- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Day Off Here And Gone
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Firewood Cuttin' Takes A Day Off
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
The days are getting longer
The days are getting longer. Those in Seattle, for example, will see about an hour of daylight more today than on the winter solstice. The difference is smaller at more southern latitudes. From Dallas, for example, it's only about a half-hour.
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Earthquake Threat Lurks For United States, Too
As disaster crews and scientists investigate the havoc wrought in Haiti, questions emerge as to whether such a vastly destructive disaster could happen at home in the United States. In fact, cities are located near dangerous earthquake zones all throughout the country, from the most infamous on the West Coast to potential time bombs in the Midwest and even on the Eastern Seaboard.
The Pacific Northwest
Stretching from northern Vancouver Island in Canada to northern California is the Cascadia subduction zone, where one giant plate of the Earth's surface is diving deep beneath another one.
"The very largest earthquakes all occur on subduction zones," said seismologist Geoffrey Abers at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University in New York. "These are also the faults that make very large tsunamis that propagate across ocean basins to cause a lot of damage."
These "megathrust earthquakes" that threaten Seattle, Portland and Vancouver can be magnitude 9 or greater, geological records reveal. The area hasn't really seen any significant seismic activity since instruments began observations roughly a century ago, "but that's a fairly short period of time, and the system's accumulating strain," Abers said.
Other faults — cracks in the planet's surface — might lead to smaller earthquakes, "but if they're near population centers, they can cause a lot more damage," Abers noted. "The Seattle Fault runs right through downtown Seattle."
"Compared to Haiti, probably the most important difference between the U.S. are the building codes and building designs," Abers said. "The level of strong ground shaking we saw in Port-au-Prince was largely devastating because of the unreinforced masonry there and the shantytowns on unreinforced slopes. In the U.S., we'd always see some damage, but we'd expect to see less loss of life because the building codes are strong in California and somewhat strong in the Pacific Northwest."
California
The most well-known earthquake zone in the United States is the San Andreas Fault, where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate are sliding past each other, running along heavily populated areas of California. Still, other fractures in the earth threaten the state as well, such as the Hayward Fault that lies mainly on the east side of San Francisco Bay, and previously unknown fault that caused the 1994 Northridge quake.
"The biggest earthquakes we have any evidence for in California are magnitude 8," Abers said. In California, the faults are very well studied, and the state is very well prepared.
That's not to say the risk is small.
Geologists expect the Los Angeles area will eventually be struck by an earthquake larger than any seen in recorded history
The Midwest
Three of the largest earthquakes in North America recorded in history originated from the New Madrid fault system over the course of two months from 1811 to 1812. These magnitude 7 events shook with enough power to apparently force the Mississippi River to temporarily flow backward.
The quakes — the largest ones ever known in the center of the United States — have raised fears of a "big one" there sometime this century. The closest cities to the New Madrid fault system are Memphis and St. Louis.
"Fundamentally we don't have a good understanding of exactly how earthquakes in the middle of continents work," Abers said. "We understand a lot about tectonic plates at their boundaries — when it comes to the middle of plates, the thought is that somehow the movement of plates also builds up stresses in the middle of continents. If we can solve this, we could establish a better idea of what hazards earthquakes pose there."
A dense array of seismic instruments is now investigating the zone, and scientists are looking for evidence of ancient earthquakes to get a better sense of how it works.
The Eastern Seaboard
The ancient Ramapo Fault runs near New York City. It last experienced serious movement some 200 million years ago, "with mountains going up and volcanoes erupting in the area," Abers said. "It's thought it might be where stresses are building up today."
A number of other ancient faults go from Canada all the way at least to South Carolina. The largest earthquake in the northeast was probably the Cape Ann earthquake in 1755 off the coast of Massachusetts, which might have been a magnitude 5.9 quake.
"There's clearly much less activity on the Eastern Seaboard than in California or the Pacific Northwest, but the flip side of that is that the building codes aren't of the same standard," Abers said. "So even modest-sized earthquakes close to populated areas could be much more destructive. There are a lot of emergency preparedness groups in California, a lot of work on building codes and designs, but building to earthquake codes is expensive, and in the east there are older buildings built before people thought very hard about earthquakes. Buildings cause 80 percent of deaths in earthquakes from structure collapse."
"The ground in the East also propagates shaking much more efficiently, so earthquakes would affect a much bigger area," he explained. "In the west, the crust is much more busted up, so the seismic waves attenuate — the magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake felt in Southern California but not Northern California. In the east the ground has hardened for millions and millions of years, so I felt shaking in Boston from a magnitude 6.0 earthquake in central Quebec that was 500 miles from where I was sitting."
Alaska
Alaska experiences the most earthquakes in the United States, more per year than the combined total of the rest of the country. The nation's largest recorded earthquakes have all happened there as well.
"The last big earthquake in 1964 there was the largest ever recorded in the United States at magnitude 9.2," Abers said. "It destroyed several towns and it heavily damaged Anchorage. The risk of tsunami is high for coastal areas as well."
The Alaskan-Aleutian megathrust is a subduction zone "much bigger than in Cascadia," Abers said. "The saving grace in Alaska is that the population density is much lower than in California and the Pacific Northwest, but the population of the state has increased dramatically, and there's infrastructure there such as the Alaska Pipeline that wasn't there in 1964."
There is seismic monitoring in the state, particularly the urban areas, "but there's large parts of Alaska that are not that well-studied — magnitude 4 earthquakes go undetected all the time in some of these places," Abers said. "There's just a lot of real estate to cover."
source....
The Pacific Northwest
Stretching from northern Vancouver Island in Canada to northern California is the Cascadia subduction zone, where one giant plate of the Earth's surface is diving deep beneath another one.
"The very largest earthquakes all occur on subduction zones," said seismologist Geoffrey Abers at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University in New York. "These are also the faults that make very large tsunamis that propagate across ocean basins to cause a lot of damage."
These "megathrust earthquakes" that threaten Seattle, Portland and Vancouver can be magnitude 9 or greater, geological records reveal. The area hasn't really seen any significant seismic activity since instruments began observations roughly a century ago, "but that's a fairly short period of time, and the system's accumulating strain," Abers said.
Other faults — cracks in the planet's surface — might lead to smaller earthquakes, "but if they're near population centers, they can cause a lot more damage," Abers noted. "The Seattle Fault runs right through downtown Seattle."
"Compared to Haiti, probably the most important difference between the U.S. are the building codes and building designs," Abers said. "The level of strong ground shaking we saw in Port-au-Prince was largely devastating because of the unreinforced masonry there and the shantytowns on unreinforced slopes. In the U.S., we'd always see some damage, but we'd expect to see less loss of life because the building codes are strong in California and somewhat strong in the Pacific Northwest."
California
The most well-known earthquake zone in the United States is the San Andreas Fault, where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate are sliding past each other, running along heavily populated areas of California. Still, other fractures in the earth threaten the state as well, such as the Hayward Fault that lies mainly on the east side of San Francisco Bay, and previously unknown fault that caused the 1994 Northridge quake.
"The biggest earthquakes we have any evidence for in California are magnitude 8," Abers said. In California, the faults are very well studied, and the state is very well prepared.
That's not to say the risk is small.
Geologists expect the Los Angeles area will eventually be struck by an earthquake larger than any seen in recorded history
The Midwest
Three of the largest earthquakes in North America recorded in history originated from the New Madrid fault system over the course of two months from 1811 to 1812. These magnitude 7 events shook with enough power to apparently force the Mississippi River to temporarily flow backward.
The quakes — the largest ones ever known in the center of the United States — have raised fears of a "big one" there sometime this century. The closest cities to the New Madrid fault system are Memphis and St. Louis.
"Fundamentally we don't have a good understanding of exactly how earthquakes in the middle of continents work," Abers said. "We understand a lot about tectonic plates at their boundaries — when it comes to the middle of plates, the thought is that somehow the movement of plates also builds up stresses in the middle of continents. If we can solve this, we could establish a better idea of what hazards earthquakes pose there."
A dense array of seismic instruments is now investigating the zone, and scientists are looking for evidence of ancient earthquakes to get a better sense of how it works.
The Eastern Seaboard
The ancient Ramapo Fault runs near New York City. It last experienced serious movement some 200 million years ago, "with mountains going up and volcanoes erupting in the area," Abers said. "It's thought it might be where stresses are building up today."
A number of other ancient faults go from Canada all the way at least to South Carolina. The largest earthquake in the northeast was probably the Cape Ann earthquake in 1755 off the coast of Massachusetts, which might have been a magnitude 5.9 quake.
"There's clearly much less activity on the Eastern Seaboard than in California or the Pacific Northwest, but the flip side of that is that the building codes aren't of the same standard," Abers said. "So even modest-sized earthquakes close to populated areas could be much more destructive. There are a lot of emergency preparedness groups in California, a lot of work on building codes and designs, but building to earthquake codes is expensive, and in the east there are older buildings built before people thought very hard about earthquakes. Buildings cause 80 percent of deaths in earthquakes from structure collapse."
"The ground in the East also propagates shaking much more efficiently, so earthquakes would affect a much bigger area," he explained. "In the west, the crust is much more busted up, so the seismic waves attenuate — the magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake felt in Southern California but not Northern California. In the east the ground has hardened for millions and millions of years, so I felt shaking in Boston from a magnitude 6.0 earthquake in central Quebec that was 500 miles from where I was sitting."
Alaska
Alaska experiences the most earthquakes in the United States, more per year than the combined total of the rest of the country. The nation's largest recorded earthquakes have all happened there as well.
"The last big earthquake in 1964 there was the largest ever recorded in the United States at magnitude 9.2," Abers said. "It destroyed several towns and it heavily damaged Anchorage. The risk of tsunami is high for coastal areas as well."
The Alaskan-Aleutian megathrust is a subduction zone "much bigger than in Cascadia," Abers said. "The saving grace in Alaska is that the population density is much lower than in California and the Pacific Northwest, but the population of the state has increased dramatically, and there's infrastructure there such as the Alaska Pipeline that wasn't there in 1964."
There is seismic monitoring in the state, particularly the urban areas, "but there's large parts of Alaska that are not that well-studied — magnitude 4 earthquakes go undetected all the time in some of these places," Abers said. "There's just a lot of real estate to cover."
source....
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Auriga, the charioteer
Auriga, the charioteer, rides high across winter's evening skies. To find it, look for its brightest star, Capella, which stands high overhead in mid-evening. Capella is one of the brightest stars in the night sky, and shines pale yellow.
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
TECH TIME: Canon’s first touchscreen camera offers high-quality photos, video
If I had to come up with a slogan to describe the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS digital camera, it would be, “Out with the old, in with the new.”
With this impressive camera, Canon is one of the companies leading the charge of bringing innovative touchscreen technology to digital cameras.
Before we delve into the function of the camera, I must mention that the quality of the pictures I took with the SD980 was excellent. As 12.1 MP, I was able to make large 8x10 prints with quality focus and details. Canon says the camera can take pictures that are capable of being printed at this level up to 16x20 inches.
Another great feature of the camera is the high-definition camcorder feature. You can record 720p HD videos on the camera, and then watch them later on the camera itself or your computer or television. You can use an HDMI connector to view your pictures and videos on your big-screen TV, and get a glimpse of what you look like in HD.
What I like about the SD980 is that despite being small, lightweight and portable, it still does an awesome job of taking pictures. Your photo albums, both printed and digital, will be much more vivid and impressive than in the past if you use this camera.
I took photos in various settings and lighting conditions, and was rarely disappointed.
The camera features 5x Optical Zoom, auto-focus, an ultra-wide 24mm lens, built-in flash and an optical image stabilizer. The 24mm wide lens will let you shoot pictures of larger groups, and well as impressive outdoor shots.
With a bright and wide touch panel PureColor System LCD screen to preview your photos and videos, you’ll see a quality preview of what will end up on your computer screen or in your photo album.
This touchscreen is a great addition to the camera, and it lets you move between pictures with your fingers, similar to how some cell phones operate. You can also zoom and examine photos more closely through the touchscreen. Bringing this technology to nonprofessional digital cameras is a sign that digital cameras are just the latest tech item that will undergo big, impressive changes in the new decade. Look for this type of technology to pop up more and more on cameras, until it becomes the norm.
It’s important to note that while there is the addition of the touchscreen, most of the physical buttons we are used to using on cameras still remain, so users won’t be scratching their heads about how to operate this camera.
For those worried about fashion, the camera is available in silver, blue, purple and gold.
There are plenty of settings that can be adjusted to fit different scenarios, but there is also an “Auto” function that judges by itself what settings are best. If you’re not a professional photographer, this is usually the best bet and produces quality photos. I’m sure those who are experts on photography could improve the settings, but most of us don’t fit that description.
