Sunday, May 31, 2009

A Solar Prominence from SOHO


Credit: SOHO-EIT Consortium, ESA, NASA


Explanation: How can gas float above the Sun?


Twisted magnetic fields arching from the solar surface can trap ionized gas, suspending it in huge looping structures. These majestic plasma arches are seen as prominences above the solar limb. In 1999 September, this dramatic and detailed image was recorded by the EIT experiment on board the space-based SOHO observatory in the light emitted by ionized Helium. It shows hot plasma escaping into space as a fiery prominence breaks free from magnetic confinement a hundred thousand kilometers above the Sun. These awesome events bear watching as they can affect communications and power systems over 100 million kilometers away on Planet Earth.


Recently, our Sun has been unusually quiet.




Thursday, May 21, 2009

Every One Kan-Dinsky!

Super-cool art project based on one of my very favorite painters, Wassily Kandinsky, and comes from one of my very favorite blogs: Art Projects for Kids


Kid’s Art from Maine
Kathy,

My husband and I teach in a one room school house on an island off the coast of Maine. I have found your blog indispensable in teaching art this year to our k-8 students. We have done so many of your wonderful lessons that it was hard to choose just one to share! Thank you so much for your informative, inspirational and beautiful blog!


Michelle and Doug Finn
Frenchboro School
Frenchboro, Maine

Monday, May 18, 2009

Astronauts finish repairs on Hubble space telescope


By MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer Marcia Dunn, Ap Aerospace Writer


CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Spacewalking astronauts completed repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope on Monday, leaving it more powerful than ever and able to peer even deeper into the cosmos — almost to the brink of creation. The last humans to lay hands on Hubble outfitted the observatory with another set of fresh batteries, a new sensor for precise pointing and protective covers.

That equipment, along with other improvements made over the last five days, should allow the telescope to provide dazzling views of the universe for another five to 10 years.
"This is a very important moment in human history," Hubble senior project scientist David Leckrone said in Houston. "We will rewrite the textbooks at least one more time."
It was the fifth and final spacewalk for the shuttle Atlantis crew, and the final visit by astronauts ever to Hubble.

As the spacewalk drew to a close, Hubble's chief mechanic, John Grunsfeld, accidentally bumped one of the telescope's antennas and knocked off its cap with his backpack.

"Oh, I feel terrible," he groaned.

Mission Control quickly assured the astronauts the antenna was fine.

"Sorry, Mr. Hubble, have a good voyage," Grunsfeld said after he covered up the tip.

"Consider it a goodbye kiss, John," one of his crewmates said.

The astronauts planned to set Hubble free from the shutte's cargo bay on Tuesday.

During this emotional last house call, astronauts gave Hubble two state-of-the-art science instruments and fixed two others.

The $220 million worth of new instruments should allow the telescope to gaze farther back into time — within 500 million or 600 million years of the first moments of the universe.

Prior to the repairs, Hubble was able to look back to within 800 million years.

Hubble program manager Preston Burch acknowledged that the telescope still has some original parts, but noted "in many ways it is a brand-new observatory and far, far more capable than the Hubble of 1990."

Mission Control congratulated the astronauts for successfully completing "electronic brain surgery" Monday during a spacewalk that lasted more than seven hours.

In addition to the batteries and the sensor, Grunsfeld and Andrew Feustel installed steel foil sheets to protect against radiation and the extreme temperature changes of space.

It was messy work. Pieces of the old insulation broke off and floated harmlessly away.

"I was hoping to retrieve those for memories," said Grunsfeld, an astrophysicist who has spent more time working on the orbiting Hubble than anyone. He's visited Hubble twice before, and plans to use the telescope once he's back on Earth to study the moon.

As he applied the new insulation with a roller, a voice from space sang "rollin', rollin', rollin'" to the theme song from the TV show "Rawhide."

But the total 37 hours of spacewalks were by no means routine. The astronauts had some trouble removing an old camera and had to install a refurbished pair of gyroscopes after a brand-new set refused to go in.

