The Pacific Northwest is Doomed by Robert Montenegro If you have friends who live in the U.S. states of Washington or Oregon, you've probably seen this tremendous piece from The New Yorker on social media this week, likely accompanied by words of dread and nightmare fuel, or at least a long string of disconcerted emojis. To offer a very basic summary, a massive earthquake is expected to develop in the next hundred years out of the Cascadia subduction zone, which stretches from Vancouver Island, Canada, to Mendocino, California. The tectonic plate beneath the region would effectively collapse, triggering a 45-foot tsunami that would make an absolute mess of the coastline. Everyone who lives within the red zone below — and plenty of people outside of it — would be in deep, deep fertilizer. It's a long read, but I recommend carving out the 15-20 minutes it'll take to run through the article. The most disturbing part of the piece is Schulz's relentless account of just how unready the region is to sustain such a disaster.
e-Estonia - estonia.eu "e-Estonia" is the term commonly used to describe Estonia's emergence as one of the most advanced e-societies in the world – an incredible success story that grew out of the partnership between a forward-thinking government, a pro-active ICT sector, and a switched-on, tech-savvy population. Thanks to this success, Estonians and the Estonian state enjoy a wide range of e-solutions that those living elsewhere can only dream about. In Estonia you can access wi-fi internet even in forestsFor citizens of Estonia, e-services have become routine: e-elections, e-taxes, e-police, e-healthcare, e-banking, and e-school. The "e" prefix for services has almost become trite in the sense that it has become the norm. Most Estonians would not even consider doing things the old-fashioned way, like physically visiting an office when the process could easily be completed online. Electronic ID card As of January 2012, more than 1.1 million people in Estonia (almost 90% of inhabitants) have ID cards. e-Ticket
San Andreas fault ‘ready to go,’ expert warns of major earthquake A massive earthquake looms for Southern California, according to one expert. Thomas Jordan, director of the Southern California Earthquake Center, shared his ominous warning during this week's National Earthquake Conference in Long Beach. Kevin Schafer/Getty Images/Minden Pictures RM The San Andreas fault is due for a massive earthquake, one expert said. “The springs on the San Andreas system have been wound very, very tight. The last major earthquake along the fault line in the area occurred in 1857. Luciano Corbella/Getty Images/Dorling Kindersley The last major earthquake along the fault line in the area occurred in 1857. “Were the Fort Tejon shock to happen today, the damage would easily run into billions of dollars, and the loss of life would likely be substantial, as the present day communities of Wrightwood, Palmdale, Frazier Park, and Taft (among others) all lie upon or near the 1857 rupture area,” the Southern California Earthquake Data Center wrote. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
Astronomers discover the biggest thing in the Universe There's some pretty big stuff out there in the Universe, but how big is the biggest? According to a team of Hungarian-US scientists led by Prof Lajos Balazs, the largest regular formation in the Universe is a ring of nine galaxies 7 billion light years away and 5 billion light years wide. Though not visible from Earth, the newly discovered feature covers a third of our sky. The ring was revealed by nine Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRB) originating from the nine galaxies. In this case, the observed GRB's indicate that the nine galaxies are positioned in a ring shaped like a shell. If it was visible to us, the ring would cover 36 percent of the sky, making it 70 times bigger than a full moon. The importance of the ring isn't just that it appears to be a record breaker – it raises questions about the architecture of the Universe. According to the team, recent work indicates that the largest structures can't be more than 1.2 billion light years across.
Tuhoe and NZ's first 'living building' In my work we collaborate with local Tangata Whenua frequently and I love it. I particularly like how Maori take a long-term view when it comes to decision making, rather than the 'boom and bust' mentality that sees so much destruction of our natural resources. While Maori may not have as much experience dealing with the Western system of education, finance and economy - and some mistakes are inevitable when learning something new - they certainly have a deep spiritual connection to the land which informs their approach. This way of thinking and living means that - aside from a handful of examples - there are far less negative externalities on future generations when it comes to the exploitation of natures' bounty. It is for this reason that I am proud to be working with Marae in the Waikato to restore the health of rivers and bring back the Tuna for sustainable harvesting, and that Maori schools engage keenly in our work about stopping litter get into the ocean.
Photographs of the Soul | Layer by layer_2012 겹겹 – 중국에 남겨진 조선인 ‘일본군 위안부’ 사진 속에서 진실을 찾아가는 것만큼 어려우면서도 즐거운 일은 없다. 보여지는 진실이 아니라 내면의 진실을 사진에 담기 위해 대상과 인연을 만들어 나간다. 할머니들과 인연 또한 우연이 아니다. 2001년부터 중국에서 돌아오지 못하고 그곳에 살고 계신 할머니들을 만나면서 그들의 더 깊은 내면까지 이해하는 또 하나의 계기가 되었다. 할머니들과 보내는 시간 속에서 살아있는 진실을 순간순간의 사진 한 장으로 포착하는 것은 극도의 긴장을 요구했다. 파인더 속의 할머니는 한 사람의 인간 그 자체였다. 이미 할머니들은 척박한 땅에 뿌리를 내리고 홀로서기라는 사투가 시작된 지 70여 년의 세월이 흘렀다. 그들은 또다시 어디로 가야 할까. 重重 中国に残された朝鮮人元日本軍「慰安婦」の女性たち 写真の中で真実を探し出すことほど、難しく、そして楽しいことはない。 ハルモニたちとの縁は偶然のものではない。 2001年から、当時より中国で帰国できずにそのままそこで暮らしているハルモニたちに出会い、彼女たちの内面を深く知るひとつのきっかけができた。 ハルモニたちと過ごした時間の中で、生きている瞬間を写真に捉えるということは、極度の緊張を要した。 ファインダーの中の彼女たちはひとりひとりの人間そのものだ。 既に彼女たちが痩せ地に根を下ろし、孤独という死闘が始まって以来70年の年月が流れた。 Layer by layer The survived Korean women who had been left in China – ‘Comfort Women’ The processes of seeking the truth in a photograph would be difficult but enjoyable. The relations with the surviving Korean Comfort Women, who were mostly in their 80s and 90s, were not formed accidentally. Would they be forced to move to other place again?
