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Showing posts from May, 2020

The Lively Center of the Lagoon Nebula

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The center of the Lagoon Nebula is a whirlwind of spectacular star formation. Visible near the image center, at least two long funnel-shaped clouds, each roughly half a light-year long, have been formed by extreme stellar winds and intense energetic starlight. A tremendously bright nearby star, Hershel 36, lights the area. Vast walls of dust hide and redden other hot young stars. As energy from these stars pours into the cool dust and gas, large temperature differences in adjoining regions can be created generating shearing winds which may cause the funnels. This picture, spanning about 15 light years, features two colors detected by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. The Lagoon Nebula, also known as >M8, lies about 5000 light years distant toward the constellation of the Archer Sagittarius. via NASA https://ift.tt/3dl9Zup

Wikipedia article of the day for June 1, 2020

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The Wikipedia article of the day for June 1, 2020 is SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse . SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was a German pre-dreadnought battleship of the Kaiser Friedrich III class, built as part of a program of naval expansion under Kaiser Wilhelm II. She was laid down in January 1898, launched in June 1899, and completed in May 1901, and was armed with a main battery of four 24-centimeter (9.4 in) guns in two twin gun turrets. The vessel served in the Home Fleet and later the High Seas Fleet for the first seven years of her career, participating in training cruises and maneuvers. Placed in reserve in 1910, the battleship was returned to active service in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I, tasked with coastal defense in the North Sea. The ship was deployed briefly to the Baltic but saw no action. In 1915, Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was again withdrawn from service and relegated to secondary duties as a depot ship in Kiel and then a tor...

nursery: Word of the day for June 1, 2020

nursery , n : (countable) A place where nursing (“breastfeeding”) or the raising of children is carried on. (by extension) Especially in European countries: a room or area in a household set apart for the care of children. A place where the pre-school children of working parents are supervised during the day; a crèche, a daycare centre. A nursery school (“a school where pre-school children learn and play at the same time”). (Philippines) The first year of pre-school. (countable, also figuratively) A place where anything is fostered and growth promoted. (agriculture, zoology) A place where animals breed, or where young animals are naturally or artificially reared (for example, on a farm). (horticulture) A place where young shrubs, trees, vines, etc., are cultivated for transplanting, or (more generally) made available for public sale, a garden centre; also (obsolete) a plantation of young trees. (sports) A club or team for developing the skills of young players. (countable) Something...

Picture of the day for June 1, 2020

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Female southern plains grey langur (Semnopithecus dussumieri) in Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India. Kanha National Park was created on 1 June 1955.. Learn more .

Picture of the day for June 1, 2020

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Wikipedia picture of the day on June 1, 2020: Female southern plains grey langur (Semnopithecus dussumieri) in Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India. Kanha National Park was created on 1 June 1955. https://ift.tt/2MkBQyE

Aurora over Sweden

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It was bright and green and stretched across the sky. This striking aurora display was captured in 2016 just outside of Östersund, Sweden. Six photographic fields were merged to create the featured panorama spanning almost 180 degrees. Particularly striking aspects of this aurora include its sweeping arc-like shape and its stark definition. Lake Storsjön is seen in the foreground, while several familiar constellations and the star Polaris are visible through the aurora, far in the background. Coincidently, the aurora appears to avoid the Moon visible on the lower left. The aurora appeared a day after a large hole opened in the Sun's corona allowing particularly energetic particles to flow out into the Solar System. The green color of the aurora is caused by oxygen atoms recombining with ambient electrons high in the Earth's atmosphere. via NASA https://ift.tt/2TTTA8t

NASA Administrator, Sen. Cruz, Rep. Babin to Discuss Crew Dragon Test Flight at Briefing in Houston

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Brian Babin of Texas will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. CDT Sunday, May 31, at Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, to discuss the successful docking of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Robert May 30, 2020 from NASA https://ift.tt/3eEgcln via IFTTT

Wikipedia article of the day for May 31, 2020

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The Wikipedia article of the day for May 31, 2020 is British hydrogen bomb programme . The British hydrogen bomb programme was the ultimately successful British effort to develop thermonuclear weapons. The successful test of an atomic bomb in Operation Hurricane in 1952 made Britain a nuclear power, but hopes that the United States would be sufficiently impressed to restore the Special Relationship were soon disappointed. In 1954, Cabinet agreed to proceed with the development of the hydrogen bomb. The scientists at the Atomic Weapons Establishment did not know how to build one, but produced three designs: Orange Herald, a large boosted fission weapon; Green Bamboo, an interim design; and Green Granite, a true thermonuclear design. The first series of Operation Grapple tests (newsreel featured) were hailed as a success, but Green Granite was a failure. In November 1957, they successfully tested a thermonuclear design. Subsequent tests demonstrated a mastery of the technology. Tog...

