Aquarius the Water Bearer

The Correct Link to the Library

2009-05-22T05:56:00.000-07:00

Here is the correct link to the Astronomy Library.

http://www.iaslibrary.org.

Astronomy LIbrary

2009-05-22T05:53:00.000-07:00

If you have high speed internet connection this is a great way to learn about astronomy. If you have dial up then I am sorry it will not not work.

http://www.iasindy.org

Our Summer Sky

2009-05-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

Our summer sky is dominated by three brilliant stars—Vega, Deneb, and Altair—set in a large triangle. Known as the Summer Triangle, this is not an official constellation but rather an asterism. Each of the three stars in the Summer Triangle belongs to a separate constellation: Vega in Lyra, Deneb in Cygnus, and Altair in Aquila.

Brightest of the Triangle’s stars is Vega, found in the middle of the summer star map and high overhead during the months of July, August, and September. Vega, a brilliant blue-white star glistening like a diamond, belongs to the constellation Lyra, the Lyre. Vega represents part of the Lyre’s handle, while four faint stars depict the instrument’s main body where the strings are strung. This is the mythical musical instrument of Orpheus, son of the Sun god Apollo. According to legend, Apollo taught Orpheus to play the instrument so beautifully that even savage beasts were soothed into submission. After Orpheus died, his lyre continued to play lyrical music and so was placed in the sky by the gods for all to see.

Leave the Summer Triangle temporarily by drawing an imaginary line between Vega and the springtime star Arcturus, still seen in the northwest. About a third of the way along that line are the faint stars of Hercules the Giant. All are visible only in darker suburban or rural skies. Four stars nick named the Keystone create the Giant’s torso. Two curved lines of stars extend southward to form his arms, while two other star-curves stretch out to the Keystone’s north to form his legs. That’s right; the celestial Hercules appears to be standing upside down, apparently with his feet on the head of Draco the Dragon.

Draco winds its way across the northern summer sky spanning the gap between Cepheus to the pointer stars of the Big Dipper. Draco is one of the oldest constellations, perhaps dated as far back as ancient Sumeria, and one of the few that actually looks like what it represents. Four faint stars create the Dragon’s head, while its long, thin body extends toward Cepheus, coils around Ursa Minor, and slithers between the Bears. Though visible all year long, Draco is most easily seen in the summer. About two-thirds of the way along the body of Draco is the star Thuban. More than 4,500 years ago, when the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids, the Earth’s north polar axis was not aimed toward Polaris, as it is today, but rather at this star. This is due to a slow wobbling of the Earth’s axis called precession. In 14,000 years, the pole will be aimed toward Vega in the summer constellation Lyra. Twenty- six thousand years from now, Earth’s North Pole will again be aimed toward Polaris.

Return to the Summer Triangle and the star Altair, its southernmost star. Altair marks the beak of Aquila, the Eagle, while fainter stars denote the out stretched wings and tail feathers, although it might be easier to see a pterodactyl here than to imagine an eagle.
The third star in the Triangle is Deneb, which marks the tail of Cygnus the Swan. In this case, the shape of a swan captured in mid-flight is quite easy to imagine. The Swan’s body and long neck extend to the star Albireo, while wings stretch outward from either side of the star Sack in the Swan’s body. Many people also refer to this pattern as the Northern Cross for its likeness to a crucifix.

If you are viewing from darker suburban or rural skies, look for a hazy band of light passing through the Summer Triangle and stretching from the northeast to the south. This is our galaxy the Milky Way—a spiral galaxy made up of about 200 billion stars. Actually all of the stars seen in the sky belong to the Milky Way. But when we look along the edge of our galaxy we are seeing millions of other, more distant stars that are too faint to make out as individual points of light with our eyes alone. Instead, their light blends to form the lane that we call the Milky Way.

Follow the Milky Way down toward the southern horizon, to the bright star Antares in Scorpius, the Scorpion. Antares is known to be a red super-giant star, nearly 2,000 times larger than our Sun, although only about half as hot. The curve of the Scorpion’s body extends toward the southern horizon and ends at the star Shaula, which marks the Scorpion’s stinger. According to legend, Scorpius killed the mighty hunter Orion (seen in the winter sky) by stinging him on the foot. To punish the Scorpion for this dastardly deed, the gods banished Scorpius to the sky forever, placing it directly opposite Orion so that it could never harm him again.

Just east of Scorpius is Sagittarius the Archer, who also happens to be a centaur which is a mythical creature with the upper body of a man and the lower body of a horse. Most artists draw Sagittarius facing toward the right (west), his bow and arrow aimed toward the heart of Scorpius the Scorpion. Perhaps Sagittarius misfired his first arrow, for we see the tiny constellation Sagitta the Arrow lying just above (north of) Altair. Sagittarius may have represented a centaur to our ancestors, but to skywatchers today, its outline is the more reminiscent of a stove-top kettle or teapot.

Both Sagittarius and Scorpius are found along the ecliptic, the path in the sky followed by the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. In fact, this is probably how Antares got its name. Ant-ares literally translates from Greek as “rival of Ares,” a rivalry probably caused by the star’s amazing resemblance to Mars when seen with the naked eye. (Ares was the Greek god of war while Mars was Rome’s name for the same deity.)

