Yearly Archives: 2011

Lessons fr/Diana Nyad

Posted on by

3 Lessons From Diana Nyad’s Failed Swimming Attempt

Posted: 8/14/11 02:33 PM
by Danny Groner

For a short time this week, the world rallied behind a 61-year-old woman hoping to swim from Cuba to Florida. But Diana Nyad’s dream came to a disappointing end on Tuesday because of wind, currents and asthma problems, according to reports. After swimming for 29 hours, Nyad called it quits, 53 miles short of her destination. In spite of Nyad’s failure, commentators — and Nyad herself — have found lessons and inspiration inside of the mission. Here, the best takes:

  • Chicago Sun-Times editorial: “We see a stirring triumph… So what if she missed by miles and hours? Nyad has provided baby boomers approaching Medicare with some valuable lessons on how to think about age and the limits of the body.” It concludes, “If there’s been a more inspiring athletic performance this year — harnessing an indomitable spirit to the all-too-domitable flesh — we missed it.

New Zealand Snow – Hints of Winter to Come?

Posted on by

Northern New Zealand shut down in the first snowfall in 40 years

Published on August 16, 2011 4:15 am PT
– By Jim Duran – Writer
– Article Editor and Approved – Warren Miller


No larger image

(TheWeatherSpace.com) — Let us move out of the United States to down South. New Zealand’s Northern Island has flights grounded, roads closed, and power outages in the first snowfall in 40 years.

Blizzards hit the South Island before moving northward into the more populated North Island.

“This is the first snowfall in over 40 years for this region,” said TheWeatherSpace Senior Meteorologist Kevin Martin. “Looking at the upper air charts this cold spell will last for another couple of days, till around Wednesday night.”

Christchurch, an area plagued by major earthquakes in the last year, was among the populated zones to be affected by the snowfall.

“Usually rare events around the world such as this one and the new tropical storm record (article here) means that an usual pattern will hit this Winter across the world not seen in around 50 years,” said Martin.

to read more, go to:    http://www.theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-08_16_2011_newzealandsnow.html

7 at One Blow

Posted on by

Record broken for seven tropical storms in a row without hurricane status

Published on August 16, 2011 4:00 am PT
– By Kevin Martin – Senior Meteorologist
– Article Editor and Approved – Warren Miller


No larger image

(TheWeatherSpace.com) — In a very rare update here at TheWeatherSpace.com, a record has been broken in the Atlantic Ocean.

Seven tropical systems have been named so far and not one of them became our first Hurricane. Where are the Hurricanes and what is happening?

Invest 93 is moving westward and I do think this is going to hit Mexico but not strengthen into much of anything. In fact, we are not seeing much in the way of shower and thunderstorm activity with the wave anymore

to read more, go to:    http://www.theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-08_16_2011_tropicalrecord.html

Titan’s Arrow

Posted on by

What Caused a Giant Arrow-Shaped Cloud On Saturn’s Moon Titan?

ScienceDaily (Aug. 15, 2011) — Why does Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, have what looks like an enormous white arrow about the size of Texas on its surface?

A research group led by Jonathan L. Mitchell, UCLA assistant professor of earth and space sciences and of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, has answered this question by using a global circulation model of Titan to demonstrate how planetary-scale atmospheric waves affect the moon’s weather patterns, leading to a “stenciling” effect that results in sharp and sometimes surprising cloud shapes.

“These atmospheric waves are somewhat like the natural, resonant vibration of a wine glass,” Mitchell said. “Individual clouds might ‘ring the bell,’ so to speak, and once the ringing starts, the clouds have to respond to that vibration.”

The fascinating clouds, including arrow-shaped ones, that result from the atmospheric waves can cause intense precipitation — sometimes more than 20 times Titan’s average seasonal rainfall — and could be essential in shaping Titan’s surface by erosion

to read more, go to:    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110815194403.htm

 

New Sunspot

Posted on by

EMERGING SUNSPOT: A big new sunspot is emerging over the sun’s northeastern limb. AR1271 has at least four dark cores and it is crackling with small flares. The sunspot’s entrance was captured in this 24-hour movie from the Solar Dynamics Observatory:

NOAA forecasters estimate a 60% chance of M-class solar flares during the next 24 hours. Because of its location near the sun’s limb, AR1271 does not yet pose a threat for Earth-directed eruptions. This could change in the days ahead, however, as the sunspot turns to face our planet.

fr/http://spaceweather.com/

July Heat, Gert, New Tropical Storm Activity

Posted on by

Dr. Jeff Masters’ WunderBlog

 

Globe’s 7th wamest July; remarkable heat in Asia; little change to 93L
Posted by: JeffMasters, 2:34 PM GMT on August 16, 2011

July 2011 was the globe’s 7th warmest July on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies rated July the 3rd warmest on record. July 2011 global land temperatures were the 5th warmest on record, and ocean temperatures were the 11th warmest on record. Global satellite-measured temperatures for the lowest 8 km of the atmosphere were the 6th or 3rd warmest in the 34-year record, according to Remote Sensing Systems and the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH). Arctic sea ice in July was the lowest on record, going back to 1979.


