A photograph by John @ Digitalpict Photography, who lives in Scotland.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Windowfarms Project Hydroponic Garden
Winter Solstice and Lunar Eclipse
The only total lunar eclipse of 2010 will be visible from all of North America on Monday night/Tuesday morning. That won’t happen again until 2014.The entire 72 minutes of the total lunar eclipse will be visible from all of North and South America, the northern and western part of Europe, and a small part of northeast Asia including Korea and much of Japan. Totality will also be visible in its entirety from the North Island of New Zealand and Hawaii.The moon might take on some odd colors during the eclipse. This is the first lunar eclipse during the winter solstice in almost 500 years.
In all, an estimated 1.5 billion people will have an opportunity to enjoy the best part of this lunar show.
In other parts of the world, either only the partial stages of the eclipse will be visible or the eclipse will occur when it’s daytime and the moon is not above their local horizon.
Iapetus
NASA's Cassini spacecraft is returning awesome photos of Saturn, its rings, and its moons, many of them assembled at Boston.com's Big Picture.
Especially interesting to see was a closeup of Iapetus, the eighth moon, which has a circumferential ridge around its equator. The top photo is from NASA in 2007. The photo below that comes from what I'm sure everyone would consider a "wacko" website that suggests that Iapetus is an artificial (i.e. manufactured) moon. Certainly the comparison with a Deathstar is striking.
Whether or not the Iapetus stuff interests you, the rest of the photos from Cassini are truly impressive.
Update: When I originally posted this is May of 2009, that equatorial ridge around Iapetus was unexplained. A new hypothesis suggests that this ridge comes not from deformational stresses within the moon, as previously postulated, but rather that it is the remnant of a collapsed ring of debris:
...we propose intact capture or accretion from a debris disk of a "sub-satellite" (possibly more than one) around Iapetus... Such a sub-satellite would be tidally drawn towards Iapetus, once Iapetus is sufficiently despun by tidal interaction with Saturn... Once deep inside the Roche limit, tides would then tear the sub-satellite apart. The resulting debris would collisionally evolve to the equatorial plane, dissipating orbital energy and ultimately raining down on the equator (deorbiting) at subsonic speeds... Assuming the density of ice and a high porosity, rubble-pile structure, all the mass in the ridge can be supplied by a sub-satellite ~100 km in radius, a size relative to Iapetus far smaller than the relative sizes of the Moon to the Earth or Charon to Pluto...That's from the abstract at the American Geophysical Union meeting. A BBC summary is here.
At the army hospital
An army Major is visiting sick soldiers.
He goes up to one private and asks:
“What’s your problem, soldier?”
“Chronic syphilis, sir”
“What treatment are you getting?”
“Five minutes with the wire brush each day.”
“What’s your ambition?”
“To get back to the front sir”
“Good man,” says the Major..
He goes to the next bed.
What’s your problem, soldier?”
“Chronic piles, sir”
“What treatment are you getting?”
“Five minutes with the wire brush each day.”
“What’s your ambition?”
“To get back to the front sir”
“Good man,” says the Major..
He goes to the next bed.
What’s your problem, soldier?”
“Chronic gum disease, sir”
“What treatment are you getting?”
“Five minutes with the wire brush each day.”
“What’s your ambition?”
“To get the wire brush before the other two sir!!”…..
He goes up to one private and asks:
“What’s your problem, soldier?”
“Chronic syphilis, sir”
“What treatment are you getting?”
“Five minutes with the wire brush each day.”
“What’s your ambition?”
“To get back to the front sir”
“Good man,” says the Major..
He goes to the next bed.
What’s your problem, soldier?”
“Chronic piles, sir”
“What treatment are you getting?”
“Five minutes with the wire brush each day.”
“What’s your ambition?”
“To get back to the front sir”
“Good man,” says the Major..
He goes to the next bed.
What’s your problem, soldier?”
“Chronic gum disease, sir”
“What treatment are you getting?”
“Five minutes with the wire brush each day.”
“What’s your ambition?”
“To get the wire brush before the other two sir!!”…..
