Major Upgrade Of Kitt Peak National Observatory

Posted: 4/3/2019

Just read DESI lenses see first light The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument will begin operation later this year. (published 4/3/19)

After decades of being kind of overshadowed by other astronomical observatories, Kitt Peak near Tucson, Arizona is going to become again a world leading research institution.

“On April 1 the dome of the Mayall Telescope … opened to the night sky, and starlight poured through the assembly of six large lenses that were carefully packaged and aligned for a new instrument that will launch later this year. Just hours later, scientists produced the first focused images with these precision lenses—the largest is 1.1 meters in diameter” What an incredible moment!

This new telescope features the “Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, or DESI”. A marvel of technology:

“The finished DESI will measure the light of tens of millions of galaxies reaching back 12 billion light-years across the universe. It is expected to provide the most precise measurement of the expansion of the universe and provide new insight into dark energy, which scientists explain is causing this expansion to accelerate.

DESI’s array of 5000 independently swiveling robotic positioners, each carrying a thin fiber-optic cable, will automatically move into preset positions with accuracy to within several microns (millionths of a meter). Each positioner is programed to point its fiber-optic cable at an object to gather its light.

” (emphasis added)

Stay tuned!

The US President Continues To Exploit The Assault In Tucson For More Gun Control

Introduction

This blog post was previously posted, but then withdrawn.

Unbecoming Of A President Of The United States

Again, the President of the United States exploits the rare incidence that a mentally ill young man went on a shooting rampage. On March 13, 2011, Obama published an op-ed in the Arizona Daily Star titled “We must seek agreement on gun reforms”. An authoritarian demand. Once more he is so pathetic. This is a cheap political stunt unbecoming of a President of the United States.

Too Much Baloney

In this op-ed he claims another 2,000 people died due to gun violence since the assault happened in Tucson. Does he really believe that with more gun control these homicides would be significantly reduced? What does more gun control do to prevent an event like Tucson or Virginia Tech (also explicitly mentioned by Obama)?

He claims “Likewise, advocates for gun owners should accept the awful reality that gun violence affects Americans everywhere, whether on the streets of Chicago or at a supermarket in Tucson.” This is just baloney.

The US President Is In Denial

Not one word in his more than 1,000 words long piece mentions that the shooter was most likely mentally ill. In Obama’s euphemistic words “a man one of our colleges deemed too unstable for studies” and “an unbalanced man”. He is in denial and therefore his exploitation of the assault in Tucson is a shame. His ideological blindness also prevents the US President from recognizing that more needs to be done to treat or to commit involuntarily to a mental institution or to research better treatments for the mentally ill. The US President does not have the guts to face a societal stigma and taboo like mental illness.

The Tucson Shooter Was Not A Criminal

“I'm willing to bet that responsible, law-abiding gun owners agree that we should be able to keep an irresponsible, law-breaking few - dangerous criminals and fugitives, for example - from getting their hands on a gun in the first place.” This man is incredible. Really, he is willing to bet? Never mind that the NRA and probably countless police officers for decades have advocated just that. The Tucson shooter was not a criminal.

Museum To Stop Selling Bottled Water

Fools Or Clever Business

Today (9/20/2013), I received by e-mail the “The Desert Dispatch” from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

As a reason for this measure the museum says “As part of continuing conservation efforts, the Desert Museum will no longer sell bottled water on grounds beginning October 1. Did you know that most empty water bottles end up in landfills, but others end up in the ocean, waterways and landscapes where pieces of plastic can make it into foodwebs and harm wildlife? Or that producing bottled water releases about 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide? The Museum will sell reusable water bottles that can be filled at any Museum water fountain.” (emphasis added).

I am afraid this institution is not the only one who try to appeal the emotions of dogooders.

By the way, I happen to refill half liter bottles whenever possible. I have previously blogged here about that landfills are a man’s treasure. In his/her naiveté the museum director cannot or does not want to understand that landfills might become tomorrow’s resources for coming generations.

Green Fad Or Useful Idiots

The museum, which I quite like and recommend to visit, is unwittingly or not regurgitating popular green propaganda. Thus, it appears to be a statement of green fadish conformity or that of a useful idiot.

Mass Shootings And The Copycat Effect

Media Publicity Promotes Copycats

Mentally ill or not there is little doubt in my mind that the perpetrators of the recent (and presumably more distant past) shootings of unarmed, random victims in legislated or actually gun free zones were following a copycat pattern very much reinforced by the ensuing sensational media coverage of such events.

Copycats In Waves

The notion of 15 minutes of fame may also apply here. For once these perpetrators become the center of attention. I would also venture to guess there is a higher probability of a wave like pattern of occurrence of such events.

Cowards

What seems to be another observation is that these killers are cowards who would possibly rarely commit this kind of act if the odds to succeed were against them.

Digging For More

Recommendable further reading here, a Wall Street Journal op-ed article by David Kopel titled “Guns, Mental Illness and Newtown” published on 12/18/2012.

Mr. Kopel justifiably also points out the "deinstitutionalization of  the violently mentally ill" that began in the mid-1960s.