Luke_Wilbur

I pick the Bohemian lifestyle myself. It's part of my blood line. I do appreciate the fact that China does not block DCpages. http://www.baidu.com/s?wd=dcpages.com Google Translation:

Will Google shed its Netizen beliefs for opportunity? Which provides more Liberty and just plain fun? The Campus Corporation or Autocratic Socialism?

I would agree with this statement 100%. Google and China are both not flexible. People fear and admire both. I know that I generally do.

http://www.china.org...nt_19236193.htm China seeking clarity on Google intentions January-14-2010 An official with China's State Council Information Office Wednesday said Chinese Internet authorities were seeking more information on Google's statement that it could quit China. The high-ranking official, who requested anonymity, made the remarks in a phone interview with Xinhua after Google's corporate development and chief legal officer, David Drummond, posted a statement on the company's official blog, saying itwas to "review the feasibility of our business operations in China." "It is still hard to say whether Google will quit China or not. Nobody knows," the Chinese official said. He refused to reveal more, but promised to follow the case and accept more interviews if possible. The China Internet Illegal Information Reporting Center deputy director Xi Wei told Xinhua: "I am sorry, Ican't say anything. I am not clear about the case." Google's possible retreat from China has prompted the company's 700 China staff to fear for their jobs. "We were told that Google might quit China at a general meeting Wednesday morning, and all of us feel very sad," said an employee with Google's Beijing office on condition of anonymity. Drummond's post said that its disputes with the government and unidentified attacks targeting Google's services in China forced the company to make the review. However, Google spam was still posting this rider on its searches as of 6:15 p.m. Wednesday: "According to local laws, regulations and policies, some research results are not shown." Google had been blamed by the government for showing too many links to pornographic contents and breaking the law. Drummond's post also indicated the possibility that Google may "shut down Google spam, and potentially our offices in China." If Google did quit China, about 700employees with the company's offices around China would lose theirjobs, the anonymous employee said. Google sent a short statement to Xinhua Wednesday, reads that "We are proud of our achievements inChina. Currently we are reviewing the decision and hope for aresolution." Drummond's post also said Google wouldtry to negotiate with the Chinese government for "more favorable"operating conditions in China. Guo Ke, professor of mass communication at Shanghai International Studies University, said it was"almost impossible" for Google to quit China and also impossible forthe Chinese government to give up its management right over the Internet. "It will not make any difference to the government if Google quits China, however Google will suffer a huge economic loss from leaving the Chinese market," Guo said. According to the iResearch Consulting Group, the Chinese search engine market reached nearly 7 billion yuan(about 1 billion US dollars) in 2009, and Google took 32.8 percent in revenue in the third-quarter while China's home-grown search engine Baidu claimed 63.8 percent. "I think Google is just playing cat and mouse, and trying to use netizens' anger or disappointment as leverage," Guo said. Millions of Chinese are fans and loyal users of Google and its services such as Gmail, Gtalk and Picasa. Many Chinese journalists, like other users, rely on Google Docs to save useful information and contacts. So far, few comments were available from Chinese Internet companies or related government departments. Zhang Yi, an employee with Baidu.com, Google's biggest rival in China, told Xinhua she had heard of Google's statement but would not comment. An official with China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said the ministry's spokes personwas not available for comment. If Google quit, it would leave a huge hole in the market for other search engines in China to fill, said Liu Dan, a researcher with a Beijing-based consulting company affiliated to the China Center for Information Industry Development. "The Chinese market welcomes competition, but maybe Google should also think more about adapting toChina, rather than just working in its U.S. way without flexibility,"Liu said.

