Taking a short break from the politics of the day: This site (from Australia, the first line of which is, “Welcome to my site about the Energia Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLLV). ) makes a compelling case for the superiority of the Energia/Buran system over the US Space Shuttle. The only improvement I can see would be in putting the Buran shuttle on the top of the stack rather than the side to completely eliminate the possiblity of ice or insulation falling off to damage the shuttle component. Ironcially,...

…by the administration that “the terrorists” are the greatest threat to the United States. Are they, really, when examined with an eye not solely focused upon winning the next election?

At my weblog, Random Fate, I have a post that was written in the context of a USA Today article on the reaction of FEMA to the conditions at the New Orleans Superdome in the wake of hurricane Katrina. The post is titled “Absolution is not granted through the errors of others” because it is intended to convey a message to those using the revelations of exactly how overwrought the reporting issued at the time of the disaster was as a stick to beat critics of the response made by those...

…one must take care that the results of the ephemeral victory do not return to bite one in the ass.

…are beginning to resemble the early stages of a very ugly divorce. One wonders who will be changing their name?

Cross-posted to Random Fate. Given the recent imbroglio over the “unstaged but rehearsed” discussion between President George W. Bush and some members of the Armed Forces stationed in Iraq, along with the widening investigation of the Armstrong Williams/Department of Education matter, the following question arises that is worthy of discussion: When does “spin” become propaganda? Leave your answer in the comments, or trackback from your weblog.

…I have written, as someone who is a self-described moderate but who does have strong, definite opinions and deeply held beliefs. Actions versus words… The lesson taught was not the one intended Not everything is linked There are patterns in the white noise of the endless media deluge, if we are willing to take the time to think, instead of merely react.

Cross-posted to Random Fate. — The nomination of Harriet Miers to fill the seat of retiring Associate Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Conner has created something of a furor among those who lean to the right-wing, almost resembling internecine war in some aspects. I do understand and appreciate the points made by those for whom there are fundamental principles at stake, principles of competence, qualifications, the problem of at least the appearance of cronyism (if not the actual fact,...

…body language speaks volumes. Could this story have been published 12 months ago? Somehow, I think it would not have. Often times, stories that reinforce the apparent trends gain the headlines. Read that as you will.

…since not everything in life revolves around them, I have posted a few photos at Random Fate, one of a church doorway and two others of street-side advertisments that likely would not be considered “appropriate” in the United States. I also discovered a portfolio from the past showing “how to draw the nude from example,” assuming I translated the French title correctly. I have a few of the examples posted. Enjoy!

…that I hoped someone was being misquoted, or something was being exaggerated to gain an audience, this is it.

…as Associate Justice to the United States Supreme Court, not only my reactions, but links to a few from the right-wing, you can visit my weblog Random Fate. At this point, unless one is a mind-reader, it is difficult to know exactly what to think…

…Calvinball player extraordinaire?

Perhaps we are not concentrating on the real, long-term threat to the success, or even the very survival, of the United States. It is worth considering.

…you can turn to my weblog, Random Fate, where I review two new developments in the technology associated with the chemistry of carbon which may not be widely known from reporting in the mainstream media.

The chaos affecting US politics in general, and the right-wing in particular, can be seen in my reactions posted at my own weblog, Random Fate, to two posts at Power Line, which is definitely a right-wing cheerleading weblog. The first: Dogs and cats sleeping together references the rarity in which I am in accord with the sentiments expressed at Power Line. The second: Of course, the all too brief moment of accord… demonstrates in the very next post at Power Line how the naked, short-sighted...

…you can see a few more photos from Lyon, France at my weblog, Random Fate.

…and some thoughts on what that means in blogworld can be found here. (NOTE: The post referenced was not solicited nor approved by Joe Gandelman, the owner of The Moderate Voice weblog).

You can find some photos taken in Lyon, France here and here at my weblog, Random Fate.

When I was young and stupid, I married the wrong person. The person I married was not and is not evil, yet she was the wrong person for me. I suffered for that bad decision, but it was purely a personal suffering, a consequence confined to myself and to those who loved me. Today, I read about the verdict in the trial of Army Pfc. Lynndie England (as she is described in the news) as a result of her actions at Abu Ghraib. The age she was during the commission of the acts for which she was convicted...

Frequently, small changes in initial conditions can result in large differences in the final result. An example can be found here.

…goes I. Never, ever forget that. So many of us do forget that basic lesson, our personal circumstances, who were our parents, help determine what tools we have in our psyche to confront a universe indifferent to our fate. I have been trying to assemble together a grand post that links together several themes and ties together many different topics into a philosophic whole. Time limitations have prevented me from completing this work, but some parts of it cannot wait, so in the interim,...

Cross-posted to Random Fate. — NOTE: Unfortunately, this is not the long post I am working on that is pulling together several different threads and themes. Instead, this is something that struck me this morning that I must exorcise before the larger work that I need to ensure is both balanced and well-reasoned before I put it online. This morning, as I was getting ready for work I had CNN International on the television (one of my four options on local cable for English language programming,...

I am establishing a new award for blogworld and have issued a solitication for nominees. No political affiliation is excluded from consideration, all viewpoints are welcome!

Recently, many who read this weblog have commented in one form or another (comments here, emails to the authors, or posts on their own weblogs) regarding how The Moderate Voice is not “moderate” according to their definition of the term. I beg to differ, and their arguments have already been answered. A few months ago, back in early June, I wrote a post at my weblog Random Fate titled “What is a moderate?“, followed up by a second post “A short addendum to ‘What...