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July 30, 2005
Discovery Mission Updates
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 29, 2005
Water on Mars????
The ESA announced the discovery of a "disk of ice" within an impact crater on the surface of Mars. The discovery was made by the Polar Express spacecraft and scientists have ruled out that the disk is frozen CO2. The long awaited discovery redefines the possibility of life, past or present, on our red neighbor. [Official ESA article with images]
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 6:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dispatch from Mosul
Michael Yon has a new dispatch from Mosul. It begins:
Across Iraq, I keep running across American troops who are not Americans. Many of these soldiers and Marines are working towards attaining U.S. citizenship while in uniform, under fire, in Iraq.I was privileged to witness the award ceremony for 12 new American citizens in Deuce Four recently. I hope America makes them feel welcome. If the folks at home could see what these people are doing in Iraq, they would make these special troops feel as honored guests. But now, better yet, they are honored citizens, giving life to the concept of active citizenship.
Read the whole thing, then read his whole blog. It's beyond worthy.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
In case you're unclear on the whole subject. . .
Jeff has a way of putting things into crystal-clear perspective.
Even though I beat him in the Blogger Babe of the Week competiton (I still think Beth rigged it), you should spend some time at his blog, you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll scratch your head, you might even get pissed off.
UPDATE: Michelle Malkin points out that Michael Graham of WMAL-AM radio in Washington also tried to put things in perspective, and got suspended for it. Lots of great links there for you.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 10:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Now this is interesting. . .
The Blogfather directed me to this:
Kabuli, who blogs in English as Afghan Lord under a pseudonym in order to protect himself, has received numerous threats posted to his blog from the same IP address which belongs - shockingly - to the BBC. One of them, which Kabuli emailed to Global Voices, asks: “Do you think I do not know you?” Then it continues on to threaten: “There were a number of people like you, who did not remain alive. They were all buried in graves. You have to be taken off from this land so that better human beings could take your place. For, you are dirty.”
Read the whole thing at Gobal Voices Online.
While people will rush to the defense of the BBC reporter mentioned in the article, claiming that the IP coincidence isn't a smoking gun in his hand. The fact remains that these comments are coming from someone at the BBC. The BBC says they are investigating the claims, and I'll be interested to see where this goes.
Reminds me of the whole "Sassygate" affair playing out at The Guardian. The Daily Ablution can catch you up on that.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 10:32 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 28, 2005
Discovery Watch
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Ha Ha!
I guess telling LIES about U.S. Soldiers flushing Korans at Gitmo wasn't such a good idea after all.
Ohh, I'll bet no one has said this yet:
"The Revolution will not be televised; it'll be on the web!!!"
WOOT! My very own tagline. This may prompt me to finally redesign the blog.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Discovery Mission Reports 3 and 4
More news from the mission, including a report on the inspection of the heat shield tiles and the upcoming rendezvous with the ISS.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Introducing, "Day by Day" by Chris Muir
If you've traveled around the "Blogosphere" much, you've undoubtedly come across the webcomic "Day by Day". Personally, I've found the series hilarious at times, poignant at others and something that at the very least brings a grin. I've been meaning to incorporate the strip for some time in my blog some way, and now I've finally gotten around to it.
So from now until I decide otherwise, you can get "Day by Day" by clicking on this graphic which will be located in the sidebar:
So without further ado, let me welcome "Day by Day" by Chris Muir to JasonColeman.com.
--Jason
Day By Day© by Chris Muir.
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:23 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 27, 2005
Shuttles Grounded
The Discovery appears to be fine, but the fleet has been grounded.
More to come...
UPDATE: NASA officials announced that after reviewing images from the launch, that "significant" amounts of insulating foam did break free, and while no damage to the orbiter is evident, for safety regions, the fleet is grounded.
This is a huge setback, but not insurmountable. Hopefully this will prompt a rapid development program for the CEV, or prompt a retasking of the shuttle's role in space operations.
UPDATE 2: Full story from SpaceDaily.com
Posted by JasonColeman at 6:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Meet the new al-Queda information minister. . .
Minister Baghdadarella!
Via The Commisar of The Politburo Diktat -- new addition to the blogroll.
Tip o the hat to Beth.
If you have no clue what this is all about, READ THIS.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 5:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Discovery Mission Report - First Full Day in Space
VIA NASA -- Mission Report #1 is HERE
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 – 12 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas
07.27.05
STATUS REPORT: STS-114-02
STS-114 MCC Status Report #02
The crew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery has awakened to its first full day in space. Today it will focus on thermal protection system inspections, preparing for docking to the International Space Station and getting spacesuits ready for three spacewalks.
Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi, Steve Robinson, Andy Thomas, Wendy Lawrence and Charlie Camarda received a wakeup call at 11:39 p.m. CDT. The song played for the crew was music from the movie "Groundhog Day," which was for the entire crew to commemorate its first day out of quarantine.
For most of the day, Thomas, Camarda and Kelly will work together on Discovery’s aft flight deck to inspect key components of the orbiter's heat shield. For the majority of the inspections the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) laser-scanner will be used. The Shuttle's robotic Canadarm will be used to maneuver the 50-foot boom extension after checkout of the system is completed.
In its debut performance, the boom will be used to methodically inspect the leading edges of Discovery's wings and the orbiter's nose cap to insure that they did not incur any damage during launch. The Laser Dynamic Range Imager (LDRI) on the boom will provide two-and three-dimensional imagery. The data will be downlinked to the ground for engineering evaluation.
After those surveys are complete the boom will be placed back on the starboard sill of the payload bay. The Shuttle robotic arm and its cameras will then be used to survey Discovery's crew cabin. Additionally, using handheld digital cameras the crew will photograph tiles on the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pods and the orbiter’s tail.
During Tuesday’s ascent to orbit, the enhanced imaging capability gave flight controllers and mission managers views of the Shuttle Orbiter never seen before. With this heightened ability, engineers were able to see two so-called "debris events." A camera mounted on the external tank caught what appeared to be a small fragment of tile coming from Discovery's underside on or near the nose gear doors. A later image about the time of Solid Rocket Booster separation showed an unidentified piece departing from the tank and exiting away, apparently not striking the orbiter. The crew was notified of these observations and told that imaging experts would be analyzing the pictures.
Mission managers will review the information gathered yesterday and today, including imaging and sensor data, to help determine the health of Discovery’s thermal protection system over the next four days before it is cleared for landing later in the flight. Data from the new wing leading edge sensors was downlinked overnight to Mission Control for assessment.
Flight Day Four has time reserved for additional surveys, if required, using the OBSS, either to complete parts of the survey that time would not allow today, or to supplement the survey with “stop-and-stare” scans of sites of potential interest.
Meanwhile, on the middeck, spacewalkers Noguchi and Robinson, assisted by Lawrence, will check out the airlock, spacesuits and tools they will begin using on Saturday. They will also prepare Shuttle systems for docking to the Space Station.
Today Collins will fire Discovery’s thrusters twice to refine its approach to the Station. At about midnight, Discovery was trailing the Station by 6,516 statute miles. The two are scheduled to link up at 6:18 a.m. CDT Thursday.
