STS-127 finally lifts off

(Image by Jeffrey Marino of NASA)

NASA’s Shuttle Endeavour is in low earth orbit headed for a Friday rendezvous with the International Space Station.

Excerpted from the NASA July 15 news release on STS-127:

NASA’s Shuttle Endeavour Launches to Complete Japanese Module

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-member crew launched at 6:03 p.m. EDT Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission will deliver the final segment to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory and a new crew member to the International Space Station.

Endeavour’s 16-day mission includes five spacewalks and the installation of two platforms outside the Japanese module. One platform is permanent and will allow experiments to be directly exposed to space. The other is an experiment storage pallet that will be detached and returned with the shuttle. During the mission, Kibo’s robotic arm will transfer three experiments from the pallet to the exposed platform. Future experiments also can be moved to the platform from the inside of the station using the laboratory’s airlock.

Shortly before liftoff, Commander Mark Polansky thanked the teams that helped make the launch possible.

. . . Polansky is joined on STS-127 by Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Dave Wolf, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette and Tim Kopra. Kopra will replace space station crew member Koichi Wakata, who has been aboard the station for more than three months. Kopra will return to Earth during the next station shuttle mission, STS-128, targeted to launch in August 2009. Hurley, Cassidy Marshburn and Kopra are first-time space fliers. [Meet the STS-127 Crew]

Endeavour’s first landing opportunity at Kennedy is scheduled for Friday, July 31 at 10:45 a.m. STS-127 is the 127th space shuttle flight, the 29th to the station, the 23rd for Endeavour and the third in 2009.

It will be a very busy time for a couple of weeks for all 13 people on board the ISS.  They will bring along 500 pounds of food to help out.  And they will have to get together to decide where everyone is going to sleep.  Today the crew will do a thorough survey to determine the effects of the loss of a rather substantial amount of insulation foam, shed from the fuel tank during the ascent to orbit.

In a related matter, former astronaut General Charles Bolden was confirmed by the US Senate to be the new administrator of NASA, according to MSNBC: “Former NASA associate administrator Lori Garver was also confirmed as the agency’s No. 2. . . Bolden was the pilot of the shuttle flight that launched the Hubble Space Telescope into Earth orbit in 1990.” To quote further:

The Senate confirmed on Wednesday retired astronaut Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden as administrator of NASA, just in time for the space agency’s 40th anniversary celebrations of man’s first steps on the moon . . . The confirmation allows Bolden to be sworn in by July 20, 1969, 40 years after the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Bolden told senators last week that if the U.S. chooses to lead in technology, it must commit to, among other measures, inspiring the rising generation of children to contribute in the fields of science and engineering as well as enhancing NASA’s ability and expertise in understanding Earth’s environment.

“Either we can invest in building upon our hard earned world technological leadership or we can abandon this commitment, ceding it to others who are working vigilantly to push the frontiers of space,” he said during a confirmation hearing on July 8.

References: NASA is providing continuous television and Internet coverage of Endeavour’s mission. . . . For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and schedule information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

NASA’s Web coverage of STS-127 . . .

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Polansky will send updates about the mission from space to his Twitter account, Astro_127. He can be followed at:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_127

. . . To access the NASA News Twitter feed, visit:

http://www.twitter.com/nasa

Sphere: Related Content

Space News Update

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is in the midst of great change these days, and yet many of its ways are remarkable and wonderfully the same.  In a very quick turnaround,  the space shuttle Endeavor will launch June 13 with Mission STS-127. It was moved to a different launch pad after being readied for a rescue if needed ot the repair of the Hubble Space Telescope, a landmark mission completed recently.  To quote NASA News on STS-127:

The 16-day mission will feature five spacewalks and complete construction of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory. Astronauts will attach a platform to the outside of the Japanese module that will allow experiments to be exposed to space.The STS-127 crew members are [Commander Mark] Polansky [@Twitter], Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Dave Wolf, Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Tim Kopra and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette. Kopra will join the space station crew and replace Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. Wakata will return to Earth on Endeavour to conclude a three-month stay at the station.

A panel of experts is beginning an independent review of NASA’s plans for the future of the space program.  And the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee has invited the public to give its input via a special new interactive website, according to NASA News (6/5/09).  The Committee will be chaired by Norman Augustine.  About the site he said, “The human space flight program belongs to everyone.  Our committee would hope to benefit from the views of all who would care to contact us.”  Those interested will be able to ask questions, upload documents or comment about the committee’s operations.  The first meeting will be held June 17 in Washington, D. C and will be free and open to the public.  Members of the Augustine review committee with whom you might be familiar include former astronauts Dr. Leroy Chiao and Dr. Sally Ride.  Others are all leaders in their fields associated with space flight.  Quoting from the story:

During the course of the review, the panel will examine ongoing and planned NASA development activities and potential alternatives in order to present options for advancing a safe, innovative, affordable and sustainable human space flight program following the space shuttle’s retirement. The committee will present its results in time to support an administration decision on the way forward by August 2009.

