Free Republic

Said Bill Barr to Jerry Nadler

Starship Musings: Warping to the Stars by Paul Gilster on May 2, 2013 by Kelvin F.LongThe executive director of the Institute for Interstellar Studies here gives us his thoughts on Star Trek and the designing of starships, with special reference to Enrico Fermi. Kelvin is also Chief Editor for the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, whose latest conference is coming up. You’ll find a poster for the Philosophy of the Starship conference at the end of this post.Like many, I have been inspired and thrilled by the stories of Star Trek. The creation of Gene Roddenberry was a wonderful...

Yes, yes, I know it's a vanity post! To those who are offended, please stop reading. For the rest of you, here it is... 1. The freeway overpasses into downtown Minneapolis were littered with Obamaniac sycophants waving large signs AND American flags! I rolled down my window and extended a middle finger several times as well as yelled out "Fu**ing Losers!". Yes, it was senseless and immature - and no, I'm not sorry. 2. I got a robo-call last night from Ashwin Madia's (aka Ashtray Madhatter's) campaign. He's a Dem running in the 3rd Congressional District. I live in the...

I have been arranging my extensive CD collection which lead me to play some of those long forgotten CD. This afternoon it was Mendelssohn "Reformation" Symphony. This might not be the best symphony of this rather underrated composer. The 5th popularity has suffered from being a "heftier" work, more intellectual, less crafted and vital than the "Italian". As if trying to encompass the reformation movement in music were possible. Still, the last movement opening is one of the most stirring moments of the repertoire, and a powerful musical image of the liberation of the spirit, no matter what religious connotation...

President Bush called wavering lawmakers Monday in hopes of thwarting a Democratic drive to force changes in the homeland security bill, but he lost the support of the senator who vied with him for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination.~~~~ John McShame A federal court ruling ensures that the Justice Department can take full advantage of broad new surveillance powers to track suspected spies and terrorists, Attorney General John Ashcroft says.Iraq continued firing at U.S. and British patrol planes Monday, and an Iraqi warplane penetrated an area in southern Iraq that is off-limits to the Iraqi air force. MSNBC executives, under...

Don't Ask Me Why, But ... (2) Norman Liebmann Sept. 17, 2002 Don't ask me why, but it won't be long before AK47s replace dollars as world currency. Don't ask me why, but no man is his brother's keeper, no matter how desperately Bill Clinton's brother needs one. Don't ask me why, but the French are incapable of forgiving Americans for the sacrifices they made on their behalf. Don't ask me why, but the Clintons will finally find a true way to express the depth of their caring about children by becoming a pimp and his "ho" working Sesame Street....