Did you know that famous comedian Bob Hope was an amateur boxer in his youth who fought under the name of Packy East? Well, 'tis True! Now see how many of these noted comedians and actors you can match with their accomplishments before their showbiz carers.
1. Ed McMahon
2. Jackie Gleason
3. William Bendix
4. James Garner
5. Robert Conrad
6. Karl Malden
7. Edgar Buchanan
8. Tim Conway
A) Worked as a milkman and sang in a cabaret.
B) Was bat boy for New York Giants and New York Yankees
C) Was basketball star at Arkansas State Teachers College.
D) Was daredevil race-car driver
E) Was champion tumbler at Chagrin (Ohio) High School
F) Worked as dentist for 10 years before becoming an actor
G) Was clown on TV show in Chicago in 1950s
H) Was first man drafted from state of Oklahoma during Korean War
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers : 1. (G) ; 2. (D) ; 3. (B) ; 4. (H) ; 5. (A) ; 6. (C) ; 7. (F) ; 8. (E)
Friday, January 31, 2014
Beatlemania Hits America
How well do you remember the Beatles in America in 1964?
Take our Quiz.
1. What did the Beatles receive for performing three times on The Ed Sullivan Show?
A) $100,000
B) $50,000
C) $10,000
D) $5,000
2. What was the No. 1 song on Billboard's charts on Feb. 1, 1964, a week before the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan?
A) "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
B) "She Loves You"
C) "Love Me Do"
D) "I Get Around"
3. What was the first song that the Beatles performed live for an audience in America?
A) "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
B) "All My Loving"
C) "Help!"
D) "Can't Buy Me Love"
4. Who sent a congratulatory telegram to the Beatles before that first performance?
A) President Lyndon B. Johnson
B) Queen Elizabeth II
C) Bob Dylan
D) Elvis Presley
5. How much did a front-row ticket to their first concert in America cost?
A) $4
B) $6
C) $8.50
D) $12.50
6. What item was stolen from Ringo while in New York for their first concert there in August?
A) His passport
B) His St. Christopher medal
C) His drumsticks
D) His autographed photo of Ed Sullivan
7. The Beatles performed a regular set of songs (give or take a few) while on their North American tour in the summer of 1964. Which of the following was not in the set?
A) "A Hard Day's Night"
B) "Roll Over Beethoven"
C) "Yesterday"
D) "If I Fell"
8. Their North American tour set a record as they zigzagged 22,621 miles across the continent in a little over a month. Roughly how many people saw the Beatles on that tour?
A) 25,000
B) 59,000
C) 209,000
D) 454,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers : 1. (C) $10,000
2. (A) "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
3. (B) "All My Loving" on the Ed Sullivan Show, Feb. 9, 1964
4. (D) Elvis. The telegram was also signed by his manager, Col. Tom Parker.
5. (A) $4
6. (B) His St. Christopher medal was torn from his neck by Angie McGowan, a 16-year-old fan. After Ringo made pleas for it during radio interviews, McGowan returned it, and met Ringo in the process.
7. (C) "Yesterday". It wasn't written yet. Paul wrote it for the Help! album, produced in 1965.
8. (D) 453,950 tickets were sold, to be exact.
Take our Quiz.
1. What did the Beatles receive for performing three times on The Ed Sullivan Show?
A) $100,000
B) $50,000
C) $10,000
D) $5,000
2. What was the No. 1 song on Billboard's charts on Feb. 1, 1964, a week before the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan?
A) "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
B) "She Loves You"
C) "Love Me Do"
D) "I Get Around"
3. What was the first song that the Beatles performed live for an audience in America?
A) "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
B) "All My Loving"
C) "Help!"
D) "Can't Buy Me Love"
4. Who sent a congratulatory telegram to the Beatles before that first performance?
A) President Lyndon B. Johnson
B) Queen Elizabeth II
C) Bob Dylan
D) Elvis Presley
5. How much did a front-row ticket to their first concert in America cost?
A) $4
B) $6
C) $8.50
D) $12.50
6. What item was stolen from Ringo while in New York for their first concert there in August?
A) His passport
B) His St. Christopher medal
C) His drumsticks
D) His autographed photo of Ed Sullivan
7. The Beatles performed a regular set of songs (give or take a few) while on their North American tour in the summer of 1964. Which of the following was not in the set?
A) "A Hard Day's Night"
B) "Roll Over Beethoven"
C) "Yesterday"
D) "If I Fell"
8. Their North American tour set a record as they zigzagged 22,621 miles across the continent in a little over a month. Roughly how many people saw the Beatles on that tour?
A) 25,000
B) 59,000
C) 209,000
D) 454,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers : 1. (C) $10,000
2. (A) "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
3. (B) "All My Loving" on the Ed Sullivan Show, Feb. 9, 1964
4. (D) Elvis. The telegram was also signed by his manager, Col. Tom Parker.
5. (A) $4
6. (B) His St. Christopher medal was torn from his neck by Angie McGowan, a 16-year-old fan. After Ringo made pleas for it during radio interviews, McGowan returned it, and met Ringo in the process.
7. (C) "Yesterday". It wasn't written yet. Paul wrote it for the Help! album, produced in 1965.
8. (D) 453,950 tickets were sold, to be exact.
Test Your Knowledge of Science and Health Stories in 2013
Find out how much you remember about science and health in 2013 by taking our 31st annual quiz of that year.
1) Pluto was demoted as one of the original nine planets. Now there are eight in our solar system. What is Pluto known as now?
A) Star
B) Sun
C) Dwarf Planet
2. It has been known as a dirty snowball. What is it?
A) Comet
B) Planet
C) Star
3. Every year in March the sun is directly over the equator. People living there claim the sun is good to them on that day. What is happening?
4. In our Northern Hemisphere, the longest day of the year occurs on June 21 and the shortest day of the year is Dec. 21. Why?
5. A shower of meteors from the ETA Aquarid stream leave a trail of dust on May 4 and May 5. What famous comet leaves the dust trail in our solar system?
A) Comet Swift-Tuttle
B) Comet Friedman
C) Halley's Comet
6. 2013 had been expected to be the year of great comets. the most famous of these comets broke apart Nov. 28 when it came near the sun. What was its name?
A) Comet Halley
B) Comet ISON
C) Comet no-name
7. Comets that come near us in the solar system originate where?
A) Oort cloud near a distant star
B) behind Mars
C) behind the moon
8. Which is hotter?
A) sun
B) moon
9. The United States is the only country to send spacecraft to other planets. True or False
10. NASA is finished with sending spacecraft into orbit. True or False
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers : 1. (C) Dwarf Planet - Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet in 2006 having been classified as a planet since its discovery in 1930. It has a surface temperature of minus 375 degrees Fahrenheit and takes 248 years to circle the sun. Pluto has a large moon 12,200 miles above it.
2. (A) Comet - A comet is a mixture of dirt, gases and ice.
3. Usually on March 21 there is nearly equal amounts of day and night on the equator. This is also the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
4. The Earth is tilted. The sun is highest on June 21 and lowest on Dec. 21.
5. (C) Halley's Comet - This is a returning comet that will come back in 2061.
6. (B) Comet ISON
7. (A) Oort Cloud - home of the comets, is a quarter of the way to the nearest star beyond our solar system.
8. (A) sun
9. False - As of 2011, the USSR, USA and China have sent manned space vehicles into orbit.
10. False - NASA plans to send spacecraft to the moon, asteroids and Mars.
1) Pluto was demoted as one of the original nine planets. Now there are eight in our solar system. What is Pluto known as now?
A) Star
B) Sun
C) Dwarf Planet
2. It has been known as a dirty snowball. What is it?
A) Comet
B) Planet
C) Star
3. Every year in March the sun is directly over the equator. People living there claim the sun is good to them on that day. What is happening?
4. In our Northern Hemisphere, the longest day of the year occurs on June 21 and the shortest day of the year is Dec. 21. Why?
5. A shower of meteors from the ETA Aquarid stream leave a trail of dust on May 4 and May 5. What famous comet leaves the dust trail in our solar system?
A) Comet Swift-Tuttle
B) Comet Friedman
C) Halley's Comet
6. 2013 had been expected to be the year of great comets. the most famous of these comets broke apart Nov. 28 when it came near the sun. What was its name?
A) Comet Halley
B) Comet ISON
C) Comet no-name
7. Comets that come near us in the solar system originate where?
A) Oort cloud near a distant star
B) behind Mars
C) behind the moon
8. Which is hotter?
A) sun
B) moon
9. The United States is the only country to send spacecraft to other planets. True or False
10. NASA is finished with sending spacecraft into orbit. True or False
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers : 1. (C) Dwarf Planet - Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet in 2006 having been classified as a planet since its discovery in 1930. It has a surface temperature of minus 375 degrees Fahrenheit and takes 248 years to circle the sun. Pluto has a large moon 12,200 miles above it.
2. (A) Comet - A comet is a mixture of dirt, gases and ice.
3. Usually on March 21 there is nearly equal amounts of day and night on the equator. This is also the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
4. The Earth is tilted. The sun is highest on June 21 and lowest on Dec. 21.
5. (C) Halley's Comet - This is a returning comet that will come back in 2061.
6. (B) Comet ISON
7. (A) Oort Cloud - home of the comets, is a quarter of the way to the nearest star beyond our solar system.
8. (A) sun
9. False - As of 2011, the USSR, USA and China have sent manned space vehicles into orbit.
10. False - NASA plans to send spacecraft to the moon, asteroids and Mars.
F. Y. I.
Still on the Books
In Denmark, no one may be charged for food at an inn unless that person, in his or her own opinion, is "Full."
Quotable
by Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist and Poet (1803-1882)
"The love that you withhold in life is the pain that you carry."
Reason for Regret
In its infancy, a struggling Bell Telephone Co. offered its rights to Western Union for $100,000, only to receive this rejection: "What use could this company make of an electrical toy?"
State Stats
Kansas has the largest population of wild grouse, commonly called the prairie chicken, in North America.
Hibernation Ready
During warm seasons, a groundhog may consume more than a pound of vegetation in one sitting --- akin to a 150-pound man wolfing down a 15-pound steak.
Lore of Old
In ancient Britain, women carried acorns in their pockets to stay young-looking, as oak trees were associated with longevity.
In Denmark, no one may be charged for food at an inn unless that person, in his or her own opinion, is "Full."
Quotable
by Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist and Poet (1803-1882)
"The love that you withhold in life is the pain that you carry."
Reason for Regret
In its infancy, a struggling Bell Telephone Co. offered its rights to Western Union for $100,000, only to receive this rejection: "What use could this company make of an electrical toy?"
State Stats
Kansas has the largest population of wild grouse, commonly called the prairie chicken, in North America.
Hibernation Ready
During warm seasons, a groundhog may consume more than a pound of vegetation in one sitting --- akin to a 150-pound man wolfing down a 15-pound steak.
Lore of Old
In ancient Britain, women carried acorns in their pockets to stay young-looking, as oak trees were associated with longevity.
POP QUIZ (The All-America)
1. Which player from Parade's second All-America team (1964) was named NFL rookie of the year for 1969, then saw his son win NBA rookie of the year 26 years later?
A) Dave Foley
B) Mike Bergdahl
C) Calvin Hill
D) Alvin Proctor
2. Which of these NFL commentators was once a Parade All-America honoree?
A) Tom Jackson
B) Cris Collinsworth
C) Ray Lewis
D) Howie Long
3. Which player on this year's team is part of an All-America dynasty : His dad was chosen for the 1986 football team, and his uncle was chosen for the 1989 All-America basketball team?
4. All seven of these Parade All-America quarterbacks played on teams that made it to the Super Bowl, but only four have rings. Which four? (Bonus points : How many rings?)
Steve Bono
Chris Chandler
John Elway
Jeff Hostetler
Donovan McNabb
Dan Marino
Joe Montana
5. Which of these former Parade All-America picks went on to a career in Congress?
A) Jack Del Rio
B) Heath Shuler
C) Mark Stepnoski
D) Rodney Peete
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers: 1. (C) Calvin Hill won as a rookie running back for the Cowboys; his son, Grant, won it playing for the Detroit Pistons.
2. (B) Collinsworth was a '76 honoree from Astronaut H.S. in Titusville, Fla.
3. Christian McCaffrey, whose father is Ed McCaffrey, a former NFL wide receiver, and uncle is Billy McCaffrey, who was a two-time college All-American guard at Duke and Vanderbilt.
4. Montana (four), Elway and Hostetler (two each), Bono (one).
5. (B) Shuler was a North Carolina representative.
A) Dave Foley
B) Mike Bergdahl
C) Calvin Hill
D) Alvin Proctor
2. Which of these NFL commentators was once a Parade All-America honoree?
A) Tom Jackson
B) Cris Collinsworth
C) Ray Lewis
D) Howie Long
3. Which player on this year's team is part of an All-America dynasty : His dad was chosen for the 1986 football team, and his uncle was chosen for the 1989 All-America basketball team?
4. All seven of these Parade All-America quarterbacks played on teams that made it to the Super Bowl, but only four have rings. Which four? (Bonus points : How many rings?)
Steve Bono
Chris Chandler
John Elway
Jeff Hostetler
Donovan McNabb
Dan Marino
Joe Montana
5. Which of these former Parade All-America picks went on to a career in Congress?
A) Jack Del Rio
B) Heath Shuler
C) Mark Stepnoski
D) Rodney Peete
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers: 1. (C) Calvin Hill won as a rookie running back for the Cowboys; his son, Grant, won it playing for the Detroit Pistons.