Though there are twelve constellations assigned to the zodiac, the Sun will actually travel through thirteen each year. That forgotten constellation of the zodiac is Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer. Ophiuchus fills most of the large void between Antares and Vega. According to legend, Ophiuchus was a great physician. The story goes that Ophiuchus (also known as Aesculapius, the son of Apollo) became such an amazing healer that Pluto, god of the Underworld, complained about his lack of new clientele! Finally, to appease Pluto, Jupiter killed Ophiuchus, but as a lasting memorial Jupiter placed him among the stars. Ophiuchus is shown holding a serpent named Serpens. Serpents and snakes have long been associated with healing, for their periodic molting was looked upon by our ancestors as a rebirth. (This association of snakes with healing is still evident today on the caduceus, which is used as a symbol by the American Medical Association.) Serpens is divided into two parts. Its head, shown on the map as Serpens Caput, extends to the right (west) of Ophiuchus, while its tail, Serpens Cauda, lies to the left, or east.

Continuing our tour of the ecliptic, the next constellation east of Sagittarius is Capricornus the Sea-Goat. The faint stars of the Sea-Goat form a large triangle seen in summer’s southeastern sky. A sea-goat is an imaginary creature with the head and front legs of a goat and the tail of a fish. Where this constellation came from is a bit of a mystery since this bizarre animal is not mentioned anywhere in classical mythology. Some suggest that Capricornus actually represents the mythical prankster Pan. Pan had the head and legs of a goat, but the body of a man.

Just above (north of) the Sea-Goat and to the left (east) of Altair lies the tiny but distinctive constellation of Delphinus the Dolphin. Delphinus is marked by a diamond of four stars, which form the Dolphin’s body, and a fifth star below (south) marking its tail. None of the individual stars in Delphinus is very bright, but the constellation’s kite like pattern stands out quite well against its barren surroundings.

March for Babies April 26, 2009

2009-05-03T08:40:00.001-07:00

Our Marketing Plan is Working

2009-04-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

Photograph the Front
Interior Photographs
Yard Sign
Sent E-Flyers to Friends, family and coworkers
Newspapers classifieds

04/18/2009 – 05/01/2009 FSBO – 3 br 2 ba 1400 sq ft FHA assumable mortage, Call: 812-322-9726 for more information.
Jaime Hampton, Classified Advertising & Recruitment Manager, The Republic Newspaper - Phone: 812-379-5649 jhampton@therepublic.com
05/02/2009 – 05/16/2009 FSBO – Columbus, IN Take over $773.67 monthly payment 3 br 2 ba walk-in closet Call: 812-322-9726 for appointment
Jaime Hampton, Classified Advertising & Recruitment Manager, The Republic Newspaper - Phone: 812-379-5649 jhampton@therepublic.com
Notify friends and co-workers of your online listing

Online Advertising
http://classifieds.projectvisionary.com/index.php?a=2&b=119 (Serving Southern Indiana)
April 25, 2009 - FHA Assumable Mortgage - 1400 square foot - 3 bedroom - 2 baths - walk-in closet - 2 car attached garage. Located off 200 S in Shadow Creek Farms near Southside Elementary School and the Bartholowmew County 4-H Fair Grounds. The buyer picks up where the seller leaves off rates is 6% current balance $100,182.31

Received 15 phone calls
Confirmed 4 appointments

It is really starting to get exciting.

My official retirement date is May 30, 2009...WHOOPIE!!!!!!!!!

Letters to the Editor

2009-04-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

LETTERS
Sky’s perfect entertainment From: Ken Reynolds Columbus Received: April 23 The groups that I hang with ... the Columbus Local Group of Astronomers and the Indiana Astronomical League ... navigate the night sky as well as truckers navigate the interstates. Me on the other hand goes more like this; I jumped out of bed at 4:30 this morning so I could watch the the teor shower which generally begins on April 16 and ends on April 26, with maximum generally occurring during the night of April 21/22. At maximum, hourly rates can reach about 10 meteors per hour. At 5:29 a.m., I saw my first and only meteor, but it was spectacular. The dust trail was like 2 feet wide and the length about 4 feet long and lasting about two seconds. The Lyrids are particularly interesting for two reason. First, observations have been identified back to at least 2,600 years, which is longer than any other meteor shower. Second, the meteor shower occasionally experiences an outburst of about 100 meteors per hour and the reason is basically unknown. At 5:46 a.m. I watched and Venus rise in the east. Straight overhead was Cygnus the Swan and Lyra a constellation. Its name derived from the lyre, a stringed musical instrument. How do I know all of this? Unlike my collegues, I rely heavily on a software program called Starry Night. If I look at something in the sky and do not recognize it, I run into the house and go to that part of the sky on Starry Night, which always has the current sky. So, back and forth, back and forth. My wife is always asking me, why don’t you take your laptop out on the patio so you don’t have to keep running back and forth. DOH!

March of Dimes March For Babies

2009-04-24T16:07:00.001-07:00

My goal was $1650.00 and as of today I have reached $605.00

Here is some of my handy work around town:

Our Home For Sale

2009-04-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

Our Newest Family Members

2009-04-19T05:47:00.000-07:00

FSBO - FHA Assumable Mortgage

Jan parading through Joes Crab Shack while

everyone sang Happy Birthday to her

The greatest waitress in the world...dressed Jan up for the parade

Who said Jan doesn't have a sense of humor :0)

Doesn't she look fantastic for a young woman?

O
Our newest members to the family: On the far right is Tonje, our daughter-in-law, then Olivia our newest granddaughter and then the reason...Troy our youngest son.

And on the left side, Jan and Me

Tonje, Olivia and Troy

Mandy, Jan, Olivia

Jan and Olivia

Does she look like a proud grandmother?

Does he look like a proud father?

Does he look like a proud dog?

She is just a happy baby

WE ALL NEED A BIT OF RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION FROM TIME TO TIME....