Demo-2 Launch: Setting Forth on a Historic Journey

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched from Launch Complex 39A on NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station. via NASA https://ift.tt/3gEg9ru

salami-slice: Word of the day for May 31, 2020

salami-slice , v : (transitive, chiefly Britain, informal) To engage in salami slicing. To tackle a big task in incremental steps. To reduce something incrementally (for example, to cut a budget by gradually removing sums of money from it).

Picture of the day for May 31, 2020

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Altar island in the St. Paul's Cathedral in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Learn more .

Picture of the day for May 31, 2020

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Wikipedia picture of the day on May 31, 2020: Altar island in the St. Paul's Cathedral in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany https://ift.tt/2zOuWiL

Liftoff! Demo-2 Heads to the Space Station

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft on NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard, Saturday, May 30, 2020. via NASA https://ift.tt/2TOAP6n

NASA Astronauts Launch from America in Historic Test Flight of SpaceX Crew Dragon

For the first time in history, NASA astronauts have launched from American soil in a commercially built and operated American crew spacecraft on its way to the International Space Station. May 30, 2020 from NASA https://ift.tt/2ZSPRM4 via IFTTT

SpaceX Demo-2: A New Era in Human Spaceflight

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen illuminated on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission, Saturday, May 30, 2020. via NASA https://ift.tt/3exQSgF

Green Flashes: Sun, Moon, Venus, Mercury

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Follow a sunset on a clear day against a distant horizon and you might glimpse green just as the Sun disappears from view. The green flash is caused by refraction of light rays traveling to the eye over a long path through the atmosphere. Shorter wavelengths refract more strongly than longer redder wavelengths and the separation of colors lends a green hue to the last visible vestige of the solar disk. It's harder to see a green flash from the Moon, not to mention the diminutive disks of Venus and Mercury. But a telescope or telephoto lens and camera can help catch this tantalizing result of atmospheric refraction when the celestial bodies are near the horizon. From Sicily, the top panels were recorded on March 18, 2019 for the Sun and May 8, 2020 for the Moon. Also from the Mediterranean island, the bottom panels were shot during the twilight apparition of Venus and Mercury near the western horizon on May 24. via NASA https://ift.tt/2MdqcG8

Wikipedia article of the day for May 30, 2020

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The Wikipedia article of the day for May 30, 2020 is Samuel Mulledy . Samuel Mulledy (1811–1866) was an American Catholic priest and Jesuit. Born in Virginia, he attended Georgetown College in Washington, D.C., where his brother, Thomas F. Mulledy, was the president. He then entered the Society of Jesus in 1831 and proved to be a good student. He was sent to Rome to study for the priesthood and to prepare for teaching. Upon his return, he held senior academic positions, culminating in his appointment as president of Georgetown College in 1845. Mulledy reluctantly accepted the position but requested to be relieved just eight months later. He continued to teach and minister, until his expulsion from the Jesuit order in 1850 due to alcoholism. For the next decade, he was a transient at churches in Massachusetts and New York, until being assigned to St. Lawrence O'Toole in New York City, where he remained for the rest of his life. On his deathbed, Mulledy successfully petitioned to b...

inkling: Word of the day for May 30, 2020

inkling , n : Usually preceded by forms of to give: a slight hint, implication, or suggestion given. Often preceded by forms of to get or to have: an imprecise idea or slight knowledge of something; a suspicion. (Britain, dialectal) A desire, an inclination.

Picture of the day for May 30, 2020

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Dulmen Ponys in the Merfelder Bruch at sunrise, Dülmen, North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyOn the last Saturday in May, the Wildpferdefang takes place every year.. Learn more .

