Stephen C. Smith

Oh, it will go higher than that.

#Politics #Iran #Trump

US and #Florida gas prices per AAA.

Trump administration orders restart of oil drilling along California coast amid Iran war President Trump is asserting executive authority to demand California restart controversial offshore oil drilling along its coastline amid soaring gas prices during the war with Iran. Gov. Gavin Newso...

#Politics #Trump #Iran

Breaking from #LATimes: In an attempt to make up for the oil crisis he just started, Trump says he's issuing an executive order to override existing law and order oil drilling to resume off the #California coast.

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Okay, that one deserves applause. 👏

#Space #NASA #CoSoWriters

The book copies I'm contractually owed showed up today. The contract only gave me a few copies.

Use the promo code 31DC326 to order at a significant discount ($25 instead of $38) by March 31.

floridapress.org/978168340656...

Decades ago I saw him riding in competition at the Los Angeles County Fair. The announcer said, "Next is William Shatner on his horse, T.J." No big deal, just one rider out of many at a county fair.

I'm old enough to remember watching live on KTLA the Baldwin Hills dam collapse -- not the San Fransquito Dam, though. 😉

#Space #NASA #Artemis #KSC

Breaking ... #Artemis2 rolling out of the VAB on March 19 to 39B, targeting 6:24 PM EDT on April 1 for launch. I get my April Fools Day launch! If April 2, launch time is 7:22 PM EDT.

Temple Israel shooter dead, police say; no one else hurt in incident A vehicle was involved and shots were fired amid an active shooter incident Thursday, March 12 at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, police say.

The Detroit Free Press on the possible terrorist attack today at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. The suspect is dead. No one else appears to have been hurt.

www.freep.com/story/news/l...

If you still have the original link, you might try Archive.org to see if you can find it there.

Return to Launch The rise of Cape Canaveral’s “second space age” and the nation’s expansion of spacefaring initiatives in the twenty-first centuryReturn to Launch is ...

#Space #NASA #SpaceCoast #Florida

Those who preordered my book "Return to Launch" are receiving it now in the mail. It's published by the University of Florida Press. Retail is $38 but you can order for $25 through March 31 if you use the promo code 31DC326.

floridapress.org/978168340656...

The last panel says it best. What a hellscape we live in.

Cartoon: Victory posters As always, if � you find value in this work I do, please consider helping me keep it sustainable by joining my weekly newsletter, � Sparky’s List! � You can get it in your inbox or read it on ...

are you doing your part for VICTORY

www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...

Oil prices surged past $100 per barrel on Sunday, the first time crossing that mark since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as investors worried that the war in Iran would mean prolonged restrictions on Middle Eastern oil flows. https://cnn.it/4squKee

Judge rules Kari Lake unlawfully ran U.S. media agency, voiding layoffs Sweeping layoffs at Voice of America made by Trump appointee Kari Lake were declared void by a federal judge, who said she served unlawfully.

#Politics #Trump

From @washingtonpost.com: Federal judge rules that Kari Lake was illegally appointed to run Voice of America, voids all her staff layoffs.

wapo.st/4beEfpU

A reminder that Daylight Savings Time begins tonight. 2 AM becomes 3 AM.

Lipstick on a Pig NASA's new Project Artemis launch cadence relies on the Space Launch System suddenly becoming more efficient. Here's why that's unlikely to happen.

#Space #NASA

My latest #Substack looks at NASA's #Artemis cadence and architecture revisions and why I'm skeptical they'll work. Read "Lipstick on a Pig" for free at the link. Also please consider signing up for a free subscription.

wordsmithfl.substack.com/p/lipstick-o...

Justice Department targets Cuban officials, aims for indictments The Justice Department has formed a working group to examine bringing federal charges against officials or entities within Cuba’s government.

#Politics #Trump #Cuba

BREAKING from @washingtonpost.com: Trump told a group of south Florida Republicans today that Cuba is his next target, and that he's directed #DOJ to come up with criminal charges to justify an invasion like he did with Maduro and Venezuela.

wapo.st/4cxpv7S

I think we went mad a long time ago. Congressional Republicans have shown they won't stop him, so he's gone full sociopath. He doesn't give a f*** any more. He's going to do everything he can to enrich himself and become a dictator.

#Economy #Iran

From the AAA Fuel Prices webpage ... Out and about today, I noticed long queues at the discount warehouse gas stations. I think people are starting to panic-buy.

Because we drive an electric vehicle, we're unaffected so long as it doesn't affect the power utility's operating costs.

Trump tells CNN Cuba is soon going to fall: ‘I’m going to put Marco over there’ | CNN Politics President Donald Trump told CNN Friday morning that Cuba “is going to fall pretty soon.”

#Politics #Trump #Cuba

Trump told #CNN today that he's going to overthrow the Cuban government and put Marco Rubio in charge.

www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/p...

Trump Demands Iran Surrender as War Upends Global Markets Washington doesn’t want to negotiate an end to the conflict and will only accept “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. Qatar warned that a protracted war could “bring down...

#Politics #Trump #Iran

Trump demands that Iran "unconditionally surrender." 🤣🤣🤣

finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-d...

Kristi Noem is out.

anntelnaes.substack.com/p/kristi-noe...

US loses 92K jobs in February February's payrolls sharply missed economists' expectations, Labor Department data released Friday showed, with 92,000 positions lost.

#Politics #Economy #Trump

Breaking from Yahoo Finance: The US economy lost a net 92,000 jobs in February. Unemployment up to 4.4%.

finance.yahoo.com/news/us-lose...

U.S. Gas Prices, Up 11% in a Week, Pile Pressure on Trump

#Politics #Trump #Iran

From #NYTimes: Gas prices up 34 cents (11%) in the last week.

www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/b...

Qatar energy minister warns war will force Gulf to halt energy exports within weeks, FT says Qatar expects all Gulf energy producers to shut down exports within weeks if the Iran conflict continues and drives oil to $150 a barrel, ​the country's Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financia...

#Iran

From Financial Times via #Reuters: #Qatar energy minister says Gulf energy producers will shut down within weeks if the Iran war continues. Oil could reach $150 / barrel.

www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Trump says Kristi Noem is stepping down as homeland security secretary The president said he would nominate Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her.

#Politics #Trump

BREAKING from @nbcnews.com: Kristi Noem fired as Homeland Secretary.

Oklahoma senator Markwayne Mullin will be nominated to replace her.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

Return to Launch The rise of Cape Canaveral’s “second space age” and the nation’s expansion of spacefaring initiatives in the twenty-first centuryReturn to Launch is ...

#Space #NASA

I just received my first invitation to speak about my space history book, "Return to Launch." It would be in DC.

The publisher once again is offering a preorder discount. Effective March 26 it will be $38, but with the promo code 31DC326 it's $25.

floridapress.org/978168340656...

SpaceX Starlink Launch, Amateur Smartphone Video, March 4, 2026 YouTube video by Space SPAN (Space Policy and News)

#Space #SpaceX #Starlink #CCSFS

Amateur smartphone video of this morning's spectacular "jellyfish" launch.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n19...

#Space #SpaceX #Starlink #CCSFS

A spectacular "jellyfish" launch this morning just before sunrise from Cape Canaveral. These are amateur photos with my smartphone.