Thursday, February 6, 2014
The mystery of the North Star: Astronomers baffled to find Polaris is getting BRIGHTER
Astronomers have discovered that Polaris, the north star, is getting brighter.
They say the star has suddenly reversed two decades of dimming.
It is expanding at more than 100 times the rate they expected - and nobody is sure why.
Is Polaris getting brighter? Stars appear to rotate around Polaris, the north star, in this long exposure picture taken near the 4-meter telescope dome at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona. The image is composed of 114 30-second exposures of the night sky combined to make the equivalent of a nearly one hour exposure in which the earth's rotation causes the stars to appear to move across the night sky.
THE NORTH STAR
Polaris, also known as the North Star, Northern Star or Pole Star, is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor.
Historically it has been used to guide travellers, and is very close to the north celestial pole, making it the current northern pole star.
Recent papers calculate the distance to Polaris at about 434 light-years, although some suggest it may be 30% closer which.
A team led by Scott Engle of Villanova University in Pennsylvania recalibrated historic measurements of Polaris by Ptolemy in 137 C.E., the Persian astronomer Al-Sufi in 964 C.E., and others.
They investigated the fluctuations of the star over the course of several years, combing through historical records and utilising the Hubble Space Telescope.
The team found that Polaris is 2.5 times brighter today than in Ptolemy's time, which they say is a remarkable rate of change.
'If they are real, these changes are 100 times larger than predicted by current theories of stellar evolution,' says Villanova astronomer Edward Guinan.
The team's data also hint that the star's cyclic 4-day variation in brightness, although still weak, is once again growing more robust--but no one knows what's driving these flutterings or how long they will last.
Engle and his team began to research the star around the beginning of 2000, when they found that the dropping brightness was on the rise again.
Pinpointing Polaris: Researchers say it is getting brighter far more quickly than they expected after reversing its dimming
'It was unexpected to find,' Engle told SPACE.com.'It started increasing rather rapidly.'
'Polaris is arguably the best-known star in the Northern Hemisphere, since it lies within a degree of the North Celestial Pole,' the researchers wrote.
'For much of human history, Polaris was highly regarded for its unchanging nature.
'However, we now know that Polaris is a Cepheid variable, undergoing ultra-low-amplitude pulsations.
'Thirty years ago, a paper in the Astrophysical Journal by A. Arellano Ferro announced that the amplitude of these pulsations was diminishing.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2552530/The-mystery-North-Star-Astronomers-baffled-Polaris-getting-BRIGHTER.html#ixzz2sV1HNfh8
They say the star has suddenly reversed two decades of dimming.
It is expanding at more than 100 times the rate they expected - and nobody is sure why.
Is Polaris getting brighter? Stars appear to rotate around Polaris, the north star, in this long exposure picture taken near the 4-meter telescope dome at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona. The image is composed of 114 30-second exposures of the night sky combined to make the equivalent of a nearly one hour exposure in which the earth's rotation causes the stars to appear to move across the night sky.
THE NORTH STAR
Polaris, also known as the North Star, Northern Star or Pole Star, is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor.
Historically it has been used to guide travellers, and is very close to the north celestial pole, making it the current northern pole star.
Recent papers calculate the distance to Polaris at about 434 light-years, although some suggest it may be 30% closer which.
A team led by Scott Engle of Villanova University in Pennsylvania recalibrated historic measurements of Polaris by Ptolemy in 137 C.E., the Persian astronomer Al-Sufi in 964 C.E., and others.
They investigated the fluctuations of the star over the course of several years, combing through historical records and utilising the Hubble Space Telescope.
The team found that Polaris is 2.5 times brighter today than in Ptolemy's time, which they say is a remarkable rate of change.
'If they are real, these changes are 100 times larger than predicted by current theories of stellar evolution,' says Villanova astronomer Edward Guinan.
The team's data also hint that the star's cyclic 4-day variation in brightness, although still weak, is once again growing more robust--but no one knows what's driving these flutterings or how long they will last.
Engle and his team began to research the star around the beginning of 2000, when they found that the dropping brightness was on the rise again.
