570-megapixel Dark Energy Camera takes its first picture Press Trust of India, September 18, 2012
Scientists have announced that the world's most powerful 570-megapixel digital camera has captured first images of starlight from eight billion years ago. The ancient rays have crossed countless distant galaxies to find their way to a mountaintop in Chile where a giant sky mapping machine called the Dark Energy Camera recorded them, the Daily Mail reported. The light may hold within it the answer to one of the biggest mysteries in physics - why the expansion of the universe is speeding up.
Although dark energy appears to account for about 75 percent of the energy-mass content of the universe, scientists have no real idea what it is.
The Dark Energy Survey (DES) collaboration has announced that the camera, which took eight years to build by scientists on three continents, has achieved its first light.
The first pictures of the southern sky were taken by the 570-megapixel camera on September 12.
"The achievement of first light through the Dark Energy Camera brings us a step closer to understanding dark energy, one of the biggest mysteries in the whole of physics," Professor Ofer Lahav, of University College London, who heads the UK arm of the consortium, said.
"The deep observations with the DES camera will tell us why the universe is speeding up and if a major shift is required in our understanding of the universe," Lahav said.
The camera, which is roughly the size of a phone booth, is the most powerful survey instrument of its kind, able to see light from over 100,000 galaxies up to 8 billion light years away in each snapshot.
The camera's array of 62 devices have an unprecedented sensitivity to very red light and will allow scientists from around the world to pursue investigations ranging from studies of asteroids in our own Solar System to the understanding of the origins and the fate of the universe.
Scientists will use the new camera to carry out the largest galaxy survey ever undertaken, and will use that data to probe dark energy by studying galaxy clusters, supernovae and the large-scale clumping of galaxies.
"This will be the largest galaxy survey of its kind, and the galaxy shapes and positions will tell us a great deal about the nature of the physical process that we call Dark Energy, but do not currently understand," Professor Will Percival, of Portsmouth University who co-coordinates the galaxy clustering part of the investigation, said.
The Dark Energy Survey is expected to begin in December after the camera is fully tested and will take advantage of the excellent atmospheric conditions in the Chilean Andes to deliver pictures with the sharpest resolution seen in such a wide-field astronomy survey.
The other people on the plane must have wanted to kill these two.
Rum-soaked women try to storm cockpit, force flight to land 2 days ago And you thought that crying baby seated behind you was annoying. The bad behavior of two intoxicated ladies forced the landing of a British Airways flight earlier this week. According to reports, the pair swore at children, threatened the family of a flight attendant and smoked in the bathroom during the flight from London to Tunis, Tunisia. They also reportedly demanded to "meet the captain and marched towards the cockpit." The drunken duo's disruptive behavior resulted in the flight landing in Lyon, France, where they were taken into police custody. Sounds just like Eddy and Patsy from "Absolutely Fabulous" except for this crucial detail: These two were apparently drinking Malibu rum. [Source]
Post your predictions here of what will happen at Amkon during the year 2013. Once they are here in print with the date stamp and time, there is no denying that someones prediction came true.
My prediction:
Quote:
Jedimiller will not post here for the entire month of January 2013. He made a New Years resolution that he would stop posting at Amkon and so far he is six days into it.
By the time Valentines Day rolls around in February 2013, he will not be able to resist posting a video of himself vowing his love for FancyFree.
"Throughout Youtube, various vloggers, famous and common alike, started to make "topless vlogs"--video blogs where the vlogger wore no clothing, but carried out their vlog normally, to protest the pornographic nature that was beginning to take over Youtube. Youtube was still "by the users, for the users" at that point. We didn't want to see it become _yet_ _another_ _porn site_. As you may have guessed, I also did a topless vlog. Holding my arms in front of the good parts, I did a vlog, to show that not all nudity = porn, and that porn didn't belong on Youtube. However, I was still new to video editing, and accidents happen. Somehow, the last few seconds of the video were left in, where I dropped my arms and clicked "stop." For maybe a whopping 4 seconds, MY NIPPLES SHOWED. (oh my god!) Now, in a sensible European country, that would have been no big deal. But this is 'MERCA, where nudity always = porn, and even though I quickly took the video down after realizing what happened, I would forever be labeled "TOPLESS GIRL." On the internet, there's something called the "Barbara Streisand effect.""