As far as function, there are quite a few settings that can be adjusted on the camera, so it takes some time to figure them out. But once you know your way around, the camera is a breeze to use. There are almost two dozen shooting modes with different settings, including Portrait, Snow, Beach, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Creative Light Effects. Effects can be applied to photos, and red eye can be corrected.
At $329.99 when buying directly from Canon, the SD980 is kind of pricey, but you’re getting a quality product. You can find deals online and save yourself some money if you look around.
While the price may scare some people away, those who pick up the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS won’t be disappointed, as they will have picked up an impressive piece of photo and video taking machinery, and gotten a glimpse of what the future holds for digital cameras.
source....
With this impressive camera, Canon is one of the companies leading the charge of bringing innovative touchscreen technology to digital cameras.
Before we delve into the function of the camera, I must mention that the quality of the pictures I took with the SD980 was excellent. As 12.1 MP, I was able to make large 8x10 prints with quality focus and details. Canon says the camera can take pictures that are capable of being printed at this level up to 16x20 inches.
Another great feature of the camera is the high-definition camcorder feature. You can record 720p HD videos on the camera, and then watch them later on the camera itself or your computer or television. You can use an HDMI connector to view your pictures and videos on your big-screen TV, and get a glimpse of what you look like in HD.
What I like about the SD980 is that despite being small, lightweight and portable, it still does an awesome job of taking pictures. Your photo albums, both printed and digital, will be much more vivid and impressive than in the past if you use this camera.
I took photos in various settings and lighting conditions, and was rarely disappointed.
The camera features 5x Optical Zoom, auto-focus, an ultra-wide 24mm lens, built-in flash and an optical image stabilizer. The 24mm wide lens will let you shoot pictures of larger groups, and well as impressive outdoor shots.
With a bright and wide touch panel PureColor System LCD screen to preview your photos and videos, you’ll see a quality preview of what will end up on your computer screen or in your photo album.
This touchscreen is a great addition to the camera, and it lets you move between pictures with your fingers, similar to how some cell phones operate. You can also zoom and examine photos more closely through the touchscreen. Bringing this technology to nonprofessional digital cameras is a sign that digital cameras are just the latest tech item that will undergo big, impressive changes in the new decade. Look for this type of technology to pop up more and more on cameras, until it becomes the norm.
It’s important to note that while there is the addition of the touchscreen, most of the physical buttons we are used to using on cameras still remain, so users won’t be scratching their heads about how to operate this camera.
For those worried about fashion, the camera is available in silver, blue, purple and gold.
There are plenty of settings that can be adjusted to fit different scenarios, but there is also an “Auto” function that judges by itself what settings are best. If you’re not a professional photographer, this is usually the best bet and produces quality photos. I’m sure those who are experts on photography could improve the settings, but most of us don’t fit that description.
As far as function, there are quite a few settings that can be adjusted on the camera, so it takes some time to figure them out. But once you know your way around, the camera is a breeze to use. There are almost two dozen shooting modes with different settings, including Portrait, Snow, Beach, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Creative Light Effects. Effects can be applied to photos, and red eye can be corrected.
At $329.99 when buying directly from Canon, the SD980 is kind of pricey, but you’re getting a quality product. You can find deals online and save yourself some money if you look around.
While the price may scare some people away, those who pick up the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS won’t be disappointed, as they will have picked up an impressive piece of photo and video taking machinery, and gotten a glimpse of what the future holds for digital cameras.
source....
Friday, January 29, 2010
The full Moon and the planet Mars
The full Moon and the planet Mars are low in the east at nightfall, with orange Mars a little to the left of the Moon. In fact, Mars is at its brightest for the entire year, outshining all but a handful of stars and planets.
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Space Shuttle engines: free to a good home
Now that the Space Shuttle missions are ending, NASA is cleaning house. While complete shuttles are for sale at 50% off "retail," the deal of the century must be the free engines. These spare engines were originally offered for sale for between $400,000 and $800,000 back in 2008. With the shuttle program coming to a close and no takers on the sale, just pay the price of shipping, and you could have your very own engine. Who would be better - FedEx or UPS?
Want the full Monty? For a discounted, bargain-basement price of a mere $28.8 mill, you can purchase your very own Shuttle — the Endeavour and Atlantis are both available, and the shuttle Discovery is heading to the Smithsonian. The prototype shuttle Enterprise, which never made it to space, might also be up for grabs. The cost includes transportation from Kennedy Space Center to a major airport. So far, about 20 institutions have expressed interest.
Want a shuttle? The deadline to make an offer is February 19, 2010, and delivery will be by 2012. Do you have to pay more to ship by Priority Mail?
source....
Want the full Monty? For a discounted, bargain-basement price of a mere $28.8 mill, you can purchase your very own Shuttle — the Endeavour and Atlantis are both available, and the shuttle Discovery is heading to the Smithsonian. The prototype shuttle Enterprise, which never made it to space, might also be up for grabs. The cost includes transportation from Kennedy Space Center to a major airport. So far, about 20 institutions have expressed interest.
Want a shuttle? The deadline to make an offer is February 19, 2010, and delivery will be by 2012. Do you have to pay more to ship by Priority Mail?
source....
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Light fantastic: World's oldest lightbulb still burning bright after 109 years
The world's oldest light bulb has been burning for 109 years - so little wonder it has a fan club with thousands of members and its own website.
As EU rules deny householders the right to use traditional filament bulbs, the so-called 'Centennial Light' has been on almost constantly since 1901.
It holds pride of place in Fire Station 6, in Livermore, northern California.
The longest time the Guinness World Record-holding bulb has ever been turned off for is just a week.
Dangling above the fire engines, people come for hundreds and thousands of miles to see the diminutive symbol.
The bulb was designed by Adolphe Chailet, who competed with the likes of the world famous Thomas Edison to make the best bulb.
Despite his amazing design Chailet was never as successful as Edison even though his bulb was proved to survive higher voltages.
Bulb protector Steve Bunn said the secret of the lights success was down to good old fashioned engineering.
He said: 'They certainly don't make them like this anymore, it's a real sign of how some things were better made in the past.
'The man who invented the bulb was Adolphe Chailet and he sounded by all accounts to be a very serious person.
'But when it comes to spark, he did perform an experiment where several competitors, including Edison.
'All the bulbs were subjected to a test of increasing voltage, and exploded, all except for Chailet's which just got brighter.
'That would have been fun to watch.
'The appeal of the light is worldwide, a few weeks ago I received a message from someone living in the Arctic Circle.
'They said the little bulb was a beacon of light for the whole world, even in dark and lonely places which was a humbling thought to me.
'As well as the fact this little bulb was burning when my grandparents were children, it's amazing.
'My theory, that the bulb has lasted, is because Adolphe Chailet just made a better bulb, and filament.
'To the folks on the committee, the fire department and the city of Livermore California, the bulb is priceless, but we did have an offer for $5,000 once.
'On face value, it is high up in the rafters, and a little dim, but when visitors talk to the firemen who live with it, and hear the history from them, it comes alive as a symbol of good things gone by.
'I just invited a friend of my dad, Cal, to go see it last week and he just turned 100 last year.
'His response on seeing it he said: 'Oh I saw enough of those growing up, I can picture it in my mind'.' The lightbulb in Livermore is a Shelby model and was first designed by the Shelby Electric Company in the late 1890s.
Centennial Light facts and figures
Age: 109 years and counting (as of 2010)
Installed: First installed at the fire department hose cart house on L Street in 1901. Shortly after it moved to the main firehouse on Second. In 1903 it was moved to the new Station 1 on First and McLeod, and survived the renovation of the Firehouse in 1937, when it was off for about a week.
During it's first 75 years it was connected directly to the 110 Volt city power, (subject to the power outages) , and not to the back-up generator for fear of a power surge. In 1976 it was moved with a full police and fire truck escort, under the watch of Captain Kirby Slate, to its present site in 1976 at Fire Station 6, Livermore, California. It was then hooked to a seperate power source at 120V according to Frank Maul, Retired City Electrician, with no interuptions since.
Proof of Longevity: From local newspaper records; also GE engineers researched it. Was donated to the Fire Department in 1901 by Dennis Bernal who owned the Livermore Power and Light Co.
Vital Statistics: The improved incandescent lamp, invented by Adolphe A. Chaillet, was made by the Shelby Electric Company. It is a handblown bulb with carbon filament. Approximate wattage-4 watts. Left burning continuously in firehouse as a nightlight over the fire trucks. For some research test results on a sister bulb at Annapolis follow this link.
Recognition: Declared the oldest known working lightbulb by Guinness Book of World Records. Ripley's Believe-It-or-Not in 1972 researched it and declared it the oldest. Charles Kurault of the TV program 'On the Road with Charles Kurault' visited the bulb in the 1970s and included it in his book as well. Declarations from the President of the U.S., Congress, Senate, State Senate and Assembly, and Shelby Ohio.In 2007 it was again recognized in Guiness, and Ripleys books.
Closest Competitors: The Second longest bulb was listed in the 1970 Guinness Book under the heading Most Durable says that 'on 21 Sept 1908 a stagehand named Barry Burke at the Byers Opera House, Fort Worth, Texas screwed in a new light bulb and that it was still burning'. The building was renamed the Palace Theatre, and the light was known as the Palace Bulb ever since. It now resides in the Stockyards Museum, and will have been burning for 100 years Sept of 2008. A website is in the works.
The Third, a bulb in a New York City hardware store had been working since 1912, but it is unknown if it still works today.
The Fourth is known as 'the bulb' which like ours, burns in a firehouse in the town of Mangum, Oklahoma. It has been in operation since around 1926, has no special power conversions, and is on continuously.
The Fifth was a bulb in a washroom at the Martin & Newby Electrical Shop in Ipswich, England was dated from 1930 and burned out in January 2001.
For more info on these follow this link to Roadside America, or Wikipedia.
Future Plans: The City of Livermore and the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department intend to keep the bulb burning as long as it will. They have no plans at present what to do with the bulb if or when it does burn out. Ripley's has requested it for their museum.
Visiting: You can visit the bulb depending on the availability of the Firemen on hand. Go to the rear of the station and ring the bell. If they are in someone will answer the door. Otherwise you can see the bulb if you look through the window up on the top of the wall to your left.
Celebration: We commemorated its centennial on Friday, June 8, 2001 at the fire station. The celebration was from 5 to 8 p.m. with a community BBQ and program. Three bands provided a variety of music, ranging from 1900 era, 1950s music, and a contemporary rock music group. Please see the celebration gallery for all the pictures.
History of the light bulb
1809: An English chemist, Humphrey Davy, used a high power battery to induce current between two charcoal strips producing a bright light.
1879: Thomas A. Edison, along with others developed the first practical filament lightbulb design, it lasted just 13.5 hours. However in months Edison had developed one which lasted 1,200 hours.
1930: Photo flashlight bulbs were first used in photography.
1959: A design for halogen lightbulb is first patented by the US company General Electric.
1962: The LED, or light-emitting diode is first introduced as a practical component in computers and electronics.
2009: The UK Government announced it was phasing out the traditional filament lightbulb banning sales in favour of environmentally-friendly halogen models.
source....
As EU rules deny householders the right to use traditional filament bulbs, the so-called 'Centennial Light' has been on almost constantly since 1901.
It holds pride of place in Fire Station 6, in Livermore, northern California.
The longest time the Guinness World Record-holding bulb has ever been turned off for is just a week.
Dangling above the fire engines, people come for hundreds and thousands of miles to see the diminutive symbol.
The bulb was designed by Adolphe Chailet, who competed with the likes of the world famous Thomas Edison to make the best bulb.
Despite his amazing design Chailet was never as successful as Edison even though his bulb was proved to survive higher voltages.
Bulb protector Steve Bunn said the secret of the lights success was down to good old fashioned engineering.
He said: 'They certainly don't make them like this anymore, it's a real sign of how some things were better made in the past.
'The man who invented the bulb was Adolphe Chailet and he sounded by all accounts to be a very serious person.
'But when it comes to spark, he did perform an experiment where several competitors, including Edison.
'All the bulbs were subjected to a test of increasing voltage, and exploded, all except for Chailet's which just got brighter.
'That would have been fun to watch.
'The appeal of the light is worldwide, a few weeks ago I received a message from someone living in the Arctic Circle.
'They said the little bulb was a beacon of light for the whole world, even in dark and lonely places which was a humbling thought to me.
'As well as the fact this little bulb was burning when my grandparents were children, it's amazing.
'My theory, that the bulb has lasted, is because Adolphe Chailet just made a better bulb, and filament.
'To the folks on the committee, the fire department and the city of Livermore California, the bulb is priceless, but we did have an offer for $5,000 once.
