Quick on the heels of my earlier note on planet detectors, Universe Today is reporting the smallest exoplanet yet has been discovered. Measuring in at a mere five Earth masses, GJ 436T wss found by a team of Spanish astronomers in the constellation Leo. The planet is far too close to its parent star to harbor liquid water, however, orbiting the star every 5 days.
""I think we are very close, just a few years away, from detecting a planet like Earth," team leader Ignasi Ribas said at a news conference on Wednesday April 9, 2008. The newest planet, "GJ 436T" was discovered by a team led by Ribas through its gravitational pull on other planets already discovered around the same star in the constellation of Leo.
It is only a matter of time before we find the 'Holy Grail' - a small rocky world with liquid water in the habitable zone of another star. We live in very interesting times.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
New Biofuel Breakthrough
ScienceDaily has a note regarding a couple of exciting new breakthrough in the production of biofuels. University of Massachussets-Amherst engineer George Huber announced the first ever direct conversion of plant cellulose to gasoline components, while University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher James Dumesic announced an integrated process for creating chemical components of jet fuel using a green gasoline approach. The Dumesic group had done previous work on jet fuel but their new work showed that their entire process can be integrated and run sequentially without any intervening separation or purification processes neeeded.
"It is likely that the future consumer will not even know that they are putting biofuels into their car," said Huber. "Biofuels in the future will most likely be similar in chemical composition to gasoline and diesel fuel used today. The challenge for chemical engineers is to efficiently produce liquid fuels from biomass while fitting into the existing infrastructure today."
For their new approach, the UMass researchers rapidly heated cellulose in the presence of solid catalysts, materials that speed up reactions without sacrificing themselves in the process. They then rapidly cooled the products to create a liquid that contains many of the compounds found in gasoline.
The entire process was completed in under two minutes using relatively moderate amounts of heat. The compounds that formed in that single step, like naphthalene and toluene, make up one fourth of the suite of chemicals found in gasoline. The liquid can be further treated to form the remaining fuel components or can be used "as is" for a high octane gasoline blend."
We may be around 5 to 10 years away from widespread commercial applications of such fuel sources, which have the advantages of being used in conventional engines and not suffering the 30% energy/mileage penalty suffered by conventional ethanol. Additionally, cellulosic sources of energy such as switchgrass or wood chips would not require the high direct energy inputs required by other alternatives. These breakthroughs are the first in a series of steps in which we may eventually grow a significant percentage of our energy resources. Outstanding.
"It is likely that the future consumer will not even know that they are putting biofuels into their car," said Huber. "Biofuels in the future will most likely be similar in chemical composition to gasoline and diesel fuel used today. The challenge for chemical engineers is to efficiently produce liquid fuels from biomass while fitting into the existing infrastructure today."
For their new approach, the UMass researchers rapidly heated cellulose in the presence of solid catalysts, materials that speed up reactions without sacrificing themselves in the process. They then rapidly cooled the products to create a liquid that contains many of the compounds found in gasoline.
The entire process was completed in under two minutes using relatively moderate amounts of heat. The compounds that formed in that single step, like naphthalene and toluene, make up one fourth of the suite of chemicals found in gasoline. The liquid can be further treated to form the remaining fuel components or can be used "as is" for a high octane gasoline blend."
We may be around 5 to 10 years away from widespread commercial applications of such fuel sources, which have the advantages of being used in conventional engines and not suffering the 30% energy/mileage penalty suffered by conventional ethanol. Additionally, cellulosic sources of energy such as switchgrass or wood chips would not require the high direct energy inputs required by other alternatives. These breakthroughs are the first in a series of steps in which we may eventually grow a significant percentage of our energy resources. Outstanding.
New Planet Detector should find ExoEarths
Astrobiology takes a look at new technology which should greatly aid our search for extraterrestrial earth type planets. The most successful method of finding such worlds has been the "wobble" method, where astronomers observe the gravitational 'tug' of planets of the light we receive from distant stars. In addition, there is even more difficult to detect 'transit' technique whereby the impact of a planet passing in front of the star from our vantage point lowers the amount of light reaching us from the star - obviously, timing is everything for this technique. With either method, large planets in relatively close orbits ('Hot Jupiters') are the easiest to find. Observing these large planets often lead to the discovery of others within the same system after further analysis of the gravitational effects.
However, things, as they say, they are a changin'. We are on what is likely to be the cusp of the greatest explosion of extrasolar planet finds in human history. Around 300 planets have already been detected using current methods.
" A revolutionary laser technology being developed by scientists and engineers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), with colleagues at MIT, will enable scientists to spot Earth-sized worlds in Earth-like orbits. The technology is a major step forward in the search for habitable worlds beyond our Solar System."We are at the cusp of a new era in planet searches, said CfA astrophysicist Chih-Hao Li. "With this technology we are developing, astronomers will finally be able to find the first truly Earth-like worlds in terms of size and orbit."
