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."

Roe v. Roe
Norma McCorvey, plaintiff in the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that imposed abortion-on-demand on the United States in 1973, is petitioning the Supreme Court to rehear and overturn the decision. I don't know if there is any precedent for a plaintiff asking for reversal of such a major decision, but don't hold your breath waiting for the Old Media to tell you about this historic development.

Open Source Processing of Huygens Imagery
The European Space Agency (ESA) is publishing more imagery, some in color, of Titan.

Meanwhile, as the internet has broadened peoples' participation in politics and media, Keith Cowing reports that is also becoming true, at least in some cases, for participation in scientific exploration.

On the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday,...
here are links to his "I Have a Dream" speech and his 'Letter from Birmingham Jail'.

Landfall on an Intriguing World

Image from 16 km (10 mi) above Titan, ESA


First image from Titan's surface, ESA

This has been one of those memorable days when humanity gets its first close up look from the surface of an alien world for the first time.

The Huygens probe successfully landed on Saturn's moon Titan this morning. The probe has sent back images and other information. The European Space Agency's Huygens lander was carried to Saturn by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. The two vehicles separated three weeks ago, and today Cassini relayed the transmitted data from Huygens back to Earth.

The images suggest some kind of fluid activities on the surface. More pictures and further analysis are expected to be released soon.

Fittingly, this historic international space exploration accomplishment came on the first anniversary of President Bush's announcement of the Vision for Space Exploration.

Timeline to Titan
Here's the European Space Agency's Huygens descent timeline to the surface of Saturn's moon Titan on Friday. NOTE: 'CET' is Central European Time, which is UTC (Greenwich Mean Time) + 1 hour, or six hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time. Also the site states that the times are "Earth Received" time - i.e. 67 minutes after the actual events have taken place at the spacecraft.

Close Encounters

Deep Impact launch, NASA

Deep Impact is on its way to its July 4th fireworks encounter with Comet Temple 1. Meanwhile, the Huygens probe is closing in on Saturn's moon Titan.

Finally, check out this NBC News report on the critical role of remote sensing satellites in the tsunami relief effort.

All the News That's Fit to Forge
The independent panel report (PDF) on the CBS News forged document fiasco is out. Power Line Blog was one of the leading sources to expose the scandal, and now comments on the report.

A Year with Spirit
The Mars Rovers reach their first anniversary on Mars. Friday, I had the pleasure to see Principle Investigator Steve Squyres summarize the past year's adventures, with plenty of images, at Goddard Space Flight Center.

The Turn of the Year
The end of a year is always a time to look back on its impact on the world. This year is ending with the immense tsunami tragedy in the Indian Ocean region.

The 2004 elections may be remembered as a 'tipping point' where citizens were engaged and energized to fight hard for both sides, but with President Bush winning re-election to the White House and conservative Republicans increasing their margins in Congress. While no person or party has a monopoly on virtue or ideas, we have hopefully moved a little closer to restoring authentic constitutional law and to protecting human life at all stages.

W began the year by announcing a new Vision for Space Exploration while NASA probes brought exciting new images and information from Mars, Saturn and elsewhere. But it was the exciting breakthrough in the private sector with the flights of SpaceShipOne and the winning of the Ansari X-Prize which will make the Vision more likely to succeed and live up to its full potential for humanity.

Finally, ABC News has made its choice for the 'People of the Year' who've influenced events: Bloggers.

On to 2005! Happy New Year!

Have a Holy and Merry Christmas!

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
"Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:1-14

Christmas in the Heavens
The International Space Station crew eagerly awaits the arrival of much needed food and supplies. Meanwhile, the Huygens probe is set to separate from the Cassini spacecraft. Landfall on Titan is set for January 14.

Why This Election Mattered
W resumes the fight to put some good people on the federal courts. Only going to cause the pro-abortion lobby more conniptions, while they are already howling and shrieking over the potential of a prolife DNC chairman.

No Longer Partying like it's 1992?
There are signs that some Democratic Party leaders may be starting to come to their senses about their Party's obsessively pro-abortion position and its contribution to their continuing political setbacks. Check out the stories here and here.

Of course it remains to be seen whether any moderating of the Party's position will be substantive or mere window-dressing. Never-the-less, these hints are already stirring a pit in the stomachs of leading pro-abortion activists.

