The rocket – named Blacklift – is designed for reusability, leveraging an engine architecture with over a decade of development and proven flight heritage, enabling up to five BlueBird satellites per launch

Starting in late 2028, the use of the Blacklift rocket will complete AST SpaceMobile’s end-to-end vertical integration and ensure regular unconstrained access to orbit with most favorable owners’ economics in the industry

AST SpaceMobile will also continue to use external launch providers, with agreements now covering in total over 100 BlueBird satellites expected to be deployed cumulatively between 2027 and 2028

Award supports use of commercial space technology for government applications beyond communications

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ("AST SpaceMobile") (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, today announced it will support STR, the prime contractor, under a U.S. Space Force (USSF) contract.

New milestone brings seamless connectivity between ground-based and space-based cellular broadband networks, becoming one step closer to commercial service.

Did anyone else receive this email from the Social Security Administration? This whole thing sounds like a scam. The philanthropist donor list is also…something too.

Last year, President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Working Families Tax Cuts, which included a historic tax cut for America’s seniors. That law also created Trump Accounts, individual investment accounts for America’s children designed to grow with the U.S. economy and build long-term savings.

Today, nearly 70 million Trump Accounts are open for all American children. Parents and legal guardians simply need to claim their child’s Trump Account through the official Trump Accounts app, available to download for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Once activated, the account can receive funds from family, friends, and employers, as well as gifts from generous donors. Tens of millions of accounts already have money contributed by donors in them, just waiting to be claimed.

At Social Security, we are informing families about how they can activate their child’s Trump Account—many accounts with money already in them. We are also communicating with parents of newborns about the one-time $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury, available to children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028.

Trump Accounts are one of the most significant investments in the next generation of Americans in our nation’s history, by giving every American child a stake in our country’s success and a strong financial foundation for the future.

To learn more about Trump Accounts, visit TrumpAccounts.gov.

So this article just popped up on my guardian feed…wild stuff. I’m not a fan of Musk but you gotta admit this is pretty interesting.

“I’m not sure it’s necessarily legal in all jurisdictions,” Musk said, adding that the prototype was “not necessarily a safety optimised car but it takes the fun meter to 11”.

Consider first: the effects on regular people. Work requirements that go into effect in January will apply only to people in the 44 states that “expanded” Medicaid, and then only to people in the “expansion population”. That’s about 20 million people, according to KFF. Those people will need to prove they are working, going to school or volunteering at least 80 hours or earning $580 per month. People will also need to re-certify eligibility every six months, instead of every year. In short, Medicaid will be harder to get and harder to keep.

Article is from a year ago…

Here’s Kirk, in his own words. Many of his comments were documented by Media Matters for America, a progressive non-profit that tracks conservative media.

On race If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, boy, I hope he’s qualified. – The Charlie Kirk Show, 23 January 2024

If you’re a WNBA, pot-smoking, Black lesbian, do you get treated better than a United States marine? – The Charlie Kirk Show, 8 December 2022

Happening all the time in urban America, prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people, that’s a fact. It’s happening more and more. – The Charlie Kirk Show, 19 May 2023

On gun violence I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the second amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational. – Event organized by TPUSA Faith, the religious arm of Kirk’s conservative group Turning Point USA, on 5 April 2023

These are probably pretty common but I thought they looked really cool. Sprung up in my Pomegranate tree pot.

cross-posted from: https://timeyak.com/post/71739

Inter Miami 7–1 CF Montréal,
Heck of a Highlight reel...

Inter Miami 7–1 CF Montréal,
Heck of a Highlight reel...

Saw this right next to the garden and he let me get a close in picture of him. Looks like a black soldier fly but hard to tell. Estimated to be about 2 to 3 cm long.