Friday,
23 November 2001
1. MISSILE DEFENSE: THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH EARLY DEPLOYMENT.
The space-based infrared systems that are supposed to detect the
launch of missiles aimed at the U.S., currently under development
by Lockheed, are over cost and three years behind schedule. The
interceptor made by Raytheon and the booster rocket developed by
Boeing both have problems. According to the Wall Street Journal,
a Ballistic Missile Defense Organization spokesman shrugged
that, "We'll make do with what we have." Meanwhile, officials
from the Air Force and Lockheed are said to be looking at
"restructuring the contract" to make sure Lockheed doesn't lose
any money.
2. REMOTE VIEWING: OSAMA BIN LADEN CAN RUN, BUT HE CAN'T HIDE.
According to The Sunday Times (UK), investigators at the FBI and
CIA were told to "think outside the box in tracking down Bin
Laden". They did. They reactivated the CIA's "remote viewing"
program, which was abandoned as useless in 1995 after 20 years
(WN 1 Dec 95).
At one point during the cold war the viewers were
asked to help locate Soviet nuclear subs. They could see them in
the water, but couldn't tell which ocean. Nor were they ever
quite able to read documents they said they could see on Kremlin
desks. What would you bet they can see Bin Laden in a cave?
3. SELF-CARE: THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PICKS A NEW CHIEF.
Michael Maves previously headed the Consumer Healthcare Products
Association, a lobbying organization for nonprescription medicine
and dietary supplement producers. That a long-time lobbyist for
the self-care industry should be picked to head the organization
of those who write the prescriptions is a major irony.
4. THE WAR ON TERRORISM: THE HOUSE TAKES STRONG ACTION.
The House has passed a resolution expressing the sense of Congress
that, during this time of struggle against the forces of
international terrorism, sufficient time should be set aside by
schools to allow children to pray for the Nation.
5. MASS MEDIA FELLOWSHIPS: APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR SUMMER 2002.
The public must know we live in an orderly universe governed by
natural laws that cannot be circumvented by cleverness or piety.
To this end, APS supports a ten-week summer fellowship to allow
physics students to work full-time as reporters, researchers or
production assistants in a mass media organization. Priority
will be given to graduate students in physics or closely related
fields. The deadline is 15 January 2002. Details at
http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/
6. NASA: MAYBE DAN DOESN'T READ WHAT'S NEW?
Dan Goldin just sent
me an American flag that's been on the ISS, to thank me for all
my help. Maybe my writing isn't clear enough.
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