2011 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry & (Astro)physics

Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded for discovery of ten-fold symmetry in quasi-crystal (instead of the usual three-fold symmetry).

Three Americans won the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics in what may be the Nobel Prize Committee's biggest blunder if it turns out that the accelerating expansion of the Universe turns out to be an incorrect theory.

The physics prize was awarded to three astrophysicists for making the observation that the observed rate of expansion of the universe seems to be accelerating possibly driven by the unknown 'dark energy' that might be vacuum energy or the supply-side theory of something from nothing. Einstein called that anti-gravity cosmological constant his 'biggest blunder'.

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2011/

If the observed rate of expansion is just an apparent observational effect caused by the uneven expansion rates of various parts of the Universe-the Universe could be thousands of times larger than the observable universe and the space time might be expanding in some areas and contracting in others-then the theory would need to be scaled back.

The prize was obviously well-given this year. What the Universe is really like-if its laws are just variables that seem constant given the time scale of observations by humans, the expansions of space-time, the nature of a continuing expansion acceleration believed to have resumed 5.5 billion years ago after a slow down from the inflation era caused by gravity-awaits discovery. The conjecture that the unknown cosmological constant 'dark energy' necessarily has some sort of inexhaustible energy supply and would continue to expand the universe forever-or just rip it apart into large or small fragment universes perhaps dominated locally by gravity drawing it together to create a myriad of new little universes-isn't certain.

Ecoside Beyond the Gated Community (poem)

Pain is a sound that overcomes concerns
of taxes and debts unpaid-these things
reach deep into troubled pockets
emptying competing concerns
like spare planets for existential doubts
onto the tarmac aft jet exhaust
letting network tides arise

Wrecked waves of darkening skies, future frosts
disappear into abysal silent heat
compactors of chemical balance
microwave ashing of excrement
with crumpled leaves of brownian motion
complicating spiders searching
for energy unto the end

Automatic actions trifle hecklers half cocked
squirrels put away last nuts
as evil puts down lost political souls
reducing the uncertainty of tomorrow
clearing fields for fuhrer time
now and then in history's recurrent rhyme

Democracy too, died in the buzzing wind
high velocity through power lines
humming songs of wild notes
deep and pure geometries forever trimmed
increase lifelessness emerging to halt
anything

Artificial lights aglow
orange night halos advertising cities
cold in the proprietary distance
post cards for alien wonder
like a metaphor actualized
perfected museums cloned of myriad windows
seem like Hollywood echos
of hetero dialectical recombinations
surpassing the same genes' duplication
that reduce the creative being
of the gated community

Players age before our eyes
acting in buildings of seasons
constructions extending temporal infinity far enough
that it ends within finite walls
structured and decorated; mosaics
of evictions and death
set outside like muddy boots drying

Senseless global warming
depleting political sensibility
faithless temples of political cults
rolling back democracy
order D-9 caterpillars to fly
shadows of silent profit theorems
deisel empowered deleation of forests
push species over the edge
until nothing is left
of the book of life.

Moslem Terrorists Kill >70 in Mogadishu

The terrorist group Al Shabab has claimed credit for setting a blast that killed more than 70 people in Somalia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15166107

Reading the book 'Inside Hamas' published in 2007 some of the operative nature of the political fundamentalism of the mufsidoon becomes evident. I recommend the book for reading for those wishing to learn the history of the Palestinian terror organization.

There are more than ten Palestinian organization that deny the right of Isreal to exist and wish to reclaim the entire area of former British Palestine for the Muslim world. Al Qa'eda too dabbled in terroristy operations in Israel via Palestine.

While the Sunni may regard the Shia as heretic blasphemers for their cult-like reverence of the hidden twelth Imam, the Shia of Iran and the Syrian Government have provided weapons and cash to Hamas and other Palestinian organization apparently. Smuggling routes in the first decade of the thrid millenium from Lebanon via boatings and Egypt via tunnels helped bring anti-tank weapons, anti-aircraft rockets, explosives, grenades, automatic weapons, pistols and other items to the Gaza and West Bank of the Jordan settlemtns.

