Space Voyages

The Planetary Society's Cosmos 1 solar sail experiment was launched today from a Russian submarine, but the experimental spacecraft's status is unclear due to lack of telemetry so far. For continuing updates, please go to the project's blog.

Today's launch occurred one year after SpaceShipOne's first flight into space, potentially heralding a new age of civilian spaceflight.

A Grim Report

Terri Schiavo's autopsy report (PDF) was released yesterday, raising as many questions as it answered. Terri's family commented today.

Father Frank Pavone points out that the fundamental moral issue is unchanged by the autopsy results.

The autopsy says that Terri was beyond repair or rehabilitation. But that does not mean we are supposed to throw her away, like we throw away a car that is beyond repair. Again, there is no problem accepting this medical conclusion. But morally speaking, our compassion is not beyond repair. We can build a society that respects and protects all our brothers and sisters, recognizing that their value does not come from how well they function, perform, or produce.

Debt Cancelled for Poorest Nations

The 'G8' industrialized nations have agreed to cancel the debt to world lending institutions of 18 of the world's poorest nations. While there is debate over whether the move is appropriate, will be effective or goes far enough, it is encouraging to see the world's leading nations, including ours, take a serious initiative to address the ongoing scandalous tragedy of world poverty.

Reinventing NASA

Mike Griffin is shaking up and, in some cases, replacing senior NASA leadership.

Senior NASA officials and congressional and aerospace industry sources said yesterday that Griffin wants to clear away entrenched bureaucracy, and build a less political and more scientifically oriented team to implement President Bush's plan to return humans to the moon by 2020 and eventually send them to Mars.

Already announced is the planned resignation by Exploration Systems chief Craig Steidle.

Congratulations to Janice Rogers Brown

Despite all the howling and shrieking from the politically correct set, Judge Brown's nomination to the Federal Appeals Court was just approved by the Senate, 56-43.

The cloture vote for Judge William Pryor is now underway.--Cloture passes 67-32. Final vote on Judge Pryor expected this week.

Lunar Exploration History

Mark Whittington provides a history of lunar exploration missions, key political decisions and what it all means for the future in a sequence of sixteen short pages.

Essay on Terri Schiavo's Case

Paul McHugh, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, discusses the meaning of the Schiavo case in his essay. While he apparently has missed some of the disputes about certain 'facts' in the case, he does seem to have a handle on the opposing world views involved, and the practical effect on patients and medical professionals.

How could such a thing happen? This, after all, is not Nazi Germany, where the culture of death foreshadowed in the awful title of that book would reach such horrendous public proportions. But we in this country have our own, homegrown culture of death, whose face is legal and moral and benignly individualistic rather than authoritarian and pseudo-scientific.

Highlights of ISDC

So many good presentations at last week's International Space Development Conference, and I couldn't be at many of them, so I'll just link to Clark Lindsey's summary, which links to articles about many of the highlights.

Keith Cowing reports on Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart's call for a launch of a transponder/probe to the asteroid 2004MN4, which will make a close approach to Earth in April 2029, to determine if it will pose a threat of impact on subsequent encounters a few years later.

Finally, while not commenting specifically on this conference, writer Robert Zimmerman discusses the blooming space renaissance and offers an explanation here.

President Meets with Discarded Embryos


White House

W met yesterday with children who were adopted as embryos and their parents, to make the case for protecting the youngest among us. The President plans to veto a bill supporting embryonic stem cell research passed yesterday by the House.

Meanwhile, Michael Cook at Tech Central Station writes about the exaggerated hopes being raised about embryonic stem cell research.

The problem is that the sick and the scientists are rejoicing over two different visions of the future. One believes that cloning embryos will soon yield life-saving cures for devastating diseases and injuries. The other knows that this kind of cloning is basically a research tool for the foreseeable future.
.......................
So it's important to get this straight now: cures from so-called therapeutic cloning are probably decades away. If ever.

It is also important to consider the risk that authentic scientific endeavors could suffer a credibility setback when the public becomes more aware of and disenchanted by the false hopes raised by some of the advocates of this particular line of research. I hope that can be avoided.

Congratulations...

...to Priscilla Owen for her long overdue confirmation for a seat on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Senate 'Compromise'

An agreement reached by 14 senators has averted a showdown tomorrow on the Senate filibuster rule. (Here's a PDF of the deal memo.) I suspect there is enough vagueness in this agreement that only postpones future judicial battles. The good news to come out this is that at least three well qualified jurists will receive up-or-down votes: Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown and William Pryor.

Ad Astra, Across the Potomac

I'm headed over to Virginia tomorrow for a few days for the exciting and timely International Space Development Conference. Friday afternoon, I'll be chairing a panel on Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and Planetary Defense.

The Battle is Joined

The Senate debate on the nomination of Priscilla Owen to the federal appeals court is underway.

"I'm trying to move to a qualified nominee, Priscilla Owen and we hear these attempts to delay even right now, to sidetrack, to even consider somebody else and that's the challenge,'' Frist said. "That's why we're on the floor of the United States Senate, with the light of day, with the American people watching."

Old Media Fiascos

Newsweek has retracted the report in its May 9 issue alleging desecration of the Quran at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The allegation resulted in riots and deaths in parts of the Muslim world.

Meanwhile, CBS was at it again last week by selectively presenting an interview with former independent counsel Ken Starr to make it appear that he criticized possible action by Republicans to change Senate rules to bypass Democratic filibusters of W's federal judicial nominees as a 'radical departure'. While Mr. Starr does not support changing the filibuster rules, he does explain how the interview was manipulated.

In an e-mail from Starr posted today on National Review Online's "The Corner," Starr explained: "The 'radical departure' snippet was specifically addressed -- although this is not evidenced whatever from the clip -- to the practice of invoking judicial philosophy as a grounds for voting against a qualified nominee of integrity and experience." Starr declared: "[O]ur friends are way off base in assuming that the CBS snippets, as used, represent (a) my views, or (b) what I in fact said."

No retraction has been issued by CBS over this.

God Wins!

Pope Benedict XVI foresees the final outcome of history.

Exploration Pace Advancing

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin plans to accelerate development of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), while an alliance of entrepreneurial firms proposes splitting the Earth-to-orbit vehicle from the exploration vehicle.

Meanwhile, Robert Zimmerman writes of a new colonial age developing in space.

Catholic Bloggers

Valerie Schmalz writes about the Catholic blogging community. (It looks like she plans more articles to follow.)