Op-ed: What 'Straight-Acting' Really Means "Straight-acting" and "gay-acting"—in the end, it's all just an act. BY DAVE STALLING JANUARY 04 2013 6:00 AM ET 91
When I first came out of the closet, I would sometimes say things like: "I am gay, but I played football and I was a Marine!"— as if that would make things more acceptable and make me feel more manly. In other words, I considered myself a "straight-acting" gay. Now I realize how sadly silly such a statement is, and obviously based on deep insecurities and ridiculous stereotypes. But such internalized homophobia is a common ailment among we gays brought up in a heterosexually-dominated society full of absurd myths and misconceptions about "masculinity" and "manhood."
In fact, I think "straight-acting" straights are just as insecure as "straight-acting" gays and, for that matter, "gay-acting" gays—"acting" being the key word here.
What the hell is "straight-acting?" I suppose, since I spent much of my life in various insecure stages of denial, suppression, hiding, self-judgment and self hatred—and acting out the stereotypes, myths and misconceptions of being "straight"—I was at one time indeed "straight-acting." Personally, I believe my performance was worthy of an Oscar.
Now, when I see gay men state that they are "straight-acting" on places like the "men seeking men" (m4m) posts on Craigslist, or on ManHunt, I sometimes write them and ask: "If you were 'straight-acting' wouldn't you be posting in the 'men seeking woman' (m4w) section or on WomanHunt?" When people tell me, or ask me if I am "straight-acting" I generally respond: "I am emotionally and physically attracted to men. I fall in love with men. I have sex with men. That seems pretty 'gay-acting' to me." (I saw a meme on Facebook with a photo of a guy saying: “My boyfriend said I should be more straight-acting, so I left him for a woman.”)
While recently chatting with a friend I told him about a date I was going on with an intelligent, cute, fun guy. He asked me if my date was a "straight-acting" guy or "effeminate." Considering that the guy was going on a romantic date with me, who also happens to be a guy, with the potential for it to lead to a possible relationship and sex, it seemed like a strange question. I explained to my friend why I think asking if a gay man is "straight-acting" seems strange and funny, to which he responded, "But what else would you call it?"
Good question. What would, or should, we call it? Perhaps we don't have to call it anything—perhaps we could just accept that we humans come in a wonderfully interesting and diverse array of personalities, traits, behaviors and ways in which we innately desire and crave to experience and express love and sex. The very word "effeminate," when applied to gay men, seems to suggest that they’re "not like a man" but "more like a female," and therefore plays right into myths, misconceptions and stereotypes of what is "masculine" and what is "feminine." I know plenty of gay guys who are strong athletes and I know plenty of straight guys who are pretty good at interior decorating. Some may say they are "straight-acting" gays and "gay-acting" straights—but the thing is, they're not acting!
It's time to drop the stereotypes, drop the labels, drop the myths and misconceptions of manhood, and start embracing and accepting people, all people, for who and what we are—starting with and including (and perhaps most importantly) ourselves!
I'm done acting straight, and I'm done acting gay. I just want to be me, a goofy guy who happens to be emotionally and physically attracted to men. Yes, I know, sounds pretty gay, hey?
Danny Berry · Top Commenter · University of Phoenix I long ago concluded that straight-acting means you act like an emotionally shut-down dork. Reply · 15 · · Friday at 4:23am
Morgan Hoover · Top Commenter I don't agree with you one bit on that Danny.
Just because I am gay male doesn't mean that I have a gay accent or gay tone, because I don't. My clothing choices are very ordinary men's clothes, nothing "fashionable".
I am not at all effeminate, but neither am I butch or hyper-masculine. I am moderately masculine, but calm and gentle at the same time. I am just being me.
If I were to adopt any of the things that mark people as being stereotypically gay, then that would not be natural for me.