Picture of the day for May 30, 2020

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Wikipedia picture of the day on May 30, 2020: Dulmen Ponys in the Merfelder Bruch at sunrise, Dülmen, North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyOn the last Saturday in May, the Wildpferdefang takes place every year. https://ift.tt/3evCbKZ

EPA! EPA! Fayetteville Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 related FEDERAL Offense For Selling Unregistered Pesticides on eBay

Fayetteville Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 related FEDERAL Offense For Selling Unregistered Pesticides on eBay Headquarters, Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) WASHINGTON (May 29,2020) — Rong Sun, who sold an unregistered pesticide as protection against viruses such as COVID-19, has pleaded guilty to violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Published May 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! Proposed Settlement with United States and Massachusetts Will Help Reduce Air Pollution from Sprague Resources’ Heated Petroleum Storage Facilities Across New England

Proposed Settlement with United States and Massachusetts Will Help Reduce Air Pollution from Sprague Resources’ Heated Petroleum Storage Facilities Across New England Region 01 BOSTON – Under a proposed settlement with the United States and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Sprague Resources LP will take steps to limit emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from oil storage tanks at seven facilities across New England. Published May 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Next NASA Advisory Council Meeting Postponed

The NASA Advisory Council (NAC) virtual public meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, has been postponed until further notice. May 29, 2020 from NASA https://ift.tt/2BfSjSJ via IFTTT

Eight US Manufacturers Selected to Make NASA COVID-19 Ventilator

After receiving more than 100 applications, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California has selected eight U.S. manufacturers to make a new ventilator tailored for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients. May 29, 2020 from NASA https://ift.tt/3ceiVQW via IFTTT

Hubble Sees Brilliant Tapestry of Stars

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The brilliant tapestry of young stars flaring to life resembles a glittering fireworks display in this Hubble Space Telescope image. via NASA https://ift.tt/2Mcw9TG

Mercury Meets Crescent Venus

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That's not a bright star and crescent Moon caught between branches of a eucalyptus tree. It's Venus in a crescent phase and Mercury. Near the western horizon after sunset, the two inner planets closely shared this telescopic field of view on May 22, seen from a balcony in Civitavecchia, Italy. Venus, the very bright celestial beacon, is wandering lower into the evening twilight. It grows larger in apparent size and shows a thinner crescent as it heads toward its inferior conjunction, positioned between Earth and Sun on June 3. Mercury, in a fuller phase, is climbing in the western sky though, reaching its maximum angular distance from the Sun on June 4 Still, this remarkably close pairing with brilliant Venus made Mercury, usually lost in bright twilight skies, easier to spot from planet Earth. via NASA https://ift.tt/2TOpsuZ

Wikipedia article of the day for May 29, 2020

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The Wikipedia article of the day for May 29, 2020 is Pod (The Breeders album) . Pod is the debut album by American alternative rock band the Breeders, released by 4AD records on May 29, 1990. Engineered by Steve Albini, it features band leader Kim Deal (pictured) on vocals and guitar, Josephine Wiggs on bass, Britt Walford on drums, and Tanya Donelly on guitar. The Breeders formed in 1988 when Deal, a member of the Pixies, befriended Donelly of Throwing Muses during a European tour. They recorded a country-infused demo in 1989, leading to 4AD co-founder Ivo Watts-Russell funding an album, Pod, recorded that year at the Palladium studio in Edinburgh, Scotland. The album became a critical and popular success, reaching number 22 in the UK. Critics praised its dark, sexualized lyrics, and compared it favorably to the Pixies. Nirvana's Kurt Cobain said it was one of his favorite records, and Pitchfork ranked it number 81 on its list of the best albums of the 1990s. The cover...

milquetoast: Word of the day for May 29, 2020

milquetoast , adj : (originally US, informal, derogatory) Meek, timid; lacking character or effectiveness.

Picture of the day for May 29, 2020

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View of the ceiling of the main nave of the church and Monastery of St. Francis, Quito, Ecuador. The Roman Catholic temple, finalized in the 17th century, is the largest architetural ensemble among the historical structures of colonial Latin America. The church is also featured by the mixture of different architecture styles as the construction took 150 years.. Learn more .

Picture of the day for May 29, 2020

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Wikipedia picture of the day on May 29, 2020: View of the ceiling of the main nave of the church and Monastery of St. Francis, Quito, Ecuador. The Roman Catholic temple, finalized in the 17th century, is the largest architetural ensemble among the historical structures of colonial Latin America. The church is also featured by the mixture of different architecture styles as the construction took 150 years. https://ift.tt/2zFCVP4

EPA! EPA! EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler Wraps up Atlanta Swing at Pullman Yard Brownfields Site

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler Wraps up Atlanta Swing at Pullman Yard Brownfields Site Region 04 ATLANTA (May 28, 2020) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler concluded his trip to Atlanta at the Pullman Yard Atomic Entertainment Site. Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler Wraps up Atlanta Swing at Pullman Yard Brownfields Site

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler Wraps up Atlanta Swing at Pullman Yard Brownfields Site Headquarters, Office of the Administrator (AO) Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Administrator Wheeler Continues Atlanta Trip at Proctor Creek Trash Trap