However, leading abortion advocates are chagrined by these events and blame Kerry, who refused to support even a modest ban on partial-birth abortion or not using tax dollars to pay for them, for not doing enough to tout his pro-abortion views during the campaign.

Planned Parenthood president Gloria Feldt told Newsweek that Kerry "did not help the cause."

.....................................

"If we try to be fake Republicans, that's not going to work," Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette, co-chair of the House pro-abortion caucus, told Newsweek. "It would be a cynical political move."

Happy Feast Day!
Author Charlotte Allen discusses the meaning of today's Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

An image is a way of capturing the Incarnation -- God becoming man, in the flesh. God's image can be shown, and that image has power. Our Lady of Guadalupe is powerful because the Blessed Virgin Mary made her own image, her own incarnation.

Hanukkah and Our Attitude about the Future
(This is a post I originally made last year and feel is worth repeating, especially in light of developments this year that could lead to human expansion into space that would provide resources for future generations.)

Rabbi Daniel Lapin has a provocative column in WorldNetDaily on a message of Hanukkah that is relevant to people of all faiths. He shows examples, ancient and modern, of how a pessimistic Malthusian worldview have been repeatedly disproved by the Creator's providence of material resources and the ingenuity to utilize them to provide for the future. Rabbi Lapin says:

It only seemed that we lacked sufficient copper, whale oil or wood. In reality, our God-given ingenuity developed exciting new technology that eliminated our need for each commodity just as it was becoming scarce.

Hanukkah's miracle was that, day after day, the Temple's menorah just kept on burning in spite of an apparent shortage of fuel - a metaphor, surely, for all apparent shortages that can be overcome with faith. Hanukkah invites us all to express gratitude to the Creator whose beneficence is boundless. It stimulates discussions that can spur our spiritual growth. It reminds us that with His gift of creativity, challenges become optimistic opportunities to partner with God in creatively solving all material shortage.

Not so embryonic stem cells?
Two proposals to develop embryonic-like stem cells supposedly without destroying human embryos are receiving careful scrutiny by those working to protect human life. Ramesh Ponnuru of National Review describes and offers a cautious endorsement of the two procedures in his articles(Part 1 and Part 2) at Tech Central Station.

I do support the careful approach the researchers appear to be taking, working with animal cells until proving that there is no live embryo destruction. What I wonder is, even if the procedures pass the ethical test, whether the products avoid the uncontrollable factors currently plaguing embryonic stem cell research and match the gains being made in adult stem cell research.

Commercial Space Legislative Victory
After several near-death experiences, the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004 (H.R. 5382)was passed by the Senate on Wednesday evening shortly before adjournment. Jeff Foust provides some more background on how close the fate of the bill was. The Space Frontier Foundation has issued a press release praising the bill's passage.

'Blog' is the Word.
Merriam-Webster has announced the list of top ten words looked up in their on-line dictionary, with the most often researched word for 2004 being 'blog'. Now, if only Blogger will add the word to be recognized by its spell-checker.

Advent Calendar & Info
Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent, officially starting the season of spiritual preparation for Christmas. Go to this link for an Advent calendar and other related information.

Thanksgiving
A special day to give thanks to God for all His gifts to us. Have a good time with family and friends and don't eat any more than I would. ;-)

Space Happenings
It's been a busy week of space developments, including Europe's SMART-1 arriving in lunar orbit, the successful X43A scramjet test and the launch of the 'Swift' gamma ray burst observatory.

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Congress has provided NASA with funding almost matching the President's request, affirming the long term exploration goals. Also, the House has passed a re-incarnated Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004. Senate action is still required.

Finally, the Old Media sources sometimes do get it right, as with Time Magazine's plan to designate SpaceShipOne as 'Invention of the Year'.

The Specter Saga
Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee seem ready to support Senator Arlen Specter as Judiciary Committee Chairman, despite vigorous opposition from conservatives. I have been reminded, however, that the formal vote won't take place until January, which means it is possible a sustained grassroots campaign and/or another misstatement by Senator Specter could cause the current likely succession to unravel.