Liftoff on a Prayer

As the first Thursday in May in America marks both the National Day of Prayer and Space Day, it's interesting to note that space officials in India acknowledge praying to a Hindu deity for a successful satellite launch. I don't know if there is an Indian equivalent of the ACLU ready to sue.

An Adult Approach to Stem Cells

Kathryn Jean Lopez, whom I had the pleasure of meeting briefly once again at last Friday evening's NRO hang-out at the Dubliner in DC, has a good take on the promise of adult stem cells v. the hype about embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic-stem-cell research is not the only hope for mankind, as we are typically led to believe. The prospects of adult-stem-cell and umbilical-cord stem-cell research are repeatedly ignored by media and activists who could use both to promote funding of and research in stem-cell projects and totally avoid the ethical chaos that comes with working with human embryos

.
UPDATE: 5/5/05
Keith Cowing has posted a press release describing how some NASA funded research has only further advanced the adult stem cell field.

In addition to its impact on space travel, Regenetech's technology is being explored for human application such as pancreas regeneration, which would cure diabetes, heart regeneration and the regeneration of other human organs. The company has licensed its technology for the treatment of sickle cell disease and Myelodysplastic syndromes.

Launch Delay

The STS-114 Shuttle launch has been delayed from May to July to allow more time to address potential safety issues. Nevertheless, approval has been given for preliminary work to support a possible Shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

Hill Battles

Nearly 300 women lobbied for life issues on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, while a House passed parental notification bill moves on to the Senate and the battle over judicial nominees approaches a decisive moment.

NASA Chief Michael Griffin and Hubble

George Whitesides and Gary Barnhard of the National Space Society (NSS) make a well reasoned case for restoring a Shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, contingent upon a successful STS-114 Return to Flight mission.

Philip Morrison, 1915-2005

Philip Morrison, who was a 'founding father' of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), has passed away at the age of 89.

Happy 15th Anniversary, Hubble Space Telescope!


Images from STScI

The HST was launched on April 24, 1990. This Space.com article features two spectacular images released to mark this anniversary.

"...that we will learn to carry one another."
From the homily of Pope Benedict XVI at his Inauguration Mass formally beginning his papacy.

One of the basic characteristics of a shepherd must be to love the people entrusted to him, even as he loves Christ whom he serves. “Feed my sheep”, says Christ to Peter, and now, at this moment, he says it to me as well. Feeding means loving, and loving also means being ready to suffer. Loving means giving the sheep what is truly good, the nourishment of God’s truth, of God’s word, the nourishment of his presence, which he gives us in the Blessed Sacrament. My dear friends – at this moment I can only say: pray for me, that I may learn to love the Lord more and more. Pray for me, that I may learn to love his flock more and more – in other words, you, the holy Church, each one of you and all of you together. Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves. Let us pray for one another, that the Lord will carry us and that we will learn to carry one another.

ISS Crew Handover
The Expedition 10 crew has handed over control of the International Space Station (ISS) to the Expedition 11 crew, who will be on hand to greet the STS-114 crew next month (probably) as the Space Shuttle returns to flight.

No Embryonic Boondoggle in Maryland
When the Maryland legislature adjourned its three month annual session last week, it seemed like a three-ring circus with some good and some bad results. Thankfully, a dubious initiative to use Maryland taxpayer dollars to fund embryonic stem cell research did not make it through the process.

For more background on the moral problems with embryonic stem cell research and on more promising ethical alternatives, check out Do No Harm.

Energy Bill and Clock Changes
The House of Representatives has passed an energy bill on Thursday with a provision unrelated to oil-drilling in ANWR and other controversies but that will have a direct effect on daily life.

The bill has some provisions not seen in past energy legislation.

It would expand daylight-saving time by two months. The measure's supporters said that could save the equivalent of 100,000 barrels of oil a day. Nobody objected to that provision.

Perhaps it will save 100,000 barrels a day. Or maybe not. Later sunset in March and November also means a later sunrise in those months, which could cut into those savings and raise safety issues for morning commuters and school children.

The bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate. Perhaps extended daylight saving time is a good idea, but shouldn't this provision see more attention and debate than it's received thus far?

In any event, energy-saving efforts should also include more attention to making outdoor lighting more efficient and less obtrusive.

The Blogging Nun
No, I don't think she's the first nun to blog, but Sister Marianne's blog was started on Holy Saturday, just in time to provide insightful commentary on the momentous events currently happening in the Church and the world.

The New Holy Father

Image link from EWTN

Today's historic ascension of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger to become Pope Benedict XVI, the 265th Vicar of Christ, will generate plenty of discussion in the coming days. EWTN now has a page of news and info about the new Pope and his selection. His first words (in Italian) from the balcony over St. Peter's Square:

"Dear brothers and sisters, after our great pope, John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble worker in God's vineyard. I am consoled by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and how to act, even with insufficient tools, and I especially trust in your prayers. In the joy of the resurrected Lord, trustful of his permanent help, we go ahead, sure that God will help. And Mary, his most beloved mother, stands on our side."

An article written by Michael Novak at NRO before the election was announced articulately describes the new Pope's challenge to the world.

For Cardinal Ratzinger, moreover, it is not reason that offers a foundation for faith, but the opposite. Historically, it is Jewish and Christian faith in an intelligent and benevolent Creator that gave birth in the West to trust in reason, humanism, science, and progress, and carried the West far beyond the fatalistic limits of ancient Greece and Rome.

To the meaninglessness of relativism, Ratzinger counter poses respect for the distinctive, incommensurable image of God in every single human being, from the most helpless to the seemingly most powerful, together with a sense of our solidarity with one another in the bosom of our Creator. This fundamental vision of the immortal value both of the individual person and the whole human community in solidarity has been the motor-power, the spiritual dynamic overdrive, of an increasingly global (catholic) civilization.

We Have a Pope!!
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger is now the Pope, taking the name Benedict XVI. He is now appearing on the balcony over St. Peter's Square. This selection does indicate a strong move to carry on the heritage of JPII. Thanks be to God!!

As the Conclave Begins
EWTN has a page with links to news and background info on the election of the next pope.

This is Exciting
Space technology is used to decipher ancient manuscripts that could significantly add to the world's cultural heritage.

Academics have hailed it as a development which could lead to a 20 per cent increase in the number of great Greek and Roman works in existence. Some are even predicting a "second Renaissance".

Another Life Saved
As with Mae Magouirk, the case of Clara Martinez appears to be reaching a happy outcome.