http://www.china.org...nt_19238308.htm China's Internet is open and welcomes international companies, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday,just two days after Google issued a statement saying it might quit China. Spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular news briefing that China encouraged development of the Internet. "China's Internet is open," said Jiang. "China has tried creating a favorable environment for Internet,"said Jiang while responding to a question on Google's possible retreat. "China welcomes international Internet companies to conduct business within the country according to law," she said. "China's law prohibits cyber crimes including hacker attacks." Google's corporate development andchief legal officer, David Drummond, posted a statement on the company's official blog on Tuesday, indicating the possibility that Google may "shut down Google spam, and potentially our offices in China." The statement said that its disputes with the government and unidentified attacks targeting Google's services in China forced the company to make the review of "the feasibility of our business operations in China." Google sent a short statement to Xinhua Wednesday, saying, "We are proud of our achievements in China. Currently we are reviewing the decision and hope for a resolution." According to the iResearch Consulting Group, the Chinese search engine market reached nearly 7 billion yuan (about 1 billion U.S. dollars) in 2009, and Google took 32.8 percent of the market in the third-quarter while China's home-grown search engine Baidu claimed 63.8 percent. Address: English Editorial Department China Internet Information Center 6th Floor, Building B, 89 Xi Sanhuan Bei Lu Beijing 100089 China

http://www.google.com/finance?q=google Google Inc. (Public, NASDAQ:GOOG) 590.57 +3.48 (0.59%) Real-time: 12:09PM EST

A friend of mine sent this video to me. It shows the historical value of gold compared to the U.S. dollar. It is pretty simple to understand.

I just found the prayer of General George Washington. It is to be dat on June 8, 1783 http://www.scstateho...97/19970218.htm +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ th Carolina General Assembly 112th Session, 1997-1998 Journal of the Senate TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1997 Tuesday, February 18, 1997 (Statewide Session)The Senate assembled at 12:00 Noon, the hour to which it stood adjourned and was called to order by the PRESIDENT. A quorum being present the proceedings were opened with a devotion by the Chaplain as follows: Beloved, In honor of President's Day, we shall pray today the prayer of President George Washington for the United States... still most relevant to our needs: Let us pray. "Almighty God: We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to gov- ernment, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen."

I find it interesting that we Americans are doing exactly the opposite of what this country's founding father warned us against. It is my hope that we consider our country's greatest leader and reclaim our personal liberty of being independent thinkers. This means putting a real value in independent citizen candidates that put "We" before "I".

I guess this was the financial traders answer to http://www.google.com/finance?q=baidu Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) is recently trading at $426.52 in pre-open trading, above its close of $386.50. Baidu, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU), the leading Chinese language Internet search provider, today announced several changes in senior management. Mr. Haoyu Shen, vice president of business operations, has been promoted to senior vice president. Mr. Zhan Wang, senior director of business products, has been promoted to vice president. Baidu also announced the resignation of Chief Operating Officer Dr. Peng Ye. Dr. Ye's resignation is due to personal reasons and is effective as of the date of this announcement. Haoyu Shen joined Baidu in 2007 and has led the planning and execution of the company's search engine marketing platform and associated business alliances. Zhan Wang joined Baidu in 2000 and has been a key driver of the company's commercial product developments. "Haoyu and Zhan have proven track records in driving our business success and I am excited to see them make further contributions in their expanded roles," said Robin Li, Baidu's chairman and chief executive officer. "We thank Peng for his contributions to the company over the last two years and wish him all the best in his future endeavors," Mr. Li added. About Baidu Baidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. As a technology-based media company, Baidu aims to provide the best way for people to find information. In addition to serving individual Internet search users, Baidu provides an effective platform for businesses to reach potential customers. Baidu's ADSs, each of which represents one Class A ordinary share, are currently trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "BIDU." Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Baidu's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Among other things, quotations from management in this announcement contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward- looking statements. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: our growth strategies; our future business development, including development of new products and services; our ability to attract and retain users and customers; competition in the Chinese and Japanese language Internet search markets; competition for online marketing customers; changes in our revenues and certain cost or expense items as a percentage of our revenues; the outcome of ongoing, or any future, litigation or arbitration, including those relating to intellectual property rights; the expected growth of the Chinese language Internet search market and the number of Internet and broadband users in China; Chinese governmental policies relating to the Internet and Internet search providers and general economic conditions in China, Japan and elsewhere. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in our annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of January 6th, 2010, and Baidu undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. For investor inquiries please contact: In China: Mr. Victor Tseng Baidu, Inc. Tel: +86-10-5992-7244 Email: ir@baidu.com Ms. Cynthia He Brunswick Group LLC Tel: +86-10-6566-9504 Email: che@brunswickgroup.com In the U.S.: Ms. Kate Tellier Brunswick Group LLC Tel: +1-212-333-3810 Email: ktellier@brunswickgroup.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM8NvB4vPdI A 7.0 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Haiti earlier today at 21:53 UTC, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, no tsunami warning was issued, contradicting some media reports that said there was one in place. The quake's magnitude was revised down from an initial report of 7.3 on the Richter scale. The USGS reports that the epicentre was fifteen kilometres (ten miles) southwest of Port-au-Prince and 1,140 kilometers (708 miles) southeast of Miami, Florida, at a depth of ten kilometres.

