Many of us today, the world over, will be counting the seconds as Mid Night approaches and a New Year dawns. All of us during some moment of our lives have wondered about the fundamental nature of time. But, while it dominates our lives and all of us are bound up in its inexorable passage, few of us can give a precise definition of what Time with a capital “T” precisely is.
Today being the last day of 2008 AD we at Discovery Enterprise are going to go in search of the nature of time and explore it in all its majesty, wonder and mystery.
Most of the events taking place around us everyday happen too quickly or too slowly for us to see them. But imagine if you could see the changing phases of the moon, the sweep of the seasons and the shifting of continents, they are all connected to events happening to the here and now. Today scientists are using new technologies to shed light on forces that transform our world and universe on the most epic of scales. Dear readers its time for an extraordinary journey of discovery through the fourth dimension as we go in search of the nature of time. And, on behalf of Dennis, Ralph and my own humble self we would like to wish each of you a Happy New Year full of many blessings and good fortune. May Father Time rain much good fortune on each and every one of you dear and loyal readers.
Exploring Time – Part 01
Exploring Time – Part 02
Time – BBC – With Michio Kaku
In this four-part series, string theory pioneer Michio Kaku goes on an extraordinary exploration of the world in search of time. He discovers our sense of time passing and the clocks that drive our bodies. He reveals the forces of time that make and destroy us in a lifetime. He journeys to some of the Earth’s most spectacular geological sites to look for clues to the extraordinary depths of time at a planetary level. Finally, he takes us on a cosmic journey in search of the beginning (and the end) of time itself.
With women increasingly going au natural, conservative powerbrokers from all sides of State Parliament yesterday supported a ban on topless bathing.
Local councils currently don’t fine or prohibit topless bathers as they do not regard bare breasts as nudity.
Liberal powerbroker David Clarke and Labor MP Paul Gibson yesterday vowed to support a Bill by Reverend Fred Nile that would ban nudity at popular beaches like Bondi, Manly and Coogee.
Mr Gibson had this to say:
Labor MP Paul Gibson said topless women made people feel uncomfortable. "If you’re on the beach do you want somebody with big knockers next to you when you’re there with the kids," he said.
So I take it he doesn’t mind big knockers when he’s at the beach without the kids.
That local councils are not trying to stop it indicates to me its not a big issue. Surely they have more important things to do a Macquarie Street.
Not content with trying to censor the internet in their own countries leftist politicians are now trying to censor the net on a world wide basis. Its all about trying to protect the children of course.
Andy Burnham told Britain’s The Daily Telegraph newspaper the government was planning to negotiate with the administration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to draw up new international rules for English language websites. "The more we seek international solutions to this stuff – the UK and the U.S. working together – the more that an international norm will set an industry norm," the newspaper reports the Culture Secretary as saying. Giving websites film-style ratings would be one possibilty. "This is an area that is really now coming into full focus," Mr Burnham said. Internet service providers could also be forced to offer services where the only sites accessible are those deemed suitable for children, the paper said.
If parents were really concerned about internet content they can install filters, some of which are free. But of course, if the government believes parents are not responsible then they have to be treated like children too. With politicians as their mummies and daddies.
MYSTERIOUS panther-like creatures, long reported to be stalking the outskirts of Sydney, could be moving towards homes.
With at least 19 sightings reported this year, big cat hunters believe they’re becoming bolder as they search for food and mates, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Cryptozoologist Rex Gilroy said the elusive creatures – usually reported as fleeting sightings at night, often on lonely country roads – have been reported as far afield as Kenthurst, Lithgow, Penrith and Appin as they find migratory routes around Warragamba dam, linking breeding populations from the northwest to southwest via the Blue Mountains. ….
Perhaps Penrith Leagues Club could organise a award for the capture of their mascot.
While Frenchman Michel Fournier has so far failed to complete his near space jump the rockeeters at Armadillo are looking forward to the next step. Diving from space.
Transport is one of the biggest challenges New South Wales has. Motorists face ever increasing delays and congestion on roads while commuters have to cope with limited inefficient public transport. As the pool of public money is limited the two sides compete for funds and little appears to happen.
Rail is central to Sydney’s public transport. Yet its based on 19th Century concepts. Its centralized (all lines lead to Central Station) which means that thousands of people have work in Sydney even if they live in the outer suburbs. Also any union trouble can bring the city to a halt. The expense of heavy rail means expansion is difficult.
Private cars are decentralized, and not under anyone’s control. However they have their own limits of pollution and congestion.
Here is my proposal.
