President’s Weekend Random Goodies

A collection of things today:

Atlantis successfully deployed and installed the Columbus science module to the ISS. The link has a nice picture of the current configuration of the ISS after Atlantis undocked earlier today. A couple of small tasks were left to the ISS inhabitants to finish up. The space shuttle Endeavour began its move to the launch pad also. STS-123 will deliver a new addition to the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm and the first segment of Japan’s massive Kibo laboratory (nice picture!).

The military is planning on shooting down a defunct spy satellite. Russia says it’s a weapons test (it is) and China is worried about it. Well, why worry about what those two think? They’re only nuclear-armed countries that our current administration isn’t doing so hot a job of interacting with.

Jared Polis has an extended diary responding to Vincent Carroll’s attack on his economic status. Funny how Republicans never shoot their own for being successful, regardless of the policies they’re advocating. Ave Cassandra talks more about problems with insurance companies: their efforts to prevent care from actually occurring.

John Andrews (past president of CO Senate & fellow with the Claremont Institute) had an opinion piece in yesterday’s Post. Let me start by saying I can’t believe this guy is a fellow of an institute that produces policy papers. His column yesterday, continuing a long-term writing pattern, was filled with name calling and fear mongering. I guess that’s all Republicans ever had anyway, but it’s painfully obvious now that all their policies have failed so spectacularly. Just a small example: “President Barack Obama’s maturity deficit against the GOP’s war-hero nominee…” How childish. I certainly do not remember John touting Sen. Kerry’s war experience or maturity against an AWOLer in 2004. Party above principle seems to be the operating state for Republicans.