PS: Didn't mean to single you out here Batman...

No worries Warren, I actually thought about editing out the political parts, but then I thought that that would actually be imposing my own views as far as what I felt should be removed, so I just let it stand on it's own.

It has to make everyone think a little bit though, because all of the explanations I have heard so far seem pretty, well, thin. Someone knows what that was, and the fact that no one is being forthcoming about it makes me wonder.

I really don't think any apology is necessary and I don't think Bret stepped over any line. He predicated the post with an ample disclaimer.

Warren, if everything here has to be 100% rocket related, then you need to delete your elk-related post at http://www.ncrocketry.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1925 and of course your astronomy-related post at
http://www.ncrocketry.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1946 simply has to go. Ditto for the posts that wish folks happy holidays, etc. Ditto for the astronomy-related posts that 3Dogs has posted.

Of course I’m kidding. This is a social gathering place, and if anyone got their knickers in a twist over Bret’s post -- especially against the backdrop of his preamble, then they need to back away from the keyboard.

Warren, you gotta admit - it is a wee bit funny that you admonished everyone not to make any political comment..... and a paragraph later you said, and I quote - "Personally I wouldn't vote for either a Republican or Democrat - they're all crooks". How does that work?

Where is this “terms of service” that Batman allegedly violated? I'm half laughing about this. (But only half........... I mean, it must be really well written to trump the First Amendment! Does it extend to bumper stickers on flyer's vehicles? Obnoxious signature lines in postings?)

We need to have a launch. People are getting too uptight. Sheesh.

PS: Didn't mean to single you out here Batman...

No worries Warren, I actually thought about editing out the political parts, but then I thought that that would actually be imposing my own views as far as what I felt should be removed, so I just let it stand on it's own.

It has to make everyone think a little bit though, because all of the explanations I have heard so far seem pretty, well, thin. Someone knows what that was, and the fact that no one is being forthcoming about it makes me wonder.

If it's the picture that I've seen, then it looks just like a contrail to me.

I might be thinking of a different one though.

EDIT: Just looked at the video - it definitely looks exactly like an aircraft contrail to me (and absolutely nothing like a ballistic missile launch)

Well John, I knew I wrote it when the website first went active, but apparently it had been disabled and I had to re-enable it after I couldn't find it. Available in the Articles box on the right of the home page at the bottom of the list. It was discussed with Joe and others in the executive committee when I first created the new site.

Yes, I will admit I over-reacted, but I spent yesterday reading blogs and getting steamed over the endless ad hominem criticisms of various politicians that had nothing to do with their policies and positions and were intended to demonize them as human beings. Worse yet is the Big Lie approach repeated endlessly and often. One thing I've always loved about our site here is that the discussions have NEVER wandered into political terrain or nasty personal attacks and it is the one place where I won't allow it to go so long as I'm webmaster. (By the way, I'll probably clean up this thread in a few weeks after the furor dies down.) My apologies to all for my admittedly heavy-handed approach to this.

I believe if you check around on the web, that the letter posted is an Internet hoax - after all, 1/2 the letter is a bragging session intended to establish the credentials of the writer and give his opinions undue weight. It resembles in tone many, many posts out there intended to demonize a politician without any backup - ala "Death Panels" or Obama wasn't born in the US. Absolutely no evidence, just opinion or blatant propaganda presented as fact.

I still believe the missile thing is possible though unproven and am open minded to further evidence if it comes out.