We just have to realize that we are not an empire. We are a democratic nation of immigrants. We need to reason with the people of our ancestral lands. We also have to understand that every deal will not be in our favor.

If this is true. I wish the boys at the Fed would start manipulating the manufacturing market in our favor. This country needs real jobs. The up and down swings do not matter to a person with nothing but a "Will Work For Food" sign in their hands.

Being a resident of DC and witnessing gun battles with automatic weapons in my neighborhood has jaded my view. Too many kids and innocent people getting killed.

I fear that priority should have been given to creating more jobs instead of wasting time and precious tax payer dollars on getting this Health Care bill completed. But, if would be even more expensive to not move forward with this Health care initiative now that the nation is attentive to it. I do think it is a mistake to complete this bill with abortion coverage. I believe in everyone's right to choose, but I should not have to be made to pay for their decisions. This is against my faith and religious belief. What about my liberty. I know this issue will make it to the courts. I am sure the ACLU is preparing the phone lines now. Please Mr. President consider those who consider this a failure.

Only 3 more years until 2013. Happy 2010 everyone.

Maybe the Federal Reserve Board resolution should be more transparency. They know where I get my money and where it goes. I should know the same about them.

Step 2: Register with CCR The Central Contractor Registration (CCR) is a government-wide registry for vendors doing business with the federal government. The CCR centralizes information about grant recipients and also provides a central location for grant recipients to change organizational information. Grants.gov uses the CCR to establish roles and IDs for electronic grant applicants. Tips for registering with CCR 1. Information for registering with the CCR and online documents can be found at http://www.ccr.gov/. 2. Before registering, applicants and recipients should review the Central Contractor Registration user guide at https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/doc/UserAccount.pdf

To access Grants.gov I will need my DUNS Number. The link below provides access to information: If you have a problem and hit reply.

Office of Science - Chicago U.S. Department of Energy Office of Acquisition & Assistance 9800 South Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439 Contact: Marlene Martinez Email: marlene.martinez@ch.doe.gov Reference number: DE-FOA-0000214 Issue date: 12/22/2009 Response due: 03/29/2010 11:59 PM ES

