Labor Day weekend: Crowded beaches, rough waves and DUI crackdowns

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Beach Safety tips for Labor Day Weekend.

Thousands of people will flock to Central Florida's coast with beach towels for a hot sometimes rainy Labor Day weekend.

In turn, Central Florida's law officers will be out in full force; patrolling area beaches, lakes and highways amid the low-to-mid 90s weather in Orlando.

Meteorologists say Saturday and Monday will be the hottest days in Central Florida, with a high of 94 both days, with a moderate risk for rip currents Saturday.

Temperatures will be a bit cooler at the beaches because of sea breezes.

The usual summer afternoon storms could dampen some outdoor plans, meteorologist John Pendergrast said.

"If you do have outdoor activities that are sensitive to rain or storms, you should probably do them early," Pendergrast said. "You probably want to have them wrapped up by 1 p.m."

Lingering swells from Hurricane Cristobal and the threat of rip currents are among the main concerns for beach officials this weekend.

"It's extremely important for people to find a lifeguard tower and swim in front of it," said Capt. Tammy Marris, spokeswoman for Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue.

Meanwhile, other law-enforcement agencies will be on high alert for intoxicated drivers and boaters.

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Labor Day weekend: Crowded beaches, rough waves and DUI crackdowns

Beaches closed on the Gold Coast again

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Beaches closed on the Gold Coast again

Gold Coast beaches have been closed for a second day due to dangerous surf conditions.

Lifeguards have just opened five beaches, including Greenmount Beach as it's sheltered.

They say the others will remain closed today as winds have picked up this afternoon.

The swells have seen many disappointed people turn out at the beach, with today being a public holiday on Gold Coast due to the annual show.

7News Brisbane marine expert Paul Burt said, "Swell will slowly drop and the winds with Sunday being picture perfect."

So far most beachfront homeowners have been spared from any major damage from erosion.

Waves have been peaking at about 4 metres this morning, and winds have reached 33 km/hr.

While the swimmers haven't been braving the rough conditions, surfers have been making the most of the huge waves.

More updates soon.

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Beaches closed on the Gold Coast again

Beaches face bathing ban as heavy rain ups e.coli risk

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Swimming bans could be put in place at a number of beaches in Co Cork in the coming days if heavy rainfall sweeps slurry into the sea and raises e.coli bacteria to excessive levels.

Following advice from the HSE, Cork County Council yesterday put up warning notices at 14 beaches along the coast advising the public that water conditions might deteriorate to an extent that they exceeded permissible EU levels for the bacteria.

Officials said forecasts of heavy rain yesterday and again today meant there was a likelihood of contaminants being washed into the sea.

It was predicted that West Cork would be worst affected.

Met ireann forecasters predicted that 19.4mm of rain would fall in the region yesterday, with a further 17.9mm today.

Along the East and South Cork coasts less rain was forecast, but was deemed enough to have potential to cause sea water pollution.

Warning signs were put up by the council at nine beaches in West Cork: Barleycove, Cadogans, Coolmaine, Pallas, Tragumna, Traverra, Trahallan, Tom OBriens Strand, and The Warren.

The warning signs were also put up at Youghals Claycastle and Front Strand, Fountainstown, Garryvoe and Garretstown.

A number of beaches have been closed in the county already this year due to elevated levels of potentially harmful bacteria entering bathing water.

Earlier this month, a temporary bathing prohibition notice was put in place at Garryvoe, this time due to elevated levels of intestinal enterococci in the water.

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Beaches face bathing ban as heavy rain ups e.coli risk

Water sampling at Sarnia-Lambton beaches ends for season

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The summer water quality testing program at public beaches along Sarnia-Lambton's stretch of Lake Huron has come to a close with all seven locations earning a clean bill of health.

This week's final round of water samples came back from the lab clear of elevated bacteria levels that can result in Lambton Public Health officials posting warning signs for swimmers.

Weekly sampling and testing runs from June to the end of August at Canatara Park, Bright's Grove, Highland Glen, the Ipperwash main beach, Pinery Park and Grand Bend's north and south beaches.

This week's testing was the final round for 2014.

Theresa Warren, a public health inspector, said there were a total of five beach postings this summer, the same number as in 2013.

"It's pretty much what we expect, particularly with the type of weather we had over the past summer," she said.

