Exoplanet naming standard [Click] an exoplanet's name is normally formed by taking the name of its parent star and adding a lowercase letter. The first planet discovered in a system is given the designation "b" (the parent star is considered to be "a") and later planets are given subsequent letters. If several planets in the same system are discovered at the same time, the closest one to the star gets the next letter, followed by the other planets in order of orbital size.
The vaccination rate (two shots) hit 70% a couple of days ago. It now stantds at 70.2%. Two-thirds of the people in Illinois as a whole have had their second shot.
America’s extreme subarctic road [Click] The Alaska Highway was the most ambitious construction project since the Panama Canal (when it was built during WWII). Hey! I’ve driven it! (But not in the winter.) It’s something to do once.
Wikipedia tells me that the whole highway is paved nowadays! When my brother and I drove it (that wasn't much over fifty years ago) the Canadian portions were mostly unpaved.
In some places the gravel had been oiled so many times it resembled macadam. You could be doing seventy mph and other drivers would blow right past you. The fastest I every went was once when I was trying to gain enough on a BMW that was trying to pass us that we could change drivers without being passed; when I looked down at the speedometer and saw I was doing 120 mph I figured it was time to back off a bit. It was "interesting" to pass a pickup with a camper in back; the dust roiling up behind the camper obscured all but a thin strip--maybe six inches--at the top. You pulled up close behind, and followed that strip wherever it went. You would stick your nose out past the back of the pickup every once in a while to see if there was room to pass--and sometimes you would have to get back out of the way FAST!
If you weren't sure you could negotiate a curve at the speed you were going, you would watch vehicles ahead of you that could see the road better. If they entered the curve at say 80 or 90 mph you followed at the same speed. If you had to slow down below 70 mph for a curve there would be a parade of warning signs: CAUTION! SLOW DOWN! SHARP CURVE! etc. The main speed limiting factor was the engine of the car--a big old V8 engine was best--something that could do 80 mph all day long without breaking a sweat. We had a little Ford Maverick with the standard engine, and at the end of the day when you turned off the ignition it would diesel for a little while before stopping.
I remember seeing people (Alaska locals) heading out on the road with tires I wouldn't trust to drive across town [but they had extra spares]. Standard equipment included plastic headlight covers and a bug screen over the radiator. Much of the way you drive through thick forests of dinky little trees that hardly look like you could get a board out of them--just high enough to obscure any view there might otherwise be. That makes the relatively few places where there was a good view that much more memorable.
Prince Charles has Covid 19 (second time)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cnn.com/2022/02/10/uk/prince-charles-covid-gbr-intl/index.html
Religion News Service: New report details the influence of Christian nationalism on the insurrection [Click] Christian nationalism was used to 'bolster, justify and intensify the January 6 attack on the Capitol,' said Amanda Tyler, head of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.
ReplyDeleteJesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation
Deleteby historian Kristin Kobes du Mez
https://kristindumez.com/books/jesus-and-john-wayne/
Respiratory infection found in dinosaur that lived 150m years ago [Click]
ReplyDeleteScientists discover new planet orbiting nearest star to solar system [Click]
ReplyDeleteExoplanet naming standard [Click] an exoplanet's name is normally formed by taking the name of its parent star and adding a lowercase letter. The first planet discovered in a system is given the designation "b" (the parent star is considered to be "a") and later planets are given subsequent letters. If several planets in the same system are discovered at the same time, the closest one to the star gets the next letter, followed by the other planets in order of orbital size.
DeleteAlthough ti article says "Proxima d" when it technically should be "Alpha Centauri C d".
DeleteThe vaccination rate (two shots) hit 70% a couple of days ago. It now stantds at 70.2%. Two-thirds of the people in Illinois as a whole have had their second shot.
ReplyDeleteFresno County
Delete58% fully vaccinated
65% at least one dose
70% age 5 years and over, at least one dose
Neighboring counties:
DeleteMadera County
53% fully vaccinated
60% at least one dose
Tulare County
53% fully vaccinated
60% at least one dose
Kings County
44% fully vaccinated
51% at least one dose
Mariposa County
43% fully vaccinated
64% at least one dose
Vermont = 87% of Vermonters 5 and up have received at least one dose.
DeleteChittenden County = 93%
99.6% of Vermonters 12 and up have received at least one dose.
Delete86% of Vermonters 12 and up have completed vaccination.
57% of Vermonters have received the booster shot, including 70% over 50 and 77.9% over 65.
DeletePaul Krugman: Biden’s Hidden Health Care Triumph [Click]
ReplyDeleteAmerica’s extreme subarctic road [Click] The Alaska Highway was the most ambitious construction project since the Panama Canal (when it was built during WWII). Hey! I’ve driven it! (But not in the winter.) It’s something to do once.
ReplyDeleteIt was built starting from both ends at once. They gave the surveyors a bit of a head start before the construction crews followed them.
DeleteWikipedia tells me that the whole highway is paved nowadays! When my brother and I drove it (that wasn't much over fifty years ago) the Canadian portions were mostly unpaved.
DeleteIn some places the gravel had been oiled so many times it resembled macadam. You could be doing seventy mph and other drivers would blow right past you. The fastest I every went was once when I was trying to gain enough on a BMW that was trying to pass us that we could change drivers without being passed; when I looked down at the speedometer and saw I was doing 120 mph I figured it was time to back off a bit. It was "interesting" to pass a pickup with a camper in back; the dust roiling up behind the camper obscured all but a thin strip--maybe six inches--at the top. You pulled up close behind, and followed that strip wherever it went. You would stick your nose out past the back of the pickup every once in a while to see if there was room to pass--and sometimes you would have to get back out of the way FAST!
DeleteIf you weren't sure you could negotiate a curve at the speed you were going, you would watch vehicles ahead of you that could see the road better. If they entered the curve at say 80 or 90 mph you followed at the same speed. If you had to slow down below 70 mph for a curve there would be a parade of warning signs: CAUTION! SLOW DOWN! SHARP CURVE! etc. The main speed limiting factor was the engine of the car--a big old V8 engine was best--something that could do 80 mph all day long without breaking a sweat. We had a little Ford Maverick with the standard engine, and at the end of the day when you turned off the ignition it would diesel for a little while before stopping.
DeleteThese days the minions of the law probably monitor speeds by satellite, and will have a ticket waiting for you three hundred miles down the road. . .
DeleteI remember seeing people (Alaska locals) heading out on the road with tires I wouldn't trust to drive across town [but they had extra spares]. Standard equipment included plastic headlight covers and a bug screen over the radiator. Much of the way you drive through thick forests of dinky little trees that hardly look like you could get a board out of them--just high enough to obscure any view there might otherwise be. That makes the relatively few places where there was a good view that much more memorable.
DeleteDefinitely adventurous! Did you see any Brown Bears or Caribou?
DeleteThe mosquito netting is essential. Their season is short, but they definitely make up for it by voracity.
ReplyDeleteA 5,000-year-old chalk sculpture of a "talismans drum" found in a grave of three children has been hailed as "one of the most significant" ancient discoveries in the UK. [Click] Similar to grave goods previously found 15 miles away.
Manchin says he favors raising the income cap for Social Security taxes. [Click]
ReplyDeleteManchin seems bent on making a name for himself.
DeleteI guess he never heard of "Watch out what you wish for."