New Mexico Spaceport: Getting Down To Business

Implementation of plans are proceeding apace for the New Mexico spaceport that will be used by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic for civilian passenger spaceflight. So far, more than 20,000 have signed up for spaceflights. Based on past performance, Branson accomplishes what he sets out to do.

Branson’s Virgin Galactic will locate its world headquarters and mission control for its personal spaceflight business at the Southwest Regional Spaceport complex. The facility will be built upon a 27-square-mile site in Upham, about 45 miles northeast of Las Cruces and 25 miles southeast of Truth or Consequences. Construction will begin in 2007 and should be completed by 2009/2010. Virgin Galactic officials estimate some 50,000 customers will fly into space in the first ten years of operation.

For Richard Branson, wealthy British entrepreneur and adventurer, he clearly sees spaceliners in his future. Virgin Galactic operations and the firm’s facilities at the spaceport will be driven by the designs of SpaceShipTwo and the White Knight Two mothership that hauls the passenger-carrying rocket plane to high altitude for release. Both vehicles are under development by hot shot aerospace designer Burt Rutan and his team at Scaled Composites in Mojave, California under a newly formed group, The Spaceship Company. Last July, Branson and Rutan announced their signing of an agreement to form the new aerospace production company that will build a fleet of commercial suborbital spaceships and launch aircraft.

This is just too cool! Imagine if it were a NASA project: 1st flight possibly by 2030 or later instead of 2009-10.

The joy of entrepreneurial capitalism!

Curiouser & curiouser

On a considerably lighter note than the previous posting, is this report in the London Telegraph, listing a number of absurd cases of political correctness run amok, along with some other things that are…just VERY different.

As Britain becomes more and more politically correct and its citizens more and more dumbfounded by it all, it’s encouraging to find that we are not alone. Tom Tickell looks back on a year full of pomposity, idiosyncrasy and plain old-fashioned nonsense, here and abroad.

A few samples:

• A market trader in Derby was banned from selling candles – unless they carried a notice warning that they can burn.

Don’t tell OSHA about this!

• A constable who saved the life of a man who was high on drugs by stopping him jumping from a window was reprimanded. PC Amerjit Singh, who had been summoned to a house in Cambridgeshire to prevent the potential suicide, had used “undue force” in holding the man back from killing himself. The man’s father complained.

Did he have insurance on the son?

• Staff at a Norwich school had to fill in risk assessment forms before they could take children out to play in the snow last winter. Children throwing snowballs could do so only if they were 65ft apart. “Risk assessments can keep children safe in snowy weather,” claimed a spokesman for the council.

Saved again by “risk assessment”.

• Officials in the Czech Republic started a campaign to cut down government bureaucracy and waste by closing down the country’s General Directorate of the Civil Service. The directorate had itself been set up to find ways of cutting back on waste and red tape.

WOW! The Chief is impressed. They actually managed to abolish a government agency. Maybe we could get a Czech advisory team over here.

There are a lot more listed too. Check it out for a good chuckle or two.

Several items show a continuing and escalating concern is in order concerning the Piss Peace loving Persian sons of the Profit (alleged) Prophet.

Iran Gov’t Shuts Down Newspaper, Magazine
“Free press? We don’t need no stinking free press!”

Iran closed a daily newspaper and a magazine, one of the publications said Tuesday, in a stiffening crackdown on the press. Iran’s hard-line judiciary has closed down more than 100 pro-democracy publications in the past five years on vague charges of insulting religious sensibilities or top clerics. Since the election of ultraconservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the government has given the judiciary a free hand to prosecute its crackdown against the media, which began in 2000.

Iran Says It Will Resume Nuclear Fuel Research

Iran said today that it will resume nuclear fuel research, and appeared to toughen its bargaining position on a Russian proposal meant to head off a showdown with the United States and Europe over Tehran’s nuclear program. Iranian officials in recent weeks have given contradictory signals about their willingness to accept a compromise in the long-running dispute. Both announcements today represented a swing toward a harder line and could increase the likelihood of confrontation.