2009-04-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

"Artillery adds dignity, to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl"- Frederick the Great, king of Germany, 1740 to 1786God fights on the side with the best artillery.Napoleon Bonapartewe all need a bit of religious instruction from time to time....This comes from Gweilicus & in its original form was written by a cousin on the left hand side of the pond. Your humble correspondent has Angliscised it a bit this evening but I feel sure that you lot can improve it further....In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth and the Infantry. And God looked upon the Infantry, saw that it was good, and said unto them "Thou art my chosen children. Take thou dominion over the Earth; over the fish of the Sea, the birds of the Air, and all of the Key Terrain".
And as a mark of His favour the Lord placed in the hands of the Infantry the sacred relics: the Apostolic Anti-Armour Weapon, the Catholic Claymore, and the Marian Machine Gun.
Likewise giveth the Lord unto the Infantry the Rucksack of Repentance, the Radio of Redemption, the Rifle of Rectitude. Lastly, unto the Infantry, and most divine of all, the Lord giveth the Holy Hand Grenade (of Antioch? Ed)
For the Infantry's sustenance the Lord declared "Four shall be thy food groups: brews, egg banjos, smokos (pref B&H), & booze. Shun all other unclean food and drink."
And the Infantry dwelt in the land therein.
And time passed, and the Infantry cried out unto their God saying "Lord, help us, for we are weary." And God smiled upon the Infantry, for they were blessed. Then the Lord took the fattest and laziest of the Infantry and set them upon beasts of burden. And these He called Cavalry became fatter, lazier and heavier still until they were known as Armour or CITs for short.
And the Lord looked down upon the Cavalry and saw that it was mediocre. The Lord then said "Oh, well. Thou canst not win them all. Let them lead in case of landmines." & to them the Lord said "Fish eggs shall be thy food, and Bolli thy drink. Touch not the sacred scoff of the Infantry."
And the Infantry, the Cavalry and the Armour dwelt in the land therein.
And time passed and the Infantry cried out again unto their Lord saying "Lord help us, for we are weary." And God smiled again upon the Infantry, for they were his chosen.

Then God took those of the Armour with butts like baseplates and breath like sulphur and these He made Artillery. But God saw that the Artillery, too, was mediocre and said unto Himself, "Oh well, garbage in; garbage out."
> Unto the Artillery He said "The big guns shall atone in part for thy diminutive other stature. Tryest thou not to hurt thyselves." To the Infantry the Lord said "When the night is darkest these shall light the way...more or less. When the approach is most open these shall, occasionally - with luck, confound the enemy's sight. When thou callest for fire support these shall - eventually - provide it with HE, cluster munitions and, best of all, Willie Peter"
> Though the Lord cautioned the Infantry to never, never, never trust Tacfire or any other electronic computer in the hands of the Artillery.
> And the Infantry, the Cavalry, the Armour and Artillery dwelt in the land therein. Then the Artillery created the Cloud Punchers; but quickly asked forgiveness.
> And time passed and the Infantry called out yet again unto their God, saying "Lord help us, for we are weary." Again the Lord looked with favour upon the Infantry. He took those of the Armour, Artillery who most liked to play in the mud and these he made Combat Engineers, and those who dwelt in darkness and spoke in riddles and these he made Military Intelligence, and those with thieving hearts and these He made Quartermasters, and of those who neither sowed nor reaped and were most fond of hammering square pegs into round holes He made Adjutants General. Of those who liked to tinker with good equipment until it broke He made the Ordnance Corps.
Of those whose penchant was poison He made Cooks. Of those who ran around in circles He made the Royal Military Police. Of the least articulate He made Signallers. Of those who dealt in controlled substances He made the Medics.
And the Infantry, and the others, dwelt in the land therein.
Time passed, but yet, again, the Infantry cried out unto their God, saying, "Lord, help us, for we are weary." And the Heavens darkened, and the clouds gathered. The lightnings spake and the Infantry abased themselves before their God, for they were sore afraid. And the Lord spoke with anger, asking "How canst thou yet be weary? Have I not made the Armour and the Artillery to support thee? Have I not made of the detritus of the Earth, Quartermasters and Adjutants and Signallers and Transporters and a host of others to assist thee? Verily, have I not even made Military Intelligence, although it were a contradiction in terms?"
Humbly the Infantry abased themselves again before their God, crying, "Lord, it is of these that we are weary.""We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.""Do not fear the enemy, for your enemy can only take your life. It is far better that you fear the media for they will steal your honor." - Bobby McBride, Crew Chief, 128th Assault Helicopter Company, RVN 1969-1970"For those that have Fought for it, Freedom has a Taste that the protected will never know""Do What You Can, With What You Have, Where You Are" -Teddy Roosevelt

Audio Version of Atheist Call to Arms

2009-03-12T16:20:00.000-07:00

Let me know if you can download this audio of Athiest Call to Arms

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/download/audio/63/talk/113

An atheist's call to arms

2009-03-07T07:10:00.000-08:00

A twenty minute video on atheism...