Pinpointing Polaris: Researchers say it is getting brighter far more quickly than they expected after reversing its dimming
'It was unexpected to find,' Engle told SPACE.com.'It started increasing rather rapidly.'
'Polaris is arguably the best-known star in the Northern Hemisphere, since it lies within a degree of the North Celestial Pole,' the researchers wrote.
'For much of human history, Polaris was highly regarded for its unchanging nature.
'However, we now know that Polaris is a Cepheid variable, undergoing ultra-low-amplitude pulsations.
'Thirty years ago, a paper in the Astrophysical Journal by A. Arellano Ferro announced that the amplitude of these pulsations was diminishing.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2552530/The-mystery-North-Star-Astronomers-baffled-Polaris-getting-BRIGHTER.html#ixzz2sV1HNfh8
Britain's battered coastline: Railway tracks destroyed, businesses flooded and homes evacuated
Thousands of homes and businesses are flooded, damaged or without power today after another violent storm hit Britain's coast.
More communities in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and South Wales are now under water after rivers burst their banks and sea defences were breached by huge waves driven in on gale-force gusts.
At least 8,000 properties are still without power and 60,000 homes had to have it restored after winds peaked at 92mph overnight and smashed overhead cables with 'airborne debris'.
The terrible weather also caused transport chaos after large chunks of infrastructure were damaged by the Atlantic storm, including in Devon where the railway line to London was washed away.
Around four million people have also been suffering nightmare commutes as much of the London Underground was shut down after a 48-hour strike by Tube workers started last night.
David Cameron has today promised an extra £100million for flood defences and agreed to chair a meeting of the Cobra national committee to discuss the storm crisis.
Rising water: A waterside bar is pounded by the waves in Plymouth as the south-west bears the brunt of the Atlantic storm that first hit overnight
Dramatic: The church at Porthleven in south-west Cornwall is engulfed by waves during the high winds again battering the country over the next 24 hours
Country and coast: Residents look at flood water in the village of Ruishton on the stricken Somerset levels near Taunton while the railway line at Dawlish, Devon has been left hanging in mid-air after the sea wall was washed away by huge waves
Huge waves and seawater flood the promenage in Torquay
As wind, high tides and huge waves continues unabated there are 67 flood warnings and 213 flood alerts in place, according to the Environment Agency.
'We are now waiting for the next high tide, which will be at around 5pm,' the spokesman said.The Environment Agency said this morning's high tide caused problems, particularly in Dawlish.
'We don't think it will be as extreme as the one this morning. We have a band of rain coming in now which could see some impact, particularly in Somerset.
'We are currently checking damage done by the wave action, making sure emergency repair work is done, making sure flood defences can stand up to any further wave action.'
The Hoe in Plymouth experienced large waves and damage to some properties.
Devon and Cornwall Police warned residents to stay away from coastal areas as they dealt with a large number of calls relating to road debris, damage to property and flooding.
'There remains a host of minor road closures throughout the region due to road debris and fallen trees,' a spokesman said.
'Motorists are warned to expect the unexpected on rural roads and drive according to road conditions.
'Flood water should also be avoided and speeds should be lowered on the region's main road network.'
In the South-West 200 electrical engineers have been working through the night to repair damage caused by debris being blown into overhead lines by strong winds.
A forecaster at the Met Office said the winds in the south west are likely to 'continue along a similar sort of strength' into today, and people can expect weather in other areas to be 'much of the same' as they have been experiencing.
It issued 'be prepared' amber warnings for strong winds across southern England and Wales.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2552027/Thousands-homes-left-without-power-trains-cancelled-storm-batters-parts-country.html#ixzz2sSV8pwfq
More communities in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and South Wales are now under water after rivers burst their banks and sea defences were breached by huge waves driven in on gale-force gusts.
At least 8,000 properties are still without power and 60,000 homes had to have it restored after winds peaked at 92mph overnight and smashed overhead cables with 'airborne debris'.
The terrible weather also caused transport chaos after large chunks of infrastructure were damaged by the Atlantic storm, including in Devon where the railway line to London was washed away.
