First private female astronaut close to launch, will be “space ambassador” to kids everywhere (She went to George Mason)

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Courtesy of John C. Dvorak:


This is the kind of thing that NASA should be doing. If you want to succeed in space, you have to demonstrate why the effort is worth it.

Anousheh Ansari, has been officially named to the Soyuz TMA-9 primary crew.  The first female spaceflight participant will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on September 18, 2006 en route to the International Space Station (ISS) along with the Expedition 14 crew members: NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin.

A living example of the American dream, Anousheh Ansari immigrated to the United States as a teenager who did not speak English. She immersed herself in education, earning a bachelor’s degree in electronics and computer engineering from George Mason University, followed by a master’s degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University. She is currently working toward a master’s degree in astronomy from Swinburne University.

During her spaceflight, Anousheh wants to serve as a true space ambassador. She wants to be able to share the spaceflight experience with as many people as possible, and use her experience to help educate. She intends to document her mission in as much detail as possible, so as to completely communicate the spaceflight experience for future spaceflight participants. She also wants to use the mission to further educate children on the importance of space travel and life in space. (See Kids to Space for a good book on spaceflight for children.)


Wow, cute and smart and gives a shit about the future. With all these talented and driven people clamoring to go into space, why are we having such a hard time of it?

Powell joins Republicans opposing Bush torture laws

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Courtesy of John C. Dvorak:



The Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday voted 15-9 to recommend a bill — over the objections of the Bush administration — that would authorize tribunals for terror suspects in a way that it says would protect suspects’ rights.

It differs from the administration’s proposal in two major ways: It would permit terror suspects to view classified evidence against them and does not include a proposal that critics say reinterprets a Geneva Conventions rule that prohibits cruel and inhuman treatment of detainees.

Article III prohibits nations engaged in combat not of “an international character” from, among other things, “violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture” and “outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment.”

The vote came after White House spokesman Tony Snow said opponents of its proposal on detainee treatment misunderstood the administration’s intentions when it proposed to define how Article III applies to the interrogation of terrorist suspects.

Powell expressed his opposition in a letter to McCain that was released Thursday.

“The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism,” Powell, a retired Army four-star general, wrote in his letter to McCain, whose amendment last year opposed the use of torture.

“To redefine Common Article III would add to those doubts,” Powell said. “Furthermore, it would put our own troops at risk.”


Military lawyers also have raised concerns about the administration bill’s restrictions on due-process rights for defendants. Prosecutors would be able to present evidence to the tribunal that would be kept secret from the defense and could use hearsay and coerced confessions against defendants. Human rights groups have objected to those provisions as well.

Partisan politics begin to decay and shred as mid-term elections approach. Essentially, the managers of the Congressional segment of Party leadership — both Tweedledee and Tweedledum — have started to differentiate themselves from an administration wholly out of touch with the American electorate.

Colin Powell didn’t have to speak out, again. He realized that we have a president who already decided to ignore the previous McCain Bill on Torture — and will probably do so, again.

Will Bush Beat Nixon? As Most Hated Prexy!

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Courtesy of John C. Dvorak:


Click on image for full-sized version

Will Bush be all-time most disliked President? He’s got a good shot. — This site outlines the possibilities. Needs updating. There is plenty of time for Bush to accomplish this goal. He’s competitive, I know he can do it.

related link:
recent approval charts

found by Aric Mackey via Prof. and demographics expert Steven Ruggles

Tuesday September 19th is National Talk Like A Pirate Day

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...the only day of the year that you can talk like a pirate and not be entirely insane. Tuesday September 19th 2006 is Talk Like a Pirate Day! Talk Like a Pirate Day only comes once a year (on September 19th), this year it falls on a Tuesday. If you are not ready yet, you can learn more about this international holiday on the About TLAPD page

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