Green thumb

Tip: Mark Bulbs

Spring-flowering bulbs that didn't flower should be marked with colorful ribbons for transplanting later. Once the foliage has yellowed dig and replant bulbs into a sunny, well drained site amended with compost.

This is timely because I am dealing with daffodils which have not bloomed and grape hyacinth which have disappeared.

Challenge

Think of nefarious use of this development and then try to think of a benevolent application.

Boeing Awarded DARPA Contract to Develop Ultra-Long-Endurance Aircraft Technologies

Boeing [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a $3.8 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract for Phase 1 of the Vulture air vehicle program, an effort to create a new category of ultra-long-endurance aircraft.

DARPA's Vulture program calls for developing technologies and ultimately a vehicle that can deliver and maintain an airborne payload on station for an uninterrupted period of more than five years using a fixed-wing aircraft. Boeing is teaming with United Kingdom-based QinetiQ Ltd. for the program.

The yearlong Phase 1 covers conceptual system definition, and formal reliability and mission success analysis, concluding with a System Requirements Review. It also requires conceptual designs for sub- and full-scale demonstrators.

"Boeing has worked closely with DARPA on a number of innovative programs in the past and we welcome this important opportunity to again team with them to define a new air vehicle system with unprecedented reliability and endurance that significantly extends current aircraft and spacecraft capabilities," said Pat O'Neil, program manager, Boeing High Altitude Long Endurance Systems. "We will combine our strengths in highly reliable aerospace systems development with the unique capabilities of our teammates, QinetiQ, Versa Power Systems and Draper Laboratory."

QinetiQ is currently flying and testing a solar-powered, high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial system for the U.K. Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense under the Zephyr Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration. QinetiQ's role will be to leverage the technologies developed and demonstrated in Zephyr for the DARPA Vulture program.

The Vulture vehicle's goal is to be capable of carrying a 1,000-pound, 5-kilowatt payload and have a 99 percent probability of maintaining its on-station position.

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Getting to the root

Ever wonder, as I do, how some of our language came into usage? This link offers some answers.

Idioms

It isn’t always the nonnative speaker’s accent (which may be perfect) that enables people to recognize instantly an outsider who is learning their language—it’s the odd mistakes that no native speaker would make. The idiomatic use of words such as to, for, and with varies from language to language. Just as each person has a unique, characteristic signature, each language has unique idioms. In fact, the word idiom comes from the Greek root idio, meaning a unique signature. Thus, each language contains expressions that make no sense when translated literally into another tongue. The humorist Art Buchwald wrote a famous column, often reprinted, in which he translated some of our Thanksgiving (Mercidonnant) terms into literal French, with comic results. If a German or Spaniard or Italian literally translated birthday suit and get down to brass tacks, the terms would make no sense, or the wrong sense. Even a native speaker of English who is not used to hearing literate idioms such as fits and starts, cock-and-bull story, hue and cry, and touch and go will not be able to make sense of them. Our purpose in defining these idioms is to let the cat out of the bag for those who haven’t heard them often enough to catch their meanings.

Other idioms are really allusions or foreign-language terms that make no sense unless you know what the allusions or terms mean. Carry coals to Newcastle translates adequately into any language, but it makes no sense to a person who doesn’t know that Newcastle is a coal-mining city. Knowing the literal meaning of idioms won’t enable you to understand them unless you also know what they allude to. Such ignorance is an Achilles’ heel and an albatross around one’s neck. Moreover, just knowing a baker’s dozen of them is not enough; you have to know them en masse. Educators who complain about the illiteracy of the young but pay no attention to teaching idioms are just weeping crocodile tears. We have therefore decided to cut the Gordian knot by systematically defining some of the most widely used idioms in American literate culture.

Link

Trend

One would hope we will start making smart decisions about our energy sources.

Coal Boom to Bust? New Power Plants Face Challenges

When Duke Energy asked North Carolina air quality regulators permission to build a new coal-fired power plant unit west of Charlotte, the company got a green light only after agreeing to limit carbon dioxide emissions.

But to the north, just across the border in the heart of Virginia coal-country, state regulators are moving closer to giving Dominion Virginia Power the go-ahead to build a new coal-facility without limitations on the release of the climate changing gas.

Over the last several years, power companies have pushed to build more than 150 new coal-fired power plants. But with Congress poised to restrict carbon dioxide emissions some analysts say that the boom may be coming to an end.

For now, though, the different tact on carbon at two plants separated by a three hour drive across a state line highlights the country’s patchwork, state-by-state approach to forestalling climate change.