2. (B) Collinsworth was a '76 honoree from Astronaut H.S. in Titusville, Fla.
3. Christian McCaffrey, whose father is Ed McCaffrey, a former NFL wide receiver, and uncle is Billy McCaffrey, who was a two-time college All-American guard at Duke and Vanderbilt.
4. Montana (four), Elway and Hostetler (two each), Bono (one).
5. (B) Shuler was a North Carolina representative.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Winterize Your Driving Strategy
Winter begins on Dec. 21st and that means only one thing.
No, not another ugly Christmas sweater from Aunt Gladys. Well, hopefully not.
The winter season will likely bring bad weather and even worse driving conditions, which translates to fender benders, crashes and a myriad of other headaches for drivers.
In fact, according to PennDOT's 2012 Crash Facts book, there were more car crashes in December than in any other month of the year, with 12,389 reported crashes throughout the month.
So what is the best way to stay on the road and out of the body shop?
"Really the No. 1 thing is to slow down," Jenny Robinson, a spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said in a phone interview. "You want to have room to maneuver and maintain control without hitting anyone else."
It's simple advice, but in the heat of the moment on an ice-cold night, it can save drivers money and time.
In fact, Robinson said that if you feel yourself losing control of your vehicle, it's best to try to remain calm and, most importantly, "don't slam on the brakes."
It's better to take your foot off the gas and gently brake and stay calm as you can," Robinson said. Sudden breaking can lead to a loss of control, particularly when traveling in icy conditions more than 25 miles per hour. "I know that's very hard if you're facing an imminent situation but if you can keep your wits about you, you're much better off."
Robinson also highlighted some of AAA's other tips for driving in the winter, which include checking your tires and wiper blades routinely and keeping an emergency road kit on hand.
Your road kit should include a flashlight with fresh batteries, jumper cables, sand or cat litter and an ice scraper and snow brush.
Adding to the difficulties of winter driving is the fact that the holiday season coincides with bad driving weather.
While common knowledge suggests that New Year's Eve might be the most dangerous night for driving, PennDot statistics show that this isn't the case anymore. In fact, according to last year's Crash Facts book, New Year's was one of the more tame holidays in terms of crashes, with only 766 accidents and five fatalities.
"The popular perception is that it's very dangerous but a lot of people have heeded the warnings," Robinson said, noting that crash statistics for New Year's and Christmas are down. "It's still important to not be complacent about it and make sure that whatever you plan for the holidays is done safely."
Bill Brady, executive director of Bucks Transportation Management Agency, a transportation advocacy organization, said that his organization encourages drivers to take precautions during the winter to avoid accidents.
"There's a lot of information out there and a lot to consider. but we tend to take driving for granted," Brady said. "We're looking for street signs or listening to the radio. It's a very dangerous situation, especially in bad weather."
Brady said that drivers should completely clear snow off their cars before driving, as loose snow can be hazardous to other drivers. Futhermore, he added that keeping headlights on can help to ensure that other drivers can see you, even in snowy conditions.
And as for the holidays?
"Police departments have shown that people take more risks during the holidays," Brady said. "You need to really evaluate what you want to do and be safe."
For more driving tips for the winter months, visit tmabucks.com.
No, not another ugly Christmas sweater from Aunt Gladys. Well, hopefully not.
The winter season will likely bring bad weather and even worse driving conditions, which translates to fender benders, crashes and a myriad of other headaches for drivers.
In fact, according to PennDOT's 2012 Crash Facts book, there were more car crashes in December than in any other month of the year, with 12,389 reported crashes throughout the month.
So what is the best way to stay on the road and out of the body shop?
"Really the No. 1 thing is to slow down," Jenny Robinson, a spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said in a phone interview. "You want to have room to maneuver and maintain control without hitting anyone else."
It's simple advice, but in the heat of the moment on an ice-cold night, it can save drivers money and time.
In fact, Robinson said that if you feel yourself losing control of your vehicle, it's best to try to remain calm and, most importantly, "don't slam on the brakes."
It's better to take your foot off the gas and gently brake and stay calm as you can," Robinson said. Sudden breaking can lead to a loss of control, particularly when traveling in icy conditions more than 25 miles per hour. "I know that's very hard if you're facing an imminent situation but if you can keep your wits about you, you're much better off."
Robinson also highlighted some of AAA's other tips for driving in the winter, which include checking your tires and wiper blades routinely and keeping an emergency road kit on hand.
Your road kit should include a flashlight with fresh batteries, jumper cables, sand or cat litter and an ice scraper and snow brush.
Adding to the difficulties of winter driving is the fact that the holiday season coincides with bad driving weather.
While common knowledge suggests that New Year's Eve might be the most dangerous night for driving, PennDot statistics show that this isn't the case anymore. In fact, according to last year's Crash Facts book, New Year's was one of the more tame holidays in terms of crashes, with only 766 accidents and five fatalities.
"The popular perception is that it's very dangerous but a lot of people have heeded the warnings," Robinson said, noting that crash statistics for New Year's and Christmas are down. "It's still important to not be complacent about it and make sure that whatever you plan for the holidays is done safely."
Bill Brady, executive director of Bucks Transportation Management Agency, a transportation advocacy organization, said that his organization encourages drivers to take precautions during the winter to avoid accidents.
"There's a lot of information out there and a lot to consider. but we tend to take driving for granted," Brady said. "We're looking for street signs or listening to the radio. It's a very dangerous situation, especially in bad weather."
Brady said that drivers should completely clear snow off their cars before driving, as loose snow can be hazardous to other drivers. Futhermore, he added that keeping headlights on can help to ensure that other drivers can see you, even in snowy conditions.
And as for the holidays?
"Police departments have shown that people take more risks during the holidays," Brady said. "You need to really evaluate what you want to do and be safe."
For more driving tips for the winter months, visit tmabucks.com.
The Month of February
The month of February has some National Days as follows :
- February 1 : National Freedom Day
- " 2 : Ground Hog Day
- " 3 : The Day the Music Died - Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash in 1959.
- " 4 : Thank a Mailman Day
- " 5 : National Weatherman's Day
- " 6 : Lame Duck Day
- " 7 : Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbor Day
- " 8 : Boy Scout Day
- " 9 : Toothache Day
- " 10: Clean out Your Computer Day
- " 11: Don't Cry over Spilled Milk Day
- " 12: Plum Pudding Day
- " 13: Get a Different Name Day
- " 14: Ferris Wheel Day
- " 15: National Gum Drop Day
- " 16: Do a Grouch a Favor Day
- " 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
- " 18: National Battery Day
- " 19: National Chocolate Mint Day
- " 20: Hoodie Hoo Day
- " 21: Card Reading Day
- " 22: International World Thinking Day
- " 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
- " 24: National Tortilla Chip Day
- " 25: Pistol Patent Day
- " 26: National Pistachio Day
- " 27: Polar Bear Day
- " 28: Public Sleeping Day
It's Nothing Like Riding a Bike
They say that you never forget how to ride a bicycle.
Once again, they don't know what they're talking about.
I say this because I got a bicycle for Christmas. And I forgot how to ride one.
In fairness to me, this bicycle came with a 54-page instruction booklet and a CD.
Let me first say that I love my gift, which was given to me by my best friend. I know how lucky I am to have a great friend, as well as a cool new bike. So don't think I'm ungrateful, but I never thought I'd have to study to ride a bike.
Isn't Step One: Put butt on seat?
Step Two: Point front end forward?
Step Three: Place feet on black things?
Step Four: Press down?
Step Five: Don't fall?
If only it were that easy.
The last time I rode a bicycle was in high school, which was 40 years ago. When I got the new bike, I hopped on and tried to ride it around the driveway. I managed not to fall, but I was no Lance Armstrong.
Except not even Lance Armstrong is Lance Armstrong anymore.
Bottom line, nothing about bicycles is the way I remember.
I realized this as soon as I tried to brake by pedaling backward and almost drove into a tree.
What happened to coaster brakes?
Were they too perfect and too simple to survive the modern era?
I know there"s such a thing as hand brakes, but I couldn't find them on the short black stick that is now called the handlebar. My old handlebars curved around to meet me like a warm hug, but this new handlebar is something you have to lean forward to put your hands on. You know you're in the correct position when your back spasms.
I thumbed through the manual to learn about gears. My old bike had three: The one I always use, the one I hope to use, the one I'll never use.
And when you look up to see where you're going, you can break your own neck.
Wow!
These new bicycles are so technologically sophisticated, you don't even have to crash to injure yourself.
Plus, I can barely perch on the hard sliver of black plastic they want me to use for a seat. My old bike used to have a cushy black seat shaped like one of those paddles they use for pizza. In fact, my old seat was big enough to accommodate the butt I get from eating pizza.
I miss my old bike seat. If I could stick a Barcalounger on a bike, I would. Maybe I need a recumbent bike, or a Craftmatic adjustable bed on wheels.
Then there's the matter of adjusting my new bicycle. The bike allegedly came adjusted, but sitting on the seat was like a do-it-yourself Pap smear.
I tried to figure out how to lower the seat, but I couldn't understand the manual, so I tried to lower the handlebar instead. But I couldn't figure out that from the manual either, and this is why. The manual said, "Your bike is equipped either with the threadless stem, which clamps onto the outside of the steerer tube, or with a quill stem, which clamps inside the steerer tube by way of an expanding binder bolt."
What?
The manual told me to ask my dealer whether I had a threadless stem or a quill stem, but I'm not asking my dealer.
He doesn't know me that well.
Also, steerer isn't an adjective, no matter how you slice it.
I thumbed through the rest of the manual to learn about the gears on my new bike. I remember that my old bike had three gears, which were: the one I always use , the one I hope to use, and the one I will never use.
Then I remember when 10-speed bikes were invented, a certifiable scientific advance. I begged my parents to get me one, and they did, but I never used any gears beyond the aforementioned first three.
My new bike has 857,938 gears.
Guess how many I will use.
Once again, they don't know what they're talking about.
I say this because I got a bicycle for Christmas. And I forgot how to ride one.
In fairness to me, this bicycle came with a 54-page instruction booklet and a CD.
Let me first say that I love my gift, which was given to me by my best friend. I know how lucky I am to have a great friend, as well as a cool new bike. So don't think I'm ungrateful, but I never thought I'd have to study to ride a bike.
Isn't Step One: Put butt on seat?
Step Two: Point front end forward?
Step Three: Place feet on black things?
Step Four: Press down?
Step Five: Don't fall?
If only it were that easy.
The last time I rode a bicycle was in high school, which was 40 years ago. When I got the new bike, I hopped on and tried to ride it around the driveway. I managed not to fall, but I was no Lance Armstrong.
Except not even Lance Armstrong is Lance Armstrong anymore.
Bottom line, nothing about bicycles is the way I remember.
I realized this as soon as I tried to brake by pedaling backward and almost drove into a tree.
What happened to coaster brakes?
Were they too perfect and too simple to survive the modern era?
I know there"s such a thing as hand brakes, but I couldn't find them on the short black stick that is now called the handlebar. My old handlebars curved around to meet me like a warm hug, but this new handlebar is something you have to lean forward to put your hands on. You know you're in the correct position when your back spasms.
I thumbed through the manual to learn about gears. My old bike had three: The one I always use, the one I hope to use, the one I'll never use.
And when you look up to see where you're going, you can break your own neck.
Wow!
These new bicycles are so technologically sophisticated, you don't even have to crash to injure yourself.
Plus, I can barely perch on the hard sliver of black plastic they want me to use for a seat. My old bike used to have a cushy black seat shaped like one of those paddles they use for pizza. In fact, my old seat was big enough to accommodate the butt I get from eating pizza.
I miss my old bike seat. If I could stick a Barcalounger on a bike, I would. Maybe I need a recumbent bike, or a Craftmatic adjustable bed on wheels.
Then there's the matter of adjusting my new bicycle. The bike allegedly came adjusted, but sitting on the seat was like a do-it-yourself Pap smear.
I tried to figure out how to lower the seat, but I couldn't understand the manual, so I tried to lower the handlebar instead. But I couldn't figure out that from the manual either, and this is why. The manual said, "Your bike is equipped either with the threadless stem, which clamps onto the outside of the steerer tube, or with a quill stem, which clamps inside the steerer tube by way of an expanding binder bolt."
What?
The manual told me to ask my dealer whether I had a threadless stem or a quill stem, but I'm not asking my dealer.
He doesn't know me that well.
Also, steerer isn't an adjective, no matter how you slice it.
I thumbed through the rest of the manual to learn about the gears on my new bike. I remember that my old bike had three gears, which were: the one I always use , the one I hope to use, and the one I will never use.
Then I remember when 10-speed bikes were invented, a certifiable scientific advance. I begged my parents to get me one, and they did, but I never used any gears beyond the aforementioned first three.
My new bike has 857,938 gears.
Guess how many I will use.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet (Jan. 17, 2014)
Predator and Prey
Loss of habitat and killing by humans are ravaging the populations of about three-quarters of the world's largest carnivores, according to a new study. Researchers, writing in the journal Science, caution that the loss of animals such as lions, wolves and bears could have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems around the world. "Their ranges are collapsing. Many of these animals are at risk of extinction, either locally or globally," said lead author William Ripple of Oregon State University. The loss of the predators at the top of the natural food chain is allowing the numbers of other species to surge, including elk, deer and even primates. The study cautions that this trend is bad for vegetation, birds and small animals. In Africa, the decline in lions and leopards has allowed baboons to thrive and now threaten crops and livestock.