Sunday's spacewalk was particularly exasperating: a stuck bolt almost prevented astronauts from fixing a burned-out science instrument. Brute force saved the day.

During the mission, the four spacewalkers, two per team, managed to fix two science instruments that had broken down years ago and were never meant to be tinkered with in orbit.
They also replaced a faltering science data-handling device and installed a docking ring so a robotic craft can latch on and steer the telescope into the Pacific sometime in the early 2020s.
"We pulled it off," an ecstatic Feustel said after the final spacewalk.

All told, this visit to Hubble cost more than $1 billion.

"We have a saying ... 'Science never sleeps,' and our work is just beginning,'" said Jon Morse, NASA's director of astrophysics. "And we can't wait to get out there and use Hubble for its intended purposes."

NASA hopes to crank Hubble back up by summer's end, following extensive testing of its new parts.

But already scientists have gotten more than they expected out of Hubble when it was launched in 1990 with a projected lifetime of 15 years.

Once its blurred vision was corrected in 1993 and NASA's reputation was restored, the telescope began churning out breathtaking images: among other things, stars in the throes of birth and death.

Back at the launch site, NASA maintained its vigil in case another shuttle needed to rush to the rescue. Atlantis escaped serious launch damage a week ago, but was susceptible to all the space junk in Hubble's 350-mile-high orbit. The astronauts will perform one last survey of their ship after releasing the telescope.

NASA took unprecedented steps to have Endeavour on the pad as a rescue ship, because the Atlantis astronauts have nowhere to seek shelter if they cannot return to Earth because of shuttle damage. The space station is in another, unreachable orbit.

The increased risk prompted NASA to cancel the mission five years ago in the wake of the Columbia accident. It was reinstated two years later.

With NASA's three remaining space shuttles set for retirement next year, there will no way for astronauts to return to Hubble. The new spacecraft under development will be much smaller and less of a workhorse than the shuttle, and lack a big robot arm for grabbing the telescope.
Hubble's replacement, the James Webb Space Telescope, will be launched in 2014 by an unmanned rocket and placed in an orbit inaccessible to astronauts.

NASA officials said the farewell to Hubble would be bittersweet.

"We all recognize we've gotten almost 20 years of service out of it. And it will be cranking along there for another five years," said Burch, the program manager. "Maybe it is time to move on."
___
On the Net:
NASA: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_sc/storytext/us_shuttle_hubble/32061094/SIG=11qr00th7/*http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Homeschool Share Blast!

Photobucket

Homeschool Share is a cooperative website for homeschoolers that houses curriculum written by homeschooling moms for other homeschooling moms.

The Blast is an annual contest to encourage people to add more content and units to the site.

Contest ends June 20, 2009. Check it out!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Earth To Mars


This project came from the experience that we all have whilst looking at the stars during our childhood, when we suddenly realize the infinity of the universe and that we are but a tiny part of it.

Yesterday's blog feature was about the reality of space travel. But Vincent Fournier's "Space Project" series is inspired by science fiction -- by the classic, whimsical stories of Jules Verne, in particular. His photos appear to have been taken in a desolate, futuristic wasteland. In other words: it looks like Mars.

(Click here to go to original post with picture show.)

In one sense, it's a photo documentary on some of the world's leading space research stations. Some photos were taken at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, where students and researchers actually wear space suits to simulate what it's like to be on Mars. Others were taken near observatories in the Atacama Desert in Chile, in the French Alps and on the summit of Hawaii's Mauna Kea.

But without that context, these photos appear otherworldly, which makes it science fiction, too. The fact that Utah can so closely resemble Mars means that there's still room for exploration in our own backyard. Fournier begs the viewer to be curious, to dream, to confound what's imaginary and what's real. Take a look at some of the images from Utah and Chile -- or maybe Mars -- here. But also be sure to check out the whole series.

"Space Project" will be showing at New York's Clic Gallery in early October. Photos courtesy Vincent Fournier, found on Multimedia Muse.

