If you tuned in to NASA TV you got to see it live (Nasa.gov or Space.com), except for me since my P.O.S. Compaq decided to lock up at T-minus one-minute-forty

:::Insert sound of PC hitting every step in the stairwell:::

Too bad the mainstream press doesn’t give a damn about these events. Each and every one of these is a major engineering feat but, sadly, we take them for granted.

I’m still miffed that the first woman commander’s mission (one that actually had several major problems including a main engine failure) was buried by the press in favor of coverage of JFK’s spoiled son and his poor choice of a landing strip.

Sound off yourselves! What do you think about NASA’s current state, goals, and future? Should we spend more time going to the moon? Mars? Whatever!

That whole Polar Lander incident didn’t keep ’em down, fortunately: NASA is about to launch another mission to Mars. The Mars Odyssey is schedule to launch this weekend.

Below, I’ve posted a big email received via the still-going-strong
SF-News mailing list. Short version: In response, perhaps,
to the joys of Napster, a company called CableLabs is
trying to push through a system to copy-protect broadcast
and cable TV signals. The spooky ramifications are expounded
upon, and it’s not at all pretty.
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