"Especially in times when we have heavy rainfall and high winds. It causes the bacteria in the lake to be stirred up, and we get high levels when we sample."

Water in the lake can become temporarily polluted for up to 48 hours following heavy rainfall, according to the public health office.

Also, if wave activity has made the lake appear cloudy, bacteria from the lake bottom may have become suspended in the water, increasing the risk of illness.

Just four of this year's beach postings in Lambton were because of high levels of bacteria found in samples.

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Water sampling at Sarnia-Lambton beaches ends for season

Barbecues, Beaches and Bonds: A Labor Day Story

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I'll be spending this holiday weekend with family, enjoying the last days of summer outdoors and preparing a meal or two on the grill. What do Labor Day grilling festivities and investing have in common? Plenty. Preparing the perfect meal requires an optimal balance of nutrients, just like building a portfolio requires the right savory combination of investments. Here's how I would prepare a fixed income mixed grill.

Chicken as Treasuries

The most basic protein, chicken, is a fixture of any barbecue menu. The same can be said for Treasuries in a bond portfolio. Treasury securities, in a variety of maturities, provide more safety than any other investments as they are backed by the full faith and trust of the U.S. government, do not have a call provision, and provide a dependable income stream. They are also the ultimate diversifier for equities and other tasty higher-risk dessert items.

Investment Grade Steak

Just like a prime, choice, or select cut of beef, there are investment grade bonds that are rated according to credit quality. Investment grade describes bonds that are "AAA" or "AA" (high credit quality) and "A" to "BBB" (medium credit quality). As with those who love a good steak, investment grade bonds suit those who seek high quality in exchange for less risk. It may not be as lean as chicken, but it may provide a little more flavor in the form of extra yield.

High Yield Ribs

The decadent offering of barbecued ribs at a weekend party is similar to that of high yield fixed income investments. By taking on greater risk of spilling sauce on your shirt you have the experience of a true summertime staple, and with high yield fixed income investments you are positioned for potentially higher income. Just like the ribs, you don't want to overdo it too much on high yield; put a sensible amount on your plate to get a taste of the flavor and little extra yield potential, but not so much that it leaves you feeling queasy from too much volatility.

Emerging Market Spicy Kebabs

For those who want a little more adventure on their menu, there's always the option of adding some unique flavors like spicy kebabs. This is the equivalent of adding some emerging markets fixed income to your bond portfolio. You may run the risk of a little heartburn, with occasional volatility and currency risk, but no cookout is truly complete without a little spice thrown into the mix. It helps you balance out the blandness of some of the healthier options, and gives the overall meal a nice flavor kick. And here, flavor means yield potential.

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Barbecues, Beaches and Bonds: A Labor Day Story

Astronomy – Chapter 1: Introduction (4 of 10) Where Did Solar System Come From? – Video

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Astronomy - Chapter 1: Introduction (4 of 10) Where Did Solar System Come From?
Visit http://ilectureonline.com for more math and science lectures! In this video I will examine What did all the elements in the universe formed?

By: Michel van Biezen

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Astronomy - Chapter 1: Introduction (4 of 10) Where Did Solar System Come From? - Video

Astronomy – Ch. 2: Understanding the Night Sky (5 of 20) Understanding the Celestial Sphere – Video

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Astronomy - Ch. 2: Understanding the Night Sky (5 of 20) Understanding the Celestial Sphere
Visit http://ilectureonline.com for more math and science lectures! In this video I will explain what is the celestial sphere (a sort of GPS of the universe).

By: Michel van Biezen

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Astronomy - Ch. 2: Understanding the Night Sky (5 of 20) Understanding the Celestial Sphere - Video

Uncloaking the King of the Milky Way: The largest star in our home galaxy's largest stellar nursery

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28.08.2014 - (idw) Max-Planck-Institut fr Astronomie

Astronomers led by Shiwei Wu of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy have identified the most massive star in our home galaxy's largest stellar nursery, the star-forming region W49. The star, named W49nr1, has a mass between 100 and 180 times the mass of the Sun. Only a few dozen of these very massive stars have been identified so far. As seen from Earth, W49 is obscured by dense clouds of dust, and the astronomers had to rely on near-infrared images from ESO's New Technology Telescope and the Large Binocular Telescope to obtain suitable data. The discovery is hoped to shed light on the formation of massive stars, and on the role they play in the biggest star clusters. The discovery of a new, very massive star is exciting to astronomers for more than one reason: Very massive stars, more than 100 times the mass of our own Sun, are something of an astronomical mystery. They are very short-lived (a few million years compared to the 10 billion years of stars like our Sun), which is one reason they are so rare. Among the billions of stars catalogued and examined by astronomers, these very massive specimens amount to no more than a few dozen, most of them discovered over the past few years.

