The lead story on Countdown tonight dealt with John McCain's temper, specifically an incident related by Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran and diaried here.

I was astonished to hear Rachel Maddow state that according to Senator Cochran, John McCain had assaulted a Sandinista rebel.

Rachel, I am disappointed in you.  A correction is in order. A brief history of U.S. - Nicaraguan relations between 1978 and 1987 follows.  To make up for the sketchiness I have included a couple of links where you can read more.

ASM International, a professional society of materials engineers sponsors a number of material science camps every summer for high school teachers and students.

I attended one this last week.  I didn't know anything about materials science.  I had only the vaguest idea what it might be.

According to Wikipedia "Materials science or materials engineering is an interdisciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering. This science investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scale and their macroscopic properties. It includes elements of applied physics and chemistry, as well as chemical, mechanical, civil and electrical engineering."