Monthly Archives: February 2009

Global Warming Satellite Crashes

Happened to be observing at Vandenberg Air Force base the launch of a satellite that scientists hoped would answer a huge question about global warming called the OCO, or Orbiting Carbon Observatory. Ten minutes after lift-off, those of us standing in a chilly field in the early morning heard the voices over the loudspeakers atContinue reading “Global Warming Satellite Crashes”

Why We’re Expecting Too Much of Obama

The most powerful critique of the American way of life in recent years has come from a conservative professor named Andrew Bacevich, who in his book The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism absolutely dismantles both the Bush doctrine and the fatuous belief that Barack Obama will fundamentally change the national security state.Continue reading “Why We’re Expecting Too Much of Obama”

NASA Satellite Launch Goes Awry: Stolz Attacks Engineers

Yesterday morning at 1:55 a.m., NASA launched a satellite designed to precisely measure flows of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, called the Orbiting Carbon Observatory. Unfortunately the nosecone failed to open as the mission neared orbit, and the satellite crashed into the sea near Antarctica. Bad news for NASA — and the planet — butContinue reading “NASA Satellite Launch Goes Awry: Stolz Attacks Engineers”

Hollywood is Forever

Many years ago, a young student director named Marty Brest made a self-financed movie as a fellow at the American Film Institute called "Hot Tomorrows." The plot cannot be synopsized, but the climax was unforgettable, as the young searcher standing in for Brest himself looked high and low for the meaning of Hollywood, in mortuaries,Continue reading “Hollywood is Forever”

Bad News: Methane Release Threatens Planet — Good News: LA Times Still on the Climate Beat

Here's a strange good news/bad news story. This Sunday the top story on the front pages of the Los Angeles Times was a full-scale feature, complete with excellent graphics, on methane released by the softening of the permafrost. The good news is that the newspaper is still covering the climate beat in a serious way.Continue reading “Bad News: Methane Release Threatens Planet — Good News: LA Times Still on the Climate Beat”

Good News about Stress — Believe It or Don’t

Newsweek may be disappearing from newstands soon, but its medical coverage as of late has been superb. A couple of weeks ago came a story on The Two Sleeps that literally changed my life. (Instead of taking drastic measures to sleep through the night, do what nature suggests — sleep one shift, get up, takeContinue reading “Good News about Stress — Believe It or Don’t”

Hard Times, Kind People — What We Need in 2009, Says Lao Tzu

Have been reading a fascinating book about affective science, called Born to be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life So what, you might say. These are hard times! I can't waste energy on frivolities! But what if the race amongst us hominids — chimps and people alike — goes not to the biggest, brawniest,Continue reading “Hard Times, Kind People — What We Need in 2009, Says Lao Tzu”

Oscar Forecasting by Logical Regression

Though he doesn't state his confidence level, super-statsman Nate Silver predicts the Oscar race in the major categories for New York Magazine with a regression analysis and a database thirty years deep. His logic appears impeccable: for instance, on Best Picture: Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire won all three awards associated with Oscar success: the DirectorsContinue reading “Oscar Forecasting by Logical Regression”