Now they’re saying that if the requirements have changed, they should be given time to submit a proposal that meets those requirements. Lockmart had submitted a proposal that was too large for the original requirements but somehow magically met the new requirements, and Boeing is calling that unfair.

Though I’m thoroughly unimpressed by everyone’s behavior throughout this entire ordeal, I’m inclined to side with Boeing on this point.

I assume you mean Ground Source Heat Pumps; this merely stores relatively cool or warm thermal energy (depending on season) for use latter. Which is a far cry from what Enhanced Geothermal energy is.

But some land owners are lucky enough to have sufficiently hot springs with which to do actual geothermal energy production on.

Enhanced Geothermal Energy are artificial very deep very hot springs, and it is probably the best alternative energy production method out there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_heat_pump

MO, I thought the USAF changed the requirement for the tanker to now favor a larger plane. This is why boeing is wanting more time so they can put together a bid for the 777. Originally they went with the 767 because it fit the requirement as a replacement for the kc-135. Now they appear to be changing the requirement to favor an even larger plane. I haven’t paid too much attention to this over the summer, but here is an article that contains some good info.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008043091_tankercontract100.html

I mentioned in a previous post the US should seriously consider some form of involvement in Mexico, similar to how we are trying to “spread democracy” in other areas of the world. I can’t understand why our political elites don’t consider Mexico the biggest potential problem we face instead of the constant concern over Georgia and Iran.

These drug cartels are threatening to turn Mexico into a failed state. The violence is alarming and it has to be hurting their economy. If the US is going to stick its nose into other peoples’ business, then why not on our doorstep that has a demographic time bomb waiting to explode onto our borders?

There are 110 million people in Mexico and this is growing by over 1 pc per year. According to census data released last week Mexicans, not just hispanics, will probably comprise around 25% to 30% of the US population by 2042. With our “melting pot” model of assimilation being replaced by multicultural policies like dual citizenship, retention of immigrant’s languages, etc., it does not look like we are going to absorb all these folks into our culture. It is incredible to think that the USA might actually become a “latin” nation.

And given the territorial disputes with Mexico along our shared border, it worries me that we might get our own Kosovo or S. Ossetia in the not so distant future.

Even if this doesn’t happen, the migration of so many who don’t assimilate will undoubtedly change our national character. Maybe by 2042 the US won’t actively support Israel anymore. Given Mexico’s ambivalence towards this issue, what would make one think that unassimilated Mexicans living here would suddenly support it? This would probably be true with other issues that most Americans take for granted.

It is not just the potential for border disputes or a changed national culture that is worrisome. Think about the fact that our population was at 200 million in 1967, reached 300 million less than 40 years later and will probably be closing in on 450 million by 2050. With that many people, it will definitely affect our quality of life by putting more strain on water resources and other infrastructure like schools, hospitals and the power grid.

Yet we continue to worry about 4 million Georgians thousands of miles away. It is time to make Mexico a top priority.

It would have been SO much funnier if I would have got that right….

You should have gone just a bit further….

Like this maybe!

Fighting intensifies in Pakistan’s Northwest

If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

U.S. to Hand Over Security Duties in Anbar to Iraqi Forces

If this isn’t under control already, it’s close. We’ll see if things hold as US troops pull back.

11 headless bodies found near Mexico graveyard

Why we’re not more concerned about the escalating drug war in Mexico, I don’t know. If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

War a US election plot, claims Putin

Remarks made right after Russia test-fired a Topol RS-12M missile. If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

Putin chokes chicken supplies from U.S.

That, my friends, is a terrible headline. If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.
Secret Space Shots’ Hidden Emblems

Secret patch for STS-38.

Pentagon Reports U.S. Airstrike Killed 5 Afghan Civilians, Not 90

I find it hard to believe that someone would inflate collateral damage numbers.

LPD 17 underway after mechanical problems

Only two days late for her first deployment. What a bust so far.
If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

Progress on India’s Thorium Nuclear Reactor and South Africa’s Pebble Bed

Bring it on. If this isn’t IN control already, it’s close.
Calculate Your Obama Tax Cut

Includes the WaPo graph from a while back which I meant to post on but didn’t because I still can’t figure out how someone making less than $19,000 could get a $567 tax cut. If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

MADD – a modern Temperance Movement

Like many causes, this is a tough one because critics of MADD are portrayed as pro-dunk driving. That’s not (usually) the case. If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

New Climate Record Shows Century-long Droughts In Eastern North America

Who would have guessed that the sun influenced earth’s climate? If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

First Flight of Sikorsky X2 Demonstrator

I continue to believe that this route, and others, are better than the V-22 Osprey route. Too late. If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

Tanker Bid Moves Toward Endgame

Endgame. Yah. Right. If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

As Geothermal Energy Heats Up, 5 Next-Gen Projects Take Shape

Though I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned it before, I’ve wondered about geothermal on a larger scale. My in-laws heat and cool their house with geothermal and have been pretty happy with it. This would be a way to bring energy generation closer to the energy consumer, cutting out transmission infrastructure woes and losses over long distances.

The Palin call

My guess is that McCain gets a big boost from this choice and the fact that his convention is after Obama’s. If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

More Palin links and commentary

At Instapundit. If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

McCain Myths

Some true. Some not so much. If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.

CIA Curtails Contract With U.S. Security Firm in Iraq

MVM, Inc. apparently didn’t provide enough security personnel to meet the Agency’s needs. If this isn’t out of control already, it’s close.