'On face value, it is high up in the rafters, and a little dim, but when visitors talk to the firemen who live with it, and hear the history from them, it comes alive as a symbol of good things gone by.
'I just invited a friend of my dad, Cal, to go see it last week and he just turned 100 last year.
'His response on seeing it he said: 'Oh I saw enough of those growing up, I can picture it in my mind'.' The lightbulb in Livermore is a Shelby model and was first designed by the Shelby Electric Company in the late 1890s.
Centennial Light facts and figures
Age: 109 years and counting (as of 2010)
Installed: First installed at the fire department hose cart house on L Street in 1901. Shortly after it moved to the main firehouse on Second. In 1903 it was moved to the new Station 1 on First and McLeod, and survived the renovation of the Firehouse in 1937, when it was off for about a week.
During it's first 75 years it was connected directly to the 110 Volt city power, (subject to the power outages) , and not to the back-up generator for fear of a power surge. In 1976 it was moved with a full police and fire truck escort, under the watch of Captain Kirby Slate, to its present site in 1976 at Fire Station 6, Livermore, California. It was then hooked to a seperate power source at 120V according to Frank Maul, Retired City Electrician, with no interuptions since.
Proof of Longevity: From local newspaper records; also GE engineers researched it. Was donated to the Fire Department in 1901 by Dennis Bernal who owned the Livermore Power and Light Co.
Vital Statistics: The improved incandescent lamp, invented by Adolphe A. Chaillet, was made by the Shelby Electric Company. It is a handblown bulb with carbon filament. Approximate wattage-4 watts. Left burning continuously in firehouse as a nightlight over the fire trucks. For some research test results on a sister bulb at Annapolis follow this link.
Recognition: Declared the oldest known working lightbulb by Guinness Book of World Records. Ripley's Believe-It-or-Not in 1972 researched it and declared it the oldest. Charles Kurault of the TV program 'On the Road with Charles Kurault' visited the bulb in the 1970s and included it in his book as well. Declarations from the President of the U.S., Congress, Senate, State Senate and Assembly, and Shelby Ohio.In 2007 it was again recognized in Guiness, and Ripleys books.
Closest Competitors: The Second longest bulb was listed in the 1970 Guinness Book under the heading Most Durable says that 'on 21 Sept 1908 a stagehand named Barry Burke at the Byers Opera House, Fort Worth, Texas screwed in a new light bulb and that it was still burning'. The building was renamed the Palace Theatre, and the light was known as the Palace Bulb ever since. It now resides in the Stockyards Museum, and will have been burning for 100 years Sept of 2008. A website is in the works.
The Third, a bulb in a New York City hardware store had been working since 1912, but it is unknown if it still works today.
The Fourth is known as 'the bulb' which like ours, burns in a firehouse in the town of Mangum, Oklahoma. It has been in operation since around 1926, has no special power conversions, and is on continuously.
The Fifth was a bulb in a washroom at the Martin & Newby Electrical Shop in Ipswich, England was dated from 1930 and burned out in January 2001.
For more info on these follow this link to Roadside America, or Wikipedia.
Future Plans: The City of Livermore and the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department intend to keep the bulb burning as long as it will. They have no plans at present what to do with the bulb if or when it does burn out. Ripley's has requested it for their museum.
Visiting: You can visit the bulb depending on the availability of the Firemen on hand. Go to the rear of the station and ring the bell. If they are in someone will answer the door. Otherwise you can see the bulb if you look through the window up on the top of the wall to your left.
Celebration: We commemorated its centennial on Friday, June 8, 2001 at the fire station. The celebration was from 5 to 8 p.m. with a community BBQ and program. Three bands provided a variety of music, ranging from 1900 era, 1950s music, and a contemporary rock music group. Please see the celebration gallery for all the pictures.
History of the light bulb
1809: An English chemist, Humphrey Davy, used a high power battery to induce current between two charcoal strips producing a bright light.
1879: Thomas A. Edison, along with others developed the first practical filament lightbulb design, it lasted just 13.5 hours. However in months Edison had developed one which lasted 1,200 hours.
1930: Photo flashlight bulbs were first used in photography.
1959: A design for halogen lightbulb is first patented by the US company General Electric.
1962: The LED, or light-emitting diode is first introduced as a practical component in computers and electronics.
2009: The UK Government announced it was phasing out the traditional filament lightbulb banning sales in favour of environmentally-friendly halogen models.
source....
Mars is passing closest to Earth this week
Look for the planet Mars in the east this evening, well below the Moon. It looks like a bright orange star. Mars is passing closest to Earth this week, so is especially bright and beautiful.
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
New mass UFO sighting sends Chinese media into frenzy, photos
In China the UFO mega-events are continuing unabated and the last few weeks have been extra-ordinary for that nation's UFO community.
A new mass UFO sighting by millions of witnesses that occurred on January 11 has sent the Chinese media into a frenzy. This event occurred in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang and was seen over a very wide area. Photos have come to light (see below) and film footage is expected to surface.
Witnesses to the event described the sudden appearance of what at first looked like star which shortly turned red before turning green and morphing into an enormous traditional flying saucer shaped object.The UFO was then described as rotating, turning blue and vanishing.
Some witnesses claimed to have seen the UFO land on a mountain before shooting off in an easterly direction. Other witnesses described the UFO initially shrouded in white mist.
Many eyewitness reports have already been collected and can be read in the sources below.
The local Astronomy station has declared the object to have been space-junk. Many witnesses however believe that what they saw might have been extraterrestrial in origin.
source....
A new mass UFO sighting by millions of witnesses that occurred on January 11 has sent the Chinese media into a frenzy. This event occurred in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang and was seen over a very wide area. Photos have come to light (see below) and film footage is expected to surface.
Witnesses to the event described the sudden appearance of what at first looked like star which shortly turned red before turning green and morphing into an enormous traditional flying saucer shaped object.The UFO was then described as rotating, turning blue and vanishing.
Some witnesses claimed to have seen the UFO land on a mountain before shooting off in an easterly direction. Other witnesses described the UFO initially shrouded in white mist.
Many eyewitness reports have already been collected and can be read in the sources below.
The local Astronomy station has declared the object to have been space-junk. Many witnesses however believe that what they saw might have been extraterrestrial in origin.
source....
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Story Behind Earth's Coldest Temperature Ever
During the southern hemisphere winter of 1983, temperatures at Russia's Vostok research station in Antarctica plunged to a frighteningly cold minus 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 54 degrees colder than the winter average there and the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth.
Scientists have now figured out why it got so cold.
For comparison, the coldest temperature ever recorded in the lower-48 United States was minus 70 degrees F (-57 degrees C) at Rogers Pass, Mont., on Jan. 20, 1954.
An explanation for why the mercury plunged precipitously during a 10-day period in July of 1983 (winter in Earth's Southern Hemisphere) to that minus 128.6 F (minus 89.2 degrees Celsius) temperature has long eluded scientists.
But scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) in Russia were able to solve the mystery with a computer model developed to simulate the future evolution of the Antarctic climate, along with weather charts and satellite imagery of the area.
They found that relatively warm air that normally flows over the Southern Ocean onto the high Antarctic plateau almost came to a halt during this period. A flow of cold air circling Vostok was preventing the mixing of this warmer air from lower latitudes, isolating the station and causing near optimum cooling conditions.
Adding to this was the absence of a heat-trapping cloud cover and the presence of a layer of tiny particles of ice suspended in the air (known as diamond dust), allowing more heat from the continent’s icy surface to be lost to space.
The findings show just how extreme Mother Nature can be.
"Distinguishing between natural variability and human induced changes to the Earth's atmospheric climate is at the heart of our research, and we wanted to understand why this 'normal' weather system was thrown out of balance so severely," said team member John Turner at the BAS. "Our findings indicate that this was a natural event, but this is an important reminder of just how extreme Earth’s natural events can be and that we must always consider the potential for such anomalies to occur."
Turner and his colleagues think that the same combination of circumstances lasting over a longer period of time could make the thermometer at Vostok dip even further, down to minus 141 F (-96 C).
The team hopes understanding this cold event will help them better predict how the Antarctic continent will respond to global warming.
"By appreciating that such possibilities can occur and in turn striving to understand the processes that cause them we are better equipped to make predictions for how the planet might react to future changes in polar atmospheric climate" Turner said.
source....
Scientists have now figured out why it got so cold.
For comparison, the coldest temperature ever recorded in the lower-48 United States was minus 70 degrees F (-57 degrees C) at Rogers Pass, Mont., on Jan. 20, 1954.
An explanation for why the mercury plunged precipitously during a 10-day period in July of 1983 (winter in Earth's Southern Hemisphere) to that minus 128.6 F (minus 89.2 degrees Celsius) temperature has long eluded scientists.
But scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) in Russia were able to solve the mystery with a computer model developed to simulate the future evolution of the Antarctic climate, along with weather charts and satellite imagery of the area.
They found that relatively warm air that normally flows over the Southern Ocean onto the high Antarctic plateau almost came to a halt during this period. A flow of cold air circling Vostok was preventing the mixing of this warmer air from lower latitudes, isolating the station and causing near optimum cooling conditions.
Adding to this was the absence of a heat-trapping cloud cover and the presence of a layer of tiny particles of ice suspended in the air (known as diamond dust), allowing more heat from the continent’s icy surface to be lost to space.
The findings show just how extreme Mother Nature can be.
"Distinguishing between natural variability and human induced changes to the Earth's atmospheric climate is at the heart of our research, and we wanted to understand why this 'normal' weather system was thrown out of balance so severely," said team member John Turner at the BAS. "Our findings indicate that this was a natural event, but this is an important reminder of just how extreme Earth’s natural events can be and that we must always consider the potential for such anomalies to occur."
Turner and his colleagues think that the same combination of circumstances lasting over a longer period of time could make the thermometer at Vostok dip even further, down to minus 141 F (-96 C).
The team hopes understanding this cold event will help them better predict how the Antarctic continent will respond to global warming.
"By appreciating that such possibilities can occur and in turn striving to understand the processes that cause them we are better equipped to make predictions for how the planet might react to future changes in polar atmospheric climate" Turner said.
source....
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tourist killed by 'dinosaur-sized' shark off South African beach
Zimbabwean holidaymaker eaten by shark described by onlookers as 'longer than a minibus'
Witnesses have described their horror at seeing a tourist being eaten by a "gigantic" shark in South Africa's most popular holiday destination.
Lloyd Skinner was pulled under the surf and dragged out to sea by the shark, believed to be a great white, off Fish Hoek beach in Cape Town. His diving goggles and a dark patch of blood were all that remained in the water.
"Holy shit. We just saw a gigantic shark eat what looked like a person in front of our house," witness Gregg Coppen posted on Twitter. "That shark was huge. Like dinosaur huge."
The shocking attack yesterday afternoon came after an increase in recent shark sightings and led to calls for an electronic warning system to alert swimmers.
Skinner, 37, a Zimbabwean who lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was standing chest-deep 100 metres from the shore and adjusting his goggles when the shark struck. It was seen approaching him twice before he disappeared in a flurry of thrashing. Cape Town's disaster management services had issued a warning hours earlier that sharks had been spotted in the water, but the shark flag was not flying.
Witnesses described the terrifying scene. The shark was "longer than a minibus", Coppen told the Cape Times newspaper.
He said: "It was this giant shadow heading to something colourful. Then it sort of came out the water and took this colourful lump and went off with it. You could see its whole jaw wrap around the thing which turned out to be a person."
British visitor Phyllis McCartain told the same paper: "We saw the shark come back twice. It had the man's body in its mouth, and his arm was in the air. Then the sea was full of blood."
Kyle Johnston said: "We were swimming only about 15 metres away from the guy. We were at about chest depth and he was a little deeper. We looked at the walkway and saw people waving towels at us, then we looked further out to sea and saw what looked like blood, and a man's leg come up."
His friend Dane Leo added: "I was floating and I thought the people waving at us were joking, but then I looked back and saw a fin and blood."
Kathy Geldenhuys was sitting on a nearby bench. She recalled: "My husband had just pointed out how far the man was swimming from the other people. He asked what would happen if he was attacked by a shark, because he was so far away. The words were hardly cold when the shark attacked that man. The shark attacked twice; it turned and attacked the man again; I just saw the blood on the water."
Geldenhuys added: "Only when it was attacking did I see the fin, but then I could see the whole body under the water. It was a very big shark ... It came from below and grabbed the man. Part of his body was gone."
Skinner was reportedly on holiday in Cape Town for the month to attend the wedding of his partner's daughter. His partner was at the beach with him.
Four rescue boats and a helicopter searched in vain for Skinner yesterday and resumed the hunt today. Ian Klopper, a spokesman for the National Sea Rescue Institute, said: "You can rule out any chance of finding him alive. Whether we find body parts, it's very unlikely. We think the shark took everything."
