One Hand Washes the Other: the LightSquared Saga

Financially oriented prelude(s) to a post: I am staggered at how easily the concepts of Democracy and the Rule of Law – two of the pillars of the modern world – have been brushed aside in the interests of political expediency. And this as well: Bond and Currency markets are now so rigged by policy [...]

Using the military as a social engineering sandbox

The fact the U.S. military serves as a social engineering sandbox for the civilian authorities in the three branches of government isn’t new. But now, the U.S. Navy and its handlers, led by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, have become the best of the best; the poster child of the poster children. The Navy [...]

“Commercial” Space Collapse?

We all know there’s really only one sure way to make money in, to, through, of from space: sell space-related goods and services to the government. Now, if $7.3 billion in proposed cuts to "commercial imagery contracts" hit GeoEye and DigitalGlobe, what will be the effect on the rest of the space industry? How much [...]

Is Smart Power as Smart as the Smart Car?

Sticking the word "smart" in front of almost anything is a practice that must end. As evidence, I offer the Smart Car, the worst car of the last decade, and calls for more Smart Power. We’re all aware, of course, that our stupid cars and our stupid power just won’t cut it anymore. What is [...]

How Goes The Reset?

The famed Russian reset, the defining foreign policy victory of the Administration, is dead. I’m shocked, shocked! Why did such a thing happen? Because the Russians have played the ‘reset’ out for all it’s worth (to them, anyway). They’re now staking out/probing regarding positions to take for either a new American president, or are pondering [...]

Welcome to the New Duck and Cover

When you look at the popular culture, the duck and cover era of civil defense (CD) in the 1950s and early 1960s is often mercilessly mocked. The reason is likely because it seemed insane to take shelter under a desk when nuclear weapons are landing nearby. However, in those days, the miss distances of the [...]

National Evangelical Association Preaches To The Saved Regarding Nuclear Weapons

The Washington Post ran an anti-nuclear weapons column written by the National Evangelical Association (NEA, but not the National Education Association lobby, headquartered at 1201 16th Street Northwest, Washington DC 20036). I suspect the Post ran this article because it agrees with their political sensibilities (versus, for example, running an NEA column advocating reducing the [...]

Arthur C. Clarke’s Lost Space Predictions

A lost 1963 BBC interview with Arthur C. Clarke. Clarke missed the mark badly on Mars (I think we’re still looking for that breakthrough in propulsion) but was pretty close on the timing of the Moon landing (although he picked the wrong horse). From the Guardian.

Nuclear Weapons For Thee, But Not For Me

It would appear at least some in the media start with an opinion they hold (for example, U.S. nuclear weapons are not useful at best, dangerous for certain, and evil at worst) and then attempt to build a selective reality which appears to confirm their opinions. Concurrently, there is often the mutually supporting appeal to [...]

What India Hates About The Space Code of Conduct

The Space Review has an offering on why India is a no-go for participation in the EU’s space Code of Conduct (CoC). Here are the six reasons, lifted quite directly from the Space Review article: 1. The non-binding nature of the CoC 2. Repetition of and intrusion into a country’s domestic space policies 3. The [...]