1)Place tolls on ALL the freeways and highways. Charge by the kilometer with offpeak discounts. This would stop the discrimination against motorist who pay a toll now on some highways while others don’t, and it would provide revenue for….
2) A major highway building program. Give Sydney the roads it needs. With tolls PPPs would be the way to go. However make sure every highway has a specific bus lane because the next step will be…
3) A full bore program to introduce Bus Rapid Transport in Sydney. Bogata has shown what can be done. BRT can move more people then rail and is far more flexible. It would allow a public transport network to be established through out the city at minimal cost. Again the private sector can take the lead. Professor David Hensher has often made the case for BRT An effective BRT network means we can consider…
4) Phasing out CityRail. Why do we need them if we can have something better? We can use that land for highways and commercial use.
Lets give Sydney a 21st Century transport system. A system based on markets, choice and innovation.
Today Marks the fortieth anniversary of the launching of Apollo 8 on its epic voyage to the Moon. This mission will forever be remembered because of the crew of Apollo 8’s historical and inspiring Christmas Message from the orbit of the Moon. So on behalf of my fellow writers Dennis Chamberland and Ralph Buttigieg I would like to wish you all:
Warm Wishes To You And Your Loved Ones This Holiday Season And Best Wishes For A Prosperous New Year! May We All Find Prosperity and Peace in Our Planetary Home The Good Earth and Amongst The Stars!
On Christmas Eve, 1968, during the Apollo 8 mission, Astronauts Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr., and William A. Anders, beamed home this holiday message as they orbited the moon (approximately 240,000 miles above the earth).
1968 was a very turbulent and tumultuous year marred by the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy and the ongoing war in Vietnam. For many of us alive back then it appeared that Armageddon was just over the horizon. The flight of Apollo 8 symbolised a brief glimmer of hope in that otherwise violent year when society looked like it was on the brink of disintegration. I was a mere lad of seven at the time. But, the chaos of that year was brought home to me when I saw from my family’s living room window of our apartment on the fourth floor a very violent anti war protest. I will never forget the scene of police in riot gear clashing with student protesters near Saint Mark’s Place and Second Avenue on Manhattan’s East Side.
To mark the fortieth anniversary of humankind’s first venture beyond the bounds of our mother the Earth we have four video features dedicated to our readers to mark the occasion:
The Awe Inspiring and Hope filled Christmas Message of the crew of Apollo 8 from Lunar Orbit
Moon Machines – Saturn V
This episode of MOON MACHINES immerses viewers in the incredible story of the mighty Saturn V moon rocket — technology that joined the vision of World War II German rocket scientists with that of a generation of young, dedicated engineers from across the United States. With the backdrop of Russia’s Sputnik launch and President Kennedy’s ambitious commitment to reaching the moon, engineers and scientists would produce a 363-foot-tall rocket with more than one million working parts that delivered 7.5 million pounds of thrust. Saturn V was so large that even those who built it were amazed and could hardly believe its power.
Moon Machines – The Navigation Computer
With computer software not yet invented and computing power less than a fraction of what is found in today’s handheld devices, the challenge of navigating a 250,000-mile round trip to the moon during the 1960s was daunting. This episode examines how an elite group of scientists met the challenges of creating a spacecraft with an infallible navigation system and a sophisticated computer with detailed programs.
Here is a song from the period that conveys our sentiments to our dear readers.
“The cosmos is all there is, all there ever was, and all there ever will be”. Carl Sagan-Cosmos, 1980.
This article is dedicated to the memory of Carl Sagan. November 9th, 1934 – December 20th, 1996
Today on Discovery Enterprise we commemorate the memory of Carl Sagan who died an untimely death twelve years ago today. Sagan was an astronomer, astrochemist, author, and highly successful popularizer of astronomy, astrophysics and other natural sciences. He pioneered exobiology and promoted the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). For me personally he will always be remembered and revered as a great teacher who communicated the joys and transcendence of scientific discovery. Carl Sagan’s enduring legacy will always be linked to his ability to convey the wonders of science to the general public and his skill to inspiring the next generation of scientists. Carl Sagan’s name will also be forever linked to the greatest science television series in history – Cosmos. Cosmos has been seen by more than 600 million people in over 60 countries.
In order to honour this great teacher we are offering a Cosmos marathon. Today you can view the entire thirteen episodes of this landmark television series along with a two part A&E biography special about Carl Sagan.
Many of us today, the world over, will be counting the seconds as Mid Night approaches and a New Year dawns. All of us during some moment of our lives have wondered about the fundamental nature of time. But, while it dominates our lives and all of us are bound up in its inexorable passage, few of us can give a precise definition of what Time with a capital “T” precisely is.
Discovery Enterprise 