The new technology is a highly precise refinement of the 'wobble' technique. Current tech can find planets as small as 5 earth masses, but only in a fairly tight orbit around an alien star. The new device, which the researchers refer to as an 'astro-comb' uses ultrashort duration laser pulses combined with an atomic clock to provide a precision instrument capable of taking accurate measurments as small as one part in a trillion. This refinement may increase the 'wobble' detection accuracy as much aa 100 times, allowing planets even smaller than Earth to be detected. The new device is expected to go live for testing at Mount Hopkins Observatory this summer, with an improved design expected to be installed in the Canary Island's New Earth Facility by 2010.
However, things, as they say, they are a changin'. We are on what is likely to be the cusp of the greatest explosion of extrasolar planet finds in human history. Around 300 planets have already been detected using current methods.
" A revolutionary laser technology being developed by scientists and engineers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), with colleagues at MIT, will enable scientists to spot Earth-sized worlds in Earth-like orbits. The technology is a major step forward in the search for habitable worlds beyond our Solar System."We are at the cusp of a new era in planet searches, said CfA astrophysicist Chih-Hao Li. "With this technology we are developing, astronomers will finally be able to find the first truly Earth-like worlds in terms of size and orbit."
The new technology is a highly precise refinement of the 'wobble' technique. Current tech can find planets as small as 5 earth masses, but only in a fairly tight orbit around an alien star. The new device, which the researchers refer to as an 'astro-comb' uses ultrashort duration laser pulses combined with an atomic clock to provide a precision instrument capable of taking accurate measurments as small as one part in a trillion. This refinement may increase the 'wobble' detection accuracy as much aa 100 times, allowing planets even smaller than Earth to be detected. The new device is expected to go live for testing at Mount Hopkins Observatory this summer, with an improved design expected to be installed in the Canary Island's New Earth Facility by 2010.
Ancient Tools Found in Australia
NG is reporting the discovery of 35,000 year old stone and flint tools and knives in Western Austalia, some of the oldest human artifacts found on the continent, and aborigine leaders are quite pleased. There is evidence of human settlement in Australia as old as 40,000 years ago, but this is one of the oldest finds in this remote part of the continent's northwest.
"I'm ecstatic, I'm over the moon, because it's now indisputable," Slim Parker, an elder of the Martidja Banyjima people, told The Associated Press by telephone from Western Australia.
The tools, along with seeds, bark and other plant material, were found nearly 6.5 feet (about 2 meters) beneath the floor of a shelter—a slight crevice in the hillside protected by an overhang of rock—on the edges of an iron-ore mine site about 590 miles (950 kilometers) northeast of Perth, the capital of Western Australia.
"This area of land, in regard to our culture and customs and beliefs, is of great significance to us," Parker said. "We have songs and stories relating to that area as a sustaining resource that has provided for and cared for our people for thousands of years."
The significance of the find is that it conclusively proves that human moved into the much more arid regions of the continent at much earlier dates. Other such rock shelters in the regions will also be examined for further finds. People of aboriginal descent make up around 450,000 of Australia's 21 million people today.
"I'm ecstatic, I'm over the moon, because it's now indisputable," Slim Parker, an elder of the Martidja Banyjima people, told The Associated Press by telephone from Western Australia.
The tools, along with seeds, bark and other plant material, were found nearly 6.5 feet (about 2 meters) beneath the floor of a shelter—a slight crevice in the hillside protected by an overhang of rock—on the edges of an iron-ore mine site about 590 miles (950 kilometers) northeast of Perth, the capital of Western Australia.
"This area of land, in regard to our culture and customs and beliefs, is of great significance to us," Parker said. "We have songs and stories relating to that area as a sustaining resource that has provided for and cared for our people for thousands of years."
The significance of the find is that it conclusively proves that human moved into the much more arid regions of the continent at much earlier dates. Other such rock shelters in the regions will also be examined for further finds. People of aboriginal descent make up around 450,000 of Australia's 21 million people today.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Earth's Unbalance Sent Continents Wandering
Some interesting developments in the world of geoscience reported by NG. Some new evidence of switches in Earth's magnetic fields found in ancient rock samples seem to support a controversial theory regarding the speed of continental movements in Earth's plate tectonic system.
"Bernhard Steinberger and Trond Torsvik, of the Geological Survey of Norway, analyzed rock samples dating back 320 million years to hunt for clues in Earth's magnetic field about the history of plate motions. The researchers found evidence of a steady northward continental motion and, during certain time intervals, clockwise and counterclockwise rotations.
That pattern matches the predictions of a phenomenon known as true polar wander, a theory first proposed in the 1950s. The theory states that at times Earth's surface mass becomes imbalanced. The continents become dramatically offset from the planet's spin axis and so move rapidly to right themselves."
The evidence of this phenomenon is difficult to differentiate from the slower more regular continental movements, but the new analysis appears to show a dramatic shift of up to 18 degrees of latitude taking place over the last 320 million years. Earlier studies from the late 90s also seem to indicate another dramatic shift taking place around 550 million years ago, around the same time as the Cambrian Explosion, the diverse evolutionary period where a fantastic assortment of new life forms appeared.
The researchers of that period hypothesize that one of the planet's major subduction zones, where the ocean seafloor descends into the mantle under the continents, shut down as the continents formed the supercontinent Gondwanaland. The supercontinent then rotated rpaidly at a 90 degree angle and sent North America sprinting to the equator from deep in the southern hemishpere a mere 16 million years later, a relatively short span in geologic terms.
