Fall down go boom? The New Scientist reports that the U.S. military is trying to develop a nuclear explosive based on an accelerated decay of Hafnium-178m2. Such a weapon, which does not require a critical mass of material, would pack a massive punch within a very small isomeric package, while providing an ability to gradate the level of explosive force. This would have quite profound and no doubt unexpected effects on the conduct of war and overall international force postures, as well as providing new technologies for peaceful uses.

However, it is well worth noting that Lawrence Livermore scientists were unable to duplicate the experiment when they tried, suggesting that the "technical hurdles" yet to be overcome may include conformance with the laws of physics. UT Dallas' page on these results -- unreadable as it is -- can be found here.

(I wish I could give a more detailed discussion on this, but I'll have to defer to the experts entirely; after trying to get through journal articles discussing the "K-mixing levels" necessary to accelerate the decay of "multi-quasiparticle isomers," I'm ready to get back to the relatively readable Federal Register. Perhaps Quark Soup will comment on this story.)

 
Fragwatch -- Losing Specialist Josh: The Talking Dog links to a somewhat disturbing story from the American Gulf War Veterans Association:

Josh Neusche was a healthy young soldier on June 26, 2003, when he reported that he was going to serve on [a] secret hauling mission, by July 1, 2003, he was in a coma, and that day was suddenly classified by the military, as medically retired from the Army without Josh or his family’s consent.

Josh did not die until July 12, 2003.  Among other problems that this new classification created was that the DOD was no longer obligated to assist the family in getting to Germany to be with their son as he lay in a coma.

Because the DOD would not provide even so much as plane or taxi fare for the Neusche family, all 650 members of the 203 Engineer Battalion each contributed $10.00 to make the family’s final visit possible.

(A story on the mysterious death of Spc. Neusche is here.)

The military has a policy of reclassifying personnel as medically-retired when they are in danger of imminent death (defined as being, in the judgment of medical personnel, within 72 hours of death). This is done to remove from the military certain obligations, as mentioned above, but also to grant to the serviceperson's spouse and children two supplementary benefits, the Survivor's Benefit Plan (SBP) and the Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (SDVI). (Spc. Neusche had neither a wife nor children, but his parents are eligible for SDVI payments.)

It is not clear why Spc. Neusche was reclassified so long before his actual death, or what his status was when the reclassification took place. If he was deliberately reclassified while commanding officers had reason to believe he was more than 72 hours away from death, this was an astounding case of bureaucratic callousness. But even if the mistake was honest, it points to the need for a method of securing SBP and SDVI pensions while still allowing for aid to families who wish to be with their loved ones in their final hours.

 
"I went and called public safety because I wasn’t up for [debate]:" From the always-alert Stephen Karlson comes a story on a Cal Poly student threatened with expulsion for the crime of ... well, of "tr[ying] to debate." Particularly revealing is a statement by the Vice President of Student Affairs:

Well, it’s clear that we have an identifiably young white male who has been self-identified as a member of the College Republicans group. And although the College Republican group, I’m certain, is not exclusively white or male, there are some implications. (Emphasis added)

Implications, indeed.

With Democrats like this, who needs Republicans? "[W]e don't deserve to run the country." (Sen. Joe Lieberman, on Fox News Sunday, not taken nearly as out of context as you might think.)

All I know for certain is that whoever chose that AP file photo really has it in for Lieberman -- unless the Senator actually does look like a Night of the Living Dead extra in everyday life.

 
All around the world: In Japan, the leftist Minshuto and Jiyuto parties are teaming up to increase their coverage and challenge the ruling LDP, which could possibly unseat Koizumi, or else drive the LDP into a more conservative coalition ...

The United States has declared Chechen rebels a threat to the U.S., in an apparent turnaround (or, one might say, "clarification") of past criticisms of Russia's war in Chechnya, while Russian deaths in Chechnya continue to mount; the Russian state's war on business interests continues, with details remaining sketchy ...