Yet Another Fight for Life
This time in Chicago and the endangered woman is named Clara Martinez. Here is the initial report from Blogs for Terri, which is frequently updating the situation.

Martinez suffered a debilitating stroke a year ago and her husband signed a "Do Not Resuscitate" order that led to the disconnection of her feeding tube. She is able to consume liquids through her mouth and, so far, has survived for thirty days without food.

Michael Griffin on Fast Track to Head NASA
While the 'inside-the-Beltway' controversy and media attention have focused on John Bolton's nomination to be U.N. Ambassador, Michael Griffin's Senate hearing to become NASA Administrator only cleared the way for a noncontroversial confirmation that could have Dr. Griffin at his new desk by next week.

In his prepared statement, Dr. Griffin expressed his strong commitment to space exploration:

The nation is not going to abandon space exploration, human or robotic. Given this, the proper debate in a world of limited resources is over which goals to pursue. I believe that, if money is to be spent on space, there is little doubt that the huge majority of Americans would prefer to spend it on an exciting, outward-focused, destination-oriented program. And that is what the President's Vision for Space Exploration is about.

While his answer to a question provides the latest twist in the continuing Hubble Space Telescope saga:

When asked by another senator to speak about Hubble, Griffin said: "With regard to the value of Hubble, the shortest way to say this is that the Hubble, almost by itself, is the instrument that allowed us as a race of people to understand that it is true that we know nothing about 95% of the universe." With regard to robotic servicing, Griffin said: "Before I was nominated I was chair of review committee for the robotic servicing mission. That committee has designated that the mission is not feasible - in terms of the time, money, and period before Hubble may become unusable. I would like to take the robotic mission off the plate. I think the choice comes down to reinstating a shuttle servicing mission or a simple deorbiting mission. The initial decision was made in the aftermath of the loss of Columbia. When we return to flight it will be essentially a new vehicle, with a new risk analysis associated with it. I think we should reassess the earlier decision in light of what we learn after return to flight.

That PVS Diagnosis
Dr. Ronald Cranford, the neurologist whose diagnosis of Terri Schiavo being in a 'persistent vegetative state' was accepted by Judge George Greer and incessantly parroted by the Old Media, apparently was wrong on a similar diagnosis of a previous patient.

(CNSNews.com) -- A neurologist hired by Michael Schiavo to confirm that his wife Terri was in a persistent vegetative state said he was "105 percent sure" of
that diagnosis, but Dr. Ronald Cranford expressed similar certainty about a patient he examined in 1980 who later regained both consciousness and the ability to
communicate.

Space Plans
With the intense events of the past few weeks, it's been a while since I've blogged on space developments. Last week's Space Foundation symposium in Colorado Springs generated intense discussion about the future of space exploration, the role of entrepreneurs and the scientific focus on the space exploration plan announced by President Bush.

After decades of sending probes across the void of interplanetary space, officials are now reshaping how solar system exploration is accomplished. The renovation is due in large measure to the visionary Moon, Mars and beyond directive given to NASA by U.S. President George W. Bush just more than a year ago.

Meanwhile, the Space Shuttle Discovery has been rolled to the launch pad for the first shuttle launch since the loss of Columbia and her crew two years ago.

Mae Magouirk Update
Updated information here. It appears that some aspects of this case are still being sorted out, including the motives of all the parties involved. Never-the-less, Ms. Magouirk appears to have been rescued just in time from a cruel death. For ongoing updates, please check in with Blogs for Terri.

Mae Magouirk Rescued
Breaking news reported by Blogs for Terri.

THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF THE FRIENDS OF TERRI, MY AUNT MAE MAGOUIRK HAS BEEN AIR LIFTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM MEDICAL CENTER ... and receiving IV fluids, nourishment and some of the finest medical care available in the United States! Praise be the name of the Lord GOD... Thanks to Terri's friends... It would NEVER ever have been possible without bloggers who love life , and the truth!! I am racing from my home to UAB now and will type a detailed update after I see my Aunt Mae! Thanks guys, your calls, emails, blogs and prayers did it ALL!!! I so love you guys!!!!!!!!!! Ken Mullinax, nephew of Mae

Pray that Ms. Magouirk recovers from her ordeal and receives continued protection from imposed death.

Another Disabled Woman in Grave Danger
From Fr. Rob Johansen at Thrown Back:

85 year-old Mae Magouirk of LaGrange, Georgia, is currently being deprived of nutrition and hydration at the request of her granddaughter, Beth Gaddy. Mrs. Magouirk suffered an aortic dissection 2 weeks ago and was hospitalized. Though her doctors have said that she is not terminally ill, Ms. Gaddy declared that she held medical power of attorney for Mae, and had her transferred to the LaGrange Hospice. Later investigation revealed that Ms. Gaddy did not in fact have such power of attorney. Furthermore, Mae's Living Will provides that nutrition and hydration are to be withheld only if she is comatose or vegetative. Mae is in neither condition. Neither is her condition terminal.

Additional information at Blogs for Terri.

Pope John Paul II Laid to Rest

Image link from Catholic Forum

Pope John Paul II was laid to rest in Rome after a solemn Mass attended by many world dignitaries and many more common people. (I'm watching the replay on C-Span this evening.) The homily was delivered by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who concluded by saying:

None of us can ever forget how in that last Easter Sunday of his life, the Holy Father, marked by suffering, came once more to the window of the Apostolic Palace and one last time gave his blessing urbi et orbi. We can be sure that our beloved Pope is standing today at the window of the Father's house, that he sees us and blesses us. Yes, bless us, Holy Father. We entrust your dear soul to the Mother of God, your Mother, who guided you each day and who will guide you now to the eternal glory of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

So much has been written about JPII these last few days, it has been impossible to capture it all. However, here is a summary of quite a number of reflections by National Review Online.

The Splendor of Truth

Image link from Catholic Forum

A fundamental trait of Pope John Paul II was his persistence in upholding objective truth as opposed to passing conventional wisdom. Thomas Hibbs writes on this in his article at NRO.

During his tenure as pope, John Paul has repeatedly turned his attention to contemporary confusion and insincerity, particularly regarding human rights, not in totalitarian regimes, but in the advanced, western, liberal democracies. He detects a "surprising contradiction" concerning rights. Instead of continuing a trajectory of expansion of rights and greater inclusion, there is a contraction of the scope and application of rights. Instead of curbing oppression, these new formulations introduce the possibility of new and more sinister forms of tyranny. In The Gospel of Life, he wrote,

The criterion of personal dignity-which demands respect, generosity and service-is replaced by the criterion of efficiency, functionality and usefulness: others are considered not for what they "are," but for what they "have, do and produce." This is the supremacy of the strong over the weak.