. . . The committee will hold several public meetings at different U.S. locations. The first public meeting will take place June 17 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT at the Carnegie Institution, located at 1530 P Street NW in Washington. Topics on the agenda for the meeting include previous studies about U.S. human space flight; national space policy; international cooperation; evolved expendable launch vehicles; commercial human space flight capabilities; and exploration technology planning.

. . . NASA Acting Administrator Chris Scolese signed the charter for the committee Monday, enabling it to begin operations.

New administrator to be appointed – It was announced in late May that President Obama will name a former astronaut,  space shuttle commander Charles Bolden to lead NASA, as I reported in a previous post.

Decades since we landed a man on the moon, space programs around the world are interested in sending humans back to the moon, or in unmanned lunar exploration. The NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, spacecraft are set to launch together to the moon aboard an Atlas V rocket on June 17.  This exciting dual spacecraft mission will send a very sophisticated and powerful orbiter around the poles of moon, in preparation for NASA’s human return to the moon in a few years.  And four or five months from launch the LCROSS will slam into the moon to send up a debris plume that can be studied to determine lunar composition and the presence of water ice or hydrated minerals, according to NASA News.

I am a space news junkie, as my friends here know.  These are such exciting times at NASA, tinged with sadness at what is about to come to an end, and blessed with anticipation for the wonderful new things and people to come.

Sphere: Related Content

New head of NASA

The Hubble Space Telescope repair mission was a roaring success.  It took five long space walks, some occasional muscle, the patience of Job, and a deft robot arm operator to do it.  Because of a highly trained and skillful set of astronauts, a set of “whiz bang” new instruments, batteries, etc., Hubble will now have several more years of service in its scientific life as a space observatory  It now has a whole new lease on life, refurbished and updated.

It was a risky mission because the shuttle Atlantis was on its own without the potential support of the International Space Station.  For the first time in the space program, however, NASA was prepared to send a rescue shuttle if it became necessary.  But the shuttle remained in fine shape for a return trip through earth’s atmosphere.  Atlantis and its seven person crew were not able to land in Florida for a couple of days because of bad weather.  So Atlantis ended the Hubble trip with a California landing, which we learned about from the LA Times (5/25/09).  And in a report yesterday from Reuters, we also learned that NASA will finally get a new administrator to replace Mike Griffin.  To quote from the article:

President Barack Obama will name former space shuttle commander Charles Bolden to lead NASA, the White House said on Saturday, in the midst of a major shift in the U.S. human space program.

Bolden, 62, a retired Marine general, flew on four shuttle missions before leaving the U.S. space agency in 1994 to return to the military.

Bolden, who would become the 12th administrator in NASA’s 51-year history and its first black head, is seen as a strong advocate for human space flight. . .

Obama also intends to name Lori Garver, a space consultant who oversaw space-related issues for his transition team, as NASA’s deputy administrator, the White House said.

“These talented individuals will help put NASA on course to boldly push the boundaries of science, aeronautics and exploration in the 21st century and ensure the long-term vibrancy of America’s space program,” Obama said in a statement.

The nomination has been a long time in coming. But  Bolden has good support in the Senate, including Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, who was also an astronaut, so he will probably be easily confirmed.  They have flown together in space.  And in a final irony, Charles Bolden was the pilot of the mission that originally launched the Hubble Space Telescope into space well over a decade ago.  It seems like a good omen.

See these references to previous stories about this appointment.

1. “Obama meets with candidate for NASA job,” from MSNBC (5/19/09)
2. Former astronaut likely to be new NASA chief,” from MSNBC (5/15/09)
3. “Ex-astronaut emerges as NASA prospect,” from MSNBC (1/6/09)

Sphere: Related Content

to read or not to read?

that’s the question. folks around the blogosphere are asking whether or not people are going to be willing to pay for a subscription to a major newspaper online. my answer for myself- hell no. if i didn’t pay for it when it was in print, why would i pay for it going online?

i refuse to pay for propaganda- not when i can get it for free right now anyhoo, here are some links i ran across in my google reader- that i doubt very much that the corporately owned main stream propaganda machines would touch:

senate committee passes landmark credit card bill

drug induced dementia and delirium common in seniors but often undetected

pharmaceuticals found in fish across america

blue gold: have the next resource wars begun?

americans not falling for media’s misleading account of economy

Related articles by Zemanta

• Newspaper groups look to online subscriptions at their own risk (telegraph.co.uk)
• How Not to Fix the New York Times (portfolio.com)

Sphere: Related Content

Enough, already!

