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Posted: 7:49:02 AM  

Despite the freezing temperatures, at least seven nights of temperatures around -10 Celsius would be needed to make sure the ice was thick enough for the classic Elfstedentocht skating race, experts told the Telegraaf on Friday.

W I K I on Elfstedentocht (english) or Google yourself!

Well ... -10 Celsius as we speak (07.30 AM) so ... fingers crossed!!

Posted: 7:35:16 AM  

Israel's use of depleted uranium against victims of the Gaza bombing campaign provides further evidence that war crimes are being committed with the tacit approval of both the current administration as well as president elect Barack Obama.

Posted: 7:19:44 AM  

The National Academy of Sciences has just released the results of a study entitled Severe Space Weather Events--Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts. The 132-page document examines what might happen to our high-tech modern society in the event of a super solar flare followed by an extreme geomagnetic storm. Such a storm did occur in the year 1859. It electrified telegraph lines, shocking technicians and setting telegraph papers on fire; Northern Lights as far south as Cuba were so bright, you could read a newspaper by their eerie glow.

According to the report, "a contemporary repetition of that event would cause significantly more extensive (and possibly catastrophic) social and economic disruptions." The report warns of widespread failures in telecommunications, electric power, banking and finance, and transportation; even water supplies could be disrupted. The total economic impact in the first year alone could reach $2 trillion--about 15 times greater than the costs of Hurricane Katrina. Depending on damage, full recovery from the solar storm could take 4 to 6 years.

No one knows how often super solar storms occur. We've only seen one like in the past 200 years. The next one could be another 200 years away--or just 200 days. All the more reason to study space weather!

Posted: 7:16:47 AM