Shark scientist Alison Kock said it was probably a great white, the most commonly spotted shark in the area. "More than 70% of recorded great white attacks on humans result in just the shark biting and then leaving," she said. "There is that 30% where the shark behaves like it did in this case, where it came back and killed the person." Kock added there had been an increase in shark sightings in recent weeks.
After a deadly attack at Fish Hoek six years ago, shark spotters were posted on mountain slopes to look for sharks close to popular swimming spots. The spotters use radios to order that a loud alarm be sounded so people can move to safety.
This attack has reportedly prompted discussions about introducing an electronic detection system. Klopper said he was unaware of details, but past speculation has included sonar buoys able to identify sharks and transmit a warning signal. Critics say this would be impractical.
Beaches along Cape Town's False Bay coastline were closed today, but several bathers ignored the warning flags and ventured into shallow waters. Lifeguards asked them to get out and the shark alarm sounded several times.
source....
Witnesses have described their horror at seeing a tourist being eaten by a "gigantic" shark in South Africa's most popular holiday destination.
Lloyd Skinner was pulled under the surf and dragged out to sea by the shark, believed to be a great white, off Fish Hoek beach in Cape Town. His diving goggles and a dark patch of blood were all that remained in the water.
"Holy shit. We just saw a gigantic shark eat what looked like a person in front of our house," witness Gregg Coppen posted on Twitter. "That shark was huge. Like dinosaur huge."
The shocking attack yesterday afternoon came after an increase in recent shark sightings and led to calls for an electronic warning system to alert swimmers.
Skinner, 37, a Zimbabwean who lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was standing chest-deep 100 metres from the shore and adjusting his goggles when the shark struck. It was seen approaching him twice before he disappeared in a flurry of thrashing. Cape Town's disaster management services had issued a warning hours earlier that sharks had been spotted in the water, but the shark flag was not flying.
Witnesses described the terrifying scene. The shark was "longer than a minibus", Coppen told the Cape Times newspaper.
He said: "It was this giant shadow heading to something colourful. Then it sort of came out the water and took this colourful lump and went off with it. You could see its whole jaw wrap around the thing which turned out to be a person."
British visitor Phyllis McCartain told the same paper: "We saw the shark come back twice. It had the man's body in its mouth, and his arm was in the air. Then the sea was full of blood."
Kyle Johnston said: "We were swimming only about 15 metres away from the guy. We were at about chest depth and he was a little deeper. We looked at the walkway and saw people waving towels at us, then we looked further out to sea and saw what looked like blood, and a man's leg come up."
His friend Dane Leo added: "I was floating and I thought the people waving at us were joking, but then I looked back and saw a fin and blood."
Kathy Geldenhuys was sitting on a nearby bench. She recalled: "My husband had just pointed out how far the man was swimming from the other people. He asked what would happen if he was attacked by a shark, because he was so far away. The words were hardly cold when the shark attacked that man. The shark attacked twice; it turned and attacked the man again; I just saw the blood on the water."
Geldenhuys added: "Only when it was attacking did I see the fin, but then I could see the whole body under the water. It was a very big shark ... It came from below and grabbed the man. Part of his body was gone."
Skinner was reportedly on holiday in Cape Town for the month to attend the wedding of his partner's daughter. His partner was at the beach with him.
Four rescue boats and a helicopter searched in vain for Skinner yesterday and resumed the hunt today. Ian Klopper, a spokesman for the National Sea Rescue Institute, said: "You can rule out any chance of finding him alive. Whether we find body parts, it's very unlikely. We think the shark took everything."
Shark scientist Alison Kock said it was probably a great white, the most commonly spotted shark in the area. "More than 70% of recorded great white attacks on humans result in just the shark biting and then leaving," she said. "There is that 30% where the shark behaves like it did in this case, where it came back and killed the person." Kock added there had been an increase in shark sightings in recent weeks.
After a deadly attack at Fish Hoek six years ago, shark spotters were posted on mountain slopes to look for sharks close to popular swimming spots. The spotters use radios to order that a loud alarm be sounded so people can move to safety.
This attack has reportedly prompted discussions about introducing an electronic detection system. Klopper said he was unaware of details, but past speculation has included sonar buoys able to identify sharks and transmit a warning signal. Critics say this would be impractical.
Beaches along Cape Town's False Bay coastline were closed today, but several bathers ignored the warning flags and ventured into shallow waters. Lifeguards asked them to get out and the shark alarm sounded several times.
source....
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Immediately I Knew I Was In Trouble - But It Was Already Too Late!
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Mars
The orange planet Mars is well up in the east by two or three hours after sunset. It outshines everything else in the sky at that hour except the Moon, so it is hard to miss. And because it's so bright, its color is hard to miss, too.
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Proof of Martians 'to come this year'
Final proof that Mars has bred life will be confirmed this year, leading NASA experts believe. The historic discovery will come not on Mars itself but from chunks of the red planet here on Earth. David McKay, chief of astrobiology at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, says powerful new microscopes and other instruments will establish whether features in martian meteorites are alien fossils.
David McKay, chief of astrobiology at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, says powerful new microscopes and other instruments will establish whether features in martian meteorites are alien fossils.
He says evidence for life in the space rocks could have been claimed by the UK if British scientists had used readily-available electron microscopes. Instead, images of colonies of martian bacteria were collected by American scientists.
The NASA team is already convinced that colonies of micro-organisms are visible inside three martian rocks that landed on Earth. If so, this would have profound implications for our understanding of life in the universe.
Two of the meteorites - ALH84001 and Yamato 593 - were found in the Antarctic by American and Japanese scientists after they lay in the icy desert for thousands of years.
But of special interest is a meteorite that fell in many chunks at Nakhla, Egypt, in 1911. Most of the fragments ended up in London's Natural History Museum.
The stones are known to be from Mars because gases trapped inside them match those in rocks examined by probes on the red planet. They were blasted out of its surface by asteroid impacts and then drifted around the solar system for millions of years before falling to earth.
One of the new instruments that will analyse the meteorite will bombard it with a stream of ions to check whether features are geological or biological.
The NASA team believes a planet-wide network of micro-organisms came to life underground on Mars 3.6 billion years ago when the planet was much warmer and wetter with a much thicker atmosphere. Simple life was developing on Earth around the same time.
McKay says it is remarkable that some of the most striking new evidence for life on Mars has been sitting in London for nearly 100 years.
He told the website Spaceflight Now that if British researchers had examined their Nakhla meteorite with readily available electron microscopes and other tools like those used by the U.S. team, the new evidence for life on Mars could have been a British discovery, rather than an American one.
He added: "We do not yet believe that we have rigorously proven there is - or was - life on Mars. But we do believe that we are very, very close to proving there is or has been life there."
Compelling evidence that life may still survive today on Mars was revealed a year ago after NASA detected plumes of methane in the planet's atmosphere.
source....
David McKay, chief of astrobiology at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, says powerful new microscopes and other instruments will establish whether features in martian meteorites are alien fossils.
He says evidence for life in the space rocks could have been claimed by the UK if British scientists had used readily-available electron microscopes. Instead, images of colonies of martian bacteria were collected by American scientists.
The NASA team is already convinced that colonies of micro-organisms are visible inside three martian rocks that landed on Earth. If so, this would have profound implications for our understanding of life in the universe.
Two of the meteorites - ALH84001 and Yamato 593 - were found in the Antarctic by American and Japanese scientists after they lay in the icy desert for thousands of years.
But of special interest is a meteorite that fell in many chunks at Nakhla, Egypt, in 1911. Most of the fragments ended up in London's Natural History Museum.
The stones are known to be from Mars because gases trapped inside them match those in rocks examined by probes on the red planet. They were blasted out of its surface by asteroid impacts and then drifted around the solar system for millions of years before falling to earth.
One of the new instruments that will analyse the meteorite will bombard it with a stream of ions to check whether features are geological or biological.
The NASA team believes a planet-wide network of micro-organisms came to life underground on Mars 3.6 billion years ago when the planet was much warmer and wetter with a much thicker atmosphere. Simple life was developing on Earth around the same time.
McKay says it is remarkable that some of the most striking new evidence for life on Mars has been sitting in London for nearly 100 years.
He told the website Spaceflight Now that if British researchers had examined their Nakhla meteorite with readily available electron microscopes and other tools like those used by the U.S. team, the new evidence for life on Mars could have been a British discovery, rather than an American one.
He added: "We do not yet believe that we have rigorously proven there is - or was - life on Mars. But we do believe that we are very, very close to proving there is or has been life there."
Compelling evidence that life may still survive today on Mars was revealed a year ago after NASA detected plumes of methane in the planet's atmosphere.
source....
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Yesterday's Outdoor Recreation and Exercise
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
ISS Tonight
23 Jan -3.2 17:17:47 WNW 78
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Snowmobile Accident Reduction Team Begins Patrols
A specialized Snowmobile Accident Reduction Team or SART is being reactivated in Wisconsin through next winter to reduce crashes through enforcement of snowmobile safety laws and highly visible patrols.
Additional funding provided in the Gov. Jim Doyle’s budget to address this important safety need allows the Department of Natural Resources to reactivate the team, which was formed in 2005 following the second deadliest winter on record for snowmobile accidents in Wisconsin, when 37 snowmobilers lost their lives. The DNR continued patrols every year until last winter when the DNR budget could no longer support the additional patrols.
“The team will target those activities, such as excessive speed and alcohol abuse, that are associated with fatal accidents,” noted Gary Eddy, DNR snowmobile safety administrator. “The law abiding, snowmobile public loves to see us on the trails; the law breakers, not so much. A small minority of the snowmobilers choose to ride recklessly and attract unwarranted, negative attention to the sport. They are the one’s we want to slow down or remove from the trails all together.”
Accident Reduction Team members will include six conservation wardens, six marked snowmobiles and two marked, enclosed trailers. Six wardens will patrol high snowmobile use areas or areas that experience high numbers of fatalities around the state this winter beginning this weekend at Eagle River and continuing into February.
“We’ve seen a reduction in snowmobile fatalities the last three years in a row. This may be the first time that has happened in Wisconsin and we’d like it to continue. The Accident Reduction teams can certainly help with this goal,” Eddy said.
source....
Additional funding provided in the Gov. Jim Doyle’s budget to address this important safety need allows the Department of Natural Resources to reactivate the team, which was formed in 2005 following the second deadliest winter on record for snowmobile accidents in Wisconsin, when 37 snowmobilers lost their lives. The DNR continued patrols every year until last winter when the DNR budget could no longer support the additional patrols.
“The team will target those activities, such as excessive speed and alcohol abuse, that are associated with fatal accidents,” noted Gary Eddy, DNR snowmobile safety administrator. “The law abiding, snowmobile public loves to see us on the trails; the law breakers, not so much. A small minority of the snowmobilers choose to ride recklessly and attract unwarranted, negative attention to the sport. They are the one’s we want to slow down or remove from the trails all together.”
Accident Reduction Team members will include six conservation wardens, six marked snowmobiles and two marked, enclosed trailers. Six wardens will patrol high snowmobile use areas or areas that experience high numbers of fatalities around the state this winter beginning this weekend at Eagle River and continuing into February.
“We’ve seen a reduction in snowmobile fatalities the last three years in a row. This may be the first time that has happened in Wisconsin and we’d like it to continue. The Accident Reduction teams can certainly help with this goal,” Eddy said.
source....
Friday, January 22, 2010
Giving Your Pictures Some Va Va 'Zoom'
Are you ready to take a step closer to the digital-camera big leagues? Many people who have used a basic point-and-shoot camera for several years are ready to bring it up a notch.
The next logical category of camera after basic point-and-shoots (and before digital single-lens reflex, SLR, cameras) are the so-called megazoom cameras, capable of zeroing in on a subject with around 20x optical zoom strength. They also have fairly high megapixel counts, capturing about 10 to 12 MP each, and offer several automatic and manual settings for capturing photos.
Most of the cameras in this category resemble SLRs, with bulkier builds and protruding zoom lenses. But they cost somewhere in the $400 range—significantly less expensive than SLRs, which often cost over $1,000 for the camera body alone (lenses are typically sold separately). If you don't want to spend the money or you aren't completely sure you want to commit to learning the ins and outs of an SLR, this midrange model is a sound compromise.
Of course, these cameras have some downsides. Serious photographers who have grown accustomed to the high-quality photos of SLRs will point out the comparatively poorer photo quality of megazooms. But for average users like me, the quality of photos captured using a megazoom digital camera is a welcome upgrade from a point-and-shoot.
