosh and managed to get a decent pic of WhiteKnightTwo.



Darlene the Science Cheerleader is promoting the Future City competition, which encourages kids to think about technology and social issues in a real-world environment. I attended this competition last year and was suitably impressed with the kids' ingenuity. This year's task/theme is "Providing An Affordable Living Space For People Who Have Lost Their Home Due to a Disaster or Financial Emergency." This could be handled very simply, in my mind: coffin/capsule hotels brought in on semi-trailers. They're very tiny, limited in their drain on the environment, and tiny/uncomfortable enough that people will get themselves out of them and off the government dole as soon as possible just to get on with their lives. Just sayin'.

The Futures Channel has another video out on the Ares Projects.

Fred Thompson has an interview with Betsy McCoy, a patient advocate who provided much of the ammunition to bring down the Clinton nationalized healthcare plan.

The Cash for Clunkers deal has a hitch--some deals have been stopped because the EPA changed the gas mileage rules, effectively preventing some people with "clunkers" from getting their check. This sort of thing would never happen if the government ran the healthcare system, of course.

In the midst of the Augustine Panel swirl, the Mars Society is holding its annual citizen-lobbying blitz to press for Mars exploration.

Florida Today reviews yesterday's Augustine Panel discussion.

More on The Swirl and other topics from Melissa:

Even more on Augustine... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090729/ap_on_sc/us_nasa_future

This one from the Down Under Defense Expert (DUDE). Ick: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99OAQ2G1&show_article=1

Some intriguing links from Jerry Pournelle's site:

  • NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has an Asteroid Watch blog.
  • A case against climate hysteria. Speaking of which, members of the American Chemical Society are revolting against the call for immediate action on global warming. Also, a summary of the one-sided spending on climate research.
  • Some potential for thorium reactors: a long speech and the PowerPoint presentation that goes with it.
  • A reminder on Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy.
  • A model of a battleship based on Orion (the nuclear pulse rocket, not the crew exploration vehicle).
  • Green engineering within the Air Force.
  • North Korea using its developmentally challenged children as test subjects. Sick. However, this story does come from Al-Jazeera...not sure why I should believe anything these guys say now when I've been more than dubious about things they've said so far.
  • And lastly, an illustrated poem about the Moon.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Potpourri LXXIX

Cirque du Soleil's founder is looking forward to his trip to the International Space Station. It would be interesting to see if, after returning from his trip, he decides to create a space-themed show.

From Lin:

From Cliff, a music video on Glenn Beck's show featuring some clips of political figures.

From the Down Under Defense Expert (DUDE):

From my NASA PAO feed, a story about an Earth science program being run out of Edwards AFB.

Buzz Aldrin stated that there's a monolith on Phobos. Saaaaayyyyy what?

Keith Cowing is playing nice with the new NASA Administrator...so far. All it will take is for Gen. Bolden to make one decision Keith doesn't like, and the seal clubbing will begin.

New from Hu: Fans of Starship Troopers will appreciate this. Special Forces troops are getting "Land Warrior" high-tech battle gear.

This editorial irritated me because the writer presumes to take the voice of reason on the space program, but she gets several things wrongs and mischaracterizes other aspects of space. Frustrating.

From Rich: a great speech about asking the right questions, about religion and its role in democracy and capitalism, and about scouting. Yes, all of these things are related.

And lastly, from Dan the PAO Man, some thoughts by T. S. Eliot...written before the Internet:

Opening Stanza from Choruses from "The Rock"

The Eagle soars in the summit of Heaven,
The Hunter with his dogs pursues his circuit.

O perpetual revolution of configured stars,

O perpetual recurrence of determined seasons,

O world of spring and autumn, birth and dying

The endless cycle of idea and action,
Endless invention, endless experiment,
Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness;
Knowledge of speech, but not of silence;
Knowledge of words, and ignorance of the Word.
All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance,
All our ignorance brings us nearer to death,
But nearness to death no nearer to GOD.
Where is the Life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
The cycles of Heaven in twenty centuries
Bring us farther from GOD and nearer to the Dust.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Potpourri LXXVI

Lots to type about, so let's get rolling.

NASAWatch is posting an email supposedly from Bob Ess, the Ares I-X Mission Manager, stating that the mission launch date has moved to Halloween. I'd seen an earlier date than that, but these things happen. Guess I'll get to go to Europe AND see I-X fly after all.

Some guys at the USAF's 45th Space Wing put together some incomplete/bad data, added in some bad assumptions, and voila: the Orlando Sentinel gets to pound on Ares once again. This is getting old, guys.

Investor's Business Daily has a series of editorials related to healthcare reform. One is of particular interest because it addresses a fundamental disconnect in President Obama's rhetoric. He's been saying that "If you like your current plan, you can keep it." Which is true. However, if you change jobs, change plans, or go into business for yourself, you'll find that private insurance companies are not allowed to sign new customers on to existing plans--which means, once you get out of whatever plan you're on right now, you have no choice but to take the government's plan. And the government, of course, will ration care any way it sees fit, even if you were willing to pay more. Think very hard before you decide that "nationalized health care" is a bright idea.

Charles Krauthammer, one of the brighter bulbs on Fox News, has a great editorial about Apollo titled "The Moon We Left Behind."

A tribute to Apollo using Elton John's "Rocket Man."

From Father Dan: Mathemagics? Yes!

From Melissa. Haven't reviewed all these yet, so like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you never know what your going to get:

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured photos of all of the Apollo landing sites. Cool! I wonder what the reaction would've been if the descent modules weren't there anymore. More to be found at the LRO site.

CNN decides to report on the "Moon hoax" believers.

And yet another Apollo article from Science at NASA.

WAAY TV in Huntsville posted a report on the friction stir welding going on here at Marshall.

The federal government has a business opportunity for those interested in demonstrating the value of humor in the workplace. Given the government's utter lack of humor when it comes to their little workplace regulations, that really is funny.

Dar also has a fun Apollo-related article, this one related to the American flag planted on the Moon.

From Martin: a YouTube video on laser-powered spacecraft.

Environmentalists are pro-space exploration? Maybe, I say.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Potpourri LXXIV


A coworker suggested looking for a new factoid--how many Super Bowls would Ares V produce if its energy were converted directly to kilowatts. So how many kilowatts does it take to power all the lights, bells, whistles, and flourishes of a Super Bowl? See here.

NASAWatch took extra shots at Ares I this week. Oh, goody.

Why couldn't Neil Armstrong fall asleep on the Moon? See here. Also, Apollo conversations you haven't heard before.

One of the communications gurus I work with at Marshall is a part-time roller derby girl. Specifically, a "Dixie Derby Girl." I'm going to have to see this event at some point.

Want to understand ObamaCare? Check this out:
















New from Hu: The Senate has confirmed Charles Bolden as NASA Administrator. That's probably a new record for appointing a NASA chief.

Another education opportunity for college students at NASA...

The Rocket that Rocked the World, courtesy of my buddy Dauna.

The Singularity moves along...more on brain/computer interfaces.

Another update on the monorail accident at Epcot.