Of all the Sunday cable news show guests, former Vice President Dick Cheney was the one who got in the last word, according to CNN’s John King, host of State of the Union. Except they were not the words we wanted, because King did not ask the question that many of us would have asked. What about your assassination project, Mister Veep? nd what do you mean, “The United States is less safe in the new administration?” You have no basis in fact or reasons to assume, or presume, to make such an allegation. You have lost your credibility with us, Sir, as Keith Olbermann would say, if he were to make one of his “special comments.”

It amounts to the same old fear mongering that has plagued this country for the last seven years. And it also amounts to an admission of vast amounts of intelligence gathering, through illegal wiretaps and through torture. To quote CQ Politics (3/15/09), [Cheney]:

“I think those programs were absolutely essential to the success we enjoyed of being able to collect the intelligence that let us defeat all further attempts to launch attacks against the United States since Sept. 11,” Cheney said. “I would say that the key to what we did was to collect intelligence against the enemy. That’s what the terrorist surveillance program was all about, that’s what the enhanced interrogation program was all about.

“I think that’s a great success story. It was done legally. It was done in accordance with our constitutional practices and principles,” he said. “President Obama campaigned against it all across the country. And now he is making some choices that, in my mind, will, in fact, raise the risk to the American people of another attack.”

Cheney went on to claim success in Iraq and to bemoan the fact that his former boss would not agree to pardoning his lieutenant, Scooter Libby. To quote Cheney, “he was unjustly accused and prosecuted and deserved a pardon. . . “. He closed by saying he might write a book and talk about it. I would rather he retire to his nice home in Virginia and leave us without the benefit of his distorted thoughts.

It will be interesting to see what kind of an advance a Cheney memoir might produce. I would not pay a nickel for it, even if leather-bound. It will not present any useful facts, only lies. But there might just be those who would like to take a look into the mind of such a man.

Technorati tags: news news and politics cheney

See also Behind the Links, for further info on this subject.

Carol Gee – Online Universe is the all-in-one home page for all my websites.

Sphere: Related Content

It’s Official: Internet Surpasses Newspapers

In a report released December 23, 2008 from the Pew Reserach Center For The People & The Press one of the major findings was the fact that the Internet has emerged as a greater source of national and world news than newspapers.  Only television news has supassed the Internet as a source of news, but the trend is that television is becoming less dominant.

In a summary of their report Pew is reporting:

Currently, 40% say they get most of their news about national and international issues from the internet, up from just 24% in September 2007. For the first time in a Pew survey, more people say they rely mostly on the internet for news than cite newspapers (35%). Television continues to be cited most frequently as a main source for national and international news, at 70%.

For young people, however, the internet now rivals television as a main source of national and international news. Nearly six-in-ten Americans younger than 30 (59%) say they get most of their national and international news online; an identical percentage cites television. In September 2007, twice as many young people said they relied mostly on television for news than mentioned the internet (68% vs. 34%).

The percentage of people younger than 30 citing television as a main news source has declined from 68% in September 2007 to 59% currently. This mirrors a trend seen earlier this year in campaign news consumption. (See “Internet Now Major Source of Campaign News,” News Interest Index, Oct. 31, 2008.)

The question that one must ask himself is whether the paradigm shift for the delivery of  factual news and information from print to electrons serves the public better or worse than the traditional  methodology.  In my previous posting titled  “The Death Of Journalism” I bemoan the fact that traditional newspapers (the printed version) and their journalistic values are a dying breed.  However, all is not lost as traditional newspapers have been making the transition to the Internet, using the Internet as both a tool for gathering information, compiling information, and collaborating on editorial product for stories, and as the ultimate delivery channel to their readers.  The issue facing newspapers is how to remain financially viable given lost advertising revenues from their print editions coupled with possibly less than satisfactory advertising revenues from their Internet editions, and virtually no subscription revenues from their Internet editions. (And the notion of the public that on the Internet everything is free.)  It is becoming more and more apparent to me that the only viable, rational strategy for newspapers, if they wish to continue to survive, is to relieve themselves of the overhead of all print operations, which  besides the expenses obvious with paper and ink, includes the transportation costs to deliver the product.  The Christian Science Monitor made this decision last year, and is betting their future entirely on the Internet.

In my view the Internet is a tremendous opportunity for professional news organizations to continue to provide quality, accurate reporting to their readers, but these organizations have to adapt their business models if they wish to thrive, let alone, survive in this environment.  What is  important for the public, particularly the Internet generation who do not remember a world without the Internet, is to learn the art and skills of discernment.  In the print world we have learned that you can’t believe everything you read, and that various news publishing organizations will have  their editorial biases, and the same goes in the Internet world, but even more so.  News consumers in the Internet generation need to understand that there is always the opportunity for more than one view on any given topic, need to understand that the quality of what they find in various corners of the Internet will vary, and natural skepticism is a trait that is important.