Today the Space Station crew, Commander Sergei Krikalev and Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer John Phillips will prepare the complex for Discovery’s arrival. They will configure the digital cameras they will use during Discovery’s approach, gathering additional imagery of the Shuttle’s heat shield. They also will pressurize the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA 2) that Discovery will dock to Thursday.
The next STS-114 mission status report will be issued Wednesday evening, or earlier, if events warrant.
Posted by JasonColeman at 4:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Shuttle Decisions. . .
Yesterday's launch of the Shuttle Discovery was the most heavily monitored launch yet. The Columbia tragedy confirmed yet again that Space Exploration is a dangerous task, and every launch has the potential for disaster.
Hundreds of cameras were trained on every inch of the orbiter, external fuel tanks and solid rocket boosters that make up the launch vechicle, and as with the Columbia, pieces of the components that make up the launch system flaked off under the rigors of launch.
It's yet to be discovered whether the pieces that fell off did any damage to the Discovery. NASA is currently analyzing the film of the launch and preparing to implement inspection, evaluation and if necessary, repair procedures they have been practicing for months.
The orbiter will be scrutinized by spy satellites which have been retasked to examine the heat shield of tiles that protect the orbiter upon re-entry, and a new 50-foot extension to the Canadian robot arm will be called into service to take pictures of the entire surface of the shuttle. Spacewalks will follow for further close up inspection if anomolies are detected and patches may be applied if warranted.
The Shuttle Atlantis is also being prepped for launch if it becomes apparent that the Shuttle Astronauts and ISS crew cannot repair the Discovery to engineers standards, the Atlantis could serve as a taxi for the Discovery astronauts, or may ferry additional replacement parts to the ISS for outfitting on the Discovery.
All of this leads one to serveral alternate scenarios that may dramatically effect the way NASA operates in the low earth orbit that is the realm of the ISS and Shuttle orbiters.
There's no need at this point to begin calling for a grounding of the Shuttle fleet again, there are other options that may actually improve the safety of the entire orbiter fleet, reduce the cost of accessing Earth orbit and also expand our overall presence in space.
The shuttle was designed to ferry cargo and Astronauts into low Earth orbit. The technology in the Shuttle is quite old, regardless if it is in fact the cutting edge of space exploration, it is on it's way out. The shuttle is due to be replaced by the Crew Exploration Vechicle being developed by NASA and private entities are designing new craft that are promising to open up small scale access to space. The newest generations of heavy lift rockets like the Delta and Progress are more efficient lifting engines for cargo and new systems like DART will make connecting with the ISS and Shuttle in orbit much easier.
Now is the time to consider a radical change in the way we manage traffic to and from orbit and operate in space. Perhaps it's time we considered keeping an orbiter docked with the ISS and rotate it out once another is ready to take it's place. This would open up all sorts of possibilities. Most directly, having a tugboat in permanent orbit could prove very handy for satellite retrieval and resupply in orbit. Wayward satellites, or those in need of changing out film canisters or power supplies or even major repairs, could be captured with the shuttle, brought to the ISS and parked while repair, replenishment or adjustment was made by Astronauts. After repairs are made, the orbiter could then insert the satellites back into orbit. We've practiced captures and retrievals before with great success, saving the taxpayers significant amounts of money and adding to the lifespan of decaying satellites. Currently, many of our satellites have limited lifespans that are the result of consumables on board rather than simply the life of the powersupply, replenishing these satellites may be much more efficient than sending up new ones.
Beginning to more effecively manage our assets in space is a great step forward for NASA, it also provides valuable experience for construction techniques and maintenance protocols while in orbit. This is a step we need to take and this may be just the unplanned event that turns from handicap to windfall quickly.
Such a redesign of the Shuttle's role in orbital operations would need to be accompanied by a ramping up of the construction timeline of the ISS. Keeping an orbiter at the ISS would require also stationing a crew on board to pilot the shuttle and act as mechanics and spacewalkers during operations. New habitation modules would need to be sent up sooner than currently planned, but using lower cost rockets to send up the modules could provide the extra budgetary dollars to fund a more rapid timeline.
The change in role would also be a much needed shot in the arm to our partners in the ISS and space exploration in general. While the ISS and shuttle's missions are being redefined, Russia, the ESA and even the Brazilians could step up to the plate and offer access through their respective rocket fleets, increasing their footprint in orbit and pumping dollars into national space programs for continued development.
The move would spur development in the private entities that are beginning to eplore the possibilites offered by developing spaceplanes and new rocket designs promising to reduce the cost and frequency of access. The day could be just around the corner where private carriers begin ferrying crew members into orbit to rendezvous with the shuttle that could then transport personnel to the ISS or other destinations. We don't want to make the shuttle a bus, but option may be too good to resist in the short term.
There would be new problems to overcome, for sure. Fuel for the orbiter itself would be among the first issues. The three main engines of the orbiter would probably not have to be fueled, but the "retro" rockets that the orbiter uses to move about while in orbit would certainly have to be replenished. Mechanisms for recharging fuel cells would have to be developed, and resupply of the shuttles consumables would need to be handled by unmanned resupply missions.
There may also be issues with keeping the orbiter in space for extended periods. The extreme conditions may produce unknown effects on it's systems over time. Hopefully this would could be offset by mothballing certain systems and the development of a program of maintence for the orbiters while they are parked in orbit.
All in all, this is just idle speculation, most probably, the Discovery is just fine and will be able to return as scheduled safely to Earth. However, NASA has planned for the shuttle to remain parked while options with the Atlantis are explored; I'm just suggesting we take it one step further and plan on leaving it orbit to increase our ability to manage our assets in space, move the scope and scale of habitable space forward and incorporate our favorite little space tug into our plans to return to the Moon and venture beyond.
If there's anything that space exploration has shown is the tremendous ability of our NASA engineers and Astronauts to make the most out of the situation and adapt to safety and operational concerns when they arise. Setbacks in our program of manned and unmanned space flight will continue to occur, no matter how much money we pour into new designs and how much time we spend planning for every possible scenario. Pushing the envelope is a dangerous task, it's important to not allow the envelope to push back. We must turn every disappointment into a learning experience and develop every possibility to move our program forward.
The American space program is a source of national pride, but it's more than that, it's the inevitable future of our species to one day live among the stars. Space exploration and development promises a source of unlimited energy and an almost inexhaustable supply of mineral resources. Mars and the Moon are waiting for us, and it's time we begin to make expansion of footprint in space a priority.
Developing the CEV and other vechicles should remain a priority given the aging condition of the shuttles, and I don't recommend we divert resources from these programs to re-task the shuttle. The opportunity is there to re-think the shuttles role, and it's possible that in this case we can take what many consider to be a lemon and make lemonade.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 26, 2005
By Request...
More Penguins. . .
If that's not enough for you, then check out the new movie March of the Penguins from Warner Brothers. Big "aaawwww" factor in the trailer, you've been warned.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:29 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Up, up and away
Slighty more than two years after the tragedy of Space Shuttle Columbia, the Shuttle Discovery is now in orbit.
Today's launch follows on the heels of the House passing a bill supporting the President's policy of a return to the Moon and NASA's mission to expand exploration and scientific discovery missions. This is the first NASA specific bill to come out of the House in five years.