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/richard_dawkins_on_militant_atheism.html

We Miss You Already Nicole

2009-02-28T12:49:00.001-08:00

Gonna catch me a fast plane...ain't got
time to catch a train...my baby's going
home...:0(

Date: Sat. Feb 28, 2009 flight NW497
Departs: Indianapolis-Intl, IN(IND) at 11:52am
Arrives: Minneapolis/St. Paul-Intl(MSP) at 12:40pm
Departs: Minneapolis/St. Paul-Intl(MSP) at 2:25pm flight: NW2472
Arrives: Hancock, MI (CMX) at 4:45pm :0)

Bartholomew County Court House
Columbus, IN

2nd Street Bridge Columbus, IN

One Great Lady: Our wonderful granddaughter

Mandy on the left Wiggles on the right

Not very clear but Jan, Nicole and I

at our March of Dimes Kick Off

Luncheon on February 24, 2009

Nicole listenening to our March of Dimes

Ambassador family

Nicole and me at Cummins General Office Building

where I work

Same place different sign

Mandy in her favorite pose

Under a Curse

2009-02-22T08:35:00.000-08:00

I really think your daughter cast a spell on me yesterday. Everytime I caught her eating something, I snap a picture of her. First as we were enjoying your fantastic Breakfast Pasties yesterday morning, I caught her with a banana in her mouth. Then we went to Petco to see the cute dogs and kittens up for adopition...I snapped photos of her and grandma petting the animals...especially a wonderful schitzu of an unusal color. Then we went to our 90 year old friend Marvin's house...I snapped photos of the hugs and playing with his dog Buddy. Finally we went to Red Lobster for dinner and I snapped photos of her eating lobster. She finally said, "Will you stop...!!!"

Then I sat down at the computer and transferred all 13 photos onto my chip and then to the computer. Once there, I deleted them from my phone...bad move...When I went to the chip, there was not one single photo on it. The only thing I can think of is Nikki placed a curse on it...LOL.

Hence, no photos this time around.

Group Photo

2009-02-18T16:00:00.001-08:00

Well, at the end of last week I got sick with a cold or as the doctors call it, rhino virus. This week Jan and Nikki have it. Who knows, maybe next week the dogs will have it.

Nikki however was well enough yesterday to go walking with me and the dogs and she got to meet Otis...Mandy's big.

While meeting Otis, I introduced her to Gary and Robyn Hehe the fairground managers. Now how's that for a coincedence Hetu and Hehe...are you guys related?

If Nikki can get out of the sack in the morning she will go to work with me to see exactly what it is that I do for a living. The timing is good also because I will be presenting a piece on diversity in the workplace which is one of my passions...so, stay tuned for further developments.

Oh about that group photo. Mandy and Wiggles were more interested in finding dead carcuses to eat!!!

One Week with our Granddaughter

2009-02-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, my wife and I went to the Indianapolis International Airport to pick up our 22 year old granddaughter. She will be spending three weeks with us and we have just completed week one...what a wonderful week it was.

I have to work during the day so grandma and grandaughter are getting some great quality time; shopping and doing the things that women do...like watching the food channel and creating some great meals when I come home at night...you can't beat that. Great salads, homemade chicken vegetable stoup (yep stoup, a cross between stew and soup), it was fabulous.

Oh yeah, we went to the Home and Garden Show in Indy as well...Whoopee!!!

Comet-Lulin-is-on-the-way

2009-02-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/14/comet-lulin-is-on-the-way/

Workings and Explorations of the Universe Part 2

2009-01-25T09:58:00.000-08:00

The Earth:
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/earth/earth.html

The Terrestrial Planets: http://wind.cc.whecn.edu/~marquard/astronomy/terrestrial.htm

The Jovian Planets: http://wind.cc.whecn.edu/~marquard/astronomy/jovian.htm

Moons, Asteroids, Rings and Pluto:
http://www.hep.fsu.edu/~tadams/oldcourses/fall02/ast1002/lectures/Lecture093002.ppt

The Sun:
http://www.nineplanets.org/sol.html

Properties of Stars:
http://www.johnpratt.com/items/astronomy/notes/notes10.html

Stellar Evolution:
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/textbook/se.html

Neutron Stars & Black Holes:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/rjn_bht.html

http://www.eclipse.net/~cmmiller/BH/blkmain.html

Milky Way
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/the_universe/Milkyway.html

Galaxies:
http://www.seds.org/messier/galaxy.html

Cosmology:
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Cosmology.html

The Beginning of the Universe:
http://www.geocities.com/beyondearth2001/bigbang.htm

http://www.innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/origin.htm

http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth11.html

http://www.metaresearch.org/cosmology/DidTheUniverseHaveABeginning.asp

Life in the Universe:
http://www.lifeinuniverse.org/

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-04zw.html

http://www.seti.org/Page.aspx?pid=1241

http://proxy.arts.uci.edu/~nideffer/Hawking/

Workings and Explorations of the Universe Part 1

2009-01-23T07:09:00.000-08:00

(This)... "will require critical thinking on your part to start with the most basic observations assumptions of nature to develope a deeper understnading of why the 3rd rocky planet from a yellow star, in a spiral galaxy, in a nondescript part of the universe, has creatures upon it that ponder the meaning of life." (from Dr. Brian Murphy's syllabus: Spring 2009 AS102 Mordern Astronomy).

Scale of the Universe:
http://www.krysstal.com/scale.html

Copernican Revolution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copernican_revolution

Light and Matter:

"I would say that light is not matter, and if a glass of water overflows when you shine a light on it, then odds are you bumped the table. Also note that in that experiment, if light were matter, then the water should continue to overflow until the glass is empty of water and full of light. Somehow I doubt that happens." (ToSeek Vulcan Administrator found in
Bad Astronomy and Universe forum)
http://www.bautforum.com/science-technology/13666-light-matter.html

Physicists have for the first time stopped and extinguished a light pulse in one part of space and then revived it in a completely separate location. They accomplished this feat by completely converting the light pulse into matter that travels between the two locations and is subsequently changed back to light. http://www.physorg.com/news90077438.html

How Telescopes work: http://science.howstuffworks.com/telescope.htm

Properties and Foramtion of the Solar System & Exoplanets:
http://www.aspbooks.org/a/volumes/article_details/?paper_id=28802

http://www.astro.utoronto.ca/~ast101/nov20/nov20_08.pdf

http://www.scs.gmu.edu/~pbecker/lecture29_handouts.pdf

http://www.astro.ubc.ca/people/richer/A310/PPT/L23-24.ppt

Milky Way Galaxy 50% larger than thought

2009-01-06T14:57:00.000-08:00

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/01/milkyway.html

Videos of our Dogs Mandy and Wiggles

2009-01-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

A Great Christmas in Pictures

2009-01-04T13:51:00.000-08:00

Mandy Meets Otis

2008-12-28T13:06:00.000-08:00

Wiggles is the white Pom, Otis is
the huge Golden Retriever and Mandy
is his minature sniffing his butt.