As the likelihood of national carbon regulation has grown, Wall Street and the federal government have suddenly grown skittish about funding new coal plants. And state regulators in many parts of the country have in recent months blocked proposed coal plants on global warming grounds, even in states with no carbon restrictions on the books.

Link

Words, words, words

geoponic (jee-uh-PON-ik) adjective

Of or relating to agriculture
Simple... the opposite of hydroponic

endogamy (en-DOG-uh-mee) noun

The practice of marriage within a specific social group

noctilucent (nok-tuh-LOO-suhnt) adjective

Shining at night.

Wise words

At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst: Aristotle

Great thought from the world's smartest man

We all would benefit from having a vision and goal for the future. Considering who is saying this, I think the idea merits serious consideration.

Stephen Hawking urges new era of space conquest
Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking called Monday for a new era of space conquest akin to Christopher Columbus' discovery of the new world, in a speech on the 50th anniversary of NASA space agency.

"In a way, the situation is like Europe before 1492. People might well have argued that it was a waste of money to send Columbus on a wild goose chase," the British scientist said at Georgetown Washington University.

"Yet the discovery of the new world made profound difference to the old. Just think, we would not have a Big Mac or KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)," he added referring to the ubiquitous US fast food outlets.

"Spreading out into space will have an even greater effect. It will completely change the future of the human race and maybe determine whether we have any future at all," added the 66-year-old theoretical physicist, who is known for his works in cosmology and quantum gravity.

Hawking envisions a long-term space exploration project that would include building an experimental base on the moon within 30 years, and devising a new propulsion system to take us on a planetary hunt outside our solar system in 200-500 years.

"It will not solve any of our immediate problems on planet earth," he said, "but it will give us a new perspective on them and ... Hopefully, it will unite us to face a common challenge."

"Going into space will not be cheap, but it will take only a small portion of world resources," he added.

Hawking has suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative motor neurone disorder, since he was 20. It has left him almost completely paralyzed, and he can only speak through a voice synthesizer.

A year ago, however, he was able to step off his wheelchair and float about in a state of zero gravity aboard a special plane.

He hopes to repeat the experience in space, above the atmosphere, aboard the maiden, suborbital flight of the Virgin Galactic of British billionaire Richard Branson's venture company Virgin Group, whose first flight is planned for next year.

Link

Local application?

This is one of those ideas which I think can and should spread. It seems to answer many problems at once.

Pedal-powered cabs coming to Toronto

A fleet of pedal-powered EcoCabs will hit the downtown Toronto core starting May 1, offering passengers a speedy — and free — ride to their favourite restaurant, nightclub, business meeting or even the Rogers Centre for a ball game.

Eight of the cars, which have a futuristic yellow outer shell, were introduced today at Dundas Square by William Kozma, president of GO Mobile Media.

There is no charge (although tips won't be turned down) because the cabs are supported by corporate sponsors. Lipton Green Tea is one — and riders are provided a free glass of green tea with their ride.

The cabs, which are about 10 feet long and four feet wide, can accommodate two passengers on the padded seats and a child under 12.

And the three-wheeled cabs will travel on the right-hand lane of city streets at a top speed of 12 km/h. The average speed in the downtown core will be about 6 km/h.

"The idea is to have the vehicles throughout the downtown core in the areas where there is the most congestion," Kozma said.

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Where have I been?

I have been involved, to put it in a way that avoids saying I have been lazy.

A couple of links tell the story.

Update For Spring 2008

• Leola Street Garden Outreach

The Leola Street Community Garden is entering its 3rd growing season. Over the past two years the community garden has seen 45 different participants with 30 active participants each year. We have grown all kinds of vegetables, flowers, and herbs. There is a peace garden with medicinal herbs and herbs for tea along with flowers randomly about. Along Leola Street we have 35 dwarf apple trees which came from Big Horse Creek Farms in Ashe County. There are benches for resting, socializing, or observing. We have created the beginnings of a children's garden with the work of Two Rivers Community School. W.A.M.Y. has partnered to assist in meeting low-incomes with necessary resources. The community garden has supported participants by providing seeds, compost when enough funds, mulch, straw, leaves, and tools.

Those who have participated last year I must know by March 15th if you will renew your space or want more space or have something else you need to do. Please email, phone, or meet with me so we can sign up, deal with the usage fees, and cover guidelines or questions.

Link

Obama Wins Watauga County Democratic Straw Poll

The vote today in the Presidential Preference Straw Poll among 121 registered delegates at the Watauga County Democratic Party's annual convention...

