Sunday, October 31, 2010
"Psychic" Octopus Dies in Germany
I hope you are not insulted by this, Madame Zoltar. The "psychic" tag is part of the AP's title for the video.
Or perhaps you are grieving? In any case, this is sad news.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Venus Passes Through Inferior Cojnunction
Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun tomorrow, October 29th. We usually don't see this phenomena as Venus is up during the day. However, Venus does not pass directly between the Earth and Sun. From our perspective, it passes slightly below the Sun. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has a camera with a coronagragph (a little disk the blocks the Sun) and gives us a nice view. Here is a pic from today.
Venus is the bright guy at the bottom. The streak is due to the fact that Venus is so bright, it bleeds over into neighboring pixels.
Now the main reason I mention this is that next time Venus undergoes inferior conjunction, it will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun. This is called a transit and will happen on June 5th/6th 2010 2012 (and I am telling you now, so no crazy people get to say in 2012 that no one predicted this before!) With proper solar filters or a solar telescope, you can see the disk of Venus on the face of the Sun. For most of North America, the transit will be in progress at Sunset (you can find more info about what you can see from your location here). We will see the first part but not the entire transit. The last time this happened was in 2004 and the transit was in progress at Sunrise. If you put the two together, I will have seen a whole transit!
Mark you calendars, because these are much more rare than you think. They occur in pairs separated by 8 years. After the 2012 transit, you have to wait until 2117 for the next one!
Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.
Four for Fridays
1) What are your plans this weekend? Any Halloween parties planned?
2) What costumes did you wear when you were a kid?
3) Did you ever pull any Halloween pranks? If so, what?
4) What was your favorite Halloween/scary movie?
Enjoy your weekend!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The Great World Wide Star Count 2010
If you go outside your house at make a measurement, that is great. However, you can make multiple measurements at different locations. If you go out to dinner or a movie, take a minute to look up. Don't worry if someone else has already taken a measurement at the same spot...multiple measurements are useful!
I have blogged on light pollution and its effects many times in the past. Light pollution is an big old energy waster since light going to space doesn't do much good for those of us on the ground. People who live near the oceans are familiar with the effects of light pollution on sea turtles. Here in Tucson there is a research project underway to study the effects of light pollution on bats and there are numerous studies underway investigating light pollution's effects on human health as well.
Now as I have mentioned before, the solution is not to turn out all the lights but to make sure we have well designed lighting. Well designed lighting puts light only where it is needed and when it is needed and only the minimum amount needed (too much light can increase glare and can create harsh shadows which reduces visibility). Groups such as the International Dark Sky Association have guides on well designed nighttime lighting.
Light pollution is one of those problems that can be solved with a little citizen involvement to foster awareness on the part of government and businesses when they replace their lights. The benefits include reduced energy consumption, a more natural nighttime environment for wildlife, and increased human health and safety. The first step it to gather data and build awareness which is a major goal of the Great Woldwide Star Count.Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.
Your Big Ass Storm
Still, it was impressive. Jeff Masters has a blog entry on the storm he posted earlier today. Check out his take on it.
Glad you all seemed to come through all right.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Dear Madame Zoltar
I really noticed our magnificent Green Bay Packers on Sunday night as they defeated the Minnesota Vikings. That game went back and forth, back and forth. A real rock-em, sock-em, spectacle. I almost felt a little sorry for Mr. Brett Favre as he hobbled about the field after the game, greeting Packers that he knew. Almost. Right now, though, I think I may feel a little more sorry for his wife. Thank you, our wonderful, beat-up and bruised Packers, for once again giving us a fantastic game and making us proud of you. May you devastate and annihilate the New York Jets this coming Sunday, Halloween. May the powers of the season align themselves with you. Boo!
In the vein of the Halloween season, I found a couple of appropriate videos for my dear Irregulars. The first is an informative short from National Geographic entitled “Halloween History:”
And for laughs, here is “Funny Halloween Pranks:”
Thank you for reading my blog this week my dear, dear friends. Be sure to cheer on our beloved Packers this Sunday and enjoy your Halloween, too. I’m thinking of going to a costume party this weekend as a meteorologist. What do they typically wear?
Please send your tricks or treats, or both, to: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.
I love you, my readers, both manual and telepathic. Be sure to be very careful in the windy winds of wind today. Driving, walking, almost anything can be hazardous. Even just sitting at home. Oh my. Lexiphanicism!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Remember, cell phones go public this month
REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this month.