Otis is on the left and Mandy is on
the right...sure glad Otis is friendly

Mandy loves all dogs. They
remind me of the movie twins
with Arnold Swartzenheger and
Danny Divito.

Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus

2008-12-24T13:11:00.001-08:00

Duane's Christmas Visit 2008

2008-12-24T12:02:00.000-08:00

Jan having breakfast at Sadies

Duane having a Western Omlete on a Belgium Waffle

Duane standing next to Kenny's Photograph

Duane just striking a pose

Duane getting packed to head to his mother's

Duane arrived right on schedule last night at 9:30PM. His plane landed safely at 7:30PM and considering he had to rent a car because we could not make it to the airport, he didn't let any grass grow under his feet.

This morning it was a 3-2-1 where the cars were concerned. We left in three cars, dropped the rental off at Wal_Mart Budget Car Rental desk.

Took two cars from there and went to Sadies for breakfast. Came home in one car as Duane took our Taurus and headed for Michigan to vist with his mother and sister. \

He plans on coming back to our house on December 28th and then fly back to Orlando on January 2nd.

See what you have to look forward to Nicole? ha ha ha. Don't worry though we will not leave you stranded no matter what the weather.

Help

2008-12-23T11:18:00.001-08:00

We need you Yupers to go to the Indianapolis International Airport and pick up Duane. He is flying in on Air Trans 370 at 7:30pm tonight. We would do it but we do not drive in freezing rain, sleet and snow which is predicted for tonight between 3:00 pm and 9:00 pm...right in the middle of Duane landing. We are suggesting that he pick up a rental car and drive down to our house. That way, there is only one nut on the road and he only has to drive one way where as we would have to drive both directions.

If he should make it to our house then we are going to loan him our Ford Taurus so that he can drive up to see your mother. This whole deal was to save him the cost of a rental car and reduce his airline fare because he only needed to fly into Indianapolis rather than Detroit and then to Indianapolis on his return.

Howell, MI is supposed to get another nine inches of snow between tonight and tomorrow night so even if he makes it to Michigan tomorrow, the question is can he make it to your mother's place.

This is why Jan and I do not travel in the winter month. I just don't know how you Yupers do it year after year driving back and forth to the Mackinac Bridge.

Of course I also have to ask myself why the hell we are moving back to Michigan next year...we are all nuts.

You Gotta Luv 'em

2008-12-21T05:36:00.000-08:00

The dog on the left is Mandy
The dog on the right is Wiggles
These are our kids in fur.

Tinkerbell was 16 years old
and we had to have her put
to sleep last month. She was one
of a kind. Never demanding but
always lovable.

I hope you enjoy the rest of
the photos as I will not bore
you you with captions for each one.

Photo Journal

2008-12-13T10:44:00.001-08:00

Wiggles our 22 pound Pomeranian

Me, Wiggles and Mandy

Mandy

Marshmallow Games

2008-12-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

While attending our annual Staff Christmas Party last night, we learned a couple of marshmallow games that were just hilarious.

The first one was called Marshmallow Stick. Two people put shower caps on and the rest of the group covered the caps in shaving creme.

Another Marshmallow game that I do not have pictures for was Marshmallow Shooting Gallery. You line up about six empty pop cans, sit about 20 feet away and try to knock the cans of with the marshmallows.

These would be great birthday party games.

We may not have the woods to walk through like you guys have but this is why I love walking my dogs when I get home from work. This photo was taken on Thursday, December 11th at about 5:30 PM

Astronomy for Kids

2008-12-06T11:16:00.000-08:00

Here are some pretty cool astronomy sites for kids:

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm

http://www.frontiernet.net/~kidpower/astronomy.html

http://www.frontiernet.net/~kidpower/planets.html

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

Have fun looking up.

The December Sky

2008-11-27T09:13:00.000-08:00

December Sky Features from Stars and Planets by Ian Ridpath, Starry Night and various internet sites.

I set Starry Night to December 6, 2008 at 10:00 PM viewing from Indianapolis, IN

Auriga

Abbreviation Aur. Highest in the sky at 10:00 pm December to February

Auriga represents the driver of a horse-drawn chariot. According to one myth, he is Erichthonius, a legendary king of Athens. However, there is no explanation in mythology for his depiction in the sky with a goat and its kids on his left arm. The goat is marked by the constellation’s brightest star, Capella (Latin name meaning “she-goat”).