Dead and Dying
The level of the shrinking Dead Sea dropped even further this winter despite drenching rains that filled up reservoirs elsewhere across Israel and the occupied West Bank. Hydrologists say the widespread rain and snow even refilled most of the coastal aquifer while failing to replenish the Dead Sea. Siphoning of the sea and its Jordan River source for agricultural use and industry, as well as evaporation, have caused the shoreline to retreat by as much as a mile in some spots over the past few decades. By early January, the super-saline lake had dropped by more than an inch from what had been measured a month earlier, reaching a level 3 feet lower than just a year before. The retreating shoreline has destabilized the ground, causing massive sinkholes that have devoured entire villages in the past.
Arctic Insecticide
The brutal Arctic vortex chill that brought shivers to people living across North America appears to have also killed off a large number of tree-eating forest pests such as the emerald ash borer, which forest officials say has killed more than 10 million trees. U.S. Forest Service biologist Robert Venette said that 80 percent of those insects could have been exterminated by temperatures plunging to between minus 22 and minus 26 degrees Fahrenheit. Venette explained that it takes that kind of cold to reach beneath ;the bark of infected trees, where the pests winter in a larval state. The cold is also believed to have killed off a large number of gypsy moths, which eat the leaves of more than 300 species of trees, shrubs and other plants. But the extreme cold also split or cracked the limbs and stems of some trees, leaving them vulnerable to insects and other threats.
Tropical Cyclones
Powerful Cyclone Ian suddenly jogged from a relatively harmless predicted path to one that wreaked catastrophic damage to the island nation of Tonga. Ian underwent explosive and unexpected strengthening as it was entering Tonga's northern waters, striking the archipelago with wind gusts of nearly 180 mph as a Category-4 storm. "I've never seen anything so fierce and so scary in my life," said Matelita Blake-Hour of the Tonga National Youth Congress. "In some areas I can see the path the cyclone cut through the trees, it's complete destruction......every house has been destroyed and every family affected."
* Cyclone Colin churned the open water of the central Indian Ocean, posing a threat only to shipping lanes.
Eruption
Lava streaming down the flanks of Guatemala's Pacaya volcano prompted the evacuation of people feared to be in its path. Lava flows were nearly 2,000 feet wide and 2 miles long. Small explosions and accompanying bursts of gas and ash were also produced by the restive volcano.
Earthquakes
One of the strongest earthquakes to strike U.S. territory in recent years cracked buildings in Puerto Rico.
* Earth movements were also felt in eastern Romania, southeastern Australia, the Los Angeles basin, Northern California's wine country, northeastern Arkansas and from northern Cuba to Tampa Bay.
Early Awakenings
The bulge of warm air over Northern Europe, pushed up by the Arctic vortex on the other side of the Atlantic, has caused bears to emerge early from hibernation in Finland and plants to bud earlier than normal in Norway. While North Americans have shivered in the coldest weather in decades, Nordic residents have experienced one of the mildest winters in a century. The Norwegian newspaper Sunnmorsposten published reader photographs of daffodils emerging as early as mid-December, along with crocuses, daisies, dandelions and honeysuckle. "It was very unusual to see no snow in large areas where it is normal in December," said Ketil Isaksen, a scientist at the Norwegian Meteorlogical Institute. "Only in the mountains and certain parts of Norway could you find snow."
Loss of habitat and killing by humans are ravaging the populations of about three-quarters of the world's largest carnivores, according to a new study. Researchers, writing in the journal Science, caution that the loss of animals such as lions, wolves and bears could have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems around the world. "Their ranges are collapsing. Many of these animals are at risk of extinction, either locally or globally," said lead author William Ripple of Oregon State University. The loss of the predators at the top of the natural food chain is allowing the numbers of other species to surge, including elk, deer and even primates. The study cautions that this trend is bad for vegetation, birds and small animals. In Africa, the decline in lions and leopards has allowed baboons to thrive and now threaten crops and livestock.
Dead and Dying
The level of the shrinking Dead Sea dropped even further this winter despite drenching rains that filled up reservoirs elsewhere across Israel and the occupied West Bank. Hydrologists say the widespread rain and snow even refilled most of the coastal aquifer while failing to replenish the Dead Sea. Siphoning of the sea and its Jordan River source for agricultural use and industry, as well as evaporation, have caused the shoreline to retreat by as much as a mile in some spots over the past few decades. By early January, the super-saline lake had dropped by more than an inch from what had been measured a month earlier, reaching a level 3 feet lower than just a year before. The retreating shoreline has destabilized the ground, causing massive sinkholes that have devoured entire villages in the past.
Arctic Insecticide
The brutal Arctic vortex chill that brought shivers to people living across North America appears to have also killed off a large number of tree-eating forest pests such as the emerald ash borer, which forest officials say has killed more than 10 million trees. U.S. Forest Service biologist Robert Venette said that 80 percent of those insects could have been exterminated by temperatures plunging to between minus 22 and minus 26 degrees Fahrenheit. Venette explained that it takes that kind of cold to reach beneath ;the bark of infected trees, where the pests winter in a larval state. The cold is also believed to have killed off a large number of gypsy moths, which eat the leaves of more than 300 species of trees, shrubs and other plants. But the extreme cold also split or cracked the limbs and stems of some trees, leaving them vulnerable to insects and other threats.
Tropical Cyclones
Powerful Cyclone Ian suddenly jogged from a relatively harmless predicted path to one that wreaked catastrophic damage to the island nation of Tonga. Ian underwent explosive and unexpected strengthening as it was entering Tonga's northern waters, striking the archipelago with wind gusts of nearly 180 mph as a Category-4 storm. "I've never seen anything so fierce and so scary in my life," said Matelita Blake-Hour of the Tonga National Youth Congress. "In some areas I can see the path the cyclone cut through the trees, it's complete destruction......every house has been destroyed and every family affected."
* Cyclone Colin churned the open water of the central Indian Ocean, posing a threat only to shipping lanes.
Eruption
Lava streaming down the flanks of Guatemala's Pacaya volcano prompted the evacuation of people feared to be in its path. Lava flows were nearly 2,000 feet wide and 2 miles long. Small explosions and accompanying bursts of gas and ash were also produced by the restive volcano.
Earthquakes
One of the strongest earthquakes to strike U.S. territory in recent years cracked buildings in Puerto Rico.
* Earth movements were also felt in eastern Romania, southeastern Australia, the Los Angeles basin, Northern California's wine country, northeastern Arkansas and from northern Cuba to Tampa Bay.
Early Awakenings
The bulge of warm air over Northern Europe, pushed up by the Arctic vortex on the other side of the Atlantic, has caused bears to emerge early from hibernation in Finland and plants to bud earlier than normal in Norway. While North Americans have shivered in the coldest weather in decades, Nordic residents have experienced one of the mildest winters in a century. The Norwegian newspaper Sunnmorsposten published reader photographs of daffodils emerging as early as mid-December, along with crocuses, daisies, dandelions and honeysuckle. "It was very unusual to see no snow in large areas where it is normal in December," said Ketil Isaksen, a scientist at the Norwegian Meteorlogical Institute. "Only in the mountains and certain parts of Norway could you find snow."
F. Y. I.
A Royal Stink
Queen Isabella I of Spain, who funded Christopher Columbus' voyage across the ocean, claimed to have bathed only twice in her life.
'Starr' Turn
In 1996, Ringo Starr appeared in a Japanese commercial for apple juice, since "ringo" means "apple" in Japanese.
Small Idea
New York's Walter Hunt invented the safety pin, receiving $400 ---- the equivalent of $10,000 today ------- for his idea in 1849.
So Named
The plant foxglove derived its name from the belief foxes slipped their feet into the leaves to sneak up on prey.
Still on the Books
In Baltimore, it is illegal to take a lion to the movies.
Quotable
by Amelia Earhart, American aviator and author (1897-1937)
"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity."
Queen Isabella I of Spain, who funded Christopher Columbus' voyage across the ocean, claimed to have bathed only twice in her life.
'Starr' Turn
In 1996, Ringo Starr appeared in a Japanese commercial for apple juice, since "ringo" means "apple" in Japanese.
Small Idea
New York's Walter Hunt invented the safety pin, receiving $400 ---- the equivalent of $10,000 today ------- for his idea in 1849.
So Named
The plant foxglove derived its name from the belief foxes slipped their feet into the leaves to sneak up on prey.
Still on the Books
In Baltimore, it is illegal to take a lion to the movies.
Quotable
by Amelia Earhart, American aviator and author (1897-1937)
"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity."
Kennections
All five correct answers have something in common.
Can you figure out what it is?
1. What June birthstone is the only type of precious gem produced by a living organism?
2. What do you add to iced tea when you're mixing an Arnold Palmer?
3. What luxury car brand is named for the French explorer who founded Detroit in 1701?
4. What kind of animal is Sir Purr, the mascot of North Carolina's NFL team?
5. What was the name of the absent-minded Mayberry barber on The Andy Griffith Show?
Bonus : What's the "Kennection" between all five answers?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers : 1. Pearl
2. Lemonade
3. Cadillac
4. Panther
5. Floyd
Bonus : All are "Pink" things
Can you figure out what it is?
1. What June birthstone is the only type of precious gem produced by a living organism?
2. What do you add to iced tea when you're mixing an Arnold Palmer?
3. What luxury car brand is named for the French explorer who founded Detroit in 1701?
4. What kind of animal is Sir Purr, the mascot of North Carolina's NFL team?
5. What was the name of the absent-minded Mayberry barber on The Andy Griffith Show?
Bonus : What's the "Kennection" between all five answers?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers : 1. Pearl
2. Lemonade
3. Cadillac
4. Panther
5. Floyd
Bonus : All are "Pink" things
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Take the taskmaster test
The other day, somebody asked me if I was "task-oriented." I replied, "Proudly."
I have no problem being task-oriented. In fact, I love being task-oriented.
You know why?
It gets things done.
So what if I have a gaping ulcer?
Every bowel needs a little ventilation.
In my opinion, life is full of tasks, and only the task-oriented have the proper orientation to get all the tasks done.
You can take a test to see if you're task-oriented, in the privacy of your own home. In fact, I developed the test myself, and it consists of answering two questions, which are contained in Part I and Part II.
That's not a very hard test, is it?
You don't even have to study.
Here's Part I, and the question assumes that you had a Christmas tree, because that's how I came to the realization that helped me develop this test. If you did not have a Christmas tree, or, in other words, if you are Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or an extremely lazy Christian, please accept my apologies and imagine that you did have a Christmas tree so you can take the test anyway.
If you're an agnostic, you need to make up your mind. Stop dithering. Pick a team. Don't wait until the end. You might get caught out. It may not be good to wear a Giants jersey at the Eagles game, but it's better than going naked.
Baby, it's cold outside.
If you're an atheist, you're on your own. After all, that's what you wanted, isn't it? Be careful what you wish.
OK, now to Part I, Question 1.
The question is, When do you take down your Christmas tree?
The answer is multiple-choice, so please pick one of the following:
A) A few days after Christmas.
B) The day after New Year's.
C) When the kids go back to school.
D) When it dies, when I'm sick of my feet getting stuck by pine needles, or when birds begin to nest in it, whichever comes first.
E) None of the above, and if so, please explain. Show your work.
OK, got your answer?
I developed the test myself, and it consists of answering two questions, which are contained in Part I and Part II. You don't even have to study.
Write it down, but don't tell it to me.
Cover your paper with your hand so nobody cheats off you.
I'll tell you my answer when the test is over. I don't want you to cheat off me. The task-oriented are always right. Just ask them.
Er, I mean, us.
OK, let's move on to Part II, Question 1.
The question is, Regardless of when you actually took down your Christmas tree, when did you want to take down your Christmas tree?
A) After Christmas dinner, when everybody is comatose on the couch.
B) After Christmas breakfast, when everybody is watching the football game.
C) As son as the kids turn their backs.
D) As soon as the presents are unwrapped.
E) Before the presents are unwrapped.
F) Christmas Eve.
G) None of the above, because I'm sane.
OK, have you marked your answer?
Pencils down.
Here are the results.
Part I, Question 1. of the test doesn't matter. It was a trick question, but in a good way. Whatever answer you gave is correct, because if you're a nice person, married, or otherwise live in a family, you might have not have been able to blend them to your task-oriented will.
We're bossy, not tyrannical.
Part II, Question 1 of the test is the only part that matters, and if your answer was A through F, you're certifiably task-oriented!
Welcome to the club!
Thank God your family has you to rush them through the happiest time of the year so they can get it over with and move on to doing their taxes.
Here's what I'm saying to you.
I realized I was task-oriented when I could not wait to take down the Christmas tree, put all the ornaments away, vacuum up all the stupid needles, and put a check mark in the box next to Christmas on my Things To Do List, so I could get back to work.
Feel the same way?
Got Maalox?
I have no problem being task-oriented. In fact, I love being task-oriented.
You know why?
It gets things done.
So what if I have a gaping ulcer?
Every bowel needs a little ventilation.
In my opinion, life is full of tasks, and only the task-oriented have the proper orientation to get all the tasks done.
You can take a test to see if you're task-oriented, in the privacy of your own home. In fact, I developed the test myself, and it consists of answering two questions, which are contained in Part I and Part II.
That's not a very hard test, is it?
You don't even have to study.
Here's Part I, and the question assumes that you had a Christmas tree, because that's how I came to the realization that helped me develop this test. If you did not have a Christmas tree, or, in other words, if you are Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or an extremely lazy Christian, please accept my apologies and imagine that you did have a Christmas tree so you can take the test anyway.