How did this come about - this strange reversal, this "surprising contradiction," in which the modern proclamation of human dignity and the promise of expanded human rights give way to an indifference or even hostility to those most vulnerable among us?

It depends on how you ask the questions.
During the last couple of weeks, we were constantly bombarded with claims that polls showed overwhelming opposition to congressional & presidential involvement in the fate of Terri Schiavo, or even the possible restoration of hydration and nutrition to her. Not surprisingly, the questions asked often inaccurately stated Terri's condition or other facts in the case.

Now, results of a Zogby poll have been released which contradict those earlier claims.

The Zogby poll found that, if a person becomes incapacitated and has not expressed their preference for medical treatment, as in Terri's case, 43 percent say "the law presume that the person wants to live, even if the person is receiving food and water through a tube" while just 30 percent disagree.

Another Zogby question his directly on Terri's circumstances.

"If a disabled person is not terminally ill, not in a coma, and not being kept alive on life support, and they have no written directive, should or should they not be denied food and water," the poll asked.

A whopping 79 percent said the patient should not have food and water taken away while just 9 percent said yes.
............
The poll also lent support to members of Congress to who passed legislation seeking to prevent Terri's starvation death and help her parents take their lawsuit to federal courts.

"When there is conflicting evidence on whether or not a patient would want to be on a feeding tube, should elected officials order that a feeding tube be removed or should they order that it remain in place," respondents were asked.

Some 18 percent said the feeding tube should be removed and 42 percent said it should remain in place.

"Be not afraid!"

Image link from Catholic Forum

So much is being said about Pope John Paul II's impact on the world and on individual souls. His growth to maturity in Poland at the time of Nazi oppression, followed by Communist oppression, steeled his spiritual character for his call to service in the Church, climaxing in his world changing papacy.

JPII catalyzed the spirit of the people living under Communism and lead to the mostly peaceful manor in which that deeply flawed system fell in much of the world. His challenge to the whole world, in particular our 'liberal' western societies, lives on. As President Bush said today:

Pope John Paul II left the throne of St. Peter in the same way he ascended to it -- as a witness to the dignity of human life. In his native Poland, that witness launched a democratic revolution that swept Eastern Europe and changed the course of history. Throughout the West, John Paul's witness reminded us of our obligation to build a culture of life in which the strong protect the weak. And during the Pope's final years, his witness was made even more powerful by his daily courage in the face of illness and great suffering.

The Holy Father not only challenged societies to live up to what they should be, but also for individuals to have hope, to overcome weakness and sin, and to draw closer to God.

His Holiness Pope John Paul II, 1920-2005
Pope John Paul II passed away in Rome at 9:37 p.m. (2:37 p.m. EST) today. His service as the Vicar of Christ from 1978 until today was one of the longest and most vigorous in history.

More on a Sad Day
I heard the news this morning from Laura Ingraham on her Radio Show. God bless Laura for her passionate and persistent coverage of Terri Schindler-Schiavo's situation.

There will be many heroic persons remembered in this fight for life, but none more so than Terri herself, who fought on so valiantly for thirteen days denied water & food, after years of being denied proper treatment and therapy. Her mother, father, sister and brother have shown an incredible loyalty and love that has been such an inspiration. Those who've supported Terri and her family, the lawyers, the nurses and other witnesses and those who strove to get the truth out through the family's web site.

Those in public office and public advocacy in the state and federal legislative and executive branches who tried to make a difference. Because he has been so vilified, I want to single out TOM DELAY for his leading role. At the same time, as a reminder not to put people into ideological boxes, I need to commend Jesse Jackson, Ralph Nader, Senator Tom Harkin and others. Organizers in the prolife and disability rights movements persistently tried to defend Terri.

I've mentioned Laura Ingraham, who along with Sean Hannity and others courageously defied the conventional wisdom in the media and my fellow bloggers on the Internet who strove to get the truth out.

I'll probably go into other aspects of this in coming days. In the meantime, pray for Terri and her family, that the truth come out and justice be done without malice, and for our society to get beyond shallow thinking to protect the dignity of every human life at every stage and in every condition.

Terri Schindler-Schiavo (1963-2005)
Terri died this morning of court ordered dehydration/starvation. I won't say that she 'passed away' because, in fact, she was pushed. Pray for Terri in eternal rest, pray for her family and pray for all of us. The work of Terri's fight will go on.

Example of Grace in Suffering
Pope John Paul II is using a feeding tube for part of his nutrition.

The statement Wednesday said John Paul spends "many hours" seated in an armchair, celebrates Mass in his private chapel and has work contacts with his aides "following directly the activities of the Holy See and the life of the church."

It said the pope continues "his slow and progressive convalescence" and that public audiences remain suspended.

How Much Time Left?
Today brought A federal court setback and frustration of Jesse Jackson's efforts to win State Senate support for saving Terri Schiavo. Fr. Frank Pavone is saying on Hannity and Colmes that Terri's situation is not peaceful as some (i.e. George Felos) have claimed.

Meanwhile, a doctor says, if action is taken soon, it is not necessarily too late to rescue Terri.

Maryland House Votes for Embryonic Stem Cells
The Maryland House of Delegates has voted to spend $23 million per year on embryonic stem cell research, despite objections that such research is unethical and less effective than promising alternatives.

"No research should ever be done at the expense of another life, yet that is what embryonic stem cell research does," the Baltimore Sun reported Democrat Anne Healey saying.

Healey and others said state money should only be used on adult stem cells, which are more ethical and have already produced dozens of treatments and cures.

Possible Hope in the Florida Senate?
I haven't often agreed with Jesse Jackson on anything, but I'll stand up and applaud him if he can pull this off! Rev. Jackson reports that he has persuaded two state senators to switch their votes toward supporting a bill to save Terri Schiavo. (One more vote would still be needed.) More details here from Blogs for Terri.

Let's pray they can act in time for Terri!

She Still Fights to Live!
Bobby Schindler and Brother Paul O'Donnell on Hannity and Colmes tonight spoke of Terri's interactions with visitors today. Statistically, it is very late and Terri's fate does not look good, but she once said, "Where there's life, there's hope." We shouldn't give up on her.

