Death Star A No Go For White House

I think it is totally funny that people are using the White House petition format to seek the building of a "Death Star."  Even more hilarious is the White House response!

Paul Shawcross, Chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget, responded to an earlier petition to “secure resources and funding, and begin construction of a Death Star by 2016.″

[snip]

The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn’t on the horizon. Here are a few reasons:

• The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We’re working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.
• The Administration does not support blowing up planets.
• Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?

 Ok, I am laughing hysterically so far!

PLEASE take the time to read the FULL response here.  You will NOT be disappointed!

Some choice tidbits:

Even though the United States doesn’t have anything that can do the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs, ...

We don’t have a Death Star, but we do have floating robot assistants on the Space Station, a President who knows his way around a light saber and advanced (marshmallow) cannon, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is supporting research on building Luke’s arm, floating droids, and quadruped walkers.

If you do pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field, the Force will be with us! Remember, the Death Star’s power to destroy a planet, or even a whole star system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force.

Ooops ... Guess Shutting Down Megaupload Has Other Consequences For Our Government

You know, if any of you out there really still believes that America is a democratically run country/government, I swear I will sell you the Brooklyn Bridge, damn it.

US prosecutors have said that data belonging to Megaupload users and stored by third parties could be deleted as soon as Thursday.

Users have been unable to access data since the file-sharing service was raided.

The warning was made in a letter filed by the US Attorney's Office.

Megaupload's lawyer Ira Rothken told the Associated Press that at least 50 million users had data which could be deleted.

This is data that has absolutely zero to do with any DCMA infringement. After the internet blackout to oppose the tyranny of the bills that were being bandied about in trying to stifle/control the internet, the American government shuts down a site, in New Zealand that affects millions of users, with probably only a small percentage of them subject to a real DCMA take down (as I have already had one on my blog, so I know what they can do).

China is looking awfully good as a new place to live.

RIP Steve Jobs

Although I am not an Apple, IPod, Mac or whatever fan (PC only), your short life enriched a lot of people.



RIP Dude. Be sure to keep your I Phone connected from up above.

Oy, Where's My Cell?

You know you have entered the 21st Century when you are willing to pay money to a flunkie to go get your cell phone that you left at your office! (not to demean the person that got me my phone, but hey, what can I call you?)

Ah, breathing easier. Gonna pack the spare cell phone in case of the rare emergencies like this. If I had my spare phone, I could have gotten in touch with my office, and made preparations to get my cell. But since my computer tech had my office key and my building key card, there was no way I could simply go back to work and get my phone.

Live and learn, eh? (slapping myself so you don't have to!)

Bugs That Eat And Poop Crude Oil!

“Ten years ago I could never have imagined I’d be doing this,” says Greg Pal, 33, a former software executive, as he squints into the late afternoon Californian sun. “I mean, this is essentially agriculture, right? But the people I talk to – especially the ones coming out of business school – this is the one hot area everyone wants to get into.”

He means bugs. To be more precise: the genetic alteration of bugs – very, very small ones – so that when they feed on agricultural waste such as woodchips or wheat straw, they do something extraordinary. They excrete crude oil.

As long as we are on the topic of amazing nature posts, this one is sure to make a lot of you PAYING HUGE BUCKS FOR GASOLINE sit up and pay attention. Of course, if you're an oil lobbyist or petrol company CEO, then move along, nothing to see here.

Getting Political News Off Net Increases

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans dissatisfied with political sound bites are turning to the Internet for a more complete picture, a new study finds.

In a report Sunday, the Pew Internet and American Life Project said that nearly 30% of adults have used the Internet to read or watch unfiltered campaign material — footage of debates, position papers, announcements and transcripts of speeches.

"They want to see the full-blown campaign event. They want to read the speech from beginning to end," said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew group. "It's a push back from the sound-bite culture."

Google Inc.'s YouTube and other video sites have become more popular. Thirty-five percent of adults have watched a political video online during the primary season, compared with 13% during the entire 2004 presidential race.

It's about time, considering all the crap they try to pass off as news on traditional media.

Wikipedia Blocks DOJ IP Address!

Wikinews has learned that a United States Department of Justice (DOJ) IP Address has been blocked on Wikipedia after making edits to an article which were considered "vandalism". In two separate instances, the IP address from the DOJ removed information from the Wikipedia article about the organization Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America(CAMERA), regarding an attempt by the organization to secretly gain influence on the site. The IP address has been confirmed by Wikinews to be registered and used by the DOJ located in Washington, D.C.

Now, why does this not surprise me? Sheesh.

Vista Sucks -- Long Live XP!

Windows XP refuses to die. When Vista was released last year, some users disliked it so much they loaded XP onto their new, Vista-loaded PCs. Microsoft had planned to stop selling XP to manufacturers this year, but now it appears the OS will live on in low-cost computers.

I hate Vista. I've put XP on all the newly purchased computers at my office.