Another significant difference for point-and-shoot users will be adjusting to the size and overall bulk of megazoom cameras. Users can't toss them into a small purse or pocket on the way out the door like they do with compact point-and-shoots. Instead, megazooms are usually seen hanging from neck straps or stowed away in camera shoulder bags.
Some smaller cameras are categorized as megazooms, including the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1K and Casio Exilim EX-H10BK, though both look more like thick point-and-shoot cameras. These Panasonic and Casio models cost between $250 and $300 and offer 12x and 10x optical zooms, respectively. But they aren't capable of some of the more advanced features found on expensive megazooms—like 24x optical zoom or some manual settings and shooting modes.
This Christmas, I was fortunate to receive one such megazoom camera, the Nikon Coolpix P90, which costs around $400. Though I've used other cameras in this category, I was especially struck by how the capabilities of this megazoom altered my photo-capturing behavior.
In the Snow
Granted, not everyone will react as I did, but I took my camera and set out on photography jaunts around my neighborhood in Washington, D.C., scaling piles of snow to capture just the right angle, and using tree branches to frame shots of the Capitol in the distance.
The details and colors in the photos that my camera captured were so much more vivid than those on my admittedly older point-and-shoot that I wondered what took me so long to make the upgrade.
I spent the first week with this camera using it in its Auto setting—an old habit that carried over from my point-and-shoot days (also because I didn't have time to read through the manual).
But even in the automatic mode, photos looked astonishingly good—prompting compliments from family and friends. A week later, I delved into the camera's user manual and learned how to use many more features.
A Downside
One big downside: Though the Nikon Coolpix P90 weighs only 16.2 ounces, its bulky shape prohibits it from being carried along on a whim.
I brought the camera on a family vacation, but left it in my room rather than trying to fit it in my bag during a trip to the beach and on a zip line ride through the rain forest. A compact point-and-shoot would've easily fit into a pocket.
But then I have my BlackBerry Curve 8900's camera—with 3.2 megapixels, auto focus and a built-in flash—for snapping photos on the go. (Plus, I can instantly share the shots via email, Facebook or Twitter.)
As more mobile devices include good quality cameras, like Google's new $179 (with T-Mobile) Nexus One super-smart phone with five megapixels and a flash, fewer people will need to carry point-and-shoots for quickly capturing digital memories.
A Pleasure to Edit
Editing photos captured by a megazoom is a real pleasure. I cropped and zoomed to my heart's content, noticing more details in photos after looking at them on my computer than when I initially took the pictures. When I needed to trim someone or something out of a shot, I didn't worry about degrading the photo's overall quality. And because of their high resolution, my photos can be enlarged with very little quality or color compromise.
In addition to Nikon, many other companies make cameras for the megazoom category. Some examples are Canon's $400 PowerShot SX20 IS, Sony's $480 Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 and Casio's $400 EX-FH20. These offer several shooting modes, as well as scene modes for common settings like sunsets, backlight, night portraits, burst mode and panoramas. They have optical and/or digital-image stabilization to thwart shaky hands, settings for focusing in on a subject manually or automatically, and ways to save frequently used manual settings.
Flash Features
Some megazooms have built-in flashes, while others use an external mount so that a flash can be snapped on or off for use. (My Nikon came with a built-in flash.) They often have more than one flash that fits in the mount, leaving users with the choice of which one to use.
The digital cameras include LCD viewing screens as well as optical viewfinders. (The latter is commonly left off of many small point-and-shoot cameras, but it's really helpful for people who want to hold the camera up to one eye for steadier shooting.)
Some LCD screens, like the Canon's, swing out and swivel around. The Nikon's can be adjusted up 90 degrees or down 45 degrees for shooting below or above a subject.
No matter which model, the megazoom category of digital cameras offers a combination of advanced features and affordability that could entice people who are ready to take the next step into a world of more serious digital photography.
source....
The next logical category of camera after basic point-and-shoots (and before digital single-lens reflex, SLR, cameras) are the so-called megazoom cameras, capable of zeroing in on a subject with around 20x optical zoom strength. They also have fairly high megapixel counts, capturing about 10 to 12 MP each, and offer several automatic and manual settings for capturing photos.
Most of the cameras in this category resemble SLRs, with bulkier builds and protruding zoom lenses. But they cost somewhere in the $400 range—significantly less expensive than SLRs, which often cost over $1,000 for the camera body alone (lenses are typically sold separately). If you don't want to spend the money or you aren't completely sure you want to commit to learning the ins and outs of an SLR, this midrange model is a sound compromise.
Of course, these cameras have some downsides. Serious photographers who have grown accustomed to the high-quality photos of SLRs will point out the comparatively poorer photo quality of megazooms. But for average users like me, the quality of photos captured using a megazoom digital camera is a welcome upgrade from a point-and-shoot.
Another significant difference for point-and-shoot users will be adjusting to the size and overall bulk of megazoom cameras. Users can't toss them into a small purse or pocket on the way out the door like they do with compact point-and-shoots. Instead, megazooms are usually seen hanging from neck straps or stowed away in camera shoulder bags.
Some smaller cameras are categorized as megazooms, including the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1K and Casio Exilim EX-H10BK, though both look more like thick point-and-shoot cameras. These Panasonic and Casio models cost between $250 and $300 and offer 12x and 10x optical zooms, respectively. But they aren't capable of some of the more advanced features found on expensive megazooms—like 24x optical zoom or some manual settings and shooting modes.
This Christmas, I was fortunate to receive one such megazoom camera, the Nikon Coolpix P90, which costs around $400. Though I've used other cameras in this category, I was especially struck by how the capabilities of this megazoom altered my photo-capturing behavior.
In the Snow
Granted, not everyone will react as I did, but I took my camera and set out on photography jaunts around my neighborhood in Washington, D.C., scaling piles of snow to capture just the right angle, and using tree branches to frame shots of the Capitol in the distance.
The details and colors in the photos that my camera captured were so much more vivid than those on my admittedly older point-and-shoot that I wondered what took me so long to make the upgrade.
I spent the first week with this camera using it in its Auto setting—an old habit that carried over from my point-and-shoot days (also because I didn't have time to read through the manual).
But even in the automatic mode, photos looked astonishingly good—prompting compliments from family and friends. A week later, I delved into the camera's user manual and learned how to use many more features.
A Downside
One big downside: Though the Nikon Coolpix P90 weighs only 16.2 ounces, its bulky shape prohibits it from being carried along on a whim.
I brought the camera on a family vacation, but left it in my room rather than trying to fit it in my bag during a trip to the beach and on a zip line ride through the rain forest. A compact point-and-shoot would've easily fit into a pocket.
But then I have my BlackBerry Curve 8900's camera—with 3.2 megapixels, auto focus and a built-in flash—for snapping photos on the go. (Plus, I can instantly share the shots via email, Facebook or Twitter.)
As more mobile devices include good quality cameras, like Google's new $179 (with T-Mobile) Nexus One super-smart phone with five megapixels and a flash, fewer people will need to carry point-and-shoots for quickly capturing digital memories.
A Pleasure to Edit
Editing photos captured by a megazoom is a real pleasure. I cropped and zoomed to my heart's content, noticing more details in photos after looking at them on my computer than when I initially took the pictures. When I needed to trim someone or something out of a shot, I didn't worry about degrading the photo's overall quality. And because of their high resolution, my photos can be enlarged with very little quality or color compromise.
In addition to Nikon, many other companies make cameras for the megazoom category. Some examples are Canon's $400 PowerShot SX20 IS, Sony's $480 Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 and Casio's $400 EX-FH20. These offer several shooting modes, as well as scene modes for common settings like sunsets, backlight, night portraits, burst mode and panoramas. They have optical and/or digital-image stabilization to thwart shaky hands, settings for focusing in on a subject manually or automatically, and ways to save frequently used manual settings.
Flash Features
Some megazooms have built-in flashes, while others use an external mount so that a flash can be snapped on or off for use. (My Nikon came with a built-in flash.) They often have more than one flash that fits in the mount, leaving users with the choice of which one to use.
The digital cameras include LCD viewing screens as well as optical viewfinders. (The latter is commonly left off of many small point-and-shoot cameras, but it's really helpful for people who want to hold the camera up to one eye for steadier shooting.)
Some LCD screens, like the Canon's, swing out and swivel around. The Nikon's can be adjusted up 90 degrees or down 45 degrees for shooting below or above a subject.
No matter which model, the megazoom category of digital cameras offers a combination of advanced features and affordability that could entice people who are ready to take the next step into a world of more serious digital photography.
source....
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Saving A Little Red Pine
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Two old, bloated stars
Two old, bloated stars known as red giants are in good view tonight. Aldebaran, the "eye" of the bull, is high in the southeast at nightfall. Pollux, one of the twins of Gemini, is in the east, above the planet Mars. Like Mars, both stars look orange.
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
ISS Tonight
21 Jan -3.2 18:11:01 WNW 70
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Fla. Sheriff Fears Missing Lottery Winner Killed
In 2006, Abraham Shakespeare -- a truck driver's assistant who lived with his mother -- won $30 million in the Florida lottery. His good fortune may have cost him his life.
Shakespeare vanished months ago. His mother hopes he is somewhere in the Caribbean, lying on a beach and enjoying the good life away from all the hangers-on who were constantly hitting him up for money.
The sheriff has a more ominous theory: Shakespeare was killed.
''There are a lot of odd and bizarre circumstances in this case,'' Sheriff Grady Judd said. ''We fear and are preparing for the worst. We're working this case as if it were a homicide.''
Shakespeare, 43, won the big jackpot after buying a lottery ticket at a convenience store in a town called Frostproof, claiming later that he gave the last $3 in his pocket to a homeless man just before the winning numbers were announced.
Shakespeare -- who had a criminal record that included arrests and prison time for burglary, battery and not paying child support -- took a lump-sum payment of $16.9 million instead of annual installments.
He bought a Nissan Altima, a Rolex from a pawn shop, a $1 million home in a gated community. He talked about starting a foundation for the poor and insisted the money wouldn't change him.
''I'm not a material person,'' he said in 2007. ''I don't let material things run me. I'm on a tight budget.''
The money quickly caused him problems.
A former co-worker sued him in 2007, accusing Shakespeare of stealing the winning ticket from him. Six months later, a jury ruled the ticket was Shakespeare's.
Then there were the people constantly asking him for a piece of his fortune.
''They didn't wait. They just came right after they found out he won this money,'' his mother, Elizabeth Walker, said recently.
She said her son was generous, paying for funerals, lending money to friends starting businesses and even giving a million dollars to a guy known only as ''Big Man.''
Not long after he bought the million-dollar home in early 2007, he was approached by a woman named Dee Dee Moore, said family and officials.
Moore -- who could not be reached by The Associated Press -- said she was interested in writing a book about Shakespeare's life. She became something of a financial adviser to Shakespeare, who never graduated high school.
Property records show that Moore's company, American Medical Professionals, bought Shakespeare's home for $655,000 last January. His mother said the last time she saw him was shortly afterward, around her birthday in February.
The sheriff said the last time anyone saw Shakespeare was in April -- but it wasn't until Nov. 9 that he was reported missing, by a police informant.
And the story gets more bizarre.
According to The Ledger of Lakeland, the 37-year-old Moore contacted reporters at the newspaper in April, saying Shakespeare was ''laying low'' because people tried to suck money out of him.
That made sense to Shakespeare's mother -- sort of. ''I remember once, talking with me over the phone, he said he might go to Jamaica,'' she said.
On Dec. 5, a sobbing Moore told The Ledger that she helped Shakespeare disappear, but now wants him to return because detectives were searching her home and car and looking for blood on her belongings.
One reason he wanted to leave, she said, was a child support case for a child he allegedly fathered after winning the lottery. ''Abraham sold me his mess to get a better life,'' she told the paper.
She even gave the paper a video that she said she took of Abraham. In the video, he says he is tired of people asking him for money. ''They don't take no for an answer,'' he says.
''So where you wanna go to?'' Moore asks in the video.
''It don't matter to me. I'm not a picky person,'' Shakespeare replies.
Moore told the paper that she took the video to ''protect herself.''
Moore said she filed paperwork to take over five mortgages totaling about $370,000 that had been owed to Shakespeare. She said she sold the loans at a loss to another person. She added that many of the people who borrowed from Shakespeare have refused to pay, and she feels threatened by some of them.
Moore's past includes a year of probation after she was charged with falsely reporting that she was carjacked and raped in 2001. Officials said she concocted the scheme so her insurance company would reimburse her for the SUV, which she claimed had been stolen.
The woman did not answer several calls placed to a number listed for her in public records. During a recent visit to the home she bought from Shakespeare, a security box rang to a phone number that had been disconnected.
Sheriff's officials won't comment on Moore's involvement in Shakespeare's life.
