NASA has been launching spacecraft into the final frontier for over 60 years, but getting rockets ready for lift-off is no easy feat. Rockets can take anywhere from 18 months to over five years, in the case of the now-retired space shuttle, to be constructed and cleared for lift-off. The process of making sure a spacecraft is safe for crew and payload alike is lengthy, precise, … [Read more...] about How Does NASA Test Rockets for Safe Space Travel?
Biden has many hills to climb at G-20 and COP26
Almost the entire world, especially Europeans, showered Joe Biden with hope and goodwill because his election promised an end to Donald Trump’s abrasive swagger across international affairs. But disappointments of allies and friends with his foreign policies have gnawed at the goodwill. Biden’s actions continue to fuel a perception that he is too preoccupied with domestic … [Read more...] about Biden has many hills to climb at G-20 and COP26
A Common Military Blouse and a Typical Military Aircraft Make History
It was just a common military OCP (Operational Camouflage Pattern) blouse hanging in a typical Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. But on that day, August 15, 2021, both would make history. The Globemaster would take off from Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, as part of the sometimes chaotic, but always dangerous and brave Operation Allies Refuge. … [Read more...] about A Common Military Blouse and a Typical Military Aircraft Make History
REPUBLICANS GERRYMANDER WHILE DEMOCRATS LEGISLATE (Cartoon)
Sudan’s generals have torn up the transition playbook. But don’t count out the masses
Crowds gather to protest the coup in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. EPA-EFE/MOHAMMED ABU OBAID David E Kiwuwa, University of Nottingham This week the head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah El Burhan, declared the dissolution of the transitional council, which has been in place since the overthrow of former president Omar el-Bashir in … [Read more...] about Sudan’s generals have torn up the transition playbook. But don’t count out the masses
Biden rallies for struggling Democrat McAuliffe in closely-watched Virginia governor’s race
Published by AFPArlington (United States) (AFP) - US President Joe Biden on Tuesday threw his weight behind the struggling Democratic candidate in Virginia's closely watched election for governor, urging a crowd to defeat Republican "extremism." Standing by Terry McAuliffe, whose slide in the polls has put Democrats on red alert for a wider Republican comeback in next year's … [Read more...] about Biden rallies for struggling Democrat McAuliffe in closely-watched Virginia governor’s race
COP26: Failure to fight climate change will cause terrible human suffering, UN chief warns.
While President Joe Biden struggles to get past haggling in Congress to advance his climate change agenda, the world is moving several steps closer to climate catastrophe. The United Nations environment program reports that a global temperature rise of 2.7 degrees Celsius is very likely during this century if governments fail to agree on urgently implementing concrete … [Read more...] about COP26: Failure to fight climate change will cause terrible human suffering, UN chief warns.
Are the Democrats poised to lose the Virginia Governor’s race?
Are the Democrats poised to lose the Virginia Governor's race? I detest the "could, might, should, are likely" articles and posts that dominate political media. But this race is a biggie. It could be pivotal to the (still) struggling Biden presidency in the way in which it'll be perceived and reporter. When the votes are counted on Nov. 3 will it be said Biden has Big … [Read more...] about Are the Democrats poised to lose the Virginia Governor’s race?
