Month: November 2008

Wow. Finally, after many hours of futzing around and being on hold, I got the DSL line working. This will be a test post of sorts, as I have nothing really to say. Other than thank God the thing finally works. The biggest problem was being asked for a user name and password in order…

Here is a look at why the Detroit auto industry is going down in flames. I’m a huge fan of the US auto industry. I’m one of the last people on my street who still buys American cars (Pontiac). But I’m extremely concerned. And given what’s been going on, I am surprised at the engineering…

Design News reports on a new material now in the research phase that is 10 times lighter than steel and 500 times stronger. You’ve heard of airplanes made from carbon-fiber reinforced (CFRP) plastics. What’s next? Well there’s a sheet of carbon nanotubes–called “buckypaper”–that may create structures for another generation of airplanes. Carbon nanotubes are already…

From the wiki: A marriage license (spelled licence in British English) is a document issued either by a church or state authority authorising a couple to marry. The procedure for obtaining a licence varies between countries and has changed over time. Marriage licences began to be issued in the Middle Ages to permit a marriage…

Tom will be at the Philcon Science Fiction convention this coming Saturday, 22 Nov 2008. You can read what Tom has to say about his upcoming talk at Talk Polywell. Cross Posted at Power and Control

I made it to Berkeley, but I have no Internet at home, so here I am in a Starbucks (where I don’t have time to be, much less blog). Well, I have so-called “dialup Internet access” for traveling, but really! 21.6 kbps? That’s the rate I get with every access number on their stupid list,…

The relevant bit is about 9 minutes into the video. You can see the rest of the videos at Jonah Cross Posted at Power and Control

Why Did Social Conservative Ally With Progressives? Please discuss in the comments. Cross Posted at Power and Control

Part 2 Part 3A Part 3B Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Transcript of all six parts. Read the book: Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning H/T Ted Belman Cross Posted at Power and Control

Well, I drove across the country from Michigan, and I am now in Barstow, California. (No view from the room today; my camera is in the car.) I don’t especially recommend driving 850, mostly mountainous, miles on the third day of a long drive, as my head was spinning and things were still moving when…

It has come to my attention that Governor Palin needs to improve her economic education. Please use these Amazon links to send her Free to Choose and The Road to Serfdom to: Governor Sarah Palin 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1700 Anchorage, AK 99501

The latest entry on the Boston Globe’s always fascinating picture blog, the Big Picture, ranges from portraits of Barack Obama drawn with nanotubes, to individual cancer cells, to pollen and bugs’ eyes. My favorite is the picture of the squid suckers. Does that even look real?

Read this and let me know what you think. Cross Posted at Power and Control

I’m in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the view from my room is little more than a view of a parking lot. However, this postcard gives a better feel for the place, which is steeped in vintage Route 66 nostalgia. That’s what the strip looks like today. Fun and partying in kitschy little 1950s motels, restaurants,…

You know what I like about Sarah Palin? With respect to social conservatism she leads by example without any need for the heavy hand of government. And with respect to economic conservatism she puts her principles into action. Cross Posted at Power and Control

Did Jesus promote government solutions to moral problems?

Iran is in a world of hurt according to Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli in an article published by The Middle East Media Research Institute on October 30th. At its two-hour emergency meeting in Vienna on October 24, the Organization of Oil Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided to lower crude production by 1.5 million barrels/day (b/d), effective…

I’m not talking elections here. I’m talking about my internet service. My isp lost power at about 8 AM local time and it has just come back at about 11PM local time. I had a post ready to publish and a few more in mind that required some research. Sorry for the interruption. Oh yeah.…

A recent commenter on my last post had this to say: I’m not so worried about the Dems handling science. But please, lets not waste any more GOP money trying to get prayer into school and evolution out. I’ll disagree on the first count, but of course I agree on the second. The Republican party…