Figure 1. Departure of temperature from average for July 2011. Image credit: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).

to read the rest of Dr. Jeff Masters’ Blog, get the latest on Gert and brewing tropical distrubacnes, go to:    http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1883

Ending Sexualization of Females

Posted on by

Calling All Men: Join the Movement Against the Sexualization of Women and Girls

Educational psychologist and consultant, Lori Day

Posted: 8/15/11 09:29 AM ET

This article has been co-written with Michele Sinisgalli-Yulo of Princess Free Zone.

It’s hard to admit it, but we need you. We need you to join the effort to end gender stereotypes and the exploitation of women and young girls. They are being sexualized around the globe in alarmingly rising numbers and alarmingly widespread ways. It is alarmingly invisible because it is alarmingly ubiquitous.

In making the case for more male voices, particularly from business leaders, politicians, and thought leaders, there are immediate obstacles:

• How do women avoid being seen as male bashers, uptight feminists, mommies with too much time on their hands, women with some irrational hatred of pink sparkly things, or all of the above?

• Is there a way to effectively develop a partnership between women and men within a grassroots movement that is still very much under the radar, despite the hard work of a great many individuals?

“This is often seen as a women’s issue or parenting issue,” says Melissa Wardy, owner ofPigtail Pals – Redefine Girly. “It is an issue of civil rights, as our children are having their childhoods cut short by marketers turning them into lifetime consumers.” So much is at stake, and this is a time for unity, not divisiveness.

It brings to mind a favorite quote of a dear male colleague:

When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before. ~Jacob August Riis

to read the rest of the article, go to:   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lori-day/calling-all-men-join-the-_b_926078.html

Foods NOT To Fry

Posted on by

10 Things We Shouldn’t Be Frying (SLIDESHOW)

First Posted: 8/14/11 02:59 PM ET   Updated: 8/14/11 02:59 PM ET

If Michele and Marcus Bachmann’s hilarious corn dog photos reminded us of anything, it’s that you can make all kinds of bad choices at the state fair. Sure, we all think, “It’s just once a year, it’s ok if I eat 18 pounds of fried dough,” but it’s gotten out of control. It seems there’s nothing our state fair food purveyors won’t fry.

So, in an attempt to curb this deep fried onslaught, here are 10 things we think everyone should stop frying right now. If you disagree or have others, let us know.

Pickles
1 of 11

Fried pickles have become a common site on appetizer menus at actual restaurants, not just state fairs. That doesn’t mean the taste isn’t the equivalent of a dirty bomb going off in your mouth.

Doggie – Siren Duet

Posted on by

 

Dog Howls With Sirens (VIDEO)

First Posted: 8/14/11 03:29 PM ET Updated: 8/14/11 03:29 PM ET

Eskie HowlingThis miniature American Eskimo, aka Eskie, can do an awesome impression of a fire engine.

Like, spot-on.

Of course, while it’s cute to watch on video, we’re willing to bet he wouldn’t be the best roommate.

WATCH:    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/14/dog-howls-with-sirens_n_926536.html

Copenhagen Street Art

Posted on by

by: Shepard Fairey

Street Art and Politics in Copenhagen

Posted: 8/14/11 09:38 PM ET
2011-08-15-ObeyDoveCopenhagen500x333.jpg
Photo by Jon Furlong
 

In late July, I began a gallery project and series of street murals in Copenhagen. On Aug. 1,POLITIKEN newspaper published an inaccurate story reporting that I was commissioned and paid by the city of Copenhagen to execute the mural they featured in their article. The mural location in question had a controversial history of clash between the city and the supporters and inhabitants of the Youth House formerly located there. In spite of efforts by myself, my gallery, and the Youth House, to correct the record, media outlets continued to perpetuate the misconception that I had been hired or at least prompted by the city to create my mural at the former Youth House location. An unfortunate chain reaction of events took place that I believe may have been, at least in part, catalyzed by media misinformation that continues to circulate. Below is my attempt to thoroughly illuminate my experience in Copenhagen.

Most of my Copenhagen experience was peace and love. Here I’ll cover the aspects that weren’t peace and love.

As a preface, I should mention that, being a street artist, I am very well aware of the contentious nature of the street art/graffiti world. I think street art is one of the most democratic, accessible, empowering, and inspiring art forms there is. To be a street artist, you don’t need permission, just courage and motivation. Street art also is an outlet for the most competitive, frustrated, anarchic, and sometimes, downright barbarically hostile people. These traits may be prominent in the street art/graff community, but certainly are not relegated to it.

to read more, go to:   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shepard-fairey/street-art-and-politics-i_b_926802.html