Though rare, the massive stars have a decisive influence on their surroundings. They are extremely bright, giving off large amounts of highly energetic UV radiation as well as streams of particles (stellar wind). Typically, such a star will create a bubble around itself, ionizing any nearby gas, and pushing more distant gas ever farther away. Some of this pushed-away gas might actually cause distant gas clouds to collapse, triggering the birth of new stars.

Until a few years ago, there was even doubt whether such stars could form at all. Theorists have only quite recently managed to simulate the genesis of these massive bodies, and there are now several competing explanations for very massive star formation. In some models, such a star is the result of the merger between two stars forming in an extended star cluster. Up to now, there had only been three clusters (NGC 3603 and the Arches Cluster in our galaxy, R136 in the Large Magellanic Cloud) where such massive stars had actually been found.

Now, a team of astronomers lead by Shiwei Wu from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) has discovered such a massive star, and not in any location, but in the largest star-forming region known in our Milky Way galaxy, which is called W49. The discovery was a challenging task: W49 is located at a distance of 36,000 light-years (11.1 kpc), almost half-way across our home galaxy, cloaked by the dust of two spiral arms that lie between us and the cluster.

Using a spectrum obtained with the European Southern Observatorys Very Large Telescope in the infrared, the astronomers could determine the stars type (O2-3.5If* star) and use this information and the stars measured brightness to estimate its temperature and total light emission. Comparison with models for stellar evolution give an estimate of the stars mass between 100 and 180 solar masses.

Because of the clusters size, W49 is one of the most important sites within our galaxy for studying the formation and evolution of very massive stars and with W49nr1, the astronomers have now identified the clusters key object. With this and future observations, they have hopes of settling one of astronomys weightiest open questions: the birth of our galaxys most massive stars.

Contact

Shiwei Wu (first author) Max Planck Institute for Astronomy Heidelberg, Germany Phone: (+49|0) 6221 528 203 email: shiwei@mpia.de

Klaus Jger (public information officer) Max Planck Institute for Astronomy Heidelberg, Germany Phone: (+49|0) 6221 528 379 email: pr@mpia.de

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Uncloaking the King of the Milky Way: The largest star in our home galaxy's largest stellar nursery

Tech Lessons From The 'Dark Ages'

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The Dark Ages in what is now Western Europesometimes conjure images of a very low-tech society replete with outright barbarism and boiling vats of gruel. But the early Middle Ages (or Dark Ages) a longtime historical pejorative were actually a time of great technological progress, medieval scholars now say.

A scarcity of written records has given rise to the misconception that the early Middle Ages roughly correlating with the end of the Roman Empire Empire in the West (around 476 A.D.) to about 1000 A.D. were unrelentingly primitive, says Benjamin Hudson, a professor of history and medieval studies at Penn State University.

Yet in many ways medievalists were centuries ahead of their time; intrinsically-linked to their landscape and intent on looking for alternative means to harness the power of nature. Part of the Dark Ages image problems, says Hudson, is tied to the nature of scientific development, which in the case of technology was incremental.

Petrarch, who conceived the idea of a European Dark Age. From Cycle of Famous Men and Women, Andrea di Bartolo di Bargilla, c. 1450 (Credit: Wikipedia)

The people making the discoveries often could not read or write, said Hudson. The literate class was the clergy, who had limited interest in science.

The water-powered blast furnace is seen by some as the greatest technological development of the epoch; since it enabled iron to smelt at higher temperatures and much faster and more cheaply than any previous technology.

High-quality horse stirrups were a byproduct of such improved smelting techniques which; as Paolo Squatriti, a medieval historian at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, points out, enabled a mounted rider to whack his opponents over the head without falling out of the saddle. This made the knight in shining armor possible, he said.

Although the Classical world that preceded the Dark Ages was aware of basic engineering techniques and energy sources, it depended on slave labor, says Hudson.