The message: “Hey, what’s the beef about? Without this how can we turn Tel Aviv into a glass bowl…er…develop into a real nuclear power…er…we mean really develop our nuclear power…never mind…we’re doing what we want to anyway!”

The Iranian official who announced the decision, Mohammad Saidi, vice president of Iran’s Atomic Organization, said that the nuclear research, to begin on Monday, would be carried out “in cooperation and coordination with the I.A.E.A.” and would not involve the enrichment of uranium, a step necessary for the production of nuclear weapons.

“We’re not doing anything, just learning how to and setting up to do it. Nothing to see, nothing to worry about, you infidel pigs!”

Mohamed ElBaradei, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in a statement that he would bee seeking more details about the research. He also reminded Iran that the suspension had been an important step toward restoring its reputation.

WHAT reputation?

There’s more, but you get the drift. Two more related reports – what good is a nuclear weapon without a way to deliver it? The happy mullahs have thought of everything:

Secret services say Iran is trying to assemble a nuclear missile
Intelligence report says Iran seeks nuclear bomb: report

Both of these refer to the same Euro joint intelligence assessment, that has leaked out, no doubt much to the chagrin of the Eurabian politicians who want to do just ANYTHING rather than face up to the fact of their own dhimmitude.

It’s worth noting that one of these is from the UK’s Guardian, which is certainly no stronghold of pro-western imperialism!

The Iranian government has been successfully scouring Europe for the sophisticated equipment needed to develop a nuclear bomb, according to the latest western intelligence assessment of the country’s weapons programmes.

Scientists in Tehran are also shopping for parts for a ballistic missile capable of reaching Europe, with “import requests and acquisitions … registered almost daily”, the report seen by the Guardian concludes.

Let’s see now. Bomb. Missile. All that’s needed is the target…oh yeah, their President Ahm-mad-on-a-jihad Ahmadinejad has already solved that:

Governments in the west and elsewhere have also been dismayed by recent pronouncements from the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has said that Holocaust denial is a “scientific debate” and that Israel should be “wiped off the map”.

OK now. Imagine it’s 1936. The Rhineland has just been re-militarized by Der Fuhrer’s 3rd Reich in violation of treaties which give you the right to intervene militarily. You know that at present Das Reich has not rebuilt it’s military enough to resist you successfully, but is working for that goal 24-7. Your response to protect lives and maintain peace is….hopefully better than that of the Brits and Frogs back then.

The same thing is staring us in the face, albeit in a new form. Which way will we turn?

Whether we want to admit it or not, we are rapidly reaching what looks like a true pivotal point of history – and nothing less than the survival of western civilization may be at stake.

IF YOU CANNOT FIGHT FOR RIGHT WHEN YOU CAN EASILY WIN WITHOUT BLOODSHED; IF YOU WILL NOT FIGHT WHEN YOUR VICTORY WILL BE SURE AND NOT TOO COSTLY; YOU MAY COME TO THE MOMENT WHEN YOU WILL HAVE TO FIGHT WITH ALL ODDS AGAINST YOU AND ONLY A PRECARIOUS CHANCE OF SURVIVAL. THERE MAY BE A WORSE FATE. YOU MAY HAVE TO FIGHT WHEN THERE IS NO HOPE OF VICTORY, BECAUSE IT IS BETTER TO PERISH THAN TO LIVE AS SLAVES. – Sir Winston Churchill

Read and heed. History can be a tough teacher!

Sniper shot that took out an insurgent killer from three quarters of a mile

The Chief’s jaw dropped reading this one reported from across the pond, but about one of ours. Admittedly it’s a lucky shot, but still…

Gazing through the telescopic sight of his M24 rifle, Staff Sgt Jim Gilliland, leader of Shadow sniper team, fixed his eye on the Iraqi insurgent who had just killed an American soldier. His quarry stood nonchalantly in the fourth-floor bay window of a hospital in battle-torn Ramadi, still clasping a long-barrelled Kalashnikov. Instinctively allowing for wind speed and bullet drop, Shadow’s commander aimed 12 feet high.

