| The Kensington Review |
29 July 2005 |
| Latest Commentary: | Volume IV, Number 90 |
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NASA Error Casts Doubt on Space Shuttle’s Future -- After two and a half years of re-engineering and good hard thinking, NASA put the space shuttle Discovery in orbit earlier this week. And once again, some foam insulation broke off the external fuel tank. The same event caused damage to the Columbia’s ceramic tile heat shield causing the loss of the crew and craft. In a better-late-than-never move, NASA has grounded the rest of the shuttle fleet and is working on getting the orbiting astronauts home.
IRA Announces an End to Armed Struggle -- The Irish Republican Army, a terrorist organization despite what they may say in South Boston, stated yesterday that its armed campaign to forcibly unite Protestant Ulster and Catholic Eire is at an end. All members were instructed to get rid of their weapons and pursue democratic means only. Actions speak louder than words, but these were the right words at the right time. House OKs CAFTA by Two Votes -- The House of Representatives approved the Central American Free Trade Agreement [CAFTA] on Wednesday by a vote of 217-215. Normally, only Senate approval of a treaty is needed under the constitution (which OKed CAFTA last month), but because this had implications for American law, the lower house got its say. A lot of heat and little light was generated by the debate, and in the end, 27 members of the president’s party voted against it while 15 Democrats supported it. The facts are even more confusing. Canadian Rapper Tones Down Chaucer for Schools -- Canadian Baba Brinkman will be touring English schools this fall, turning the kiddies onto the works of Geoffrey Chaucer. His method was inevitable; he’s translated the English of the fourteenth century into rap. While purists may fuss over the lack of respect it shows to the first author to work in this odd language, it is far more interesting to note his editorial decisions. He had to tone down some of Chaucer’s racier stuff to make it acceptable to 15- and 16-year-olds in a classroom. © Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux. |
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