Walking on the Moon

This AP story (via CNN) alleges that NASA is being told to not release results of an aviation safety survey that might make people nervous and airlines less profitable (if that’s possible). If that’s true someone’s got a lot to answer for. Particularly troubling is:

The survey’s purpose was to develop a new way of tracking safety trends and problems the airline industry could address. The project was shelved when NASA cut its budget as emphasis shifted to send astronauts to the moon and Mars.

That makes the whole hubub about the impractical Mars mission particularly alarming. While I’d love to see us get to another planet before I die, using it as a smoke screen to cut aviation safety programs isn’t good government.

You really have to see it.  Link courtesy of John Hickey.

Brenda has been delighted by this youtube video, but I see it for what it is.  My cat has clearly decided to issue an unsigned threat.  No casual cat observer could show her behavior so accurately.  Bem has clearly issued some kind of feline fatwa on me.  I’ll be making preparations.

“Flaming squirrel ignites car in Bayonne“  What can you add to that?  Link courtesy of Phil Dibowitz.

Tim Wu has written an essay for Slate on selective enforcement of the law and how it illuminates the function of our political system.  I found it to be one of those pieces that crystallizes disparate thoughts on the functions of law and society.  It’s well worth a read.

BoingBoing told me about it among the steampunk and Hello Kitty assault rifles.

It’s kind of a shame that glamguns.com is a parody (shhh, don’t tell BoingBoing), but their storefront is still worth a look.

Brenda and I were suffering through a dedication radio show at a restaurant last night.  You know the kind – some earnest young disk jockey listens to someone pour out their heart and end up dedicating some sappy song to the person who dumped them, or has taken them back or whatever.  Roughly 70% of all these dedications are for “Reunited” by Peaches and Herb.  I think I can fix the genre, though.

My idea is to leave the sappy stories and the dedication goal in place, but let the DJ pick the song.  So some blinded-by-love fool who thinks he’s telling a “Reunited” story can get the “Norwegian Wood” (or, for you Pat McCurdy fans, “Imagine A Picture”) that he really needs.  And the joy of sending out a “Jail Bait” or “House Rent Blues” to someone who needs to hear them but didn’t know it would delight me.

I think it would be much more effective than Dr. Phil and more entertaining than Casey Kasem.  But I’m a “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” kind of guy.

Yes, I think this is funny. I thought this was, too, but the Lincoln thing just kills me.

Vatsim is one of the coolest things about flight simulators.  Let Chris De Young explain it to you on a guest post at Penny Arcade.

Lookie.