Around four million people have also been suffering nightmare commutes as much of the London Underground was shut down after a 48-hour strike by Tube workers started last night.
David Cameron has today promised an extra £100million for flood defences and agreed to chair a meeting of the Cobra national committee to discuss the storm crisis.
Rising water: A waterside bar is pounded by the waves in Plymouth as the south-west bears the brunt of the Atlantic storm that first hit overnight
Dramatic: The church at Porthleven in south-west Cornwall is engulfed by waves during the high winds again battering the country over the next 24 hours
Country and coast: Residents look at flood water in the village of Ruishton on the stricken Somerset levels near Taunton while the railway line at Dawlish, Devon has been left hanging in mid-air after the sea wall was washed away by huge waves
Huge waves and seawater flood the promenage in Torquay
As wind, high tides and huge waves continues unabated there are 67 flood warnings and 213 flood alerts in place, according to the Environment Agency.
'We are now waiting for the next high tide, which will be at around 5pm,' the spokesman said.The Environment Agency said this morning's high tide caused problems, particularly in Dawlish.
'We don't think it will be as extreme as the one this morning. We have a band of rain coming in now which could see some impact, particularly in Somerset.
'We are currently checking damage done by the wave action, making sure emergency repair work is done, making sure flood defences can stand up to any further wave action.'
The Hoe in Plymouth experienced large waves and damage to some properties.
Devon and Cornwall Police warned residents to stay away from coastal areas as they dealt with a large number of calls relating to road debris, damage to property and flooding.
'There remains a host of minor road closures throughout the region due to road debris and fallen trees,' a spokesman said.
'Motorists are warned to expect the unexpected on rural roads and drive according to road conditions.
'Flood water should also be avoided and speeds should be lowered on the region's main road network.'
In the South-West 200 electrical engineers have been working through the night to repair damage caused by debris being blown into overhead lines by strong winds.
A forecaster at the Met Office said the winds in the south west are likely to 'continue along a similar sort of strength' into today, and people can expect weather in other areas to be 'much of the same' as they have been experiencing.
It issued 'be prepared' amber warnings for strong winds across southern England and Wales.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2552027/Thousands-homes-left-without-power-trains-cancelled-storm-batters-parts-country.html#ixzz2sSV8pwfq
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Common Core Panelist Says “The Children Belong to All of Us”
Last Friday, a panel discussion at the Center for American Progress (CAP), a liberal think tank, was held to promote Common Core and discuss those who oppose it.
Paul Reville, the former secretary of education for Massachusetts and a Common Core supporter, was one of the panelists.
He shared his thoughts on opponents of the curriculum, stating that critics were a “tiny minority” who opposed standards altogether, which was unfair because “the children belong to all of us.”
“The children belong to all of us.”
Unbelievable, isn’t it? In case you need to hear it to believe it, here’s video proof:
Paul Reville, the former secretary of education for Massachusetts and a Common Core supporter, was one of the panelists.
He shared his thoughts on opponents of the curriculum, stating that critics were a “tiny minority” who opposed standards altogether, which was unfair because “the children belong to all of us.”
“The children belong to all of us.”
Unbelievable, isn’t it? In case you need to hear it to believe it, here’s video proof:
Reville also claimed that Common Core opponents are against any kind of educational standards.
CNSNews.com asked him about the critics who say federal monetary incentives attached to Common Core is driving the states to implement the standards. Here’s what he said:
Again, the argument about where it came from I think privileges certain sort of fringe voices about federalism and states’ rights, and things of that nature, when really what we’re doing at the national level here now, state by state, is what a lot of our states thought made sense individually.Fringe voices about states’ rights? The federal government has no authority over education – in fact, as David Boaz of the Cato Institute explains, there is a reason for that:
The Founders wanted most aspects of life managed by those who were closest to them, either by state or local government or by families, businesses, and other elements of civil society. Certainly, they saw no role for the federal government in education.Common Core supporters claim that the curriculum is a “state-led” effort, but in reality, the standards were written by five people. Critics like Lindsey Burke, a Will Skillman Fellow in Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, say the initiative is about federal funding and centralizing education rules:
Common Core was developed by two national organizations, it’s adoption incentivized with billions in federal funding and waivers from the onerous provisions of No Child Left Behind, and the national tests funded with federal grants.
