Update no.1181

 Update from the Sunland

No.1181

26.8.24 – 1.9.24

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

SpaceX twice delayed the launch of its Polaris Dawn mission; the first delay due to a reported helium leak, and the second postponement for forecast weather on the planned return date and landing area. Then, a Falcon 9 first stage booster missed its landing somehow and toppled over on a drone ship, which induced an FAA investigation and suspended the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch license. It was the first landing failure after 267 successful booster recovery landings on land and at sea. The video of the failed landing does not cover the best angle, but it appears one or two of the four alighting legs failed to lock into place and collapsed. They will sort out this landing failure in short order.

Apparently, SpaceX satisfied the FAA the causal factors of the landing failure are known, and corrective action is agreed. As a result, a new launch date has been set for the Polaris Dawn mission—03:38 [R] EDT, Wednesday, 4.September.2024. The mission plan calls for an unusual elliptical orbit with an apogee of 827 miles, well into the Van Allen radiation belt where they expect to conduct an open capsule spacewalk to gather data about that particular environment.

Just an FYI: the expected launch date of the SpaceX IFT-5 mission is now no earlier than Ocotber.2024.

 

The follow-up news items:

-- On Tuesday, Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a superseding criminal indictment against [the person who shall no longer be named] in the election interference case {United States v. Trump [USDC DC Case 1:23-cr-00257-TSC (2023)] [1125]}. Smith pared down the evidence in the original indictment to comply with the Supreme Court’s recent presidential immunity ruling [Trump v. United States [603 U. S. ____ (2024); No. 23–939] [1173]]. The evidence removed from the original indictment deals with predominantly the former president’s attempt to pressure or engage Justice Department official in his BIG LIE. Now, it will be up to Judge Tanya Chutkan to make her determination of what is official and unofficial in the case before her against Little Fingers. From my reading of the superseding indictment, Smith has gone the extra mile to comply with the Supremes’ immunity ruling. How quickly this case can be brought to trial is yet to be determined.

Regardless of the outcome of this case, Little Fingers persists with his BIG LIE, now publicly claiming that he would have won California if they had counted the votes properly . . . just another aspect of the BIG LIE—no facts whatsoever. I cannot attribute such falsehoods to being delusional, since I believe the evidence shows amply that his BIG LIE is purposeful and intentional. While Little Fingers perseveres with his BIG LIE, he is corroding confidence in our election systems and electoral process. He does not care. We do! He will never be forgiven for the destruction he has brought to this once grand republic. I continue to have faith we will eventually overcome that man’s malignant narcissism, but my faith is under constant pressure.

It must be remembered that the felonious activities of [the person who shall no longer be named] occurred after he had exhausted all legal remedies to his claims of electoral malfeasance. He could not win in court, so he engaged a mob of radical, right-wing, extremists to do his dirty work. He deserves what is coming to him . . . eventually . . . and slowly.

Lastly, if the protesters had remained behind police barricades on 6^th of January [2021], we would not likely be in this mess, and the former president would not be charged with federal crimes. Alas, he encouraged the more violent elements among his supporters to disrupt the electoral process he told them was fraudulent. He must be held accountable for his criminal conduct.

 

While on a campaign tour in Georgia, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz sat down for an interview with Dana Bash of CNN. It was a fairly vanilla event. What was noteworthy or remarkable was what did not happen. Walz sat through the entire hour interview with only one question put to him. It was not a good look for the Democratic ticket. Both candidates handled their questions quite well. Harris avoided several bait questions, as rightly she should have. From my perspective, they passed the test.

My recommendation for future events, for what it is worth, they should avoid situations where Walz appears like a lump on a log. I doubt there are any concerns about them being on step together. So, take the leash off, and let Walz have his time in the sun.

In the disgusting footnote category, after the Harris-Walz interview, [the person who shall no longer be named] spewed another one of his idiotically juvenile epithets. That adolescent bully referred to Governor Walz as Tampon Tim. And, that man wants to be president of the United States of America. Worse yet, there are millions of good citizens who think he was and will make a good president. I do not see how they can arrive at such judgments, but hey, that is the nature of democracy.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1180:

Comment to the Blog:

“George Santos is contained and gets no more of my attention.

“Some of us don’t think of it as ‘the good book.’ Your discussion of controlling knowledge to control the public is spot on. The State Governments of Florida and Texas (among others) would like to re-live the Dark Ages with their GOP in authority.

“The Democrats support the genocide in Palestine and its extension to at least Lebanon.

“Being a dictator looks easy, but carries enormous personal and national risks.

“I’m sad for the astronauts who have been stranded by their Boeing craft. Boeing and the bureaucrats who enabled Boeing should immediately be removed from positions of responsibility over that and their other failures.

“We continue experiencing climate change here in Ohio, currently as a late-season heat wave with an air quality alert and ongoing drought. Our generation has lived to see some of the consequences of not acting.”

My response to the Blog:

Quite understandable.

That is my opinion as well. It is also one of myriad reasons I will not likely ever vote for a conservative candidate at any level again. Moral projectionists should be kept as far away from the instruments of State as possible; I shall do my part as long as I can.

Come on. Surely you do not believe that. I find no evidence to even remotely hint at such a position. Genocide . . . really?

Oh yes it does, but that does not stop ambitious men from seeking such power, despite the fact that most of them end up like Moammar Qaddafi.

Quite so. The problems at Boeing seem to be far more widespread than publicly understood, and they most emphatically had enablers, especially in the FAA. I am all for accountability.

The whole world is feeling and seeing the effects of climate change. It has only just begun. However, we must also remember that a single natural event like the Chicxulub impact could thrust us into another ice age.

 . . . follow-up comment:

“Genocide of course. I don't know where you get information, but I've seen an enormous amount of it. The history of Israel tells me it was the goal from the beginning (and back to Biblical writings). Netanyahu has added personal motivation, but Zionists have long sought extermination of everyone else in Palestine. Journalism abounds with evidence that genocide is underway.”

 . . . my follow-up response:

With respect, I do not think it is a matter of information, rather the interpretation of information. That said, even the facts are debatable based on the source. Hamas estimates of civilian fatalities have to be questioned by the source alone; they want inflated numbers to inflame world opinion in their favor. And apparently, their campaign is working. It is rare to see any military give up the element of surprise before executing combat operations, and yet, that is precisely what the IDF has repeatedly done. To me, “genocide” involves the purposeful targeting of civilian (non-combatant) personnel for the purpose of killing them. Putin’s operations in Ukraine are a prime contemporary example. I may be blind to the signs you perhaps see, but that is how I see Gaza to date.

“That’s just my opinion, but I could be wrong.”

 

Another contribution:

“We need to teach this stuff in grammar school.”

My reply:

Grammar school may be a smidge early for this kind of discussion. I strongly reject the conservative penchant to seriously restrict knowledge, science, and public debate in our public schools. We need children to learn respectful debate. But, all this political stuff is a bit heavy for elementary school children. Much of it should be taught by parents, but we know how that has gone so far.

 

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)