Among the Roman [aristocracy] there was an overweening disdain for the mechanical arts, to such an extent that even reading was considered manual labor, said Squatriti. So, you sat back and listened while a slave read to you.

The idea that manual work was bad, says Squatriti, spread with the result that an aristocratic Roman who had the time and resources to devote to the pursuit of technology would never have done such research because he considered it way below his status.

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Tech Lessons From The 'Dark Ages'

University of Iowa dedicates observatory to James Van Allen

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By B.A. Morelli, The Gazette

IOWA CITY The University of Iowa dedicated a revamped observatory with three high-powered telescopes to famed space scientist and longtime UI professor James Van Allen on Friday afternoon.

The 18-foot clamshell dome observatory is mounted high above most of Iowa Citys skyline on the roof of the seven-story Van Allen Hall on campus. The building houses the UI physics and astronomy department that Van Allen helped build.

This combines the technology he loved, and the ability for students to walk one-flight up from the laboratory to use it, said Robert Mutel, a UI physics astronomy professor involved in launching the new observatory.

Van Allen, who died in 2006 at age 91, was a space pioneer who discovered radiation belts that now bear his name.

The old observatory had fallen in disrepair and held outdated technology. It hadnt been used in about 15 years, Mutel said. Students view to the heavens came from remote access to a telescope called Rigel based in Arizona.

With a grant from the Carver Charitable Trust, the department set about returning students access to space research back to arms reach. The new fiberglass structure observatory electronically opens to the sky and at the center three telescopes a solar, planetary and astronomical are fastened together.

The project cost approximately $140,000, including $36,000 for the primary astronomical telescope thats powerful enough to find quasars billions of light years away.

The observatory will primarily be used by students, but the hope is to provide public access as well, such as for astronomy clubs.

Its pretty awe-inspiring, said Erin Maier, a sophomore astronomy and physics student, who helped set up the new observatory and telescopes. We are looking at entire galaxies just like ours in a single image.

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University of Iowa dedicates observatory to James Van Allen

LACMA exhibition 'African Cosmos' illuminates art of astronomy

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First, there was light. Then, a night sky filled with stars and a luminescent moon. Soon after? Art.

Since ancient times, communities have used art to relay stories and make sense of the world around them particularly when interpreting the heavens and giving form to perceived deities ruling the forces of nature.

A new exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, "African Cosmos: Stellar Arts," showcases 40 rare objects in gold, silver, bronze, stone, beads and wood that collectively illustrate the history of African cultural astronomy, from ancient Egypt to the present day.

On view is a 4,000-year-old Egyptian Middle Kingdom star clock, carved onto a wooden coffin lid, that marks star patterns. There's a wooden divination board, made by the Yoruba people of Nigeria in the late 19th or 20th century, that was used to connect with the spirit world. A gold "soul washer's disc," more than 100 years old, was made by an Asante artist from Ghana in West Africa and worn by members of the royal court to protect the king and by extension, the nation.

Not all of the works in the show are old: A 2009 video projection by Karel Nel of South Africa incorporates data from a project in which he worked with more than 100 astrophysicists around the world. Called a "cosmic evolution survey," it maps a square patch of the sky south of the constellation Leo.

The exhibition originated at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African Art. It's the second show in LACMA's African Art Gallery, which opened in summer 2013.

Twitter: @debvankin

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'African Cosmos: Stellar Arts'

Where: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles

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LACMA exhibition 'African Cosmos' illuminates art of astronomy

KU physics, astronomy department offers fall events

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The University of Kansas Department of Physics and Astronomy is having two events this fall in Lawrence that will allow citizen scientists to explore the world and the ever-expanding universe. The events are open to the public and include the following:

From the Smallest to the Biggest: How Our Inward Search Sheds Light on the Earliest Moments of the Universe, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 in the Bliss Room at Eldridge Extended, 201 W. Eighth St. Brookhaven National Laboratory scientist Paul Sorensen will discuss everything from the smallest bits of matter created via particle colliders to the largest depths of the expanding universe.

Everyone Loves Science, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont St. Physics professor Mats Selen, of the University of Illinois, will lead hands-on, educational physics activities designed to engage attendees and improve learning.

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KU physics, astronomy department offers fall events