EPA Administrator Wheeler Continues Atlanta Trip at Proctor Creek Trash Trap Region 04 ATLANTA (May 28, 2020) — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler continued his swing through Atlanta. Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA and State of Kansas Reach Agreement With HollyFrontier for Alleged Clean Air Act Violations at El Dorado, Kansas, Refinery

EPA and State of Kansas Reach Agreement With HollyFrontier for Alleged Clean Air Act Violations at El Dorado, Kansas, Refinery Region 07 Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA and State of Kansas Reach Agreement With HollyFrontier for Alleged Clean Air Act Violations at its El Dorado, Kansas Refinery

EPA and State of Kansas Reach Agreement With HollyFrontier for Alleged Clean Air Act Violations at its El Dorado, Kansas Refinery Headquarters, Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) WASHINGTON (May 28,2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state of Kansas have announced a settlement with HollyFrontier El Dorado Refining LLC. Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Administrator Wheeler Continues Atlanta Trip at Proctor Creek Trash Trap

EPA Administrator Wheeler Continues Atlanta Trip at Proctor Creek Trash Trap Headquarters, Office of the Administrator (AO) ATLANTA (May 28, 2020) — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler continued his swing through Atlanta. He kicked off his day with a visit to EPA’s Region 4 Headquarters, where he spoke to regional employees at an All Hands meeting. Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! St. Louis County Official Appointed to EPA Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee

St. Louis County Official Appointed to EPA Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Region 07 Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! La EPA pone énfasis en la necesidad de continuar las prácticas de limpieza y desinfección

La EPA pone énfasis en la necesidad de continuar las prácticas de limpieza y desinfección Headquarters, Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) WASHINGTON (28 de mayo de 2020)—La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de EE. UU. Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Emphasizes the Need to Continue Cleaning and Disinfection Practices

EPA Emphasizes the Need to Continue Cleaning and Disinfection Practices Headquarters, Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) WASHINGTON (May 28, 2020) — The U.S. Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Announces $196 Million Water Infrastructure Loan to Inland Empire, California

EPA Announces $196 Million Water Infrastructure Loan to Inland Empire, California Headquarters, Water (OW) WASHINGTON (May 28, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $196 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Inland Empire Utilities Agency in San Bernardino County, California. Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Updates to Coverage of Landmark NASA SpaceX Commercial Crew Test Flight

NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch and launch activities for the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight, carrying NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the International Space Station. May 28, 2020 from NASA https://ift.tt/3di03BW via IFTTT

Imagining Another Earth

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This artist's concept shows exoplanet Kepler-1649c orbiting around its host red dwarf star. via NASA https://ift.tt/3c61amx

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

From 20 to 26 May 2020, no new cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Figure 1). Published on May 27, 2020 at 05:00PM View on website

EPA! EPA! Companies in Md., Del., and Pa. settle alleged Clean Air Act violations involving after-market devices for diesel trucks

Companies in Md., Del., and Pa. settle alleged Clean Air Act violations involving after-market devices for diesel trucks Region 03 PHILADELPHIA (May 28, 2020) – The U.S. Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Opens Comment Period on Proposed Cleanup Plan for Keystone Corridor Superfund Site in Indianapolis

EPA Opens Comment Period on Proposed Cleanup Plan for Keystone Corridor Superfund Site in Indianapolis Region 05 For Immediate Release No. 20-OPA-050 Published May 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

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In the week ending May 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 2,123,000, a decrease of 323,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 8,000 from 2,438,000 to 2,446,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,608,000, a decrease of 436,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,000 from 3,042,000 to 3,044,000.

Reflecting the International Space Station

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Still bathed in sunlight, the International Space Station arced through the evening sky over lake Wulfsahl-Gusborn in northern Germany, just after sunset on March 25. The familiar constellation of Orion can be seen left of the trail of the orbital station's bright passage. On the right, Venus is the brilliant evening star above the western horizon. With the camera fixed to a tripod, this scene was captured in a series of five exposures. How can you tell? The short time delay between the end of one exposure and the beginning of the next leaves small gaps in the ISS light trail. Look closely and you'll also see that the sky that appears to be above the horizon is actually a reflection though. The final image has been vertically inverted and the night skyscape recorded in the mirror-like waters of the small lake. via NASA https://ift.tt/2AbRdXJ

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Nearly $24 Million in Dislocated Worker Grants in Response to the Coronavirus Public Health Emergency

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WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of four Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) totaling $23,823,000 to help address the workforce-related impacts of the public health emergency related to the coronavirus. These awards are funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided $345 million for DWGs to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This latest award follows four previous waves of funding, bringing the total amount awarded to states and territories to $222,044,958. “These grants will be very helpful in mitigating the effects of the coronavirus on state workforces and ensuring they have the right resources to assist those affected by this pandemic,” said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training John Pallasch. “We continue to encourage states to leverage these funds to assist in contact tracing and other re-opening activities.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the coron...