Nat Hentoff describes the real facts behind Terri Schiavo's case, as opposed to the Old Media spin.

As a Feb. 28 letter to the Washington Times by Daniel John Sobieski asks: "Who's next? Alzheimer's victims? The elderly in nursing homes? The handicapped? . . . Will we be allowed to do to people what is illegal to do to dogs?" The courts and the ignorant coverage by most of the media of this crucial case have until now appallingly failed Terri Schiavo and the community of the disabled.
And who knows how many more innocent victims in the years ahead?

Meanwhile, Wesley Smith describes how the Internet has changed the dynamics in the fight for the lives of the vulnerable.

Terri Schiavo's story is a tragedy, and, for many, an outrage. But it holds a glimmer of hope for those with views that have traditionally received short shrift in the media--a category that decidedly includes those fighting to reverse the presumption of death enshrined in all too many state laws covering cases like Terri Schiavo's. Thanks to the new online media, these cases will never again be one-sided.

Easter
At this time when evil appears to be triumphing, we take heart in Jesus Christ's victory over death for all of us.

Link from www.truecatholic.org, artist not listed.

Brothers and sisters:
If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.
Col 3:1-4

Letter to President Bush...
...I faxed early this morning.

Dear President Bush

The situation involving Terri Schiavo has implications well beyond the tragic situation of this disabled woman and her family. The rule of law and the fundamental culture of our civilization are on the line.

I stood on the Mall on January 20 and heard you boldly proclaim a goal of spreading democracy around the world. Yet, at this dark hour, many are wondering about the fate of democracy here at home.

Those that are seeking to end Terri’s life hide behind words about ‘states’ rights’ and ‘family matters’ while using unbridled judicial power to impose a profound cultural change threatening the dignity of human life. They have blatantly defied Congressional subpoenas and the legislation you signed into law early Monday morning. If this cultural coup is not faced down decisively, the lives of the disabled and frail, and indeed of all of us, will be left vulnerable.

I recall from my civics classes that it is the responsibility of the Executive Branch to enforce the law. This week I have been hearing a growing number of lawyers and scholars voicing the same responsibility and citing law and principle to back up their assertions. Most interesting is a section of Dr. Steven Krason's Book, "The Public Order and the Sacred Order" and an accompanying letter of introduction which states:

The immediate situation of Mrs. Terri Schiavo needs to be addressed; her right to life and other rights must be upheld by an immediate, definite exertion of executive power. Moreover, this case has long-run implications of the highest order for our constitutional regime. The usurpation of the power of the courts has been substantial for two generations. If this egregious assault on one innocent woman’s life is not stopped by the forceful exercise of executive power—the only way she can now be saved—then the usurpation will have reached a new level and will be more threatening and destructive in the future. This case, in some sense, can define the future of the American constitutional order.

The link to the letter and the chapter, which I understand have already been sent to Governor Bush, as the same principle applies at the state level, is

http://www.ngovoice.com/krason01.htm

Mr. President, you’ve given America and the world so much hope for the advancement of democracy and human dignity, but your moral authority is now on the line. Like the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation, this is another defining moment in your Presidency to which you were called.

I urge you to promptly use your Constitutional executive power to protect Terri Schindler-Schiavo, and my prayers are with you as you face this grave moment which will determine the fate of our society.

Thank you for your attention.

"I want to live!"
So much has happened. More court rejections. The Schindlers' lawyers have brought the evidence of Terri expressing her wish to live last week to Judge Greer. Straight Up with Sherri provide links to media accounts that appeared last week which I'm repeating here:

http://www.theempirejournal.com/0319054_terri_schiavo_says_she_w.htm

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43383

http://straightupwsherri.blogspot.com/2005/03/terri-speaks.html#comments

See Sherri's link above for many e-mail addresses of media and public officials.

Good Friday, 2005 A.D.
"We Thirst." PDF flyer from Defend Life.

Another Long Day
Several bad court decisions regarding Terri. Waiting again on the Federal 11th Circuit Court.

Call for Executive Action
Now it's the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals that is dawdling.

Attention is turning to what the Executive Branches of Florida and the U.S. can do to enforce EXISTING LAW to protect Terri. Here is an alert from Defend Life to contact both President Bush and Governor Bush, including references to U.S. and Florida law:

Is anyone surprised that a Clinton appointee has refused to provide relief to Terri despite the fact she is NOT in PVS? (It's immoral to kill a PVS patient as well, but that is another question.) FLORIDA LAW SAYS IT IS ILLEGAL TO USE ANY ACT OR OMISSION TO END LIFE!

The executive branch has ALWAYS been the key in this case, not the runaway activist judiciary. The governor or the president can still save Terri. They don't want to take the political heat. The governor can send in the National Guard. The president can send in the feds. It was done for integration, it surely can be done for Terri.
Here are affidavits from 2 nurses who took care of Terri Schaivo in the mid 1990's. Heidi Law and Carla Sauer Iyer. Terri is NOT in PVS.

CALL, FAX AND EMAIL THE GOVERNOR & PRESIDENT AND DEMAND THAT THEY DO THEIR JOB AND ENFORCE EXISTING FLORIDA AND FEDERAL LAW

Florida Law: 765.309 Mercy killing or euthanasia not authorized;(1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia, or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying.

Governor Jeb Bush
(850) 488-4441
Fax 850-487-0801
Email: jeb.bush@myflorida.com

Federal Law
Title 28 35.130(e)(2) Nothing in the Act or this part authorizes the representative or guardian of an individual with a disability to decline food, water, medical treatment, or medical services for that individual.

President Bush
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
Email: president@whitehouse.gov


PLEASE FORWARD PLEASE FORWARD PLEASE FORWARD

Here is my post from Saturday urging consideration of this course of action.

Justice Delayed
The federal judge dawdles (or worse) while Terri suffers.

Meanwhile, a prominent neurologist who examined Terri Schiavo says that her condition might be significantly improved with proper therapy.

"The important thing for people to understand is that she can eat and swallow right now, said William Hammesfahr, a neurologist who has examined Schiavo. He is in many of the videos circulated through the news media showing that Schiavo is at times responsive and aware.

.....

Hammesfahr was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 1999 for his work in brain injury and stroke. He is a recognized expert in treating neurological disorders, having successfully treated thousands of patients using vasodilator therapy, which increases blood flow to the brain, thus healing conditions previously thought to be untreatable.

