somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known-
Carl Sagan

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

50 places from which to explore outer space

1. NASA : Easily the best online resource for space aficionados everywhere, NASA’s expansive archive of photos, videos, articles, and other media make this a must-bookmark site.


2. Universe Today : This extremely popular blog allows readers to not only explore the universe right from their computers, but understand the technologies that allow it to happen.

3. The Planetary Society : Learn everything there is to know about the cosmos by exploring The Planetary Society’s blog and reading all about their past, current, and future projects.

4. Space.com : Watch videos, gaze at marvelous photos, and engage in numerous other multimedia activities that shed light on the wonders of the universe.

5. SETI@home : Regardless of whether or not one believes in extraterrestrial life forms, SETI provides a neat opportunity for the citizenry to participate in analyzing radio signals directly from outer space.

6. SETI : Beyond their SETI@home project, the scientists associated with the organization have compiled an extensive resource on their inquiries into astrobiology and other obscure, space-related subjects.

7. Astronomy Picture of the Day : Every day, NASA posts a stunning picture from its archives for space fanatics to enjoy. Be sure to read the accompanying explanations by professional astronomers as well!

8. YouTube – NASAtelevision’s Channel : Visit NASA’s main hub for over 900 videos regarding missions, astronomical phenomena, and much, much more.

9. moon calendar : This Java applet by Paul Carlisle allows fans of outer space to explore the phases of the moon for any month between January 3999 B.C.E. and December 3999 C.E.

10. Planetary Science Research Discoveries : The State of Hawai’i shares all of the latest news and information regarding the Solar System’s eclectic mix of celestial bodies in a manner that is suitable for general audiences.

11. Hawai’i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology : Explore the cosmos alongside the scientists and students at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, who share their current projects and research to those wanting to know and see more of what lay beyond Earth.

12. SEDS : Students for the Exploration and Development of Space urges others to support their cause, providing them with compelling research and information.

13. Views of the Solar System : Soak up some celestial splendor with this excellent website, which comes straight to readers chock-full of photos and information on the history and technology of space exploration.

14. Astronomical Society of the Pacific : Delight in everything that ASP has to offer fans of space exploration, including research, education programs, and other activities – some of which, however, involves effort outside the website.

15. EarthSky : Though not focusing exclusively on outer space, EarthSky helps viewers peer into the heavens and understand how all the different scientific fields of inquiry interconnect with one another.

16. SLOOH : Lovers of space exploration should sign up for a free account with SLOOH for access to an online observatory crammed with wondrous sights.

17. MicroObservatory : A joint venture between Harvard University and NASA, the MicroObservatory places space exploration in the hands of visitors by offering them a chance to see the universe as their telescopes do.

18. StarDate Online : Read, look at stunning photographs, listen to the radio, and much more at StarDate Online, where space aficionados converge to learn all they can about the cosmos and apply their knowledge to backyard astronomy.

19. Astronomy.com : Astronomy magazine’s official website carries over the same love of outer space as the print version, with many multimedia online features to enjoy and explore.

20. Kalamazoo Astronomical Society : Hit up KAS’s website for news, views, inspiration, resources and – of course – drop dead gorgeous photography by the organization’s members.

21. Space Today : Space Today provides visitors with comprehensive photos and descriptions of celestial figures as close as the Solar System and as far as the furthest known corners of the universe. Be sure to also stop by for all the latest news and views regarding space exploration.

22. European Space Observatory : As with the other observatories on this list, ESO provides space fanatics with many of the tools and resources they need to peer into the universe without ever having to log off the internet.

23. Space Observatory: Online Interactive Telescope : This fun little online tool targets younger children who yearn to know more about the universe beyond Earth’s borders, letting them pick the cosmic entities that interest them most.

24. ESA Portal : Check out the European Space Agency’s official website for news, resources, and multimedia explorations of the universe that is right up there with NASA in terms of comprehensive, educational quality.

25. HubbleSite : Peer through the lens of one of the world’s most famous orbiting telescopes and marvel at the breathtaking images it captures.

26. Sky & Telescope : Among its many other features, be sure to check Sky & Telescope magazine’s amazing selection of observation blogs to explore the craziness of the cosmos.

27. Star Journey : National Geographic’s interactive, online star chart greatly engages the amateur astronomer who wants to see exactly how every known structure of the universe relates to one another.

28. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Moon : Explore the moon and learn all about its nooks, crannies, and current phase with this excellent, educational online tool.

29. Space Archive : As its name implies, Space Archive serves as a nice little resource for all the latest findings from the astronomy industry, including gorgeous photos and intelligent commentaries.

30. The Deep Sky Database : More advanced astronomers will love using The Deep Sky Database to seek out interstellar phenomena based on their exacting criteria.

31. Sungazer : Sungazer provides visitors with a bevy of images and animations regarding the center of the Solar System as well as information on the equipment astronomers use to learn more about it.

32. Astronomy for The People : Wes Stone’s comprehensive online presence features essays as well as some incredible logs to engage and fascinate readers with a love of outer space.

33. Heavens-Above : Stop by Heavens-Above for information on what to expect in the sky for the evening, with special attention paid to the positions of satellites, the sun, the moon, and planets.

34. eo : Anyone hoping to explore the cosmos without ever logging out of their browsers would do well to look at eo’s phenomenal maps and orbit and satellite trackers.

35. Eagleseye : David Eagles updates his blog with numerous images of the night sky as well as reports of what to look out for on a month by month basis.

36. Geophysical Institute : The Geophysical Institute at University of Alaska Fairbanks may focus mainly on the ins and outs of planet Earth, but it still provides online spacefarers with tools to learn about current space weather and solar activity.

37. Espace L60 : Look through the universe through the lens of a 60 mm refractor, including basic information on different celestial bodies, pictures, and instructions on picking up astronomy at home.

38. Messier45.com : With Messier45.com, internet astronomers have access to maps and lists suitable for observing on or off the computer.

39. Stig’s Sky Calendar : Although it defaults to Norway, aspiring space explorers can pick their (or their closest) international city to see what sights they can expect for almost any month in the past, present, or future.

40. WorldWide Telescope : Available as both a download and a web client, Microsoft’s WorldWide Telescope allows users to explore every corner of the universe as if looking through NASA’s most powerful equipment. Anyone with a love of discovering everything there is to know about the heavens must absolutely book this resource.

41. KidsAstronomy.com : Aimed mostly at younger children, KidsAstronomy.com teaches budding young stargazers how to identify the different constellations, phases of the moon, planets, deep space, and more – including handy printouts to help them when the computers shut down!

42. Celestia : Although it requires a free download and does not currently host a client version, all hopeful space explorers need to snag Celestia if they yearn for a peek into every corner of the known universe. Even those without the hard drive space to store it can gaze at the stunning screenshots.

43. Google Sky : Doing for the universe what Google Earth does for the planet, Google Sky serves as an amazing way to pick and choose which celestial bodies to observe.

44. Exploring the Planets : The Smithsonian Institute itself provides an amazing tool for learning more about the Solar System without delving too deeply into the physics and mathematics behind astronomy.

45. The Universe : Watch videos, marvel at lush photos, interact with the universe, and much more courtesy of the History Channel.

46. The Nine Planets For Kids : Let kids explore every planet in the Solar System (as well as the Sun and the Asteroid Belt) with pictures and detailed information on each of them – including the mythological roots of their names!

47. Palomar Skies : Palomar Skies allows its readers to join them in looking towards the heavens by offering pictures, updated research, and other ways to pique their curiosity about the universe.

48. Vatican Observatory : Unlike its medieval incarnation, today’s Catholic Church embraces most aspects of the sciences – and the Vatican Observatory has snapped some incredible photographs and inspired some world-class research.

49. GALEX : NASA and CalTech form a brain trust to share information and images regarding the evolution of galaxies for the enjoyment of space junkies everywhere.

50. Bradford Robotic Telescope : This amazing online telescope lets users gaze at all the wonders of the night sky without ever having to log off their browsers.

The Efficiency of a Bicycle


Bicycles, Rolling Stops, and the Idaho Stop from Spencer Boomhower on Vimeo.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Green architecture

Green architecture is a movement and the way of the future.


Monday, June 21, 2010

Bansky Art Exhibit

This Banksy Art Exhibition is one that will ignite your imagination and make you wonder at the flexibility and creativity of the artist's mind. Enjoy


Saturday, June 19, 2010

Friday, June 11, 2010

The Oil Spill Grows in Horror

"Doubling the amount of oil does not have a linear effect, it doesn't double the consequences, it may instead have quadruple the consequences," Montagna, who studies the Gulf of Mexico deep sea reefs and other underwater ecosystems, said.