The sheriff said that Shakespeare spent the bulk of his lottery winnings. The fact that he didn't call his mother on Christmas reinforces the theory that Shakespeare is not just hiding, Judd said.
''I hope so much that he is alive somewhere,'' said his mother. ''And I want people to know, if they ever win the lottery, I hope they know how to handle the people that come after them. They can be dangerous.''
source....
Shakespeare vanished months ago. His mother hopes he is somewhere in the Caribbean, lying on a beach and enjoying the good life away from all the hangers-on who were constantly hitting him up for money.
The sheriff has a more ominous theory: Shakespeare was killed.
''There are a lot of odd and bizarre circumstances in this case,'' Sheriff Grady Judd said. ''We fear and are preparing for the worst. We're working this case as if it were a homicide.''
Shakespeare, 43, won the big jackpot after buying a lottery ticket at a convenience store in a town called Frostproof, claiming later that he gave the last $3 in his pocket to a homeless man just before the winning numbers were announced.
Shakespeare -- who had a criminal record that included arrests and prison time for burglary, battery and not paying child support -- took a lump-sum payment of $16.9 million instead of annual installments.
He bought a Nissan Altima, a Rolex from a pawn shop, a $1 million home in a gated community. He talked about starting a foundation for the poor and insisted the money wouldn't change him.
''I'm not a material person,'' he said in 2007. ''I don't let material things run me. I'm on a tight budget.''
The money quickly caused him problems.
A former co-worker sued him in 2007, accusing Shakespeare of stealing the winning ticket from him. Six months later, a jury ruled the ticket was Shakespeare's.
Then there were the people constantly asking him for a piece of his fortune.
''They didn't wait. They just came right after they found out he won this money,'' his mother, Elizabeth Walker, said recently.
She said her son was generous, paying for funerals, lending money to friends starting businesses and even giving a million dollars to a guy known only as ''Big Man.''
Not long after he bought the million-dollar home in early 2007, he was approached by a woman named Dee Dee Moore, said family and officials.
Moore -- who could not be reached by The Associated Press -- said she was interested in writing a book about Shakespeare's life. She became something of a financial adviser to Shakespeare, who never graduated high school.
Property records show that Moore's company, American Medical Professionals, bought Shakespeare's home for $655,000 last January. His mother said the last time she saw him was shortly afterward, around her birthday in February.
The sheriff said the last time anyone saw Shakespeare was in April -- but it wasn't until Nov. 9 that he was reported missing, by a police informant.
And the story gets more bizarre.
According to The Ledger of Lakeland, the 37-year-old Moore contacted reporters at the newspaper in April, saying Shakespeare was ''laying low'' because people tried to suck money out of him.
That made sense to Shakespeare's mother -- sort of. ''I remember once, talking with me over the phone, he said he might go to Jamaica,'' she said.
On Dec. 5, a sobbing Moore told The Ledger that she helped Shakespeare disappear, but now wants him to return because detectives were searching her home and car and looking for blood on her belongings.
One reason he wanted to leave, she said, was a child support case for a child he allegedly fathered after winning the lottery. ''Abraham sold me his mess to get a better life,'' she told the paper.
She even gave the paper a video that she said she took of Abraham. In the video, he says he is tired of people asking him for money. ''They don't take no for an answer,'' he says.
''So where you wanna go to?'' Moore asks in the video.
''It don't matter to me. I'm not a picky person,'' Shakespeare replies.
Moore told the paper that she took the video to ''protect herself.''
Moore said she filed paperwork to take over five mortgages totaling about $370,000 that had been owed to Shakespeare. She said she sold the loans at a loss to another person. She added that many of the people who borrowed from Shakespeare have refused to pay, and she feels threatened by some of them.
Moore's past includes a year of probation after she was charged with falsely reporting that she was carjacked and raped in 2001. Officials said she concocted the scheme so her insurance company would reimburse her for the SUV, which she claimed had been stolen.
The woman did not answer several calls placed to a number listed for her in public records. During a recent visit to the home she bought from Shakespeare, a security box rang to a phone number that had been disconnected.
Sheriff's officials won't comment on Moore's involvement in Shakespeare's life.
The sheriff said that Shakespeare spent the bulk of his lottery winnings. The fact that he didn't call his mother on Christmas reinforces the theory that Shakespeare is not just hiding, Judd said.
''I hope so much that he is alive somewhere,'' said his mother. ''And I want people to know, if they ever win the lottery, I hope they know how to handle the people that come after them. They can be dangerous.''
source....
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
ISS Tonight
20 Jan -3.0 17:49:51 NW 44
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
CES 2010: New Canon PowerShots Are Low-Key, Low-Cost
While Canon aggressively revamped its Vixia camcorder line here at CES 2010, the company took a much more conservative approach to its camera lineup.
Canon unveiled four new A-series PowerShot point-and-shoot models, each of which will cost less than $200, and all of which will be available in February.
A handful of new scene modes and in-camera features will be available in Canon's entry-level models, including a low-light feature that boosts the ISO equivalency up to 3200, a "Super Vivid" scene mode that modifies an image's hue and saturation, and a "Smart FE" mode that Canon claims improves the quality of flash exposures.
The new PowerShots also have a YouTube mode that eases uploads to the video-sharing site, and the four new models are compatible with the mammoth-capacity SDXC cards.
The 12-megapixel Canon PowerShot A3100 IS offers optical image stabilization, a 4X-optical-zoom lens (35mm to 140mm), a 2.7-inch LCD, a rechargeable battery, and a $180 price tag. The new Canon PowerShot A3000 IS ($150) is identical to the A3100, but its resolution maxes out at 10 megapixels.
Also new to the 2010 lineup are the PowerShot A495 and PowerShot A490, both 10-megapixel cameras that run on AA batteries and lack optical image stabilization.
The $130 A495 will feature all the new in-camera modes described above, while the A490 will offer only the ISO 3200, Smart FE, and YouTube modes.
source....
Canon unveiled four new A-series PowerShot point-and-shoot models, each of which will cost less than $200, and all of which will be available in February.
A handful of new scene modes and in-camera features will be available in Canon's entry-level models, including a low-light feature that boosts the ISO equivalency up to 3200, a "Super Vivid" scene mode that modifies an image's hue and saturation, and a "Smart FE" mode that Canon claims improves the quality of flash exposures.
The new PowerShots also have a YouTube mode that eases uploads to the video-sharing site, and the four new models are compatible with the mammoth-capacity SDXC cards.
The 12-megapixel Canon PowerShot A3100 IS offers optical image stabilization, a 4X-optical-zoom lens (35mm to 140mm), a 2.7-inch LCD, a rechargeable battery, and a $180 price tag. The new Canon PowerShot A3000 IS ($150) is identical to the A3100, but its resolution maxes out at 10 megapixels.
Also new to the 2010 lineup are the PowerShot A495 and PowerShot A490, both 10-megapixel cameras that run on AA batteries and lack optical image stabilization.
The $130 A495 will feature all the new in-camera modes described above, while the A490 will offer only the ISO 3200, Smart FE, and YouTube modes.
source....
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Kodak Unveils Waterproof Pocket HD Camcorder
Eastman Kodak updated its line of pocket high-definition camcorders, with the introduction of its first waterproof model—The Kodak PLAYSPORT Video Camera. This new camcorder's ruggedized casing will allow it to travel to depths up to 10 feet of water to capture 1080p video at 30 frames per second.
The Kodak PLAYSPORT will offer a 2-inch LCD screen, run off a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, and include a HDMI out port for a simple digital connection to HDTV's for playback. An HDMI cable will also be included. Video can be captured up to 1080p30 and features digital image stabilization. The Kodak PLAYSPORT will be available in April for $149.95 MSRP in Abyss (black), Wave Crash (blue) or Adrenaline Rush (purple.)
source....
The Kodak PLAYSPORT will offer a 2-inch LCD screen, run off a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, and include a HDMI out port for a simple digital connection to HDTV's for playback. An HDMI cable will also be included. Video can be captured up to 1080p30 and features digital image stabilization. The Kodak PLAYSPORT will be available in April for $149.95 MSRP in Abyss (black), Wave Crash (blue) or Adrenaline Rush (purple.)
source....
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Britain braced for heaviest snowfall in 50 years
The heaviest snowfall in almost 50 years is hitting parts of Britain as Arctic weather brought nationwide chaos.
As the country was plunged into one of its worst winters for decades, the Met Office issued an emergency weather warning for all counties of the UK.
The South, including London and the Home Counties, were expected to bear the brunt of the snowfall with emergency services warning they are already struggling to cope with the increasingly bitter conditions.
Forecasters predicted that more than one foot of snow could fall in less than 24 hours in most southern areas leading to widespread chaos and disruption for millions.
The residents of Hampshire and Wiltshire were expected to be the worst hit, with as much as 16 inches likely to be dumped by the end of tomorrow.
Residents and commuters in London, which ground to a halt last February following heavy falls, were warned to expect a covering of several inches by the morning rush hour.
On the roads drivers were advised not to venture out unless their journey was absolutely essential, as councils warned they could run out of grit if the conditions failed to improve.
The Met Office claimed the amount of snow forecast could be the biggest single fall since the notorious winter of 1962-63, when some areas of the country were blighted by snow and ice for more than three months.
During that winter the south saw more than a foot of snow, while blizzards in some parts of Wales led to drifts of over 18 feet.
A Met Office spokesman said they had issued a so-called "flash warning" because of the substantial quantity of snow which was expected to fall across the south in a short period of time.
The spokesman said: "This kind of warning is very rare. It's the level of alert we put out for the floods in the Summer of 2007."
Forecasters have warned of little respite over the next week as freezing temperatures will continue to grip Britain.
On Tuesday, up to eight inches of snow fell in parts of the country. It brought chaos to schools, businesses and the transport networks.
Scores of rail services and flights were cancelled as temperatures struggled to get above freezing. The overnight temperature on Dartmoor in Devon fell to minus 9 on Monday night.
More than 1,000 schools were closed across Scotland, the north of England and Wales.
Police, fire and ambulance services were preparing to put into place contingency plans in order to maintain their operations through the worst of the weather.
In some hard-hit areas however emergency services admitted they were losing the battle against the bad weather.
The Manchester Constabulary issued a plea to the public to only dial 999 where there was a life threatening emergency or a crime was taking place.
And the North West Ambulance Service also declared a major incident due to the weather.
A spokesman for the service said: "We are unlikely to be able to reach patients with minor injuries or symptoms. We are having to stringently prioritise all of our 999 calls and dispatch our resources to life-threatening cases only. We would like to stress the urgency for people to stay indoors unless it is absolutely necessary.
"The driving conditions are extremely hazardous and we would like to ensure that the risk of injury on the roads is reduced as much as possible."
Ambulance services across the south were monitoring the worsening weather situation with some turning to 4x4 all terrain vehicles in order to reach patients.
South Central Ambulance Service which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire was last night contacting staff to ask them if they can stay overnight near their ambulance stations.
In London many ambulances were also fitted with special equipment which provide extra grip for tyres in slippery conditions.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the Government and all the services were doing everything possible to keep the country moving throughout the worsening weather.
He said: "The weather is taking a turn for the worse. We are doing everything possible to keep disruption to a minimum. The Highways Agency has kept the vast majority of major road networks running. We are in close contact with local authorities and it is a situation we will keep a very close eye on."
There were also fears that gas supplies could begin to run low if the icy conditions continue for sometime as forecasters have predicted.
Figures obtained by the Conservatives suggested under the current levels of usage, supplies would only last for another week.
Major sporting fixtures also fell victim to the weather with both Carling Cup semi final football matches between Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa and Manchester City and Manchester United, postponed.
Elsewhere supermarkets reported a surge in panic-buying as shoppers tied to stockpile food supplies.
source....
As the country was plunged into one of its worst winters for decades, the Met Office issued an emergency weather warning for all counties of the UK.
The South, including London and the Home Counties, were expected to bear the brunt of the snowfall with emergency services warning they are already struggling to cope with the increasingly bitter conditions.
Forecasters predicted that more than one foot of snow could fall in less than 24 hours in most southern areas leading to widespread chaos and disruption for millions.
The residents of Hampshire and Wiltshire were expected to be the worst hit, with as much as 16 inches likely to be dumped by the end of tomorrow.
Residents and commuters in London, which ground to a halt last February following heavy falls, were warned to expect a covering of several inches by the morning rush hour.
On the roads drivers were advised not to venture out unless their journey was absolutely essential, as councils warned they could run out of grit if the conditions failed to improve.
The Met Office claimed the amount of snow forecast could be the biggest single fall since the notorious winter of 1962-63, when some areas of the country were blighted by snow and ice for more than three months.
During that winter the south saw more than a foot of snow, while blizzards in some parts of Wales led to drifts of over 18 feet.
