psychohistorian.org
Saturday
2009 July 04
Books
Journal
AD&D
t: 01·22
I was going to buy a Dungeons & Dragons book this month.
Instead (but staying with the theme) I picked up a copy of Partridge's "Encyclopedia of New Religions: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities".
How many plots do you think this will inspire? Reckon my players will find them believable?
New toy
Astronomy
observing equipment
t: 00·07
I got a swanky new green laser pointer yesterday. It comes with an instruction manual.
Friday
2009 July 03
Cloudy night
Astronomy
images, Moon, atmospheric phenomena
t: 23·29
An SMS sends me scurrying outside under the cloudy skies and upwards to the 11-day-old Moon.
Responses to Amie van Wyk's challenge to atheism
Atheism
popular press, South Africa, criticism
Three responses to Prof Amie van Wyk's recent challenge to atheism, the first by Bruce Dickson, the second by Auke Slotegraaf, and the third by Paul.
Let's hear what you have to say.
Subaru captures fireworks in the Helix
Astronomy
Helix Nebula, images
The 8.2-metre Subaru Telescope atop Maunu Kea has zoomed in on a small portion of the Helix Nebula, a beautiful planetary nebula located in Aquarius and visible in binoculars.
The new images reveal thousands of knots of molecular and atomic material within the nebula being ripped apart by radiation from the dying star at the nebula's centre.
View these close-ups on the Subaru homepage.
Thursday
2009 July 02
First step back to the Moon: Images from LRO
Astronomy
Moon, NASA
The first images from the Moon taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) have been transmitted to Earth. Enjoy them on the LRO homepage.
Dinosaurs on the Ark
Atheism
creationism
Kitty, over at Atheist Nexus, reports that a contingent of palaeontologists took a field trip to the Creationist Museum in Cincinnati, USA. The New York Times has the details.
The caring approach
Humourspelling
Monday
2009 June 29
Lo and behold! The first internet message
Internet
"The first message sent over a computer network [on 29 October 1969] was supposed to be login, but it was truncated to lo by a system crash. … It took an hour to bring the system back up before login could be transmitted…"
Banks, M A (2008) On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders. Apress. p6.
In the same year, the first human landed on the Moon, Woodstock happened, and Charles Manson went on a killing spree.
Limpopo Astronomy Outreach (June 2009)
Astronomy
outreach report, Limpopo, IYA
Kos Coronaios reports on the first leg of the Limpopo Astronomy Outreach project.
Sunday
2009 June 28
Pretoria Dark Sky Weekend
Astronomy
observing event
t: 17·25
The ASSA Pretoria centre is hosting a Dark Sky Weekend on 17 & 18 July. The venue, the Lord Milner School 20km east of Bela-bela, promises near-perfect observing conditions.
If you plan on attending, please let me know.
One debate, many responses
Atheism
popular press, South Africa, criticism
t: 16·58
Prof J. H. (Amie) van Wyk's week-end article "Three debates, many questions" levels some questions at the atheists.
*sticky*
Home Page Archives™
Nostalgia
Looking for older items? Browse the Home Page Archives™ © ® patent pending
July skies
- Find out about the Moon, stars, planets and constellations visible in the southern skies this month in Southern Sky News for 2009 July.
Recommended
Science
Science
Scepticism
Skepticism
Stars to Midnight
- Visit Sutherland, the astronomical mecca of Africa, and enjoy a guided star show and deep sky tour, and see the "Stars To Midnight".
Percy Bysshe Shelley
"If God has spoken, why is the world not convinced?"
2009 Jul 03, 21:35:35
Idx reads: 269014
Ast reads: 5809
Ath reads: 3638
SSN reads: 5809
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