We must be concerned about the fact that Internet delivery of news and information provides an open playing field to anyone with a computer and an Internet connection.  Anyone can develop a web site or start a blog and theoretically reach a wide and diverse audience.  This also means than anyone can write almost anything, whether factual, accurate or truthful or not, and have it seen by potentially many people.  I don’t have any issue with anyone on the Internet expressing any opinion or belief, whether I agree with it out not, I do believe in freedom of expression, but consumers of information in the Internet generation must understand that just because they read anything on the Internet, that is no reason to accept it as accurate, complete or truthful.  The Internet is an open and equal forum, where anyone has an opportunity to say anything, and an aware public will understand that no one has to take anything published on the Internet as “gospel”.

Two other findings in the Pew report that I found interesting is first, the fact television as a source of news for people 30 years old or younger has declined, which I find heartening, given my observations in my previous posting (see reference above).  The other finding, which I find some what disconcerting, is the fact that of the top news stories published in 2008, the problems of the U.S. economy generated the most interest from readers, but that the war in Afghanistan and Iraq did not even make the list of the top 15 stories in terms of reader interest.  Number 15 on the list was the Beijing Olympics, seeming to indicate to me that the general public would rather lose themselves in the fantasy that is the supposed amateur Olympic games, than the reality that so much human life is being lost for no good reason.

I hope newspapers do make a successful and lasting transition to the Internet, we cannot afford to lose true  journalistic values in the gathering and dissemination of news and information, but I will really miss the intellectual satisfaction and emotional and tactile enjoyment of holding my daily newspaper in my hands, getting ink on my hands, as I take a peak at the world around me.

Sphere: Related Content

Historical Hysterics and The Rest Of The Best Of 2008

Kinda pleased to have the Obama presidential win as  the most important thing that happened in the world this past year. With the collapsing economy trying to steal his limelight, his historic election still tops my list of historical hysterics we watched in 2008. I had a good friend “break up” with me, in an e-mail no less, because of my views about McCain and the atrocious way his votes treat the troops who are fighting for what they believe is our freedom. Although I cast my vote for the Green Party’s Cynthia McKinney it pleased me to see how the country was so hungry for some kind of change they voted in our first black president. Hopefully he tries to keep his promise of change even if he is surrounding himself with the good ol’ backroom boys of our capitol.

(The new bosses just before they came onstage in Chicago Nov. 4, 2008)

The Who “Wont Get Fooled Again”

The destruction of the American economy by the backroom boys (yes…if there are any women who helped shape the policies that caused this disaster I still call each of them a backroom boy as well.) comes up in second place as the most newsmaking story this year. Thousands lost their homes and jobs this year so the C.E.O.’s could take home billions in bonuses.

The only upside to folks losing their homes, jobs being cut, the collapse and bailouts etc. is they came just before the elections. John McClone and the You Betcha Babe were gaining on the “nigra boy” but his cronies part in the economic doom tainted the vote and even the hardcore racists had to look closer at promised “change”.  (The racism in that statement came from a conversation with my mom who called Obama that all the time. Now she is forced to say “Our President”.)

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq still raged on. March saw the number of troops killed in Iraq reach the 4000 mark and the election news smothered the outrage that I thought would have had the American people marching in the streets demanding the end of this atrocity based on lies and deceit.  During this time the press kept us appeased with the ridiculous crap from the primary trail. President Bushit said all of the things the war machine wanted to hear and so did the candidates. Alien Trucker even posted a Pink song on this blog. The only Pink song I have ever thought listenable. It carries such a message I am going to repost it here and hope Mr. Obama listens to it as well, and considers taking that walk with Pink…or any regular world citizen…every day.

Hurricane Gustav visited the Gulf Coast in September and found many many homes and businesses there still bearing the “blue roof”. You know…the big tarps that were put there after Katrina 3 years ago to keep residents dry while waiting on FEMA or the insurance money to come through so they can be repaired. Funds that were supposed to go there have been diverted many times over and still the destruction has no fix. Even the beautiful Sanger Theater in New Orleans, the site of many a great song played for us, is still un-renovated because the people need housing worse than the entertainment that plays, dance or Government Mule can offer.

(Filmed at the Sanger)

Unemployment and homeless rates rose higher than they have in decades. Businesses and factories around the nation have cut back production or closed completely. Folks have taken to robbing or begging just to get by. More than one have robbed someone or asked to take a shift at the Cumberland Mine just to make a house payment.

The price of crude oil topped $100 a barrel and plummeted down again by mid-December. In the midst of financial hardship Americans paid the highest at the pump in our history and are now being thankful that prices are down again…to higher than they were five years ago.