EPA! EPA! EPA Administrator Wheeler Kicks Off Georgia Trip at Southern Belle Farm

EPA Administrator Wheeler Kicks Off Georgia Trip at Southern Belle Farm Region 04 McDonough, Ga. (May 27, 2020) — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler kicked off his swing through Georgia by highlighting the critical role agriculture has with our society and well-being at Southern Belle Farm in McDonough. Published May 26, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Wikipedia article of the day for May 28, 2020

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The Wikipedia article of the day for May 28, 2020 is Great spotted woodpecker . The great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) is a medium-sized woodpecker with pied black and white plumage and a red patch on the lower belly. Males and young birds also have red markings on the neck or head. This species is found across Eurasia and parts of North Africa, in all types of woodlands. Some individuals have a tendency to wander, leading to the recent recolonisation of Ireland. Great spotted woodpeckers chisel into trees to find food or excavate nest holes, and also drum for contact and territorial advertisement; they have anatomical adaptations to manage the physical stresses from the hammering action. They can extract seeds from pine cones and insect larvae from inside trees, and will eat eggs and chicks of other birds. Both parents incubate the clutch of four to six eggs and continue to feed the chicks for about ten days after they fledge. The species has a large population and is not ...

fifth wheel: Word of the day for May 28, 2020

fifth wheel , n : (road transport) A type of trailer hitch, which consists of a horseshoe-shaped plate on a multidirectional pivot, with a locking pin to couple with the kingpin of a truck trailer. In full, fifth-wheel trailer: a large caravan or travel trailer that is connected to a pickup truck for towing by a hitch similar to the one described in sense 1 located in the center of the truck's bed. (road transport, historical) A horizontal wheel or segment of a wheel above the front axle and beneath the body of a carriage, forming an extended support to prevent it from overturning. (idiomatic, informal) Anything superfluous or unnecessary.

Picture of the day for May 28, 2020

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Ritual shaman pillars know as serge with colored ribbons in sacred place Cape Burhan on Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Russia.. Learn more .

Picture of the day for May 28, 2020

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Wikipedia picture of the day on May 28, 2020: Ritual shaman pillars know as serge with colored ribbons in sacred place Cape Burhan on Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Russia. https://ift.tt/36Fsmrs

EPA! EPA! EPA Administrator Wheeler Kicks Off Georgia Trip at Southern Belle Farm

EPA Administrator Wheeler Kicks Off Georgia Trip at Southern Belle Farm Headquarters, Office of the Administrator (AO) Published May 26, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Recognizes Wylie ISD for Achievement in Reducing Food Waste

EPA Recognizes Wylie ISD for Achievement in Reducing Food Waste Region 06 DALLAS – (May 27, 2020) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized two schools in the Wylie, Texas, Independent School District (ISD) for outstanding accomplishments in the 2019 Food Recovery Challenge. Published May 26, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! U.S. EPA issues order to Indian Village Mobile Home Park in Thermal, Calif., to ensure drinking water is safe for residents

U.S. EPA issues order to Indian Village Mobile Home Park in Thermal, Calif., to ensure drinking water is safe for residents Region 09 THERMAL, Calif. – The U.S. Published May 26, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

New IFTTT service: OVAL

OVAL OVAL is a 5-in-1 smart sensor that monitors and alerts you in real-time to sudden or gradual changes in temperature, light, humidity, motion, and water. Use IFTTT to connect OVAL to other smart home products, apps, or services to automate your home in new ways Prevent theft, water leaks, unsafe or unhealthy conditions in and around your home, and much more with OVAL. Published May 27, 2020 at 12:00PM View OVAL Applets on IFTTT

New IFTTT service: OVAL

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OVAL just launched on IFTTT! https://ift.tt/2X7VKDq

Sunrise from Launch Complex 39A

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A at sunrise as preparations continue for the Demo-2 mission, Wednesday, May 27, 2020. via NASA https://ift.tt/2TLlXFE

