George Yoshitake, Don Luttrell, and four other officers stood directly underneath an exploding nuclear warhead 55 years ago — and lived to tell their tale.
The blast was just a test, a bit of Cold War marketing designed to make the concept of nuclear war less scary for the public, but the 2-kiloton atomic explosion set off over the Nevada nuclear test site (and over the heads of those six men) was very real.
On Friday, August 3rd from 9:05-9:55am (CDT), I will be interviewing famed honest-election journalist and advocate Brad Friedman. This will be a “Thinkwing Radio” edition, and will combine “Open Journal-Community Conversation” with “Open Journal-Community Spotlight”. (“Community Conversation” will be live from 9:05-9:30am. Brad’s interview will run from 9:30-9:55am, and will be pre-recorded.) You will be able to listen in real time in Houston on 90.1 FM, or online here.
Voter rights and election integrity have been under assault in ways that we have not seen since the 1965 Voting Rights Act became law. Why that’s the case, what can be done about it, and how you can take steps to protect your vote will be among the topics of discussion during this hour.
The show will also be added to the Thinkwing Radio blog on the archive page shortly after it becomes available.
Join us!
John F. Kennedy Moon Speech – Rice Stadium
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.~ President John F. Kennedy at Rice University (September 12, 1962), John F. Kennedy Moon Speech – Rice Stadium
The Curiosity Rover is scheduled to land on the Mars on August 5, 2012. This date is not optional. If it doesn’t land, it will crash; game over.
This is the riveting and pulse-thumping video which NASA has released to explain the process of getting this probe from a speed of 13,000 mph to -0- in just 7 minutes.
Published on Jun 22, 2012 by VideoFromSpace
NASA’s Curiosity rover is a 1-ton robot that will make an unprecedented Mars landing on Aug. 5, 2012. See how the risky maneuver will keep rover team members in suspense for 7 fateful minutes. Credit: NASA
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Note: I originally mis-stated the Mars atmospheric entry speed of Curiosity as 1300 mph. – Mike
I posted the opinion below in response to Wisconsin Recall: Hijacking or Pilot Error? (June 11, 2012). For election results, I used this article as reference: Wisconsin June 5 recall election results.
I have started a recount petition here: “Re-count The Wisconsin Recall”. Please consider signing.
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Far be it from me to question your analytics of the situation, but I’m disappointed that more people are not asking the more fundamental question which I’ve been asking: Did Walker actually win? It is a truism that when exit polls and election results vary widely, the problem is probably with the election results (See: Ukraine, Nov. 2004). As we saw in 2000 and 2004, that rule doesn’t seem to apply in the United States.
Maybe it should. Continue reading
Because I always consider voting and elections to be serious topics, I thought it might be useful to post some of the references and notes that I used for the May 29th show. Some of the points were not addressed during the show due to time. – Mike
Continue reading
Thinkwing Radio with Mike Honig continues with my next scheduled show on May 29th (Tuesday at 9:30-9:55 am CT) on KPFT in Houston (90.1 FM). You can listen live when the show is on-air by clicking here: Listen Live (32k)
The date for this show was set far in advance, but by serendipitous political chance, it also turned out to be on Texas Primary Election Day. I’ve decided to do something apropos.
My scheduled guest is Dr. Cole Blease Graham, Jr., a visiting professor of political science and government at Texas A&M University, at The Bush School of Government and Public Service.
The tentative topic will be … Elections! How close they can get, and how to motivate voters and potential voters to participate in them.
What’s in a word? Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Do words shape ideas, or is it the other way around? Do the limitations of language (homonyms; synonyms; diverse word origins evolving into words sounding the same but meaning totally different things) expand our perspectives while still subtly limiting them?
“Etymology”, the origin of words, is always fascinating. Most words can be traced to Proto-Indo-European, or “PIE”, as it is often abbreviated.
The Trayvon Martin case has forced all of us to look at our own basic prejudices and assumptions.
So the question remains: What’s in a word?
