China’s New Military Space Stations Coming Soon

Chinese Space Station

Straight from Slashdot: “China will be launching 2 new space stations this next year. One is for their civil program (as run by the military), while the second is openly for the military. It appears that there will be multiples of the military version to be launched in 2010, and that they are developing the same US Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) that was canceled in 1969. In addition, it appears that China is accelerating their timelines on a number of the earlier space announcements.”

Human Exoskeletons Getting Closer

Ripley's Power Loader

Straight from Slashdot: “It’s not Sigourney Weaver tossing aliens about, but The Register has an interesting blurb about a real human-capable exoskeleton that looks pretty cool (Lockheed-Martin press release). Runs for three hours at 3 mph on internal batteries; max speed is 7 mph. Of course, no price is listed but I suppose if you have to ask you can’t afford it. Team this up with a Big Dog and you’ve got the ultimate high-tech cross-country team. Bring your own batteries. Or just wait for your jetpack to arrive.”

Two Charged After FBI Raids Former Office of Obama’s Pick for Information Officer

Vivek Kundra

Straight from Fox News: “A District of Columbia employee and a technology consultant were charged with corruption counts Thursday after FBI agents raided the former office of the man tapped to be President Obama’s chief information officer.

The White House said it was notified in advance of the search at the office of Vivek Kundra, who was formerly the D.C. technology officer. While the raid was happening at his old office, Kundra was giving a speech elsewhere on his new goals for government contracting.

Kundra was not a target of the investigation, a source told FOX News.

But Yusuf Acar, a city technology worker who worked under Kundra, was charged. He was ordered held without bond pending a hearing Tuesday. Prosecutors said $70,000 in cash was found during a search of Acar’s home. Technology consultant Sushil Bansal was released but was ordered not to engage in overseas financial transactions. Bansal is due back in court on April 21.

The White House chief information officer is responsible for overseeing federal technology spending. “

Iraq Shoe-Thrower Gets 3 Years in Prison

Iraqi Shoe Bomber in action

Straight from Fox News: “A court convicted an Iraqi journalist of assault Thursday for hurling his shoes at George W. Bush and sentenced him to three years in prison, prompting an outburst from his family and calls for his release from Iraqis who consider him an icon for a nation decimated by war.

Muntadhar al-Zeidi, 30, defiantly shouted, “Long Live Iraq!” when the sentence was imposed, according to defense lawyers. Some of his relatives collapsed and had to be helped out of the courthouse. Others were forcibly removed by guards after shouting “Down with Bush!”

“This judiciary is unjust,” al-Zeidi’s brother, Dargham, said tearfully.

Click here for photos.

Other family members shouted insults against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who like al-Zeidi is a Shiite.

Although al-Zeidi received the minimum sentence — it could have been 15 years behind bars — his lawyers denounced the verdict and said they would appeal, possibly hoping a public outcry would aid their cause.

Al-Zeidi’s brazen act during a Dec. 14 press conference by Bush and al-Maliki in Baghdad’s Green Zone turned the young reporter into a folk hero across the Arab world, where the former U.S. president is reviled for invading Iraq in 2003 and for other policies.”