Senator Specter is a pro-abortion advocate who opposed President Reagan's nomination of Robert Bork for the Supreme Court, although he did support the Clarence Thomas nomination and opposed Democrat filibusters of President Bush's recent nominees.

It is hard to say at this point whether Senator Specter will remain faithful to his pledge to bring the Preident's future nominees to the floor. However, it shows how much the ground has shifted on the abortion issue that Specter, at least publicly, now refers to 'prolife' nominees. Back in the Nineties, Specter used inflammatory language such as 'anti-choice' and 'intolerant right' in his 1996 announcement of an unsuccessful presidential bid. The fact that a pro-abortion advocate feels compelled to make this shift in language is encouraging indeed.

"...a new and more creative future"
Michael Novak describes the US Election outcome's impact far from home.

What I conclude after this visit, more powerfully than ever, is that important new currents so visible in the victory of George W. Bush are also beginning to affect very distant places, and that great spiritual changes are beginning to display their first sprouts: a profoundly new vision of our own secular history, more open to religion than formerly; a new attention to the family and to the traditional morality on which its health depends; and a rethinking of fundamental economic principles concerning taxation, state power, and welfare programs. The notion is also gaining traction that the ideas of the Left belong to the 1950s, if not earlier, while those of Bush and others like him point to a new and more creative future.

The Real Loser
Not only did the Democratic Party lose big in this election, but in her always eloquent way, Peggy Noonan points out the self-inflicted loss suffered by the Old Media:

Every time the big networks and big broadsheet national newspapers tried to pull off a bit of pro-liberal mischief--CBS and the fabricated Bush National Guard documents, the New York Times and bombgate, CBS's "60 Minutes" attempting to coordinate the breaking of bombgate on the Sunday before the election--the yeomen of the blogosphere and AM radio and the Internet took them down. It was to me a great historical development in the history of politics in America. It was Agincourt. It was the yeomen of King Harry taking down the French aristocracy with new technology and rough guts. God bless the pajama-clad yeomen of America.

Glenn Reynolds also weighs in on the declining influence of the Old Media:

What the Big Media have lost is the ability to make people dismiss out of hand ideas that haven't been vetted by the Powers That Be. They've lost the ability to set the agenda in both a positive and a negative sense, to decide which ideas, and which stories, are on the table, and which are not.

Haunting Specter
Conservatives concerned about the role Senator Arlen Specter would play as Judiciary Committee Chairman on judicial nominations are campaigning on the Internet to urge the Republican Senators to select another choice. See continuing updates on this effort also at The Corner.

Catching Up on Life after Politics
Time to clean house and get other things done. Also time to catch up on what else has been going on in the Solar System, for instance the exploration by the Mars Rovers and the Cassini-Huygens craft orbiting Saturn.

On to the Future
With a gracious concession speech by John Kerry, a magnanimous victory speech by George W. Bush and significant changes in Congress, the hard fought 2004 election campaign is over. A few quick thoughts:

-Many citizens on both sides became active and poured their hearts into this campaign and a record number of voters turned out. If this energy is sustained and channeled constructively, the nation will benefit immensely.

-The immense amount of vitriol directed toward President Bush by some in the Democratic Party and other interest groups (MoveOn.org, entertainment celebreties, etc.) was not rewarded with success, but with rejection. This outcome is also healthy for the nation.

-Terrorists and tyrants around the world are dealing with the prospect of facing W's courageous leadership in the world for the coming years.

-The ascendancy of 'Lifestyle Choice uber alles' is over. The prominence of life issues, the status of marriage and other social issues should cause the Democratic Party to rethink its blind obedience to Planned Parenthood's and NARAL's hardline pro-abortion agenda. The party could start by being open to a significant part of its own members who have been excluded from leadership in the Party.

-The blatant bias and manipulation of information by parts of the Old Media (NY Times, CBS, etc.), and the resulting role played by the New/Alt Media (bloggers, talk radio, Fox News etc.) will be a continuing story well beyond this election year.

-W's re-election and the Republican gains in Congress open the door to significant economic initiatives including fundamental reform of the tax system, litigation reform, etc.

-The Vision for Space Exploration will go forward. This doesn't mean the Administration and Congress will give NASA a blank check. The need to control federal spending will spur an emphasis on innovation and commercial solutions where-ever practical which will only enhance the opening of the frontier.