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today outlined theDepartment’s plans to invest up to $366 million to establish andoperate three new Energy Innovation Hubs focused on acceleratingresearch and development in three key energy areas. Each Hub, to befunded at up to $122 million over five years, will bring together amultidisciplinary team of researchers in an effort to speed researchand shorten the path from scientific discovery to technologicaldevelopment and commercial deployment of highly promisingenergy-related technologies. “Given the urgency of our challenges in both energy andclimate, we need to do everything we can to mobilize our Nation’sscientific and technological talent to accelerate the pace ofinnovation,” said Secretary Chu. “The DOE Energy Innovation Hubsrepresent a new, more proactive approach to managing and conductingresearch. We are taking a page from America’s great industriallaboratories in their heyday. Their achievements—from the transistorto the information theory that makes modern telecommunicationspossible—are evidence that we can build creative, highly-integratedresearch teams that can accomplish more, faster, than researchersworking separately.” The Hubs are part of a broad-based clean energy research strategy bythe Obama Administration that will harness America’s innovation machineto achieve the breakthroughs we need. This strategy includes three new initiatives which are designed to complement each other: The first approach is the Energy Frontier Research Centers launchedby the Department’s Office of Science to support multi-year,multi-investigator scientific collaborations focused on overcominghurdles in basic science that block transformational discoveries. The second approach is spearheaded by the Department'srecently-formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy ("ARPA-E"),which uses a highly entrepreneurial funding model that supportsAmerica's passionate energy innovators to explore high-risk,high-reward potentially transformative technologies that are too riskyfor industry to fund. The third novel funding model, Energy Innovation Hubs, willestablish larger, highly integrated teams ideally working under oneroof, conducting high-risk, high-reward research and working to solvepriority technology challenges that span work from basic research toengineering development to commercialization readiness. The three DOE Energy Innovation Hubs will focus on: production of fuels directly from sunlight; improving energy-efficient building systems design; and computer modeling and simulation for the development of advanced nuclear reactors. The Department will provide $22 million in the first year for theestablishment of each Hub and up to $25 million per year for thefollowing four years to support the operations of each Hub—for a totalaward of up to $122 million per Hub. Important information on theDOE’s Hub implementation plan and strategy for managing the Hubs can befound on the Energy Innovation Hubs website: http://hubs.energy.gov. Fuels from Sunlight Energy Innovation Hub The objective of this Hub is to accelerate the development of asustainable commercial process for the conversion of sunlight directlyinto energy-rich chemical fuels, likely using mechanisms based onphotosynthesis, the method used by plants to convert sunlight, carbondioxide, and water into sugar. The Fuels from Sunlight EnergyInnovation Hub will provide researchers with significant new resourcesto accelerate basic and applied research in the drive toward apotentially transformative new energy technology. Achievement of anefficient, cost-effective means to convert solar energy directly tofuel could have significant impact on U.S. energy security and onenergy production globally. Modeling and Simulation for Nuclear Reactors Energy Innovation Hub This Hub is intended to produce a multi-physics computationalenvironment that will be used by engineers to create improvedunderstanding of issues with current and future nuclear energytechnologies. The Department’s Office of Nuclear Energy hosted aworkshop on the Modeling and Simulation for Nuclear Reactors EnergyInnovation Hub on December 7, 2009 to provide an opportunity for thoseinterested in this Hub and its upcoming FOA to fully understand the Hubvision, program objectives, and the procurement process for theestablishment and operation of the Hub. Energy Efficient Building Systems Design Energy Innovation Hub The objective of the Energy Efficient Building Systems Design EnergyInnovation Hub is to develop highly efficient buildings components,systems, and models. Achieving the Hub's main goal of reducing energyuse for indoor space conditioning will require a focus on advances incore technologies, such as advanced refrigeration cycles, as well as ondevelopment of fully instrumented infrastructure aided by buildingssystem design and modeling. Such solutions could have a major impact onnational electricity consumption, as the nation’s buildings consumeapproximately 70 percent of all electric power. A Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) inviting proposals for theFuels from Sunlight Energy Innovation Hub has been issued, and a linkto the FOA is available at the Energy Innovation Hubs website. Thedeadline for proposals for the Fuels from Sunlight Energy InnovationHub is March 29, 2010. Funding opportunity announcements for theother two Energy Innovation Hubs are expected to be issued early nextyear. The Energy Efficient Building Systems Design Hub will also be thecentral component of a regional innovation cluster funding opportunitywhich will include coordinated grant opportunities from otheragencies. Universities, national laboratories, nonprofit organizations, andprivate firms are eligible to compete for an award to establish andoperate a Hub and are encouraged to form partnerships. Awards, basedon evaluation by scientific peer review, will be announced nextsummer. The Hubs are expected to begin work in 2010 and will be fullyoperational by 2011. Media contact(s): (202) 586-4940

