Swan
Local Swan
Add comment October 31st, 2007
Archive for October, 2007
Perigee Moon
A big, bright perigee Moon. Right: A lesser apogee Moon
The Moon’s orbit is an ellipse with one side 30,000 miles closer to Earth than the other. The full Moon of Oct. 25-26 is located on the near side, making it appear as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than lesser full Moons we’ve seen earlier in 2007.
In the language of astronomy, the two ends of the Moon’s orbit are called “apogee” and “perigee.” Apogee is the farthest point, perigee the nearest: This week’s full Moon is a “perigee Moon”.
Source: Space weather
I actually wanted to talk about China’s one year Luna mission.
Chang’e-1, China’s first lunar probe, blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket from the No. 3 launching tower in the Xichang Satellite Launch Center of southwestern Sichuan Province on Wednesday, October 24, 2007. [Photo: CCTV]
Chang’e-1, named after a mythical Chinese goddess who, according to legend, flew to the moon.
Will this one year expedition, providing of course nothing mysteriously goes wrong provide conclusive evidence of the much disputed landing on the lunar surface by the Americans in 1969.
The probe equipped with:
(1) An Optical Imaging System, a CCD Stereo Camera, and an Interferometer Spectrometer Imager. The CCD optical system will use a series of three, 2-dimensional original images of a target area taken before and reconfigure them into a 3-dimensional image of the lunar surface. The Interferometer Spectrometer Imager uses a special camera that is able to obtain images based on the fact that different objects have different spectrum properties. This multi-spectra, remote sensing of the lunar surface will then be integrated into the lunar terrain images obtained through the stereo camera; enabling scientists conduct researches on the properties of regional resources and materials.
(2) A Laser Altimeter will be used to provide complementary data to the elevation data of lunar surface and to refine the lunar surface digital model.
(3) Gamma/X-Ray Spectrometers will be able to obtain the distribution of different elements according to the differences of energy spectra of gamma and X rays emitted by various elements due to cosmic ray excitation, such as the gamma-ray spectra for elements of Th, U and K, and X-ray spectra for elements of Na, S and Ni. The data concerning elements of Fe, Ti, Al and Mg can be obtained through both gamma- and X-ray spectra.
(4) A Microwave Detector that will operate in four different frequency bands will allow different depths of the lunar soil to be penetrated based on the fact that microwave radiation brightness varies through the regolith soil.
(5) A Space Environment Monitoring System consisting of a High-Energy Solar Particle Detector will consist of a small probe that will be launched separately from Chang’e 1 to perform analysis of the space between the Moon and the Earth. Working in the region of 40,000 to 400,000 kilometres (25,000 to 250,000 miles) from the Earth, it will investigate the solar wind and other activities from the Sun.
Chang’e 1 is the first part of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP) conducted under the China National Space Administration (CNSA) — a civilian agency of the People’s Republic of China. The mission also has support from the European Space Agency (ESA), who are providing spacecraft and ground operations support services through ESTRACK (a tracking network comprising of 12 terminals sited at eight stations in five countries), and plans are that the two will work together on future Chang’e missions. The two agencies will also share data and encourage a visitors’ programme so that researchers can learn from each other.
So keep tabs on this one, It is going to be interesting regardless of the findings.
I expect they might pay special attention to this area.
I would like at this point to say I am a believer and expect the findings to confirm that Neil ‘one large leap’ was indeed the first to step foot on an extra terrestrial world. Who Knows..
Add comment October 26th, 2007
Plugin Conflicts
I have been having a few problems with plugin conflicts.
I just wanted to take a moment to remind myself what I have done for sake of reference.
The problem occurs between a pagination plugin, and a category exclusion plugin.
What I am trying to achieve is to exclude photo posts from main page. Done, But with this working my pagination gets screwed up.
I found this little hint on the wordpress codex forum. Here, bottom of page
and is a nice solution, because it does away with the need for the plugin that causes my pagination to go squiffy.
So I have turned off advanced category excluder in favor of the in code solution, and it seems to be working well. My only concern is, and I havn’t checked to be sure…
My page is now set to display max 5 posts, and on a number of pages I get only two. I think these are the pages where the photo posts would have appeared had they not been excluded. This will have to do for now.
I am currently beginning a clean re-code of blog, because with gained experience I know things can work in a more harmonious manner.
I have just finished a site for a client Lynsey Birchall, Photography, and as a addition have added a blog for photographic retouching, using the same base as with this blog, that being blix
It being an example of how a site should be coded.
1 comment October 23rd, 2007
Ruined castles with historic interest
I was thinking about writing this post when i came across this image.
This image has fallen into the public domain, and can be used by anyone.
Can I claim copyright for a work that has expired?
No, once a work is in the public domain it is available to all. You cannot stop others using the work and you will have no claim to copyright on the work.