Earth and Moon through Saturns Rings

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What are those dots between Saturn's rings? Our Earth and Moon. Just over three years ago, because the Sun was temporarily blocked by the body of Saturn, the robotic Cassini spacecraft was able to look toward the inner Solar System. There, it spotted our Earth and Moon -- just pin-pricks of light lying about 1.4 billion kilometers distant. Toward the right of the featured image is Saturn's A ring, with the broad Encke Gap on the far right and the narrower Keeler Gap toward the center. On the far left is Saturn's continually changing F Ring. From this perspective, the light seen from Saturn's rings was scattered mostly forward , and so appeared backlit. After more than a decade of exploration and discovery, the Cassini spacecraft ran low on fuel in 2017 and was directed to enter Saturn's atmosphere, where it surely melted. via NASA https://ift.tt/2XqLQvq

U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Issues Guidance to Help Construction Workers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a webpage with coronavirus-related guidance for construction employers and workers. The guidance includes recommended actions to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus. Employers of workers engaged in construction (such as carpentry, ironworking, plumbing, electrical, heating/air conditioning/ventilation, utility construction work, and earth-moving activities) should remain alert to changing outbreak conditions, including as they relate to community spread of the virus and testing availability. In response to changing conditions, employers should implement coronavirus infection prevention measures accordingly. The webpage includes information regarding: Using physical barriers, such as walls, closed doors, or plastic sheeting, to separate workers from individuals experiencing signs or symptoms consistent with the coronavirus; Keeping in-person meetings (includi...

Wikipedia article of the day for May 27, 2020

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The Wikipedia article of the day for May 27, 2020 is Australasian Antarctic Expedition . The Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911–1914), headed by Douglas Mawson, explored the largely uncharted coast of Antarctica due south of Australia. Mawson was inspired to lead his own venture by his experiences on Ernest Shackleton's Nimrod expedition in 1907–1909. During its time in Antarctica, the Australasian Antarctic Expedition's sledging parties covered around 2,600 miles (4,180 km) of unexplored territory. Its ship, SY Aurora (pictured), navigated 1,800 miles (2,900 km) of unmapped coastline. Scientific activities included meteorological measurements, magnetic observations, an expansive oceanographic program, and the collection of many biological and geological samples, including the discovery of the first meteorite found in Antarctica. The expedition was the first to establish and maintain wireless contact between Antarctica and Australia. Its broad exploration program l...

libre: Word of the day for May 27, 2020

libre , adj : (obsolete, rare) Especially of the will: free, independent, unconstrained. (software) With very few limitations on distribution or the right to access the source code to create improved versions, but not necessarily free of charge.

Picture of the day for May 27, 2020

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Castle ruins of Aggstein, Wachau, Lower Austria. Learn more .

Picture of the day for May 27, 2020

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Wikipedia picture of the day on May 27, 2020: Castle ruins of Aggstein, Wachau, Lower Austria https://ift.tt/3c6GIlJ

EPA! EPA! EPA deletes portion of Libby, Montana Superfund site from National Priorities List

EPA deletes portion of Libby, Montana Superfund site from National Priorities List Region 08 Libby, Mont. -- The U.S. Published May 25, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

McMod

https://baldihead.itch.io/mcmod McMod The first mod for MCBE To activate, make a new world and enable experimental mode. To use the new items, say /give @s cc: then type the new item you want to give. Warning, you will see a lot of errors on top of your screen, but don’t panic. If you hate it so much, leave the game. Changelogs 4.0  Revamped changelog layout Added Emerald Armor Added 2 new TNT! TNT Pro and Fire TNT Added Pizza 🍕! Added Billy and Switch Ores And fixed Thanos Armor  and Crafting. 3.1= added craftable items! You can now craft stuff! iPad design also changed to iOS 11. (iPad is the hardest item to get!)  Also added forgotten mods down below.

Coverage of Landmark NASA SpaceX Commercial Crew Test Flight

NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch and launch activities for the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight on Wednesday, May 27, carrying NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the International Space Station. May 26, 2020 from NASA https://ift.tt/3c95aCJ via IFTTT

EPA! EPA! BNSF Railway Company Agrees to Clean Up Hazardous Waste in Sioux City, Iowa, in Settlement With EPA

BNSF Railway Company Agrees to Clean Up Hazardous Waste in Sioux City, Iowa, in Settlement With EPA Region 07 Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Published May 25, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Leroy Chiao Makes a Bubble in Space

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In this iconic image, Staion Commander Leroy Chiao of NASA watches a water bubble float between him and the camera. via NASA https://ift.tt/3d4OzkT

ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers and Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor took a range of actions to aid American workers and employers as our nation combats the coronavirus pandemic. Reopening America’s Economy: Roundtable with Restaurant Industry Leaders at the White House – Secretary Scalia joined President Trump and Vice President Pence for a roundtable at the White House with restaurant owners. They discussed the challenges faced by the industry and ways the Administration has helped businesses large and small outlast the virus and position for reopening. Vice President Pence and Secretary Scalia Visit Florida and Georgia – This week U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia joined Vice President Mike Pence in Florida and Georgia to discuss reopening the economy in the hospitality and restaurant industries. Secretary Scalia was named to the Coronavirus Task Force, led by Vice President Pence, to continue the Administration’s efforts to reopen the economy safely.  Keeping America’s Workplaces...