In Kazakhstan, the Eastern European and Asian members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held joint anti-terrorism manuevers. The Shanghai Six is widely seen as an attempt by Russia and China to ensure diplomatic dominance over Central Asia and counterbalance American influence ...

The North Koreans are crazy as always -- but seemingly less crazy than usual, following the breakthrough agreement to hold multilateral talks with regional nations ...

In Liberia, Charles Taylor is scheduled to step down within the next day, but his militia bands warn of the possibility of continuing violence; in Nigeria, political violence in Anambra continues to threaten the stability of that nation (for a discussion of the political hotspots in Nigeria's states, see here) ...

The Ugandan Anglican Church has come out against the American ordination of homosexuals, with one churchgoer telling reporters, “When they [Europeans] first brought Christianity here, this is not what they promised us -- we expected them to uphold good morals, but if this is what they are doing then we shall abandon the church and go back to our old ways,” such as animism; the most recent economic figures out of Uganda show strong growth wedded to deep poverty, like so many developing nations on that continent ...

In the West Bank, an Israeli raid target against Hamas hardliners triggered threats of retaliation from Palestinian militants; Israeli jets struck a Hizbullah artillery battery following attacks on Israeli citizens; Palestinians are already feeling the effects of a Knesset law that prevents Palestinians marrying Israelis from getting Israeli citizenship ...

MEMRI notes that Syria, still shell-shocked by the American invasion of Iraq, is showing some interest in political reform ...

In Saudi Arabia, seven Europeans previously convicted of a November, 2000 bombing in Riyadh have been freed by royal clemency, although supporters of the seven -- six Britons and a Belgian -- say that the Saudis tortured false confessions from the men to cover up Islamist links to the bombing ...

Riots in southern Iraq continue, while British forces work to restore basic services and bring the population into order ...

In the Philippines, analysts are still confused over what prompted the recent mutiny by military officers; talks with the Islamist Moros Islamic Liberation Front have been put on hold following the death of its leader at the end of July due to natural causes ...

In India, another set of terrorist attacks in hard-hit Doda district claimed lives on both sides of the conflict as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen continued its longstanding terror campaign.

 
Left turn at Albuquerque, Part 3: Political State Report has a roundup of resdistricting news here, while the Austin-American Statesman has its latest analysis, which includes this neat and concise wrapup:

By definition, there is no moral high ground in pure political warfare. Also by definition, there is no political warfare purer than redistricting. Both sides are playing the game at the without-a-net level of rhetoric. ...

As the new millennium unfolds, there is little on which to base an argument that there should be a Democratic-majority anything in Texas. But here's the biggest problem with the GOP argument for drawing new lines. An overwhelming majority of Texans fall into one of two categories:

1. They like their current U.S. House member.

2. They have no idea who their current House member is.

It's a powerful combination that doubles the difficulty Republicans have in explaining why they're doing what they're doing.

That extends to explaining to their own troops on the ground what's going on; I've spoken to precinct chairs, GOP delegates, county chairs and Republican candidates for office since the day the House Dems took off for Ardmore, and the lack of information coming out of Austin on this issue is surprising.

On the other side of the divide, the Dems seem to have their act together, judging from the coordinated turnout I saw at the Dallas redistricting hearing and the rally just held in Austin.

If the GOP can't generate some heat out in the hustings, then they're wasting significant political capital with a high likelihood of nothing to show for it. Perry has always maintained a reputation as a smooth political operator, but this is wearing that reputation down to the threads.

Meanwhile, across the border in New Mexico, state Dems there are threatening tit-for-tat retaliation, incorrectly assuming that a poisoned sauce for the goose is equally suitable for the gander. One hopes, for the sake of New Mexicans, that it's only an ill-advised political bluff; between Texas and California, the nation has all the electoral insanity it can currently handle.

 
Who's blogging who? Skippy finds the new home of Quark Soup, an excellent science blog that cast off its old digs without leaving a forwarding address, and points to Blog Graham, which, thankfully, is not quite so detailed as that other daily log Graham keeps.