Another item of interest is that the the same theory appears to be applicable to the planet Mars, and the disappearance of what is believed to have been an ocean in the Northern hemishere as that planet's poles wandered.
"Bernhard Steinberger and Trond Torsvik, of the Geological Survey of Norway, analyzed rock samples dating back 320 million years to hunt for clues in Earth's magnetic field about the history of plate motions. The researchers found evidence of a steady northward continental motion and, during certain time intervals, clockwise and counterclockwise rotations.
That pattern matches the predictions of a phenomenon known as true polar wander, a theory first proposed in the 1950s. The theory states that at times Earth's surface mass becomes imbalanced. The continents become dramatically offset from the planet's spin axis and so move rapidly to right themselves."
The evidence of this phenomenon is difficult to differentiate from the slower more regular continental movements, but the new analysis appears to show a dramatic shift of up to 18 degrees of latitude taking place over the last 320 million years. Earlier studies from the late 90s also seem to indicate another dramatic shift taking place around 550 million years ago, around the same time as the Cambrian Explosion, the diverse evolutionary period where a fantastic assortment of new life forms appeared.
The researchers of that period hypothesize that one of the planet's major subduction zones, where the ocean seafloor descends into the mantle under the continents, shut down as the continents formed the supercontinent Gondwanaland. The supercontinent then rotated rpaidly at a 90 degree angle and sent North America sprinting to the equator from deep in the southern hemishpere a mere 16 million years later, a relatively short span in geologic terms.
Another item of interest is that the the same theory appears to be applicable to the planet Mars, and the disappearance of what is believed to have been an ocean in the Northern hemishere as that planet's poles wandered.
Boston Legal Quotes
Judge Harry Hingham: Alright already, I've heard enough. I'm going to rule on this.
Alan Shore: You can't rule yet!
Judge Harry Hingham: Why not?
Alan Shore: I don't know.
Alan Shore: You can't rule yet!
Judge Harry Hingham: Why not?
Alan Shore: I don't know.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Canada's Oil Boom
MSNBC has an interesting piece on the development of the Canadian oil industry, and also notes that many people don't realize that Canada is the US's leading external oil supplier. The high prices of conventional oil supplies are making unconventional sources such as Canada's oil sands economical to exploit.
"Here in Alberta — a once-desolate outpost 800 miles north of the U.S. border that has gone from ghost town to boom town — you won't see any spouting geysers, or traditional pumps drilling for oil deep underground. Oil — trapped in dark sticky sand — sits just below the surface of the earth waiting to be mined. Brad Bellows, a spokesman for oil company Suncor, explained that first step is to claw the oil mixed with sand out of the earth, using some monster machines."
The oil sands of Alberta stretch for over 50,000 miles and contain more oil than is found in even leading conventional producer Saudi Arabia. Canada's Suncor took a large gamble over a decade ago, when oil prices were far lower, to develop the technology that allows these resources to be produced today. Oil sands are difficult to produce, requiring large scale mining operations and large inputs of water and natural gas in the extraction process. It also releases more carbon dioxide than conventional oil operations, but Suncor and other firms are seeking ways to reduce these releases, and Suncor has cut its own emissions in half over the last decade. Canada, a Kyoto treaty signatory, is just as unlikely to meet its treaty commitments as most other signatories.
The success with oil sands is making oil firms also examine another unconventional oil resource, oil shale, found in large quantities in the American West. Some estimates are that up to 7 million barrels a day could be produced in the US by 2035. US oil firm Shell has invested $200 million in researching oil shale production methods, and thinks that pumping hot water deep into these deposits could reduce the problem of converting the shale into conventional oil.
"Here in Alberta — a once-desolate outpost 800 miles north of the U.S. border that has gone from ghost town to boom town — you won't see any spouting geysers, or traditional pumps drilling for oil deep underground. Oil — trapped in dark sticky sand — sits just below the surface of the earth waiting to be mined. Brad Bellows, a spokesman for oil company Suncor, explained that first step is to claw the oil mixed with sand out of the earth, using some monster machines."
The oil sands of Alberta stretch for over 50,000 miles and contain more oil than is found in even leading conventional producer Saudi Arabia. Canada's Suncor took a large gamble over a decade ago, when oil prices were far lower, to develop the technology that allows these resources to be produced today. Oil sands are difficult to produce, requiring large scale mining operations and large inputs of water and natural gas in the extraction process. It also releases more carbon dioxide than conventional oil operations, but Suncor and other firms are seeking ways to reduce these releases, and Suncor has cut its own emissions in half over the last decade. Canada, a Kyoto treaty signatory, is just as unlikely to meet its treaty commitments as most other signatories.
The success with oil sands is making oil firms also examine another unconventional oil resource, oil shale, found in large quantities in the American West. Some estimates are that up to 7 million barrels a day could be produced in the US by 2035. US oil firm Shell has invested $200 million in researching oil shale production methods, and thinks that pumping hot water deep into these deposits could reduce the problem of converting the shale into conventional oil.
Largest Star in the Universe?
Universe Today had a nice little column predicated on the question of how just how big is the biggest star in the universe is. Naturally, a difficult question given the size and scale of the universe, but something a little easier is how large is the largest star we puny humans have observed from our vantage point along the outer edge of the Milky Way galaxy?
