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1. Stephen Sekula (steve@chirp.cooleysekula.net)'s status on Friday, 03-Feb-2017 03:33:25 UTC Stephen Sekula
   There's been so much noise about other cabinet positions, you probably missed it: Gov. Rick Perry was confirmed for Energy Secretary by the Senate Energy and Water Committee: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/donald-trump-1/2017/01/31/rick-perry-clears-first-hurdle-become-energy-secretary-signaling-easy-confirmation
   • nds (nds@dent.smithfam.info)'s status on Friday, 03-Feb-2017 04:23:57 UTC nds

     in reply to
     still cracks me up that Trump, who dissed Perry as wearing glasses to make himself look smart, was chosen by him to head Energy
   • Stephen Sekula (steve@chirp.cooleysekula.net)'s status on Friday, 03-Feb-2017 22:25:44 UTC Stephen Sekula

     in reply to

     • nds
     It would crack me up if he was qualified for the job... OK, that aside, it is one of these interesting things that Trump would have selected Perry for this position, when it's not clear Perry really understood what the job was. Combined with Perry's rather spineless confirmation hearing (he seemed to agree with his inquisitors regardless of the party or idea they raised for discussion), I think that Trump may have selected him, in part, because he won't stand up for the agency. This blends well with the rumors that Trump's inner circle has recommended a major gutting of the agency, primarily focused on eradicating its basic research capabilities related to climate science and energy. The flip side of this is that so much of the capability lies in Congressional districts and in most states that I see Congress pushing back HARD against such efforts. But I worry that Perry's job is to stand idly by, fiddling while Rome burns.
   • Stephen Sekula (steve@chirp.cooleysekula.net)'s status on Friday, 03-Feb-2017 22:28:26 UTC Stephen Sekula

     in reply to

     • nds
     I should note for any general readers seeing this that the Dept. of Energy, while it's primary role is as steward of the nation's nuclear capabilities, plays a huge role in funding basic science in the US. For instance, it funds 90% of particle physics research (the study and application of subatomic particles), mostly by funding projects through national laboratories. That's about $800M per year - not a lot of money to the nation, but a huge amount of money to basic research. And that's just one program under the agency. I'm grateful to the American taxpayer for their generosity, and for the ability of a small fraction of each dollar to answer fundamental questions about the cosmos.