"Gut Wrenching" - Words of Terri's Brother...
...Bobby Schindler, as the Senate once again passes a compromise bill. The House debate will begin at 9 PM with the vote to take place just after midnight despite the obstructive efforts of a few members. (Yes, they're Democrats, but I don't want to make it a partisan issue, because some Democrats have apparently been quite cooperative with the efforts to save Terri Schiavo.)

W is back at the White House ready to sign once the bill passes Congress and the paperwork to take Terri's case to court has been filed and is ready to go.

BTW: There's been a problem with the banner linking to Terri's family's site, www.terrisfight.org. The link still works, but the banner appears as a broken icon. To make it clear I'm carrying the link, I've added it to the list of text links in the 'Links' column.

Patron Saints
At this critical time, I want to honor my two patron saints whose feast days occurred this week. Saint Joseph and Saint Patrick are known for their characteristic traits of leadership and protection, so praying for their intercession is very timely right now.

Congress is Moving for Terri
House and Senate leaders have developed a compromise bill to protect Terri Schiavo and the Senate approved it this evening. The House is set to act tomorrow at 1 PM, and W would likely sign the final bill soon after.

It is gratifying to see Congressional leaders work to pull this together over the weekend and act on this time critical case. Credit is due to leaders on both sides of the aisle (including some who are apparently reality-challenged on other life issues) who put egos aside to protect Terri.

The legislation will bring one or more federal judges into the case, who will hopefully take the time to approach the case fairly, and are not handicapped by a persistently vegetative world view like some of the decision makers and media spinners so far. Continue to PRAY.

Saving Terri: Let's Think 'Outside the Box'!
The alert continues to encourage Congress to get it's act together on a bill to allow Terri Schiavo's case access to the federal courts. While this effort must continue, we shouldn't pin all hope on this path. The Congressional subpoenas were flagrantly snubbed without consequence as the Supreme Court has refused to enforce them without comment, and I'm not sure the legislation would fare any better.

My understanding was that a Congressional subpoena carries the force of law in protecting potential witnesses. Also, I find it hard to believe with all the law in place (Americans with Disabilities Act, etc.), there aren't multiple clauses that should be used to protect Terri.

Now I recall from civics classes that it is the job of the executive branch to enforce the law. Not to ask the courts for permission to enforce the law, but to ENFORCE THE LAW! Let Michael Schiavo's attorneys and others try to challenge the executive actions in court.

I don't know how much this course of action has been considered already, but if it has not been thoroughly exhausted, President Bush should have the lawyers at the Justice Department working on this immediately (not waiting until Monday morning), researching all applicable law. (Likewise, Governor Jeb Bush should be taking similar action at the state level.)

I'm not claiming this is the only solution. Others probably have other ideas. Let's think 'out of the box' and put the best ideas into action!

Travesty
After several days of intense legal and legislative wrangling, Terri Schindler-Schiavo's feeding tube has been removed, defying Congressional subpoenas to further investigate the case. I really don't no where to begin, there is no way to recount all the twists and turns, especially over the last couple of days.

A couple of things to remember:

-The Old Media are continuing to spew blatantly biased propaganda about Terri's case. The main point claimed by the Old media is that doctors overwhelmingly agree that Terri is in a so-called 'persistent vegetative state' with no hope of improvement. NOT TRUE. Numerous doctors, including highly qualified neurologists who examined her in person, have publicly testified to the contrary. Read Fr. Rob Johansen's detailed article on the lack of a complete medical evaluation of Terri's condition.

Once again, the lesson is, DON'T BELIEVE THE OLD MEDIA!. If you don't have time to investigate alternate sources of information about Terri's case, be skeptical of any judgments you are tempted to make based on Old Media spin.

-The fight is not over yet! Recall that Terri's tube was removed for a few days in 2001 and for six days in October 2003. Continue to PRAY and also watch for specific action alerts as legal and governmental efforts continue. Frequently updated sites include Terri's family's web site, ProLifeBlogs, Blogs for Terri and LifeNews.com.

A couple of notable quotes from history to remember as the fight for Terri continues:

"Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." (British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II)

"Failure is not an option!" (NASA's Apollo 13 Flight Director Gene Krantz)

Supporting the Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act
Here's the text of the letters I faxed to Senators Mikulski & Sarbanes and Rep. Van Hollen (substituting H. R. 1151 for S. 539 when writing to Rep. Van Hollen). Feel free to borrow this text when writing to your own senators and representative. For links to background on this bill to protect Terri Schiavo and other vulnerable disabled persons, click here.

I am writing to urge you to support and vote in favor of S. 539, the Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act. This bill will ensure that vulnerable disabled persons will have access to federal courts under the “Habeas Corpus” clause of the U.S. Constitution when their rights have not been sufficiently protected by state courts.

This issue takes on special urgency right now with the case of Terri Schindler-Schiavo in Florida, who is in danger of a cruel death by dehydration and starvation if justice is not provided quickly. The legislation is supported by many organizations concerned with human life and dignity including Not Dead Yet, Center on Self-Determination, Freedom Clearinghouse, Hospice Patients Alliance, Mouth Magazine, National Spinal Cord Injury Association, Society for Disability Studies and the World Association of Persons with Disabilities.

Once again, please vote for S. 539, the Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act. Thank you for your attention.

More on Mike Griffin's Vision and NASA
NASA Watch links to some key documents where Dr. Griffin describes his views on implementing space exploration, and also to reaction to his nomination from some of key players in the space community.

Dr. Griffin's technical and management experience has won his nomination strong support from the space community and his bold vision for space is apparent in his prepared statement at a 2003 House Science Committee hearing.

So, recognizing that others may differ, for me the single overarching goal of human space flight is the human settlement of the solar system, and eventually beyond. I can think of no lesser purpose sufficient to justify the difficulty of the enterprise, and no greater purpose is possible.

It's Michael Griffin...
...for NASA Administrator, according to the White House announcement this afternoon.

Mr. Griffin currently heads the Space Department at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. If confirmed by the Senate, he likely will push boldly to implement President Bush's plans for exploration of the Solar System. He will also have the opportunity to reconsider the options for the future of the Hubble Space Telescope. It's not clear where Mr. Griffin will come down on this question.

Maryland Politics: Open Senate Seat
Senator Paul Sarbanes today announced that he will retire at the end of his term and not seek reelection next year.

Mr. Sarbanes' decision opens up next years Senate race in both parties. Of particular interest on the Republican side would be a possible run by Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. John J. Miller describes Mr. Steele's positions on life issues.