Below are some dictionary definitions and etymologies for three words: “Hoodlum”, “Hood”, and “Hoodie”. When you hear these words, think of what they evoke in your mind, and then read below for the dictionary definitions and believed origins of these words.
Mike Continue reading
This piece was originally written as a commentary for “Thinkwing Radio with Mike Honig”, broadcast on Talk650-AM (Houston) on July 12, 2010. You can hear the original show, with guest D.B. Grady (columnist at TheAtlantic.com) by clicking these links: Segments 1 2 3 4 (ThinkWing Radio with Mike Honig, 7/12/2010) Let me know if these links don’t work for you. As an alternative, click on the ARCHIVE tab and go to the show for July 12th. – Mike]
UPDATE: On February 19, 2013, The Washington Post published a story entitled “Stanley McChrystal says the U.S. should reinstitute the draft”. (Read it here.) His reasonings are not so different from mine.
The recent firing of General Stanley McChrystal once again reminds us that in the United States, civilian authority controls the military. That’s the way it must be if a democracy is to remain a democracy.
But here’s a question: Have our troops been abused by the deficient policies and strategies of some in civilian leadership? Are there things which our civilian leaders need to do better?
Continue reading
[UPDATE (April 2, 2012): We now need 9,333 more signatures to hit 25,000 by April 17. If you have not yet signed the petition, please do so, and ask your friends and co-workers to log into the site and sign.]
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A new petition has been initiated (the first one failed by just 88 signatures!), and needs 25,000 signatures by April 17, 2012. As of this date (March 25), it is more than halfway there at 12,574.
The NEW petition can be found here: https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/#!/petition/increase-nih-funding-33-billion-proposed-flat-307-billion-dollars-will-hurt-econmy-and-medical/FNr0kRbj
The original petition needed 25,000 signatures by March 18th. It fell short by just 88 signatures!
The new announcement is below. The original petition announcement, with arguments for its support, is below that. ~ Mike
NASA’s CGI-animated history of the Moon. It’s had a tough life.
Read more via Wired Science.
Update, March 25, 2012: The petition announced below has expired. Outdated links have been removed. Please see the post for the new petition at http://wp.me/p12dO4-1eX
There’s a lot of interesting and important science waiting to be done in this country. Doing it, however, is becoming financially impossible.
Government support for research which has no immediate payoff is essential, or basic research often doesn’t get done. Yet over a decade or more, federal funding of research in ‘real’ dollars has been almost continually ‘flat’ or cut. Continue reading
This essay was originally written on March 11, 2007. It was published around that time in MugsysRapSheet.com (and I’ve added a couple of the links included from that posting). I could update it, but I think it still applies, even 5 years after I originally composed it. ~ Mike
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GOP: The Party of Hate
By Michael R. Honig
It’s no longer a joking matter; no longer something that we should avoid saying because it’s ‘impolitic’ or disrespectful of others’ views or opinions. No longer something that we should fear saying because it might be seen as hysterical hyperbole.
What do we call a political party or movement that consistently works to aggrandize the rich and powerful; marginalizes the poor and weak; ignores the political oppositions’ legitimate objections and concerns; derogates anyone who disagrees with them or with whom they disagree; ignores inconvenient laws and creates new, Constitutionally questionable laws and policies as it suits their needs; ignores world public opinion; moves military forces anywhere they want at any time they want without regard to domestic political process or international law; puts words that were never said into the mouths of their opponents and then criticizes or ridicules those opponents for those things they never said (aka, ‘the Straw Man’ Strategy); creates and widely disseminates lies and distortions with many coordinated voices in many powerful media outlets in order to gain emotionally charged political advantage; engages in character assassination; reveals national security secrets in order to gain domestic political advantage or hurt their domestic political opposition; find or create questionable legal grounds to export people for torture and interrogation that would otherwise be illegal; find questionable legal grounds for indefinite detention of their enemies? Continue reading
Radio Show Commentary, 7/5/2010
I’m a self-admitted ‘space geek’. So to me, space exploration matters. But being the first to go somewhere in space … doesn’t.
Let me offer some historical context.
