Friday, March 7, 2014

In The Name Of NASA

     



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176 pounds


In a recent NASA bulletin I read: "Astronomers have used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agency's (ESA's) XMM-Newton to show a supermassive black hole six billion light years from Earth is spinning extremely rapidly."

That, of course, may not be true as stated. That specific Black Hole was perhaps spinning extremely rapidly, but if so, it occurred approximately six billion years ago. Who knows if it is still spinning extremely rapidly at this exact instant in time? Or if it even still exists this year, when it was first observed?

The bulletin contains a great deal of information, but I can't help wondering how these scientists can be so sure they are correct, and all things are as they seem. They are just so damned positive that their mathematics-based conclusions are facts instead of merely conjecture.

Read more than you probably want to know at the link below.

Why should I believe these pronouncements (theories?) any more than I would believe that a Jewish man named Jesus was born from the loins of a virgin named Mary and grew up as a human being living among men and women but was in reality a supposedly incarnate member of a trio of divine beings within a single entity who bears the name of Jehovah? Because the pronouncement was made by scientists in the name of science?

I guess you just gotta have faith.

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Did You Know . . .?

Smoking pot (cannabis) in your teens can lead to a decline in I.Q. not seen in those who start smoking it as adults.

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HISTORICAL EVENT

On this day in 1923 The New Republic published Robert Frost's poem "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening." The poem, beginning with the famous line "Whose woods these are, I think I know. His house is in the village though," has introduced millions of American students to poetry.

Frost tried unsuccessfully to run a New England farm, and the family, which soon included four children, struggled with poverty for two decades. Frost became more and more depressed, perhaps even suicidal, and in 1912 he moved his family to England to make a fresh start. There he concentrated on his poetry.

Although Frost never graduated from a university, he had collected 44 honorary degrees before he died in 1963.

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WORD FOR TODAY

celebrity
noun
1. A famous person.
2. Renown; fame.

Wikipedia says a celebrity is a person, who has a prominent profile in day-to-day media and because of this commands some degree of public fascination and influence. A celebrity is usually expected to be wealthy (commonly denoted as a person with fame and fortune), implied with great popular appeal, prominence in a particular field, and is easily recognized by the general public.

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CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS


(born March 7, 1934)
Willard Scott is an American actor, author, media personality, clown, and comedian, best known for his TV work on The Today Show and as the creator and original portrayer of Ronald McDonald.

Note: I once saw Willard walking by me. I called out, "Willard Scott!" He smiled, waved, and said, "How ya' doin', Pardner?"



(born March 7, 1980)
Laura Prepon is an American actress, known for her role as Donna Pinciotti in all eight seasons of the Fox sitcom That '70s Show. She is also known for the role of Hannah Daniels on the ABC drama October Road. Following That '70s Show, Prepon worked mainly in television, guest-starring in episodes of How I Met Your Mother, Medium, and Castle. In 2011, Prepon was cast in the lead role of Chelsea in the short-lived sitcom drama Are You There, Chelsea?, based on Chelsea Handler's 2008 book Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. She portrays Alex Vause in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black.



(born March 7, 1945)
John Heard is an American actor known for his recurring role as Peter McCallister, in the first two installments of the Home Alone movie series. He starred or was featured in films including Cutter's Way, Chilly Scenes of Winter, Cat People, The Milagro Beanfield War, The Pelican Brief, and Big, and the TV-movie Sharknado.



(born March 7, 1974)
Jenna Fischer is an American actress and director. She is known for her portrayal of Pam Halpert (née Beesly) on the NBC situation comedy The Office. She has also appeared in several films, including Blades of Glory, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, The Promotion, and Hall Pass.

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I am utterly bored by celebrity interviews. Most celebrities are devoid of interest.
--Roger Ebert

NASA TV



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