A Blue Moon from Space

Credit: Expedition 13 Crew, International Space Station, NASA
Explanation: What's happening to the Moon? Drifting around the Earth in 2006 July, astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) captured a crescent Moon floating far beyond the horizon. The captured above image is interesting because part of the Moon appears blue, and because part of the moon appears missing. Both effects are created by the Earth's atmosphere. Air molecules more efficiently scatter increasingly blue light, making the clear day sky blue for ground observers, and the horizon blue for astronauts. Besides reflecting sunlight, these atmospheric molecules also deflect moonlight, making the lower part of the moon appear to fade away. As one looks higher in the photograph, the increasingly thin atmosphere appears to fade to black.

Galaxy Group Hickson 44

Credit & Copyright: MASIL Imaging Team
Explanation: Galaxies, like stars, frequently form groups. A group of galaxies is a system containing more than two galaxies but less than the tens or hundreds typically found in a cluster of galaxies. A most notable example is the Local Group of Galaxies, which houses over 30 galaxies including our Milky Way, Andromeda, and the Magellanic Clouds. Pictured above is nearby compact group Hickson 44. This group is located about 60 million light-years away toward the constellation of Leo. Also known as the NGC 3190 Group, Hickson 44 contains several bright spiral galaxies and one bright elliptical galaxy on the upper left. The bright source on the upper right is a foreground star. Many galaxies in Hickson 44 and other compact groups are either slowly merging or gravitationally pulling each other apart.

Finch Story

My friend told me the funniest story. She had 2 finches and one day they built a nest. Before too long there were 3 little eggs and then 3 little chicks. Now she has 5 finches! I had no idea finches were so prolific! She said now she takes the nests out before any further procreation can occur. No more eggs.

Barred Spiral Galaxy M95

Credit & Copyright: Jean-Charles Cuillandre (CFHT), Hawaiian Starlight, CFHT
Explanation: Why do some spiral galaxies have a ring around the center? First and foremost, M95 is one of the closer examples of a big and beautiful barred spiral galaxy. Visible in the above recent image from the CFHT telescope in Hawaii, USA, are sprawling spiral arms delineate by open clusters of bright blue stars, lanes of dark dust, the diffuse glow of billions of faint stars, and a short bar across the galaxy center. What intrigues many astronomers, however, is the circumnuclear ring around the galaxy center visible just outside the central bar. Recent images by the Chandra X-ray Observatory have shown that X-ray light surrounding the ring is likely emission from recent supernovas. Although the long term stability of the ring remains a topic of research, recent observations indicate its present brightness is at least enhanced by transient bursts of star formation. M95, also known as NGC 3351, spans about 50,000 light-years and can be seen with a small telescope toward the constellation of the Lion (Leo).

The New American Revolution ~ Tammy Bruce

I've finally taken the time to read this book, which I think I bought 2 years ago. Do you ever have 2 or 3 books going at the same time? I was avoiding it because I thought it might be the 'same old same old' but it's actually quite interesting. She brings a new perspective, being an ex-leftist. So in that way it sort of reminds me of "Why I Left Jihad" by Walid Shoebat.

She has an excellent section near the back of the book describing how the left uses hate and intolerance as a tool to manipulate people and then 'projects' those same traits onto their opponents. She also has diagnosed the left as "malignant nacissists" which I've heard elsewhere on more than one occassion.

Chechnya's New President - Muslim Terrorist Ramzan Kadyrov

It's official, Putin has lost his mind.

"Gangster President
Meet Ramzan Kadyrov, Vladimir Putin's favorite Chechen criminal.
Saturday, March 3, 2007

THIS WEEK Vladimir Putin delivered another clear message about the kind of state Russia is becoming. He did so by nominating as the new president of the republic of Chechnya a man named Ramzan Kadyrov -- an unspeakably savage and corrupt warlord. Mr. Kadyrov has done Mr. Putin a great service: Using his own militia -- gang might be a better term -- he has imposed order in the name of the Kremlin on most of the rebellious republic, allowing the Russian president to declare victory in the war he started more than seven years ago. The Chechen's reward is to be installed as official head of the republic's government, where he can be expected to promote a cult of personality, employ state resources for his personal aggrandizement and murder his opponents with impunity."
Read more...

The 300

We saw "The 300" last night and really enjoyed it! There was NO PC BS (unlike "Alexander")! How refreshing. They really made the Persians look bad... kind of a collection of miscreants, but then I guess it was an adaptation of the comic book... Interesting mix.