US Army Evaluating Solar Powered Tents
Advances in photovoltaic technology have led to the development of thin, flexible solar cells. It’s possible to build a tent out of them, and the US Army is considering acquiring and using such portable structures:
The TEMPER Fly is a roughly 16-by-20-foot tent structure able to generate 800 watts of electricity. A QUADrant is a smaller variant of the TEMPER Fly, able to generate 200 watts of power, and the Power Shades range in size and are capable of generating up to 3 kilowatts of exportable electrical power, Tucker said. The PV integrated military shelter items use a lamination process to combine the PV materials into the textile substrate, Tucker explained. The US Army News Service spoke with Steven Tucker, an engineer working on the project:
“Alternative energy sources are really going to shine in mission scenarios where you don’t want to use a generator because you don’t want the noise or heat signature that goes along with it, or where re-supplying that generator with fuel doesn’t make sense,” said Tucker.
Bizarre Hairy Fly Is Rediscovered
Two insect specialists recently spotted the insect, known as Mormotomyia hirsuta. They point out that it looks more like a spider with hairy legs. The rediscovery of the species, which has been collected on only two occasions before, in 1933 and 1948, has caused excitement in insect museums world-wide.
Eagles Flourish in Sanctuary
Photo credit: Alaskan Dude/Creative Commons
On a ridgetop preserve in Pennsylvania, conservationists and bird watchers gathered for the annual count of migrating bald eagles. It's a tradition that has persisted for 76 years—since the founding of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.This year, however, was a little different: Participates were treated to a record number of sightings—a reassuring sign of the incredible success of bald eagle conservation programs across the country.
Article continues: Eagles Flourish in Sanctuary, Hints at Species Comeback
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:After all the good work you've done lately, asking for that raise, bonus or promotion should be a piece of cake.
You're confident that you're earned it, but as usual, you're feeling a bit on the humble side and wondering why they haven't yet offered it to you.
Well, remember that old adage about the squeaky wheel getting the grease?
It's true.
Step right up, tell your superiors that you deserve this, and do it in a startling, sudden fashion.
They'll admire your tenacity.
Some of our readers today have been in:
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Espoo, Southern Finland, Finland
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Toulouse, Midi-Pyrenees, France
Sittard, Limburg, Netherlands
Ekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk, Russia
Delhi, Dlehi, India
London, England, United Kingdom
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
Hanoi, Hanoi, Vietnam
Edithvale, Victoria, Australia
Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia
as well as Bulgaria, Israel, Austria, Georgia, Mexico, Peru, Kuwait, Serbia, Bangladesh, Latvia, Greece, Scotland, Hong Kong, Denmark, Wales, Iran, Singapore, Poland, Taiwan, Sweden, Afghanistan, Belgium, Tibet, Croatia, Pakistan, Romania, Paraguay, Italy, Argentina, Cambodia, Egypt, Italy, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, China, Iraq, Ecuador, Nigeria, Morocco, Chile, Honduras, Paupa New Guinea, Moldova and in cities across the United States such as Yerington, Brockway, Gallatin, Gretna and more.
Today is:
Today is Friday, December 17, the 351st day of 2010.
There are 14 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holidays or celebrations are:
Wright Brother's Day
and
Underdog Day.
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
National Security Archive director on "Wikimania," and the dangers of demonizing WikiLeaks
Thomas Blanton, executive director of the National Security Archive, was among those who testified before the House Judiciary Committee on the aftermath of "Cablegate" and WikiLeaks. Blanton believes efforts to tighten secrecy and crack down on leakers and press will be "fundamentally self-defeating."
"There is more heat than light," Blanton stated, citing calls for broadening the Espionage Act and assassinating Wikileaks leader, Julian Assange. Hasty punitive reactions, he predicted, "will actually produce more leaks, more crackdowns, less accountable government, and diminished security." "History shows we end up doing more damage from the overreaction than from the original leak."
Chevron negotiated oil drilling contract with Iran
From the WikiLeaks File:
When you are confident that you're above the law, you don't care much about the law. If true, would this really surprise anyone?
The Guardian:
When you are confident that you're above the law, you don't care much about the law. If true, would this really surprise anyone?