While much of this shuttle mission is dedicated to testing new safety measures and procedures, it's larger goal is to return a "spirit of discovery" to America. Once again, our ability to look beyond the problems of life on this terrestrial sphere and reach out for something more rises to the fore.
You can keep track of mission reports for STS-114, and here's the link for NASA TV.
The Shuttle Atlantis is already being prepped for a launch next month. We've got alot of catching up to do.
--Jason
In case you missed it, here's a video of the launch.
I'll put more links to video and images here as I come across them.
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:53 PM
Take Two. . .
Despite not determining the cause for a fuel sensor malfunction that scrubbed last weeks launch, NASA is set to fly again. The malfunctioning sensor was one of 4 redundant sensors and even if the sensor malfunctions again, the launch will not be scrubbed unless other more serious problems arise.
Godspeed to some of America's best and bravest.
Official NASA countdown clock (served by NASA)
NOTE: The countdown may seem "off" but it's not. There are mandatory pre-determined "HOLDS" where the clock is stopped for checks, tests, etc.
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:33 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 23, 2005
DAMN!!! Talk about "going big". . .
I'll never land "or even attempt" a jump this big.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 3:18 PM
July 22, 2005
Rusten Currie:
I don't know much, I haven't been alive long enough to be wise. I have seen more of the world than most, but am not worldly. What I do know is this. Chamberlain was right (more than one hundred years ago, near Gettysburg, we are fighting a new kind of war, with a new Army. We are fighting for an ideal. Freedom, such an intangible notion, such a simple thing, such a complex thing. We can quantify the price in blood, we can quantify the price in dollars. What is so simple here in B'dad, is so lost on so much of America... Freedom.
And he's running for Congress when he gets home. [Via Backfive]
Posted by JasonColeman at 5:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
It must be the booze. . .
But I love The Vodkapundit. Especially when he points me to articles that every person who values free speech and a free press should read.
This Chinese pseudo-net is really starting to annoy me.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Pluh-ese!!!!
Ok, just read it, then puke!
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Is it really about Style?
Lately, I've been on this kick about calling attention to those who wish to attack John Roberts family in an effort to get at John Roberts and by association, President Bush. [Previous Post] [Another Post]
In following that track, I come to Michelle Malkin's latest wiegh-in on the subject where she notes Washing Post Style reporter Robin Givhan's attack on the wife and children of SCOTUS appointee Roberts:
It has been a long time since so much syrupy nostalgia has been in evidence at the White House. But Tuesday night, when President Bush announced his choice for the next associate justice of the Supreme Court, it was hard not to marvel at the 1950s-style tableau vivant that was John Roberts and his family.There they were -- John, Jane, Josie and Jack -- standing with the president and before the entire country. The nominee was in a sober suit with the expected white shirt and red tie. His wife and children stood before the cameras, groomed and glossy in pastel hues -- like a trio of Easter eggs, a handful of Jelly Bellies, three little Necco wafers...
My first thought was "Who the hell is Robin Givhan?" So I decided to turn to google and get a picture of how Gihvan presents herself to the world. Here's a photo:
Here's Givhan at the 2004 CDFA Awards.
So lets see. This reporter slams the Roberts family for being too clean and presentable. Well, sorry Robin, but you look downright unkempt in your representative picture, what's up with the hanging/showing slip, the top definately doesn't flatter and what is up with that handbag. Were you in too much of a hurry to grab a purse that did something for your ensemble??? After all, you are a Style reporter, aren't you. AND WAIT A MINUTE HERE, is that a Pastel Pink whateveritis?
Now myself, I don't have much "Style", I prefer Khakis and a Hawaiian shirt for my everyday attire, yet just this morning for a meeting I put on a conservative brown suit and a somber tie (I was dressing for the occasion). The Roberts family did much the same. Getting a child "well-scrubbed" and smartly dressed is appropriate for their first appearance at the WHITE HOUSE. Givhan apparently wanted the Roberts' children dressed in a GAP shirt and Levi's. I can only wonder, in that case, if Givhan wouldn't have chided the Roberts for allowing their children to be swaddled in the trendy corporate fashions more commonly found on playgrounds.
I find it very disturbing that whatever the scenario, reporters today seem to have bought into the assumption that the only way to report on anything today is to present any situation in the most negative light possible. Now I'm certainly not advocating that the press sugar-coat each news item, but WHY? For the love of Pete? Why? Does every single piece of reporting have to be scandal, hatred, insult and mockery. This is not what people expect or even slightly wish for from the mediascape we are presented with. What ever happened to the impartiality of the media? Where's the truely informative pieces on issues and policy? Where are the reports of what's right and decent with the world. It used to be that such reporting was commonplace, then it was pushed deep into the paper, NOW, it's completely gone. Replaced with a mantra that seeks to only show how disrespectful, downright snarky and negative in almost every respect a reporter can be. Unless of course, you're reporting on Bono and his upcoming promotion to Diety.
Why attack the children? Why attack the wife? Why attack at all? Why not report on the facts and the announcement? Have we sunk to such a cultural low that toddlers are now appropriate tools with which to attack the parents? Is the way that Mrs. Roberts dresses her children for her husband's first introduction to the American populace the story? Or is her husband's appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States the story.
I understand that Givhan is the Style reporter, even if she doesn't display much of it in her own attire or her writing, that's her job. However, this is not "Style" reporting, but rather an open display of contempt for the appointee, his family, his INNOCENT children and all for the grander journalistic passtime of insulting the President and all that goes on around him.
The Main Stream Media wonders why readers are turning away in droves, they are wondering why the American public's approval rating of the press is at an all time low and why blogs and "citizen media" is fast approaching a critical mass that threatens to destroy the dead-tree press. Well, here's your answer. Instead of pointing out that "Little John" or "Jack" was attired in a cute blue suit and took the occasion to show off his considerable dancing talents, the Post decides to attack the Roberts' and pontificate on their "old-fashioned" attire.
GIVE ME A BREAK, I've gotten tons of emails saying how cute the Roberts' children were and the downright charm of Jack's antics. The only people claiming that the Roberts family is "out of touch" seems to be the journalists, who the American people think are "out of touch".
--Jason
At least she didn't call little Jack gay.
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:56 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 21, 2005
John Howard is THE MAN!!!!!
Boy, I'm glad this guy's on our side. Well said, Mr. Howard, well said.
--Jason
PS: I need some good Australian Blogs to read (besides Chrenkoff, I already read him). Any suggestions???
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
WOW!!!
Talk about a "must read" from Michael Yon. Now this is good war reporting!!!
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Yes Senator, You are a Dumbass. . . . .
If you're looking for the "DUMBASS" audio clip, here it is. The clip is Senator Orin Hatch going after Senator Chuck Schumer for asking "dumbass" questions. You can see some of "Schumers Dumbass Questioning" in this VIDEO CLIP from Trey Jackson.
Jackson also has the transcript of Hatch and Schumer's exchance via Fox.
Hopefully John Roberts will come out and say something like this when Schumer tries the same old tried lines.
"With all due respect Senator Schumer, and I believe Senator Hatch pointed this out in 1993, but those were DUMBASS QUESTIONS then and they are still DUMBASS QUESTIONS now."
That'd be a clip I'd love to see.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:02 PM
More bashing Roberts' kids. . . .