California’s Proposition 8 won. WON!?!?? I believe it was a huge loss on the civil rights front as it shows that bigotry and prejudice is not a thing of the past. Backed by Big Religion the “moral” right fought civil rights again basing their hatred on Old Testament hatred. IT’S 2008 PEOPLE! Those laws handed down by “GAWD” are ancient and really have no part in today’s law making.

So as we make our way into 2009 and all of the marvels and wonder it brings I am not so sure we have loads to celebrate. I am looking forward to seeing the change the new administration brings. I do see that after a while of beans and rice I may be able to afford some chicken by the end of the year. Not everything is doom and dismay. Sometimes it just seems that way.

These are just a few of the important stories of the year. I really didn’t want to go into speculating how they would influence 2009 so I just stopped here.

I really hope it gets better.

Led Zepplin. “The Song Remains The Same”

Sphere: Related Content

Sunday News Digest — “Unbelievable!”

The country is getting back to political normalcy, now that the Democratic and Republican convention-eers are going home. It has been unbelievably crazy, according to my blog friends. Two of them send me good stuff that I just need to share, regarding a number of facts, issues, Republican shennanigans and shameful things. I am posting the more complete items in more or less chrono order, newest first.

“Sarah Palin Would Hate Rosa Parks#,” by Van Jones @ The Huffington Post (9/7/08). This post is about those of us who pursue the noble cause of community organizers and activists. To quote:

Sarah Palin and the GOP had great fun this week belittling Barack Obama’s background as a community organizer. But in doing so, they were not just putting down one person.

They were attacking the (small “d”) democratic traditions of the United States, itself.

“Alaskans Speak (In A Frightened Whisper): Palin Is “Racist, Sexist, Vindictive, And Mean#,” by Charley James @ The LA Progressive (9/5/08): To quote this revealing article’s conclusion:

. . . [Palin's offensive racial slur deleted for this post] may be everyday language up in the bush. Whether it – and the outlook, politics and world view Palin reflects when she says such things in public – should be part of a presidential campaign is another thing altogether. The comment says as much about McCain as it does about Palin, and it says a lot of things about Americans who overlook such statements (as well as her record) and vote anyway for McCain.

“Investigation into Palin Now on Fast Track#” @ ABC News, 9/5/08: To quote:

ABC News has exclusively learned that Alaska Senator Hollis French will announce today that he is moving up the release date of his investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her office to get the Alaska public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, fired. The results of the investigation were originally scheduled for release Oct. 31 but will now come almost three weeks earlier, according to sources.

“Are Evangelicals Really Sold on Palin?#” @ Time Magazine, 9/5/08: To quote:

. . . To a degree, that’s true. Palin’s pro-life credentials are impeccable – she opposes abortion in all circumstances, even in cases of rape and incest, except when a delivery will result in death. And her strong, open religious faith will make her the perfect person to reach out to conservative Evangelicals, who still don’t fully trust the Republican nominee. But McCain and his aides may not want to say hallelujah just yet. While Palin is inspiring rhapsodies from the lions of the Christian right, her appeal to more moderate and younger Evangelicals – as well as independent swing voters – may be limited.

Lost in the stampede of social conservatives to embrace Palin this past week is the fact that she is culturally outside the mainstream of Evangelicalism. Over the past few years, a growing number of Evangelicals have been consciously distancing themselves from the more extreme stands of the Christian right.

“Team McCain and the Trooper#,” by Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball, @ Newsweek (9/5/08). It is sub-headed, “Nominee’s ally moves to curb probe of Palin.” Jon says about this story,”I had a feeling this would happen, because if she did intervene she will face indictment; game over. But what will happen will probably look like the ‘04 Fla. recount; attorneys everywhere.” To quote (their links):

Key Alaska allies of John McCain are trying to derail a politically charged investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin’s firing of her public safety commissioner in order to prevent a so-called “October surprise” that would produce embarrassing information about the vice presidential candidate on the eve of the election.

In a move endorsed by the McCain campaign Friday, John Coghill, the GOP chairman of the state House Rules Committee, wrote a letter seeking a meeting of Alaska’s bipartisan Legislative Council in order to remove the Democratic state senator in charge of the so-called “troopergate” investigation.

“Palin’s Stall*” an editorial at the Anchorage Daily News (9/5/08): To quote:

Gov. Sarah Palin is taking the wrong approach to Troopergate. She should be practicing the open and transparent, ethical and accountable government she promised when running for governor and boasts about now that she’s on the national stage.

Instead, Gov. Palin has begun stonewalling the Legislature’s attempt to get the bottom of allegations that she, her family or staff violated ethical or state personnel rules.

As a result, the Troopergate allegations hang over Palin’s future and cloud her candidacy for vice president.

“Tailor Made for the Bush administration*” @ Media Needle (9/3/08). “You can’t make this up,” says betmo. Quoted links:

Palin demands that the Independent Prosecutor stop investigating her.Now she’s claiming Executive Privilege.