Financing of the Palestinian entity arises from the entire Arab world that has many believers in an expansion of Islam to conquer the entire world. Though an obsolete point of view historically it still motivates the ignorant to first seek to drive Israel from the Middle East in order to bring the entire region into the Umma or dar all Islam and present a unified Moslem base for launching a crusade of invasion and conquest of Europe. Blasting Mogadishu is a simple way to express the jihadist opposition to all things that might be construed as useful targets.

'Inside Hammas' noted that weapons smuggling from Somalia to Palestinian let the value of an AK-47 purchased in Mogadishu rised from $200 to $2000 dollars upon arrival in the Gaza. The trans-national nature of fundamental Moslem terrorism in nthe region is a function of poverty, political displacement and the empowerment of weapons and explosives as well as a simultaneous ad hoc political movement based upon the quran.

The destabilizing changes of Middle Eastern governemnts is unlikely to soon settle down and transition into a more ecospherically beneficial human synergy politically. It is possible that the larger political chunk unit approach to goal objectives seeking support from meta-political financiers and weapons suppliers will continue awhile-especially if wealth is concentrated too much in that area.

German Chancellor Questions Jewsish Settlements in Jerusalem

German Chancelor Angela Merkell has made an opposite opinion on Israel's continuing establishment of settlements in East Jerusalem in with timing something like a Luftwaffe air assault coordinated with Mahmoud Abbas' effort at the U.N. to advance the Palestinian war upon the Jewish state through other means-a request that the U.N. draw the lines for a Palestinian State itself without Israeli consent.

Chancellor Merkel believes Israel may not be serious about the 'two-state solution'. That phrase does have a certain advertising zing to it as a kind of antacid pep-yet it isn't a real world guarantee of anything that would bring security to Israel at all as the Chancellor is probably aware.

Evidently the Chancellor of Germany, with a little insensitivity since Adolph Hitler once spoke from the same political post, believes that Israel isn't sincerely interested in a peaceful resolution of the state of conflict that has continued in various forms since 1948 when the modern state of Israel was created. Certainly surviving Nazis of that day would have supported a position the Mufti of Jerusalem would have liked too.

Germany is a fine state and good, intelligent people except when it comes to the Jews. That slippery slope seems to be attracted Chancellor Merkel into making dumb analytical comments as well-and there just ins't any bloody reason for her to speak out at all.

I have been reading a nice little book 'Inside Hamas' recently with interesting expositions of the history of that organization starting Intifadahs and so forth. Chancellor Merkel should have a clue that Hamas has not supported the existence of Israel and is simply asking the U.N. to accomplish additional recovery of territory for them that they cannot gain through war. The best policy for peace in the middle east so far as Israel goes is simply for Germany to offer unilateral support for Israel's effort to make reasonably secure permanent border positions in its homeland since the age of the Jebusites.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gpOy5dKtaW7UP31nmtHOH1L7D8Ig?docId=40e9e141a0fc4af7993e6a374b0c064e

The Jewish state needs to have its boundaries securewd withyout the fundamental help of the Palestinians that have resolutely opposed the existence of Israel from the beginning. Germany should not offer more 'final solutions' politically in upgraded versions to the friction between Abraham's two sons. Chancellor Merkel shouold drop her political posturing and step back from the of Abbass' perfidy that would just poisition the next generation of _Palestinian terrorists version 3.1 take over the war from advanced borders.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict can be solved when the violence just withers away and time passes wherein the two peoples live together peacefully and profitably. It cannot be solved through Germany's wear of words upon the Jewsish state. The two-state solution is not a magic waffle of peace that with enough syrup rhetoric will become nutritionally scrumptious. The basic ingrediants of the breakfast of a new political beginning requires from-scratch ingrediants-the Palestinians must work directly with the Jews on that without suicide bombings of the kitchen etc.