This is not being "straight acting" for me. It's totally unnatural for me to be limip-wristed, or lisping, swishing or any of the other stereotypes of being gay. None of my gay male friends have exaggerated "gay" mannerisms and none of them sound "gay" as in a gay- sounding tone or accent. And they are all very smart and articulate and ...See More Reply · · 2 hours ago
Robert Byrd · University of Chicago Straight-acting may be the wrong term to use and I've certainly never used it, but I'm not ashamed to say I prefer masculine men. I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. There are others who prefer feminine men, or transgendered people (both pre and post-op). There's someone for everyone. It's a matter of preference and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it! What would these people who are poo-poohing the idea of having a preference for masculine men say to a white guy who isn't attracted to black men, or a black man who isn't attracted to white guys - are they racist fro having a preference? What about white guys who only like Asian men? Are they racist? Reply · 11 · · Friday at 2:11pm
Derrick McCoy · Top Commenter · Central Carolina Technical College It is racsim in a sense. Sexual racism. You are telling a whole group of people they aren't viable dating options solely because of the color of their skin. You aren't taking in account their own individual attractiveness, personality, etc. You are saying "[insert race] share common traits I don't like so I won't date any of them" which is far from the truth. It's the very same thing as seeing a bunch of black teenagers acting like thugs and then saying all black teenagers are thugs.At the very least it's prejudice, at most blatant racism. Reply · · 11 hours ago
Morgan Hoover · Top Commenter Derrick McCoy, I am a "mashed potato queen" meaning that mostly my fellow white men (especially with body and facial hair) are sexual, dating and marital preferences for me (now that marriage equality is law in my state Maryland) But it's very possible that a non-white gay male who is sweet, handsome, cute as well as smart, dependable, emotionally available and trustworthy could steal my heart. I haven't ruled that out entirely. It depends on the individual person, IMO. Reply · · about an hour ago
Justin Sarantides · Tucson, Arizona While I agree that the term straight acting is ridiculous I do understand why its used in places especially adam4adam or craigslist or whatever. If I'm looking for sex or a relationship I want to know I'm not wasting my time. I have zero attraction towards effeminate men. Im gay. If I wanted a woman I would date one so while no one is truly acting its good to know what you are getting yourself into which is why some of us ask that question. Anyone and everyone deserves to be exactly who they are (effeminate or masculine) but in places like craigslist, I totally understand why its asked. Finding a match in this world is hard enough......I think we all just, want to know what the other person is like so time isnt wasted on either end. He could have a heart of gold but if hes effeminate, I'm not looking and that is simply called honesty Reply · 8 · · Friday at 1:09pm
Derrick McCoy · Top Commenter · Central Carolina Technical College Doesn't that seem a bit...sexist? You say "I'm gay, I don't want a woman" An effeminate gay man is not a woman. They don't have vaginas. They don't have menstrual cycles. They can't bear children. Also it makes the premise that all women have to act a certain way to be considered a woman which isn't true. The fact of the matter is, if you are a man who enjoys sex with men there is nothing "straight-acting" about that. If anything it's "heterosexual woman acting" since heterosexual women enjoy sex with men. Reply · · 12 hours ago
Michael J. Allen · Top Commenter · 316 subscribers Um, so does the road go both ways? You seem pretty gay IMHO. Reply · · 4 hours ago
John Windisman · Top Commenter · Toronto, Ontario Seems like guys have shifted to the word "masculine" because they know that "straight acting" is politically incorrect these days. Different term same definition - I don't know any guys who are looking for "masculine" guys that are completely comfortable being gay. Shame really - that people who don't accept themselves put their own insecurities demands onto others. Reply · 7 · · Friday at 5:00am
Mark Bauer I never liked the term 'straight-acting'. Not sure 'masculine' is the best term but it is better. I guess people could just say they are into sporty guys or whatever.. just be more descriptive. I think some guys do use the term because they might be insecure... but others probably use it because they want someone with similar interests. Reply · 5 · · Friday at 5:07am
David Walters · Top Commenter · Works at Chamber Music Professional Absolutely correct! Thank YOU, John, for your comments! Reply · 1 · · Friday at 6:01am
Brad Johnson · Top Commenter · Community College of Allegheny County I STRONGLY disagree, John. That's like saying every lipstick lesbian is insecure too. Whether a gay man is masculine, feminine, or anything in between says nothing on how comfortable he is with being gay. I know plenty of mildly-feminine guys who suddenly become Rupaul around their friends. Are they being their true selves in an accepting environment, or trying too hard to fit in? Insecurity comes in all types.
I've done activism work, enjoy Pride festivals, and will tell anyone in the world I'm gay because I'd rather face hatred and rejection than acceptance on false terms. That being said, I have no emotional or sexual attraction to extremely feminine guys. I don't think any less of them and I believe they should have every right to express themselves, since they're the real soldiers on the front lines in the fight for gay rights. But I still have dating preferences and traits I find attractive in a partner. That doesn't mean I'm screaming MASC ONLY in my online dating profiles and won't ever go out with a fem guy, it all depends on the guy of course, but I do generally lean masc. It's unfair and a little hypocritical to say there's something wrong with me as a gay man for that reason. Reply · 10 · · Friday at 7:41am View 7 more
Kavi Grace · The Walt Disney Company oh! more preachy, finger-wagging sermonizing about the "proper" and politically correct way to be gay? more casual accusations of "insecur[ity]" and "internalized homophobia" thrown at something the author is having a Sad about today? more vacuous, armchair psychological claptrap about things that are "totally, really, seriously making people have unsatisfying lives!" - from a writer who has absolutely no empirical or professional basis from which to speak?
