Friday, March 19, 2004

Interesting news on Planetoid... is that what Pluto is?

Frigid 'planetoid' found in solar system Sedna is so far out the sun is only a pale pinpoint of light
By JOHN NOBLE WILFORD THE NEW YORK TIMES

Far beyond Pluto, out where the sun is only a pinpoint of pale light, a frozen world has been found on the dark fringes of the solar system. Astronomers say it is by far the most distant object known to orbit the sun and the largest one to be detected since the discovery of Pluto in 1930.

With one discovery, it seems, the solar system has gotten much bigger, glimpses of its outer reaches bringing a sense of reality to what had been a remote frontier of hypothesis. And perhaps it has gotten stranger, too.

"There's absolutely nothing else like it known in the solar system," Dr. Michael Brown, an astronomer at the California Institute of Technology who led the discovery team, said yesterday of the world about 8 billion miles from Earth. (Sedna is so far out that from its distance the sun could be completely blocked out with the head of a pin, he said.)

He added, "Our prediction is that there will be many, many more of these objects discovered in the next five years, and some of them will probably be more massive."

That prediction is part of the reason researchers are calling the object -- 800 to 1,100 miles in diameter, or about three-quarters the size of Pluto -- a planetoid. A planet must be more massive than any other object in a similar location, said Brown, adding that he doubts Pluto should have the label of a planet.

The researchers, whose observations were supported by NASA, said the object is extremely frigid (minus 400 degrees Fahrenheit) and peculiarly red, probably more so than any other body in the solar system except Mars. They are not sure why, and also have few ideas of its composition. It could be a mix of rock and ice.

Brown's group has proposed naming the object Sedna, after an Inuit goddess. For now, it is designated as 2003 VB12. The first sighting was made in November at Palomar Observatory, operated by Caltech.

The team also have indirect evidence a tiny moon may trail Sedna.

This report includes information from The Associated Press and Bloomberg News.
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Saturday, March 6, 2004

Marketing

The beauty of the world is unfolding quickly... soon the dog wood behind my house will be bright pink and all the plants that I have yet to put in my garden will be sprouting with possibility of summer and the bounty we will have. I love this time of year...

A little ditty about marketing I have been noticing how easily we are drug into the emotional world of marketing. Yes I said emotional. Have you ever noticed that the way marketing companies get your vote/money/whatever is by inflicting unneeded emotion? Take the hand soap I have.... Now I do Yoga... nothing special there. But the beauty of the culture from which Yoga emerged and was developed is exploited at all times with in the "American Yoga Market". We are consistantly driven by the emotional force of our desire to be more at peace with outselves and our world, so we reach toward what others have done... because of course what we are doing (as a culture at large) does not work. BUT, as Americans, we could not just use the same simple things they use, we have to have "blocks", and "wedges" (which of course are BRIGHT colors), and we have to have a bag for our blocks, mats, wedges, and of course "Yoga magazine" with Kanji on it.

I love kanji. I think it is, by far and away, the most beautiful writing on the planet, the beauty of it actually brings upon an emotional responce in me. It makes English (especially in my handwriting) look like second grade chicken scratch. BUT why would they sell a HAND SOAP with kanji on it... (see I told you this was about my hand soap) Does it say soap? NO... it says Trader Joes, in as closely as they could get with in Kanji characters. And the worse offence is the name of the line of soaps that my hand soap belongs to... E-Zen-cials... WTF? The other name on the line is "Trader Zen". Now, I really enjoy shopping at Trader Joes... I go about 45 miles one way to shop there because of their selection of non-toxic food treats and their organic meat for decent prices... but this shit is starting to drive me nuts. Does it make me refrain from buying it? No, of course not... because I would rather support a store that is exploiting characters and culture than support a store that exploits people. It is the lesser of two evils. "Trader Guittos" bothers me too... why is it we feel the need to make fun of culture to pacify the masses?
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Tuesday, March 2, 2004

The Beauty of Spring

The world is an interesting place. Finally spring has srung here... the crocus are in bloom all over Oly, and I feel as though the world has given me a devine gift of sanity again. Winter is such a cold dark place. The man in my life (from now on refered to as "the man") is becoming more and more a huge part of my conscienceness... the beauty and trials of life are defined in part by if he can help me cope or enjoy them. I love the fact that he is such a part of me, and in that dependece I am partially afraid of loosing him, or feeling far apart again. And not being willing to passify him when I feel my ideals are challanged is something that I am fighting with myself over. My children are consistant joy. I am a much better mother in the spring, summer, and fall than when I am fighting a depressing winter. Beauty is eminating in my world. As is chaos... but today just beauty. I refuse to be pulled down by reality on such a beautiful day.
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