If you're an agnostic, you need to make up your mind. Stop dithering. Pick a team. Don't wait until the end. You might get caught out. It may not be good to wear a Giants jersey at the Eagles game, but it's better than going naked.
Baby, it's cold outside.
If you're an atheist, you're on your own. After all, that's what you wanted, isn't it? Be careful what you wish.
OK, now to Part I, Question 1.
The question is, When do you take down your Christmas tree?
The answer is multiple-choice, so please pick one of the following:
A) A few days after Christmas.
B) The day after New Year's.
C) When the kids go back to school.
D) When it dies, when I'm sick of my feet getting stuck by pine needles, or when birds begin to nest in it, whichever comes first.
E) None of the above, and if so, please explain. Show your work.
OK, got your answer?
I developed the test myself, and it consists of answering two questions, which are contained in Part I and Part II. You don't even have to study.
Write it down, but don't tell it to me.
Cover your paper with your hand so nobody cheats off you.
I'll tell you my answer when the test is over. I don't want you to cheat off me. The task-oriented are always right. Just ask them.
Er, I mean, us.
OK, let's move on to Part II, Question 1.
The question is, Regardless of when you actually took down your Christmas tree, when did you want to take down your Christmas tree?
A) After Christmas dinner, when everybody is comatose on the couch.
B) After Christmas breakfast, when everybody is watching the football game.
C) As son as the kids turn their backs.
D) As soon as the presents are unwrapped.
E) Before the presents are unwrapped.
F) Christmas Eve.
G) None of the above, because I'm sane.
OK, have you marked your answer?
Pencils down.
Here are the results.
Part I, Question 1. of the test doesn't matter. It was a trick question, but in a good way. Whatever answer you gave is correct, because if you're a nice person, married, or otherwise live in a family, you might have not have been able to blend them to your task-oriented will.
We're bossy, not tyrannical.
Part II, Question 1 of the test is the only part that matters, and if your answer was A through F, you're certifiably task-oriented!
Welcome to the club!
Thank God your family has you to rush them through the happiest time of the year so they can get it over with and move on to doing their taxes.
Here's what I'm saying to you.
I realized I was task-oriented when I could not wait to take down the Christmas tree, put all the ornaments away, vacuum up all the stupid needles, and put a check mark in the box next to Christmas on my Things To Do List, so I could get back to work.
Feel the same way?
Got Maalox?
F. Y. I.
Sticky Blooms
The juice from bluebell flowers was used historically to make glue.
Quotable
by Jason Mraz, singer-songwriter
"Being fake about anything creates a block inside you. Life can't work for you if you don't show up as you."
Still on the Books
In New York, slippers are not to be worn after 10 p.m.
All Together
A group of Chickens is called a peep.
First Serve
The game of tennis originated with12th century French monks, who played indoors using their hands, before the nobility caught on and added rackets.
Real Fear
Didaskaleinophobia is the phobia of attending school.
The juice from bluebell flowers was used historically to make glue.
Quotable
by Jason Mraz, singer-songwriter
"Being fake about anything creates a block inside you. Life can't work for you if you don't show up as you."
Still on the Books
In New York, slippers are not to be worn after 10 p.m.
All Together
A group of Chickens is called a peep.
First Serve
The game of tennis originated with12th century French monks, who played indoors using their hands, before the nobility caught on and added rackets.
Real Fear
Didaskaleinophobia is the phobia of attending school.
Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet (Jan. 10, 2014)
Cold War Legacy
Earth's upper atmosphere is still littered with radioactive particles from the more than 500 above-ground nuclear tests that took place decades ago, according to a new study. Most of the plutonium and cesium isotopes from those blasts have since been rinsed out of the lower atmosphere by falling in rain or snow, or by being brought down by gravity. The stratosphere was also thought to be relatively fallout-free before a Swiss team found its contamination to be about 1,000 to 1,500 levels higher than in the troposphere, the layer just above the surface. Jose Corcho of the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection says the contamination probably poses no danger to humans. "Most of the radioactive particles are removed in the first few years after the explosion, but a fraction remains in the stratosphere for a few decades or even hundreds or thousands of years," said Corcho.
Frost Quakes
The most brutal chill in decades, which plunged the American Midwest and parts of southern Canada into a sudden deep freeze, also triggered loud booms that sounded like explosions or falling trees. Meteorologists assured nervous residents that the sounds were being caused by a relatively rare phenomenon known as "frost quakes." The booms occur when water in the soil freezes and expands in extreme cold, causing the ground to suddenly fracture like a jar of water in the freezer. Also known as cryoseisms, they can only happen when when the ground has been saturated by heavy rain shortly before a quick freeze sets in. Such conditions have not occurred on a large scale in North America for decades, lleaving some people experiencing the quakes for the first time in their lives.
Heat Fatalities
A spell of scorching summertime weather in Australia's Queensland state killed as many as 100,000 bats in an ecological disaster officials called unprecedented. Many of the flying foxes, or fruit bats, fell dead from the sky while the carcasses of others hung on branches. Residents said the stench of decay was unbearable as temperatures reached nearly 110 F. At least 16 people were reportedly receiving anti-viral treatment after coming into close contact with a bat. The animals sometimes carry lyssavirus, which can cause paralysis and even death in humans. But wildlife officials say the flying foxes are a key part of the ecosystem, and such a massive loss to their populations will have consequences. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was caring for many young bats left orphaned by the heat disaster.
Eruption Swarm
Sumatra's Mount Sinabung erupted 115 times during a three-day period in a relentless eruptive phase that began in September, sending even more people fleeing its flanks. The volcano sent superheated clouds of debris cascading down its slopes and lava streams flowing for miles. Residents of more than two dozen villages have been living in temporary shelters outside a 3-mile danger zone, some for months. Many of their homes and farms have been blanketed with a thick layer of ash and other debris while they've been gone. Indonesian geologists say magma beneath Sinabung is rising from deep within the Earth, swelling the size of the lava dome near its peak. That dome occasionally collapses, triggering pyroclastic clouds and gushes of lava. Sinabung roared to life in 2010 after lying mainly dormant for 400 years.
Tropical Cyclones
The island nation of Tonga was buffeted by gales and heavy rain as Category-2 Cyclone Ian churned the waters of the South Pacific.
* Cyclone 01B formed briefly over the southwestern Bay of Bengal, but lingering clouds brought three days of downpours to a swath of Sri Lanka.
Earthquakes
Weak tremors were felt around the South Australia capital of Adelaide and in southern Bulgaria, coastal areas of metropolitan Los Angeles and southeastern Nebraska.
Shark Tweets
Surfers and swimmers on popular Western Australia beaches can now get warnings of nearby sharks thanks to new wireless technology and Twitter. Marine biologists have attached tiny transmitters to more than 320 sharks, including great whites. Their progress up and down the Indian Ocean coast is monitored, and a computer automatically sends out shark alerts via short messages on Surf Life Saving Western Australia's Twitter feed. Details about the size, species and approximate location of the fish are provided. Western Australia is the world's deadliest place for shark attacks. Surfer Chris Boyd was killed in November and was the sixth person to die from shark attack in the region during the past two years. The new alert system went online just days after a controversial law was approved allowing fishermen to kill sharks largerthan 5 feet in lenght if they are found in some areas used by surfers and swimmers.
Earth's upper atmosphere is still littered with radioactive particles from the more than 500 above-ground nuclear tests that took place decades ago, according to a new study. Most of the plutonium and cesium isotopes from those blasts have since been rinsed out of the lower atmosphere by falling in rain or snow, or by being brought down by gravity. The stratosphere was also thought to be relatively fallout-free before a Swiss team found its contamination to be about 1,000 to 1,500 levels higher than in the troposphere, the layer just above the surface. Jose Corcho of the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection says the contamination probably poses no danger to humans. "Most of the radioactive particles are removed in the first few years after the explosion, but a fraction remains in the stratosphere for a few decades or even hundreds or thousands of years," said Corcho.
Frost Quakes
The most brutal chill in decades, which plunged the American Midwest and parts of southern Canada into a sudden deep freeze, also triggered loud booms that sounded like explosions or falling trees. Meteorologists assured nervous residents that the sounds were being caused by a relatively rare phenomenon known as "frost quakes." The booms occur when water in the soil freezes and expands in extreme cold, causing the ground to suddenly fracture like a jar of water in the freezer. Also known as cryoseisms, they can only happen when when the ground has been saturated by heavy rain shortly before a quick freeze sets in. Such conditions have not occurred on a large scale in North America for decades, lleaving some people experiencing the quakes for the first time in their lives.
Heat Fatalities
A spell of scorching summertime weather in Australia's Queensland state killed as many as 100,000 bats in an ecological disaster officials called unprecedented. Many of the flying foxes, or fruit bats, fell dead from the sky while the carcasses of others hung on branches. Residents said the stench of decay was unbearable as temperatures reached nearly 110 F. At least 16 people were reportedly receiving anti-viral treatment after coming into close contact with a bat. The animals sometimes carry lyssavirus, which can cause paralysis and even death in humans. But wildlife officials say the flying foxes are a key part of the ecosystem, and such a massive loss to their populations will have consequences. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was caring for many young bats left orphaned by the heat disaster.
Eruption Swarm
Sumatra's Mount Sinabung erupted 115 times during a three-day period in a relentless eruptive phase that began in September, sending even more people fleeing its flanks. The volcano sent superheated clouds of debris cascading down its slopes and lava streams flowing for miles. Residents of more than two dozen villages have been living in temporary shelters outside a 3-mile danger zone, some for months. Many of their homes and farms have been blanketed with a thick layer of ash and other debris while they've been gone. Indonesian geologists say magma beneath Sinabung is rising from deep within the Earth, swelling the size of the lava dome near its peak. That dome occasionally collapses, triggering pyroclastic clouds and gushes of lava. Sinabung roared to life in 2010 after lying mainly dormant for 400 years.
Tropical Cyclones
The island nation of Tonga was buffeted by gales and heavy rain as Category-2 Cyclone Ian churned the waters of the South Pacific.
* Cyclone 01B formed briefly over the southwestern Bay of Bengal, but lingering clouds brought three days of downpours to a swath of Sri Lanka.
Earthquakes
Weak tremors were felt around the South Australia capital of Adelaide and in southern Bulgaria, coastal areas of metropolitan Los Angeles and southeastern Nebraska.
Shark Tweets
Surfers and swimmers on popular Western Australia beaches can now get warnings of nearby sharks thanks to new wireless technology and Twitter. Marine biologists have attached tiny transmitters to more than 320 sharks, including great whites. Their progress up and down the Indian Ocean coast is monitored, and a computer automatically sends out shark alerts via short messages on Surf Life Saving Western Australia's Twitter feed. Details about the size, species and approximate location of the fish are provided. Western Australia is the world's deadliest place for shark attacks. Surfer Chris Boyd was killed in November and was the sixth person to die from shark attack in the region during the past two years. The new alert system went online just days after a controversial law was approved allowing fishermen to kill sharks largerthan 5 feet in lenght if they are found in some areas used by surfers and swimmers.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Fall in love with God
From the moment God created you, he has been deeply in love with you.
He made you deliberately so he could love you.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (1 Jeremiah 1:3).
What about you? Are you in love with God?
You have no secrets from God ....... and he loves you anyway.
We all have some small shameful part of ourselves that we are too afraid to show even our closest family and friends. God sees all you are and love you infinitely anyway. "I praise you, because I am wonderfully made ........ My very self you know" (Psalm 139:14).
God thinks loving thoughts of you all the time.
"How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God. How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand." (Psalm 139:17).
Our bodies are holy because God put his precious life within us.
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Prayer is about falling in love with God.
"I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live" (Psalm 116:1-2).
He made you deliberately so he could love you.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (1 Jeremiah 1:3).
What about you? Are you in love with God?
You have no secrets from God ....... and he loves you anyway.
We all have some small shameful part of ourselves that we are too afraid to show even our closest family and friends. God sees all you are and love you infinitely anyway. "I praise you, because I am wonderfully made ........ My very self you know" (Psalm 139:14).
God thinks loving thoughts of you all the time.
"How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God. How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand." (Psalm 139:17).
Our bodies are holy because God put his precious life within us.
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Prayer is about falling in love with God.
"I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live" (Psalm 116:1-2).
One Minute Meditations
Mother Seton
Wife, then widow, Elizabeth Ann Seton converted to Catholicism despite rejection by her wealthy Episcopalian family and friends. With no means of support for herself or her children, she welcomed the invitation to open a Catholic school for girls near Baltimore.
Joined by like-minded women, the community became the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1809, and Elizabeth became Mother Seton. The community grew and so did their schools and orphanages marking the beginnings of the U.S. parochial school system.
Bessed are the peacemakers
The world sure could use more peacemakers. The key to becoming one is to practice forgiveness and offer peace. That way everyone around us will feel the love of Christ.
God's Laws
"Happy the man who meditates upon these things, wise the man who takes them to heart!
If he puts them into practice, he can cope with anything, for the fear of the LORD is his lamp" (Sirach 50:28-29).
Wife, then widow, Elizabeth Ann Seton converted to Catholicism despite rejection by her wealthy Episcopalian family and friends. With no means of support for herself or her children, she welcomed the invitation to open a Catholic school for girls near Baltimore.
Joined by like-minded women, the community became the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1809, and Elizabeth became Mother Seton. The community grew and so did their schools and orphanages marking the beginnings of the U.S. parochial school system.
