Contributor Posts

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Beautiful spiral galaxy NGC 6744 is nearly 175,000 light-years across. That's larger than the Milky Way. It lies some 30 million light-years distant in the southern constellation Pavo, with its galactic disk tilted towards our line of sight. This Hubble close-up of the nearby island universe spans about 24,000 light-years or so across NGC 6744's central region. The Hubble view combines visible light and ultraviolet image data. The giant galaxy's yellowish core is dominated by the visible light from old, cool stars. Beyond the core are star-forming regions and young star clusters scattered along the inner spiral arms. NGC 6744's young star clusters are bright at ultraviolet wavelengths, shown in blue and magenta hues. Spiky stars scattered around the frame are foreground stars and well within our own Milky Way.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country. In the past few years, its popularity has exploded. Why? COVID? Perhaps to some extent. Personally, my theory is because it’s easy to learn and requires minimal skill or physical exertion – and if you fall, there are three people who can drive you to the hospital. Read more

Pleasing the weather,
we had yesterday.
A need for more moisture,
as the rain stays away.

Meeting the people,
learning to paint.
A slow pupil, I am,
a painter I ain't.

Here I sit alone,
thoughts getting hazy.
I am in the room,
where I'm borderline crazy.

Conversations surround me,
mostly short and inane,
causing me to ask,
"Am I now going insane?"

So many days and nights
running together, all week.
Certainly not the place
for the mentally weak.

The hall monitor
is on patrol.
She sees everything,
missing nothing at all.

An analysis released by Accountable.US "reveals that election-deniers that ran for federal office during the 2022 cycle received nearly $65 million from all corporate interests combined including trade groups, despite their open peddling of false claims undermining confidence in democracy. The National Association of Realtors (Realtors PAC) ranked as the top overall donor with over $821,000 in contributions". Read the full article at Accountable.US

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Stars are forming in Lynds Dark Nebula (LDN) 1251. About 1,000 light-years away and drifting above the plane of our Milky Way galaxy, the dusty molecular cloud is part of a complex of dark nebulae mapped toward the Cepheus flare region. Across the spectrum, astronomical explorations of the obscuring interstellar clouds reveal energetic shocks and outflows associated with newborn stars, including the telltale reddish glow from scattered Herbig-Haro objects hiding in the image. Distant background galaxies also lurk on the scene, almost buried behind the dusty expanse. This alluring view spans over four full moons on the sky, or 35 light-years at the estimated distance of LDN 1251.

Photo by Stefano Attalienti

Shredded carrots and golden raisins dressed with honey, lemon and orange blossom water. This carrot salad comes from the Middle East. Read more

I awake and
find you gone.
Know not where,
now I'm alone.

Alone is not what
I want to be.
I simply need
you here with me.

Rain has fallen,
all around,
wetting leaves,
wetting ground.

A simple verse,
nice to hear,
especially now,
when you're near.

You are my light,
who I adore.
I love you so,
you love me more.