I took a look around DU, looking at the Roberts responses, and sure enough, they're still going after John Roberts' kids:
KoKo01 (1000+ Posts [at DU])I AM worried about the way his kids are dressed. They look like kids from the fifties. Little short pants on the boy and mary janes with white socks on the little girl. They look very strange in these "retro" outfits. I don't see kids dressed like that these days.Am I out of it? What if she's a "retro" person. How old is she? Is she close to fifty and is bringing up her kids in some way that reflects the times of Eisenhower/Nixon administration?
Kay Bailey Hutchinson adopted twins in her very late 50's. Are these "trophy kids?"
All I have to say about this is LEAVE THE DAMN KIDS ALONE. You have no right or business going after toddlers to satisfy your bitter hatred of Bush and anyone in the Bush Administration. It's below the level of what should be considered American Political discourse.
Remember folks, these are the self-proclaimed "heart and soul" of the Democrat party. These are the "we bought it we paid for it, it's ours" camp from MoveOn.org. Ironic that these people consider themselves to be the "enlightened ones" yet for all their superior airs and showy protestations, the Democrats haven't offered anything significant to the U.S. citizenry in the last six years, other than "Impeach Bush" t-shirts and cries about (s)election. Get over it moonbats, you lost, TWICE!!!
I need to take a shower every time I read what the DU moonbats and Daily Sic-Kos have to say.
LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE!!
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 20, 2005
Sudan, anyone?????
Seems as though we're sending troops and supplies and support to Sudan. Good move!!!! Bout time!!!!
--Jason
Ok, ok, yes, yes, I know, it's not US troops, but we're helping in getting the needed troops and supplies into the region. We're finally doing SOMETHING!!!!
Posted by JasonColeman at 8:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Ah, behold the "Joy of Hate" . . .
So the morons from the "reality based community" (truely, that's how the Kos Kiddies describe themselves, LOL) are so twitchy and ready to attack, they're going to go after a 4 year old boy, eh?
If I were Bush and Little John busted out with some moves, I'd have smiled and smirked and even laughed too. I may have even said, "Well, Little John sure seems happy about the appointment, and encouraged the cameras to catch LJ's routine."
Go Little John, Go!!! I hope we see more of the kid in the future, cutting loose, being a kid and having fun where fun is to be had. I think Renquist should allow Little John to tour his dad's future workplace on his big wheel in light of the upcoming attacks on him and his dad by the leftists. I can't believe the Kos Kids want to go and to "opposition research" on a 4 year old. Michelle Malkin's right, they are sic-kos!!!!
Here are the Sic-Kos' comments.
ROCK ON, LITTLE JOHN!!!
--Jason
PS: Can I copyright "Sic-Kos"? After all, the Blogfather copyrighted "indeed".
**Comments are closes for this entry, if you'd like to add something, contact me via email.**
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:43 PM
Raving Penquins and icebergs. . . .
One of the bigger traffic drivers here, is the iceberg B-15A. I've written about it here, here, here, here, and here. I'm not sure though, if people are interested in the iceberg, or the chance that I may post more penquin pictures.
So? In order to satisfy both camps, here's an updated picture of B-15A (enhanced thermal image, dark equals really damn freaking cold, light equals just plain cold):
You can see B-15A, which looks like an aircraft carrier deck, has moved up and away from the Ross Sea. Currents may bring the iceberg back down to block the sea again this Antarctic summer, but it looks like the danger to the penguins (which was overblown in the first place) has passed.
You can tell the penquin in THIS VIDEO is excited about B-15A's departure. I never knew Penquins were ravers????
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:14 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
What those tree-killers say. . .
Captain's Quarters gives and overview of what the big newspapers are saying about The Honorable John Roberts' nomination to the Supreme Court.
Looks like everyone but the NYT (which basically rejects him, go figure), is confuddled and sticking a wet finger up in the air.
--Jason
UPDATE: Iowahawk leaks the super-duper secret "Anti-SCOTUS Appointment" memo that was sent out surreptitiously to all the leftists, moonbats and general whiners out there.
Posted by JasonColeman at 9:30 AM
July 19, 2005
Roberts gets the nod. . .
Unless we're in for a switch-er-roo, looks like John Roberts will be getting the nod and not Edith Brown Clement. Oh well.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 7:34 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
The WaPo had her on the short list July 1st too. . .
Edith Brown Clement, 57, is a judge on the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
Judge Edith Brown Clement
Clement was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in 1991 and was elevated to her current post by the current President Bush in 2001.Clement, a graduate of the University of Alabama and Tulane University Law School, worked as a lawyer in private practice in New Orleans for 16 years before beginning her tenure on the federal bench. She specialized in civil litigation involving maritime law, representing oil companies, insurance companies and the marine services industry in cases before federal courts. She is a member of the Federalist Society, an influential conservative legal organization.
As a district judge, Clement presided over such high-profile cases as the 2000 trials of former Louisiana governor Edwin W. Edwards (D) and former state insurance commissioner Jim Brown (D) on fraud charges. Edwards was acquitted; Brown was convicted of lying to the FBI and sentenced to six months in prison.
Lawyers who know Clement or have tried cases before her describe her as a judicial conservative who leans toward the defense in civil cases, and as a no-nonsense judge who is strict about deadlines and insists on professionalism from lawyers.
Analysts say Clement has not attracted attention for her judicial opinions, so it is unclear which of her decisions, if any, might become the focus of a confirmation battle.
Doesn't seem like much to get upset about, unless you wanna talk philosophy.
Some Old Guy from outside Chicago pointed me to the Wapo article. He's not as enthused.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 5:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Did I call it???? We'll see. . . .
Not to toot my own horn, cause I could be wrong still, but the media seems to be pushing that Edith Brown Clement may be Bush's pick. We'll find out at 9PM Eastern.
I now refer you back to my post of July 1st.
!!! BIRMINGHAM, REPRESENT !!!
--Jason
UPDATE: The text of Edith Clement's Appointment Hearings for the Fifth Circuit are here.
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:16 PM
I concur . . .
The Captain is dead on about asking (no, begging) Congress and politicians in general, to stop invoking Goodwin's Law when they want to bitch about one side or the other:
When will our politcians understand that Nazi analogies amount to an almost-certain political jinx? We don't need to debate the relative merits of one form of fascism and oppression over another; they're all bad, grown-ups know it, and those who don't won't learn anything from sound bites like these. Members of both parties have had their hands scorched playing with this particular form of rhetorical fire often enough in recent days that others should have already learned to avoid these analogies at all costs.
In case you're unfamiliar with Goodwin's Law, you can take a look at this, which I found some time back.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 18, 2005
More good news. . .
Whenever Chrenkoff posts another in his ongoing "Good news" series on Iraq and Afghanistan, I wonder why some major newspaper or tv media outlet hasn't picked him up. I guess it just reinforces my belief that the MSM doesn't want to report the positive, but only harp on the negatives.
Nevertheless, without further ado, let me point you to the latest Good News from Iraq (Part 31). You can scroll down Chrenkoff's blog and find the complete series in the lower right.
WARNING: The quality of Chrenkoff's reporting is top-notch, if you're not careful, with all the back-up he provides, you could spend all day on this one post and not even realize it.
