Hmm, off into space topics I go again LOL - this article says that there was the biggest observed galactic event since 1604 on 27 December. Of course, humans couldn't see it as it was a gamma ray burst, but the amount of gamma rays released in one tenth of a second was the same as the Sun provides in one hundred thousand years. The gamma burst came from fifty thousand light years away, so hmm when on the evolutionary scale were we when that happened? Homo erectus or Australopithecus or what hmm, lol need to google that perhaps. If it had occurred within ten light years of us, it could have caused mass extinction apparently, what with messing up our atmosphere... note to planetary scientists, don't go looking for life within ten light years of a neutron star LOL.
A stray thought just crossed my mind - we know how entrenched creationists versus evolutionists are when it comes to dating the Earth - six thousand years versus four billion or so, but just was thinking how do creationists deal with the fact of the speed of light and that everything must be within six thousand light years of Earth. Or is the space time continuum not discussed in those types of meetings, do they even acknowledge the concept of a light year LOL...
And this article, another space based one, saying that the Hubble photos, touched up as they are by a group of scientists before they are put on general release - really, would we want grayscale Hubble pics? - are this generation's version of romantic art - if this is romantic art, give me more more more :) I love the sense of discovery about space that is kind of squelched on Earth due to the good job mankind is doing to fuck up the planet - oh, let's discover the Middle East, too dangerous, let's discover Rio, street gangs and the like, etc etc etc.
Hmm, on a kind of related note, a UN report about how the world will continue to urbanise over the next fifty years, and states that Tokyo is the world's biggest city currently with over thirty five million people. Now, coming from the Antipodes as I am, with four million in New Zealand and twenty million in Oz, that is just such a mindboggling number. Although I would love to go to Tokyo, a Western-style city with such a non-Western culture and history - Japan is probably next on the list of where I would actually like to go to travel wise - yes, above China and India, about even with South America LOL. Not counting return trips to the States or Canada - yes, the former even though they don't trust ANY foreigners at all now, let's take a blood sample and fingerprints at the Immigration check - you're foreign, that's fingerprint worthy for us, you are unAmerican LOL. Oh, they don't do blood swabs yet? Don't worry, they will LOL...
Wonder how foreign tourism to the US is going at the moment anyways. If even the Brits and Aussies, the closest of allies, have to give their fingerprints at the border, why even bother nowadays...
For any kids doing projects on world cities, this website isn't the worst place to start. When I have been in a population statistics mood, which happens once maybe twice a year, this is the best place I have found - umm, and plus it is first on the google search for city populations LOL. And although I would love to go to Tokyo on holiday, I dream of living in New York - over twenty million people within such a short radius, although if I did get there, I would be a busboy in a restaurant at most probably LOL... it is The World City though, if you make it there indeed :)
Although probably easier to go immigrate to Toronto LOL. They would have put on a good 2008 Olympics, but let's give Beijing a chance, just don't invade Taiwan in the middle of the Olympics or anything LOL - even if they DO declare independence.
Hmm, bouncing around in topics, aren't I - well, I am having my first coffee in hmm about two weeks (is usually too hot for coffee in the subtropical summer)...
All might not be lost with the NHL season - although the talks between individual owners and individual players aren't official, it is a good sign that they are still ongoing - although the NHL executive has tried to squash the rumours and kill off the idea. I still think the Stanley Cup should go to maybe the Memorial Cup v AHL Cup whatever that is winner - it is the property nowadays of the NHL, but to not award it just cos their own competition is having troubles, that's just petulant - really, it should be the best North American hockey side no matter whether the pros are locked out... where's a petition to sign or NHL fan website to go kite flying with the idea :)
Okies, think I have bounced around enough - now I've gone over all Canadian again, Mapquesting Ottawa and checking out the 'local' CBC news LOL... it was the best of times it was the worst of times blah blah...
Later peeps
Pauly
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