Naturally, we use our parent star as the basis of comparison for other stars, using the terms solar mass (2 x 10 to the 30th power kilograms) and solar radius (432,000 miles). You could fit about 1 million Earth size planets inside the Sun, which accounts for 99.9% of all the mass in the solar system.
However, our sun is actually a pretty small to mid size star. The largest observed star in the Milky Way is called VY Canis Majoris, located in the Canis Majoris constellation around 5,000 light years from our solar system. Such a large star is very hard to measure because they generate so much solar wind that they lose a mass equal or greater than a gas giant size planet every year. Estimates of VY Canis Majoris size vary from as much as 2100 solar radii to 600 solar radii. The first estimate would place the surface of the star outside the orbit of Saturn, the latter outside the orbit of Mars - either way, really really big.
The author contacted the astronomer responsible for the larger of the VY Canis Majoris estimates, Roberta Humphreys, to ask how large a star could get in theory.
"I contacted Roberta Humphreys from the University of Minnesota, the researcher who calculated the size of VY Canis Majoris, and posed this question to her. She noted that the largest stars are the coolest. So even though Eta Carinae is the most luminous star we know of, it's extremely hot - 25,000 Kelvin - and so only a mere 400 solar radii. The largest stars will be the cool supergiants. For example, VY Canis Majoris is only 3,500 Kelvin. A really big star would be even cooler. At 3,000 Kelvin, a cool supergiant would be 2,600 times the size of the Sun.
That, she believes, is the largest possible star."
Interesting question, and an even more interesting answer.
Naturally, we use our parent star as the basis of comparison for other stars, using the terms solar mass (2 x 10 to the 30th power kilograms) and solar radius (432,000 miles). You could fit about 1 million Earth size planets inside the Sun, which accounts for 99.9% of all the mass in the solar system.
However, our sun is actually a pretty small to mid size star. The largest observed star in the Milky Way is called VY Canis Majoris, located in the Canis Majoris constellation around 5,000 light years from our solar system. Such a large star is very hard to measure because they generate so much solar wind that they lose a mass equal or greater than a gas giant size planet every year. Estimates of VY Canis Majoris size vary from as much as 2100 solar radii to 600 solar radii. The first estimate would place the surface of the star outside the orbit of Saturn, the latter outside the orbit of Mars - either way, really really big.
The author contacted the astronomer responsible for the larger of the VY Canis Majoris estimates, Roberta Humphreys, to ask how large a star could get in theory.
"I contacted Roberta Humphreys from the University of Minnesota, the researcher who calculated the size of VY Canis Majoris, and posed this question to her. She noted that the largest stars are the coolest. So even though Eta Carinae is the most luminous star we know of, it's extremely hot - 25,000 Kelvin - and so only a mere 400 solar radii. The largest stars will be the cool supergiants. For example, VY Canis Majoris is only 3,500 Kelvin. A really big star would be even cooler. At 3,000 Kelvin, a cool supergiant would be 2,600 times the size of the Sun.
That, she believes, is the largest possible star."
Interesting question, and an even more interesting answer.
Boston Legal Quotes
Shirley Schmidt: He is ultimately a benign man who we all happen to care about, including you. I think what you really mean to do is voice your concern unofficially.
Lori Colson: I'm making an official complaint. If there's forms to be filled out please have them sent to my office. [Lori walks away]
Shirley Schmidt: You little bitch.
Lori Colson: I'm making an official complaint. If there's forms to be filled out please have them sent to my office. [Lori walks away]
Shirley Schmidt: You little bitch.
Monday, April 07, 2008
How Gunpowder Changed the World
The lkatest installment from Livescience examines the way gunpowder changed the world. Chinese alchemists discovered the mix of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulfur ironically enough while attempting to find an elixer that would extend the human lifespan. Instead they discovered the most devastating weapon in human history.
"Gunpowder was quickly put to use by the reigning Sung dynasty against the Mongols, whose constant invasions into the country plagued the Chinese throughout the period. The Mongols were the first to be subject to flying fire — an arrow fixed with a tube of gunpowder that ignited and would propel itself across enemy lines. More gunpowder-based weapons were invented by the Chinese and perfected against the Mongols in the next centuries, including the first cannons and grenades. The psychological effect alone of the mystifying new technology likely helped the Chinese win battles against the Mongols, historians believe."
Gunpowder was exclusive to the Chinese until around the 13th century, when its secret was passed along the Silk Road into the Islamic world. The Ottoman Turks utilized gunpowder in cannons to lay seige to the capital of the Byzantine empire, Constantinople, and eventually destroy its walls and conquer the city in 1453. By the middle of the 15th century, individual firearms began to created, with further developments such as rifled barrels, cartridged ammunition, and machine guns coming as late as the 19th century.
"Gunpowder was quickly put to use by the reigning Sung dynasty against the Mongols, whose constant invasions into the country plagued the Chinese throughout the period. The Mongols were the first to be subject to flying fire — an arrow fixed with a tube of gunpowder that ignited and would propel itself across enemy lines. More gunpowder-based weapons were invented by the Chinese and perfected against the Mongols in the next centuries, including the first cannons and grenades. The psychological effect alone of the mystifying new technology likely helped the Chinese win battles against the Mongols, historians believe."