this is exactly the type of intolerant, politically correct b.s. that keeps me from reading gay rags like this (except when I accidentally click on an ad thinking the article was about something entirely different). you'd think that ivory-tower gay pontificators like you would realize that there are a lot of colors in the gay rainbow - and just because you happened to get a thorn in your paw because some guy from manhunt you tried to shag told you to fuck off because of an overly limp wrist, doesn't mean that a lot of other people don't live perfectly happy lives in the milieu that you demonize.
incidentally: did you *seriously* write to someone on ManHunt: "If you were 'straight-acting' wouldn't you be posting in the 'men seeking woman' (m4w) section or on WomanHunt"? what a smug, self-righteous asshole you are. Reply · 6 · · Friday at 3:32pm
Ron DeGeorge · Top Commenter OMG... Reply · 2 · · Friday at 3:36pm
David Stalling · Top Commenter · Works at Writer Kavi, Thanks for the interesting and constructive feedback -- but do you have any empirical or professional basis from which to write such a critique? :-) Reply · 2 · · Friday at 10:12pm
Kavi Grace · The Walt Disney Company @david lol. Just my own bottomless well of antipathy for the thought police. :) Reply · 5 · · Friday at 10:29pm View 1 more
John Michael Martens · Oakdale, Minnesota Though there are guys who can only find themselves aroused by the ultra masculine mannerisms (which is probably why they're gay). If a gay man can't get it up because his penis is convinced that it's about to have sex with a woman, then it comes down to the deep psychology of attraction, and isn't as simple as 'just transcend the stereotype already.' It's beyond being just a societal issue alone. Reply · 5 · · Friday at 4:44am
Stan Schulz · Top Commenter · Addison, Texas This sounds like a made up problem. Every group of gay people I've ever been around has included masculine, effeminate and most everyone in between. I think a lot of my fellow gays want to make a federal case out of any bug that crawled up their butt that morning. This guy just happens to have an outlet for his bitching. Reply · 3 · · Friday at 5:30pm
David Cohn Thank you for addressing a subject (and phrase) that has been annoying to me since it's creation. It really is a meaningless term and puts the brakes on any kind of forward movement for the "cause". And to hugmup, a friend told me recently that if anyone ever called him a faggot, he would reply "Thank You", which takes all the power from the intended epithet. Reply · 3 · · Friday at 7:40am
Don Rockwell Coffee · Top Commenter · White Deer High School My point exactly. If we over-use the word "faggot" it will desensitize its power. Reply · 1 · · Friday at 11:52am
John Boone · San Antonio, Texas When people have asked me if I was "str8 acting or fem" (as they would say) I never really liked the terms to begin with. I always just responded in saying I feel like I'm just an average guy. By creating these labels there is a creation of hierarchy and cast within our community. I understand that people have preference to how they want their partner to act, but it has come to the point that people who don't fit within the classifications are becoming marginalized and further discriminated for being who they are (and sadly it is coming from within their own community). Reply · 2 · · Friday at 6:55am
Morgan Hoover · Top Commenter John Boone, Agreed on a general community level but however, when it comes to dating (which usually requires a spark of interest, feeling a draw toward someone or a mutual interest to work) factors like those you mention might be in play. You might not as successfully date those who don't cause a strong attraction or pull in you toward them, as you can those whom you feel an attraction toward. Reply · · about an hour ago
John M Eschenbaum · Top Commenter · Mpls school of anesthesia Yes, a good article and food for thought. We Americans like to label folks and have an orderly slot to put everyone I suspect. 'Swishy' guy.........or 'butch' dyke. One says those and can immediately have a mental picture of what to expect. Guys don't like, I suspect' to be thought of as effeminate. And why. Is femininity less than? Is there something wrong with being passive? In my group the running tag line is guess who is a top or bottom. And if a bottom.......faces become red as if it is an embarrassment. Why is that? I say because it is in our culture of the value of women and men. I say that is more the battle than if we roll over or lift our legs. Reply · 2 · · Friday at 4:39am
Stan Schulz · Top Commenter · Addison, Texas The issue of top/bottom isn't the same as masculine/effeminate. They don't go hand in hand. You're reinforcing a stereotype. Gay males are attracted to males. You're basically calling us misogynists because we're gay. Reply · 1 · · Friday at 5:24pm View 29 more Facebook social plugin
Submit this story This past weekend I was a part of something incredible that happened in my community of Columbus, Ohio. After a fun night out in the Short North, my friend Ethan and I ventured down the street to a popular pizza truck called Mikey's Late Night Slice. As a frequent late night visitor to the truck I knew the requisite wait in line is part of the process for securing an insanely good slice of pizza. It was really cold so Ethan and I were holding hands and standing close together to keep warm, we were laughing and joking about all the fun we'd had that night, when all of the sudden the guy in front of us turns around and tells us to cut our "gay shit" out.
