Melissa Times
Champagne. No. More Like Coca-Cola Supernova.
For non-space geeks, a Supernova is not only the partial title of an Oasis song. Officially it is an explosion in space that signals the death of a star, and is a rare event.
Kathryn pored over images a family friend brought to her and her astronomer father from the Abbey Ridge Observatory, and the tweener rang in her New Year by finding the bright remnants of an exploding star. It was verified by astronomers and named Supernova 2010lt.
While Canada celebrates its newest star I'll have to blow the dust off my telescope and the memory of Wilson Rawls' tale. You know Indian legend has it only an angel can plant a red fern and where it grows is sacred. *tear* Chokes me up every time.
My NASA Tweetup Experience
A Steampunk Christmas
I have totally jumped on the Steampunk bandwagon, or should I say horse-drawn carriage. So during the week of Christmas I have taken my electronic feather-pen out to offer a new twist on an old classic. And yes, I put together the background too with a little tracing and sketching.
Text:
A Steampunk Christmas
'Twas months before Christmas, and outside the Manor
One only heard the slap of the Great Exhibition banner
The inventions were secured to the tables with care
In hope that investors soon would be there
Mamma in her cocktail top hat and I in my frock
Were arriving home and had just turned the lock
When outside our door there arose such a clammer
I grabbed for my shooter and pulled back the hammer
When, what to my wondering monocle should appear
A steamy airship and the turn of its gears
With a little old Captain, steering brass and logs
I knew in a moment it must be Santa Cogs
He lowered his ropes and slid down one with ease
And tethered the iron bird to snow-covered trees
His clothes were all tarnished with coal dust and soot
He patted them down and stomped clean his boot
His goggles how they glistened! His dimples how deep!
But when he turned to look at us he spoke not a peep
The bit of his pipe he clenched tight with a grin
And in the Crystal Palace he proceeded within
The giant old elf came early simply to see the show
And I signaled to my wife I wanted to follow
He went to the main hall and inside the door
Were diamonds, a brooch, and the famous Koh-i-noor
The world's first voting machine and daguerreotypes
A barometer using leeches and a piano frame of iron pipes
Once Santa Cogs was done he exited to Hyde Park
Sprang to his ship and cranked it with a spark
I heard him exclaim as the moon offered its sheen
See you Christmas Eve, and God Save the Queen!
-Melissa Carter
Excerpt from President Obama's E-Mail for Don't Ask Don't Tell
Moments ago, the Senate voted to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
When that bill reaches my desk, I will sign it, and this discriminatory law will be repealed.
Gay and lesbian service members - brave Americans who enable our freedoms - will no longer have to hide who they are.
The fight for civil rights, a struggle that continues, will no longer include this one.
This victory belongs to you. Without your commitment, the promise I made as a candidate would have remained just that.
Instead, you helped prove again that no one should underestimate this movement. Every phone call to a senator on the fence, every letter to the editor in a local paper, and every message in a congressional inbox makes it clear to those who would stand in the way of justice: We will not quit.
This victory also belongs to Senator Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and our many allies in Congress who refused to let politics get in the way of what was right.
Like you, they never gave up, and I want them to know how grateful we are for that commitment.
Will you join me in thanking them by adding your name to Organizing for America's letter?
I will make sure these messages are delivered - you can also add a comment about what the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" means to you.
As Commander in Chief, I fought to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" because it weakens our national security and military readiness. It violates the fundamental American principles of equality and fairness.
But this victory is also personal.
I will never know what it feels like to be discriminated against because of my sexual orientation.
But I know my story would not be possible without the sacrifice and struggle of those who came before me - many I will never meet, and can never thank.
I know this repeal is a crucial step for civil rights, and that it strengthens our military and national security. I know it is the right thing to do.
Please join me in thanking those in Congress who helped make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal possible:
Thank you,
Barack
http://my.barackobama.com/Repealed
I will make sure these messages are delivered - you can also add a comment about what the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" means to you.
As Commander in Chief, I fought to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" because it weakens our national security and military readiness. It violates the fundamental American principles of equality and fairness.
But this victory is also personal.
I will never know what it feels like to be discriminated against because of my sexual orientation.
But I know my story would not be possible without the sacrifice and struggle of those who came before me - many I will never meet, and can never thank.
I know this repeal is a crucial step for civil rights, and that it strengthens our military and national security. I know it is the right thing to do.