A single shot hit the Iraqi in the chest and killed him instantly. It had been fired from a range of 1,250 metres, well beyond the capacity of the powerful Leupold sight, accurate to 1,000 metres. “I believe it is the longest confirmed kill in Iraq with a 7.62mm rifle,” said Staff Sgt Gilliland, 28, who hunted squirrels in Double Springs, Alabama from the age of five before progressing to deer – and then people. “He was visible only from the waist up. It was a one in a million shot. I could probably shoot a whole box of ammunition and never hit him again.”

That’s OK SSGT, you got him the first time! There’s more to read about the excellence and high performance of an elite group of American soldiers. Check it out.

Lord of the Blogs

Writing of places at Townhall.com, Kathleen Parker is displeased with the at times rough and tumble realm of the blogosphere, and the truth that it is beyond control of professional editiorialists and/or journalists, presumably such as herself.

She likens the blogosphere to the barbaro-anarchy that evolved in the book “Lord of the Flies”, hence her header as shown above. If she, and others of her ilk had their way, the blogosphere would be reigned in and/or discounted due to lack of what she patronizingly refers to as “adult supervision” of responsible editorial control.

The Chief thinks that she has the wrong “Lord” in mind. The type of situation she would like is closer to that of “Lord of the Rings”, with all purveyors of “news” and opinion being under the spell of editorial ringwraiths serving the Dark Lord of the MSM.

Kim du Toit and the Emperor Misha also take severe exception, each in their respective styles, to her weeping, wailing, and knashing of teeth concerning the unregulated blogosphere. Better call her a wahmbulance! (Wah-wah, wah-wah, etc.)

It’s the demography, stupid

Whether or not you like Pat Buchanan, one of the things he has made to be one of his major issues is the demographic hollowing out of the western world, and the consequent threat to the continued existance of western civilization as we know it.

This article by Mark Steyn lays it all out as clearly as one could want. The Chief has to admit that this is a disturbing trend. The US is threatened, but the Euros are in deep, deep,…camel dung. The logic here is unfortunately not answerable. The next decade may well be decisive.

While this is a somewhat long article, it is one of those things that anyone who is concerned about what is literally the very real question about the survival of our culture and civilization. (I am NOT exaggerating, unfortunately.)

H/T to Little Green Footballs.

Putin sends a shiver through Europe

Putin continues to manage things in the style he no doubt developed to lead him to be head of the old Soviet KGB in days gone, but not forgotten in mittel-Europa.

Russia took Europe to the brink of a winter energy crisis yesterday when it carried out a Cold War-style threat and halted gas deliveries to Ukraine, the main conduit for exports to the West. With a quarter of its gas supplied by Russia, Europe is facing serious disruption and price rises for as long as the dispute rumbles on.

Now THAT’s international economic cooperation…and this guy is the current Chairman og the G8 Group? Time for a major reality check!

Palestinian militants call off truce

Palestinian armed groups ended a year-long truce with Israel yesterday in a move which could lead to new violence and derail elections in the West Bank and Gaza already threatened by lawlessness and political infighting.

The Chief wonders: what truce was THAT?

The so-called “cool down” by militants has been frequently interrupted by rocket attacks launched from Gaza, and Islamic Jihad has continued to carry out suicide bombings on Israeli targets.

Sadly the prospects in the Paleswinian governed controlled mis-ruled areas show no signs of improvement. Maybe the Israeli wall will help limit the Islamofascist splodeydope activity.

425 cars torched in New Year’s unrest in France

Surprise, surprise. The Fwench continue to demonstrate that they have currently lost control of their own country.