79 Obama
42 Clinton

That's approximately 65% Obama to 34.7% Clinton.

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Hey, I can identify with this guy

We cross the thresholds of advancing age with begrudging resignation and then you suddenly get slapped with a story like this one.

Saoul Mamby back in boxing ring fighting at age 60

At age 60, Saoul Mamby has gotten back into the ring, and he wants to stay there.

The former super lightweight champion lost a unanimous 10-round decision last Saturday to Anthony Osbourne at the Lions Gate Center in Grand Cayman. Mamby became the oldest boxer in a sanctioned fight, weighing 149 1/2 pounds (68 kilograms), not far from his weight in his prime.

He plans to keep fighting, manager Steve Tannenbaum said.

Mamby turned pro on Sept. 23, 1969, with a six-round decision over Roy Goss in Kingston, Jamaica. He won the WBC super lightweight title (140 pounds, 64 kilograms) with a 14th round knockout of Kim Sang-hyun of South Korea on Feb 23, 1980.

In Mamby's first title defense, he stopped former lightweight champion Esteban DeJesus of Puerto Rico.

Eight years ago, Mamby became the first boxer in history to compete in five decades. Two weeks later, Roberto Duran became the second fighter to do it.

Before the loss to journeyman Osbourne, Mamby's last bout was Dec. 27, 2004.

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Another discovery

Big and small, near and far, old and new; the range and diversity of discovery continually amazes me.

Secret 'dino bugs' revealed

It is like a magic trick - at first there is nothing and then it appears: a tiny insect unseen by any eye for 100 million years.

We are with Paul Tafforeau who is scrolling through images on his computer.

His pictures have been produced by a colossal X-ray machine that can illuminate the insides of small lumps of clouded amber (fossil tree resin).

As he plays with the settings, what starts out as grey nothingness suddenly becomes the unmistakable outline of a "wee beastie".

Who knows? This little creature could once have buzzed a dinosaur. It's certainly the right age.

Tafforeau is a palaeontologist. But whilst others of his profession will be in the dirt with a rock hammer and trowel, you'll find him at the end of one of the most remarkable "cameras" in the world.

The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France, produces an intense, high-energy light that can pierce just about any material, revealing its inner structure.

Tafforeau and colleague Malvina Lak have put kilos of opaque amber chunks in the way of this beam and have found a treasure trove of ancient organisms.

Link

Getting spacey

Even if you are not paying attention, our awareness and understanding is steadily expanding. I would love it if all that effort was ultimately and directly applied to improving the human condition.

Scientists Discover 10 New Planets Outside Solar System
An international team of astronomers has found 10 new "extra solar" planets, planets that orbit stars other than our sun. The team used a system of robotic cameras that yield a great deal of information about these other worlds, some of which are quite exotic. The system is expected to revolutionize scientific understanding of how planets form.

Two participating astronomers from the U.S. are Rachel Street and Tim Lister. Street is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGTN) located in Santa Barbara. Lister is a project scientist with LCOGTN.

Team leader, Don Pollaco of Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, will announce the findings in his talk at the Royal Astronomical Society's national astronomy meeting in the U.K. on Wednesday, April 2.

The new international collaboration is called "SuperWASP," for Wide Area Search for Planets.

Link

Words, words, words

The words fall into my mailbox as random rain, at times eerily appropriate to the moment.

coalesce \koh-uh-LESS\ verb

1 : to grow together
2 a : to unite into a whole : fuse *b : to unite for a common end : join forces
3 : to arise from the combination of distinct elements

limn \LIM\ (transitive verb)

1 : To depict by drawing or painting.
2 : To portray in words; to describe.

melange \may-LAHNZH\ (noun)

A mixture; a medley.

This gets me excited

The three greatest needs of society are water, food and energy. This is a sensible answer to at least one of those.

A $20 Solar Charger Runs All My Gadgets
by Justin Thomas, Virginia
I bought this portable solar panel from SolarStyle on eBay for $20. This small solar charger has a built in battery (see this previous article for more information). With this portable solar panel, I charge my MP3 player, a portable amplifier, a set of battery-powered Sony surround sound speakers, a cellular phone, a digital camera, two LED lamps, a LED booklight, and a LED flashlight. If you are already positioning yourself to optimize sunlight, it is quite simple to do this. If I added a $50 solar panel, I can power two laptop computer, and have all of my audio-visual and computer devices running on renewable energy.

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Back

Net friend Sherry, in a rather polite way, wondered what happened to this blog. The simple answer is 'distraction' and my apologies are extended both outward and toward myself.

Time to get back to being productive.