Clear skies above

Met ╔ireann's Gerard Fleming has e-mailed Quidnunc about a story in last week's column. He writes: "I see that Anthony Coughlan is worried about a US spy satellite in stationary orbit over Ireland. I can reassure Quidnunc readers, Anthony included, that no such satellite exists. The reason? It is not allowed by the laws of physics. Stationary satellites must be above the equator, otherwise they would either fall to earth or spin off into deep space. The CIA and their like undoubtedly break many laws, but the laws of physics must be obeyed, even by them!" So now, despite Joe Jacob and his disaster emergency plan, we can rest easier.