“About Sarah Palin: an e-mail from Wasilla#” By Anne Kilkenny @ Crosscut Seattle (9/2/08): It is absolutely fascinating and well worth the read. One very interesting section it called, “Claim vs fact.” To quote:

A suburban Anchorage homemaker and activist – who once did battle with the Alaska governor when Palin was mayor – recounts what she knows of Palin’s history.

Editor’s note: The writer is a homemaker and education advocate in Wasilla, Alaska. Late last week, Anne Kilkenny penned an e-mail for her friends about vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, whom she personally knows, that has since circulated across comment forums and blogs nationwide. Here is her e-mail in its entirety, posted with her permission.

Quick Takes on the McCain-Palin buzz –

• @ Yahoo! News, 9/6/08: “Palin: More and less than she seems#”
• These from betmo @ leftinaboite, 9/6/08: “Caribou Barbie Sequestered Again,” and “More of the same” at bobceska.
• @ Yahoo! News, 9/5/08: “SARAH PALIN, QUEEN OF THE NOBODIES #”
• @ Think Progress, 9/5/08: “McCain Campaign Plans To Keep Palin Away From The Press#”
• @ AlterNet, 9/5/08: How My 7-year-old learned about sex from John McCain#”
• “Oops!,” from betmo. It’s @ Talking Points Memo 9/5/08: “Mystery Solved” When is Walter Reed not Walter Reed?
• @ AlterNet, 9/5/08: “ Country Club First: Walking Around in the RNC’s Wonderland.” A visit inside the GOP bubble mindset.
• “Whew!” from betmo. It’s @ pridepress, 9/5/08:”Real World Experience from Alaskan Educator.” Very specific background on Palin.
• @ The Huffington Post, 9/3/08: “McCain was against Palin#” and “Big News Page – Sarah Palin#“
• “Osmosis?,” asks betmo. It’s @ Think Progress, 9/3/08: ”McCain-Russia-Alaska.
• @Think Progress, “McCain Campaign Plans To Keep Palin Away From The Press#”

Miscellaneous news — “Did a Mississippi raid protect right wing politicians?*”It is from truthout.org (9/1/08). betmo asks poignantly,”where can i move where it’s free? where can i move where it isn’t corrupt?”:

Reference key to links – sent by my regular contributors, #Jon and *betmo.

My “creativity and dreaming” post today is at Making Good Mondays.

Technorati tags: news news and politics politics republicans palin alaska mccain 2008 election

Sphere: Related Content

It is about where one stands –

One’s perspective on reality depends on where one stands. Within the past month I traveled across several Western of these United States. The journey was a useful experience in regaining a sane perspective in an occasionally insane world. The question of what happens to perspective when a person stands in a different place also applies to our two presidential candidates.

Obama’s foreign perspective vs. McCain’s purposefully domestic campaign view — In the past day or so Barack Obama stood before 200,000 people in Berlin and talked to them about what it means to be citizens of one world. John McCain stood in a grocery store and projected a somewhat narrower perspective by ignoring an opportunity to talk about the economic difficulties of his fellow U.S. citizens. One looked at the horizon. One looked at the eggs and failed to really see them, because he got lost in his bizarre campaign appearance that missed the mark. Obama stood before the largest crowd ever assembled to hear him speak; McCain decided to make another appearance, this time in a German restaurant and at a Fudge Haus.

These current little news stories, that will soon be lost to the next episodes of campaign buzz, illustrate why voters can trust their guts about choosing the next president based on where he stands. Barack Obama looks and sounds like a genuine leader moving with the times; John McCain looks like a “has-been” politician traveling by reality and failing to recognize it.

My travels across a familiar route, over which I have traveled annually for several years, again brought home some simple truths to me. Family matters to me, and keeping in touch with my family of origin is important enough to make a 2400+ mile journey every year. Geography matters to me also. Texas and Wyoming have similar characteristics, but the differences are stark. A change of perspective reminds me of the value of Wyoming’s clean blue skies, open lands and green grass, abundant natural energy resources, animals still roaming wild, and a fiercely independent little cadre of voters. I am reminded again that the entire population of the state is less than the metropolitan area in which I live. For the past month I drove on a freeway only twice. And I saw very few television news broadcasts because my siblings prefer either no news or Fox Network. Now that I am back home, I am again breathing the detritus of life beside the freeways. And my eyes are smarting again from the pollution caused by Texans’ love for their individual cars and trucks. And my old friends at C-SPAN, CNN and MSNBC are again defining reality for me. For a political blogger it is sublime.