Please join me in thanking those in Congress who helped make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal possible:
Thank you,
Barack
http://my.barackobama.com/Repealed
Real-Life Code Found in Mona Lisa's Eyes
When I first saw the headline for this story, I thought it sounded like something straight out of the Da Vinci Code. But this is real life.
Art detectives yesterday took a fresh look at the Mona Lisa and noticed something a little different in her eyes. Hidden in the dark paint of her pupils are tiny letters and numbers, placed there by artist Leonardo da Vinci. They were only now revealed thanks to high-magnification techniques.
12 Days of Blogging
Since most do their year-end collections during the holiday season, I have decided to offer you some samples of my most personal blogs. Happy Holidays!
On the 12th day of Christmas, my Blogger gave to me....
On the 11th day of Christmas, my Blogger gave to me....
On the 10th day of Christmas, my Blogger gave to me....
On the 8th day of Christmas, my Blogger gave to me...
On the 7th day of Christmas, my Blogger gave to me....
My High School Is the Scene of a Great Movie Plot
Photo Credit: Cookeville Herald-Citizen
No, this is not from an episode of "Friday Night Lights" in Texas. It's real and in Tennessee. And it's my Alma Mater Columbia Central High School.
I first began to get the messages last week asking if I realized Central was in the title game Friday night. I didn't, having been in Atlanta almost two decades and loosely connected to what's going on in my home town. I turned to Twitter for immediate updates the night of the game and got the good news. So thanks to everyone who remembered I was from Columbia and kept me informed.
I may be biased, but I think screenwriters should be all over this.
Sixteen-year-old CHS Wide Receiver Dylan Rebeor battled colon cancer and died Friday morning. Minutes before his death he asked his mother, "Did we win?"
My Lions learned about his death at school that day, and had to take the field some 94 miles away later that night in the biggest game of their lives. They wore his number 25 on their faces like war paint and held silent vigil in the locker room. Then these teenagers took the field and saw fellow classmates with shirts that said CHS Lions Fight Like Rebeor. They won by 21 points. Wouldn't you buy a ticket to see and be inspired by this movie?
I left Columbia as soon as I could. A small town girl with my sexuality a secret at the time, I rushed to college and on to Atlanta, where I have enjoyed the comforts of big-city life. But when people ask me about the strength I've shown in my experiences, whether being out on the radio or undergoing a kidney transplant, I now look toward the western sky to Columbia's border and realize there is something pretty special about that town. I'm proud to be a Lion today.
Christmas Caroling Started By Drunks
Next time you are planning on singing cheerful praises with your church, know that Christmas caroling actually started with a bunch of drunks.
When "Christmas" was really a celebration for the winter solstice, poor carolers would go from house to house singing and threatening to break windows if they were not given food and drink.
That's not the only Christmas tradition with an odd origin. Santa was originally kind of a jerk. Instead of elves, he was joined by a devil creature named "Krampus" who was quite mean, especially to naughty kids - whom he kidnapped, beat up, or at the very least tortured with bad gifts.
What Do the WikiLeaks Documents Reveal?
Last weekend international news outlets published a selection of U.S. diplomatic cables, provided by WikiLeaks. What did they include?
1. Many Middle Eastern nations are far more concerned about Iran's nuclear program than they've publicly admitted. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has asked the U.S. to cut off the head of the snake, which seems to mean to bomb Iran's nuclear program. Leaders of Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern have also had similar opinions.
2. In February, the U.S. ambassador to Seoul told Washington that the right business deals might get China to support a reunified Korea, if the Koreans were allied with the United States. American and South Korean officials have talked about a reunification in case North Korea collapses.
3. The Obama administration offered sweeteners to try to get other countries to take Guantanamo detainees in order to close the prison. For example, Slovenia was offered a meeting with President Obama, while the island nation of Kiribati was offered incentives worth millions.
4. Afghan Vice President Ahmed Zia Massoud took $52 million in cash when he visited the United Arab Emirates last year. The Afghan government has been plagued by allegations of corruption. Massoud has denied taking the money out of the country.
5. The United States has been working to remove highly enriched uranium from a Pakistani nuclear reactor, out of concern that it could be used to build an illicit nuclear device. The effort, which began in 2007, continues.
6. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton ordered diplomats to assemble information on their foreign counterparts. Clinton may have asked diplomats to gather intelligence on U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's plans for Iran, and information on Sudan (including Darfur), Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Iran and North Korea.
