Category: News

Posted on

Space Shuttle

The U.S. space shuttle program is scheduled to end after only two more missions. There has been much debate whether or not to keep the program going. The shuttles were retired after a decision from ex-president George Bush. President Obama has not changed the plan thus far.

The U.S. will now rely on the Russian space program to transport men and women to the space station. The Russians plan to charge $55.8 million per person. Many Americans are leery of allowing the Russians so much control over our space program. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

Posted on

BP Woes

The giant oil company BP is reeling financially since the oil spill started. The company’s stock shares are way down hitting a new low today. The stock closed today at $28.74 per share in New York. Investors are scared of the large amount of clean up funds that are anticipated. They also face a number of lawsuits from various entities.

Those in the know say that the company is still sound but will struggle under the financial weight of the spill for years to come. They have plans to keep drilling and oil prices are steadily going up over time. I am sure the company will survive.

Posted on

Goodbye Jimmy Dean

Known and beloved by millions, the great actor and business man Jimmy Dean has passed away. As an entertainer, many remember “The Jimmy Dean Show” that aired in the 1960s. He is also well known for his hit song “Big Bad John” he went on to start his own company as well.

Jimmy was the founder of the well known Jimmy Dean Meat Co. that produces some of the best sausage there is. He has since sold the company to Sara lee. Jimmy died in his home in Henrico County home in Virginia. I am sure there are thousands who will miss him and remember him as the great man he was!

Posted on

Picasso

Christie’s has done it again. The auction house is once again home to a record setting auction sale. This time it was Picasso’s “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” that fetched over $106 million dollars. There is no information on who the over the phone buyer was but he or she must be doing well!

The painting features a depiction of Marie-Therese Walter. She is reputed to be Picasso’s mistress. She was a subject of many of his works. The work was done in 1932 has moved from place to place before being bought at the auction. It’s good to know that the painting will have a new home and I hope the new owner will be able to display it from time to time.

Posted on

Hacker Convention

This week in Dallas is sure to be interesting. There will be a convention of people who all want to work on the problem of international hacking. There will be representatives from many countries including China, India, Japan, and the European Union. Called the Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit, the convention is sponsored by the EastWest Institute think tank.

The organizers hope to address issues that all countries face. Computer hacking can be used as a weapon in warfare and cause great disruptions. Finding ways to deal with this issue will be tough, but may be worth it all in the end.

Posted on

Volcanoes and travel

Europe is still reeling from the volcano that erupted in Iceland. The volcano has been spewing out smoke and ash that has left nearly every airport in Europe closed. The ash presents a threat to planes as it clogs up their engines creating an unsafe condition. This has led to many questions being asked as to the future of air travel in Europe.

Iceland’s volcano could erupt many more times in the future. It could also erupt for long periods of time. This could affect industry as well as health for millions of people. Trains and boats are trying to keep up with the increase in usage as people turn to these modes of travel to get around. I imagine we will have to wait and see what the results are of this travel interruption.

Posted on

Hello Doc

While I am happy that the Obama administration has been successful in passing the new health care bill, it seems that it may have certain drawbacks. One problem that may crop up is the need for more doctors. With the millions of additional patients that will be seen, a good doctor will be hard to find.

The government is working on ways to increase the amount of doctors available by offering bonuses to doctors who serve in priority areas. They are also considering using doctor led nurse teams to provide for additional patients. I think that becoming a doctor would be a great idea for some of the young people who are in need of a good career.

Posted on

A Good Arrest

The drug problem in America is causing many problems. Not only are our own citizens suffering, but many people in Mexico are paying the price. The good news is that the Mexican police made an arrest that will help keep drugs off our streets and keep Mexicans a little safer. They arrested Jose Antonio Medina who is also known as the “King of Heroin”.

Violence in Mexico is steady as different gangs compete for the lucrative drug trade. Smuggling drugs into the U.S. is very profitable and continues to be a major problem for drug enforcement agencies. I am glad to hear that these lawless people are still being arrested and prosecuted for their crimes!

Posted on

Rare Minerals

The high tech industry uses many different rare minerals to make modern day devices. Cell phones, hard drives, and hybrid cars all use “light” and “heavy” rare earths in their construction. Currently, China supplies most of the world with these minerals, but they are running out of them and may cut supply. The good news is that the U.S. may have an answer.

Deposits of rare earths minerals have been found in Idaho and Montana. Steps have been taken to start mining these minerals and thereby guaranteeing a supply of them for the U.S. the only problem is that the minerals still have to be sent to China to be processed. China is the only nation with the proper equipment.

Posted on

Israel and Palestine

The Middle East continues to be a source of concern for many nations. Stability in the region is always threatening to go out of control. Recent attempts to bridge the gap between Israel and Palestine have had some success, but are in danger of falling apart once again.

Vice President Joe Biden recently traveled to the area to hold talks with all concerned parties. He states that America stands behind efforts to make the Palestinian areas a state. The U.S. has been working for years to get these two parties to some sort of agreement, but so far have been unsuccessful.