Public Posts

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Inside the Cocoon Nebula is a newly developing cluster of stars. Cataloged as IC 5146, the beautiful nebula is nearly 15 light-years wide. Soaring high in northern summer night skies, it's located some 4,000 light years away toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus). Like other star forming regions, it stands out in red, glowing, hydrogen gas excited by young, hot stars, and dust-reflected starlight at the edge of an otherwise invisible molecular cloud. In fact, the bright star found near the center of this nebula is likely only a few hundred thousand years old, powering the nebular glow as it clears out a cavity in the molecular cloud's star forming dust and gas. A 48-hour long integration resulted in this exceptionally deep color view tracing tantalizing features within and surrounding the dusty stellar nursery.

Photo by Luis Romero Ventura

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE (1899 – 1980) was an English film director, known as the "Master of Suspense". He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema having directed over 50 feature films over his 60 year career.  Hitchcock became as well known as any of his actors thanks to his many interviews and his cameo appearances in most of his films. Although he never won the award for Best Director, despite five nominations, his films garnered 46 Academy Award nominations, including six wins.

A Jabberwocky, is a bird,
of mystical origins.
Do you support it in your head,
if we think without precision?

What happens now,
to all of us,
if we don't love our way?
A short ride under the bus,

and you will see,
the end of the USA.
It's not up to those in power,
to take our freedom away,

Complacency, will do that,
in every single way.
Stand up America,
God Bless the USA.

When the cool ground fog,
rises on a summer morn.
It projects an image
of being reborn.

A coolness descends,
on the morning light,
shadows shrink,
dawn replaces night.

A pleasant place,
a life to be,
as we age,
our memories flee.

When love returns,
to your heart,
it will bring,
recommitting of life's part,

which will elude us,
everyday,
before you know it,
love has gone away.

There are no thoughts,
in this old head,
about the rites of Spring,
just I'm no longer dead.

Times were bad,
nothing to be said,
when you're not here,
I won't be afraid.

You're a beacon,
in the life of this man.
I value our friendship,
as I always can.

Americans’ views on free speech change directions every so often. One of those times was during the protests at U.S. universities about the Israel-Hamas war. As scholars of free speech and public opinion, we set out to find out what happened and why. More at The Conversation ➜

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

One of the most spectacular solar sights is an erupting prominence. In 2011, NASA's Sun-orbiting Solar Dynamic Observatory spacecraft imaged an impressively large prominence erupting from the surface. The dramatic explosion was captured in ultraviolet light in the featured time lapse video covering 90 minutes, where a new frame was taken every 24 seconds. The scale of the prominence is huge -- the entire Earth would easily fit under the flowing curtain of hot gas. A solar prominence is channeled and sometimes held above the Sun's surface by the Sun's magnetic field. A quiescent prominence typically lasts about a month and may erupt in a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) expelling hot gas into the Solar System. The energy mechanism that creates a solar prominence is a continuing topic of research. Our Sun is again near solar maximum and so very active, featuring numerous erupting prominences and CMEs, one of which resulted in picturesque auroras just over the past week.

No wishful thinking,
by this aged man,
just a realization that
I still can,

look forward to
a seasons change,
and not worry about,
if I need tire chains.

When idiocy, reigns supreme,
it's not a breath of Spring.
It's the gasping for air,
when they take away everything.

You may not believe this, but
I know it is true,
the only losers we will have,
is you, you and you.

Wake up America!
This is your land,
others will take your freedom.
I hope you understand.

What happens tomorrow,
when we open up the door,
and find our beloved country,
isn't here, anymore?

A small stream,
flowing through hills and trees.
A Summer outing,
with a cooling breeze.

Such was the scene,
when I was a boy.
A family picnic,
a summer joy.

Rippling waters, cascade,
over rock and clay.
Oh the memories,
of that summer day.

The smell of cold fried chicken,
potato salad and baked beans,
are my memories of,
the summer picnic scenes.