Hollywood’s love of guns increases the risk of shootings – both on and off the set
Actor Alec Baldwin was involved in a tragic on-set accident. Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for National Geographic Brad Bushman, The Ohio State University and Dan Romer, University of Pennsylvania In what appears to be a tragic accident, actor Alec Baldwin shot dead a cinematographer on Oct 21, 2021, while discharging a prop gun on set in New … [Read more...] about Hollywood’s love of guns increases the risk of shootings – both on and off the set
Johnny Appleseed Was The Kind of Litterbug I Want to Be
When I think of autumn, I think of apple picking. And when I think of apple picking, I think of the story of Johnny Appleseed. The story goes that during the 1800s Johnny trekked across Pennsylvania scattering apple seeds. He littered the land with seeds that grew into trees. When I was a child, I was enchanted by the abundance of seeds nature dropped for me to discover. … [Read more...] about Johnny Appleseed Was The Kind of Litterbug I Want to Be
BIG LIE BOOSTER (CARTOON)
Russia close to using natural gas as weapon in Europe’s gas crunch – Biden energy adviser
Published by ReutersBy Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's global energy security adviser said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is getting close to using natural gas as a political tool if Russia is holding back fuel exports to Europe as it suffers an energy crunch. "I think we are getting close to that line if Russia indeed has the … [Read more...] about Russia close to using natural gas as weapon in Europe’s gas crunch – Biden energy adviser
LYING YOUNGKIN (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Glenn Youngkin is lying. He learned it from Donald Trump. The bigger the lie a Republican tells, the more other Republicans will believe it. Whether it’s trickle-down works, Trump won, Jewish space lasers, January 6 was a protest, or Terry McAuliffe has the FBI going after parents who speak at school board meetings in opposition of Critical Race Theory, vaccines, or Critical … [Read more...] about LYING YOUNGKIN (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Capitol Insurrection Organizers Claim They Had ‘Dozens’ Of Meetings With Congress Members And White House Staff
Published by Radar OnlineTwo individuals who helped organize the January 6 attack on the Capitol are reportedly claiming they met with members of Congress and White House staff numerous times leading up to the fateful day. According to Rolling Stone, two anonymous sources who helped organize the January 6 protest claim they had “dozens” of meetings with members of Congress and … [Read more...] about Capitol Insurrection Organizers Claim They Had ‘Dozens’ Of Meetings With Congress Members And White House Staff
FACEBOOK NAME CHANGE (CARTOON)
Wildfires in Brazil’s Amazon are decimating jaguars
by Daniel Cross Sustainability-Times In Brazil’s Amazon region jaguars are becoming increasingly beleaguered and need protecting if their populations are to remain robust. Yet between August 2016 and December 2019 alone more than 1,400 of the majestic predators were killed or displaced from increasing deforestatio and wildfires. This stark warning comes from the … [Read more...] about Wildfires in Brazil’s Amazon are decimating jaguars
Facebook knew about, failed to police, abusive content globally – documents
Published by ReutersBy Elizabeth Culliford and Brad Heath (Reuters) - Facebook employees have warned for years that as the company raced to become a global service it was failing to police abusive content in countries where such speech was likely to cause the most harm, according to interviews with five former employees and internal company documents viewed by Reuters. For over … [Read more...] about Facebook knew about, failed to police, abusive content globally – documents
Why Squid Game is actually a critique of meritocracy
Matt Bennett, University of Essex Squid Game, Netflix’s latest runaway success has set new records for views and generated a flurry of comment pieces, memes and moral panic about screen violence. The programme follows 456 competitors through a series of lethal contests. At stake is a cash prize of billions of won, suspended over the contestants’ dormitory in a giant … [Read more...] about Why Squid Game is actually a critique of meritocracy
Democrats ‘pretty much there’ on U.S. social spending bill -Pelosi
Published by ReutersBy Jarrett Renshaw, Doina Chiacu and Michael Martina WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democrats have almost reached an agreement on a social spending bill that is a pared-down version of U.S. President Joe Biden's priorities and plan to vote on that and an infrastructure bill in the coming week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday. "I think we're pretty much … [Read more...] about Democrats ‘pretty much there’ on U.S. social spending bill -Pelosi
Higher Education and the Biden Bubble
Here in Baltimore, Thursday evening, CNN hosted a Town Hall with the 46th President of the United States Joe Biden. During this 75 minute very structured and very scripted Q and A session, there was clear indication of who would be allowed to ask questions of the President. While Fox News spent time lamenting about the partisan disparity of the questioners, another more … [Read more...] about Higher Education and the Biden Bubble