REMINDER.... all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.
.... YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS
To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.
It is the National DO NOT CALL list It will only take a minute of your time.. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.
HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON .. It takes about 20 seconds.
Do Not Call
The 2011 Chandra Calendar
The Chandra X-Ray Space Telescope has just released its 20011 Calendar. Best part is its free and you can download it in various sizes. In the olden days, you would have to take it to a professional printer, but now photo quality printers give many people the ability to print the wonderful images on these calendars at home (just be sure you have a lot of black ink handy!)
Chandra observes the universe in X-rays instead of visible light. X-rays are much higher energy and the universe looks very different through X-ray eyes. Chandra observes supernova remnants, active galaxies, neutron stars, hot gas clouds and other high energy objects.
January's image of N49 is a good example of a supernova remnant.
This image is a composite of X-ray data from Chandra and a visible light image from Hubble. The expanding supernova remnant is interacting with the surrounding gas giving rise to an intricate array of filaments. The leftover neutron star is a soft gamma repeater, a neutron star that gives off low energy gamma rays (well, low energy for a gamma ray at least...they really are pretty energetic!) The neutron star is the bright "star"toward the top of the image, just slightly left of center. This explosion was not symmetric so the neutron star got blasted to the side.
So download the calendar...there are 11 more wonderful images and stories to go with this one.Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.
Our SER is a real gem

I tried to find a picture of Mr. Potato with a crown....boo-hoo...anyway, pretend there is one right here.
Thanks again, SER!!!!!!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Clorox vs. Peroxide: VERY interesting and inexpensive.
This is what she told me. ‘I would like to tell you of the benefits of that plain little ole bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for under $1.00 at any drug store. What does bleach cost? My husband has been in the medical field for over 36 years, and most doctors don’t tell you about peroxide. Have you ever smelled bleach in a doctor’s office? NO!!!
Why? Because it smells, and it is not healthy! Ask the nurses who work in the doctor's offices, and ask them if they use bleach at home. They are wiser and know better! Did you also know bleach was invented in the late 40's? Its chlorine, folks! And it was used to kill our troops. Peroxide was invented during WWI in the 20’s. It was used to save and help cleanse the needs of our troops and hospitals.
Please think about this:
1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I bathe.) No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash.
2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of peroxide to keep them free of germs.
3. Clean your counters and tabletops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.
4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.
5. I had fungus on my feet for years until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.
6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine but was healed by soaking in peroxide.
7. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.
8. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, plugged sinus. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes, and then blow your nose into a tissue.
9. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.
10. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and Comb it through. You will not have the peroxide-burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, reddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually, so it's not a drastic change.
11. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help get rid of boils, fungus, or other skin infections. 12. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour it directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.
13. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors. There is no smearing, which is why I love it so much for this.
14. Another place its great is in the bathroom, if someone has been careless & has peed on the floor around the toilet & it's begun to smell of urine. Just put some peroxide in a spray bottle & spray. In the blink of any eye all the smell will be gone & the bacteria eliminated! I could go on and on.
It is a little brown bottle no home should be without! With prices of most necessities rising, I ' m glad there's a way to save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner! This information really woke me up. I hope you gain something from it, too.
Know your States
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Park 6 Re-opening Blowout
Didn't there use to be a newspaper in Racine that covered local stories?
Jethro Tull - "Wind Up"
For the liars, thieves, and perverts who fed me crap for 12 years of Catholic school.
You must be proud of lying John.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Saturday Night Grin
The female doctor says, "I'm going to check your prostate today, but this new procedure is a little different from what you are probably used to. I want you to lie on your right side, bend your knees, then while I check your prostate, take a deep breath and say, '99' ".
Phil obeys and says,"99".
The doctor says, "Great". Now turn over on your left side and again, while repeat the check, take a deep breath and say, '99".
Again, Phil says, '99'."
The doctor said, "Very good. Now then, I want you to lie on your back with your knees raised slightly. I'm going to check your prostate with this hand, and with the other hand I'm going to hold on to your penis to keep it out of the way. Now take a deep breath and say, '99'.
Phil begins, "One .. Two ...Three".
"Man Eats Pumpkin, Pumpkin Eats Man"
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrArturoTrejo
I think this is funny, but I've learned that I have a warped sense of humor. The guy has 63 videos uploaded to his YouTube site (above) and almost 50,000 subscribers, so someone else must enjoy him, too. I suspect that Nancy is a very understanding woman.