Expansive geography characterizes each state. Both states have huge raw energy reserves that are being consumed at rapid rates. Wind farms dot the horizons of each. Crops being harvested across flat or rolling plains help to feed and clothe the nation. Both native populations are “independent cusses” with a basic mistrust of government, and dislike of the news media. Both peoples have a large connection to animals, and open empty spaces with miles and miles of highways.

I stand on my own porch again, glad to be home, but equally glad to have been in the vicinity of what was my original home until I became an adult. And I sit at my own computer again, no longer befuddled nor limited by time with a borrowed or library computer. It may take me a while to get my feet on the ground and reconnected with Blogworld.

View my current slide show about the Bush years — “Millennium” — at the bottom of this column.

(Cross-posted at The Reaction.)

My “creativity and dreaming” post today is at Making Good Mondays.

Sphere: Related Content

Ten Post Round-Up: July 23, 2008

If this round-up were any juicier, you’d totally stick a fork in it…

1. It is long overdue to retire this policy. Gay soldiers should not be held to a higher standard than straight soldiers who are free to date who they like and not conceal their attractions. It is the gay soldier who is expected to keep their mouth shut and their pants zipped, for fear of losing their job. The military does not have room for discrimination, particularly if they hope to continue with war without end in the Middle East.

KOAA.com – Lawmakers reconsider military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy
Tauscher is convinced it’s time to allow gays in the military to be open about their sexuality, and she’s not alone. Three-fourths of those surveyed in a Washington Post-ABC News poll over the weekend said openly gay people should be allowed to serve. That’s up from 62 percent in early 2001 and 44 percent in 1993.

2. Even relying on some resource other than coal or oil to produce our energy needs is going to come with a very steep price tag.

CNN.com: Wind power: A reality check

One of the big challenges with using wind to replace natural gas is that, unlike the steady flame from natural gas, the wind doesn’t blow all the time.

To make sure enough power is available when the wind isn’t blowing, backup generators would be needed, said Paul Fremont, an electric-utility analyst at the investment bank Jefferies & Co.

That could mean maintaining those natural gas plants in case of emergency, or implementing even more novel ideas like systems in Europe that use excess wind electricity to pump water uphill when the wind is blowing, then release it through hydro dams when the wind stops.

Either way, any type of backup system comes with a price.

3. Sorry, guys. It won’t fit in your wallet. But, on the upside, it will be a perfect fit (that is, if it ever gets mass produced…).

Cool Hunting: Spray-On Condom
While most technologies advanced by leaps and bounds in recent decades, condom design has been relatively static for the last century or so. One visionary German scientist is working to change that. Jan Vinzenz Krause has spent recent years trying to make the world’s most common prophylactic available in spray-on form. The technology’s draw, according to Krause (pictured), is that conventional condoms often don’t fit penises of varying sizes (also pictured, sort of).

Read more

Sphere: Related Content

Ten Post Round-Up: July 22, 2008

This round-up includes spam, porn, and money talk. Oh, you know you wanna read it…

1. The quote that wouldn’t die…

Talking Points Memo: White House Still Trying to Explain Away Maliki
When a guy you more or less install in power and keep there on a very short leash starts going off the reservation, you first claim there was some sort of translation error. Then you claim that what he says is not what he means. When he continues to reiterate the point, you assert that he knows not of what he speaks.

2. Colorado offers the DNC a gas tax holiday for the convention…

LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF COLORADO BLOG: Planning a private party?…
In Colorado, consumers pay 40.4 cents in taxes on every gallon of gasoline. That includes the federal gasoline tax of 18.4 cents per gallon and the Colorado gasoline tax of 22 cents per gallon.

3. A win for adult-websites

Wired.com: Net Censorship Law Struck Down Again
The 3rd U.S. Circurt Court of Appeals upheld on Tuesday a 2007 lower-court decision that the Child Online Protection Act violated the First Amendment since it was not the most effective way to keep children from visiting adult websites.

Read more

Sphere: Related Content

Ten Post Round-Up: July 21, 2008

Some days, it sucks to read the news, because it’s a reminder that our country appears to be being run by a bunch of frat boys, out on a lark and hoping that a grown-up might come along and fix it (all the while forgiving and forgetting who was responsible for the bull$#!% in the first place)! Unfortunately, these hazy days are not ones that we will soon wake from and it will take many generations of grown-ups to fix.

1. Tazing a few sheep to tame the sheeple…

duckplops: Just When You Thought They Couldn’t Find More Helpless Victims

More and more it seems as though the cops have been told to use the tasers first and ask questions later, and have let them know there won’t be any repercussions, even if they kill the tasee.

2. “Toto, we’re not in Kansas, anymore…”

The Huffington Post: Court Confirms President’s Dictatorial Powers in Case of US “Enemy Combatant”
Wake up, America! On July 15, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled by 5 votes to 4 in the case of Al-Marri v. Pucciarelli (PDF) that the President can arrest US citizens and legal residents inside the United States and imprison them indefinitely, without charge or trial, based solely on his assertion that they are “enemy combatants.” Have a little think about it, and you’ll see that the Fourth Circuit judges have just endorsed dictatorial powers.