Bessed are the peacemakers
The world sure could use more peacemakers. The key to becoming one is to practice forgiveness and offer peace. That way everyone around us will feel the love of Christ.
God's Laws
"Happy the man who meditates upon these things, wise the man who takes them to heart!
If he puts them into practice, he can cope with anything, for the fear of the LORD is his lamp" (Sirach 50:28-29).
Feasts and Celebrations
January 17 - St. Anthony (356).
Anthony was a wealthy young man when he heard and followed Christ's call to "sell all you have, give it to the poor, and follow me." Afterwards he went into the desert to live as a hermit and dedicate his life to prayer. Others followed making him the founder of Christian monasticism.
January 24 - St. Francis de Sales (1622).
As bishop of Geneva, St. Francis bolstered the faith of others by his writings and works. For the laity, St. Francis wrote Introduction to the Devout Life, which is as applicable today as it was in his day.
January 31 - St. John Bosco (1888).
St. John Bosco combined catechetical training and fatherly guidance to teach young men and women how to unite their spiritual life with their work and play. He opened the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales and provided workshops for boys in shoemaking and tailoring. In 1859, he founded the Salesians who were committed to education and mission work.
Anthony was a wealthy young man when he heard and followed Christ's call to "sell all you have, give it to the poor, and follow me." Afterwards he went into the desert to live as a hermit and dedicate his life to prayer. Others followed making him the founder of Christian monasticism.
January 24 - St. Francis de Sales (1622).
As bishop of Geneva, St. Francis bolstered the faith of others by his writings and works. For the laity, St. Francis wrote Introduction to the Devout Life, which is as applicable today as it was in his day.
January 31 - St. John Bosco (1888).
St. John Bosco combined catechetical training and fatherly guidance to teach young men and women how to unite their spiritual life with their work and play. He opened the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales and provided workshops for boys in shoemaking and tailoring. In 1859, he founded the Salesians who were committed to education and mission work.
Are there qualities that would make me a betteer Christian?
Actually, when you were bapitized, made your First Communion, or got Confirmed, the Holy Spirit conferred gifts to help you grow in strength and holiness.
Recognizing these gifts and nurturing them will certainly make you a better Christian.
Wisdom : This gift helps us stay focused on God's will and his plan for us.
Understanding : Lets us grasp truths. It means seeing with the heart and the mind.
Counsel : Also called "right judgement," counsel enables us to weigh alternatives to make the right choice.
Fortitude : The ability to remain firm against pressure. (Also called courage.)
Knowledge : A person with knowledge sees more than one dimension of an issue to determine the right path.
Piety : Helps us think of ourselves as children of God and be eager to serve him.
Fear of the Lord : The wonder and awe God inspires encourages us to respect him and all his creations.
The more you use these gifts, the more you will grow in faith and holiness.
Recognizing these gifts and nurturing them will certainly make you a better Christian.
Wisdom : This gift helps us stay focused on God's will and his plan for us.
Understanding : Lets us grasp truths. It means seeing with the heart and the mind.
Counsel : Also called "right judgement," counsel enables us to weigh alternatives to make the right choice.
Fortitude : The ability to remain firm against pressure. (Also called courage.)
Knowledge : A person with knowledge sees more than one dimension of an issue to determine the right path.
Piety : Helps us think of ourselves as children of God and be eager to serve him.
Fear of the Lord : The wonder and awe God inspires encourages us to respect him and all his creations.
The more you use these gifts, the more you will grow in faith and holiness.
Make one change for God this year
When making New Year's resolutions this year, consider one change that will bring you closer to God. Here are some ideas other Catholics have used to strengthen prayer, serve the poor, and evangelize our faith......
Norma felt her prayer life growing stale, so when her parish asked for adorers for the perpetual adoration chapel, she jumped at the chance. Now, Mondays at midnight, Norma can be found in the presence of the Eucharist. She said, "I really look forward to my peaceful hour each week. It's just me and Him."
Peter's law practice is incredibly busy, but he takes an afternoon off every month to work at the local soup kitchen serving hot meals to the homeless and working poor. When asked why he said, "Jesus said, 'When I was hungry, you gave me to eat.'"
JoAnn's children are grown, yet she teaches a religious education class at her parish. "What better way to spread our faith than to children? That's where I can do the most good," she said.
Norma felt her prayer life growing stale, so when her parish asked for adorers for the perpetual adoration chapel, she jumped at the chance. Now, Mondays at midnight, Norma can be found in the presence of the Eucharist. She said, "I really look forward to my peaceful hour each week. It's just me and Him."
Peter's law practice is incredibly busy, but he takes an afternoon off every month to work at the local soup kitchen serving hot meals to the homeless and working poor. When asked why he said, "Jesus said, 'When I was hungry, you gave me to eat.'"
JoAnn's children are grown, yet she teaches a religious education class at her parish. "What better way to spread our faith than to children? That's where I can do the most good," she said.
Why do Catholics honor saints?
Why Do Catholics Do That?
Christians are members of a large family. From the early days of the Church, there have been members of the faithful who have strived to live in the kingdom of God here on Earth and see its fulfillment in Heaven.
These holy people have allowed themselves to be emptied out and to be filled with the love and grace of Christ.
The Church holds up these brothers and sisters of ours as examples to help us follow in their paths.
Christians are members of a large family. From the early days of the Church, there have been members of the faithful who have strived to live in the kingdom of God here on Earth and see its fulfillment in Heaven.
These holy people have allowed themselves to be emptied out and to be filled with the love and grace of Christ.
The Church holds up these brothers and sisters of ours as examples to help us follow in their paths.
Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet (Jan. 3, 2014)
Warming Factor
Earth's atmosphere reacts far more to greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought, leading experts to predict the planet's surface temperature will rise by an average of 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. Writing in the journal Nature, a team of Australia based researchers say it has found how cloud formation plays a role in climate, which has been one of the greatest uncertainties in the prediction of global warming. The group says that while climate models show a relatively low global temperature reaction to carbon dioxide emissions, those models currently do not factor in all the water vapor released into the atmosphere. The report concludes that "real world observations" show the accepted models are wrong. They point to fewer clouds forming than the models project, which means more sunlight will enter the atmosphere, making the atmosphere far more sensitive to the warming effects of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. "Climate skeptics like to criticize climate models for getting things wrong, and we are the first to admit they are not perfect," said lead author Steven Sherwood. "But what we are finding is that the mistakes are being made by those models (that) predict less warming, not those that predict more."
Earthquakes
One person was killed and 30 others were injured by a quake in southern Iran's Hormozgan province.
* Tremors in Baja California are believed to have contributed to the collapse of a stretch of coastal highway near Ensenada.
* Earth movements were also felt in Palm Springs, central Oklahoma, the Canary Islands, southern Italy, southern Turkey, northeastern Japan and Alaska's Kenai Peninsula.
Solar Flip
The sun's magnetic field underwent a total reversal of polarity during the closing days of 2013. The flip marked the midpoint of Solar Cycle 24, which has generated the weakest solar activity in a century. Powerful eruptions on the sun often spew massive clouds of superheated particles into space, sometimes directed toward Earth. But such solar storms have rarely been seen during the current solar cycle even though the total number of generally weaker storms hasn't declined much. "None of us alive has ever seen such a weak cycle. So we will learn something." said Leif Svalgaard of Stanford University. NASA's Tony Phillips says the sun's magnetic influence extends outward for billions of miles, well beyond the orbit of Pluto.
Tropical Cyclones
Category-2 Cyclone Christine uprooted trees and damaged homes along parts of northwest Australia's Pilbara coast. The storm made landfall with winds of up to 124 mph.
* Cyclone Bejisa brushed the Indian Ocean island of Reunion late in the week as a Category-3 storm.
Eruption
El Salvador's San Miguel volcano (also known as Chaparrastique) produced its most powerful eruption since 1976 with a plume of ash that soared 3 miles above the Central American country. The volcanic debris fell on nearby coffee plantations and forced aviation officials to suspend more than 36 international flights. The eruption sent more than 1,600 people fleeing into emergency shelters, but officials said some were refusing to evacuate from the volcano's slopes. The 7,025-foot volcano is about 30 miles from the city of San Miguel and about 90 miles east of the capital, San Salvador.
Locust Swarms
Starvation looms for some residents of the Arab nation of Yemen as a plague of desert locuts has devoured vast tracts of crops there. Unusually heavy rainfall during the past several months has created perfect breeding conditions for the insects, according to agriculture officials. About 75 percent of Yemen's population relies on agriculture for a living, and many farmers may not have any crops left to harvest in the aftermath of the swarms. The Food and Agriculture Organization says that ground spraying has been conducted along Yemen's Red Sea coast, shere new generations of the insects were emerging. The U.N. agency says that the insects can lay waste to entire farming regions within days.
Polar Birthday
About 5,000 polar bear cubs were born in the Arctic around New Year's Day, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The end of December is typically when the bears give birth ---- a time when the northern polar region is blanketed y some of the coldest and darkest conditions of the year. WWF celebrates the polar bears birthday on Dec. 29 and estimates the global population of the iconic animal is between 20,000 and 25,000. The bears, which can typically live to be about 25 years old, are threatened by poachers, global warming and pollution. They have become the "poster animal" for climate change and the resulting melt of their Arctic ice cap homes.
Earth's atmosphere reacts far more to greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought, leading experts to predict the planet's surface temperature will rise by an average of 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. Writing in the journal Nature, a team of Australia based researchers say it has found how cloud formation plays a role in climate, which has been one of the greatest uncertainties in the prediction of global warming. The group says that while climate models show a relatively low global temperature reaction to carbon dioxide emissions, those models currently do not factor in all the water vapor released into the atmosphere. The report concludes that "real world observations" show the accepted models are wrong. They point to fewer clouds forming than the models project, which means more sunlight will enter the atmosphere, making the atmosphere far more sensitive to the warming effects of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. "Climate skeptics like to criticize climate models for getting things wrong, and we are the first to admit they are not perfect," said lead author Steven Sherwood. "But what we are finding is that the mistakes are being made by those models (that) predict less warming, not those that predict more."
Earthquakes
One person was killed and 30 others were injured by a quake in southern Iran's Hormozgan province.
* Tremors in Baja California are believed to have contributed to the collapse of a stretch of coastal highway near Ensenada.
* Earth movements were also felt in Palm Springs, central Oklahoma, the Canary Islands, southern Italy, southern Turkey, northeastern Japan and Alaska's Kenai Peninsula.
Solar Flip
The sun's magnetic field underwent a total reversal of polarity during the closing days of 2013. The flip marked the midpoint of Solar Cycle 24, which has generated the weakest solar activity in a century. Powerful eruptions on the sun often spew massive clouds of superheated particles into space, sometimes directed toward Earth. But such solar storms have rarely been seen during the current solar cycle even though the total number of generally weaker storms hasn't declined much. "None of us alive has ever seen such a weak cycle. So we will learn something." said Leif Svalgaard of Stanford University. NASA's Tony Phillips says the sun's magnetic influence extends outward for billions of miles, well beyond the orbit of Pluto.
Tropical Cyclones
Category-2 Cyclone Christine uprooted trees and damaged homes along parts of northwest Australia's Pilbara coast. The storm made landfall with winds of up to 124 mph.
* Cyclone Bejisa brushed the Indian Ocean island of Reunion late in the week as a Category-3 storm.
Eruption
El Salvador's San Miguel volcano (also known as Chaparrastique) produced its most powerful eruption since 1976 with a plume of ash that soared 3 miles above the Central American country. The volcanic debris fell on nearby coffee plantations and forced aviation officials to suspend more than 36 international flights. The eruption sent more than 1,600 people fleeing into emergency shelters, but officials said some were refusing to evacuate from the volcano's slopes. The 7,025-foot volcano is about 30 miles from the city of San Miguel and about 90 miles east of the capital, San Salvador.
Locust Swarms
Starvation looms for some residents of the Arab nation of Yemen as a plague of desert locuts has devoured vast tracts of crops there. Unusually heavy rainfall during the past several months has created perfect breeding conditions for the insects, according to agriculture officials. About 75 percent of Yemen's population relies on agriculture for a living, and many farmers may not have any crops left to harvest in the aftermath of the swarms. The Food and Agriculture Organization says that ground spraying has been conducted along Yemen's Red Sea coast, shere new generations of the insects were emerging. The U.N. agency says that the insects can lay waste to entire farming regions within days.
Polar Birthday
About 5,000 polar bear cubs were born in the Arctic around New Year's Day, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The end of December is typically when the bears give birth ---- a time when the northern polar region is blanketed y some of the coldest and darkest conditions of the year. WWF celebrates the polar bears birthday on Dec. 29 and estimates the global population of the iconic animal is between 20,000 and 25,000. The bears, which can typically live to be about 25 years old, are threatened by poachers, global warming and pollution. They have become the "poster animal" for climate change and the resulting melt of their Arctic ice cap homes.
Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet (2013 Year In Review)
Earthquakes
Two villages in western Iran's Bushehr province were virtually leveled on April 9 by a 6.3 magnitude quake that killed 37 people.
* At least 850 people were killed on Sept. 24 in Pakistan's Balochistan province by a 7.7 magnitude quake that caused a new island to emerge in the Arabian Sea.
* The most powerful temblor of the year, registering a magnitude of 8.3 on May 24, was felt in Moscow, more than 4,000 miles from the epicenter off the Kamchatka Peninsula.