Excerpt from http://www.seds.org/MESSIER/

During the years from 1758 to 1782 Charles Messier , a French astronomer (1730 - 1817 ), compiled a list of approximately 100 diffuse objects that were difficult to distinguish from comets through the telescopes of the day. Discovering comets was the way to make a name for yourself in astronomy in the 18th century -- Messier's first aim was to catalog the objects that were often mistaken for comets.
Fortunately for us, the Messier Catalog became well known for a much higher purpose, as a collection of the most beautiful objects in the sky including nebulae , star clusters , and galaxies . It was one of the first major milestones in the history of the discovery of Deep Sky objects , as it was the first more comprehensive and more reliable list: Only four or five objects were initially missing because of data reduction errors, which could be figured out later though. Today's versions of the catalog usually include also later additions of objects observed by Charles Messier and his collegial friend, Pierre Méchain , but not included in his original list. The study of these objects by astronomers has led, and continues to lead, to important, incredible discoveries such as the life cycles of stars, the reality of galaxies as separate 'island universes,' and the possible age of the universe.
The purpose of these web pages is to provide a complete guide to the 110 objects recognized as the standard Messier catalog. More importantly, we would like to generate interest in astronomy , the night sky and the universe beyond us, and to encourage a sense of wonder and exploration. We also hope that these pages may be useful as a reference for amateur astronomers.
As you look East above the horizon, the December sky will introduce you to a few of these Deep Sky Objects:

M35 (Gemini) Alt 43° AZ 93° a large and bright open cluster

M37, (Auriga) Alt 51° AZ 85° this naked eye cluster is a joy to observe an undoubtedly the best open cluster in Auriga.

M38 (Auriga) Alt 57° AZ 83° just visible with the naked eye and easy to see with binoculars.

The Hyades, (Taurus) Alt 58° AZ 129° a large, loose, V-shaped star cluster easily visible to the naked eye.

M45 (The Pleiades) (Taurus) Alt 70° AZ 136° also easy to see with the naked eye.

December Meteors

The Geminids reaching a maximum on December 13th

Go to this site for more information on the Geminids: http://meteorshowersonline.com/geminids.html

Meteorite Hits Canada!

2008-11-26T14:02:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKsSXu1JynI

http://fromlaurelstreet.wordpress.com/2008/11/25/meteorite-hits-canada/

Jupiter Core is as Big as Uranus or Neptune

2008-11-26T13:59:00.000-08:00

Jupiter Core is as Big as Uranus or Neptunehttp://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Cal-Scientist-Jupiter-Has-Core-2X-as-Big-as-Thought.html
Jupiter has a rocky core that is more than twice as large as previously thought, according to computer calculations by UC Berkeley and University of Arizona scientists.
Burkhard Militzer, an assistant professor of astronomy and earth and planetary science at Cal, simulated conditions inside the planet on the scale of individual hydrogen and helium atoms.
The simulation predicted the properties of hydrogen and helium for temperature, density and pressure at the surface, all the way to the planet's center. The technique is often used to study semi-conductors, according to a UC Berkeley statement on the discovery.
Militzer's partner, William B. Hubbard, from the University of Arizona, used the data to build the new model for Jupiter's interior.
A comparison of the model with the planet's current known mass, radius, surface temperature, gravity and equatorial bulge implies that Jupiter's core is an Earth-like rock 14 to 18 times the mass of Earth, or about one-twentieth of Jupiter's total mass, Militzer said.
Previous models predicted a much smaller core of only 7 Earth masses, or no core at all.
Jupiter, like many planets its size already discovered throughout the galaxy, is believed to be a failed star. Most of the planet's mass is made up of gas.
The results were published Nov. 20 in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The simulation suggests that the core is made of layers of metals, rocks and ices of methane, ammonia and water, while above it is an atmosphere of mostly hydrogen and helium.
At the center of the rocky core is probably a metallic ball of iron and nickel, just like Earth's core, scientists said.
"Our simulations show there is a big rocky object in the center surrounded by an ice layer and hardly any ice elsewhere in the planet," Militzer said. "This is a very different result for the interior structure of Jupiter than other recent models, which predict a relatively small or hardly any core and a mixture of ices throughout the atmosphere."
"Basically, Jupiter's interior resembles that of Saturn, with a Neptune or Uranus at the center," he said.
Neptune and Uranus have been called "ice giants" because they also appear to have a rocky core surrounded by icy hydrogen and helium, but without the gas envelope of Jupiter and Saturn.
"This new calculation by Burkhard removes a lot of the old uncertainties of the 19-year-old model we have had until now," Hubbard said. "The new thermodynamic model is a more precise physical description of what's going on inside Jupiter."
Scientists said the large, rocky core implies that as Jupiter and other giant gas planets formed 4.5 billion years ago, they grew through the collision of small rocks. The rocks formed cores that captured a huge atmosphere of hydrogen and helium.
"According to the core accretion model, as the original planetary nebula cooled, planetesimals collided and stuck together in a runaway effect that formed planet cores," Militzer said. "If true, this implies that the planets have large cores, which is what the simulation predicts. It is more difficult to make a planet with a small core."
In order to match the observed gravity of Jupiter, Militzer's simulation also predicts that different parts of Jupiter's interior rotate at different rates.
Jupiter can be thought of as a series of concentric cylinders rotating around the planet's spin axis, with the outer cylinders - the equatorial regions - rotating faster than the inner cylinders. This is identical to the sun's rotation, Militzer said.

How They Did It …

Militzer modeled Jupiter's interior as a collection of 110 hydrogen and nine helium atoms in a tiny cube that is replicated throughout the planet, a common approximation in "density functional theory."
The ratio of hydrogen to helium atoms approximates the ratio measured on the surface of Jupiter.
Each simulation took from one to seven days on parallel computing clusters.
Based on this simulation, under the high pressure and temperature deep within the planet, hydrogen changes from a molecular to a metallic state, which provides good electrical conductivity and gives rise to Jupiter's magnetic field.
This transition happens gradually, contrary to earlier models that predict a sharp transition.
The new model of Jupiter predicts that most of the ices are concentrated in the outer layer of the core, while only a small amount is mixed in the hydrogen-helium gas envelope that contains 95 percent of the planet's mass.
The "planetary ices" in the envelope amount to about four Earth masses, or 1 percent of Jupiter's mass, Militzer said.
"The simulation was in pretty good agreement with what the Galileo probe measured" when the NASA spacecraft descended through Jupiter's atmosphere in 1995, Hubbard said.
Militzer plans to use the new model to simulate other planets' interiors, and to investigate the implications for the formation of planets outside our solar system.
Future data from NASA's Juno mission, to be launched in 2011, orbit Jupiter by 2016 and measure the planet's magnetic field and gravity, will provide a check on Militzer's predictions. Hubbard is one of the mission's co-investigators.The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation supported the research.