What kind of drinker are you????
My life has moved on!
Three years ago today, my husband lost his battle with heart disease. It doesn't seem possible, but, yes, it has been three years.
Immediately following his funeral, like probably two days, you guys set up a gathering at a little restaurant on Hy 20....I hemmed and hawed, but finally got out of my car and went into that joint alone, for the very first time in my entire adult life. I never entered a bar/restaurant alone unless my husband was waiting for me or I was meeting a friend. Here I was meeting a bunch of folks I had met (gasp) on-line. You opened your arms to me and really were there for me during Doug's final illness and immediately after his death.
Thank you all so much for all the love you showed then and you show now.
I have found out who I am without a man and then decided since I was pretty okay with that, I would try the waters again. Wow...luck was with me and now I have another wonderful man in my life...and, again, you guys opened your arms to me with this new guy.
Thanks for the friendship and support you have given me during these changing times in my life.
Love,
Beejay
Friday, October 22, 2010
Tell me a joke!
Another Swedish Musician
Four for Fridays
1) Do you have a certain phobia? If so, what are you afraid of?
2) Who do you think is the best American president?
3) If were on death row, what do you want your last meal to be?
4) What you think is the best sight in your town?
Enjoy your weekend!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Flu Shot
Last year there was a big hoopla about the H1N1 (swine) flu and vaccinations. I got both the regular flu shot and the H1N1 shot. I always get the regular shot and have already received this year's vaccination, which includes the swine flu strains in it.
Are you getting vaccinated this year? Why or why not? Irregular minds want to know.
A Suicidal Comet
Comets pass near the Sun all the time. We rarely see them since they are frequently small and they are up in the middle of the day since they are close to the Sun in the sky.
Occasionally, one catches our attention. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has been up there looking at the Sun since 1995 and seen thousands of these comets. Yesterday it saw a good one. Click the picture to animate it.
The comet doesn't re-emerge on the other side! It probably didn't "crash" into the Sun in the classic sense of the word. Comets are primarily made of ice and this was a small comet so it would have melted long before it hit the surface of the Sun. We see the nice tail form as bits of the comet break off as it melts.
This comet is probably part of what is known as the Kreutz family of comets. Kreutz Comets are sungrazing comets. Based on their orbits, we have a lot of evidence that they all came from a large comet that passed near the Sun and broke up into small pieces a few thousand years ago (based on the number of pieces and their orbits, we can work backwards to get an approximate time frame). SOHO has seen many of these comets over the years.
Comets are cool...watching their last pass of the Sun is spectacular!Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.
The Very Model of a Modern U.S. President
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Legal Thievery
But they will tell you it is for the better of the people!
Taxes on the Rise
More shit from Unified
Dear Madame Zoltar
And while we’re on the subject of the weather, I received a question from one of the most wonderful Irregulars that I know, Mr. SER. Here it is:
Madame Zoltar,
This year the weather has been interesting to say the least. The weather even messed up the JTI picnic.
My question is, “Do you foresee any snow for the deer hunters this coming Thanksgiving?” It is always nice to have a little snow to track a deer if required.
Additionally, do you see in your crystal ball if the winter in going to be a cold one, I’m talking a lot of zero degrees or in the minus numbers?
......SER
Thank you so much for your submission, Mr. SER. I just love getting messages from my Irregulars and other fans. It is always a pleasure to connect with one another.
Mr. SER, I know you understand that I cannot be held liable for an always accurate prediction of the weather because of the will and whims of Mother Nature. (I swear that at times she has perversely set the weather on a course directly contrary to my predictions simply to shame and embarrass me.) With that in mind, I know that you desire only my “best guess” scenario, provided that all factors stay more or less equal to what they are now and progress normally for the next few months. In that case, and only in that case, I predict no snow cover for Thanksgiving and another winter like the last couple: fairly mild. I don’t know if it’s global warming or just another infinitesimal up-tick in the eons of time, but I believe that the heat is on again this year. Now you be sure to watch, Mr. SER and everyone else, just because I predicted it, the exact opposite will happen. There will be a foot of snow on the ground by Thanksgiving and this winter will one of the coldest on record. Oh my.
I just have to say something about our illustrious Green Bay Packers, but I don’t know what. Last Sunday’s overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins was heartbreaking. Oh dear. This Sunday night we’re up against the detested Minnesota Vikings, led by no other than the despised Brett Favre. Given the emotional overtones of this match up, I may have to take a personal interest in the affair. We shall see.