President Jacques Chirac spoke of the unrest during his annual New Year’s Eve television address and urged the French to do more to fight racism and a lack of opportunities in poor neighborhoods — problems that fed frustrations among young rioters. “Diversity is part of our history: It is a resource,” he said.” It is an asset for our future.”

Hmmmm. They aren’t so accepting of diversity when it’s from the USA. Oh, yeah, OUR barbecues only cook meat, not cars.

The jihadistanis continue to run rampant, while the dhimmicratic government continues to waffle, and call for “positive discrimination” in favor of the islamist insurgents. Now THERE’s a recipe for real peace!

Can you say “President LePen”?

Florida Teen Home After Iraq Adventure

A 16-year-old who took off to Iraq alone to experience the lives of its people firsthand, arrived back in Florida on Sunday, ending a three-week Middle East odyssey much to the relief of his parents. Farris Hassan gave a thumbs-up to reporters as he walked, surrounded by family members, to a car waiting outside Miami International Airport.

Just a few thoughts on this one:
* Why was there NOT any alarm from his parents when he e-mailed them from Kuwait BEFORE he went to Lebanon (not exactly noted for it’s stability and friendliness to American travelers these days)BEFORE he went to Baghdad? (Hi Mom and Dad! I’m in Kuwait on my way to Baghdad for Christmas Break! Don’t worry, everything is fine so far! Bye.)
* “Family friends” in Lebanon – home of Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, et al. Under the heavy influence of Syria, currently assisting the Jihadistanis in Iraq and elsewhere. Now THAT’s reassuring – NOT! No wonder his school has some concerns:

Officials at Pine Crest School, the academy Farris attends in Fort Lauderdale, have asked for a meeting with his parents before he is allowed to return to class.

* Something about a SLIGHT lack of parental involvement here?

He was able to secure an entry visa for Iraq because both of his parents were born there, though they’ve been in the United States for more than three decades. He took his U.S. passport and $1,800 in cash, but didn’t tell his family what he was doing until he arrived in Kuwait and sent them an e-mail.

He took $1800 cash, PLUS he had bought the airplane tickets – which COULDN’T have been cheap. Am I just old fashined, or does that seem like perhaps a bit of excessive “pocket money” for a high school kid to have without parental review? Just asking, mind you.

This kid is lucky that the 101st Airborne was there to pull his chestnuts out of the fire, before some jihadistani got ahold of him for…the possibilities were manifold…and most likely MUCH more unpleasant than what actually did happen.

Churchill called for hot seat for Hitler

What’s not to like about WInston Churchill, unless you were a Nazi or Communist/Socialist? He has been near the top of the Chief’s most admired historical figures. (Ooops! I remember the last time he was PM when the Chief was just a little squirt, so does that make ME historical? Forget it – we WON’t go THERE!)

Some newly declassified documents across the water show even more that he was a min of singularly sound instincts:

Winston Churchill, Britain’s wartime prime minister, planned to execute Adolf Hitler in the electric chair if the Nazi leader fell into Allied hands. Official documents declassified for the turn of the new year reveal that Churchill was opposed to Allied plans for war-crimes trials and wanted summarily to execute leading Nazi figures, including Hitler, whom he regarded as “the mainspring of evil” and a “gangster.”

We thereby would have avoided the exercise in ex post facto “law” that became known as the Nuremburg Trials, and the dangerous precedents it set for instant “international legalization” of whatever a dominant coalition decides is right. Leading to aborted systems like the so-called “International Court of Justice” which the moonbats would LOVE to use to go after US soldiers having the nerve to actually pull the trigger and kill the enemy.

On July 6, 1942, according to his notes, the prime minister said: “Contemplate [that] if Hitler falls into our hands, we shall certainly put him to death. Not a Sovereign who [could] be said to be in hands of Ministers, like Kaiser. This man is the mainspring of evil. Instrument — electric chair, for gangsters no doubt available on lend-lease.”

Sir Winston definitely has the right idea!