Mitt Romney Passes Up Stumbling Rick Perry in Presidential Race

Texas Governor Rick Perry entered the Republican presidential primary contest at the top being delivered to the summit of the polls above the other candidates who labored up the mountain trekking on emerging with the heavy load of obscurity amongst the precipices of no public support. Rick Perry was air-lifted from the Bush School for Lemon Presidents in Texas trained with special interest appeals that provided little acclamitization to the harsh weather conditions and ran downhill since in search of a warm place to regroup and recover.

Fox News has made a poll on the presidential primary race that has the energetic and intelligent former Massachusets Governor Mitt Romney surging ahead to move toward the summit passing former Bush II Lt. Governor Rick Perry on his way down. He has falleen six points behind Mitt, and Herman Cain is also closing the distance to pass Rick Perry.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20113438-503544.html

Rick Perry will not be abandoned on his out of control descent of the mountain. His fellow climbers will send word to the rescuers at the base to search and rescue the unprepaired candidate and make him ready to serve in some distant yet challenging outpost in the new Republican administration in 2014 perhaps as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

The Wasilla Alaska Moose Story

Yesterday was the first morning of seasonal frost. It was gone today, like the first snowfall on the top of the hills near Wasilla end of July that reappeared a month later. Local moose began their fall behavior in mid September. That too will disappear fading into the past soon enough, so I will write a few words on that subject today.

The tent I lived in became part of the landscape for the resident moose. They sought a refuge from the noise of the street traffic enjoying a sanctuary from distant wolves and bear as well. Woodlands within biking distance of the city still existed as refuges for a few, mostly female moose.

Wasilla was a good place to raise young moose twins. Female moose are not hunted and when no dogs or poachers are about are fairly safe. They browse on abundant grass, leaves and succulent spring and summer growth, rather territorially remaining in a given area. The young moose born in spring follow along as they gain weight before their first winter when eventually the available plants will be lower branches of deciduous trees and perhaps emergent bushes from the fall.



I believe I have read that moose have a brain about the size of a dog or cat much used for processing food in multiple stomachs. They have a certain curiosity about people and as deer are a bit too trusting, yet as short lived creatures they are somewhat naïve as well.



After a month or so of living near the center of the resident moose habitat and not presenting a threat the female moose and following young ones seemed to regard me as a curiosity. They went about their usually daily food smorgasbord keeping a respectable margin of distance.

The moose eventually seemed to enjoy grazing in the area near the tent. I got several good photos with a cell phone I will post someplace eventually. Yet then the rutting season arrived. It provided an opportunity to consider female moose behavior and that of the Bull Moose as well.

In the area of the city with settlements and homes scattered throughout the area forest, and with an abundance of roads and four wheeler ATV’s a bull moose’s rack (horns) is something of a ‘target notice’ in hunting season. There are far more female moose residing near Wasilla than male. That made me think about natural selection as well. Instead of larger, dominant Bull Moose procreating most, the moose would require smaller, stealthier, smarter Bull Moose able to hide like ninja from human hunters.

The female moose run the risk of becoming nun moose (no risk of Lesbianism) in these near city forests. Safe from hunters and natural predators they run only the risk of failure to get pregnant as Bull Moose are decimated and fail to reach the female sanctuaries near the cities. I was a little curious if any moose would make it through the gauntlet of hunters and poachers that shoot near cities with sub-sonic or muffled rifle loads near dark to have hours to process and remove the game before any potential investigation.

A smaller buck moose did eventually arrive in the forest. Its rack was not so large, and it fled at my approach. It was of course interested in the females of the forest one or two of which hung about my tent seeming to use me as a sort of de facto competition for the buck moose. Only when it overcame its fear of being near the tent where the females found their competition for the buck did the buck moose eventually score.

That was last Saturday night. Near dusk in the nearby forest the occasional groaning sounds as the buck tried to mount the almost larger female that broke off as the female ran off over the prior two or three days gave way to obvious female moose sex moaning. The sound remains me a little of a braying donkey.

