To read the tribute to SFC Marcus Muralles, please click here
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Snippits in the News
Here's a few little things I noticed today:
- First, NASA has once again grounded the Shuttle fleet. Their (valid) concern is due to insulating foam falling off of the ET and hitting the Shuttle and damaging the most important tiles on the leading edge of the Shuttle wing and belly. We now have proof that it has fallen off twice- logical to bet that bits and pieces have been falling off during every launch (at least since they went to the new non-asbestos foam). Now, I'm not an expert (but I played one at Space Camp- twice), but I see a couple of possible solutions. #1- go back to the old ET design (yes, with the asbestos)... #2- use the special paint on the tank that they used for the first 5 STS missions (remember when the tanks were white?)- the paint would offer an additional level of protection, possibly keeping the foam attached to the tank. Just my $.02... (UPDATE: my bad. The old foam had Freon, not asbestos. Still not good if you're an environut.)
- American Muslim scholars have declared a fatwa... and I agree with them.
In the statement, called a fatwa, the 18-member Fiqh Council of North America wrote that people who commit terrorism in the name of Islam were "criminals, not 'martyrs.'"
Like I said... I agree with them. Then again, I also know, that they've tried this before, and it didn't stop the radicals from spreading hatred of America in the mosques in this country. Maybe they need to open the doors of the mosques and let us hear what they're preaching on Fridays. We might believe them then.
"There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism," the scholars wrote. "Targeting civilians' life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attack is haram - or forbidden." - A 73 year-old woman is in trouble with the police because she didn't believe the nice police officer who showed up at her door at 10:30 at night, asking about a neighbor's fence, and shut the door in his face and called 9-1-1 for verification of who he was. Granted, he was in uniform, but still... a little old lady has to be careful. She did the right thing, and the guy was a jerk. (And, anyway... was there any reason why he couldn't have come back during daylight hours to ask her about her neighbor's fence? From what she said, he was being rude.)
- Evidently, the group charged with drafting the Iraqi constitution have a bit of a problem with Israelis. Go figure.
- A woman is under arrest for dumping her 4 year old son on the side of a busy highway and driving off, injuring him in the process. According to her son, she did it because she "was angry" at him. If she ever gets custody of him back, I will be beyond upset.
- All I can say about this story is... "ew."
Fortunately for Ezekiel Rubottom, there’s no law against keeping your severed foot in a bucket on the front porch.
Like I said... "ew."
Rubottom, a 21-year-old Lawrence resident, ex-pressed relief Monday after police gave him back his left foot, which he began storing in a five-gallon bucket of formaldehyde on the porch after it was amputated three weeks ago. - And, finally, in science news, a dinner and a movie might be better strategy for getting the girl than diamonds and other high-priced trinkets.
Using mathematical modelling, Peter Sozou and Robert Seymour at University College London, UK, found that wooing girls with costly, but essentially worthless gifts – such as theatre tickets or expensive dinners out – is a winning courtship strategy for both sexes.
Yeah... that sounds about right... except... I agree with the one psychologist who believes that theatre tickets and dinners out are not "worthless" - experiences count for a lot.
Females can assess how serious or committed a male plans to be and males can ensure they are not just seducing 'gold-diggers' – girls who take valuable presents with no intention of accepting subsequent dates.