--Jason
**Comments are closed for this entry, if you'd like to add something, contact me via email.**
Posted by JasonColeman at 10:32 AM
July 15, 2005
Close call, cool head and a job well done. . .
The Army times reports the story of Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer in Iraq. Private Tschiderer was shot in the chest by an enemy sniper.
Tschiderer's body armor stopped the bullet and allowed him to recover quickly, locate the sniper's position, and apprehend the sniper who had fired upon him.
The enemy sniper was wounded in the engagement and Tschiderer actually wound up rendering first aid to the man who only moments before had tried to kill him.
H/T to SondraK for first pointing me at the video.
Michelle Malkin has it to, so there's hope this will hit the MSM.
UPDATE: It appears that the snipers overhead in the video are speaking Dutch. I've asked a Dutch speaker that I know for a translation, as soon as I get a translation from a trusted source, I'll post it.
2ND UPDATE: Gannett has stopped serving the video apparently. So I've updated the link and will serve it myself as long as I can do so with my limited bandwidth. Please right-click and "Save As. . " if you would like to distribute it outside my blog.
3RD UPDATE: I asked for translation from a Dutch speaker that I trust and got it. There are two voices on the tape:
1> Allah Akbah (not dutch)
1> Allah Akbah
1> Allah Akbah
2> Heb'we 'em? (Hebben we hem?) (transl: Did we get him)
1> Allah Akbah
2> Heb'we 'em geraakt? (Hebben we hem geraakt?) (transl: Did we hit him?)
1> Allah Akbah
2> Heb'we 'em geraakt? (Hebben we hem geraakt?) (transl: Did we hit him?)
1> Ja (transl: yes)
Now I'm not going to get into the speculation game much, but this seems to be great evidence that we're not fighting the Iraqis over there, but rather helping them oust "foreign fighters" from their midst who have come to the call of jihad. Trey Jackson points out that these guys aren't fighting for a free Iraq.
WHEN IS THIS GOING TO HIT THE MSM?????? It's a damn near a crime that this hasn't led ever major newscast.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 7:11 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Maybe you've seen this, maybe you haven't. . . .
But THIS GUY won't be seeing anything anytime soon. This is just simply untenable and needs to be stopped. It's ridiculous, to say the very least.
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:59 PM
Launch of a different sort. . . .
The Launch of the new GOP website. Nice job Ken!!!
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 14, 2005
Another quote history needs to remember. . . .
MAXINE McKEW: Prime Minister, if as you say you can't rule out that possibility that we could have potential bombers right here in Australia, what if today's announcement, this redeployment to Afghanistan and our continued presence in Iraq is all the provocation they need?JOHN HOWARD: Maxine, these people are opposed to what we believe in and what we stand for, far more than what we do. If you imagine that you can buy immunity from fanatics by curling yourself in a ball, apologising for the world - to the world - for who you are and what you stand for and what you believe in, not only is that morally bankrupt, but it's also ineffective. Because fanatics despise a lot of things and the things they despise most is weakness and timidity. There has been plenty of evidence through history that fanatics attack weakness and retreating people even more savagely than they do defiant people.
From Australian Broadcasting Company's "7:30 Report" via Instapundit.
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:10 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 13, 2005
Launch Scrubbed!
DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!
Horrible news. NASA has scrubbed todays launch and the Shuttle's return to Space.
A fuel problem of some sort. (Back up fuel flow sensor failed pre-launch test)
To troubleshoot, they'll have to drain the external fuel tank. In theory they could be up tomorrow, but to drain and refill the tank is a BIG DEAL, quite dangerous and takes quite a bit of time.
Theres a five minute window for launch tomorrow, then again on Friday and Saturday.
--Jason
UPDATE: Apparently it's two fuel sensors that failed.
Link to the Virtural Launch Control Center.
Doesn't look like the shuttle will be able to go again until Monday.
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
3:51 PM, Wednesday July 13, 2005
Is the scheduled launch time for the Shuttle Discovery. Be sure to watch the shuttle's Return to Space.
Official NASA countdown clock (served by NASA)
NOTE: The countdown may seem "off" but it's not. There are mandatory pre-determined "HOLDS" where the clock is stopped for checks, tests, etc.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 10, 2005
Shuttle set to fly. . .
Hurricane Dennis has actually made weather conditions for next weeks launch of the Space Shuttle better. The calm air moving in after the hurricane passes almost ensures that we'll return the Shuttle to space.
A lot of new tools and techniques will be tested on this mission to service the Internation Space Station(ISS) including a Canadian extention to the robotic arm which doubles it's reach and allows a millimeter by millimeter examination of the shuttles heat shield. Shuttle astronauts will also be able to repair almost any damage found or in the even that they cannot, plans are in place for the shuttle to remain docked at the ISS until another shuttle or a progress capsule can be launched to bring the crew back safely.
All this bodes well for U.S. space exploration programs and the completion of the ISS. So to all the astronauts preparing at Kennedy, I wish them a heartfelt, Godspeed!
For more info, check out this SpaceDaily.com article.
--Jason
UPDATE: The coundown has started.
Posted by JasonColeman at 10:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dennis Peters
While still a major storm, Dennis has been downgraded to a tropical storm. 194,075 Alabamians are out of power at the moment and my humble abode is one of them. So looks like I'll be taking advantage of my Mom and Dad's spare room tonight and heading home in the AM.
So far there aren't any deaths reported as a result of the storm here in the U.S. and hopefully that good news will continue to hold.
So keep dry out there, don't go waving any metal sticks around outside and we'll see what this storms done as far as damage goes, sometime tomorrow.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 9:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
In case you want to keep an eye on Dennis
Ok, so the pun was bad and intended.
But!!! Here's a short range radar loop out of Mobile.
For a bigger picture, check out this long range radar loop.
--Jason
PS - 3 more points off the barometer since the last post.
Posted by JasonColeman at 4:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Here comes Dennis
The barometer here in Birmingham has dropped 6 points in the last hour. I guess we're gonna get it. The wind has been blowing on and off for the last hour. Now it's an erie quiet and still.
The Babalu Blog has some minute by minute observations from Cuba.
Illc0mmunication just missed a flood, but high tide is still an hour away.
One of my favorite bloggers, Beth from My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy has a roundup of hurricane related posts (and some not so hurricane related) here. Beth's down in the Mobile area, where Dennis is beating the hell out of the coast, good luck down there Beth.
Check out Weather.com or Accuweather (which has a better track record for Hurricane forcasting) for up to the minute updates.
As for me, I've locked up the house, moved the cars inside and battened down all the hatches. I'm heading up to the family enclave on top of the hill where Sunday dinner is more assured with a natural gas stove. Plus my area will almost certainly lose power sometime tonight. Ivan took down trees and power lines that kept my area in the dark for 4 days.
I love Hurricanes, kinda makes me wish I was still living in New Orleans to see the nutria and snakes swimming down the street.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 3:25 PM
July 9, 2005
It's not practical to deny the Iraqis their oil. . . .
Practical Politics and myself are butting heads again. Here's their latest suggestion.
My response:
Your "practical" approach sounds great, except your leaving out a significant economic factor.
National economies are built upon natural resources present and exploitable within said nation.
America was built on fur, gold, food and fuels, we've grown our economy from this base to a vast destributed economic engine that is the greatest the planet has ever seen.