Thank you for reading my blog this week, my lovely lovey-doves. It is an honor and a pleasure to be a member of such a glorious group. May the crunching leaves of autumn bring smiles to your faces and a warm glow to your hearts.
Rake up your scribblings and dribblings, and bag them off to: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.
Watch out for the first frost of the season to nip your nose. Make sure your car is ready for winter. I don’t mean to cluck like a nagging mother hen, but the time of year approaches when it is prudent to be prepared. I love you all, Irregulars. Zarf and zills!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
How to seal a bag
Rich in 1900 or Middle Class Today?
The catch is of course that you live in 1910. You can be in the upper fraction of a percent in terms of income, have a mansion, servants, etc, but forget the modern medical care, televisions, computers, etc.
Given that I am in Tucson, I think the lack of AC in most places in 1910 makes the choice obvious here!
Petition for Referendum on RUSD's New Central Office
Originally posted Oct. 8:
Loyal Irregular Cyndi forwarded me the following email from Racine Alderman Jeff Coe, who is heading up a petition drive to force a referendum on Racine Unified School District's plans for a new Central Office:
"Date: Friday, October 8, 2010, 4:10 PM
"I am asking for help for our children in the Unified School District. Unified is going ahead with plans to build a new Central Office. This wiil be at the expense of our kids. We have over 80 million dollars worth of repairs and improvements needed in our schools. We may need a new Central Office but Unified needs to look at cheaper alternatives. If Unified is successful this will take almost 500,000 dollars a year away from the Schools. You can help stop this. We need at least 7,500 signatures turned in by Oct. 22 I need them back to me by Oct. 21. Unified needs to listen to the people that pay their salaries the taxpayers. This will force Unified to ask the taxpayers what they think and have a referendum on the funding. If you would like to help print off copies of this petition and get signatures please do. You need to be 18 years or older and live in the Unified School District. Who ever circulates the petition has to sign and date at the bottom.High School Students 18 years old bring petitions to schools or sporting events and get signatures .Parents take them to work with you. By working together we can do this. Lets show Unified they are out of touch.Any questions please feel free to call me at 637-0531 or jeffalancoe@yahoo.com. Remember 18 or older only please. Working together for our kids. Send filled out petitions to me at 1044 Villa st. Racine, Wisconsin 53403"
Cyndi attached a copy of the petition, but I couldn't figure out a way to host it here directly. Instead, I created a free account and uploaded it to http://www.slideshare.net/, then embedded it here (I hope this works):
UPDATE: I'm sorry. I didn't realize that you have to join slideshare in order to download the document. If you want a copy of the petition to print, email me and I will send you one: orbscorbs@jtirregulars.com.
UPDATE UPDATE: Racine Uncovered has a story about this here: http://racineuncovered.org/?p=21041
And they have a very nice pdf file of the petition here: http://racineuncovered.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/RUSD-referendum.pdf
Thank you, Racine Uncovered!
Monday, October 18, 2010
"Men's and women's brains"
The performer is Mark Gungor, who conducts marriage seminars and calls his website "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage": http://www.laughyourway.com/.
I found this video to be funny, and true.
You can search for Mark Gungor on http://www.youtube.com/. There's a lot of his videos out there.
'How to prevent Alzheimer's.
The project of the day was 'Keep your mind working. Try to create something from memory.'

Sunday, October 17, 2010
"BUCK Tooth BABY! . . . . Funny! Secret In-Store Review by Mike Mozart of TheToyChannel "
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheToyChannel
I think these are great. Why didn't someone think of these before? Next time I give a baby gift, I know what I'm giving.
Friday, October 15, 2010
"Brett Favre Karma Shot Called By John Madden"
Take THAT, Brett, from some of your still sore ex-fans.
There's more Favre here: http://www.thatsvikingsfootball.com/
Four for Fridays
1) Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?
2) What best describes your personality?
3) How do you feel about speaking in front of a group of people?
4) If there was something about yourself that you could change, what would it be?
Enjoy your weekend!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Sea Turtle Extinction -- Not Caused By Global Warming
World shame – the coast in COSTA RICA












The Turtle eggs are stolen to be sold.
NOTHING LIKE A PICTURE TO EXPLAIN AN EXTINCTION