Professor is 5th local fire victim in 3 months

Posted on by

Photo by: John Dixon/The News-Gazette

A former head of the University of Illinois physiology department died Monday night as a result of a fire at his home at 605 W. Michigan Ave., U.

URBANA Former University of Illinois physiology department head William Sleator died after a blaze at his Urbana home early this week. He's the fifth person to die in a Champaign County residential fire in the last three months.

The period from Sept. 23 through today has been anomalous for fire-related deaths, which are typically few and far between in the area.

Mr. Sleator, 96, was pulled from the fire around 10:43 p.m. Monday. He was taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana and pronounced dead later that night.

Nicholas Temperley, Mr. Sleator's brother-in-law, said the former professor moved to Urbana in 1969 to head the physiology department at the UI. Sleator has been incapacitated in recent years, Temperley said, and has been watched over by caretakers.

Mr. Sleator has two surviving sons, Temperley said, and a daughter who preceded him in death. Mr. Sleator was also the father of William Sleator III, a well-known science fiction and children's author who died in 2011.

Firefighters were called to his home at 605 W. Michigan Ave. on Monday night. Initial reports indicate the fire was in the back side of the house. Part of the second floor collapsed onto the first about a half-hour after their arrival, and the fire was spreading to the attic. Urbana firefighters requested mutual-aid assistance from the Savoy Fire Department.

The fire's cause was still under investigation, Urbana Fire Marshal Phil Edwards said.

He reminded people to check on their elderly relatives or friends.

See the article here:
Professor is 5th local fire victim in 3 months

DREAM X2 COMETS/STARS FLYING OVERHEAD, MASSIVE SONIC BOOMS EARTH HIT POSSIBLY. – Video

Posted on by


DREAM X2 COMETS/STARS FLYING OVERHEAD, MASSIVE SONIC BOOMS EARTH HIT POSSIBLY.
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/pages/End-of-the-Age-Bible-prophecy/238217082982663?fref=ts Dream about 2 comets or stars or objects, flying from the south...

By: justin roberts

Go here to read the rest:

DREAM X2 COMETS/STARS FLYING OVERHEAD, MASSIVE SONIC BOOMS EARTH HIT POSSIBLY. - Video

STRANGE EVENTS In 2013 Earthquakes, Mass Animal Deaths, Extreme Weather, OORT Cloud Comets – Video

Posted on by


STRANGE EVENTS In 2013 Earthquakes, Mass Animal Deaths, Extreme Weather, OORT Cloud Comets
Some of the mad news events of 2013, Links below, this is no conspiracy, this is happening. http://www.end-times-prophecy.org/animal-deaths-birds-fish-end-ti...

By: infamos

Go here to see the original:

STRANGE EVENTS In 2013 Earthquakes, Mass Animal Deaths, Extreme Weather, OORT Cloud Comets - Video

Best comets of last 500 years

Posted on by

When Comet ISON was discovered and a preliminary orbit for it was worked out, it was initially announced that it could be the "comet of the century."

Of course, the 21st century is only 12 years old (from 2001) and ISON turned out to be a dud. But out there in the far recesses of space there is certainly some unknown comet worthy of such an honorific title that will ultimately put on a unique and memorable show sometime during this century.

There will always be bright and spectacular comets, but in each century there is always one that will stand above the others. Below I provide my own list of the five most spectacular comets that have appeared in each century starting from the 16th and running through the 20th century.

Take note that four of these five dazzlers appeared in the latter half of their century and that the average time between appearances amounts to 97 years. Considering that Comet Ikeya-Seki passed by in 1965, the next prospective "Comet of the Century" might not appear according to our small sampling until maybe 2029 at the earliest and maybe not even until the next century (in 2103!). [Incredible Photos of Comet ISON]

Then again, stupendously bright comets are totally unpredictable and can suddenly appear at almost any time.

Greatest Comet of the 16th Century: The Great Comet of 1577This comet passed to within 16.7 million miles of the sun on Oct. 27, but was not sighted until five days later, when it was described in an account from Peru as an exceptionally brilliant object. Contemporary descriptions note that it was seen through the clouds like the moon.

By Nov. 8, it was reported by Japanese observers as a "broom star," appearing "as bright as the moon" with a white tail spanning over 60 degrees (your clenched fist held at arm's length measures 10 degrees). The famous astronomer Tycho Brahe first saw the comet as a reflection in his garden fish pond on Nov. 13, and likened its brightness to Venus. The comet was still as bright as zero magnitude in December before it finally dropped below the limit of naked-eye visibility on Jan. 26, 1578. (Magnitude is a measure of a celestial object's brightness, with smaller numbers corresponding to brighter objects.)

Greatest Comet of the 17th Century: The Great Comet of 1680The great excitement that accompanied the first announcement of the discovery of Comet ISON was that initially its orbit appeared strikingly similar to this spectacular 17th century comet; it was hoped that perhaps ISON was either a return of this amazing object, or at the very least a large fragment. But later calculations showed this was not so.

