MarcFriedenberg.com

The events in Paris and surrounding towns are terrifying. The rioters may or may not have a legitimate complaint, but how can they possible believe that this is the best way to get satisfaction? Something is rotten in the state of France.

I’ll be watching this story pretty closely. It gets to the heart of what governments should be allowed to do in order to maintain domestic tranquility, a question that I find very interesting. What’s more, apparently the rioters are using text messaging to create flash mobs, so what was once an amusing gimmick is now causing serious damage. We live in interesting times.

The reigning heavyweight champ in the upcoming sixth “Rocky” movie is named Mason “The Line” Dixon. There’s no way I’m not seeing this thing on opening night.

Stem Cell Test Tried on Mice Saves Embryo. Wouldn’t a God be proud that he/she created beings that could figure out how to do this?

It seems to be very trendy, so I thought I’d better say it: I promise not to legislate from the bench.

I love Fresca. I’ve never really thought of it as “grapefruit-flavored soda,” but I guess that’s what it really is. That’s a little gross, but I’ll deal.

Neil Armstrong? I never hear anything about the first human being to walk on the Moon. Shouldn’t he be more famous?

The Evolution Wars

The President will be spending the rest of August in Crawford, Texas. I wholeheartedly disagree with this MO. Presidents go in White Houses. White Houses go in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. is where national policy is debated and made. Do your job.

I think I may have been looking at the world in the wrong way my whole life. More detail to come later?

The shuttle is orbiting above us after a what appears to be a textbook launch. We actually got to see orbiter detach from the fuel tank and “float” away. Absolutely stunning. It’s corny, but I think America could really use a perfect shuttle mission right now. Let’s hope.

P.S. - If I don’t walk on Mars, I’ll consider my life a failure.

CORRECTION: The same thing that happened to Columbia has happened to Discovery, i.e. a piece of insulating foam has fallen off the external fuel tank. Luckily the orbiter wasn’t damaged, but NASA has grounded future flights until the issue is resolved. Darn.