Saturday Quick Hits

Some short takes today...

-Congress averted a government shutdown yesterday by passing a 2-week continuing resolution to fund the government, but also getting Democrats to agree to $4 billion in cuts from previous levels.  This means absolutely nothing.  In another example of the NFL paralleling what is happening in Congress, all this did was delay the inevitable.  Nobody wants to make tough decisions.  To resolve this, somebody has to give on something.  Instead of actually bargaining and coming to a resolution, they just delay it.  People need to stand up for what they believe in (especially the Republicans...whom the people voted in to do just this!) and not just cower to political pressure over fear of losing their jobs 2 years from now.  TMQ compares this to a coach who tries not to lose (or worse...simply contain the margin of defeat) solely so he can go to an owner and say, "See?  At least we didn't get blown out."  I believe a certain ESPN commentator/former head coach once said...

I'm sick of politicians trying to make everyone happy.  Do what you were elected to do...GOVERN!  Sorry, fellas, but in the world of politics there are winners and losers.  There are no ties.  If you want to win...you play to win the game. 

Hello?

-Discovery is currently spending its final day in space before sparating from the ISS and coming home tomorrow.  I know that NASA likes to wake the astronauts up using a wide variety of musical selections, but seriously...they woke them up to this?  Anyway, from all accounts, the mission so far has been a great success.  Today the astronauts are spending the day performing maintenance on the ISS and finishing delivery of materials and spacewalks. 

-In other NASA news, the Glory Earth Observatory satellite failed to reach orbit after taking off from Vanderberg Air Force Base (CA) on Friday.  The explanation was that the fairing (protective cover during launch) failed to separate from the spacecraft on the ascent, therefore sinking back with the satellite still in tow.  It now rests at the bottom of the Pacific.  I'm sorry, but how long have we been doing this?  NASA engineers have been launching rockets for over half a century, you'd think that they would have perfected the art of separating the payload from the launch vehicle so that it attains a stable orbit.  Ahhh, but this is not the first time this has happened using this particular launch vehicle (the Taurus XL).  Of course, in typical NASA fashion, they establish a (you ready for this?) "mishap" board to investigate the cause of the failure.  If you'll allow me, please allow me a way to help us save a couple million dollars on a "mishap" board.  GET RID OF THE LAUNCH VEHICLE!  Had it been successful, the Glory satellite would have studied solar radiation and aerosols in relation to how they potentially affect Earth's climate.