Friday, February 25, 2005

Terri Spared for Three More Weeks
Another stay postponing the removal of Terri Schaivo's feeding tube until March 18 was issued today, allowing more time for her family and supporters to continue the legal battle to protect her. (The Terri's Fight web site has been so overwhelmed by supporters and the interested public it is currently down.)

There is so much going on in this case: the legal maneuvers, the grassroots movement, the struggle against the Old Media bias, etc. As I don't have time to cover it all, please follow the sites listed here in the Terri Schiavo Update post. Check the 'list of government and media contacts' for ways to take action and do continue to pray!

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Two More Precious Days
Another stay, this time for at least forty-eight hours, is protecting Terri Schiavo from death by dehydration and starvation.

Also, Florida's Department of Children & Families is weighing in to investigate Terri's case. More details thanks to The Bandwagon, who concludes
See?! It is not too late for hope! Continue calling the Governor's office and writing letters and if you are in Florida, please get a hold of your local legislature and tell them you support Terri's right to live! Also if you would like to donate funds, go to BlogsforTerri. They are planning an advertisement to be placed in the St. Pete Times so they can let all those readers know the *truth* about Terri!

And above all else, P R A Y! Terri's family needs strength and peace to see them through these next few days...

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Terri Schiavo Update
Terri Schiavo has received a reprieve of one day so far. After her parents appeal was turned down, a stay was issued to delay removal of hydration and feeding until tomorrow afternoon. The situation is still critical. Time for continued prayer and action. Here is a list of government and media contacts.

Developments are occurring more rapidly than I'm able to blog. Frequently updated sites include Terri's family's web site, ProLifeBlogs, Blogs for Terri and 'ThrownBack' (Fr. Rob Johansen).

Sunday, February 20, 2005

The Vision Thing
Several recent articles on the web discuss how to approach space exploration in ways so that it realize its full potential to benefit the human future. Stephen Ashworth writes at the Space Review on how government exploration efforts and private enterprise space activity must work in tandem to maximize the benefit to each and to future generations (parts one and two).

Sam Dinkins looks at an incremental approach of lunar development to achieving the vision of space settlement developed in the 1970s by Professor Gerard O'Neill.

Finally, at Space.com, Jeff Liss also sees the Moon as key to developing future space exploration.
Blogs Speaking to Protect Terri
The case of Terri Schindler-Schiavo is approaching another critical point. The court-ordered stay protecting her from death by dehydration and starvation is set to expire this Tuesday, February 22. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, threatens to have the feeding tubes removed on Tuesday, while her family and lawyers continue to pursue legal options.

A massive effort on the internet and in the blogosphere is emerging to support the efforts to protect Terri. Her family's web site continues to be a primary source of information.

BlogsforTerri and ProLifeBlogs are key centers of activity linking to numerous other blogs supporting Terri and providing the latest information and action alerts. ProLifeBlogs is maintaining an Aggregator of blog posts about Terri.

Wittenberg Gate has posted a collection of submitted posts by other blogs, 'Bloggers' Best for Terri Schiavo' (Look for one from this humble blog on the 'Persistently Vegetative Old Media'.)

Blogs have received much attention recently due to political and media controversies, but this crisis could become the Blogosphere's finest hour. As blogger La Shawn Barber says:
Bloggers caused enough ruckus to topple someone in Big Media, so let's see what we can do to save a life.

Monday, February 14, 2005

Embryonic Twists and Turns
Michael Fumento describes how new developments only further render the hype for embryonic stem cell research irrelevant. Meanwhile, Kathryn Jean Lopez reports on the Republican Governor of Massachusetts standing up to oppose a pro-cloning bill. (A similar situation is developing in Maryland, where Governor Ehrlich has not yet weighed in. Here is a .pdf file describing two opposing bills introduced in Annapolis.)
Critical Turning Point
As Terri Schiavo's case reaches another critical point, the case of Sarah Scantlin could play a key role in the outcome for Terri.

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Ash Wednesday
Here is a description of the day that marks the beginning of Lent, including a thought and prayer for Pope John Paul II.
NASA Budget Proposal
The Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2006 Federal Budget was released on Monday. Included is proposed funding for NASA of ~$16.5 Billion.

As reported earlier, the request does not include funding for further servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope, despite serious plans for a telerobotic mission to service HST. Stay tuned to this story for further twists and turns.
Persistently Vegetative Old Media
Last night, NBC Nightly News presented a largely hopeful report on unexpected brain activity in severely brain damaged people. But then the report by Robert Bazell goes on to spread the by-now standard misinformation (or disinformation) on the case of Terri Schiavo.
By contrast, Terry Schiavo — the focus of an intense court battle over life support in Florida — is in what doctors call a "persistent vegetative state," less responsive with almost no chance of recovery.

This statement treats as fact the claim contested by Terri's family and doctors that she is in a so-called 'persistent vegetative state' (in keeping with the Old Media's script of this as a 'right to die' case). In reality, the promising development reported by NBC may apply very directly to Terri's case.

Sunday, February 06, 2005

Family Friendly, Space Friendly Super Bowl Ad
While watching tonight's Super Bowl and cheering on the EAGLES, I'll also be looking forward to seeing the ad by Volvo featuring their collaboration with Virgin Galactic to offer a chance to win a seat on a Virgin Galactic suborbital spaceflight.

UPDATE: I've entered the contest myself during half time (with EAGLES-Patriots tied 7-7).

UPDATE: Game over with EAGLES down by 3 in a hard fought game. Congrats to the Patriots!

I do still have a chance to win that trip into space! (There's still time to enter yourself at www.boldlygo.com 'til Feb. 22.)

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

W Hits a Grand Slam
Too many details to cover (perhaps too much squeezed into one speech), but the SOTU Address included themes of fundamental economic reform (Social Security, tax reform, etc.), fundamental values (Culture of Life, Marriage), a sweeping view of freedom standing up to tyranny and terrorism (challenging Iran, Syria and others), capped by a touching tribute to Iraqi citizens and to American soldiers who've made the ultimate sacrifice.
The State of the Union will be live!
The State of the Union will be blogged!