Gunpowder was exclusive to the Chinese until around the 13th century, when its secret was passed along the Silk Road into the Islamic world. The Ottoman Turks utilized gunpowder in cannons to lay seige to the capital of the Byzantine empire, Constantinople, and eventually destroy its walls and conquer the city in 1453. By the middle of the 15th century, individual firearms began to created, with further developments such as rifled barrels, cartridged ammunition, and machine guns coming as late as the 19th century.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Earliest Evidence of New World Settlement
NG has a story of surprising new evidence off pre-Clovis human settlement in the Western Hemisphere. Surprising given the source material: fossilized human feces (called coprolites) found in an Oregon cave.
"Since the summer of 2002, University of Oregon archaeologist Dennis Jenkins and his research team have uncovered about 700 coprolite samples from a group of bone-dry caves in the desert of central Oregon, including several from humans.
After repeated radiocarbon dating and DNA analyses, the scientists concluded that the oldest of the human-produced material was deposited at least a thousand years before the so-called Clovis culture, according to a paper appearing in this week's issue of the journal Science. "
This evidence supports that found around 15 years ago from Monte Verde, Chile, showing human settlement in the New World pre-dating the Clovis culture as well. While the Oregon site had been previously explored in the 1930s, the studies done at that time utilized flawed methodologies that confused the evidence discovered there. The recent team led by Jenkins re-examined the caves and found solid evidence that they meticulously documented. The analysis of DNA from the samples showed the humans were from genetic haplogroups A2 and B2, two of the same groups from which many Native Americans descend from today. This evidence appears to support the idea that earlier pre-Clovis coastal migrations were undertaken by migrant hunters long before that technology group established itself in the Americas.
"Since the summer of 2002, University of Oregon archaeologist Dennis Jenkins and his research team have uncovered about 700 coprolite samples from a group of bone-dry caves in the desert of central Oregon, including several from humans.
After repeated radiocarbon dating and DNA analyses, the scientists concluded that the oldest of the human-produced material was deposited at least a thousand years before the so-called Clovis culture, according to a paper appearing in this week's issue of the journal Science. "
This evidence supports that found around 15 years ago from Monte Verde, Chile, showing human settlement in the New World pre-dating the Clovis culture as well. While the Oregon site had been previously explored in the 1930s, the studies done at that time utilized flawed methodologies that confused the evidence discovered there. The recent team led by Jenkins re-examined the caves and found solid evidence that they meticulously documented. The analysis of DNA from the samples showed the humans were from genetic haplogroups A2 and B2, two of the same groups from which many Native Americans descend from today. This evidence appears to support the idea that earlier pre-Clovis coastal migrations were undertaken by migrant hunters long before that technology group established itself in the Americas.
Boston Legal Quotes
Alan Shore: Denny - I need you at 12:30, it'll take 5 minutes, tops. I need to trade a little on your...prominance.Your heft.
Denny Crane: What do you want me to do?
Alan: I don't want you to do anything, say anything, I just want you to be. Be all that you can be. One of the few, the proud.
[Brad Cahse overhears and grimaces]
Denny: You don't want me to say anything?
Alan: Just those two little words that tend to shock and awe.
Denny: Denny Crane.
Brad: Feel free to mock me all you want, but don't you dare ridicule our troops.
Alan: Just so we're clear, I should feel free to mock you?
Denny Crane: What do you want me to do?
Alan: I don't want you to do anything, say anything, I just want you to be. Be all that you can be. One of the few, the proud.
[Brad Cahse overhears and grimaces]
Denny: You don't want me to say anything?
Alan: Just those two little words that tend to shock and awe.
Denny: Denny Crane.
Brad: Feel free to mock me all you want, but don't you dare ridicule our troops.
Alan: Just so we're clear, I should feel free to mock you?
Thursday, April 03, 2008
2008 NL East Preview
Realized I still hadn't completed the Inferior League preview, so here goes the East.
The Fish traded away their two best players to the Tiggers, which leaves stud SS Hanley Ramirez as the biggest threat in the lineup to score, with some pop provided by 2B Dan Uggla, 1B Mike Jacobs and OF Josh Willingham. The staff boasts three southpaws, including journeyman Mark Hendrickson and youngsters Andrew Miller and Scott Olson, as well as righties Ricky Nolasco and Rick VandenHurck (no, you've never heard of any of these guys, except maybe Olson). Kevin Gregg returns as closer. The Fish once again are in their favorite position of having the youngest roster in the majors.
In Tomahawk land, the rotation again appears to be the strength of the team, starting with John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, the return of Tom Glavine from the Stupids, the return of Mike Hampton from the hospitial, and new kid on the block Jair Jurrjens (how many J's can a guy have in his name?). Last year's bullpen import Rafael Soriano gets the closer job, and the sticks have some new thunder in the cleanup spot with new import 1B Mark Texeira from the Sherrifs. Although they lost the Jones boy in center to the Brooklyners, the one at 3B stayed put and will likely put up those nice 30/100 numbers again. C Brian McCann and RF Jeff Francoeur also provide some pop down the lineup in the five and six holes, respectively.