Decision Time
I've been busy the last few days with my discretionary time, with precinct calling, county campaign activities and a little volunteer time in DC with National Right to Life and the RNC to help influence the swing states. Tonight I'll be working some final details and resting up for a busy day tomorrow at my precinct polling place, so I'll keep my endorsement (which should already be obvious) short and sweet.

I'm supporting the re-election of George W. Bush because of his positive record and proposals on the interconnecting themes of a Culture of Life, National Security and the War on Terrorism, economic opportunity, the Vision for Space Exploration, etc. His opponent, Senator John Kerry offers vague and contradictory statements ('Flip-Flop') and a Senate record of bad choices on a range of issues.

Beyond the issues, defying the irrational vitriol and outright hatred against the President for his persistence in making and sticking with courageous decisions that often defy the conventional 'wisdom' is a significant reason in itself to vote for his re-election. The fact that some people despise George W. Bush for his strong Faith in God is shows that they fear the power he gains from it.

So get out there and vote for W and encourage others to do likewise. And pray that God take care of our nation, its leaders and its people.

Closing on the Finish, and things only get stranger...
...(and perhaps more ominous). Recent days have been filled with reports and clashing statements about voter fraud and/or intimidation and the when-and-whereabouts of explosives in Iraq. Now, the one person most hostile to our country and the civilized world weighs in (from Drudge archive snapshot).

Celestial Happenings


False color ultraviolet and infrared image of Titan NASA

With my obvious focus on politics right now, it's sometimes difficult to keep up on all the space news. But I don't want to overlook Cassini's close approach to Saturn's moon Titan. Also, don't forget tonight's total lunar eclipse.

Election Intensity
Blogging's been more sporadic as I've been working at the precinct level and in other ways for W's re-election and the election of other good people.

Meanwhile, surprise , surprise, the Washington Post has endorsed John Kerry.While the Post does attempt to list strengths and weaknesses of both candidates, the endorsement seems to be based on an overly expansive assessment of President Bush's shortcomings and wishful thinking on Senator Kerry's promises. Interestingly, the Post also published today, an article by Bob Woodward on 22 questions he'd like to ask John Kerry on Iraq (but which the Senator has not gotten around to answering).

Finally, if your stomach and your blood pressure will allow you to continue to follow the seemingly wild gyrations in polls and prognostications, a few good sources include RealClearPolitics, National Review Online's Battlegrounders and NewsMax.

Terri Schindler-Schiavo still in danger
Rulings by the Florida State Supreme Court and a local judge go against the fight for Terri's life. Furthers actions to save her life could include an appeal by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The times, they are a changin'.
Time magazine poll gives W slight edge, and reports that a majority of Americans are prolife.

Dems advocate pre-emptive war...
..., not against terrorists and tyrants, but against their political opponents at home, according to the Drudge Report on Thursday.

ISS crew handover is underway...
...following some tense moments during the docking sequence of the Soyuz spacecraft carrying the new crew to the station.

The Great Space Debate
Thursday, the morning after the final presidential debate between President Bush and Senator Kerry, I attended a forum where two prominent members of the space community in DC spoke for their respective candidates on the topic of space policy (which, not surprisingly, was not discussed during any of the candidates' debates). More details from Jeff Foust and Keith Cowing.

Space Frontier Conference Trip
Returned Sunday evening from Space Frontier Conference 13 in Long Beach, CA. The conference covered activities and plans in cutting edge entrepreneurial space ventures. Philosophical and spiritual aspects of the space settlement vision were also discussed.

Noteworthy topics include the volatile status of the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004, designed to smooth the regulatory environment for the suborbital spaceflight industry. Congress has just recessed until after the November elections, but is expected to return for a 'lameduck' session. Stay tuned to space news sources such as HobbySpace RLV News for developments and citizen action items.

The now historic Ansari X-Prize is planned to be followed up by an exciting X-Prize Cup tournament to be held yearly in New Mexico, according to Bill Gaubatz, representing New Mexico's state space business efforts.

