Kendrick Doesn't Like Grass

The Skies

A rendering of the sun based on temperature (red=cool, blue=hot). 

A new series of images and videos from a new solar observatory.

Other Great Links:


Nifty nebula (old, but cool)
NASA crew's top ten sat photos
Main gallery for Hubble
"Hubble's Best"
Celestron Photo Contest winners

Did you know...

that part of Lewis and Clark's mission was to search for
mammoths because of an extreme interest from
Thomas Jefferson?


NatGeo

Largest Tidal Wave in History- this blows my mind

Due to the recurring theme of earthquakes and with the tidal wave scare in the recent Chile earthquake tragedy, I stumbled across this mind-blowing account:

On July 9, 1958, an earthquake (registering between 7.9 and 8.3 on the Richter Scale) in Lituya Bay, Alaska caused an enormous slab of rock (30.6 million cubic meters) to fall from its perch over the bay. It fell approximately 3000 feet into the water. This impact, concurrent with other seismic activities (tectonic movements, glacial lake drainage) caused the largest recorded tidal wave, also known as one of the few megatsunamis. The wave surged out toward sea and cleared the land of its trees and debris. Immediately near the impact site, trees were cleared from the slope face as high as 1720 feet!

geology.com, wiki

Some Interesting Volcanic Eruptions

Eruption 3km under water near Samoa:


via CNN


Eruption at the surface in Tonga

via MSNBC

excellent still:

Eruption of Mt. Erebus in Antarctica seen from space:

via Nasa

Earthquakes (plural)

Haiti is certainly devastated as was Sichaun two years ago. Drudge showed that Grand Cayman just got rocked, but not devastated. According to the USGS, there are quite a few earthquakes every day (as I write, one in Chile within the last hour) and thankfully not many of them carry the destruction and loss as in Haiti.

Stuff about Antarctica- becaue its cold and it feels like its Antarctic

Antarctica is the 5th largest continent, larger than Australia and Europe.

It is smaller geographically than Russia.

Antarctica vs USA

Antarctica vs Europe

It is  obviously covered by ice, but there is very little actual land in comparison.

via Wikipedia, CIA Factbook

World's Largest Snake(s)-

(for my sisters)

Despite many claims and widely circulated photo-shopped proofs of monster serpents, the actual record in length is 28.5 feet. A captive reticulated python was so measured at the Pittsburgh Zoo in the 1950s. No other claims for length record have been substantiated with actual measurements, despite a reward once offered by the New York Zoological society for $50,000 for such evidence.

The record for weight is held by the anaconda species in general. I actually found no specific weight record (in my cursory search) but estimates for the species range from 330- 550 lbs.

Both are constrictors and not venomous. The reticulated python inhabits Southeastern Asia, while the anaconda hails from South America. Similar constrictors (the boa) also populate South America, Africa and Australia (other python species).

Fossils of the largest ever have popped up recently, for an animal measuring and estimated 43ft in length.


For perspective:

A bull snake (5ft)- the largest of my territory in Iowa:

the record live reticulated python (28.5 ft):

the fossil (43ft):

Book Report-- The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag

The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag M
by Jim Corbett

Non-fiction


Definitely recommend for hunter/readers: Of the hunting books I've read, this is one of the best-told stories. It is also one of the most remarkable stories in and of itself. Man-eaters are always a sad thing, but this author who was also the successful hunter handles the loss of human life and wildlife conservation in a fair manner.

Did you know...

that there are 160,000 glaciers in the world. Of these, about 67,000 have been inventoried and extended data exists on only 79 glaciers. Of these 79, some are melting.

from journal articles quoted in State of Fear, Michael Crichton, 2004.

Other Climbs

In addition to the Big Climb, we scrambled and trudged about other hills, mounts, and boulders.

The Boulders:

We had a nice little pile just on the next hill from our cabin.

Mini/Family Climb:

All the siblings atop.

Christie and I, with the Medium Hill (see below) in the background.

The Small Hill:

The small hill out the window.

Point E from the cabin.

The cabin from the top, point E. (click for cabin location)

On the top, point E. Medium hill in the background.


The Medium and the Small Hills: mapped routes.

The Medium Hill, first attempt:
Chad, Carrie, Lynn, Curtis, and I

A pause before scaling the rocks (point A).

Stop at point B. Zoom way in for our position. Click for marked route.
We couldn't get up and around to the peak, safely.

Down the slope to the National-Treasure-2 rocks, point C.

Second attempt:
Chad, Carrie and I

We chose an easier route up the spine.

Point D.

Snow-cap in the background is Pike's Peak

The Big Climb (that I did)

Chad, Carrie, Curtis, and I climbed a mountain. To an out-of-shape dude like myself, it was a significant hike. I think the others had little problem. It was only a 10,300ish ft peak and we started at 8,500ish ft.

South Tarryall Peak. This picture (above) is taken from another little rock pile we climbed.

The approach.

Our path.

Further detail (click for larger): after hiking through the trees to point A, we began the more vertical ascent. Point C was our summit after scrambling around behind the mound (dotted lines). Point P is the actual summit of the mountain (11, 000 ft). See in Google Maps.

Alternate angle.

Pausing on the way up (one of many water/snack/air breaks, primarily necessitated by my extra paunch) at approximately point A.

Chad, our professional guide.

Yes, panting. (point B)


It started to snow (like small styrofoam pellets) on the way up and we went from rolled up sleeves to coats and hats. The storm came and went and we finished in sunlight.

Our Summit (Point C), 10, 300 ft. Looks quite steep from the top down (it didn't actually look that steep on the way up, but it did feel that steep).

Our band on our summit (point C, click for larger).

From our summit (C), the valley below (click for larger; click for location of cabin)

The Victory Pose on our summit (pt. C).

South Tarryall Peak (point P, from our summit, point C).

According to our professional guide, the storm systems in the area posed a threat to us.
We had to get down before the next storm came in, and it came. Thankfully, it brought amazing rainbows.

I look forward to tacking an actual mountain complete with snow and glaciers and higher altitudes (though I don't look forward to the getting into shape that would require).
Next time Chad.

Mountain Rainbows