Moving northeast to the nation's capital, the Senators boast a shiny new taxpayer funded ballpark, and some new arms in the rotation, including much traveled Odalis Perez, former Space Cadet Tim Redding (who pitched a gem last night) , young lefty Matt Chico, fellow youngster Jason Bergman and Sean Hill. Chad Cordero returns for the ninth, with Luis Ayala and Jon Rauch setting up. The lineup is built around 'franchise face' 3B Ryan Zimmerman (he of the opening day walk-off dinger) and former Yank 1B Nick Johnson, former Cincy OF Austin Kearns, former Stupids OF Lastings Milledge, former Twinkie SS Christian Guzman, along with former Brooklyn C Paul LoDuca - you get the point. While many of these guys are cast offs, they do have some talent with the sticks. Offensively, the team should be better, particularly with Johnson healthy.
On to the Quakers, who answered my faith in them last year by stealing the division right out from under the Stupids, which made me very happy. They have a nice 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Brett Myers and lefty Cole Hamels, with wizened southpaw Jamie Moyer, former Priest Adam Eaton and youngster Kyle Kendirck filling out the rotation. Former Korsair/Stupid/Bird Kris Benson is also signed in case anyone falters. The team signed former Space Cadet closer Brad Lidge for the pen, but he starts the season on the DL, leaving Tom Gordon to finish games for the first week or so. The lineup is still pretty fearsome, led by 1B Ryan Howard, 2B Chase Utley and LF Pat Burrell providing power, CF Shane Victorino providing some speed and SS Jimmy Rollins providing both. Former Brew Crewer Geoff Jenkins takes over in RF and former Midget Pedro Feliz takes over at the hot corner. Expect lots of scoring from this bunch, they led the Inferior League in runs last year and I see nothing to make me think they won't repeat the feat this season.
Then there is the Stupids, who have oodles of talent and idiots running the front office. They desperately needed pitching last season but never made a move for anything, lost the division and then sent a ton of prospects in the off season to go get the best pitcher in either league from the Twinkies in Johan Santana. Then in the second game of the season Pedro went down with a bad hammy in his first start. Brilliant! Youngters John Maine, Mike Pelfry, journeyman Oliver Perez and Nelson Figueroa fill out the rotation until the return of the oft-injured one. Billy Wagner returns to close ahead of setup guys Aaron Heileman and Jorge Sosa. The sticks are also fearsome - 3B David Wright, CF Carlos Beltran, 1B Carlos Delgado are all quality lumbermen, and SS Jose Reyes is still a base stealing king, and the #2 hole in the lineup has been filled nicely with former Twinkie/Fish Luis Castillo. CF Ryan Church also arrived from the Senators.
The popular choices are the Stupids and the Qakers, who both can mash, but I believe the Tomahawks may reassert themselves this year given the fact they can mash pretty well themselves and have a real staff. The Senators are improving, but I think a year or two away yet to develop. The Fish are pretty much in their one good team a decade rebuilding mode again, so see me in 2011 or 2012.
The Fish traded away their two best players to the Tiggers, which leaves stud SS Hanley Ramirez as the biggest threat in the lineup to score, with some pop provided by 2B Dan Uggla, 1B Mike Jacobs and OF Josh Willingham. The staff boasts three southpaws, including journeyman Mark Hendrickson and youngsters Andrew Miller and Scott Olson, as well as righties Ricky Nolasco and Rick VandenHurck (no, you've never heard of any of these guys, except maybe Olson). Kevin Gregg returns as closer. The Fish once again are in their favorite position of having the youngest roster in the majors.
In Tomahawk land, the rotation again appears to be the strength of the team, starting with John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, the return of Tom Glavine from the Stupids, the return of Mike Hampton from the hospitial, and new kid on the block Jair Jurrjens (how many J's can a guy have in his name?). Last year's bullpen import Rafael Soriano gets the closer job, and the sticks have some new thunder in the cleanup spot with new import 1B Mark Texeira from the Sherrifs. Although they lost the Jones boy in center to the Brooklyners, the one at 3B stayed put and will likely put up those nice 30/100 numbers again. C Brian McCann and RF Jeff Francoeur also provide some pop down the lineup in the five and six holes, respectively.
Moving northeast to the nation's capital, the Senators boast a shiny new taxpayer funded ballpark, and some new arms in the rotation, including much traveled Odalis Perez, former Space Cadet Tim Redding (who pitched a gem last night) , young lefty Matt Chico, fellow youngster Jason Bergman and Sean Hill. Chad Cordero returns for the ninth, with Luis Ayala and Jon Rauch setting up. The lineup is built around 'franchise face' 3B Ryan Zimmerman (he of the opening day walk-off dinger) and former Yank 1B Nick Johnson, former Cincy OF Austin Kearns, former Stupids OF Lastings Milledge, former Twinkie SS Christian Guzman, along with former Brooklyn C Paul LoDuca - you get the point. While many of these guys are cast offs, they do have some talent with the sticks. Offensively, the team should be better, particularly with Johnson healthy.
