Category Archives: Of Interest

Lessons fr/Diana Nyad

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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.

Titan’s Arrow

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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

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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/

Ending Sexualization of Females

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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

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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

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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

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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

Perseid Shower Photo Album

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Spectacular Perseid Meteor Shower Photos of 2011

SPACE.com Staff
Date: 13 August 2011 Time: 02:19 AM ET
  • Perseid Meteor Shower 2011 from International Space Station

‘Shooting Star’ From SpaceCredit: NASA/Ron Garan (@Astro_Ron)NASA astronaut Ron Garan photographed a “shooting star” during the Perseid meteor shower on Aug. 13, 2011 from the International Space Station.

to see the full album of photos of the Perseids, go to:   http://www.space.com/12630-photos-perseid-meteor-shower-2011.html

Date: Comets Honda & Elenin

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Comet Honda speeds past Earth today, joins Comet Elenin this Fall

Published on August 15, 2011 3:05 am PT
– By Dave Tole – Writer
– Article Editor and Approved – Warren Miller


No larger image

(TheWeatherSpace.com) — Comet Honda is expected to pass by the Earth today above the South Pole at a distance of only 5.6 million miles.

This is about 23 times the distance from Earth to the moon. Will the comet cause an effects on our planet? Probably not, but Earth may actually alter this 0.6 mile across rock some.

The coma extends out to 43,000 miles and is currently a magnitude 8.0 in the Southern skies. The coma from Earth is half the width of the Full moon, which makes it a large night sky object for favored Southern observers.

On October 7th of 2011 (this year), Comet Honda will brighten to a magnitude 5 in the constellation Leo and favor a horizon view before sunrise for Northern sky observers.

That is not all, Comet Honda will join Comet Elenin and both will be visible on that morning in the same wide field of view in Binoculars and camera lenses, a rare treat with two comets at once!

fr/http://www.theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-08_15_2011_hondaelenin.html