The highlight of the conference at Saturday night's banquet was Scaled Composite's Burt Rutan, famed designer of SpaceShipOne which claimed the X-Prize last Monday. Mr. Rutan received the Space Frontier Foundation's coveted Vision to Reality award on behalf of the SpaceShipOne team, and generously spent nearly 2 hours explaining the project, showing videos and answering questions.

The conference venue was the majestic Queen Mary. The ship which now serves as a hotel, conference center and tourist attraction has a proud history both as a civilian luxury liner and as a troop transport on which many thousands of Allied troops, including my father, sailed on during their service in World War II.

The Prize is Won!
Forty seven years to the day after Sputnik 1 signaled the dawn of the Space Age, a new kind of space age is underway. SpaceShipOne, with test pilot, now astronaut Brian Binnie at the controls, soared past the 100 km (~62 mi) required altitude for the second time in five days and claimed the $10 million Ansari X-Prize.


Ansari X-Prize, via Space.com
SpaceShipOne rockets into space...


Ansari X-Prize, via Space.com
...and returns safely to Earth (accompanied by chase plane) to claim the X-Prize.

The prize-winning flights are seen as heralding a new age of commercial space travel opening space to many beyond the traditional government astronauts and opening the resources of space to the benefit of present and future generations of people. Read more detail in additional articles from New Scientist and SpaceflightNow.

While the prize will be formally provided to the SpaceShipOne team in early November, designer Burt Rutan will accept an award on the team's behalf this coming Saturday evening at the annual conference of the Space Frontier Foundation on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA.

One of the Original Seven
Mercury & Gemini Astronaut Gordon Cooper died today at the age of 77.

Why This Election Matters II
So you thought the 'lack of' WMDs or Saddam Hussein's relation to terrorists is a settled issue? Take a look at this article.

The senior government official and source of the Iraqi intelligence memos, explained that the reason the documents had not been made public before now was that the government has "thousands and thousands of documents waiting to be translated.

"It is unlikely they even know this exists," the source added.

Why This Election Matters I
U.S. Supreme Court turns down an appeal of an outrageous California State Supreme Court ruling infringing on religious liberty and conscientious objection. The President nominates candidates for Supreme Court and Federal judicial seats and your U.S. Senators vote them up or down. Remember on November 2.

Don't believe it.
Much of the Old Media has been trumpeting a Newsweek poll showing John Kerry gaining a narrow lead over W since Thursday night's debate as if it were the revelation of the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. However, a Power Line Blog article describes how the sampling changed between the previous Newsweek poll and this one.

UPDATE: Reader Meg Kreikemeier points out that according to RealClearPolitics, Newsweek's most recent poll included 345 Republicans, 364 Democrats and 278 independents. This compares to Newsweek's published data for their most recent prior poll, which showed President Bush with a comfortable lead: 391 Republicans, 300 Democrats and 270 independents. Yes, if you drop 46 Republicans and add 64 Democrats, you will get considerably better results for the Democratic nominee. This is a good reminder of why poll data always need to be taken with a grain of salt, especially until you see the underlying data.

Now I don't know what ratio of Republicans to Democrats is a most accurate sample of the nation. However, it is obvious that if you change the ratio by as much as was done between these two polls, you are going to show an apparent Kerry 'surge' regardless of the debate outcome or any other circumstance in the real world.

UPDATE: Also, check out the intriguing clip of video linked from this Drudge article on John Kerry's actions during the debate.

Saint Therese of Lisieux
Today I saw the beautiful and compelling movie about Saint Therese. The movie about this special saint describes how she grew up in a loving family and grew in her love of Jesus. It is for everyone from the most pious believer to the most curious skeptic.

I saw the movie in Columbia at the only theater showing it in the Baltimore/Washington area. It is being shown in a very limited number of theaters nationwide. If you want to see a really great film and encourage the making of more like it, check out where it is playing in your area by clicking on the above link, enter the site and click on the 'Showing the Miracle' link and scroll down to the nearest metropolitan area to you.

Bloggers Defending Terri
Earl Appleby at Times Against Humanity has posted comments and links from a number of bloggers, including this one, in response to the Florida Supreme Court decision that once again puts Terri Schindler-Schiavo's life in danger.