You also seem to keep this "oil dictator" theme going. "Oil Dictators" are definately a problem, but hardly the only source. The radical muslim extremists of Indonesia aren't "oil dictator" muslims, the radical muslim extremists of SE Asia aren't "oil dictator" muslims. The extremist muslims of Africa aren't necessarily either.
Afghanistan could hardly be considered an "oil dictatorship" either.
Your ideas of placing "moderate" Islamic ideas forward is kind, but it's "impractical". Why? Because there IS NO effective moderate Islamic movement. You'd be hard pressed to find 10 "moderate" imams willing to put a shiny happy face forward for their society and they MOST CERTAINLY won't disparage the Wahabbist imams. In fact, one of the restraints built into Islam is a prohibition of Muslims criticizing other Muslims in any venue for any reason where a Non-Muslim may hear such criticism. Any cleric who speaks out against Osama, or the Kohmenini's or Zawahiri's is guilty of defaming Islam. Salman Rushdie wasn't a cleric, but his case is an excellent example.
The "moderate" voices, AS ALWAYS have to come from the street. Martin Luther did not operate in a vacuum and was simply responding to the culture developing around him which rejected the heavy hand of the church.
By bringing democracy and economic prosperity (Iraqi's today have a higher per capita income than pre-war levels, and capital investement into infrastructure is higher than EVER) will allow the moderate voices to rise up. Telephones, Internet, Satellite Television and more methods of mass communication will turn the tide here. Libraries and universities and schools are opening in great numbers in Afghanistan and Iraq. And a true moderate voice is developing in each of these regions. Not because of denial of natural resources, but rather the free exercise of democracy (developing) and the utilization of natural resources to fund said democracy. Not to mention giving the people themselves a voice which in toto will always appeal to moderation.
Denying them the only major resource in the region is condemning their economies to certain death and should not be advocated. Economic collapse would only lead to a stronger foothold for extremists and radicals.
Not to mention that your suggestions are impractical for the non-muslim world (and I'm not talking about the Western World). I'm talking about emerging economies in the third world and even some second world economies. Destroying them will only create more desparate people.
The key to any stability anywhere is to get per capita income up to a livable wage. One that provides for the food and shelter needs in relative abundance and leaving enough income left over for pursuit of "leisure" and "self improvement". Sucking the economic driver for Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran or any other nation will only create citizenry in poverty, ease their trasition to extremism and tank any hope that a viable economy could develop.
It'd be the same as creating a ban on logging during the American westward expansion, or devaluing gold during the gold rush, or prohibiting the extraction of iron ore. National economies NEED their natural resources to build an economy from. The problem isn't the OIL, it's corrupt governments that were put in charge of it through English, French, Russian and American mistakes or through Islamic revolution.
Let them have their oil. Let them sell it, just help them use this wealth to build a viable economy that transcends a simply oil driven economy (just as you pointed out that Dubai did). Sell them John Deere combines and teach them how to use them in the Valley's of NW Iraq and SW Afghanistan, to crate an agribusiness infrastructure that provides an abundance of food. Build manufacturing plants and and a transportation infrastructre, work with them to create an energy infrastructure that delivers a surplus of energy. (Surplus food and Surplus usable energy are KEY FACTORS to creating a successful economy and stable governments).
I'm all for the elimination of oil as a source of energy, but it's going to take a while to manage such a quantuum shift (regardless of what anyone says, such a shift IS underway). Even after the US switches to another form of energy (which is inevitable) the rest of the world will still be using oil and buying it from those Middle East nations that have it. Even after oil-for-energy is gone, there will still be a need for it in plastics and more. Oil isn't going away anytime soon. It's also prudent to point out that the Earth is designed to produce oil as a natural resource, just as it's designed to produce trees.
Natural resources should only be denied to a population for exploitation when there's a problem with the governance of that population. Take out the problem governments, support the development of democracies and the "moderates" will eventually appear as a natural course of events, limiting the power of the radicals and extremists.
There you have it. Although I'm finding myself disagreeing with Practical Politics quite a bit, I'm still keeping them on my Blogroll. I believe they want to have a robust discussion, even if I find their suggestions a bit impractical.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:18 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 7, 2005
Tragedy met with moonbatism
Multiple explosions have rocked London. Al-Queda in Europe claims responsibility. Most of the world sympathizes with the Londoner victims.
But not the moonbats, already, the Anti-Semitism of the Left shows itself.
They also got at least 3 official threads to blame Bush and Blair for this attack (at times they even allude to the bombing as a Rovian event). It takes them all of 8 responses to go from "what happened?" to "Blair is toast" and it's "Blair's fault".
This is beginning to seriously sicken me. As I read the words of the left, they have NO FREAKING CLUE about war, terrorism and justice are all about. As I read through the pages and pages of left-wing drivel this morning it's filled with "we need to pull out" (give the terrorists another victory), suggestions that the people on the buses that were injured and killed are to blame for voting for Blair (sounds like a Churchill "little Eichman's" comment), and how we created this bombing by invading Afghanistan and Iraq.
Get a clue moonbats, these people are terrorists, sworn to destroy the West and murder any infidel that doesn't bow down to Allah. Appeasement DOES NOT WORK, HAS NEVER WORKED AND WILL NEVER WORK. Yet the left wants to try it again. "Let's be understanding and compassionate to our terrorist enemies" is their mantra.
We've known that Al-Queda is doing everything they can to strike at the U.S., Britain, Austalia and others who don't want to roll over and play dead for Muslim extremeism. Let's get real folks. You idiotic moonbats want to get your panties in a bunch of religious fundies in America, well here's a newsflash, the lefts new allies (Muslim extremeists) are a whole order of maginitude more dangerous to your bleeding liberal heart than any right wing nutjob. Yet time and time again the left embraces terrorists, tries to urge compassion and understanding and then blames the evil JOOOS and everyday joe and jane who are the terrorists victims.
Yes, thank goodness we have at least a few strong leaders on the right that will step up and fight this war against Muslim Extremism and Terrorism, this bullshit has got to be dealt with, every day we don't hound the terrorists relentlessly is a day that they can make more bombs and plan more attacks on civilians.
Grow up Moonbats, realize that your precious freedoms are under attack worldwide. Unless you're planning on becoming a Muslim before they get to your door, you're just as much a target as everyone else. So you can hide from it and say how horrible we are for fighting those that attack and kill us, but it won't help you in the end. Only meeting this evil head on will prevent it from growing, threatening and killing more and more innocents.
--Jason
PS to any moonbats that may drop by, guess what you idiots. It wasn't George Bush that made it official U.S. policy to remove Saddam and topple his regime in response to his support of terrorism, it was Bill Clinton and the Congress of the United States. I give you President Clinton's statement upon signing the Iraqi Liberation Act.
I can't figure out why the moonbats didn't take up the mantra "Invading Iraq and Removing Saddam is a Democrat idea", had they done so they may very well have won the election. That's a problem of the left though, even when they have good ideas (like Liberating Iraq), they don't have the mental fortitude to remember it and have to fall back on their solely opposition mentality.
Some days I swear that it'd be hilarious if Bush were to come out and say "I see a blue sky and 2+2=4" just to watch Pelosi, Boxer, Conyers and Kennedy come out and scream for the rafters that Bush is wrong.