These are not the hallmarks of a ‘state-led’ process. Moreover, these are not high standards.As Ethan Young, the Tennessee high school student who spoke out against Common Core in front of the Knox County School Board so eloquently said:
Why don’t we just manufacture robots instead of students? They last longer and they always do as they’re told.Schools are now teaching your children that the government is family. Some are threatening to call child welfare on you if your kids aren’t getting specific healthcare. Want to send your child to school with a healthful homemade lunch? Some schools won’t allow that either. And, some schools are resorting to using games to get kids to share highly personal information about them and their parents.
If you decide that all of this is infringing on your parental rights and decide to homeschool, be warned, because in some states, the government wants to decide if you are fit to do so.
Remember, all of these invasive measures are for the common good, because your children belong to everyone.....
Credit to Activist Post
Poland’s Small Farmers Stand Up Against Corporate Takeover And For Food Sovereignty
ICPPC (International Coalition to Protect the Polish Countryside)
News Beacon Ireland
Friends!
Here in Poland the battle to save Polish farmland from corporate buy-outs continues. But that’s not all the Polish farmers are up against…Watch the video below. Tractors have been blockading government institutions from 14 January…
Regulations that the Warsaw government has imposed over the years have made it virtually impossible to sell farm processed foods to local shops, schools or private individuals. The only way farmers can conform with the hygiene and sanitary regulations imposed from above, is by carrying out their simple processing tasks in specially designed and equipped buildings that none can afford to build or to adapt.. except the very large producers supplying the food industry and supermarkets. Yes, that’s right – it’s all about destroying the competition – which in this case is the small and medium sized independent family farms that produce the best foods!
Health Care Law Will Mean Fewer People on the Job
Several million American workers will reduce their hours on the job or leave the workforce entirely because of incentives built into President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday.
That would mean losses equal to 2.3 million full-time jobs by 2021, in large part because people would opt to keep their income low to stay eligible for federal health care subsidies or Medicaid, the agency said. It had estimated previously that the law would lead to 800,000 fewer jobs by that year.
Republican lawmakers seized on the report as major new evidence of what they consider the failures of “Obamacare,” the huge overhaul of U.S. health care coverage that they’re trying to overturn and planning to use as a main argument against Democrats in November’s midterm elections.
It’s the latest indication that “the president’s health care law is destroying full-time jobs,” said Republican Rep. John Kline of Minnesota, chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. “This fatally flawed health care scheme is wreaking havoc on working families nationwide,” he said.
But the White House said the possible reduction would be due to voluntary steps by workers rather than businesses cutting jobs — people having the freedom to retire early or spend more time as stay-at-home parents because they no longer had to depend only on their employers for health insurance.
“CBO’s findings are not driven by an assumption that (the health care law) will lead employers to eliminate jobs or reduce hours,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.
The agency also reduced its estimate of the number of uninsured people who will get coverage through the health care law. The budget experts now say more than 1 million fewer people than had been expected will gain coverage this year, partly because of the website problems that prevented people from signing up last fall.
However, the budget experts see the long-term federal deficit picture worsening by about $100 billion a year through the end of the decade because of slower growth in the economy than they had previously predicted.
As for health care signups, the website woes have largely been cleared up, but the nonpartisan congressional analysts estimated that about 1 million fewer people will enroll through the new insurance exchanges than had been expected this year, for a total of 6 million.
Enrollment is predicted to pick up, topping 20 million in 2016. The exchanges, or online marketplaces, offer subsidized private coverage and cater mainly to middle-class people who don’t have health care on the job.
The Congressional Budget Office also revised its Medicaid enrollment projection downward by about 1 million, for a new total of 8 million signups in 2014. About half the states have accepted the health law’s Medicaid expansion.
Credit to The Yeshiva World News
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