On to the Quakers, who answered my faith in them last year by stealing the division right out from under the Stupids, which made me very happy. They have a nice 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Brett Myers and lefty Cole Hamels, with wizened southpaw Jamie Moyer, former Priest Adam Eaton and youngster Kyle Kendirck filling out the rotation. Former Korsair/Stupid/Bird Kris Benson is also signed in case anyone falters. The team signed former Space Cadet closer Brad Lidge for the pen, but he starts the season on the DL, leaving Tom Gordon to finish games for the first week or so. The lineup is still pretty fearsome, led by 1B Ryan Howard, 2B Chase Utley and LF Pat Burrell providing power, CF Shane Victorino providing some speed and SS Jimmy Rollins providing both. Former Brew Crewer Geoff Jenkins takes over in RF and former Midget Pedro Feliz takes over at the hot corner. Expect lots of scoring from this bunch, they led the Inferior League in runs last year and I see nothing to make me think they won't repeat the feat this season.
Then there is the Stupids, who have oodles of talent and idiots running the front office. They desperately needed pitching last season but never made a move for anything, lost the division and then sent a ton of prospects in the off season to go get the best pitcher in either league from the Twinkies in Johan Santana. Then in the second game of the season Pedro went down with a bad hammy in his first start. Brilliant! Youngters John Maine, Mike Pelfry, journeyman Oliver Perez and Nelson Figueroa fill out the rotation until the return of the oft-injured one. Billy Wagner returns to close ahead of setup guys Aaron Heileman and Jorge Sosa. The sticks are also fearsome - 3B David Wright, CF Carlos Beltran, 1B Carlos Delgado are all quality lumbermen, and SS Jose Reyes is still a base stealing king, and the #2 hole in the lineup has been filled nicely with former Twinkie/Fish Luis Castillo. CF Ryan Church also arrived from the Senators.
The popular choices are the Stupids and the Qakers, who both can mash, but I believe the Tomahawks may reassert themselves this year given the fact they can mash pretty well themselves and have a real staff. The Senators are improving, but I think a year or two away yet to develop. The Fish are pretty much in their one good team a decade rebuilding mode again, so see me in 2011 or 2012.
Boston Legal Quotes
[Alan and Sally are walking down the hall at the firm]
Alan Shore: How do you feel about working under cover?
Sally Heap: I'm sorry?
Alan: Their entire case is a store clerk. I want to put a private investigator on him, follow him, we pick the opportunity for you to meet him, lunch perhaps.
Sally: And then what?
[passing Denny] Denny Crane: Denny Crane!
Alan: Then you order appetizers, elicit some disparaging information, allowing him to believe you're anyone at all, other than the defendent's lawyer.
Sally: Is that fair?
Alan: I don't understand the question.
Alan Shore: How do you feel about working under cover?
Sally Heap: I'm sorry?
Alan: Their entire case is a store clerk. I want to put a private investigator on him, follow him, we pick the opportunity for you to meet him, lunch perhaps.
Sally: And then what?
[passing Denny] Denny Crane: Denny Crane!
Alan: Then you order appetizers, elicit some disparaging information, allowing him to believe you're anyone at all, other than the defendent's lawyer.
Sally: Is that fair?
Alan: I don't understand the question.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Oldest Gold Artifact in Western Hemishere Found
ScienceDaily reports that a University of Arizona team in Peru has discovered a 4,000 year old gold and turquoise necklace, the oldest such gold jewlery piece ever found in the Americas, more thean 600 years older than the previous record holder.
"A team of scientists led by an archaeologist from The University of Arizona has unearthed what is, to date, the oldest collection gold artifacts found in the Americas.
The finding suggests that even early groups with limited resources recognized the value of status symbols. Mark Aldenderfer, a professor of anthropology at the UA, and his team excavated a site in the Peruvian Andes of South America, near Lake Titicaca. The site, Jiskairumoko, is located in a drainage basin where groups of hunters and gatherers were beginning to make the transition to a more settled existence.
Dates for the Archaic period, when Jiskairumoko was inhabited by these people, are as early as 5,400 years ago and ending about 4,000 years ago."
What is interesting is that the piece was found in a relatively small village, whereas the find of such jewelry suggests a more sophisticated larger society capable of generating agricultural surpluses allowing for the development of the specialized skills necessary for jewelry manufacture. This particular piece appears to have been made by hammering the gold until flat enough to be rolled into small nine cylindrical shaped beads, which were interspersed with the turquoise. Both materials are not available locally, suggesting a lengthy trip outside the region or a long distance trade network established from a fairly early date.
"A team of scientists led by an archaeologist from The University of Arizona has unearthed what is, to date, the oldest collection gold artifacts found in the Americas.
The finding suggests that even early groups with limited resources recognized the value of status symbols. Mark Aldenderfer, a professor of anthropology at the UA, and his team excavated a site in the Peruvian Andes of South America, near Lake Titicaca. The site, Jiskairumoko, is located in a drainage basin where groups of hunters and gatherers were beginning to make the transition to a more settled existence.
Dates for the Archaic period, when Jiskairumoko was inhabited by these people, are as early as 5,400 years ago and ending about 4,000 years ago."