A Met Office spokesman said they had issued a so-called "flash warning" because of the substantial quantity of snow which was expected to fall across the south in a short period of time.
The spokesman said: "This kind of warning is very rare. It's the level of alert we put out for the floods in the Summer of 2007."
Forecasters have warned of little respite over the next week as freezing temperatures will continue to grip Britain.
On Tuesday, up to eight inches of snow fell in parts of the country. It brought chaos to schools, businesses and the transport networks.
Scores of rail services and flights were cancelled as temperatures struggled to get above freezing. The overnight temperature on Dartmoor in Devon fell to minus 9 on Monday night.
More than 1,000 schools were closed across Scotland, the north of England and Wales.
Police, fire and ambulance services were preparing to put into place contingency plans in order to maintain their operations through the worst of the weather.
In some hard-hit areas however emergency services admitted they were losing the battle against the bad weather.
The Manchester Constabulary issued a plea to the public to only dial 999 where there was a life threatening emergency or a crime was taking place.
And the North West Ambulance Service also declared a major incident due to the weather.
A spokesman for the service said: "We are unlikely to be able to reach patients with minor injuries or symptoms. We are having to stringently prioritise all of our 999 calls and dispatch our resources to life-threatening cases only. We would like to stress the urgency for people to stay indoors unless it is absolutely necessary.
"The driving conditions are extremely hazardous and we would like to ensure that the risk of injury on the roads is reduced as much as possible."
Ambulance services across the south were monitoring the worsening weather situation with some turning to 4x4 all terrain vehicles in order to reach patients.
South Central Ambulance Service which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire was last night contacting staff to ask them if they can stay overnight near their ambulance stations.
In London many ambulances were also fitted with special equipment which provide extra grip for tyres in slippery conditions.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the Government and all the services were doing everything possible to keep the country moving throughout the worsening weather.
He said: "The weather is taking a turn for the worse. We are doing everything possible to keep disruption to a minimum. The Highways Agency has kept the vast majority of major road networks running. We are in close contact with local authorities and it is a situation we will keep a very close eye on."
There were also fears that gas supplies could begin to run low if the icy conditions continue for sometime as forecasters have predicted.
Figures obtained by the Conservatives suggested under the current levels of usage, supplies would only last for another week.
Major sporting fixtures also fell victim to the weather with both Carling Cup semi final football matches between Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa and Manchester City and Manchester United, postponed.
Elsewhere supermarkets reported a surge in panic-buying as shoppers tied to stockpile food supplies.
source....
Saturday, January 16, 2010
100 Years Ago: The Amazing Technology of 1910
The dawn of 2010 promises more amazing developments in the world of technology. Already, tourists can visit space, for a price, nearly everything and everyone is going digital, and medical science continues to test the boundaries of what makes us truly human.
One full century ago, the new technologies that had people talking were considered just as groundbreaking. Electricity led the charge of developments that were changing the way people lived every day, with transportation and chemistry not far behind.
As the clocks of 1909 ticked towards 1910, more exciting inventions were just around the corner.
1910 brings new ways to clean, travel
The first decade of the 1900s was an exciting time to be alive, with inventors continuing to make major strides in all disciplines.
The early years of the century saw the general public finally able to enjoy the fruits of what was achieved in electrical engineering during the previous century. By 1910, many suburban homes had been wired up with power and new electric gadgets were being patented with fervor. Vacuum cleaners and washing machines had just become commercially available, though were still too expensive for many middle-class families.
The telephone was another hot new commodity in 1910, with millions of American homes already connected by manual switchboard. Those who did not have a phone to call their neighbor still had to rely on the paper for their news, however; though radio technology was in its infancy, regular broadcasts were still several years away.
In transportation, those first years of the 20th century began the age of the airship, marked by a craze for dirigibles such as the Zeppelin and the Wright Brothers' historic flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903. Henry Ford introduced his landmark Model T in 1908, making automobiles available and affordable to the masses for the first time.
Chemistry also charged full steam ahead in 1910. Advances in the use of gases chilled the world out with the release of the first electric refrigerators and air-conditioning units, while French inventor Georges Claude harnessed neon in glass tubes and debuted neon lighting in Paris, changing the face of seedy advertising forever.
Other new inventions, both influential and inane, that were making waves one century ago included:
* Bakelite plastic
* Escalators
* Teabags
* Cellophane
* Instant coffee
* Disposable razor blades
The best thing before sliced bread
The world was modernizing quickly by 1910, but some everyday things we take for granted now were then still just a glimmer in their inventors' eyes.
Men were still relying on buttons and women on painful corsets until 1913, for example, when clothing technology got a boost with the development of the zipper and modern brassiere. Unfortunate zipper accidents likely healed better with the invention of the modern Band-Aid, which came about seven years later.
Steel turned rusty until mid-decade, when the stainless variety ushered in a new era of efficient gun barrels and, later, shiny appliances.
Finally, though the pop-up toaster first hit the market in 1919, the public had to wait almost ten years for its practicality to be fully realized. The "greatest thing" of the modern age, the one invention against which all others are now compared—sliced bread—was born in Missouri in 1928.
source....
One full century ago, the new technologies that had people talking were considered just as groundbreaking. Electricity led the charge of developments that were changing the way people lived every day, with transportation and chemistry not far behind.
As the clocks of 1909 ticked towards 1910, more exciting inventions were just around the corner.
1910 brings new ways to clean, travel
The first decade of the 1900s was an exciting time to be alive, with inventors continuing to make major strides in all disciplines.
The early years of the century saw the general public finally able to enjoy the fruits of what was achieved in electrical engineering during the previous century. By 1910, many suburban homes had been wired up with power and new electric gadgets were being patented with fervor. Vacuum cleaners and washing machines had just become commercially available, though were still too expensive for many middle-class families.
The telephone was another hot new commodity in 1910, with millions of American homes already connected by manual switchboard. Those who did not have a phone to call their neighbor still had to rely on the paper for their news, however; though radio technology was in its infancy, regular broadcasts were still several years away.
In transportation, those first years of the 20th century began the age of the airship, marked by a craze for dirigibles such as the Zeppelin and the Wright Brothers' historic flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903. Henry Ford introduced his landmark Model T in 1908, making automobiles available and affordable to the masses for the first time.
Chemistry also charged full steam ahead in 1910. Advances in the use of gases chilled the world out with the release of the first electric refrigerators and air-conditioning units, while French inventor Georges Claude harnessed neon in glass tubes and debuted neon lighting in Paris, changing the face of seedy advertising forever.
Other new inventions, both influential and inane, that were making waves one century ago included:
* Bakelite plastic
* Escalators
* Teabags
* Cellophane
* Instant coffee
* Disposable razor blades
The best thing before sliced bread
The world was modernizing quickly by 1910, but some everyday things we take for granted now were then still just a glimmer in their inventors' eyes.
Men were still relying on buttons and women on painful corsets until 1913, for example, when clothing technology got a boost with the development of the zipper and modern brassiere. Unfortunate zipper accidents likely healed better with the invention of the modern Band-Aid, which came about seven years later.
Steel turned rusty until mid-decade, when the stainless variety ushered in a new era of efficient gun barrels and, later, shiny appliances.
Finally, though the pop-up toaster first hit the market in 1919, the public had to wait almost ten years for its practicality to be fully realized. The "greatest thing" of the modern age, the one invention against which all others are now compared—sliced bread—was born in Missouri in 1928.
source....
pack of dogs
A pack of dogs bounds across the southern sky on winter nights: the stars of Canis Major, the big dog. Tonight, they climb into view in the southeast by around 9 p.m. The leader of the pack is Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Friday, January 15, 2010
Bald eagles viewing events to be held in January
The recent cold snap has begun to freeze up larger portions of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, which should result in higher concentrations of bald eagles in areas of open water, and should make for good eagle viewing during upcoming bald eagle watching events.
Sauk City and Prairie du Sac on the Wisconsin River will hold the 23nd annual Bald Eagle Watching Days on Jan. 15-16. Along the Mississippi River, Cassville will hold its 17th annual Bald Eagle Days on Jan. 30-31.
Each winter, hundreds of bald eagles congregate along areas of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers where they feed on fish in the open water below dams. Wildlife officials say this is the largest concentration of wintering bald eagles in the lower 48 states, offering some of the best eagle viewing in the nation.
Randy Jurewicz, an endangered resources biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said volunteer spotters from the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council but counted 98 eagles on January 3, 2010 up from the 49 birds near the dam at Prairie du Chien in mid December. “Temperatures were much milder then and there were larger sections of open water along the lower Wisconsin River, so eagles were likely more dispersed. Now that temperatures have fallen, much more of the river is frozen, so eagles should be more concentrated along the open water sections,” Jurewicz said.
He notes, however, it is possible that the extensive snow cover following the early December snowstorm drove birds farther south to the Mississippi River. Eagle numbers along the Mississippi River were typical of an early cold and snowy December.
Wisconsin currently has approximately 1,145 territorial pairs of eagles, according to surveys conducted by DNR wildlife biologists.
In 1971 Wisconsin banned the use of DDT after scientists determined eagle numbers were dropping as the birds, impacted by DDT, failed to reproduce because their eggshells were weak. The bald eagle was listed as both a state and federally endangered species.
A major milestone was reached in August 2007 when the bald eagles were removed from the Federal Endangered Species Act’s endangered and threatened species list. Wisconsin’s large and successful population played a significant role in the federal delisting.
The Endangered Resources tax check-off option found on Wisconsin state tax returns gives taxpayers the option of donating a portion of any tax refund toward the protection and management of endangered resources in Wisconsin.
Many of the best eagle viewing destinations are featured in the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail guides available from the Department of Natural Resources.
Bald Eagle Watching Days at Sauk City-Prairie du Sac
The 23rd Bald Eagle Watching Days will be held Friday evening and Saturday, Jan. 15 and 16. Wildlife humorist David Stokes kicks off the celebration at 7 p.m. on Friday with fun for the entire family at the Sun Prairie High School River Arts Center.
Saturday’s events include guided eagle watching tours; an “Eagles in Wisconsin” program with Pat Manthey, of the DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources, and members of the the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council; a “Birds of Prey Show,” with live raptors presented by The Raptor Center from the University of Minnesota. A complete schedule of activities can be found on the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council Web site. Information is also available by calling 1-800-683-2453.
Open water below the dam on the Wisconsin River at Sauk City and Prairie du Sac is a customary winter gathering place for Bald Eagles. The Ferry Bluff Eagle Council maintains an overlook for viewing eagles, preserves habitat for eagles, conducts eagle programs, educates people on how to watch eagles yet maintain the bird’s safety, creates educational material for schools and works with landowners to manage habitat. Council members also monitor night time eagle roosts during the winter.
Cassville Bald Eagle Days
The 17th Annual Bald Eagle Days Celebration will be held Jan. 30 and 31 in Cassville on the Mississippi River in Grant County. Every year hundreds of eagles spend the winter in the Cassville area where the birds can be seen along the village’s waterfront.
Each day, from 8 a.m. to noon, knowledgeable volunteers from the Cassville area will assist birders in locating eagles at the Wildlife Observation Deck at Cassville’s Riverside Park. Education programs will be held Saturday, January 31 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Cassville High School, 715 E Amelia St.
More information is available at Cassville's Bald Eagle Days web site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: on bald eagles in Wisconsin contact Randy Jurewicz - (608) 267-7507; on Sauk-Prairie Eagle Watching Days - 1-800-683-2453; on Cassville Bald Eagle Days - (608) 725-5855
source....
Sauk City and Prairie du Sac on the Wisconsin River will hold the 23nd annual Bald Eagle Watching Days on Jan. 15-16. Along the Mississippi River, Cassville will hold its 17th annual Bald Eagle Days on Jan. 30-31.
Each winter, hundreds of bald eagles congregate along areas of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers where they feed on fish in the open water below dams. Wildlife officials say this is the largest concentration of wintering bald eagles in the lower 48 states, offering some of the best eagle viewing in the nation.
Randy Jurewicz, an endangered resources biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said volunteer spotters from the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council but counted 98 eagles on January 3, 2010 up from the 49 birds near the dam at Prairie du Chien in mid December. “Temperatures were much milder then and there were larger sections of open water along the lower Wisconsin River, so eagles were likely more dispersed. Now that temperatures have fallen, much more of the river is frozen, so eagles should be more concentrated along the open water sections,” Jurewicz said.
He notes, however, it is possible that the extensive snow cover following the early December snowstorm drove birds farther south to the Mississippi River. Eagle numbers along the Mississippi River were typical of an early cold and snowy December.
Wisconsin currently has approximately 1,145 territorial pairs of eagles, according to surveys conducted by DNR wildlife biologists.