3. Getting answers for the family of LaVena Johnsona is a step towards getting answers for every family who has lost a soldier to foul-play in Iraq.

Shakesville: ColorofChange.org launches LaVena petition
The online grassroots organization ColorofChange.org, a black advocacy group founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, has lent its support to the family of LaVena Johnson. The group has launched a new petition addressed to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and its chairman, Representative Henry Waxman.

Read more

Sphere: Related Content

Dizzy’s Ten Post Round-Up

These days it seems as if it’s a good time to invest in bicycles (to save gas money) and mattresses (to store your savings). At least, we can drown our sorrows in “hopsicles” and if we forget where we hid our money we can rely on our daily cuppa to refresh our memory. We may be a nation of whiners, but wouldn’t life be a lot simpler if the economy (and certain world leaders and/or those seeking the position) didn’t give us anything to whine about?

1. It’s true, you can’t please all the people all of the time. But, is it possible to abuse the privilege?

23/6 – News: Poll: Who’s Obama gonna piss off next?
With polls showing Obama losing his “glow,” every couple of days we’re finding out about another group who is getting a little pissed off at Barack.

2. Let it never be said that GWB didn’t leave behind a well-remembered presidency (not well-thought of but, definitely well-remembered).

Alternate Brain: Legacy of a Lunatic
From the beginning, Bush surrounded himself with incompetent cronies, yes-men, and sycophants with a lust for influence, and handed out positions of power to people whose blind loyalty was the only measure of their suitability. Qualities like honesty and strength of character were never assessed, and were in fact an obvious hindrance for those who aspired to the inner circle.

3. In other words, there is no end in sight for our already overburdened troops, regardless of who’s elected.

CommonDreams.org: Obama Promises 10,000 More Troops for Afghanistan
WASHINGTON – Barack Obama yesterday pledged to increase US troops in Afghanistan by a third if he becomes president, sending 10,000 more to reinforce the 33,000 already there.

Read more

Sphere: Related Content

Dizzy’s Ten Post Round-Up

Some days (particularly Mondays) require more than one cuppa. Today is one of those days.

1. Word for the day: transparency

BlackListed News: Kucinich Demands Congress Issue Subpoenas for Continuity of Government Plans
John Conyers has been issuing subpoenas on other issues, which may be important. However, what could be more important for Congress than determining whether or not the Constitution is still the controlling document for our country? What could be more important for Congress than determining whether COG planning documents strip Congress of its power, and give sole power to the executive branch?

2. If we add another battle front (cough-Iran-cough), we will need more “waivers” to fill the ranks…

Huffington Post: Greg Mitchell: Shocker: More than 1 in 10 Army Recruits Now Given “Moral Waivers”
In 2007, almost 10,000 recruits were granted waivers for past misdemeanors. over 2100 for “serious criminal misconduct” — over four times the 2003 rate – -and almost 1500 for drug or alcohol abuse.

3. Just another example of children being trained to be good little sheeple…thankfully, the appeals court did the right thing.

Joanne Jacobs: Strip search violated girl’s rights
To learn if Savana Redding was carrying over-the-counter pain pills such as Advil or Motrin, a school nurse told her to remove her clothes, including her bra, and shake her underwear. A classmate caught with ibuprofen had named Savana as her supplier. No pills were found.

Read more

Sphere: Related Content

Dizzy’s Ten Post Round-Up

Thanks to Phil Gramm for reminding me of something I forgot, being a member of a “nation of whiners”, I tooks some time to do just that (thanks to those wonderful people who took the time to listen). Truthfully, though, I prefer to do my whining via blogging, so what better place to do that than through today’s Ten Post Round-Up (cue the “wah-mbulance”).

1. “The answer to speech you don’t like is always more speech.”

AlterNet: Why Obscenity Laws Must Be Fought
What’s defined as healthy sexuality in this country is narrowly defined and schizophrenic — and the government should not have final say.

2. Just imagine the sales in munchies, alone!

duckplops – Bottles ‘N Boo

“Relax It And Tax It

That’s the motto behind a new cannabis initiative that would allow Oregon’s state-controlled liquor stores to legally sell marijuana to adults.Initiative backers said their plan would send 90 percent of the proceeds from the state’s sale of marijuana to Oregon’s General Fund, which could lower Oregonians’ state tax burden.

3. Not. Holding. My. Breath.

The Huffington Post: Pelosi: House Judiciary Committee May Hold Impeachment Hearings
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said this morning that the House Judiciary Committee may hold hearings on an impeachment resolution offered by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio).

Read more

Sphere: Related Content

Next Page »