The X PRIZE Foundation, a world leader in conducting incentivizedcompetitions to stimulate innovation, announced it will receiveup to $5.5 million in funding from the American Recovery andReinvestment Act, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).With this latest award, the DOE joins the X PRIZE Foundation andcompetition Title Sponsor Progressive Insurance in a uniquepublic-private partnership to spur the development of super fuelefficient and clean vehicles. The DOE funding will provide fortechnical expertise that ensures each vehicle design is reviewedcorrectly and consistently. Funding will also support expanded outreachand education efforts that will focus on promoting public awareness ofthe science and engineering behind energy efficient vehicle designs. Italso supports President Obama’s Strategy for American Innovation, whichcalls on federal agencies to increase their use of prizes as a tool forpromoting technological advances. “Our clean energy future depends on our ability to design andcommercialize new highly-efficient vehicles that are cost-effective forconsumers and use significantly less energy,” said Energy SecretarySteven Chu. “This funding will support cutting-edge, Americaninnovation that can help us fundamentally transform personaltransportation and address the global climate crisis.” The DOE supported the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE fromthe outset with a $3.5 million award to fund a two-year nationaleducation program that engages students and the public in learningabout advanced vehicle technologies, energy efficiency, climate change,alternative fuels and the science, technology, engineering and mathbehind efficient vehicle development. “The U.S. Department of Energy has a rich history of research anddevelopment in energy efficiency and vehicle technologies, and acommitment to educating consumers and the public,” noted PeterDiamandis, chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation. “Their strongand continued commitment to the Progressive Insurance Automotive XPRIZE will give us the ability to reach audiences across consumer andgovernment sectors, and drive change in the future of the autoindustry.” News of the award comes as the Progressive Insurance Automotive XPRIZE conducts its technical team summit in Las Vegas as part of theannual SEMAshow. A press briefing is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3 at 1:20pmPT, in SEMA’s Making Green Cool Zone, located in the upper South Hallof the Las Vegas Convention Center. Multiple Qualified Teams will beshowing their vehicles at the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZEbooth throughout the show. Specific tasks included within this DOE award include: • Vehicle Telemetry Procurement, Installation and Integration:Vehicle telemetry and data acquisition hardware is essential to thetechnical execution of the competition. This award will specificallyassist in procuring, installing, and integrating telemetry equipmentinto Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition vehicles andestablish a data transmission network to enable real-time datatelemetry, which will provide an interactive online experience thatallows internet users to follow the competition vehicles as theyperform in real-time during the competition series. • Pre-Competition Series Safety and Technical Assistance: Theaward will also provide qualified vehicles with an array of expertconsulting, vehicle safety inspections, and fuel economy and emissionsvehicle testing appropriate to their design and level of development.Vehicle design consulting will be provided to select teams by personnelwith expertise specific and relevant to their design and will includereview and discussion of vehicle limitations and deficiencies as wellas prospective corrective actions. • Design and Implement Technical Competition Components: TheDOE will provide support for additional technical staff to design,implement, and manage the competition events. Seven members of thetechnical team, each experienced automotive experts, were announcedrecently. Details are available at http://Use Full URL address/progressiveautoxprizetechteam. The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is aligned with themission of the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Program, which regularlyworks with academia, the private sector, and non-profit organizations,such as X PRIZE, as part of the Department’s work to develop vehicletechnologies and alternative fuels that can reduce greenhouse gasemissions, lessen our dependence on foreign oil, and help the U.S.transportation industry remain competitive in the years ahead. VABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspirea new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offermore consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded tothe teams that win a stage competition for clean, production-capablevehicles that exceed 100 Miles per gallon or energy equivalent (MPGe).The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focuson efficiency, safety, affordability, and the environment. It is aboutdeveloping real, production-capable cars that consumers will want tobuy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is neededbecause today's oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotiveemissions significantly contribute to global warming and climatechange. For more information about the Progressive Insurance AutomotiveX PRIZE, please visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org or email progressiveautopress@xprize.org. VABOUT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Working with a wide array of state, community, industry, and universitypartners, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiencyand Renewable Energy (EERE) invests in a diverse portfolio of energytechnologies. Energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy will mean astronger economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energyindependence for America. For more information about the U.S.Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energyplease contact the EERE Information Center at 1-877-EERE-INF(1-877-337-3463) or on the web at www.eere.energy.gov. VABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institutewhose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit ofhumanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured world headlines when BurtRutan, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew theworld’s first private vehicle to space to win the $10 million Ansari XPRIZE. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZEfor Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 millionProgressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation is creatingand conducting competitions in four prize groups: Exploration (Spaceand Oceans), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, and Education& Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as theleader in fostering innovation through competition. For moreinformation, please visit www.xprize.org.