--JC
Posted by JasonColeman at 9:49 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
July 6, 2005
The SPAM strikes back
A while back I was having problems with comment spam. Some changes to my Moveable type installation put a stop to 95% of it, and all was well with the world.
Lately though, I've been getting heavy loads of Trackback Spam. So later today I'm going to do something about it. First I'll try the same fixes that I made to battle comment spam, if that doesn't work I'll incorporate some sort of Turing test for commenters and trackbacks.
I'm not happy about doing either, because it reduces the ability of people to comment or send relevant trackbacks, but the War on Spam is never-ending, and one must remain vigilant.
SO!?!?!?!?!?! If the site goes down later today, please check back later. I may have to pull it completely down for a while to implement changes.
--Jason
UPDATE: Well, things seem to be going well, I've added two plugins and some custom hacks to try and block comment and trackback spam. I decided against a Turing test for commenters because a few people emailed that they read this blog via the feed, and a turing test would have hampered their use of the site. So we'll see how this goes.
-JC
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:27 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 4, 2005
A quote the MSM doesn't want you to see.
Because I do believe people want to be free, regardless of their religion or where they are from. I do believe women should be empowered in the Middle East. I don't believe we ought to accept forms of government that ultimately create a hopelessness that then can be translated into jihadist violence. And I believe strongly that the ultimate way you defeat an ideology is with a better ideology. --George W. Bush
As quoted in this The Times (UK) interview.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:22 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Checkpoint Charlie Update
More about the controversy here. The lastest news is that a group of former victims of Soviet Communism will chain themselves to the monument in an attempt to prevent it's destruction.
Davids Medienkritik has an update.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Reach out and touch. . .a comet
Phenonmenal success for the Deep Impact crew. From our little blue-green marble, we designed a craft that could reach across the Solar System and hit a comet at combined speeds of millions of miles per hour.
The MSM has done a good job of following this one, so I'm just going to point people at NASA's Deep Impact Project Site it's got write-ups, pictures and animations for ya.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Happy Fourth of July
Never hurts to read it again.
-------------------------------------
The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies
In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. —Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The signers of the Declaration represented the new states as follows:
New Hampshire
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts
John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
------------------------------------------
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 2, 2005
And now here's the news. . .
News from Afghanistan you'll never see on TV.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
LA has been captured. . .
Ok, just kidding, but I was trying to come up with a title to go with this post from SondraK! LA was captured long ago.
I'll bet some people thought I was talking War of the Worlds. Which SUCKED btw!!!!
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Does the blog look funny to you?
If you have any technical issues about this blog that you notice,please Email Me, don't forget to take out the REMOVEME from the address. For instance, if you're using FireFox, Safari or Konqueror and the blog looks goofy, lemme know. Thanks.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:05 PM
Another response. . .
This time, I'm responding to the comment by William on this response to Half Sigma, and his related blog entry ---
I agree that the Shuttle needs to be replaced, and the current administration is racing toward that goal faster than anyone since Kennedy.
NASA has been quietly squirreling money away (legally) for a return to the moon (and permanent base) since the Reagan administration. NASA Administrator Griffin and Tom Delay recently announced in Houston that we now have sufficient financial reserves to make the return. It's very important to note that this time we don't have to invent the computer or the fuel cell or a rocket program from scratch. We have experience living and working in space and many of the hazzards of occupying space have been overcome.
Realize that we still haven't lost anyone actually IN space.
The first lift of the Space Elevator is scheduled for 2018, not that far off. The SE will replace rocket insertions for all manner of missions, greatly reducing the need for a rocket powered tugboat.
The moon was a "katie bar the door" race into the unknown. Much money and brain power was used trying to accomodate all the unknowns of travel to the moon. Today we know that landers won't sink up to their antennae, and we understand the needs of humans in low gravity environments for long periods of time.
Just like Columbus striking out for the new world, the unknown, the first moon missions were ones of discovery. Probes, if you will. We knew that we had much to learn about the process and ourselves before we could make a sustained "go" of it.
The ISS has gone a long way to teaching us how to live and work in space. Spacelab and Mir were testbeds, the ISS is the prototype and now were at the stage that we can turn the ISS into the working model.
Yes the ISS looks like the old Mir and Skylab projects on steroids, but realize that the design is COMPLETELY modular. ISS-1 will be completely replaced in the coming decade with new modules built by our partners (who are significantly behind us in motivation and technology), who we are "dragging up" along with us.
The political necessity of our partners ensures a long term interest in the program and hopefully can prosper into a new "higher order" of cooperation and communication.
It seems as though most supporters of the space program complaints stem because we're not moving as fast as people would like. I agree. I think we should take more risks and run faster, but politically that's impractical when each setback is met with calls to scrap whole portions of the space program for political gain. Imagine if each time a British ship sank, the Admiralty ordered all it's ships back to port for an investigation. Then called for a new frigate design and numerous safety evaluations (we'd still all be in Europe weaving textiles by hand and using horse drawn plows for farming).
Politics (particularly the Clinton administration which was downright scared of NASA except as a feelgood program) has kept the program down, but this administration has taken off the shackles and is running NASA at a higher clip than ever before (even moreso than the Apollo program).
Private and Public partnerships are developing finally, we're going back to the moon, back to Mars, and exploring farther out and in more detail than ever before. The political and financial capital being spent on NASA now, won't mature until the early part of the next decade, but when it's realized, it will still be too little for those in the know, and too much for those who don't understand the necessity of it for mankind. The reality will be a balance between the two camps.
If you take some time to look through NASA current mission profiles and the big picture,Moon, Mars and Beyond you'll see that there's direction to NASA, it's no longer scraping the financial crumbs thrown at it to piece together a continued presence in space. Our presence is now expanding, with each piece of the ISS, with each probe to Mars and with each deep space exploratory mission. All of this is coming together to give us the tools and knowledge necessary to plant a flag out there in the vacuum of space and stay. Expanding the human footprint is our one true calling in the universe. It's the calling mankind to answer the questions the vastness of space offeres. It's our destiny and obligation to strike out into the unknown, see what's there and learn to live in it and use it for our ends.
The Space program promises economic viability for more people than any other initiative of mankind. Abundant, clean, cheap energy is there waiting for us just above our atmosphere, precious resources are waiting to be plucked from the asteroids between our nearest neighbor and us. A new world awaits us on Mars, one which we already have the ability to mold in our image, promising an outlet for our burgeoning population. New discoveries in space promise to make us live longer, and healthier than ever before, and the promise of Space's rewards may well give humanity a common reference and goal so that one day we may put our petty differences behind us in a unified human voyage of discovery.
Finally, I agree that the shuttle is not too sexy anymore. It'd be nice to replace it. The ISS needs to be bigger and modernized, we need to be on the moon and we need to have human Martian explorers on their way within a decade or two. I disagree that it's going too slow however, I posit that in comparison with the development of the Americas, it's moving forward at a breakneck speed given the obstacles and distances involved. We've become accustomed to the Sci-Fi view of space where we should be jumping off the planet with ease, and overcoming difficulties within the scope of an hour with commercial breaks. The realities are far different. We're entering into a hostile environment. We've just begun to understand the dynamics of low-earth permanent settlement, and just beginning to leap out to high Earth orbit again.