STS Launch

2008-11-26T13:57:00.000-08:00

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=1221

2008-11-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

The Six Stages of Change

Pre-contemplation – Change has not been identified.

March 1, 2008

I Received invitation to participate in the Healthy Roads Weight Management Program.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), two out of three Americans are overweight and one out of three Americans is considered obese.

Cummina Inc. has partnered with https://www.healthyroads.com to offer an innovative weight management program to help me lose weight and develop a healthier lifestyle.

The Healthy roads Weight Management Program includes one on one consultations with a personal health coach – providing motivation, planning, education and support – as well as online tools, customized planning and analysis service, and rewards for participation.

Contemplation - Change has been identified but path to change may seem unclear or unattainable

March 13, 2008

Biometric screening offered by Cummina Inc. through htpps://cummins.online.staywell.com

Height – Inches - 67

Weight – Pounds - 207

Systolic Blood Pressure -137

Diastolic Blood Pressure - 80

Total Cholesterol - 107
HDL Cholosterol - 29
Glucose - 112

Preparation - Setting realistic goals identifying motivators Planning ahead for challenges

March 18, 2008

Nutrition
Exercise
Stress Management
Increase water to 64 ounces per day.
Take personal care assessment

March 20, 2008

Enrolled in HealthSpan Care Management program for diabetes support.

April 24, 2008

Cummins Occupational Health Center

Height – Inches - 67

Weight – Pounds - 203

Systolic Blood Pressure - 120
Diastolic Blood Pressure - 80
Total Cholesterol - 101
HDL Cholosterol - 36
Glucose - 101

6-17-2008
Indianapolis VAMC

Height – Inches - 67

Weight – Pounds - 196

Systolic Blood Pressure - 117
Diastolic Blood Pressure - 65
Total Cholesterol - 114
HDL Cholosterol - 35
Glucose - 112
Hemoglobin A1C - 6.6 H

Action - Modify behavior

Walking an average of 4 to 5 miles per day (10,000 steps).
Swimming two three days per week (six to 10 laps each time).
Wii Fit:
Yoga
Balance Games
Strength Training
Aerobics
Nutrition
Control Portions
Eat more good carbs: fruit, vegetables beans, etc.
Eat less bad carbs: table sugar, cakes, cookies, candy, etc.
Read all labels.

Maintenance - Maintain new behavior

November 23, 2008

Current weight = 196.7 pounds…a loss of 10.3 pounds.

Termination - New behavior becomes habit

I am enjoying this program so much, I am not sure I want to terminate it. At least not until I hit my target of 185 pounds or less.

2008-11-21T03:04:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine and me graduated from Redford High School (Detroit, MI) in June 1960. We ran into each other in Korat, Thailand in 1962 while serving in different units in the Army...he was a medic and I was in the Signal Corps. That was the last time we would see each other until just a few weeks ago when he and wife stopped here in Columbus, Indiana to pay us a surprise visit.

Last night another military buddy paid us an unexpected visit as he was traveling from Escanaba, Michigan to Atlanta, Georgia with his mother.

We had dinner at Bob Evans while we share many memories of our military past.

Say what you may about the military but, you can not replace the commoradarie the develops during your tour of duty.

2008-11-19T15:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I couldn't believe it. It was a clear and cold night. Seven astronomers showed up from both of my clubs...Indiana Astronomy Society and The_Local_Group here in Columbus. At 6:30 pm, the kids started showing up and by 7:30, there was like 180 first graders, parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents etc, etc, etc. Everyone was bundled up and hot chocolate was flowing through out the crowd. Jupiter and Venus were close together and extremely bright as always. The four moons of Jupiter always entertain and Venus looking like a spot light in the sky was awesome when viewed through a telescope.

Aldebaran made the kids gasp in awe. This is a double star which actually shows the colors of Blue (hottest) and Yellow (cooler)...a crowd favorite.

So, was it a success? You Betcha!!!

And it only took two hours for my feet to thaw out. :0)

Astronomy Outreach

2008-11-17T16:16:00.000-08:00

Well tomorrow night should prove to be very interesting. Four of my astronomy buddies and me are going to give a Star Party to roughly 150 first graders...well actually 40 first graders and their parents, brothers and sisters, etc. That is of course on two counts. Count 1 the skies are clear. Count 2 the temperatures don't dip into the teens...if either one of those counts happen...the Star Party will be scrubbed. Wish us luck everyone.

2008-11-16T07:34:00.000-08:00

"Knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to tolerance of people with a different view point." I am undergoing a quest for knowledge and would ask that you join me.

Publishers
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society New York, Inc.
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.

Mankind's Search for God has led people down thousands of pathways, as is evidenced by the diversity of religions, sects, and cults in the world today.

But how can you find the true God? This book will help you, regardless of your religious background, to join in the search.

Chapter 1 - Why Be Interested in Other Religions?

