The government used false testimony in the case against Tim McVeigh, and covered it up in order prevent any delay in his execution.

I’ve always wondered what their hurry was in carrying out his sentence. The apparent rush seemed unprecedented in modern times, and made it look like they were more interested in getting him out of the way than in dispensing justice. I’m convinced that there’s much more to this case than meets the eye, or has been widely reported.

Not to mention science and science fiction writer, and all-around renaissance man.

Dr. Robert Forward, who died last September, started to write his autobiography when he learned that he had terminal cancer. He didn’t have time to finish it, but what he did complete has been put on line.

There apparently were some. Really.

This is pretty darned funny. Scroll down to “Customer Advice” and see what was recommended as an accompaniment or alternative to Hillary’s latest tome.

Actually, I think that Mein Kampf would be appropriate as well.

I’d like to thank all the good people who’ve been hitting the tip jar lately. Now is actually a good time for it, from my personal standpoint.

I was going to do a write up of the past weekend’s Space Access Conference, but Clark Lindsey over at Hobbyspace (which I’m also adding to the blogroll) has saved me the trouble.

Paul Hsieh found this neat page of various cellular automata. Click on the various universes to restart them.

There’s going to be an on-line chat with Brad Stone, author of the story about Jeff Bezos’ venture in space, tomorrow at noon, Eastern Daylight Time.

[Update on Thursday]

Sorry, my screwup. It’s tomorrow (Friday) not tomorrow from whatever day I originally posted this.

We’re used to hearing him shred dumb reporters’ questions in the Pentagon briefings. Here’s an interview of Rumsfeld in Kuwait by Middle East Broadcasting.

I haven’t had (or at least, made) the time to write up this past weekend’s Space Access Conference, but Jeff Foust has, in part, over at The Space Review (an excellent site that I would suggest adding to your bookmarks–I’ve updated my space policy links to include it). He has a good description of the issues and discussion of regulating suborbital flight that came out of that meeting, in a panel that included both vehicle developers and the FAA-AST.

Summary: As I’ve been saying for a long time, initial space transports will not be certified, even for passengers, because to do so would result in a stillborn industry. And Burt Rutan may end up losing the X-Prize because he’s not doing what’s necessary in order to be able to legally fly by the end of next year, regardless of the technical readiness of his vehicle.