Continue reading
Apollo 11 Mission Patch
Today I received a campaign email from Alan Grayson. His email is included here, below my response:
Dear Alan,
Even among those of us who support you and the Democratic Party, and even among those of us who despise Newt and the GOP and what they stand for, even among us … There are those of us who support an expanded presence in space and space exploration.
Below are two letters which I found on westcoastportshutdown.org. They are dated January 19, 2012, and I have not at this time been able to independently verify them.
If they are legitimate, and if the scenario they discuss is real, than this has the potential to be an extremely serious situation, escalating tensions between labor and the federal government to a level not seen in decades.
The letters and links are reproduced below as I found them.
(On Jan. 22, I found confirming articles with some additional information: Obama Deploys Military in Labor Dispute, Statement of S.F. Labor Council dated January 10; Military Resistance 10A12 dated Jan. 13; Military Intervention vs. Maritime Union Power dated Jan. 21.)
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UE Local 150 calls on Obama to order military to stand down
I am excited to announce that I have been in contact with KPFT in Houston (90.1 FM), and I am currently scheduled to do a 25 minute show on Wednesday, January 11 (from 9:30-9:55 am CST) in their “Open Journal” slot.
The tentative subject of this interview will be, “The Brave New World of War & Peace: Is it time to agree on new rules?”
To my knowledge, the last time any nation declared war on any other was when the United States reciprocated Nazi Germany’s declaration of war on the U.S. (The Germans had declared war on the U.S. under their mutual defense treaty with Japan, following the U.S.’s declaration of war on Japan after Pearl Harbor.)
Since 1942, then, there have been plenty of wars and invasions, but no declarations of war between nations. Now the United States (and presumably others, now or in the future) are using covert ‘boots on the ground’ (e.g., Seal Team 6) or unmanned drones to attack and/or surveille opponents and potential adversaries.
What is the logical direction for this type of warfare to follow, what are its long-term implications for international relations, and what can or should be done to pro-actively control directions of this new future of war, peace, and the twilight in-between?
My scheduled guest is D.B. (David) Grady. David is an essayist, novelist, and a Correspondent for The Atlantic. He is a former paratrooper with U.S. Army Special Operations Command and a veteran of Afghanistan. He is currently co-authoring an examination of the secrecy apparatus of the United States, with Marc Ambinder. (John Wiley & Sons, 2012). The duo recently completed an e-book single for release next year. (John Wiley & Sons, 2012).
This should be an exciting show, about a topic which has rarely if ever been discussed. We will probably barely have time to scratch the surface of this subject, which we will no doubt re-visit.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 12,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Here’s a quick headline sample from the past few months:
I don’t think that any of these pieces address this point: Continue reading
If I turn out to be right on this, remember you probably read it here first.
I’m beginning to suspect that the GOP nominee for the 2012 general election may well be, “None of the above“. I.e., some dark horse candidate who’s either at the margins (like a Huntsman or a Roemer), or someone totally out of left field.
It involves two words which we haven’t used in about 70 years: “Brokered Convention“. Continue reading
For those who maintain the occupation at night and all day: “They also serve who only stand and wait.” ~ John Milton (1608 – 1674) from Sonnet XIX.
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The first section below the jump is a simple meeting schedule for Nov. 24-28. Below that are listed planned events, then informational postings.
The last section includes downloadable posters/artwork donated by artists for the cause. Note the included disclaimer.
SCHEDULED ACTIONS (Click links or see below the jump for more details):
Solidarity Protest for Egypt – Fri., Nov. 25:Friday November 25th, 2pm-5pm 5718 Westheimer Road , Suite 1350 Houston, TX 77057
Black Friday Action (Fri., Nov. 25): Mic Check at the Galleria Friday November 25th 5:30pm, Westheimer and Post Oak…
OccupyHouston Calendar
COMMENTARY: THOUGHTS AFTER THANKSGIVING
Workgroups NEAR THE BOTTOM, BELOW THE JUMP.