If you really want it to go forward faster, write your Congressmen and Senators, drop a line to the White House. Point out that Space Exploration and Exploitation makes America money, increases American morale and makes us look better on the world stage. Point out also that we NEED to do this in the spirit of exploration that led to the very creation of America, her democracy and her place as leader of world community. Point out that we need the Space program for the sake of solving many of the worlds most difficult problem, namely energy production.
People write their leaders everyday because they want a bigger Social Security check, they hate the war in Iraq, they despise the vitriol of American politics, they are concerned about education or complain about corruption. Very few people write to support NASA, and we all know that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so if you really want NASA to move forward, Start Squeaking! Let your elected representatives know that you understand the value of the space program to America, the world and mankind. Explain that "you get it" that the Space program strengthens the economy and provides for a better quality of life, and point out that around the globe, people look at our spaceshots with sense of awe and faith in mankind, and by tranferrence, America.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:20 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 1, 2005
Catching up . . .
I meant to post this two weeks ago, but Craig's List has come to Birmingham.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
WOO HOO!!!!
This just found in email. Worth a look. Go Boy Go!!!!
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 10:33 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Start your engines. . .
It's being widely reported that Justice O'Connor is about to announce her retirement from the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). Wide speculation is that Bush will nominate Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to the vacancy.
So here we have a battle royale beginning. Democrats will be hard pressed to dig out more "dirt" on Gonzales since the dredging he received for the A.G. confirmation. Gonzales has enemies on the right though due to his decisions on abortion in Texas. A Gonzales appointment will be an ugly process. I'm not quite sure it's the best course for Bush to take at this time. I think Bush may want to wait on Gonzales' appointment to the SCOTUS until Renquist retires.
Also on Bush's short list is Appellate Court Judge Edith Brown Clement of New Orleans' Fifth Circuit. Clement would be a safer appointment for Bush, and wouldn't allow the left as much grandstanding as a Gonzales confirmation would. Clement was born and raised in Birmingham (plus for that), keeps the gender balance status quo and seems to be a strong conservative (two pluses there).
Clement is a graduate of the University of Alabama (Roll Tide) and received her law degree from Tulane (Go Green Wave), her career has been rooted firmly on the governments side of things, serving as:
Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of New Jersey, 1977-1981
Assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General, U.S. Department of Justice, 1981-1985
Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, 1985-1987
U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, 1987-1990
Clement was nominated to the Appellate court by George H.W. Bush.
I'm currently looking for the hearing transcript from her Confirmation hearings and any floor debate on her nomination. If anyone has the GPO on Silverplatter and can access these documents. Please let me know.
More to come, I'm sure.
--Jason
UPDATE: While I was typing, the retirement rumor became fact (added link to FoxNews story.)
2ND UPDATE: The text of the Fifth Circuit Appointment Hearings are here.
Posted by JasonColeman at 9:22 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
A response. . .
Via trackback, Half Sigma disagrees with me about the value of the Space Shuttle returning to space. I wanted to offer a proper response.
The big disagreement is "why we need to get off this rock" and everything else stems out of that.
There's alot wrong with our little blue marble when you look at it over time. Look far enough out and you come to the biggie. One day the Sun will expand to encompass the Earth. Life on Earth will end long before that, and if we're gonna be around as humans, we're gonna have to be someplace other than this particular rock orbiting this particular star.
It doesn't get any simpler than that. One day the Sun will destroy this planet and all life on it.
YES, YES, I know that's a LONG LONG LONG ways away, but it's a fact. One that we "as a species" have to deal with. I'm doubting that we'll find a way to stop our Sun from cooking us, so the other alternative is to leave.
Long before that happens though, there are just as real and dangerous threats to the survival of our species right here on Earth. Not the least of which is us; the little human jackasses that roam the planet. We like to devise new and better ways of blowing ourselves up. It'd make sense to realize that nuclear holocaust is just the tip of the iceberg of the threat we'll become to ourselves if left unchecked. Neutron bombs will be as primitive as a flint spear one day.
Beyond blowing ourselves up, we may or may not be turning up the heat on this planet and regardless, in just under 1500 years or so I believe we are scheduled for another Ice Age anyway.
All the while we're breeding quite fast. We're growing some pretty nasty bugs in our planetary biologic soup, many of which like to kill humans.
So that's why I want off. I'm speaking for the species here, that getting off the rock is a pretty important task that we've gotta undertake folks.
We know we can probably get to Mars with people within a couple of decades, we know there are other rocky planets out there in the galaxy. We know that if we establish a working permanent platform in space we can solve alot of problems down here on Earth (fossil fuels and global warming for starters).
All of this is why we have to get the shuttle going again. I'm not saying that the shuttle shouldn't be replaced. I'm all for that!!!! 200%, but we've got modules for the ISS down here that need to get up there. Modules that fit in the shuttle.
We've got to get the James Webb Telescope up to replace the Hubble, that's set up for the shuttle. The shuttle isn't sexy anymore, and it's not supposed to be. What the shuttle was supposed to be was a low-orbit crewboat, a role it's only now beginning to see.
We've got an International Space Station to service, we've got projects on the books that we shouldn't scrap because our rocket ship isn't sexy enough. In two decades we won't need rocketships at all, we'll have construction of the Space Elevator begin sometime next decade and then it's only a few decades after that before we're terraforming mars and have a permanent moon colony.
Think of it as ensuring the viability of the species for the long term. Think of it as a getting a short term lifeboat colony to avoid ecological disaster or war. I don't care which you choose, they're the best reasons to keep moving forward. Get off the rock, and it doesn't matter how sexy the rocketships are.
Beyond all that though, the Space Program is a great economic driver for the planet. Yep, I did just say that. Because it's true. Satellite techonology now effects every person on the planet via communication, plastics developed for the space program are in millions of products of all shapes and sizes, new drugs are being created and new hybrid crops are being developed.
Every dollar that the United States has spent on the space program has come back over and over, just the taxes on telecom in the U.S. has paid the entire space program bill. Thousands of other industries have been created, creating thousands of jobs (jobs that pay taxes and provide an economic stimulus themself).
In Short, the Space Program is a money MAKER for the United States.
So I say move forward with all current plans for space exploration, lets get the ISS caught up, let's put up the Webb, get moving on the Space Elevator, get a permanent base on the Moon, develop microwave power transmission (solving the world's engery crisis), get moving on Mars, and look at ways to mine the Asteroid belt.
It may very well take us decades to reach the nearest star, but every journey begins with that first step, and we also know that exploration has generally turned out to be profitable throughout history for the nations that practiced it.
Honestly, I can't think of a reason for us not to be clamoring over ourselves to get off this rock.
Half Sigma says that nothing will be as grand as Kennedy's quest for the moon, and he's right. Never again will Orville or Wilbur's flight be duplicated either, nor Newton's apple, nor any child's first step.
The Moon wasn't a monument to our achievement, it was the first step to realizing our potential as a species. To reach out and fill the vast voids and experience the discoveries that lay before us in this galaxy and the galaxies beyond.
--Jason
PS I may fill this post up with cool links tomorrow. Check back.
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:35 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
