Asteroid Vesta is amazing

Link. A fossil of creation. “The HED meteorites account for about 6% of all the meteorites seen falling to Earth…

Much of the HED material is likely to have come from two huge impact basins at Vesta’s southern pole.

… The Rhea Silvia crater measures some 475km in diameter…

… Dawn continues to study Vesta. It has an extension on its mission that will allow it to stay at the asteroid until at least 26 August, when it is due to leave on a three-year cruise to Ceres…”

Three year cruise to Ceres. Wow.

Romney the bully

Link. “As Lauber, his eyes filling with tears, screamed for help, Romney repeatedly clipped his hair with a pair of scissors.” I doubt this is the only episode.

Google in Africa

Link. A good thing, despite the price. This is astounding: “In some African markets you can buy a daily dose of internet on a mobile phone for about the cost of a banana (ie, less than ten American cents).”

Liberty and Justice for All – Obama

Link. “History will remember this president in this moment. He stood up for personal liberty and publicly affirmed what should have needed no affirmation: that in a just society the rights of some must be the rights of all, that we do not condemn those who love differently, that we are all made greater when we are all treated equally.”