Space Shuttle Retirement

Hey, its Austin. Today I would like to tell you about the space shuttle retiring. I think its wrong because of we will have to depend on the Russians for space transport. But while we were the dominant space power for many years, we are starting to fall behind. I don't want to see us get behind in the space powers because we it would be a blow to our self image. I think until we get a new launch vehicle, we should keep the shuttle for its purposes. But the senators just don't see the in their right mind to keep it around just because its old and still in good condititon.

I have many ideas to combat this. Keep the shuttle until a new launch vehical is made. Or stop cutting programs that are in the phases of development! If the goverment did a smart thing, they would quit cutting the shuttle program and just do a big overhaul of the shuttle or make a replacement to the shuttle thats exactly what the shuttle does; a ferry to and from space, reusable, and is reletivly cheap to launch and recover. The problem with rockets are: 1. aren't reusable, 2. cost a load of money to build and fuel, 3. and they are time consuming to build. With a shuttle, you could fuel and launch them in a matter of months or weeks depending on the situation! And you only need to build a small fleet of them, 4 or 5 will do to complete the situation. But a rocket fleet will require over 100 rockets to be built. And that isnt covering the money required to fuel, maintain over the time required to put on the pad or in the assembly building. Plus a shuttle is durable, yes i know, "What about Challenger and Columbia?" you ask; well they were ACCEDENTS. Horrable accedents, but we learnt from those accedents, Challenger happened in 86, Columbia in 03, but Challenger happend because of a weather related, and Columbia because of a piece of foam that fell from the big orange tank. But a rigorous inspection before lift off happens everyday the shuttle is on the launch pad.

So in conclusion, it would be illogical to retire the shuttle, just because its old. I also believe in a new launch vehical just like the shuttle also.

The FBI might be your new face book "friend"

So the other day I'm perusing MSNBC and i find an artical that says the FBI might be your next friend on facebook. The reason that they are doing this is because they want to keep tabs on felons or sexual offenders, like rapists and molesters. Well, it says, and i quote, "U.S. law enforcement agents are following the rest of the Internet world into popular social-networking services, going undercover with false online profiles to communicate with suspects and gather private information, according to an internal Justice Department document that offers a tantalizing glimpse of issues related to privacy and crime-fighting."

The document, obtained in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, makes clear that U.S. agents are already logging on surreptitiously to exchange messages with suspects, identify a target's friends or relatives and browse private information such as postings, personal photographs and video clips. I feel its an invasion of privacy on a grand level which the goverment can't do legaly. But I also feel like its a good idea becuase of the felons and criminals trying to commit other crimes, but without the warning of facebook and other social networking sites investigators can check suspects' alibis by comparing stories told to police with tweets sent at the same time about their whereabouts. Online photos from a suspicious spending spree — people posing with jewelry, guns or fancy cars — can link suspects or their friends to robberies or burglaries. So in conclusion, I think its a good thing to do this because of the fact its protecting me and my friends, and people who might be at risk of getting shot up or stabbed b/c of rasist violence, gang releated, or just cause someone was mad at some one. Enough said.