The castle pictured above is obviously not a ruin, But I came across it whilst looking for a place to stay, and maybe encounter ghostly manifestations from an earlier period. I saw the pic was no longer copyrighted and thought “TIS MINE THAT”, and went off in pursuit off securing the copyright. No such luck as the above quote explains.. Never mind, Pure and simple ghost hunting it is..
If you know of a good castle, ‘ruin’ in the north uk area, possible camp to stay the night spot, to drink beer be spooked, small controlled fire etc..
Give us a SHOUT
Add comment October 19th, 2007
Working for yourself
This is my project
Why then do I struggle more to find my individual concept, than I would when faced with a design criteria placed upon me by a client.
I think from a designers perspective to present oneself becomes a far more daunting task, than to create something when given the desired constraints of a client.
I know my abilities, and that of my competitors, that is indeed the crux. When every word you write is cold hard screen media, the decisions you make directly relate to your on screen presence.
I have my blog, if you are reading this, you are here. This is my experimental zone, and does not translate well into a marketing strategy, or first impressions presence for potential clients who are looking for a website to project there product to the internet savvy world.
I have been sat on ‘oikofugic.com’ for almost a year now, with the
desire to promote my skills as a web site designer in the southport area.
I am on my way, make space. Remember Oikofugic.com is on it’s way. My /blog is a temporary stocking filler.. Stay tuned..
Add comment October 18th, 2007
Mobile AMR converter
Converting mobile phone sounds to a usable format
I have some sound recordings of Molly on my phone, and was planning to upload one to go in a post.
Easy enough, but when uploaded I noticed the phone files are in amr file type. ‘Adaptive Multi-Rate Codec File’, I needed to change them for use on a webpage.
Enter: Miksoft
I couldn’t get the download to work, but found this site to get the software.
Thats it really just a quicky on the off chance someone might find it useful. You can see an example of the software with a working sound clip here
It’s nice and easy to use and does the job. Incidentally if anyone knows of a free non trial download that I can use to edit, clip sound files I’d appreciate any pointers, Cheers.
Add comment October 16th, 2007
Can’t like that
October 17, 2007
Mayhem Away
So Jodi and I are off to Palma in Majorca in a few weeks for a long weekend away, and last night was a preparatory measure leaving Molly with my mum and dad for the day and night. Now she will be three years old just after Christmas and is at last of an age where negotiation is an option. She often has naps during the day at Nana’s house, but wakes, and is collected to return home with mummy, thus far a pattern has been set. The routine so firmly embedded into our daily ritual is second nature. With dinner.
Audio of Molly’s reaction to a typical dinner
you may understand why we were concerned for the sanity of parents. bath play, much madness in-between and to bed time a story. It was Missing cat for a long time (Missy CaT,) but we have now moved on to the monster book of mr. men.
So to this point we thought all being well, no tantrums and sleep to follow. Only now the 3am episode of “juice Mummy Mummmmy Want juice, or can’t find Babits, which translated is blanket, lost forever under her pillow. She has faithfully carried babits around since she was a nipper, as though the world might end if they were to become separated. She certainly isn’t loosing it now to the night time shadows. Anyway to cut this story short for I have tv to watch, she played she slept, was the perfect little angel, woke happily in the night once for a little drink and then again to sleep.
Sad thing is we still crept round quietly closing doors half the evening, Molly’s first night away and we didn’t even crack the alc just fearing the call, the night call when all is quiet.
1 comment October 16th, 2007
Rush live in Manchester
You should have been there.
Continue for pictures:
Rush 2007 uk Setlist
Check out Rush is a band for loads more Rush
Set 1:
Video Intro (features all three band members)
Limelight
Digital Man
Entre Nous
Mission
Freewill
The Main Monkey Business
The Larger Bowl (Bob & Doug video intro)
Secret Touch
Circumstances
Between The Wheels
Dreamline
Intermission
Set 2:
Video Intro (features Alex)
Far Cry
Workin’ Them Angels
Armor And Sword
Spindrift
The Way The Wind Blows
Subdivisions
Natural Science
Witch Hunt
Malignant Narcissism
Drum Solo
Hope
Summertime Blues or Distant Early Warning
The Spirit Of Radio
Tom Sawyer (South Park video intro)
Encore:
One Little Victory
A Passage to Bangkok
YYZ
Video outro (features Geddy)
What can I say it was an awesome concert, although as the guy sat in front of me pointed out,
It’s just not the same without the clouds of cannabis smoke
My apologies regarding the poor quality of the pics. Mobile phone and distance. A non too conducive combination. Drop a line in the comments if you were there, or if you have better pics from the night I’d be happy to post them with credit.
A youtube vid from the night.
Add comment October 15th, 2007