Also: Did you know Mars has a flag?

By Claire O'Neill

The Picture Show on Facebook on Twitter

Friday, May 8, 2009

Ill. Volunteers Married at Homeless Shelter

Not sure why, but this story struck me this morning.

Associated Press
Mon Apr 27, 12:35 am ET

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Two central Illinois volunteers have tied the knot in the place they first met: a homeless shelter.

Joyce and Joe Reynolds were married Saturday at the Washington Street Mission in Springfield.

On the first day they met at the mission, Joyce Reynolds says she mistook her future husband for a homeless man seeking shelter.

But Joe Reynolds, who is a longtime volunteer and leads Bible studies at the shelter, says he set her straight.

The Reynolds went on their first date a month after that first meeting.

About 100 people, including the homeless who rely on the shelter, attended Saturday's wedding.

The Reynolds say they plan to continue volunteering.
___
Information from: The State Journal-Register, http://www.sj-r.com

Monday, May 4, 2009

Will Post for Food

Reconciling Homeschooling Realities and Entrepreneurial Endeavors with Semi-Random Creative Verve Melted on Top: All of This & More in Just One Blog!


This was one of the suggested names that came as a result of my Name Change Poll. I have to admit; it does ring true...don't you think? I've decided to add the "Will Post for Food" part to the blog title permanently but to otherwise leave the title as it is. Raves & Rants of a Homeschool Mom: Will Post for Food. Thanks for participating in the poll! Fun one.


So, the first post of a new month. I love the beginning of the month. The monthly bulletin board of images has to be updated, and this month, I am focusing solely on Memorial Day; though I do acknowledge all of the other cultural Holidays and celebrations this month.


Happy...

Polski Day!
Cinco de Mayo!
Armed Forces Day!
Grandma Yadrich's Birthday!
New Grandma's Birthday!
Mother's Day!
Old Grandma's (my Mother) Birthday!
Memorial Day!
Asian-Pacific American Month!
Physical Fitness Month!

...and whatever other honorable holidays I MAY have missed!


The beginning of the month is also a time of reflection of the month past and in looking ahead to all of the wonderful things we will experience in the days to come.


Last month, Doug shot his first turkey. He was so excited, and Cole and I are so proud. He also brought home a bunch of morels, which we were quick to wash up, fry up, and eat up! Our chef buddy and Doug cleaned up the bird, and the amazing-looking meat is in the fridge, waiting to be cooked this weekend.


We had a lovely time with our extended family for Grandma Beasley's birthday in April and then again for Easter - when we also met our new little cousin, Whitney. She is a little angel and surely gets it from her Daddy.


Cole wrapped up his second month of guitar lessons last month and is really enjoying spending time with our friend, Danny. He's not much into practicing his guitar yet, and though he gets nervous before each lesson due to his lack of practice, he is not so moved as to change his behavior at this point. I remember starting band at his age, and learning to read - let alone play- music was intimidating and completely alien at first. One of these days, the light bulb will turn on, and he'll "get it" and be on his rockin' way.


My marketing firm, Innovative Design & Marketing LLC, picked up two new clients in April. Each new client heard its own little whoop of joy from me as in this economy, simply maintaining clients is a challenge. I also picked up two coaching clients - one seeking career coaching, the other adult ADHD coaching.


All in all, April was a GREAT month!


This May is a particularly exciting month for our household as it marks the conclusion of our first year as homeschoolers!


After two and a half weeks in public school at the onset of the 2008-09 school year, we decided enough was enough and removed Cole from school. Our decision was based on a culmination of previous and consistent disappointments within a variety of institutionalized education systems - both public and private - and was one of the single best decisions we've ever made for Cole and for our family.


The emotional rush of anger with our local public school combined with the positive energy in a dream realized in being able to finally homeschool Cole propelled us head-on into our homeschooling experience. The decision was made within a 30 second exchange in the school office, and we never looked back, nor did Cole (or us) suffer any negative transition - primarily because we had been wishful for the opportunity to educate Cole in this way for the past four years (and Cole was stoked we'd rescued him).