The German astronomer Gottfried Kirch became the first person to ever discover a comet with a telescope when he sighted this comet on Nov. 14, 1680, when it was at fourth magnitude. By Dec. 2, it already had a 15-degree tail and had reached second magnitude (as bright as Polaris, the North Star). On Dec. 18, it was at perihelion (the closest point to the sun in its orbit) coming to within 128,000 miles of the sun's surface.

At least one report (from Albany, NY) indicates that the comet was visible in the daytime. Several days later it could be seen in the evening twilight sky with a tail stretching straight up from a second-magnitude head from the southwest horizon for 70 to 90 degrees. By Jan. 10, 1681, the tail had shrunk to 55 degrees and by the Jan. 23 it measured "only" 30 degrees, with its head having faded to fourth magnitude. It remained visible to the naked eye until early February 1681.

See the original post here:

Best comets of last 500 years

Comets in the Community: Christmas at St. Luke’s

Posted on by

December 26, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets The Utica Comets players were more than eager to make time for some of their biggest fans as they were back at Faxton St. Luke's Healthcare last Thursday. In the midst of a two game set with the visiting Abbotsford Heat, five Comet players delivered gifts to the brave children of both the pediatric department at St. Luke's and the Children's Miracle Network.

Comets players Alex Biega, Brandon DeFazio, Kellan Lain, David Marshall and Yann Sauve each returned to St. Luke's, after they had previously visited a few weeks before to meet with the home's senior citizens. The Comets made the day for a new generation of patients, these consisting of ill youth who are fighting for their lives.

As someone whose job description includes fighting, Yann Sauve was eager as always to be on hand to support the children. Sauve's community involvement dates back to his time as a member of the Chicago Wolves, where he played from 2011-2013.

"We feel lucky to have the life we have right now," Sauve said in an interview with WKTV. "Some of these kids unfortunately that have illnesses, it's just part of giving back to them."

The players took the role of Santa Claus for the children in need, as they came stocked with Comets gear in hand, including hockey sticks and cards for the children. Many Comets, including defenseman Alex Biega, realize the importance of giving back to these children.

"To make a difference in kids' lives, whether it's giving an autograph or just saying hi, and making a difference for that child I think is critical," Biega said to WKTV, in his third visit to the hospital. "It means a lot to us and the organization."

The Comets opened up the session to the community and the players took pictures and signed autographs for anyone who made a donation to the Children's Miracle Network.

"It's a pretty special opportunity for us," Comets winger Brandon DeFazio said. "I think we're all feeling pretty excited to have met those kids, they always bring a little bit of extra joy to your life because they're so positive and excited to see you. For the most part we're even more excited to meet them and it was a great opportunity to do that today."

DeFazio was recognized for his work within the community a season ago by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, which he has only expanded upon since he arrived in Utica. The winger was awarded the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his services and was named the team's nominee for the Yanick Dupre Award, given annually to the AHL player who best demonstrates involvement in his community.

"Sometimes you think you're having a bad day, but then you come here and realize that it could always be worse," DeFazio said. They're always positive, always excited and to see that on them always weighs pretty heavily on us too."

Read more here:

Comets in the Community: Christmas at St. Luke's

World Cup Trophy To Visit Vietnam

Posted on by

HANOI, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- Vietnamese football fans will have a chance to see the 2014 World Cup trophy on Jan 1 in Hanoi, reports Vietnam News agency (VNA).

The capital city is one of the stopovers the trophy will make during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour.

Every four years before the World Cup, the trophy is taken on a world tour by Coca Cola, one of the official sponsors of the sports event. This time, the trophy started its journey from the well-known Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro on Sept 12.

It will travel to 88 countries and territories and cover 150,000 kilometres in 267 days, more than three times the circumference of the Earth, before returning to the host country, Brazil.

Currently in India, this is the third world tour of the trophy, the world's most coveted symbol of football. The first tour was in 2006.

The organisers of the event will hold many activities and performances during the day at the Quan Ngua Sport Palace.

During the exhibition, fans will get a chance to enjoy a rare up-close view of the original trophy. They will also have an opportunity to be photographed with the trophy, view a special hologram animation that showcases memorable moments of the FIFA World Cup and participate in interactive displays and other entertainment.

Fuleco, the official mascot of the Brazil World Cup, will also be accompanying the trophy.

Southeast Asia has long stood on the periphery of world football and often sidelined for its inability to compete for a place on the world's biggest football stage. At present, a Southeast Asian nation is yet to qualify for the global football event.

However, renowned football expert Mike Wong told Vietnam News in September that he has seen the positive progress regional football has made in recent years. He has urged Southeast Asian countries to develop a long term strategic plan if they are to realise ambitions of qualifying the World Cup.

Continue reading here:

World Cup Trophy To Visit Vietnam