* Areas around the Philippine island province of Bohol were devastated on Oct. 15 by a 7.2 magnitude quake that killed 222 people and injured nearly 1,000 others.
* China's most deadly earthquake in three yearsrocked central Sichuan on April 20, killing 193 people and injuring more than 15,000 others.
Record Twister
Moore, Okla., was hit on May 20 by EF5 tornado that left 24 people dead and destroyed 1,150 homes. Entire subdivisions were obliterated, but early warning is being credited for the remarkably low death toll. Less than two weeks later, on May 31, the widest tornado ever recorded in the United States hit the nearby Oklahoma City area at rush hour, killing 19.
Health Alert
The World Health Organization warned that the SARS-like coronavirus MERS could spread around the world from where it emerged on the Arabian Peninsula in Sept. 2012. Symptoms include fever and a cough, which could lead to pneumonia and kidney failure. At least 66 people have ddied from infection, mainly in and around Saudi Arabia.
Tropical Cyclones
A massive international relief effort was launched after the world's strongest tropical cyclone ever to make landfall devastated parts of the central Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan hit the southwestern tip of Samar Island on Nov. 8 with maximum sustained winds of 195 mph. More than 6,000 people were dead in its wake.
* Cyclone Phailin became the strongest storm ever recorded to make landfall in India when it struck the state of Odisha on Oct. 12. A mass evacuation of coastal areas kept the death toll relatively low at 44.
* Typhoon Man-yi unleashed unprecedented flooding across Japan on Sept. 16. It was one of seven tropical cyclones to directly affect the country this year. Some triggered enough rainfall to flush contamination from the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone into other areas.
Volcanoes
Sumatra's Mount Sinabung forced nearly 18,000 people from their homes during violent eruptions from October through December, which destroyed thousands of acres of crops.
* The world's largest volcano was found submerged beneath the western Pacific, covering about 120,000 square miles of seabed.
* A surge of searing volcanic debris on Aug. 10 killed six people who were sleeping on a beach on the tiny Indonesian island that is home to Mount Rokatenda volcano.
Atacama Flurry
An area known as one of the driest places on Earth received a rare snowfall and flood-producing rains during late August. It was the heaviest precipitation parts of Chile's Atacama Desert had seen in three decades.
A Global Blast
A meteor exploding over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk on Feb. 15 created a blast equivalent to 460 kilotons of TNT, injuring nearly 1,500 people. Most of the injuries were due to shattered, falling or blown-in glass. More than 7,700 buildings were damaged as the fireball entered the atmosphere at 41,000 mph. The blast wave circled the world twice.
New Life Form
French scientists said they discovered two new viruses so different from anything ever before seen on Earth that some have said they might as well have come from outer space. The new "Pandoravirus" species are so named because "opening" them has spawned so many questions about the nature of life.
Warming Not Paused
The leveling off of Earth's surface warming since 1998 is being attributed to the world's oceans absorbing most of climate change's excess heat. Scientists caution that global warming has not paused, but "is merely manifested in different ways" for a while.
Roach Escape
At least 1.5 million cock-roaches escaped a breeding facility in eastern China's Jiangsu province during late August, infesting nearby farmland and homes. Locals said they feared outbreaks of disease from the "jailbreak." Roach rancher Wang Pengsheng had been raising the insects so their extracts could be used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Two villages in western Iran's Bushehr province were virtually leveled on April 9 by a 6.3 magnitude quake that killed 37 people.
* At least 850 people were killed on Sept. 24 in Pakistan's Balochistan province by a 7.7 magnitude quake that caused a new island to emerge in the Arabian Sea.
* The most powerful temblor of the year, registering a magnitude of 8.3 on May 24, was felt in Moscow, more than 4,000 miles from the epicenter off the Kamchatka Peninsula.
* Areas around the Philippine island province of Bohol were devastated on Oct. 15 by a 7.2 magnitude quake that killed 222 people and injured nearly 1,000 others.
* China's most deadly earthquake in three yearsrocked central Sichuan on April 20, killing 193 people and injuring more than 15,000 others.
Record Twister
Moore, Okla., was hit on May 20 by EF5 tornado that left 24 people dead and destroyed 1,150 homes. Entire subdivisions were obliterated, but early warning is being credited for the remarkably low death toll. Less than two weeks later, on May 31, the widest tornado ever recorded in the United States hit the nearby Oklahoma City area at rush hour, killing 19.
Health Alert
The World Health Organization warned that the SARS-like coronavirus MERS could spread around the world from where it emerged on the Arabian Peninsula in Sept. 2012. Symptoms include fever and a cough, which could lead to pneumonia and kidney failure. At least 66 people have ddied from infection, mainly in and around Saudi Arabia.
Tropical Cyclones
A massive international relief effort was launched after the world's strongest tropical cyclone ever to make landfall devastated parts of the central Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan hit the southwestern tip of Samar Island on Nov. 8 with maximum sustained winds of 195 mph. More than 6,000 people were dead in its wake.
* Cyclone Phailin became the strongest storm ever recorded to make landfall in India when it struck the state of Odisha on Oct. 12. A mass evacuation of coastal areas kept the death toll relatively low at 44.
* Typhoon Man-yi unleashed unprecedented flooding across Japan on Sept. 16. It was one of seven tropical cyclones to directly affect the country this year. Some triggered enough rainfall to flush contamination from the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone into other areas.
Volcanoes
Sumatra's Mount Sinabung forced nearly 18,000 people from their homes during violent eruptions from October through December, which destroyed thousands of acres of crops.
* The world's largest volcano was found submerged beneath the western Pacific, covering about 120,000 square miles of seabed.
* A surge of searing volcanic debris on Aug. 10 killed six people who were sleeping on a beach on the tiny Indonesian island that is home to Mount Rokatenda volcano.
Atacama Flurry
An area known as one of the driest places on Earth received a rare snowfall and flood-producing rains during late August. It was the heaviest precipitation parts of Chile's Atacama Desert had seen in three decades.
A Global Blast
A meteor exploding over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk on Feb. 15 created a blast equivalent to 460 kilotons of TNT, injuring nearly 1,500 people. Most of the injuries were due to shattered, falling or blown-in glass. More than 7,700 buildings were damaged as the fireball entered the atmosphere at 41,000 mph. The blast wave circled the world twice.
New Life Form
French scientists said they discovered two new viruses so different from anything ever before seen on Earth that some have said they might as well have come from outer space. The new "Pandoravirus" species are so named because "opening" them has spawned so many questions about the nature of life.
Warming Not Paused
The leveling off of Earth's surface warming since 1998 is being attributed to the world's oceans absorbing most of climate change's excess heat. Scientists caution that global warming has not paused, but "is merely manifested in different ways" for a while.
Roach Escape
At least 1.5 million cock-roaches escaped a breeding facility in eastern China's Jiangsu province during late August, infesting nearby farmland and homes. Locals said they feared outbreaks of disease from the "jailbreak." Roach rancher Wang Pengsheng had been raising the insects so their extracts could be used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet (Dec. 20, 2013)
Warming Wobble
The melting of ice caps and glaciers due to climate change is causing a shift in the Earth's axis, according to new research. Wobbles in the planet's rotation are due to various influences, including the distribution of mass. Observations conducted since 1899 have shown that the North Pole had been drifting south toward eastern parts of Canada at a rate of about 4 inches per year. But that drift jogged abruptly eastward in 2005 and has moved about 4 feet in distance since then. Jianli Chen of the University of Texas at Austin and colleagues collected data from NASA's GRACE satellite, which measures changes in Earth's gravity field over time in an attempt to find out why the shift occurred. The measurements allowed them to calculate how melting of the Greenland and Arctic ice sheets and mountain glaciers, and the resulting rise in sea level, caused a redistribution of mass on the Earth's surface. Computer analysis determined that it matched perfectly what it would take to cause the observed shift in the North Pole's position.
Etna Eruption
Sicily's Mount Etna volcano produced its strongest eruption in recent months, spewing with such force that the local Catania airport was forced to close for two days because of ash plumes billowing into the sky. Officials said that 150 flights were affected by the threat of volcanic debris.
Indian Ocean Cyclones
Tropical Cyclone Amara formed from an area of disturbed weather over the central Indian Ocean. Cyclone Bruce developed to the south of Sumatra. Both storms were predicted to be threats only to shipping lanes.
Arctic Ice Rebound
An unusually cool summer in the Arctic has led to almost 50 percent more sea ice covering the polar region this fall than the year before. Measurements from Europe's CryoSat spacecraft reveal that about 2,160 cubic miles of sea ice covered the Arctic in late October. That's up from the 1,440 cubic miles that CryoSat measured during the record low for the ice in 2012. "Although the recovery of Arctic sea ice is certainly welcome news, it has to be considered against the backdrop of changes that have occurred over the last few decades," said Andy Dhepherd of University College London. He told the BBC that there were about 4,800 cubic miles of Arctic sea ice each October during the early 1980s, decades before a rapid warming of the polar region brought unprecedented melting.
Ozone Healing Slow
Hopes that Earth's protective layer of stratospheric ozone was healing from decades of annual ozoneholes were dashed by the discovery that the upper atmosphere is still saturated with ozone-eating chemicals. Speaking to a meeting of the American Geophysical Union, NASA atmospheric scientist Natalya Kramarova said that it should take until 2070 for Earth's shield against harmful ultraviolet radiation to fully recover from the widespread use of Freon and other damaging chlorofluorocarbons. They have been phased out since the 1989Montreal Protocol agreement. Shifts in weather around Antarctica can cause wide swings in the size of the ozone hole, making it difficult to tell if it is steadily becoming smaller. It reached its largest size in 2006. Kramarova estimates that it should become apparent by 2025 whether the ozone hole is truly recovering.
Earthquakes
Three people were injured in central China's Hubei province when a 5.0 magnitude temblor rocked the mountainous county of Badong. Approximately 96 homes were destroyed and about 2,500 others were severely damaged, according to a spokesman for the Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
* Earth movements were also felt in metropolitan Tokyo, the northern Philippines, far southern New Zealand, California's San Joaquin Valley and south-central Kansas.
Reindeer Eyes
While Rudolph may have a red nose so bright it can guide an around-the-world flight on Christmas Eve, it seems all reindeer have eyes that change color to match the season. New research reveals the Arctic species have eyes that reflect gold in summer and blue in winter, which helps them cope with the wide shifts of daylight between each season. No other animal species has been found with such an ability. Reindeer must find food and protect themselves from predators during almost-constant summertime sun in the Arctic as well as in the round-the-clock darkness of winter. Their vision is helped by a change of pressure against a light-reflecting layer behind the retina when the eyes go from being dilated during the dark winters to being contracted during bright summers. Writing in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. researchers said the pressure shift causes a change in the color of reflected light in the eyes. It also makes the reindeer's eyes between 100 and 1,000 times more sensitive to light in winter, increasing their chance of survival.
The melting of ice caps and glaciers due to climate change is causing a shift in the Earth's axis, according to new research. Wobbles in the planet's rotation are due to various influences, including the distribution of mass. Observations conducted since 1899 have shown that the North Pole had been drifting south toward eastern parts of Canada at a rate of about 4 inches per year. But that drift jogged abruptly eastward in 2005 and has moved about 4 feet in distance since then. Jianli Chen of the University of Texas at Austin and colleagues collected data from NASA's GRACE satellite, which measures changes in Earth's gravity field over time in an attempt to find out why the shift occurred. The measurements allowed them to calculate how melting of the Greenland and Arctic ice sheets and mountain glaciers, and the resulting rise in sea level, caused a redistribution of mass on the Earth's surface. Computer analysis determined that it matched perfectly what it would take to cause the observed shift in the North Pole's position.
Etna Eruption
Sicily's Mount Etna volcano produced its strongest eruption in recent months, spewing with such force that the local Catania airport was forced to close for two days because of ash plumes billowing into the sky. Officials said that 150 flights were affected by the threat of volcanic debris.
Indian Ocean Cyclones
Tropical Cyclone Amara formed from an area of disturbed weather over the central Indian Ocean. Cyclone Bruce developed to the south of Sumatra. Both storms were predicted to be threats only to shipping lanes.
Arctic Ice Rebound
An unusually cool summer in the Arctic has led to almost 50 percent more sea ice covering the polar region this fall than the year before. Measurements from Europe's CryoSat spacecraft reveal that about 2,160 cubic miles of sea ice covered the Arctic in late October. That's up from the 1,440 cubic miles that CryoSat measured during the record low for the ice in 2012. "Although the recovery of Arctic sea ice is certainly welcome news, it has to be considered against the backdrop of changes that have occurred over the last few decades," said Andy Dhepherd of University College London. He told the BBC that there were about 4,800 cubic miles of Arctic sea ice each October during the early 1980s, decades before a rapid warming of the polar region brought unprecedented melting.
Ozone Healing Slow
Hopes that Earth's protective layer of stratospheric ozone was healing from decades of annual ozoneholes were dashed by the discovery that the upper atmosphere is still saturated with ozone-eating chemicals. Speaking to a meeting of the American Geophysical Union, NASA atmospheric scientist Natalya Kramarova said that it should take until 2070 for Earth's shield against harmful ultraviolet radiation to fully recover from the widespread use of Freon and other damaging chlorofluorocarbons. They have been phased out since the 1989Montreal Protocol agreement. Shifts in weather around Antarctica can cause wide swings in the size of the ozone hole, making it difficult to tell if it is steadily becoming smaller. It reached its largest size in 2006. Kramarova estimates that it should become apparent by 2025 whether the ozone hole is truly recovering.