Cole now is learning in an organic, natural, and passion-driven fashion. We don't have bedtimes or set alarm clocks to wake by (well, we do if I'm traveling), but we don't sit around and talk about iCarly all day....lol..well, okay - we some times we do. Mostly, we are a family think tank driven by and intertwined by our three individual interests (respectively) and by all of the other stuff going on around us - what we see, hear, taste, smell, feel, and think about on a daily basis. We are all very project driven, and if you walked into our dining room, the piles on the table in front of you are a hint at what we are currently immersed.


Another bonus in homeschooling - and a timely topic with the swine flu epidemic: Cole's last full year in school had him down with strep SIX times. This meant six rounds of antibiotics (at least), never-ending make-up work and feeling behind, negative attitudes from the staff who felt we exaggerated the extent of Cole's illnesses, and so on. Within the past twelve months, Cole has had strep ZERO times (knock on wood)...a truly amazing feat when you've dealt with the school year unwellness blues we have.


In summary, we love unschooling!


Soooo...back to it being the first of the month. Yet another reason I love the first of any month are the new magazine subscriptions that begin to arrive in my mail box. This is one of my few green-guilty pleasures, but I do oh-so love my magazines (I also do try to make sure to pick up half of my monthly mags from the local library's donation box.) The latest, greatest from Scientific America, National Geographic, Inc., Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Harper's, the New Yorker, the Humanist, and many, many more. Cole digs into Highlights, Hot Rod, and NatGeo. Some of my favorite evenings are spent sitting around discussing the articles we're all respectively getting into, interrupting each other to read a bit out loud here and there. Awesome!


Beginnings are always so exciting! : )


Here are a few projects we are working on this May.


Windowsill Herb Garden: Here are a couple of photos of Cole planting basil seeds.


We are attempting basil, mint, parsley, cilantro, and maybe a couple of others. All of our dreams involve moving to the Country, and in hopeful preparation, we thought we'd better brush up on growing things.
Cole has also been diligently tracking the many storms that have passed through, and we are discussing creating a weather center in Cole's den. For sure, the kiddo needs a Farmer's Almanac. They are expensive, so we'll have to start budgeting it in. Cole is obsessed with comparing the historical daily highs and lows to current temperature trends. We do a lot of research on global warming, droughts, flooding, etc. Bottom line, this kid is cuckoo for weather.
I found an old airplane kit while digging for dirty laundry in Cole's room the other day. Cole and Doug spent an afternoon working on different models, making adjustments based on their objectives - straight, fast flying plans, loop-de-loo planes, hover planes, etc. It was a wonderful afternoon of flight and physics.


Cole, Doug, and I are also working on a philanthropic project this month. A friend of mine from high school/college, Jackie (Smith) Malena, is battling hepatacelluar carcinoma - a rare cancer of the liver - and is in need of additional funds to continue her treatment. This is Jackie's 2nd occurrence of cancer in seven years, and as you can imagine, their family's savings have been exhausted.
We are volunteering at their May 22nd Fun Run fund-raising event in Liberty and are also utilizing Fun & Funky Finds (my company's web store) as a means to help raise funds for Jackie's cancer treatment fund. 100% of the proceeds from Jackie's page are being donated to the fund.
If you are looking for a gift for Mother's Day, Graduation, a wedding, birthday, or any other special occasion, please take a second to consider supporting cancer warrior, Jackie Malena at Fun & Funky Finds.

Cole and I are also working on Mother's Day-related art projects, which we simply cannot disclose at this time. : ) Photos to follow soon.
I'm behind in my blogging. Several blog posts are in draft-form, and I'm determined to get them finished and posted before the pool opens....or it'll never happen.
Don't forget to check The Cole Train - Cole's weekly blog quote, and as always, thanks for your comments and for your continued support in our unschooling endeavor!
xo, Diane