In The Name Of NASA

     

Tucson Weather Today

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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.

Chandra X-Ray Observatory

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

Willard Herman Scott, Jr.

(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?"

Laura Prepon

(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.

John Heard, Jr.

(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.

Regina Marie "Jenna" Fischer

(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

This Is Who I Am

How Big Is The Universe?

     

Tucson Weather Today

 

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How big is the universe? It's really big. It's really, really big. There is a short (four minute) Youtube video that asks that question and then attempts to answer it. This little explanation is great for  bright young children, curious teens, under-educated adults, and even for answer seeking Christians.

Watch video HERE

Then there is a (physics?) video for nerds only;

What if Superman punched you


Here is a curious and little known factoid: The opposite of a "euphemism" (a less offensive word) is a "dysphemism" (the use of a more offensive word).

After reading a brief statement from PZ Myers concerning the Zimmerman verdict, I read all of the 190-plus comments. Jeez! It never fails to amaze me at how closed-minded, ignorant, and absolutely stupid are so many blog commenters.

Here is the link titled I am unsurprised

By the way, I have been reading the blogs of PZ, Taslima,  Greta Christina, and some of the other atheists every day for a long time. But the ubiquitous (and truly mindless) advertising on the Freethought Blogs is getting so intrusive as to be more than merely annoying; it's getting to the point where I am considering ignoring the member blogs altogether. That is not a threat. After all those exalted rebble-rousers don't read my blog anyway. It's not a threat; it's a statement of fact. (It's almost as bad as the commercial-ridden programming of broadcast television.)

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TRIVIA

John Wilkes Booth's brother once saved the life of Abraham Lincoln's son.

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HISTORICAL EVENT

On this day, July 16 in 1790, the young American Congress declared that a swampy, humid, muddy and mosquito-infested site on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia will be the nation's permanent capital. "Washington," in the newly designated federal "District of Columbia," was named after the leader of the American Revolution and the country's first president: George Washington.

The White House

Washington, D.C.

The District is not a U.S. state and therefore has no voting representation in the Congress. D.C. residents elect a non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives, who may sit on committees, participate in debate, and introduce legislation, but cannot vote on the House floor. The District has no representation in the United States Senate.

Note: I inserted the White House image simply because it's such a grand picture.

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WORD FOR TODAY

transcendental
adjective
1. (Philosophy)
a. Concerned with the a priori or intuitive basis of knowledge as independent of experience.
b. Asserting a fundamental irrationality or supernatural element in experience.
2. Surpassing all others; superior.
3. Beyond common thought or experience; mystical or supernatural.
4. (Mathematics) Of or relating to a real or complex number that is not the root of any polynomial that has positive degree and rational coefficients.

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CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

John William "Will" Ferrell
(born July 16, 1967)

Will Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the mid-1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Stranger than Fiction, Blades of Glory, Semi-Pro, Step Brothers, and The Other Guys. He is considered a member of the "Frat Pack", a generation of leading Hollywood comic actors who emerged in the late 1990s and the 2000s, including Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Steve Carell, Vince Vaughn, and brothers Owen and Luke Wilson.

Jamia Suzette "Jayma" Mays
(born July 16, 1979)

Jamia Mays is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing Emma Pillsbury on the Fox musical series Glee. She also played roles in the films Paul Blart: Mall Cop and The Smurfs.

Orville Clarence Redenbacher
(July 16, 1907 - Sept. 19, 1995)

Orville Redenbacher, born in Brazil, Indiana, was an American businessman most often associated with the brand of popcorn that bears his name.

Phoebe Cates
(born July 16, 1963)

Phoebe Cates is an American film actress, model, and entrepreneur. She is known for her roles in several teen films, most notably Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins.

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The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.
--Abraham Lincoln

NASA TV