Earthquakes
Three people were injured in central China's Hubei province when a 5.0 magnitude temblor rocked the mountainous county of Badong. Approximately 96 homes were destroyed and about 2,500 others were severely damaged, according to a spokesman for the Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
* Earth movements were also felt in metropolitan Tokyo, the northern Philippines, far southern New Zealand, California's San Joaquin Valley and south-central Kansas.
Reindeer Eyes
While Rudolph may have a red nose so bright it can guide an around-the-world flight on Christmas Eve, it seems all reindeer have eyes that change color to match the season. New research reveals the Arctic species have eyes that reflect gold in summer and blue in winter, which helps them cope with the wide shifts of daylight between each season. No other animal species has been found with such an ability. Reindeer must find food and protect themselves from predators during almost-constant summertime sun in the Arctic as well as in the round-the-clock darkness of winter. Their vision is helped by a change of pressure against a light-reflecting layer behind the retina when the eyes go from being dilated during the dark winters to being contracted during bright summers. Writing in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. researchers said the pressure shift causes a change in the color of reflected light in the eyes. It also makes the reindeer's eyes between 100 and 1,000 times more sensitive to light in winter, increasing their chance of survival.
Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet (Dec. 13, 2013)
Warming Not Paused
New research finds that while the rate of surface warming of the planet due to climate change has slowed since 1998, the effects of warming are still advancing at a rapid pace. Climate researchers from the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research say it is a myth that global warming has paused, owing to solid evidence that the world's oceans are now absorbing more than 90 percent of the excess heating of the planet. Researcher Kevin Trenberth estimates that the oceans are accumulating heat equivalent to about six Hiroshima atomic bomb detonations per second on average. Warming of the planet due to greenhouse emissions is still melting glaciers and ice caps, lifting ocean levels and creating some of the hottest periods on record around the planet. Writing in the American Geophysical Union open-access journal Earth's Future, Trenberth and colleague John Fasullo say that "global warming has not stopped: it is merely manifested in different ways." Greenhouse gas emissions continue to surge from polluting industry and transportation, setting the stage for even more intense warming in the decades ahead, researchers warn.
Sumatran Eruption
Indonesia's erupting Mount Sinabung volcano continued to spew ash and send lava down its slopes, keeping thousands of people who were forced from their homes weeks ago in temporary housing. The Jakarta Post reports, 17,713 people have now been displaced by the ongoing eruptions and are staying at 31 evacuation camps. The volcano has become increasingly active since September, erupting numerous times. Ash from the blasts has destroyed thousands of acres of farmland.
World of Extremes
Scientists have located the coldest place on Earth, where the temperature plunged to minus 135.8 degrees Fahrenheit on Aug. 10, 2010. The discovery was made after the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center analyzed thermal satellite images that pinpointed the spot in one of the many frigid pockets within the heart of Antarctica. The coldest daily temperature on the planet is often recorded at Russia's Vostok research base, where the official planetary record low of minus 128.6 degrees occurred on July 21, 1983. Unofficial thermal satellite observations revealed last year that Iran's Lut Desert had the world's all-time hottest temperature in 2005, when the mercury soared to an utterly astounding 159.3 degrees Fahrenheit. That means the atmosphere has seen a swing of almost 300 degrees Fahenheit in temperature between the hottest and coldest spots on the planet.
Smoggy Humor
Another bout of record air pollution forced several Chinese cities to shut down expressways and cancel flights as toxic fog and smog gripped northern and eastern parts of the country. Some official Communist Chinese media outlets were slammed by Internet users and other media after they tried to put a positive spin on the hazardous pollution. The Global Times said smog could be useful in military situations, where it could hinder the use of guided missiles. Broadcaster CCTV listed five "unforeseen rewards" of smog, including helping Chinese people's sense of humor. "Is the smog supposed to lift if we laugh about it?" retorted Beijing Business Today, published by the city government's official Beijing Daily. "Smog affects our breathing. We hope it does not affect our thinking."
Tropical Cyclone
Category-1 Cyclone Madi churned the western Bay of Bengal for several days ---- the fourth successive cyclone to affect the region since early October. It later made landfall as a minimal tropical storm before dissipating over far southern India.
Earthquakes
The U.S. southern Great Plains were jolted by a 4.5 magnitude quake centered just northeast of Oklahoma City. Shaking was felt as far away as Wichita, Kan., but no reports of damage or injuries were received.
* Earth movements were also felt along the Georgia-Tennessee border and on southern Turkey's Mediterranean coast.
Snowy Irruption
One of the largest influxes of Arctic snowy owls in history is in progress across the northeastern United States and the Great Lakes region. Experts from Cornell University say a shortage of their favorite food up north, lemmings, or a bumper crop of young, is responsible for the "irruption." An outcry over the killing of the impressive raptors in the name of aircraft safety at New York area airports prompted the Port Authority to switch to nonlethal methods to remove the snowy owls from JFK and LaGuardia airports. The agency said five planes at the three main New York City airports had been struck by owls in recent weeks. The birds appear to be attracted to airports because their open expanses in the midst of urban sprawl look similar to the owls' normal Arctic tundra homes.
New research finds that while the rate of surface warming of the planet due to climate change has slowed since 1998, the effects of warming are still advancing at a rapid pace. Climate researchers from the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research say it is a myth that global warming has paused, owing to solid evidence that the world's oceans are now absorbing more than 90 percent of the excess heating of the planet. Researcher Kevin Trenberth estimates that the oceans are accumulating heat equivalent to about six Hiroshima atomic bomb detonations per second on average. Warming of the planet due to greenhouse emissions is still melting glaciers and ice caps, lifting ocean levels and creating some of the hottest periods on record around the planet. Writing in the American Geophysical Union open-access journal Earth's Future, Trenberth and colleague John Fasullo say that "global warming has not stopped: it is merely manifested in different ways." Greenhouse gas emissions continue to surge from polluting industry and transportation, setting the stage for even more intense warming in the decades ahead, researchers warn.
Sumatran Eruption
Indonesia's erupting Mount Sinabung volcano continued to spew ash and send lava down its slopes, keeping thousands of people who were forced from their homes weeks ago in temporary housing. The Jakarta Post reports, 17,713 people have now been displaced by the ongoing eruptions and are staying at 31 evacuation camps. The volcano has become increasingly active since September, erupting numerous times. Ash from the blasts has destroyed thousands of acres of farmland.
World of Extremes
Scientists have located the coldest place on Earth, where the temperature plunged to minus 135.8 degrees Fahrenheit on Aug. 10, 2010. The discovery was made after the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center analyzed thermal satellite images that pinpointed the spot in one of the many frigid pockets within the heart of Antarctica. The coldest daily temperature on the planet is often recorded at Russia's Vostok research base, where the official planetary record low of minus 128.6 degrees occurred on July 21, 1983. Unofficial thermal satellite observations revealed last year that Iran's Lut Desert had the world's all-time hottest temperature in 2005, when the mercury soared to an utterly astounding 159.3 degrees Fahrenheit. That means the atmosphere has seen a swing of almost 300 degrees Fahenheit in temperature between the hottest and coldest spots on the planet.
Smoggy Humor
Another bout of record air pollution forced several Chinese cities to shut down expressways and cancel flights as toxic fog and smog gripped northern and eastern parts of the country. Some official Communist Chinese media outlets were slammed by Internet users and other media after they tried to put a positive spin on the hazardous pollution. The Global Times said smog could be useful in military situations, where it could hinder the use of guided missiles. Broadcaster CCTV listed five "unforeseen rewards" of smog, including helping Chinese people's sense of humor. "Is the smog supposed to lift if we laugh about it?" retorted Beijing Business Today, published by the city government's official Beijing Daily. "Smog affects our breathing. We hope it does not affect our thinking."
Tropical Cyclone
Category-1 Cyclone Madi churned the western Bay of Bengal for several days ---- the fourth successive cyclone to affect the region since early October. It later made landfall as a minimal tropical storm before dissipating over far southern India.
Earthquakes
The U.S. southern Great Plains were jolted by a 4.5 magnitude quake centered just northeast of Oklahoma City. Shaking was felt as far away as Wichita, Kan., but no reports of damage or injuries were received.
* Earth movements were also felt along the Georgia-Tennessee border and on southern Turkey's Mediterranean coast.
Snowy Irruption
One of the largest influxes of Arctic snowy owls in history is in progress across the northeastern United States and the Great Lakes region. Experts from Cornell University say a shortage of their favorite food up north, lemmings, or a bumper crop of young, is responsible for the "irruption." An outcry over the killing of the impressive raptors in the name of aircraft safety at New York area airports prompted the Port Authority to switch to nonlethal methods to remove the snowy owls from JFK and LaGuardia airports. The agency said five planes at the three main New York City airports had been struck by owls in recent weeks. The birds appear to be attracted to airports because their open expanses in the midst of urban sprawl look similar to the owls' normal Arctic tundra homes.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
The Epiphany of the Lord
To the Magi who looked at the heavens, God's sign was a star.
A quick glance at the Internet or magazine rack will reveal multitudes of personality quizzes. Some actually help us understand why we do thingsand interact with people the way we do; many just make us laugh. From the ridiculous ("if you were a dog, you would be a cocker spaniel") to the sometimes uncomfortably true ("you are an introvert who really likes to plan things"), these human-made signs can point us in particular directions that may or may not be helpful.
But the God of mystery can and does use the signs we look at to reveal his presence and call us to discipleship. To the Magi who looked at the heavens, God's sign was a star. To people who had lived for so long in dark times, God revealed himself as light and truth. To those who understood that their faith in God could strengthen them when times were rough and exhort them when all was well, God presented himself as one of them, fully human and fully divine, the very essence of love.
We look in many places and faces for evidence of God, but we get distracted and often miss what we're looking for. God uses whatever is necessary --------- personality quizzes, magazines, plans, books, nature, and other people to get us moving in the right direction.
"We saw his star," said the Magi.
What have you looked at this Christmas?
And have you seen God there?
A quick glance at the Internet or magazine rack will reveal multitudes of personality quizzes. Some actually help us understand why we do thingsand interact with people the way we do; many just make us laugh. From the ridiculous ("if you were a dog, you would be a cocker spaniel") to the sometimes uncomfortably true ("you are an introvert who really likes to plan things"), these human-made signs can point us in particular directions that may or may not be helpful.
But the God of mystery can and does use the signs we look at to reveal his presence and call us to discipleship. To the Magi who looked at the heavens, God's sign was a star. To people who had lived for so long in dark times, God revealed himself as light and truth. To those who understood that their faith in God could strengthen them when times were rough and exhort them when all was well, God presented himself as one of them, fully human and fully divine, the very essence of love.
We look in many places and faces for evidence of God, but we get distracted and often miss what we're looking for. God uses whatever is necessary --------- personality quizzes, magazines, plans, books, nature, and other people to get us moving in the right direction.
"We saw his star," said the Magi.
What have you looked at this Christmas?
And have you seen God there?
Kennections
All five correct answers have something in common.
Can you figure out what it is?
1. "A Horse With No Name" was the biggest hit for what band, which formed in London, ironically, in 1970?
2. What liquid in your body travels over 12,000 miles every day?
3. What animal appears five times on the Australian one-dollar coin?
4. What oil company, famed for its "Route 66" shields, merged with Conoco in 2002?
5. What animated clownfish gets captured by Dr. Sherman, a dentist from Sydney?
Bonus : What's the "Kennection" between all five answers?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers : 1. America
2. Blood
3. Kangaroo
4. Phillips
5. Nemo
Bonus : All are captains
Can you figure out what it is?
1. "A Horse With No Name" was the biggest hit for what band, which formed in London, ironically, in 1970?
2. What liquid in your body travels over 12,000 miles every day?
3. What animal appears five times on the Australian one-dollar coin?
4. What oil company, famed for its "Route 66" shields, merged with Conoco in 2002?
5. What animated clownfish gets captured by Dr. Sherman, a dentist from Sydney?
Bonus : What's the "Kennection" between all five answers?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers : 1. America
2. Blood
3. Kangaroo
4. Phillips
5. Nemo
Bonus : All are captains
Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet (Dec. 6, 2013)
Almost Human?
Using a legal strategy once employed to fight human slavery, an animal rights group is asking a New York court to declare that chimpanzees are enough like human beings to deserve some of the same rights. The Nonhuman Rights Project filed a classic writ of habeas corpus, demanding that a chimp named Tommy be released from a cage in a used-trailer lot. It asks that the primate be the beneficiary of a trust that would house him in one of the eight facilities of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance. "This petition asks this court to issue a writ recognizing that Tommy is not a legal thing to be possessed by respondents, but rather is a cognitively complex autonomous legal person with the fundamental legal right not to be imprisoned," the court filing says. Tommy's owner argues the chimp is well cared for and has many toys since being rescued from an abusive owner. A ruling in favor of the writ would set chimps apart from other animals.
Typhoon Contamination
An unusually active and fierce typhoon season in Japan has brought a fresh flood of Hazardous caesium particles from the country's Fukushima nuclear disaster zone to areas downstream, researchers say. A joint study by France's Climate and Environmental Science laboratory and Japan's Tsukuba University finds that people who escaped the initial fallout from reactor meltdowns in March 2011 could now find their food and water contaminated by the radioactive particles as typhoon runoff penetrates agricultural land and coastal plains. The five typhoons that struck Japan during October alone were the most ever recorded during the month. Two other named storms struck the archipelago during September.