The new spill estimates released Thursday are worse than earlier ones and far more costly for BP, which has seen its stock sink since the April 20 explosion that killed 11 workers and triggered the spill. Most of the new estimates had more oil flowing in an hour than what officials once said was spilling in an entire day. The spill was flowing at a daily rate that could possibly have been as high as 2.1 million gallons, twice the highest number the federal government had been saying, said U.S. Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt, who is coordinating estimates. But she said possibly more credible numbers are a bit lower.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

My Take on Nuclear Power

Recently, I was invited to participate in a focus group for the Ontario Power Generation Corporation. I learned a lot and it was a great experience. The group that I was in was asked to evaluate written materials that stated the stance and advocacy positions of the OPG. Some pertained to labour and investment in the province, some to green initiatives, and some seemed like advertising copy. Nuclear and renewable energy were a big part of what we were considering in this focus group. When we evaluated the need for power, the problems of pollution, the potential need for electricity in the future, I started to wonder if nuclear power might not be the way to go.

The debate that I posted from the TED talks, below, was a thought provoking experience but it was something else that helped me decide against nuclear power. The event that solidified my thinking was the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Why?

In reality, we all participated in or allowed the exploration and capturing of oil from the ocean floor to fuel our way of life. On some level we all knew that inspite of what they said, there was no way that the oil industry could really deal with the worst case scenario but we minimized the risks. We turned into the 'see no evil' monkies. We ignored the warnings. BP could not deal with the oil spill. It cannot now, no matter what it does, restore that part of our planet. They cannot undo the wound to the planet, to the health of the ocean and to the people who encounter it or to the local economy. They cannot unkill the dead ocean life. We need to remember that this did not just happen in and to the Gulf of Mexico. In a closed system, like the planet we live on, the ramifications are world wide. The oil industry simply played dice with our home and they lost but in the end we all lost.

It is the same with nuclear energy. We cannot, as a planet, handle the worst case scenario with nuclear power generation. If an accident occurs, the people who profit from it, will not be able to 'fix' it. People who have no part in the profit or even the benefits will play with their health or their lives. If a terrorist decides to target it, all we need is one lapse in vigilance, one human error and the corridor to destruction is opened. The facts of human nature and of a science called Human Factors argues persuasively against such eternal vigilance. We are all paying the price for the mistakes of the past in terms of cancer rates and deaths of innocents. It is time to say 'NO' to technologies and to power generation sources where we cannot handle the worst case scenarios. Especially when we have such beneign sources of power waiting in the wings.

Worst case scenarios do happen on this small planet.

Expert Debate: Does the World need Nuclear Energy?

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

The Copenhagen Consensus- Making sense

Most mothers with families at home have to make decisions of priority every day. Without an infinite supply of money and with competing needs they have to make the tough decisions. Who gets what and how much do they get? It seems to me that the Copenhagen Accord has simply taken that home spun, workable but very tough approach to real life problems that the world's family is facing. If we can only tackle some of the problems- shouldn't we tackle the ones where we can make a real difference?
Here are their recommendations: How to spend $75 billion over four years to do major good in the world.

When the budgetary constraints of the Copenhagen Consensus framework are applied to the expert panel’s prioritized list, money can be allocated to thirteen of the solutions. The yearly budget is $18.75 billion (4 years x $18.75b = $75 b), and provides for a broad range of investments.



                                                                 Solution                                    Yearly cost in million USD



1 Micronutrient supplements for children (vitamin A and zinc)                                            60
2 The Doha development agenda                                                                                        0
3 Micronutrient fortification (iron and salt iodization)                                                        286
4 Expanded immunization coverage for children                                                            1,000
5 Biofortification                                                                                                              60
6 Deworming and other nutrition programs at school                                                          27
7 Lowering the price of schooling                                                                                   5,400
8 Increase and improve girls’ schooling                                                                          6,000
9 Community‐based nutrition promotion                                                                           798
10 Provide support for women’s reproductive role                                                         4,000
11 Heart attack acute management                                                                                    200
12 Malaria prevention and treatment                                                                                  500
13 Tuberculosis case finding and treatment                                                                       419
                                                                                                                        Total 18,750



Note: All costs are based on the Challenge Paper authors’ estimates. In the case of Solution 13

Compassion and Technology serving Humanity