What is interesting is that the piece was found in a relatively small village, whereas the find of such jewelry suggests a more sophisticated larger society capable of generating agricultural surpluses allowing for the development of the specialized skills necessary for jewelry manufacture. This particular piece appears to have been made by hammering the gold until flat enough to be rolled into small nine cylindrical shaped beads, which were interspersed with the turquoise. Both materials are not available locally, suggesting a lengthy trip outside the region or a long distance trade network established from a fairly early date.
How the Council of Nicea Changed the World
Livescience continues its 'events that changed the world' series with the Council of Nicea.
"When Constantine became the first Christian leader of the Roman Empire in the 4th century, his vast territory was populated by a hodgepodge of beliefs and religions.
Within his own young religion, there was also dissent, with one major question threatening to cleave the popular cult — as it was at the time — into warring factions: Was Jesus divine, and how?
It's hard to imagine riots in the streets, pamphlet wars and vicious rhetoric spawned by such a question, but that was the nature of things in A.D. 325, when Constantine was forced to take action to quell the controversy. That summer, 318 bishops from across the empire were invited to the Turkish town of Nicea, where Constantine had a vacation house, in an attempt to find common ground on what historians now refer to as the Arian Controversy. It was the first ever worldwide gathering of the Church.
The Christianity we know today is a result of what those men agreed upon over that sticky month, including the timing of the religion's most important holiday, Easter, which celebrates Jesus rising from the dead. "
The Council quelled the controversy over the question of Jesus' divinity with the politically astute compromise (forged by the Emperor himself) that Jesus and God were of the 'same substance'. This compromise, as issued in the Nicene Creed, forms a fundamental basis for chistian ideology and this statement of faith is still used in many services to this day. The council also settled a number of other church rules and settled on the way to determine the date of the Easter holiday celebration - the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. However, this particular council did not settle on the final selections of which books to include in the Bible, which was done at one of the later Councils of Carthage, but there was a fairly widespread agreement on which books were canonical as early as 367.
"When Constantine became the first Christian leader of the Roman Empire in the 4th century, his vast territory was populated by a hodgepodge of beliefs and religions.
Within his own young religion, there was also dissent, with one major question threatening to cleave the popular cult — as it was at the time — into warring factions: Was Jesus divine, and how?
It's hard to imagine riots in the streets, pamphlet wars and vicious rhetoric spawned by such a question, but that was the nature of things in A.D. 325, when Constantine was forced to take action to quell the controversy. That summer, 318 bishops from across the empire were invited to the Turkish town of Nicea, where Constantine had a vacation house, in an attempt to find common ground on what historians now refer to as the Arian Controversy. It was the first ever worldwide gathering of the Church.
The Christianity we know today is a result of what those men agreed upon over that sticky month, including the timing of the religion's most important holiday, Easter, which celebrates Jesus rising from the dead. "
The Council quelled the controversy over the question of Jesus' divinity with the politically astute compromise (forged by the Emperor himself) that Jesus and God were of the 'same substance'. This compromise, as issued in the Nicene Creed, forms a fundamental basis for chistian ideology and this statement of faith is still used in many services to this day. The council also settled a number of other church rules and settled on the way to determine the date of the Easter holiday celebration - the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. However, this particular council did not settle on the final selections of which books to include in the Bible, which was done at one of the later Councils of Carthage, but there was a fairly widespread agreement on which books were canonical as early as 367.
Boston Legal Quotes
Alan Shore: I really don't need second chair for this.
Lori Carlson: Sexual harassment is a specialty of mine.
Alan: Mine too!
Lori: No doubt, but while your experience tends to be more hands on, mine...
Alan: Tends to be more wishful thinking.
Lori: Not to mention...you ooze.
Alan: I ooze.
Lori: Yes. That certain something that subliminally champions mysogeny...you need me.
Alan: Lori, as much as I may want you, desire you even, I do not need you.
Lori: See that right there? Ooze.
Lori Carlson: Sexual harassment is a specialty of mine.
Alan: Mine too!
Lori: No doubt, but while your experience tends to be more hands on, mine...
Alan: Tends to be more wishful thinking.
Lori: Not to mention...you ooze.
Alan: I ooze.
Lori: Yes. That certain something that subliminally champions mysogeny...you need me.
Alan: Lori, as much as I may want you, desire you even, I do not need you.
Lori: See that right there? Ooze.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Boston Legal Quotes
[Sally Heap is in Alan's office agitated, believing she isn't ready to argue her first case]
Alan Shore: Sally? Look at me. Trust me?
Sally: I do.
Alan: And because you trust me, you'll believe what I'm about to tell you.
Sally: I will.
Alan: That's all it is.
Sally: All what is?
Alan: Trial law. Getting the jury to trust you, so they'll believe what you tell them.
Sally[earnest look]: Really?
Alan: Sincerity. Once you learn to fake that, there'll be no stopping you.
Alan Shore: Sally? Look at me. Trust me?
Sally: I do.
Alan: And because you trust me, you'll believe what I'm about to tell you.
Sally: I will.
Alan: That's all it is.
Sally: All what is?
Alan: Trial law. Getting the jury to trust you, so they'll believe what you tell them.
Sally[earnest look]: Really?
Alan: Sincerity. Once you learn to fake that, there'll be no stopping you.
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