In 1971 Wisconsin banned the use of DDT after scientists determined eagle numbers were dropping as the birds, impacted by DDT, failed to reproduce because their eggshells were weak. The bald eagle was listed as both a state and federally endangered species.
A major milestone was reached in August 2007 when the bald eagles were removed from the Federal Endangered Species Act’s endangered and threatened species list. Wisconsin’s large and successful population played a significant role in the federal delisting.
The Endangered Resources tax check-off option found on Wisconsin state tax returns gives taxpayers the option of donating a portion of any tax refund toward the protection and management of endangered resources in Wisconsin.
Many of the best eagle viewing destinations are featured in the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail guides available from the Department of Natural Resources.
Bald Eagle Watching Days at Sauk City-Prairie du Sac
The 23rd Bald Eagle Watching Days will be held Friday evening and Saturday, Jan. 15 and 16. Wildlife humorist David Stokes kicks off the celebration at 7 p.m. on Friday with fun for the entire family at the Sun Prairie High School River Arts Center.
Saturday’s events include guided eagle watching tours; an “Eagles in Wisconsin” program with Pat Manthey, of the DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources, and members of the the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council; a “Birds of Prey Show,” with live raptors presented by The Raptor Center from the University of Minnesota. A complete schedule of activities can be found on the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council Web site. Information is also available by calling 1-800-683-2453.
Open water below the dam on the Wisconsin River at Sauk City and Prairie du Sac is a customary winter gathering place for Bald Eagles. The Ferry Bluff Eagle Council maintains an overlook for viewing eagles, preserves habitat for eagles, conducts eagle programs, educates people on how to watch eagles yet maintain the bird’s safety, creates educational material for schools and works with landowners to manage habitat. Council members also monitor night time eagle roosts during the winter.
Cassville Bald Eagle Days
The 17th Annual Bald Eagle Days Celebration will be held Jan. 30 and 31 in Cassville on the Mississippi River in Grant County. Every year hundreds of eagles spend the winter in the Cassville area where the birds can be seen along the village’s waterfront.
Each day, from 8 a.m. to noon, knowledgeable volunteers from the Cassville area will assist birders in locating eagles at the Wildlife Observation Deck at Cassville’s Riverside Park. Education programs will be held Saturday, January 31 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Cassville High School, 715 E Amelia St.
More information is available at Cassville's Bald Eagle Days web site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: on bald eagles in Wisconsin contact Randy Jurewicz - (608) 267-7507; on Sauk-Prairie Eagle Watching Days - 1-800-683-2453; on Cassville Bald Eagle Days - (608) 725-5855
source....
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Just 5 Missions Left for NASA's Space Shuttles
The end is beginning for NASA's three aging space shuttles, with just five more missions on tap this year before the orbiter fleet retires in the fall.
That is, unless NASA needs a few more months to fly those remaining missions or President Barack Obama chooses to extend the shuttle program to fill a looming gap in U.S. human spaceflight capability.
Though the ultimate path forward for NASA has not yet been decided, the space agency is at a turning point after nearly 29 years of shuttle flight.
"Obviously it's the end of an era," said Roger Launius, space history curator at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. "There's a certain amount of nostalgia and a sense of loss, no question."
The very last space shuttle flight, the STS-133 mission of the shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station, is scheduled for September 2010. The launch will be the 134th shuttle voyage since the fleet's debut in 1981.
"It's starting to hit home, I have to admit to you," said NASA's shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach after the Nov. 16 liftoff of Atlantis on the STS-129 flight, the fifth and last shuttle trip of 2009. "After this one, there's one more scheduled for Atlantis, two more for each of the other vehicles."
Shuttle legacy
The shuttle has had incredible highs, and terrible lows, over its decades-long history since the launch of Columbia on STS-1 on April 12, 1981. Fourteen astronauts have been killed and two shuttles, Challenger and Columbia, lost during accidents.
"It had some very notable and public failures, and those are often what it's remembered for," Launius told SPACE.com. "The loss of the two vehicles with the crews was just tragic. But overall, it was a pretty successful program."
The space shuttle, officially NASA's Space Transportation System (STS), was the first-ever reusable spacecraft. It consists of a payload bay-equipped orbiter to carry crew and cargo, with separate reusable solid rocket boosters to help it lift to space, and a disposable orange external tank to hold the chilled liquid fuel for its main engines.
"They built a reusable vehicle," Launius said. "That's pretty remarkable that they pulled that off. Nobody had ever done that before."
But the space shuttle fleet hasn't achieved all its goals. Originally, NASA conceived it as a system that could fly frequent and inexpensive trips to space on almost an airline-like brisk schedule.
"It was supposed to be routine, safe and affordable, in addition to being highly capable. But it was never routine, [and] it was very expensive," said John Logsdon, a space policy expert and professor emeritus at George Washington University in St. Louis.
The shuttle's safety record was "decent, but not decent enough," he said. "It's riskier than we would like for a vehicle carrying people."
Nonetheless, it accomplished a lot, including the launch and multiple servicing trips of what's probably the world's best-known and loved observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope. And the shuttle has played a vital role in constructing the International Space Station, the world's largest space laboratory and residence.
"The assembly of the space station could not have been done without the space shuttle, and the assembly of the space station is one of the great engineering achievements of mankind," said space shuttle program manager John Shannon. "So the space shuttle will have done a good job."
Of course, an unforgettable part of the space shuttle's legacy will always be its tragic accidents. On Jan. 28, 1986, the world watched stunned as the shuttle Challenger and its seven-member crew, including teacher Christa McAuliffe, were lost in a fiery explosion shortly after launch. And again on Feb. 1, 2003, disaster struck when the shuttle Columbia and its seven astronauts perished while re-entering the atmosphere during their descent back to Earth.
"You know, we lost seven astronauts, and that was awful, just devastating," Leinbach said of the Columbia tragedy. "But we also lost an orbiter. And it's hard to explain to people, that when we lost Columbia that was like losing a family member almost. It's almost that deep when you work on these machines day in and day out."
After each catastrophe, NASA took a break to investigate the failures, and was able to regroup and resume the shuttle program.
The final flights
If the current schedule stays on track, 2010 will see the launches of the last five shuttle flights.
Getting so many missions off the ground is a tall order, but one that NASA has accomplished before — indeed, the agency launched five flights in 2009. The record for most shuttle launches in a single year (nine missions in all) was set back in 1985.
"In terms of next year, I think the teams are very well prepared," said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for space operations, after the final launch in 2009. "We're at the right pace, the tempo feels good, it doesn't feel rushed. The challenge will be to just stay focused, just take it one flight at a time."
These last shuttle missions are all slated to travel to the space station to deliver final rooms and experiments, and to drop off spare parts to keep it functioning beyond the shuttle's retirement.
After the shuttles are grounded, Russia's Soyuz spacecraft will be the only vehicle approved to carry humans to the station. NASA has said it plans to field its replacement craft for the shuttle, the Ares I rocket and the Orion crew capsule, by 2015.
But outside experts have said it will likely be later, sometime in 2017, when the new spacecraft will be ready to launch astronauts into space. An independent committee that reviewed NASA's plan to replace the shuttle fleet and return astronauts to the moon said last year that commercially built spacecraft may be able to help ease the coming gap in U.S. manned spaceflight capability.
While the future is uncertain, the year 2010 will be sure to be an eventful one for NASA, and could mark the end of the space shuttle era.
Shannon said that finale was likely to be bittersweet.
"I'm sure it will be emotional," he said. "But I suspect that it will not be sadness over the passing of that era, but happiness that we were a part of it."
source....
That is, unless NASA needs a few more months to fly those remaining missions or President Barack Obama chooses to extend the shuttle program to fill a looming gap in U.S. human spaceflight capability.
Though the ultimate path forward for NASA has not yet been decided, the space agency is at a turning point after nearly 29 years of shuttle flight.
"Obviously it's the end of an era," said Roger Launius, space history curator at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. "There's a certain amount of nostalgia and a sense of loss, no question."
The very last space shuttle flight, the STS-133 mission of the shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station, is scheduled for September 2010. The launch will be the 134th shuttle voyage since the fleet's debut in 1981.
"It's starting to hit home, I have to admit to you," said NASA's shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach after the Nov. 16 liftoff of Atlantis on the STS-129 flight, the fifth and last shuttle trip of 2009. "After this one, there's one more scheduled for Atlantis, two more for each of the other vehicles."
Shuttle legacy
The shuttle has had incredible highs, and terrible lows, over its decades-long history since the launch of Columbia on STS-1 on April 12, 1981. Fourteen astronauts have been killed and two shuttles, Challenger and Columbia, lost during accidents.
"It had some very notable and public failures, and those are often what it's remembered for," Launius told SPACE.com. "The loss of the two vehicles with the crews was just tragic. But overall, it was a pretty successful program."
The space shuttle, officially NASA's Space Transportation System (STS), was the first-ever reusable spacecraft. It consists of a payload bay-equipped orbiter to carry crew and cargo, with separate reusable solid rocket boosters to help it lift to space, and a disposable orange external tank to hold the chilled liquid fuel for its main engines.
"They built a reusable vehicle," Launius said. "That's pretty remarkable that they pulled that off. Nobody had ever done that before."
But the space shuttle fleet hasn't achieved all its goals. Originally, NASA conceived it as a system that could fly frequent and inexpensive trips to space on almost an airline-like brisk schedule.
"It was supposed to be routine, safe and affordable, in addition to being highly capable. But it was never routine, [and] it was very expensive," said John Logsdon, a space policy expert and professor emeritus at George Washington University in St. Louis.
The shuttle's safety record was "decent, but not decent enough," he said. "It's riskier than we would like for a vehicle carrying people."
Nonetheless, it accomplished a lot, including the launch and multiple servicing trips of what's probably the world's best-known and loved observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope. And the shuttle has played a vital role in constructing the International Space Station, the world's largest space laboratory and residence.
"The assembly of the space station could not have been done without the space shuttle, and the assembly of the space station is one of the great engineering achievements of mankind," said space shuttle program manager John Shannon. "So the space shuttle will have done a good job."
Of course, an unforgettable part of the space shuttle's legacy will always be its tragic accidents. On Jan. 28, 1986, the world watched stunned as the shuttle Challenger and its seven-member crew, including teacher Christa McAuliffe, were lost in a fiery explosion shortly after launch. And again on Feb. 1, 2003, disaster struck when the shuttle Columbia and its seven astronauts perished while re-entering the atmosphere during their descent back to Earth.
"You know, we lost seven astronauts, and that was awful, just devastating," Leinbach said of the Columbia tragedy. "But we also lost an orbiter. And it's hard to explain to people, that when we lost Columbia that was like losing a family member almost. It's almost that deep when you work on these machines day in and day out."
After each catastrophe, NASA took a break to investigate the failures, and was able to regroup and resume the shuttle program.
The final flights
If the current schedule stays on track, 2010 will see the launches of the last five shuttle flights.
Getting so many missions off the ground is a tall order, but one that NASA has accomplished before — indeed, the agency launched five flights in 2009. The record for most shuttle launches in a single year (nine missions in all) was set back in 1985.
"In terms of next year, I think the teams are very well prepared," said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for space operations, after the final launch in 2009. "We're at the right pace, the tempo feels good, it doesn't feel rushed. The challenge will be to just stay focused, just take it one flight at a time."
These last shuttle missions are all slated to travel to the space station to deliver final rooms and experiments, and to drop off spare parts to keep it functioning beyond the shuttle's retirement.
After the shuttles are grounded, Russia's Soyuz spacecraft will be the only vehicle approved to carry humans to the station. NASA has said it plans to field its replacement craft for the shuttle, the Ares I rocket and the Orion crew capsule, by 2015.
But outside experts have said it will likely be later, sometime in 2017, when the new spacecraft will be ready to launch astronauts into space. An independent committee that reviewed NASA's plan to replace the shuttle fleet and return astronauts to the moon said last year that commercially built spacecraft may be able to help ease the coming gap in U.S. manned spaceflight capability.
While the future is uncertain, the year 2010 will be sure to be an eventful one for NASA, and could mark the end of the space shuttle era.
Shannon said that finale was likely to be bittersweet.
"I'm sure it will be emotional," he said. "But I suspect that it will not be sadness over the passing of that era, but happiness that we were a part of it."
source....
Firewood Inventory Reduction Sale!
It's good for your stove or fireplace, to heat your home, garage, or cabin. It's ready for your campsite or barbecue pit. Or pile it for the future. It's like money in the bank!
Solid oak. 22 cubic feet = 1/6 of a full cord. $25. Limited quantities, while supplies last.
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Splitting A Crotch - It's Not A Rip In My Pants
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
One Of My Woodland Pals Accidentally Evicted
- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill
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