Saharan Extinctions
The world's largest tropical desert has lost much of its wildlife population in recent years, according to a new study of the Sahara. Led by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Zoological Society of London, researchers found that half of the 14 desert species studied were regionally extinct or confined to 1 percent or less of their historic ranges. Writing in the journal Diversity and Distributions, the team found that the bubal hartebeest is extinct, the scimitar-horned oryx is extinct in the wild and the African wild dog and African lion no longer live anywhere in the Sahara. Cycles of political instability and long-term regional conflicts have for decades prevented researchers from determining exactly what has decimated the wildlife populations.
Unseasonable Migration
The famed wildebeest of East Africahave returned to Kenya's Maasai Mara Game Reserve months early in an off-season migration that wildlife experts say has never been seen before. The animals typically spend the next few months grazing in Tanzania's Serengeti plains, but a protracted drought has left grasslands there barren. An official said tourists who missed the usual wildebeest migration between July and October now have another chance to view it through the upcoming holiday season.
Earthquakes
Rescue teams comforted the survivors of a 5.6 magnitude quake that killed eight people and injured 59 others in southwestern Iran on Nov.28.
* Earth movements were also felt in eastern India, northwestern Sumatra, the southern Philippines, northern Puerto Rico, southwestern Mexico and southeastern Connecticut.
Disappearing Lakes
A trend toward drier summers and less snowy winters in sub-Arctic Canada is leading to an unprecedented drying up of the region's expansive patchwork of lakes, according to a new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Researchers from four universities found that the shift in climate and the shrinking of the lakes that followed has not happened for at least the past 200 years. Some lakes first began showing signs of losing water in 2010, but observers say it became far more pronounced during this past summer. Researchers made the discovery after studying 70 lakes in the Yukon Territory and Manitoba. Most of the bodies of water studied are less than 1 meter deep.
'Root' of the Problem
Feral hogs are rooting up levees along stretches of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, threatening to trigger breaches in the flood protections for nearby communities. The Times-Picayune reports the problem came to light after Hurricane Isaac sent an 3.3 metre storm surge into southern Louisiana during August 2012. That inundation forced thousands of feral hogs onto the levees, where they damaged the flood defenses while foraging for food. The unruly swine can destroy over a hundred linear metres of levee in one night, which engineers say can take months to repair. And since it takes only one small stretch of weakened levee to flood a vast area, officials say they are concerned.
Using a legal strategy once employed to fight human slavery, an animal rights group is asking a New York court to declare that chimpanzees are enough like human beings to deserve some of the same rights. The Nonhuman Rights Project filed a classic writ of habeas corpus, demanding that a chimp named Tommy be released from a cage in a used-trailer lot. It asks that the primate be the beneficiary of a trust that would house him in one of the eight facilities of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance. "This petition asks this court to issue a writ recognizing that Tommy is not a legal thing to be possessed by respondents, but rather is a cognitively complex autonomous legal person with the fundamental legal right not to be imprisoned," the court filing says. Tommy's owner argues the chimp is well cared for and has many toys since being rescued from an abusive owner. A ruling in favor of the writ would set chimps apart from other animals.
Typhoon Contamination
An unusually active and fierce typhoon season in Japan has brought a fresh flood of Hazardous caesium particles from the country's Fukushima nuclear disaster zone to areas downstream, researchers say. A joint study by France's Climate and Environmental Science laboratory and Japan's Tsukuba University finds that people who escaped the initial fallout from reactor meltdowns in March 2011 could now find their food and water contaminated by the radioactive particles as typhoon runoff penetrates agricultural land and coastal plains. The five typhoons that struck Japan during October alone were the most ever recorded during the month. Two other named storms struck the archipelago during September.
Saharan Extinctions
The world's largest tropical desert has lost much of its wildlife population in recent years, according to a new study of the Sahara. Led by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Zoological Society of London, researchers found that half of the 14 desert species studied were regionally extinct or confined to 1 percent or less of their historic ranges. Writing in the journal Diversity and Distributions, the team found that the bubal hartebeest is extinct, the scimitar-horned oryx is extinct in the wild and the African wild dog and African lion no longer live anywhere in the Sahara. Cycles of political instability and long-term regional conflicts have for decades prevented researchers from determining exactly what has decimated the wildlife populations.
Unseasonable Migration
The famed wildebeest of East Africahave returned to Kenya's Maasai Mara Game Reserve months early in an off-season migration that wildlife experts say has never been seen before. The animals typically spend the next few months grazing in Tanzania's Serengeti plains, but a protracted drought has left grasslands there barren. An official said tourists who missed the usual wildebeest migration between July and October now have another chance to view it through the upcoming holiday season.
Earthquakes
Rescue teams comforted the survivors of a 5.6 magnitude quake that killed eight people and injured 59 others in southwestern Iran on Nov.28.
* Earth movements were also felt in eastern India, northwestern Sumatra, the southern Philippines, northern Puerto Rico, southwestern Mexico and southeastern Connecticut.
Disappearing Lakes
A trend toward drier summers and less snowy winters in sub-Arctic Canada is leading to an unprecedented drying up of the region's expansive patchwork of lakes, according to a new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Researchers from four universities found that the shift in climate and the shrinking of the lakes that followed has not happened for at least the past 200 years. Some lakes first began showing signs of losing water in 2010, but observers say it became far more pronounced during this past summer. Researchers made the discovery after studying 70 lakes in the Yukon Territory and Manitoba. Most of the bodies of water studied are less than 1 meter deep.
'Root' of the Problem
Feral hogs are rooting up levees along stretches of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, threatening to trigger breaches in the flood protections for nearby communities. The Times-Picayune reports the problem came to light after Hurricane Isaac sent an 3.3 metre storm surge into southern Louisiana during August 2012. That inundation forced thousands of feral hogs onto the levees, where they damaged the flood defenses while foraging for food. The unruly swine can destroy over a hundred linear metres of levee in one night, which engineers say can take months to repair. And since it takes only one small stretch of weakened levee to flood a vast area, officials say they are concerned.
Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet (Nov.29,2013)
Bats vs. Turbines
A new study estimates that more than 600,000 bats are killed each year by the rotation of wind turbines in the continental United States. Wildlife experts say those deaths are in addition to the large numbers of the flying mammals that are being killed by white-nose syndrome, which is caused by a fungus that has spread rapidly to bat caves and mines across North America. Most bats don't die from actual contact with the turbines since their sonar allows them to avoid the blades. But subtle changes in barometric pressure created by the rotating blades cause the bats capillaries to burst, resulting in deadly internal hemorrhaging. Birds circulatory systems are different from that of bats, keeping them from being victims of such "barotrauma." Most bat deaths occur when winds are relatively light because bats can't fly in high winds. And since most turbines shut down when winds go below about 9 mph anyway, experts say increasing the "cut-in speed" to 11 mphwould reduce bat deaths by at least 44 percent.
New Flu
A young woman in Taiwan has contracted a new strain of influenza A, which is very similar in structure to the H7N9 bird flu that killed 45 people and infected 139 others in China last year. The H6N1 strain is believed to have come from infected poultry and reacts to the same drugs that combat other strains of bird flu, like Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control. Researchers there say H6N1 is widespread in poultry but no reported cases of transmission to humans have been found. The Taiwanese patient fully recovered, and no trace of the virus was found in the 36 people with whom the woman had close contact.
Extinction-Proof
An Australian science project that is attempting to resurrect extinct species is being touted as one of the best inventions of 2013 by Time Magazine. The Lazarus Project has been able to briefly bring back the gastric brooding frog , which became extinct in 1983. The amphibian was unique for its ability to swallow its eggs and give birth through its mouth. Researchers used DNA from some of the frog species tissue that had been kept frozen for 40 years. They then deactivated eggs from a distantly related frog and swapped the nuclei with that from the extinct frog. Some of the eggs began spontaneously dividing and growing to early embryo stage, but none survived past a few days. The scientists were able to collect the extinct frog's reactivated genome in the process, which they plans to use in future cloning experiments.
Tropical Cyclones
Cyclone Lehar struck the same stretch of southeastern Indian coast hit a week earlier by Cyclone Helen. The storm was also the third to rake the Andhra Pradesh coast this autumn, including Cyclone Phailin, which ravaged the region in mid-October.
* Tropical Storm Alessia brought localy heavy rain and gusty winds to a remote portion of Australia's Northern Territory.
Earthquakes
Three strong quakes in northeastern China's Jilin province damaged scores of homes and sent thousands of residents repeatedly scrambling out of buildings.
* Several homes were damaged along the Iran-Iraq border by a sharp quake that was also felt strongly in parts of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
* Earth movements were also felt in southern Peru and north-central Texas.
New Island
Japan may have gained an additional patch of territory thanks to a volcanic eruption that created a new island in the Pacific. The Japan Meteorological Agency says the islet is about 660 feet in diameter just off the coast of Nishinoshima, which is a small, uninhabited island about 600 miles south of Tokyo and 140 miles north of Iwo Jima. The agency says it mow appears the new unnamed island could be here to stay, and it will not be eroded by the sea.
Moose-Choked Shark
A beached, bottom-feeding shark that bit off more than it could chew owes its life to some unusually brave and fast-thinking passers-by. Derrick Chaulk and Jeremy Ball say they found the Greenland shark near Norris Arm, Newfoundland, with about 2 feet of moose hide and fur protruding from its mouth. After yanking the stuck meal out of the shark's mouth by hand, the men manged to pull the toothy fish back into the water, where it sat until "water started coming out of its gills" and it became more alert. After about half an hour, the shark flipped its tail and returned to the deep to the applause of people who had gathered along the shore to watch. Greenland sharks are rare on that stretch of Newfoundland coast and typically spend a long life lumbering on the ocean floor. They are usually blind due to parasites that have fed on their corneas, causing them to go for long periods of time without stumbling across food.
A new study estimates that more than 600,000 bats are killed each year by the rotation of wind turbines in the continental United States. Wildlife experts say those deaths are in addition to the large numbers of the flying mammals that are being killed by white-nose syndrome, which is caused by a fungus that has spread rapidly to bat caves and mines across North America. Most bats don't die from actual contact with the turbines since their sonar allows them to avoid the blades. But subtle changes in barometric pressure created by the rotating blades cause the bats capillaries to burst, resulting in deadly internal hemorrhaging. Birds circulatory systems are different from that of bats, keeping them from being victims of such "barotrauma." Most bat deaths occur when winds are relatively light because bats can't fly in high winds. And since most turbines shut down when winds go below about 9 mph anyway, experts say increasing the "cut-in speed" to 11 mphwould reduce bat deaths by at least 44 percent.
New Flu
A young woman in Taiwan has contracted a new strain of influenza A, which is very similar in structure to the H7N9 bird flu that killed 45 people and infected 139 others in China last year. The H6N1 strain is believed to have come from infected poultry and reacts to the same drugs that combat other strains of bird flu, like Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control. Researchers there say H6N1 is widespread in poultry but no reported cases of transmission to humans have been found. The Taiwanese patient fully recovered, and no trace of the virus was found in the 36 people with whom the woman had close contact.
Extinction-Proof
An Australian science project that is attempting to resurrect extinct species is being touted as one of the best inventions of 2013 by Time Magazine. The Lazarus Project has been able to briefly bring back the gastric brooding frog , which became extinct in 1983. The amphibian was unique for its ability to swallow its eggs and give birth through its mouth. Researchers used DNA from some of the frog species tissue that had been kept frozen for 40 years. They then deactivated eggs from a distantly related frog and swapped the nuclei with that from the extinct frog. Some of the eggs began spontaneously dividing and growing to early embryo stage, but none survived past a few days. The scientists were able to collect the extinct frog's reactivated genome in the process, which they plans to use in future cloning experiments.
Tropical Cyclones
Cyclone Lehar struck the same stretch of southeastern Indian coast hit a week earlier by Cyclone Helen. The storm was also the third to rake the Andhra Pradesh coast this autumn, including Cyclone Phailin, which ravaged the region in mid-October.
* Tropical Storm Alessia brought localy heavy rain and gusty winds to a remote portion of Australia's Northern Territory.
Earthquakes
Three strong quakes in northeastern China's Jilin province damaged scores of homes and sent thousands of residents repeatedly scrambling out of buildings.
* Several homes were damaged along the Iran-Iraq border by a sharp quake that was also felt strongly in parts of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
* Earth movements were also felt in southern Peru and north-central Texas.
New Island
Japan may have gained an additional patch of territory thanks to a volcanic eruption that created a new island in the Pacific. The Japan Meteorological Agency says the islet is about 660 feet in diameter just off the coast of Nishinoshima, which is a small, uninhabited island about 600 miles south of Tokyo and 140 miles north of Iwo Jima. The agency says it mow appears the new unnamed island could be here to stay, and it will not be eroded by the sea.
Moose-Choked Shark
A beached, bottom-feeding shark that bit off more than it could chew owes its life to some unusually brave and fast-thinking passers-by. Derrick Chaulk and Jeremy Ball say they found the Greenland shark near Norris Arm, Newfoundland, with about 2 feet of moose hide and fur protruding from its mouth. After yanking the stuck meal out of the shark's mouth by hand, the men manged to pull the toothy fish back into the water, where it sat until "water started coming out of its gills" and it became more alert. After about half an hour, the shark flipped its tail and returned to the deep to the applause of people who had gathered along the shore to watch. Greenland sharks are rare on that stretch of Newfoundland coast and typically spend a long life lumbering on the ocean floor. They are usually blind due to parasites that have fed on their corneas, causing them to go for long periods of time without stumbling across food.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)