news stories- felled by the spirits, jihadi bureaucrats
Here’s a morning roundup, so I can close a few of these tabs….
Maybe this guy should be suing God instead:
Man Falls After Receiving Spirit, Sues
Claims church liable for injuries sustained during healing service
This one inadvertently demonstrates what’s wrong with our space priorities:
Another headache the ISS doesn’t need
Building the ISS has taken far longer than planned. It is almost a quarter century since Ronald Reagan set the program in motion, but in spite of all the difficulties and heartbreaks it is, without question, a major achievement. It is way, way over budget, it’s in the wrong orbit, and it may never produce the scientific breakthroughs that were promised, but it is the only space station we have. Let’s cherish it.
Leaving aside the budget question (because it’s built by the American and Russian governments, of course- what would you expect?), and the orbit question (which was a political decision- again, what would you expect?), the question of what science is being produced shouldn’t be a major issue. As long as we wave around science as an excuse for projects like this, we’ll never live up to expectations. Robots could do most of this alleged science in orbit a whole lot easier. We shouldn’t be building the ISS to do science- we should be building it to learn how to build in space (and live there, too). Once we know how to do that, the science will follow. Until then, it’s just a fig leaf for political cover.
Also, it’s very nice to cherish a project that doesn’t deliver, but a more appropriate sentiment might be: “It’s the only space station we have. Let’s make it work.”
Al Qaeda Issues “Request For Proposals”:
Frankly, it seems like Al Qaeda is becoming more like the Pentagon with each passing day. Women want equal rights to wage Jihad; the bureaucrats issue nasty memos and want to coordinate strategic communication; and now they’re putting out the equivalent of a “request for proposals” on how to cause madness and mayhem.
Two more about Kosovo. Still a mess.
Police: Kosovo prime minister’s home attacked
Turkey blocks NATO training for Kosovo forces
Another one about Georgia. The president outwits his opposition, but it’s not the sort of maneuver that builds confidence in government.
Georgia’s Saakashvili convenes parliament early, thwarting opposition protest plans
Venezuela fires missiles in exercises
Venezuela embarrassed itself a couple of months back, when they tried to rush their army to the Colombian border. Their regular forces weren’t able to mobilize in a hurry, and a lot of their strength, including their tanks, never made it at all. This exercise might be an effort to regain some credibility. Doesn’t hurt either that a US Navy plane overflew this base last month. Strictly by accident, of course.
And finally… pirates!
Puntland Soldiers Join Forces With Pirates – Mayor
I was just saying last week that if anyone goes after the pirates from within Somalia, it’s Puntland. So much for that.