The Guardian:
The US energy firm Chevron negotiated with Tehran about developing an Iraq-Iran cross-border oilfield in spite of tight US sanctions, according to the Iraqi prime minister in leaked diplomatic cables.
Nouri al-Maliki's claim, reported in the cables, that Chevron was in discussions with the Iranian government will raise eyebrows in Europe and other parts of the world where international companies have come under significant pressure from Washington to end investments and other financial dealings with Tehran.
Chevron declined to either confirm or deny that it had been in contact with Iran, and confined its reaction to a statement saying it had not done, and would not do, anything in violation of US law.
Cables show India accused of widespread, systematic torture in Kashmir
From the WikiLeaks File:
A new set of diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks tonight is parsed by The Guardian, and includes revelations that:
A new set of diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks tonight is parsed by The Guardian, and includes revelations that:
US diplomats in Delhi were briefed in 2005 by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) about the use of electrocution, beatings and sexual humiliation against hundreds of detainees. Other cables show that as recently as 2007 American diplomats were concerned about widespread human rights abuses by Indian security forces, who they said relied on torture for confessions. Other cables released tonight reveal that:
• The Dalai Lama has told US officials that combating climate change is more urgent than finding a political solution in Tibet, which "can wait five to 10 years".
• Rahul Gandhi, the crown prince of Indian politics, believes Hindu extremists pose a greater threat to his country than Muslim militants, according to the American ambassador to India.
• Five doctors were coerced by the Sri Lankan government to recant on casualty figures they gave to journalists in the last months of island's brutal civil war.
Top remodeling trends for 2011
Instead of huge projects, owners will tackle smaller ones, such as zen-like bathrooms.
Also: Roadside ploy distracts drivers
Roadside cutouts meant to curtail speeders wind up distracting them.
Also: 
Economy's toll on Santa letters
Many children sending wish lists to the North Pole this year aren't even asking for toys.
Also: Gold-dispensing ATM debuts
An upscale Florida mall gets the country's first touchscreen kiosk selling coins and bars.
Also: Jindal's sand berms to block oil were a $200 million waste of money
A fiscal conservative, is he now?
The big set of sand barriers erected by Louisiana's governor to protect the coastline at the height of the Gulf oil spill was criticized by staff with the presidential spill commission Thursday as a colossal, $200 million waste of BP's money so far.
Hardly any oil ever reached the berms, government documents obtained by The Associated Press show.
Gov. Bobby Jindal, who pushed the venture over the objections of scientists and federal agencies, has strongly defended it. And despite the commission's scathing report, he plans to move ahead with the project, though with some changes to make it more beneficial.
Senators vote to ban earmarks - then grab them
More than two dozen senators, most repugicans, who recently voted to ban homestate projects are claiming hundreds of earmarks in an almost $1.3 trillion bill to fund most federal programs and agencies into next fall.
Artist Got Grant Money for "Invisible" Art
What’s better than getting taxpayer-funded grant money for an art show? Getting that money for an invisible painting!Polish artist Agnieszka Kurant got the Arts Council England grant for a show that included "a painting that hasn’t been painted yet".
Warsaw-based Kurant’s Snow Black exhibition also had "an invisible sculpture" and "a movie shot with no film in the camera".
National lottery as deficit fix
Although half of Americans participate in lotteries, a national system could be tough to pull off.
Also: The year of the deficits
Politicians did a miserable job managing finances for states, cities, and the U.S. as a whole.
Also: Car dealer's $119K tax bill
Gary Barbera built a $100 mil business, but now owes $119K and wears an ankle bracelet.
Also: Tax credit error hits millions
More than 13 million Americans received too much money through a government tax credit, an audit finds.
Also: Steps to become debt-free
These moves will help you avoid going overboard with your credit cards.
Also: On The Job
Attaching a photo to your resumé could hurt your chances, especially if you're an attractive woman.
Also: 
An analysis of 85 million LinkedIn online networking profiles shows what terms are fast becoming clichés.
Also: College jobs that pay off
Handing out companies' free samples can put cash in your pocket and position you for a postgraduation gig.
Also: 
Faux News makes you stupid
From the "We did not need a study to tell us that" Department:
Study finds that watching Faux News makes you stupid.