U.S. Secretary of Labor Scalia Issues Statement Regarding Memorial Day

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WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement today regarding Memorial Day: “Memorial Day is a most solemn day on which we honor the Americans who gave their lives in service in the United States Military. The freedom we enjoy today was secured by their sacrifice.”

The Milky Way over Snow Capped Himalayas

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What’s higher than the Himalayas? Although the Himalayan Mountains are the tallest on planet Earth, they don't measure up to the Milky Way. Visible above the snow-capped mountains in the featured image is the arcing central band of our home galaxy. The bright spot just above the central plane is the planet Jupiter, while the brightest orange spot on the upper right is the star Antares. The astrophotographer braved below-zero temperatures at nearly 4,000-meters altitude to take the photographs that compose this image. The featured picture is a composite of eight exposures taken with same camera and from the same location over three hours, just after sunset, in 2019 April, from near Bimtang Lake in Nepal. Over much of planet Earth, the planets Mercury (faint) and Venus (bright) will be visible this week after sunset. via NASA https://ift.tt/3c4MdBj

Wikipedia article of the day for May 26, 2020

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The Wikipedia article of the day for May 26, 2020 is Paul E. Patton . Paul E. Patton (born May 26, 1937) is an American politician who served as the 59th governor of Kentucky from 1995 to 2003. He became wealthy operating coal mines for 20 years, then sold most of his coal interests in the late 1970s and entered politics. After serving briefly in the cabinet of Governor John Y. Brown Jr. and chairing the state Democratic Party, he was elected lieutenant governor in 1991. Four years later, he was elected governor over the Republican Party's Larry Forgy. The major achievement of Patton's first term was overhauling higher education, including making the state's community colleges and technical schools independent of the University of Kentucky and organizing them into the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Because of a 1992 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, he was the first governor eligible to succeed himself in office since James Garrard in 1800, and h...

backdam: Word of the day for May 26, 2020

backdam , n : A dam that lies to the rear of something. (Guyana) A region of rural, undeveloped land, especially on the outskirts of a farm. Today is the Independence Day of Guyana.

Picture of the day for May 26, 2020

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Berlin central station, as seen from south-east. The building is reflecting in the water of the Humboldt harbour. It was built by architect Meinhard von Gerkan of Gerkan, Marg and Partners and was opened on May 26, 2006.. Learn more .

Picture of the day for May 26, 2020

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Wikipedia picture of the day on May 26, 2020: Berlin central station, as seen from south-east. The building is reflecting in the water of the Humboldt harbour. It was built by architect Meinhard von Gerkan of Gerkan, Marg and Partners and was opened on May 26, 2006. https://ift.tt/2TFlhld

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) – Ethiopia

Between 2 and 8 April 2020, six suspected human cases of dracunculiasis in Duli village, Gog district, Gambella region, Ethiopia, were reported to WHO. Published on May 24, 2020 at 05:00PM View on website

Another Monday!

Now school

Mystic Mountain Monster being Destroyed

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Inside the head of this interstellar monster is a star that is slowly destroying it. The huge monster, actually an inanimate series of pillars of gas and dust, measures light years in length. The in-head star is not itself visible through the opaque interstellar dust but is bursting out partly by ejecting opposing beams of energetic particles called Herbig-Haro jets. Located about 7,500 light years away in the Carina Nebula and known informally as Mystic Mountain, the appearance of these pillars is dominated by dark dust even though they are composed mostly of clear hydrogen gas. The featured image was taken with the Hubble Space Telescope. All over these pillars, the energetic light and winds from massive newly formed stars are evaporating and dispersing the dusty stellar nurseries in which they formed. Within a few million years, the head of this giant, as well as most of its body, will have been completely evaporated by internal and surrounding stars. via NASA https://ift.tt/3egznk...

