Which Way NASA?

My guess is that he'll pull the plug on the increasingly unsafe geezerware.

Obama's NASA Dilemma - Technology Review - 20 Nov 08

"When president-elect Barack Obama takes office in January, he will be faced with a rare situation. Within his first 100 days, he will have to decide the fate of America's space program.

While other presidents have had the luxury of putting off major decisions on NASA, the Obama administration has a deadline. By April 30, 2009, the new president must decide whether to shut down the Space Shuttle program--currently the United States' only way to get humans into space and to service the International Space Station (ISS)--or extend the program at no small cost. While the current administration has signed an authorization bill to keep the Space Shuttle flying until the end of 2010, the legislation only prevents NASA management from mothballing Shuttle-related programs until the end of April 2009.

Delaying the choice any further would be expensive, experts say, since resurrecting shut-down production lines and purchasing phase-out parts would dramatically increase costs."

Which Way NASA?

My guess is that he'll pull the plug on the increasingly unsafe geezerware.

Obama's NASA Dilemma - Technology Review - 20 Nov 08

"When president-elect Barack Obama takes office in January, he will be faced with a rare situation. Within his first 100 days, he will have to decide the fate of America's space program.

While other presidents have had the luxury of putting off major decisions on NASA, the Obama administration has a deadline. By April 30, 2009, the new president must decide whether to shut down the Space Shuttle program--currently the United States' only way to get humans into space and to service the International Space Station (ISS)--or extend the program at no small cost. While the current administration has signed an authorization bill to keep the Space Shuttle flying until the end of 2010, the legislation only prevents NASA management from mothballing Shuttle-related programs until the end of April 2009.

Delaying the choice any further would be expensive, experts say, since resurrecting shut-down production lines and purchasing phase-out parts would dramatically increase costs."

German SolarWorld Offer for GM's Opel

How ironic would this be given GM's EV1 crushing history? Of course, why cash out when you can borrow cheap money from new sugar daddy Uncle Sam. (FWIW, I don't mind some of these bailouts as long as the U.S. taxpayer gets a fair deal. Carter's Chrysler deal worked out.)

If such a deal ever went through, I'm guessing we'd see some wicked solar plug-in hybrids with V2G technology.

Solar CEO Serious About Buying GM's Opel - CNET - 20 Nov 08

"Adam Opel, which is part of GM Europe, includes four German factories and a development center in Russelsheim, Germany. SolarWorld is prepared to offer 250 million euros in cash for them, according to Asbeck, and has bank credit lines worth 750 million euros if the German government provides a guarantee. But the company would also request additional state funds to compensate Opel's 25,000 German workers at about 40,00 euros per job, an estimated 1 billion euros.

GM, which is currently seeking a multibillion dollar bailout from the U.S. government, publicly dismissed SolarWorld's offer on Wednesday."

German SolarWorld Offer for GM's Opel

How ironic would this be given GM's EV1 crushing history? Of course, why cash out when you can borrow cheap money from new sugar daddy Uncle Sam. (FWIW, I don't mind some of these bailouts as long as the U.S. taxpayer gets a fair deal. Carter's Chrysler deal worked out.)

If such a deal ever went through, I'm guessing we'd see some wicked solar plug-in hybrids with V2G technology.

Solar CEO Serious About Buying GM's Opel - CNET - 20 Nov 08

"Adam Opel, which is part of GM Europe, includes four German factories and a development center in Russelsheim, Germany. SolarWorld is prepared to offer 250 million euros in cash for them, according to Asbeck, and has bank credit lines worth 750 million euros if the German government provides a guarantee. But the company would also request additional state funds to compensate Opel's 25,000 German workers at about 40,00 euros per job, an estimated 1 billion euros.

GM, which is currently seeking a multibillion dollar bailout from the U.S. government, publicly dismissed SolarWorld's offer on Wednesday."

Turnabout Fair Play

I've often said that if the government just left the "marriage" part to the religious institutions and only did domestic partnerships, that would be the way to solve this particular issue. One person's effort in that direction.

A Marriage Manifesto...Of Sorts - ReligionDispatches.org - 17 Nov 08

"I no longer recognize marriage. It’s a new thing I’m trying.

Turns out it’s fun.

Yesterday I called a woman’s spouse her boyfriend.

She says, correcting me, 'He’s my husband,'
'Oh,' I say, 'I no longer recognize marriage.'

The impact is obvious. I tried it on a man who has been in a relationship for years,

'How’s your longtime companion, Jill?'
'She’s my wife!'
'Yeah, well, my beliefs don’t recognize marriage.'

Fun. And instant, eyebrow-raising recognition. Suddenly the majority gets to feel what the minority feels. In a moment they feel what it’s like to have their relationship downgraded, and to have a much taken-for-granted right called into question because of another’s beliefs."

Turnabout Fair Play

I've often said that if the government just left the "marriage" part to the religious institutions and only did domestic partnerships, that would be the way to solve this particular issue. One person's effort in that direction.

A Marriage Manifesto...Of Sorts - ReligionDispatches.org - 17 Nov 08

"I no longer recognize marriage. It’s a new thing I’m trying.

Turns out it’s fun.

Yesterday I called a woman’s spouse her boyfriend.

She says, correcting me, 'He’s my husband,'
'Oh,' I say, 'I no longer recognize marriage.'

The impact is obvious. I tried it on a man who has been in a relationship for years,

'How’s your longtime companion, Jill?'
'She’s my wife!'
'Yeah, well, my beliefs don’t recognize marriage.'

Fun. And instant, eyebrow-raising recognition. Suddenly the majority gets to feel what the minority feels. In a moment they feel what it’s like to have their relationship downgraded, and to have a much taken-for-granted right called into question because of another’s beliefs."