NASA will soon retire its ageing space shuttle fleet. The final flight is scheduled for 2010. The Space Shuttle Endeavour, the orbiter built to replace the Space Shuttle Challenger, cost approximately $1.7 billion. The average cost to launch a Space Shuttle is about $450 million per mission. American and Russian scientists are beginning to think of ways to revive the Soviet-era Buran space programme, mothballed 20 years ago, may be revived. The Energia / Buran combination attempted only two launches. The first launch in 1987 consisted of the Energia launch vehicle with a cargo compartment attached. The launch vehicle performed flawlessly but the cargo compartment separated badly. The second attempt in 1988 consisted of a Buran / Energia combination. The Buran was launched, circled the earth for one orbit, and returned and landed successfully by remote control. The collapse of Soviet Union economy could no longer support the development of Energia / Buran. The program was eventually canceled, and one of the Buran test vehicles can be seen in a Moscow park as a tourist attraction. On January 14, 2004, President George W. Bush announced A RenewedSpirit of Discovery: The President’s Vision for U.S. Space Exploration,a new directive for the Nation’s space program. The fundamental goal ofthis directive is “to advance U.S. scientific, security, and economicinterests through a robust space exploration program.” With thisaction, the President committed the Nation to a journey of exploringthe solar system and beyond, returning to the Moon in the next decade,then venturing further into the solar system, ultimately sending humansto Mars and beyond. He challenged NASA to establish new and innovativeprograms to enhance understanding of the planets, to ask new questions,and to answer questions that are as old as humankind. On December 22, 2004, Kazakhstan and Russia signed a contract establishing the "Russia-Kazakhstan Baiterek JV" joint venture, in which each country holds a 50-percent stake. The goal of the project is the construction of the Bayterek (poplar tree) space launch complex, to facilitate operations of the Russian Angara rocket launcher. The site is scheduled to be completed in 2009.] This will allow launches with a payload of 26 tons to low earth orbit, compared to 20 tons using the Proton system. An additional benefit will be that the Angara uses kerosene and oxygen as fuel, which is less hazardous to the environment than the toxic fuels used by older boosters. The total expenditure on the Kazakhstani side will be $223 million over 19 years. On December 30, 2005 the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 which was signed into law. NASA will be executing a series of complex ISS assembly and servicing missions using the Space Shuttle while simultaneously developing a new Shuttle-derived transportation system. Implementing a workforce transition plan that retains and nurtures critical skills is vital to these efforts. NASA’s projected budget is basically flat. Supporting three human space flight programs (Shuttle, Station and Constellation) within it requires some very innovative planning including retiring unneeded Shuttle assets as soon as possible, thus reducing Shuttle costs while freeing up assets needed for Constellation Program (CxP). This activity has already started and will accelerate over the next few years. CEV, Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) and related exploration architecture systems. An early exploration development will be the CEV. Like the Apollo Command Module, the CEV will have a crew escape system and represents one building block in the exploration architecture that can send astronauts to the Moon and form the basis for exploration missions to other destinations. It will be launched into orbit using a five-segment derivative of the Shuttle's Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) with a new liquid-propellant upper stage. It will continue to the Moon using redesigned J-2 engines originally used on the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets engines designed for the Apollo Program. Before beginning its lunar mission, the CEV’s capabilities will be demonstrated by carrying crew and cargo to the ISS.

This really disgusts me. People have no respect for beliefs other than their own. Vatican officials identified the assailant as 25-year-old Susanna Maiolo and said she held dual Swiss and Italian nationality.

It is hard to talk about "Global Warming" when we are about to have a blizzard of snow. Kidding.... I do believe in climate change. My cherry blossoms and forsythias were blooming two weeks ago. The weather is very unpredictable. But, I think we may have a WHITE CHRISTMAS. I got this email from Fact Check.