Avatar photoIn Appreciation of Vartan Gregorian

Quotes of the week: “Dignity is not negotiable.” “In our democratic society, the library stands for hope, for learning, for progress, for literacy, for self-improvement and for civic engagement. The library is a symbol of opportunity, citizenship, equality, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, and hence, is a symbol for democracy itself.”  I’m reminded …

Avatar photoIsraeli Rocket Motor Test

You might have seen reports this week that there was a large explosion at an Israeli missile facility.  There wasn’t an explosion.  It was a routine test of a solid-rocket motor. Here’s the deal. On April 20, an Israeli twitter user posted a video of a large smoky cloud to his Twitter account with the …

Avatar photoChauncey Gardiner Makes Another Appearance

Verse of the week: “To the garden of the world anew descending, Potent mates, daughters, sons, preluding, The love, the life of their bodies, meaning and being, Curious here behold my resurrection after slumber, The revolving cycles in their wide sweep having brought me again, amorous, mature, all beautiful to me, all wondrous” — Walt …

Avatar photoA boat only a missile could love

Now that we are all looking at Sinpo for signs of further activity involving the TULP (Towed Underwater Launch Platform) and the collocated floating drydock at the semi-refurbished construction hall, I wanted to bring your attention to an interesting vessel I have been following for a few months.  Its purpose is not entirely understood and …