OccHou’s Guide to General Assembly <–CLICK HERE, OR SCROLL DOWN AFTER JUMP
Over the first few days of accepting contributions, we are so heartened by the generosity of folks who have brought us water, food, and several other items that made our first overnight in the park much more comfortable. …
For those who maintain the occupation at night and all day: “They also serve who only stand and wait.” ~ John Milton (1608 – 1674) from Sonnet XIX.
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Upcoming Events:
Nov. 17, “We are the 99%” March
When: Saturday, Nov. 19th at 2 pm Where: Houston Public Library Central Branch, 4th floor conference room, 500 McKinney
Other news and information:
Two photos from the 11/15 police action.
ANOTHER HOUSTON OCCUPIER ARRESTED – NOVEMBER 15, 2011
More details below the jump.
“The Harvard iteration of the Occupy protests is ironically, appropriately, and unwillingly now the most exclusive Occupy protest in the country.” ~ Harvard Keeps Occupy Harvard Harvard-Only, by Adam Clark Estes, The Atlantic Wire
I have often discussed the Occupy Movement with my step-daughter, Grace (to whom I sometimes refer as my daughter, so don’t get confused). So you can imagine my interest and excitement (and I think hers, too) when she told me that there was going to be an #OccupyHarvard. Continue reading
For those who maintain the occupation at night and all day: “They also serve who only stand and wait.” ~ John Milton (1608 – 1674) from Sonnet XIX.
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Please note that these summary and report posts are not a substitute for visiting the #OccupyHouston home site. I present them as a digest of what’s available there. – Mike
Upcoming events and meetings (with more details below the jump or directly on the #OccupyHouston site, via links):
* OCCUPY HOUSTON MOVES TO SWEEP UP DOWNTOWN: The group is currently asking for seventy upright “lobby-dustpans” and brooms to fulfill their ongoing “Clean Sweep” project on November 13th.
* REPORT: [Next] Women’s Group Meeting, Tues. Nov 15th 5:30 PM
* Occupy Houston Study and Strategy Discussion: Nov. 19th from 2-4:45pm in the Program Room of the Houston Public LIbrary
For those who maintain the occupation at night and all day: “They also serve who only stand and wait.” ~ John Milton (1608 – 1674) from Sonnet XIX.
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LOTS OF NEW NEWS!
GA Minutes Nov. 7th, below the jump
Women’s Group Meeting, Tuesday, November 8th, 5pm: [Details below jump]
1) to take an informal survey on each person’s PoV regarding gender balance/imbalance…
2) talk specifically about the homeless population issues….
OccupyHouston’s next big scheduled event will take place on 11/11/11 – DAY OF SOLIDARITY. More details of this and other events and news are below the jump.
Occupy Houston Study and Strategy Discussion: Nov. 19th from 2 – 4:45pm in the Program Room of the Houston Public Library
Come out to this discussion where we will be addressing 3 main items:
1) Causes of the economic crisis
2) Finding concrete solutions
3) OccupyHouston – what comes next? – sustainability of the movement
More info below the jump
ARTICLE: OCCUPY HOUSTON MOVES TO SWEEP UP DOWNTOWN, Nov. 13th <==Click here to read: Occupy Houston wants to clean up your city…and yes, this means you. Occupy Houston is the local observance of the ongoing Occupy Wall Street movement, which was hatched by the Canadian magazine Adbusters, and while the campaign has certainly ruffled the feathers of municipalities across the United States, the Houston chapter seems to have it’s sights set on more sustainable actions. One of their directives is a city-wide invitation to help them sweep the downtown streets on a monthly basis. [Rest of article here.]
ARTICLE: Asheville (NC) under attack with snatch squads <==Click here to read: Police snatching Occupy Asheville participants in retaliation for Oakland solidarity march by occupy Sunday Nov 6th, 2011 2:24 PM [Rest of article here.]
“When facism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” ~ Sometimes attributed to Sinclair Lewis, from his writings. (Other interesting possible attributions here. More information at bottom)
After you read that quote, this video — already horrible — takes on a whole new meaning.
Read below this note to learn about the background of this disturbing video.
Continue reading