Bad Cops
Arresting officers told their buddy to "take a free shot at her" when she was handcuffed in the squad car
Oregon corrections deputy charged with assault
18-year veteran Louisiana deputy guilty of incest
Wisconsin jail guard arrested, fired over bringing contraband to inmates
New York jail guard is charged with rape and robbery
New Jersey sheriff's officer charged in stalking
Georgia police officer is charged with battery and third degree cruelty to children
Farmer on mobility scooter shot trespassers by accident while aiming at fox
A farmer unwittingly shot two suspected burglars who were allegedly targeting a cannabis factory, which he didn't know existed, on his property.
Odd travel moments in 2010
From "enhanced pat-downs" to an outrageous flight attendant, it was quite a year.
Also: Loaded gun slips past TSA
Trashing the constitution and privacy is all worth it since the TSA continues to do such a spectacular job.
Hell of a job, TSA:
Hell of a job, TSA:
Last fall, as he had done hundreds of times, Iranian-American businessman Farid Seif passed through security at a Houston airport and boarded an international flight.
He didn't realize he had forgotten to remove the loaded snub nose "baby" Glock pistol from his computer bag. But TSA officers never noticed as his bag glided along the belt and was x-rayed. When he got to his hotel after the three-hour flight, he was shocked to discover the gun traveled unnoticed from Houston.
"It's just impossible to miss it, you know. I mean, this is not a small gun," Seif told ABC News. "How can you miss it? You cannot miss it."
NYC air crash brought change
Two planes collided above a busy neighborhood 50 years ago, killing 134 people.
Also: Most startling photos of 2010
Incredible shots of a 60-foot sinkhole and an enormous "goldfish" made for quite a sight in 2010.
Also: Stunning amateur photos
National Geographic drew thousands of submissions for its annual competition.
Also: 
Wacky Mailboxes From Around The World
Why Do Siblings Have Such Different Personalities?
Why do siblings – despite having much of the same genes and upbringing – grow up to be have such different personalities? NPR’s Alix Spiegel explores:
Then in the 1980s, a researcher named Robert Plomin published a surprising paper in which he reviewed the three main ways psychologists had studied siblings: physical characteristics, intelligence and personality. According to Plomin, in two of these areas, siblings were really quite similar.
Physically, siblings tended to differ somewhat, but they were a lot more similar on average when compared to children picked at random from the population. That’s also true of cognitive abilities.
"The surprise," says Plomin, "is when you turn to personality."
Turns out that on tests that measure personality — stuff like how extroverted you are, how conscientious — siblings are practically like strangers.
"Children in the same family are more similar than children taken at random from the population," Plomin says, "but not much more."
In fact, in terms of personality, we are similar to our siblings only about 20 percent of the time. Given the fact that we share genes, homes, routines and parents, this makes no sense. What makes children in the same family so different?
Memories, or Lack Thereof
A couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember.Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. 'Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?' he asks.
'Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?'
'Sure.'
'Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?' she asks.
'No, I can remember it.'
'Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so's not to forget it?'
He says, 'I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.'
'I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?' she asks.
Irritated, he says, 'I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!'
Then he toddles into the kitchen.
After about 20 minutes, the old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment.
'Where's my toast ?'
Truth about 'toxic' poinsettias
The poinsettia has a reputation of being lovely to look at but terribly toxic if tasted.
Also: Swedish med students perform autopsy on their professor
Medical students at Stockholm's Karolinska Institute set to perform their first-ever clinical autopsy were floored to discover that the corpse was none other than one of their former instructors.
Science News
A small, feathered raptor-like dinosaur thought to be 125 million years old has been discovered in eastern Utah, scientists announced Thursday.
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science wants your help to name the first mammoth fossil that was found near Snowmass Village.
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science wants your help to name the first mammoth fossil that was found near Snowmass Village.
Amelia Earhart may have lived as castaway
Bones and artifacts on a remote Pacific island may reveal the fate of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart.
Russia looks to enjoy Montana life
Montana livestock producers say they have shipped an "instant ranch" to the grasslands of southwestern Russia 'complete with cowboys, quarter-horses and 1,400 purebred beef cattle'.
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