Debate Fallout
A theme running through many thoughtful commentaries on last night's debate is that John Kerry was probably quicker on style, while W held his own and prevailed on substance. John Kerry had the most to gain from the debate and was more coherent than in other recent appearances. He managed to avoid debating himself, at least until he expressed support for pre-emptive action to defend the country with the condition of meeting an unspecified 'global test', a phrase that will come back to haunt him.

For a variety of opinions on the debate and ongoing political developments and poll results, check out RealClearPolitics.

SpaceShipOne Up, One to Go


NASA TV, link via Spaceflight Now

Test Pilot Mike Melvill flew Scaled Composite's SpaceShipOne to a qualifying altitude for the Ansari X-Prize and returned safely to Earth. (Links to Space.com article and New Scientist article) A repeat performance required to win the prize is tentatively scheduled for Monday. A firm date may be announced tomorrow after further analysis of the unplanned roll during the craft's engine burn.

Pre-Election Bash
Went to a fun event in DC tonight to benefit a timely and critical cause, the Susan B. Anthony List, which is working to elect more prolife members of the House and Senate.

The Revolution Gains Momentum
Scaled Composite's SpaceShipOne is set for it's Wednesday first qualifying flight for the Ansari X-Prize, while the Canadian da Vinci Project has delayed its launch attempt.

Meanwhile, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic has struck a deal to use SpaceShipOne technology to begin commercial suborbital flights in 2007. Not to be outdone, Bigelow Aerospace, developer of inflatable space habitats, is offering a $50 million prize for a transportation system to serve its orbital assets.

Yet another hurricane...
...approaches Florida. This time it's Hurricane Jeanne.


NOAA

Florida Supreme Court rules against Terri's Law
The Florida Supreme Court ruled that the law violated the Florida Constitution's separation of powers. While the basis for the ruling may be technically correct, the pronouncement leaves Terri Schindler-Schiavo vulnerable to an unjust and cruel death. We need to pray as Governor Bush and Terri's family and lawyers consider alternative actions available.

More on the Blogosphere and the Old Media
Jonathan Last has published a timeline of the role of bloggers and other web sites in uncovering the CBS fiasco at The Weekly Standard.

Meanwhile, Frederick Turner ponders the larger meaning of these developments at Tech Central Station.

For as the story developed, something remarkable began to happen. The new community became aware of itself as a community -- the group mind, so to speak, had awakened, yawned, and seen itself in the mirror. As the various blogs, comment threads, and link systems cohered and came together, they started to recognize, exult in, and reflect upon their own power and speed, and a new tone entered the discussion. The power that the blogosphere recognized in itself was a veridical power, the power to discover the truth. Although much of the discourse was still in the jeering partisan spirit of the last weeks of an American general election, where the scoring of rhetorical points easily trumps the boring presentation of fact and logic, a new spirit of responsibility had emerged.

CBS 'fesses up.
Dan Rather and CBS News have admitted that they can no longer vouch for the documents alleging deficiencies in President Bush's National Guard service in the early 1970's. Of course, the other shoe has yet to drop. Who was the ultimate source of the forged documents and who all were involved in their dissemination?

Having a day job and slow typing fingers, I am what would probably be called a 'casual blogger'. I haven't been a part of the groundbreaking investigation of the CBS fiasco, but I'm proud of the large and growing community called the 'Blogosphere', itself a part of the New Media(or Alt Media) which played such a crucial role in this whole affair.

While this whole affair has brought unprecedented attention to the Alt Media, it's not the first time the non-traditional media have influenced the outcome of public events. For example, it was nearly a year ago that the Alt Media played a key role in saving the life of the disbled woman Terri Schindler-Schiavo (whose case is now being contested at the Florida Supreme Court). Rapid communication by thousands via e-mail, blogs, talk radio, etc. overcame Old Media bias and spurred Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature to take action to save Terri's life.

A Really Nice Day
After Friday & Saturday's nasty weather caused by the remains of Ivan, today was a real nice fall-like day, which I spent at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, enjoying plentiful food, drink and entertainment. The Celtic style music performances were particularly appealing to me.

For links to Renaissance Festivals around the country, click here.

Hurricane Ivan


NOAA

The ferocious Hurricane Ivan is approaching the Gulf Coast tonight. Pray for all those in its path. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jeanne is lurking in the Caribbean.