7. The State Department labeled Qatar the worst country in the region for counterterrorism efforts. The country's security services were hesitant to act against known terrorists out of concern for appearing to be aligned with the U.S. and provoking reprisals.
8. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi are tighter than was previously known. Putin has given the high-living Berlusconi lavish gifts and lucrative energy contracts, and Berlusconi appears increasingly to be the mouthpiece of Putin in Europe.
9. Hezbollah continues to enjoy the weapons patronage of Syria. A week after Syrian president Bashar Assad promised the United States he wouldn't send new arms to the Lebanese militant group, the United States said it had information that Syria was continuing to provide the group with increasingly sophisticated weapons.
10. Some cables reveal decidedly less than diplomatic opinions of foreign leaders. Putin is said to be an alpha-dog and Afghan President Hamid Karzai to be driven by paranoia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel avoids risk and is rarely creative. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi travels with a voluptuous blonde Ukrainian nurse.
How To Avoid Eating Too Much on Thanksgiving
2. Start with Soup. A low-calorie hot liquid helps to fill you up, so you have a better "full" feeling on fewer calories.
3. Replace the Fat in Stuffing with Low-Sodium Chicken Broth. Most recipes have 2 to 3 sticks of butter or margarine as the "liquid" to moisten the bread stuffing. Replace that with equal amounts of low-sodium chicken broth for extra flavor without the calories.
4. Alternate Your Alcohol. Have a drink, then a seltzer or diet soda. It cuts your calories in half.
5. Use a Tablespoon to Serve Yourself instead of a Ladle. It's built-in portion control.
6. Skip the Skin. There is very little difference in the calories of white and dark meant, but cutting out the skin of the turkey will cut your calories in half.
7. De-Fat the Gravy. Fat-free gravy can be full of flavor. Cook your turkey with enough time to cool the pan juices and make your gravy after dumping the hardened fat that rises to the top. Or use a gravy separator to get rid of the fat.
8. Lose the Crust. Make your favorite pumpkin pie filling, and put in small ramekins. Bake until firm. Top with some chopped walnuts or a swirl of whipped cream.
9. Choose a Simple Potato. Go plain for the potato and sprinkle with fresh or dried herbs and seasonings, including ground pepper and chives. Skip the butter, cheese, and sour cream mix-ins - and the brown sugar in sweet potato casseroles. Use some of your de-fatted gravy on top for extra flavor.
10. Take a 30-minute Walk, Not Nap, After Eating. Most want to go directly from the dinner table to the couch, but take a walk instead. It will help with digestion as well.
Are You A Wimpy Parent?
Dr. Gregory Ramey from the Children's Medical Center of Dayton, Ohio offers these questions so you can assess yourself and perhaps avoid a visit to a therapists's office.
1. Are you more concerned about your children's feelings than their behaviors? Wimpy parents care excessively about making their children feel comfortable. While feelings are important, the real world judges us all on actions. Wimpy parents are reluctant to require their youngsters to do anything that may make them feel uncomfortable.
2. Do you praise your children excessively? Wimpy parents make too big a deal of their children's minor accomplishments. They often tell their kids how special they are, and inadvertently make their children addicted to praise and recognition. These kids have a hard time functioning without constant reassurance and become overly dependent upon the approval of others.
3. Do you give in on your discipline? Wimpy parents have good intentions but lack the self-confidence to follow through after disciplining their children. The kids recognize and take advantage of this weakness.
4. Do you feel guilty after disciplining your child? Strong parents see discipline as a way to teach their youngsters good behavior, and know that they are helping their kids. Wimpy parents feel guilty that they are hurting their children by depriving them of some privilege.
5. Are you inconsistent in your application of discipline? Because they are excessively about their kids' feelings, wimpy parents avoid making tough decisions. These parents develop intricate pseudo-explanations to justify their inconsistencies.
6. Do you talk endlessly to convince your children that your discipline is fair? Strong parents have no need for children to agree with family rules and consequences. They are confident and comfortable with their decisions and enforce them in a calm and reasonable manner. They acknowledge their children's feelings, but don't engage in debate or discussion over what is right.
7. Do you typically place your children's needs above those of you and your spouse? Wimpy parents feel insecure in their relationships with their children. In this "kids first" type of family, personal and marital needs are of lower priority. The kids rule and infer an unrealistic sense of importance and power from the way they are treated.
Speaking of Wimpy Parents, check out what movie plots would look like today.