Catholicism explains two of the issues - abortion and the death penalty - on which Steele has disagreed publicly with Ehrlich. Whereas the governor is pro-choice, Steele is pro-life, even to the point of having qualms about rape and incest exceptions (which is the place where all principled pro-lifers find themselves, though most pro-life politicians have cut corners in order to make their commitments more palatable to voters). And whereas Ehrlich is a death-penalty proponent, Steele has announced grave concerns over its use.

Federal bill to aid Terri Schiavo and others introduced.
The bill is titled the Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act (H.R. 1151 in the House and S. 539 in the Senate), introduced by Rep. Dave Weldon and Senator Mel Martinez, both of Florida. More info on the bill here.

Now, every American can urge their own federal representative and senators to take action to protect Terri and other disabled persons.

The bill is strongly supported by disability rights advocates, according to LifeNews.com.

"The non-voluntary and involuntary starvation and dehydration of people with disabilities is a more prevalent problem than most people realize," the disabled rights group Not Dead Yet said in a joint statement with other organizations.

"The involvement and concern of disability groups in this issue may come as a surprise to many policymakers," the statement explained. "Unfortunately, the media has ignored the disability interests in what has been commonly and erroneously referred to as a 'right to die' issue."

Storming the Hill
Getting ready to participate Monday in this year's March Storm organized by ProSpace.

Legislative Fight for Terri Goes National
A bill to be introduced in Congress would authorize Terri Schiavo and other incapacitated persons to take their case to the federal courts. National Right to Life provides a Q & A background on the proposed federal legislation.

This development will enable concerned citizens around the nation to become more directly involved in the fight for Terri's life.

Meanwhile, continue to check ProLifeBlogs and Blogs for Terri for updates on this and the rapidly changing developments in Florida.

Chalk another accomplishment up for Steve Fossett-and for Burt Rutan
The GlobalFlyer completes solo round-the-world flight on Thursday.

People Everywhere Just Want to Be Free
So goes a popular song from the late sixties, and in the 21st Century the people are getting their way in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Ukraine and now Lebanon.

Michael Ledeen takes a big picture look at the movement for freedom.

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!

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...

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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!

In Memory of February 1, 2003
Two years ago, the seven astronauts of the Shuttle Columbia STS-107 mission gave their lives on the frontier.

Checking out a new Blogger feature to...

... upload pictures from my own computer. Here are some friends at the March for Life. 

Civilized World Winning
It's been exciting to see freedom advance in the world in recent weeks in the Ukraine and in today's election in Iraq, where high turnout is defying the terrorists' attempt at violent intimidation.

"The news is freedom has won," Al-Lami said. "We have conquered terrorism."

Now-a-days, wherever significant events are occurring somewhere in the world, bloggers are present to record and comment.

The SMART-1 Spacecraft...
...has begun sending back images of the lunar surface.

Solemn Anniversaries
The world today marked the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.

Meanwhile, NASA observed a Day of Remembrance for the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia astronauts. All three space tragedies occurred at this time of year.

Cosmic Entertainer
The late Johnny Carson hosted guests from all walks of life on his late night television show, including two noted astronomers.

Also, I've learned third-hand from an e-mail that his New York Times obit contained an example of an astronomical side of his humor:

Once he was asked how he became a star, and he replied, "I started in a gaseous state, and then I cooled."

The People Gathered.
Yesterday was a good day at this year's March for Life. The group I was with joined the March at 7th St., about half way between the Ellipse and the Supreme Court. Earlier, the rally held at the Ellipse was addressed (via phone) by President Bush.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has deepened another crisis in the cause of life by refusing to hear the case for reinstating the law protecting Terri Schindler-Schiavo. See reports here and here.

Why We March
This is a slightly revised and updated article I first wrote and posted last year at this time.

Today, January 22, marks the 32nd anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton Supreme Court decisions which imposed abortion-on-demand in the United States. Once again, concerned citizens will gather on Monday for the annual March for Life, which in recent years has usually drawn more than 100,000 participants. Now, why do so many people consider it so important to take time on a weekday to come to Washington, DC at the coldest time of the year to make their voice heard on this matter?

Before I go on any further, I need to say a couple of things. First, nothing in this article is meant to condemn anyone who has had an abortion or has been involved in abortion in some way. Far from condemning those with an abortion in their past, the people in the prolife movement are about healing and forgiveness, and want it to be clear that there is hope after abortion. Post-abortion counseling can be found through many church denominations and pregnancy counseling centers.

And second, while the prolife movement consists largely of people with strong religious convictions who feel called by God to defend the defenseless, that doesn’t make the protection of human life a narrow, religious issue. The facts that the defenseless exist and that they deserve protection in the human family can be persuasively advocated by non-religiously reasoned arguments.

First, let’s start with a little scientific background (from the Science for Unborn Human Life website) about how each of us began our lives as unique human beings. A new human being is conceived when a sperm fertilizes an egg. The sperm has 23 chromosomes and so does the egg. But the fertilized egg has 46, half from each parent, and is genetically unique. These 46 chromosomes, which are fixed at conception, establish the child's sex and are a blueprint for how it will develop, both during pregnancy and after birth.

Blood vessels start to form very early, about 13-18 days after fertilization. Then, on about the 20th day - nearly the end of the third week - the foundation of the brain, the spinal cord, and the entire nervous system is established. The heart begins to beat on about the 22nd day after conception, circulating blood throughout the child. The arms begin to form on about day 26, followed by the beginnings of the legs on day 28, the same day that the mouth opens for the first time.

Both the eyes and ears are developing rapidly during the seventh week after conception. At this time, the thumbs, neck, heels of the feet and all of the fingers are also present. Taste buds begin to form during the eighth week after conception. All parts of the limbs are apparent at this time. In addition, the fingers and toes have lengthened and are completely separated.

By the end of the eighth week the overwhelming majority (several thousand) of the body's organs, structures and systems have already begun to develop. Few, if any, new structures begin to form after this time. During the remainder of the pregnancy, development consists mainly of growth and maturation of the parts of the body that are already present.

Isolated arm, leg and backward head movements begin at about 7 to 10 weeks after conception. During the ninth week, a regular pattern of breathing movements is observed, with a median frequency of about 30 breaths each hour.

These are just the highlights of how you developed during the first 2-3 months of your life. Now consider that a majority of abortions are performed during the tenth to twelfth week of gestation. Some are performed much later in the pregnancy, when the child has grown larger and any unbiased observer would recognize a baby when they see one.