Empire strikes back, but Jedi bloggers carry on.
Dan Rather tonight presented an updated defense of the CBS story on supposed National Guard documents damaging to President Bush. Note that the story cites two new experts, Bill Glennon, described as a 'document expert', and Richard Katz, a 'software designer'. No backgrounds or affiliations are cited. I quickly Googled those names, but the results are inconclusive since they are common names and I seemed to get hits on multiple people. It will be interesting to see what more persistent researchers come up with.

Meanwhile, Roderick Boyd of the New York Sun describes how a number of bloggers examined and challenged the suspicious documents presented by CBS.

Finally, Father George Rutler has a humorous perspective on this whole spectacle.

With Remembrance and Resolve


September11News.com/Yahoo

September 11, 2001

Old Media Unraveling
The case of the apparently forged National Guard documents related to President Bush's service continues to unravel. Here is yesterday's post (with updates) on Powerline Blog, the response to the controversy by CBS and comments on the role of the New Media by Glenn Reynolds.

Hard Landing
The re-entry capsule from the Genesis probe, designed to collect solar wind samples, crashed into the Utah desert today when its parachute systems failed. While severely damaged, the capsule lodged into the desert sand pretty much in one piece. Project scientists are trying to determine if any of the solar wind samples survived for study.

Here are reports from NASA, Space.com and Spaceflight Now.

Meanwhile,...


NOAA

...other events in the world call for attention and prayer, including the latest terrorist atrocity in Russia, Hurricane Frances and Former President Bill Clinton's heart condition.

Grand Finale
W wrapped up the convention with a convincing, if a little lengthy, acceptance speech.

In this world of change, some things do not change: the values we try to live by, the institutions that give our lives meaning and purpose. Our society rests on a foundation of responsibility and character and family commitment.

... Because a caring society will value its weakest members, we must make a place for the unborn child. ...

Here's a little gem regarding Old Media opinion:

In 1946, 18 months after the fall of Berlin to allied forces, a journalist wrote in the New York Times, "Germany is a land in an acute stage of economic, political and moral crisis. [European] capitals are frightened. In every [military] headquarters, one meets alarmed officials doing their utmost to deal with the consequences of the occupation policy that they admit has failed." Maybe that same person's still around, writing editorials.

And on the ordeal the nation has endured:

The world saw that spirit three miles from here, when the people of this city faced peril together, and lifted a flag over the ruins, and defied the enemy with their courage. My fellow Americans, for as long as our country stands, people will look to the resurrection of New York City and they will say: Here buildings fell, and here a nation rose.

Give 'em Hell, Zell!
Georgia's retiring Democratic Senator Zell Miller is speaking now, saying that his family is more important than his party, and that W is the one he trusts to protect our country. He denounces Democratic 'manic obsession' to bring down W, unlike past history of bipartisanship in times of crisis. Praises our soldiers as liberators.

He's listing many of the U.S. armaments that John Kerry opposed. "US forces armed with what? Spitballs!" Contrasts Kerry's votes with campaign rhetoric.

John Kerry "more wrong, more weak and more wobbly" than any other leader. W committed to 'kind of forces to root out terrorists'. Now praising W's values.
"This Democrat is proud to stand with him!"

As background, here is an article on Zell's conversion from pro-abortion to prolife.

UPDATE (~10:30 PM) VP Dick Cheney is speaking to the convention now. He says he's 'glad Zell Miller is on our side'. Praising administration's record on education and the economy. "The Bush tax cuts are working."

Never lose sight of 'preserving the freedom and security of this nation'. Crowd chanting 'Four More Years'! "We're in a war we did not start, and have no choice to win." Terrorists 'did not know America, and did not know George W. Bush'. Listing positive outcomes in the world due to policy on terror. Now citing 'mighty debt to the US armed forces'.

VP says 2004 election one of most important in history. Cites differences between W & Kerry on national security. W 'will never seek a permission slip (from foreign leaders) to defend the American people'. We can count on W 'to get it right'.

Citing Kerry's changing positions spurs audience chants of 'Flip Flop!'. VP says W has 'a heart for the weak, the vulnerable and the afflicted' and 'calls evil by its name'. Signs are good for campaign 'even in Massachusetts'.

Post speech music: "Ain't No Stopping Us Now".