The female was lucky to get any sort of buck to make it throw a wall of certain death. Even that survivor would be short-lived. Female moose may keep up the large size while the males are down-sized. Neither are moose terribly bright. The females want the large head-butting simple mindedness as an evolutionary survival characteristic for producing large, healthy offspring while today its the thoughts that count.

Yet even human beings experience similar evolutionary challenges like the moose. Female moosiness traits exist for human females too as the Robert Redford looking Shaquille O'Neal guy was regarded as a better prospect that a philosopher as small as Immanuel Kant.

In biological evolution the characteristics that produce the most offspring are reproduced. If intelligence for humans today recognizes that the human population doubling time has radically reduced between each doubling (requiring 200,000 years to reach the first billion, a hundred or so to reach the second and so on to wher we approach 8 billion) and that no population growth for the time being would be wise-than evolutionary characteristic has little chance of being reproduced. So one might dev elop a pessimistic outlook on the next doubling of human population to 16 billion people that could in as few as twenty or thrity years. Neither would these be the brightest people in the world-yet warlike, desirous of extended life spans and encouraged by politicians to increase consumption of natural resources.

So the female with two twins from the prior year having got impregnated for another year supported a downsizing of the males perhaps with the survival instinct of flight from humans. Maybe the moose are doomed with the global warming and arrival of more coyotes to Alaska, wild dogs and motorized human hunters-that’s hard to say. As the largest member of the deer species though they aren’t at all difficult to live with around humans in numbers if not too quickly added to stew meat.

Moose serve the vital function of clearing undergrowth in suburban park lands that it’s too easy to run one’s eye on in the dark. Without large wild mammals in the forest the places seem rather empty.

Expansion of Universe Accelleration an Illusion?

The 1998 discovery based on the rate of recession of distant quasars and/or supernova that the Universe may have begun accellerating its expansion about 5 billion years ago is generally accepted by physicists-at least until this recent theory by Christos Tsagas.

http://www.space.com/13094-accelerating-universe-dark-energy-illusion.html

The space.com article is quite informative. After Allan Guth developed the inflation theory of universal expansion the idea that space had not only originated in a Lamaitre like big bang but also had an expansion allowed an updated sketching in of the overall shape and rate of change of space-time.

The universe at 10 to the minus 43 second of its history was hot and dense in the theory, then at 10 to the minus 35th second it hyper-inflated faster than the speed of light. Neither light or gravity actually existed then, and so the universe expanded in a small fraction of a second to the size of a grapefruit (probably a Florida rather than a California grapefruit) and slowed to resume its normal sub-lght speed expansion for billions of years.

What was thought to drive the first inflation was a phase change to a lower more stable energy level of vacuum energy. That consolidation through off radiation and maybe space increased simultaneously. That vacuum energy is what remains in the universe today possibly as the cosmological constant or Lambda that was thought to be expanding it again towards dissipation. Now it is conjectured the apparent expansion of the universe could be just an illusion made because different regions of space may have different relative velocities or shapes in comparison to other regions of the universe.

If the cosmological constant is not real, and if the universe is not increasing its rate of expansion but is instead sort of just hanging on the critical edge between expanind and collapsing toward a big crunch, then some of these other theories about inflation may lose some coinciding support.

I am not sure that it matters too much right now expecpt perhaps to professisonal physicists since several basic ideas about space, mass and energy are also rather unknown. Most of the physical theories describing mass and energy really haven't a good definition of what space is for itself. Quantum mechanics seems to be more a description of the phenomenal appearance of the observed behavior of sub-atomic particles rather than a philosophy of what the nature of the quantum reality is in-itself.

Hopefully theorists will wrap up these interesting questions and produce solid answers before time runs out in the Universe or in the chaotic inflationary cascade of universes that may or may not have arisen from the inexplicable donation of a vacuum energy with a preferred direction.