Wikipedia article of the day for May 25, 2020

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The Wikipedia article of the day for May 25, 2020 is Hurricane Fred (2015) . Hurricane Fred was the easternmost Atlantic hurricane ever to form in the tropics, and the first to move through Cape Verde since 1892. The second hurricane of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season, Fred became a Category 1 hurricane on August 31 as it approached Cape Verde, which was placed under a hurricane warning for the first time ever. The Barlavento Islands endured gales and flooding rains as the eye of the hurricane paralleled their shorelines. Structural damage across Boa Vista and Sal presented as leveled roofs, damaged homes and toppled utility poles. Farmers on São Nicolau suffered crop and livestock losses when they saw their lands flood. Fred's rains, though destructive, alleviated a drought across the Sotavento Islands of Cape Verde. Elsewhere, violent seas along the West African shoreline destroyed fishing villages and submerged homes in Senegal. Between the coasts of West Africa and Ca...

lissom: Word of the day for May 25, 2020

lissom , adj : Flexible and graceful in movement; lithe.

Picture of the day for May 25, 2020

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Winged altar at the pilgrimage church St. Wolfgang ob Grades, municipality of Metnitz, Carinthia, Austria. Shrine statues by an anonymous master probably of the elder Villach Workshop, 1490; reliefs and arrangement by the younger Villach Workshop, around 1520.. Learn more .

Picture of the day for May 25, 2020

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Wikipedia picture of the day on May 25, 2020: Winged altar at the pilgrimage church St. Wolfgang ob Grades, municipality of Metnitz, Carinthia, Austria. Shrine statues by an anonymous master probably of the elder Villach Workshop, 1490; reliefs and arrangement by the younger Villach Workshop, around 1520. https://ift.tt/2ZxKUIt

Valles Marineris: The Grand Canyon of Mars

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The largest canyon in the Solar System cuts a wide swath across the face of Mars. Named Valles Marineris, the grand valley extends over 3,000 kilometers long, spans as much as 600 kilometers across, and delves as much as 8 kilometers deep. By comparison, the Earth's Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA is 800 kilometers long, 30 kilometers across, and 1.8 kilometers deep. The origin of the Valles Marineris remains unknown, although a leading hypothesis holds that it started as a crack billions of years ago as the planet cooled. Several geologic processes have been identified in the canyon. The featured mosaic was created from over 100 images of Mars taken by Viking Orbiters in the 1970s. via NASA https://ift.tt/2XvsDJo

Wikipedia article of the day for May 24, 2020

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The Wikipedia article of the day for May 24, 2020 is Worcestershire v Somerset, 1979 . On 24 May 1979, in a game against Worcestershire, Somerset County Cricket Club captain Brian Rose chose to declare his team's innings closed after one over, throwing the game to manipulate a loophole in the rules. He was aiming to avoid elimination on a strike rate tie-breaker from the quarterfinals of the 1979 Benson & Hedges Cup, a one-day cricket competition for counties in England and Wales. After Somerset scored one run and declared, Worcestershire scored the two runs they needed to win. The match at New Road (pictured) in Worcester was completed in 18 minutes, with only 16 legal deliveries. Although Somerset's declaration was within the Laws of Cricket, Rose was condemned by the press and cricket officials. Just over a week after the match, the Test and County Cricket Board met for an emergency session and voted to eject Somerset from the competition by a vote of seventeen t...

sneakernet: Word of the day for May 24, 2020

sneakernet , n : A method of transferring a computer file from one computer to another by copying it to a floppy disk, thumb drive, or some other external storage device, carrying the device to the other computer, and saving the file there, in contrast to electronic methods used by networked computers to transfer data. The group of computers involved in this practice.

Picture of the day for May 24, 2020

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Purple Phalaenopsis Mini cultivar. Learn more .

Picture of the day for May 24, 2020

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Wikipedia picture of the day on May 24, 2020: Purple Phalaenopsis Mini cultivar https://ift.tt/2WVh2UA

Ghost Fungus to Magellanic Cloud

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Stars shine and satellites glint in this clear, dark, night sky over Wannon Falls Reserve, South West Victoria, Australia. In fact the fuzzy, faint apparition above the tree tops is the only cloud visible, also known as the Large Magellanic Cloud, satellite galaxy of our own Milky Way. In the foreground, an Omphalotus nidiformis (ghost fungus) from planet Earth shines with a surprisingly bright bioluminescence. Like the Magellanic cloud, the ghost fungus was easily seen with the eye. Its ghostly glow was actually a dull green, but it appears bright green in digital camera picture. Two images were blended to create the scene. One focused on the distant stars and Large Magellanic Cloud some 160,000 light-years away. Another was focused on the foreground and glowing fungus several light-nanoseconds from the camera lens. via NASA https://ift.tt/36oQqOS