WATCH: JOEL AND ETHAN TELL THEIR STORY
I was a bit startled by his words but I didn't expect what happened next. Almost every single person in that line made it known to him it was not OK for him to speak to us like that. By happenstance my friend John, who is also gay, was standing in front of him and as he continued his rant about being disgusted by us we both let him know that this was our city too and that we were not about to stand down to his bigoted ideas, especially not in one of the gayest neighborhoods in town. As he continued it was actually the straight people in line who spoke up that were so awesome.
I didn't expect to see allies so willing to chime in and let this guy know that his hate speech wouldn't be tolerated. The best part though was as he grew more irate and vocal the guys who work the truck stopped what they were doing and leaned towards the window and told him they would not serve him because he was spewing hate. They said they support everyone in our community and that he should get out of line because they would not be serving him. He begrudgingly got out of line and walked away escorted by a friend who had been hanging back.
As I walked away with my pizza all I could think about was "THAT'S IT!" Every person who spoke up to defend us including the pizza guys representing their business was doing their part to make hate a thing of the past. I've been involved for a number of years with our movement for equality having co-chaired the Human Rights Campaign dinner in Columbus and being involved as a community organizer but I had never witnessed such a public display of support. It was incredibly moving.
The next day I typed up a post on Facebook and shared it thinking my friends that read it might enjoy the display of courage of those that stood with Ethan and I that night and appreciate a local small business standing up for us as well. What I did not expect was the post to go viral and the responses from people all over the country regarding the story. It has been shared over 900 times since Sunday morning and a version with a fantastic response from Mikey's Late Night Slice was posted to reddit with over 266,000 views to date.
I think the story was so powerful because we as an LGBT community don't hear these types of stories where our allies and businesses speak up against oppressors. I think the fact that the story takes place in Ohio also has something to do with it. The state doesn't have the best reputation for LGBT rights but Columbus is a very progressive city in our state. We have a very large active gay population and we are the home of one of the largest pride festivals in the Midwest. The city just celebrated its bicentennial and is known as a smart and open city, which is a testament to the diversity of our community here.
I think stories like this shared by our LGBT friends and allies are important because it gives people hope and courage. It shows that the arc of the moral universe does bend towards justice and we are not alone in this struggle. I ended my post by saying we must never forget to speak up and make our voices heard no matter where we find ourselves. I firmly believe this is how we will continue to change hearts and minds across this country and in the world but we can't do it alone, we need everyone to take up our mantle for equality and drive it forward. I'm inspired and amazed at what has transpired with what started off as a simple post in appreciation of people who stood up for us and am grateful for the opportunity to share a little bit of Columbus with the world.
article 2 section 1 clause 8 makes no mention of who does the swearing in...
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
THE FREEDOM ROAD: In "Road to Freedom" David Icke gives a keynote lecture reveals many secrets where hidden by those who govern us and manipulate. Among other things, talks about the Freemasons and the Illuminati and its relationship with many of the U.S. Presidents.
En "Camino a la Libertad" David Icke nos ofrece una magistral conferencia donde desvela numerosos secretos ocultos por aquellos que nos gobiernan y manipulan. Entre otras cosas, nos habla sobre la masonería y los iluminatis y su relación con muchos de los presidentes de EE.UU.
Special music for relaxation, meditation and healing.
Special music for relaxation, meditation and healing. Are frequencies that affect the balance and harmony of the body, restoring energy patterns. Among other tunes are Ahu Saglam, Arnica Montana and music with dolphins and whales.
Música especial para relajarse, meditar y sanar. Son frecuencias que inciden en el equilibrio y la armonía del cuerpo, restableciendo los patrones energéticos. Entre otras, se encuentran melodías de Ahu Saglam, Arnica Montana y música con delfines y ballenas.
RELAJACIÓN MÚSICA, MÚSICA RELAX, MÚSICA MEDITACIÓN, MEDITATION MUSIC, FRECUENCIAS SANADORAS, MUSICA ALTERNATIVA, MUSICA SANADORA, MUSICA PARA SANAR EL ALMA, HEALING MUSIC, MUSIC FOR HEALING,healing frequency, FREQUENCY TO HEAL, MUSICA ESPIRITUAL, SPIRITUAL MUSIC, MUSICA DELFINES, DOLPHIN MUSIC, MUSICA NEW AGE, MUSICA REIKI, MUSICA YOGA, MUSICA DE BALLENAS, RELAX MUSIC FRECUENCIAS SAGRADAS SOLFEGGIO