Some manifestations of the world's various religions:

Hindus revere the river ganges - called Ganga Ma, or Mother Ganga
In some Buddhist countries, most males serve some time as saffron-robed monks.

Sincere Catholics turn to Mary in their use of the rosary.

Faithful Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once.

In Protestant lands, chapels and churches abound.

In Islamic countries, you can hear the voices of the muezzins, the Muslim criers who make the call from minarates five times a day, summoning the faithaful to the ritual prayer.

Practiced mainly in Japan, Shinto enters into daily life with family shrines and offerings to ancestors.

Another religious activity known the world over is that of people going from house to house and standing in the streets with bibles and bible literatur. Nearly everyone recoginizes thes people as Jehovah's Witnesses.

What does this worldwide variety of religious devotion indicate? Religions tries to address the great questions; Why are we here? How should we live? What does the future hold for mankind?

Just like me on the other hand, there are millions of people who profess no religion nor any belief in a god.

Religions has become almost a matter of family tradition.

If you were born in Italy or South America, then, without choice you wre probably raised a Catholic. If you were born in India, then likely you autmattically became a Hindu or if from Punjab, perhaps a Sikh. If your parents were from Pakistan, then you would obviously be a Muslim. And if you were born in a Socialist Country over the last few decades you might have had no choice but to be raised an atheist.

Today, people of different religions share the same neighborhoods. Therefore, understanding one another's viewpoint can lead to a more meaningful cmmunication and conversation between people of different faiths.

The ancient Jewish law stated: You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as your self...

The founder of Christianity stated: "But I say to you who are listening, Continue to love your enemies, to do good to those hating you...and your reward will be great.

The Qur'an states: "It may be that Allah will brigh about friendship between you and those of them whom you hold as enemies."

However, while tolerance and understanding are needed, that does not imply that it makes no difference what one believes...The ancient Aztecs who held up the beating hearts of their victims to the sun did not have as good a religion as that of the peacful Buddhists.

Why have so many people killed and been killed in the name of religions? The Crusades, the Inquisition, the conflicts in the Middle East and Northern Ireland, the slaughter between Iraq and Iran (1980-88), the Hindu-Sikh clashes in India.

The realm of Chirstendom has been noteworthy for it hypocrisy in this field.
Catholic has killed Catholic, Protestant has killed Protestant at the behest of their "christian" political leaders. yet the Bible clearly contrasts the works of the flesh. It states, "They are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spritiism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and thing like these. As to these things I am forwarning you, the same way as I did forewarn you that those who practice such things willo not inherit God's kingdom>" Yet so-called Christians have practiced these things for centuries, and their conduct has often been dondoned by their clergy.

All religions should produce peacable fruitage but, do they?

Questions that require an answer. (Each religion has different answers)

Does the Bible teach what the majority of religions teach and what manyh people believe, namely that humans have an immortal soul and that at death it moves on to another realm, the "hereafter." heaven, hell, or purgatory, or that it returns in a reincarnation? As an atheist, I say humans do not have an immortal soul and once you die, there is no heaven, no hell, or purgatory. You only get one trip through this world and there is no hereafter.
Does the Bible teach that the Sovereign Lord of the universe is nameless.
Does it teach that he is one God? The Bible is confusing in this matter as it mentions the first two.
three persons in one God?
Many gods?
What does the Bible say was God's original purpose in creating mankind for life on earth? Some questions do not have an absolute answer.
Does the Bible teach the earth will be destroyed? Or does it point only to the end, or conclusion, for the corrupt world system?Again this is confusing. God supposedly said that he would not flood the world again. Tell that to the people who just went through the worst flooding in over 100 years. Not to mention the record number of Hurricanes and Tsunamis.
How can inner peace and salvation really be achieved?Man controls his own distany.

2008-11-16T06:18:00.000-08:00

While attending my Indiana Astronomical Society meeting last night, I was privileged to hear this lecture given by Dr. Lisa M. Pratt

Are we ready for a Mars Sample Return Mission?

Geologists, biologists, and astronomers are looking for signs of extra-terrestrial life within and beyond our solar system using telescopes, satellites, and rovers. Evidence of life-sustaining processes also is being investigated through molecular and isotopic characterization of carbon compounds in meteorites, comets, and interplanetary dust particles. The current Phoenix mission and the upcoming Mars Science Laboratory mission will carry sophisticated instrument payloads to the surface of Mars for the purpose of analyzing organic molecules in sedimentary strata and ice. These two missions provide a scientific and engineering framework for a flagship mission around 2022 with the goal of collecting and returning samples from Mars to Earth for study. We have found life thriving at extremes of temperature, acidity, and salinity on Earth, leading to a new recognition of life’s tenacity and invigorating the search for extra-terrestrial life. Data coming from the current orbiting and roving instruments provide many lines of evidence for persistent surface water on ancient Mars and intermittent surface water on present-day Mars. Remarkably, it may be too late to fully protect Mars from contamination by Earth organisms but improved decontamination and sterilization of spacecraft will help preserve natural conditions at Martian sites with the highest potential for habitability.
Dr. Lisa M. Pratt is a Professor of Geological Sciences at Indiana University and she is Director of a NASA Astrobiology Team entitled Biosustaining Energy and Nutrient Cycles in the Deep Subsurface of Earth and Mars. She has published more than 80 papers in scientific journals. Pratt’s collaborative research with Tullis Onstott (Princeton University) on radiolysis of water as a source of energy for microbes has been highlighted worldwide by newspaper, magazine, and radio interviews. She currently serves on the NASA Planetary Science Subcommittee and she will be a Phi Beta Kappa Visiting scholar in 2009-

2008-11-15T13:57:00.000-08:00