So why if the evidence so clearly indicates that a unique human life begins at conception, how did the deliberate and violent destruction of that life come to be imposed as a ‘constitutional right’? Time does not permit describing the whole history of abortion or the intertwining influences of the eugenics and population control movements. Let’s start with the socially turbulent late sixties when a growing pro-abortion movement subversively exploited the legitimate aspirations of women for greater rights and participation in society.

Dr. Bernard Nathanson, former abortionist and co-founder of the pro-abortion group NARAL, has since changed his mind and heart and is now a leading prolife advocate. He points out the disinformation at the heart of the pro-abortion campaign.

- “The statistics that we gave to the American public about illegal abortions annually; the statistics we fabricated regarding the number of women dying from illegal abortions annually; all of these matters were pure fabrication and still persist to this very day.”

- “We spoke of 5,000 to 10,000 deaths a year. I confess that I knew the figures were totally false. It was a useful figure, widely accepted, so why go out of our way to correct it with honest statistics?”

- “We in NARAL were in the business of coining slogans principally for the media . . . we scattered catchy slogans for them . . . to use . . . in their stories. Slogans like “reproductive rights,” “freedom of choice,” “pro-choice.” For many years we’ve known them to be hollow and meaningless. They’re just catchy and, essentially, without substance.”

The movement made rapid progress. California, New York and a few other states passed ‘liberalized’ abortion laws (though some other states rejected them). But what embedded abortion in American law were two Supreme Court cases, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, pronounced on January 22, 1973. The combined effect of the two decisions was to effectively impose abortion-on-demand throughout the nine months of pregnancy. Since that time, over forty million human beings have been exterminated by abortion in the United States.

Aside from the grave issue that was decided, the finding that abortion is part of a constitutional ‘right of privacy’ is considered an overreach of judicial power even by some legal scholars who describe themselves as ‘prochoice’. The ‘reasoning’ was based on ‘penumbras’ the justices claim to have seen in the constitution.

Did you know that the two plaintiffs in the Roe and Doe cases, Norma McCorvey and Sandra Cano, have filed affidavits to the effect that they were manipulated into their roles and that the decisions should be overturned? You would think that this development would be considered unprecedented in Supreme Court history, but I guess Dan Rather, Katie Couric, the New York Times, etc. forgot to inform you.

One fact that is becoming evident that abortion-on-demand is not such a great thing for women. Abortion has left many women emotionally and sometimes physically scarred. Campaigns such as Silent No More and Women Deserve Better are tapping into this hidden anguish.

Also evident is the effect on our society, with conflicting attitudes on how we treat not only the unborn, but also the sick, disabled and elderly. Abortion has torn marriages and families apart, and led to a hardened and increasingly violent culture.

So, we have had for the past thirty years, a culture that in some ways has grown cynical, forgoing the promise of a hopeful future for instant gratification, or more often, the resignation to unimaginative “solutions” that pit mother against child or people against the planet. One is reminded of a quote from the great Irish poet William Butler Yeats:

“The blood-dimmed tide is loosed and everywhere a ceremony of innocence was drowned.”

These Supreme Court abortion decisions were assumed to have ‘settled’ the issue in our society. Yet much to the consternation of the pro-abortion establishment, the movement of concerned citizens to protect life has only grown in strength over the past thirty years. The prolife movement has pursued multiple paths: educating the public, lobbying and litigating for change, participating in politics, and especially reaching out to help women with unplanned pregnancies. On the political front, abortion apparently played a decisive role in the 2004 Election results.

Particularly significant is that the change in public attitudes on abortion is most striking among young people (who’ve lost peers they’ve never met). This is manifested in polling results and an upsurge of prolife activism among college students, much to the consternation of their professors and, in some cases, their parents. Sort of adds a new twist to some lyrics from the sixties by Buffalo Springfield:

“Young people speaking their minds, Getting so much resistance from behind.”

So the buses are starting to roll, as thousands from distant states once again journey to Washington, where many will gather in prayer the night before or the morning of the March. Then we will rally and march, knowing that those we are trying to defend would some day defend our nation, write great literature, cure disease, compose stirring music, and explore and begin to settle the Solar System.

But more than for their potential accomplishments, we speak out for them simply because of the inherent dignity of each of their lives. In so doing we are responding to a great calling as individuals and as a civilization. And we’ll continue to speak and march and work and pray, confident in the hope that, one of these years, we'll no longer face the cold winds. Instead, we’ll gather on a warm spring day to celebrate the inclusion of the youngest in the human family within the protection of the law.

Winter Weather
The DC Area got off rather lightly, with ~4-6 inches of snow. Those further to the northeast, especially up near Boston are getting hammered more severely.

More Hubble Trouble
It doesn't change my support for W, but I'm not happy with this decision by his Administration. Of course, I recognize the tight budget situation and I do want to see NASA get on with the Vision for Space Exploration. Hopefully, after Congress weighs in, some kind of creative solution will be developed.

A Week in History
I feel blessed to have been able to attend and participate in the Inaugural events in DC this week, including the swearing-in, the President's Inaugural address, the start of the parade and the Democracy Ball (one of several official inaugural balls) where I got to see President George W. & First Lady Laura Bush and the VP & Mrs. Cheney.

Friday, I joined a more informal gathering organized by the National Review Online folks at Fado's Irish Pub in DC. I saw a few old friends and got to meet some new ones, including some of the NRO staff including Jonah Goldberg, Kate O'Beirne, Ramesh Ponnuru and the ever-lively KJL.

A week of inspiration and celebration, but the nation has serious unfinished business. Today is the 32nd anniversary of the Supreme Court's imposition of abortion-on-demand in the United States, so Monday we'll gather for the March for Life.

Inauguration Day
Last night I enjoyed the Maryland Inaugural Gala, which featured state political leaders and W's sister Doro Bush Koch. Enjoyed good food and music and talking with old friends and new ones.

Time to rest up for a busy day tomorrow attending President Bush's swearing-in (I have a ticket for the standing area on the Mall) and other Inaugural events. Thanks to all who are planning and working on this Inauguration. Time to party, Yeehah!!

Cosmic Capital
One more reason to celebrate W's second Inauguration tomorrow. Jeff Foust cites a Orlando Sentinel article in which the President stated his willingness to spend political capital on space.

"The space vision met some resistance by some, but we got it fully funded," said Bush, adding that he likes the idea of going back to the moon, using it as a testing ground and then going beyond.
"I spent capital before," he said. "I'll spend it again on NASA."