The New Republic Online: Easterbrook: "In the days to come, any administration official who says that a Moon base could support a Mars mission is revealing himself or herself to be a total science illiterate. When you hear, 'A Moon base could support a Mars mission,' substitute the words, 'I have absolutely no idea what I am talking about.' Hint to reporters: If any administration official says 'a Moon base could support a Mars mission,' quickly ask, 'What was the fuel fraction of the Lunar Excursion Module?' The answer is two-thirds. The LEM was what landed on the Moon during Apollo, and rocket propulsion has not changed much since, meaning that any future Mars spacecraft that stops at the Moon will expend two-thirds of its weight merely to land there and take off again. This renders the idea of stopping at the Moon on the way to Mars patent drivel. (Actually only about 15 percent of the descent weight of the LEM returned to lunar orbit, so the fuel-fraction calculation for a Moon stopover is even worse.)"

Family of fallen soldier assails Bush.

ABCNEWS.com : Piestewa Family Slams Airing of POW Video: "Although they disagreed with NBC's decision to air the footage, Piestewa's family said some people definitely should see it.


'Let us make sure that both President Bush, his father and each of his aides and advisers get a copy of Lori dying in agony so that they realize, from the comfort of their homes, that war should be the last option,' the family said in the statement."