Earth - The Cracks Ripping Earth Apart Standing here at Thingvellir, I may be looking at something quite new: the achingly slow birth of a new continent. Sigmundsson tells me that a new "micro plate" is forming beneath our feet. This "special Icelandic plate" is continually expanding as new crust forms on either side of it. The consensus is that this marks a passing separation from the rest of the rift zone. It may never quite grow into a new continent. Furthermore, the whole of Iceland is made up of relatively new crust. Iceland is being stretched and torn, but from the resulting cracks, new crust forms. We cannot normally see that the ground beneath our feet is ever-changing.
Eclipse Calculator – Eclipses in Salem, Oregon, U.S.A. +1 this page: Follow us on Google+: Like/share this page: Follow us on facebook: Eclipse visible in Salem – Oct 8, 2014 Total Lunar Eclipse The animation shows approximately what the eclipse looks like from the night side of earth. This is an approximate representation. This total lunar eclipse is fully visible in Salem. The total lunar eclipse is sometimes called a blood moon, as the moon turns red. More about the Oct 8, 2014 Total Lunar Eclipse Local times for eclipse in Salem on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 Click on the Sun/Moon symbol in the “Looks like” column to see what the eclipse looks like during the different phases of the event. Times are local for Salem (PDT - Pacific Daylight Time). Other eclipses visible in Salem Sun & Moon Calculators for Salem
Pope Francis convenes world's mayors to discuss global warming Anyone who thought that Pope Francis was going to issue his climate change manifesto, and then recede quietly into the background on the issue was sorely mistaken. In fact, judging from his agenda this week, it's clear that Francis intends to be a major player in spurring leaders to combat global warming, which he sees as inextricably linked to efforts to lift the plight of the world's poor. This week, the Vatican's science committees will host two days of meetings with 50 mayors and governors from around the world; they will discuss ways to implement policies aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions, boosting resilience to climate extremes and eradicating poverty. The meetings on July 21 and 22, which are taking place under the auspices of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, are expected to include Francis' participation. Participants at the meetings will include New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, California Gov. Have something to add to this story?
The Lonely End With one of the fastest aging populations in the world and traditional family structures breaking down, Japan’s kodokushi phenomenon is becoming harder to ignore—not that the government and the Japanese people don’t do their best to sweep it under the carpet. Inaccurate statistics abound, with confusing definitions of what is and isn’t considered kodokushi being created in the process. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, there were some 3,700 “unaccompanied deaths” in Japan in 2013. However, other experts estimate the number is nearer 30,000 a year. Scott North, a sociologist at Osaka University, argues that this extreme divergence could be the result of experts including some forms of suicide (of which there are around 27,000 cases a year in Japan) into the category of kodokushi. Kato’s was an extreme case—and was likely more to do with benefit fraud than kodokushi—but it’s not unusual for those who die alone to go weeks or even months before being discovered.
Cyclone Winston: Village built by Australian man for Fiji's poor survives unscathed Updated Cheap, sturdy houses designed by an Australian man have survived Fiji's devastating cyclone with barely a scratch and provide a potential blueprint for reconstruction efforts. Key points Of the 230 Koroipita houses none sustained significant damagePeter Drysdale uses roofing screws for sturdier constructionVillagers thank Mr Drysdale for giving them safe housesThe houses could be built in five days for $13,000 each, Mr Drysdale says In Koroipita, or Peter's Village, on the north-west coast of Fiji's main island Viti Levu, residents are cleaning up after Cyclone Winston. But it is not a massive effort like those seen in other cyclone-ravaged parts of the country. Instead, a handful of men are repairing a small section of a collapsed retaining wall. Of the 230 houses, none sustained any significant damage after Cyclone Winston swept through the Fiji islands. "Have a look at this connecting roof. "And we use about 58 kilograms of nails. Villagers thank Drysdale for saving their homes
The home that pays its own utility bill (and then some) Imagine opening your monthly utility statement to find a check instead of a bill. That dream may become a reality as more architects design buildings that generate more energy than they use. In Britain, the first low-cost version of just such a home is opening Thursday, marking the country’s initial forays into an emerging global market for so-called energy-positive or net-positive housing – solar-powered homes so efficient, they can generate more power than they consume. It’s the gold standard for green homes, and a concept that has begun to take off around the world. “As more buildings incorporate energy efficiency and renewables to generate as much energy as they consume over the course of a year, net zero is becoming sort of passé,” energy reporter Molly Miller wrote in 2014 for technology and sustainability news site GreenBiz. “Now it’s time for a newer, sexier, more optimistic buzz phrase in sustainable design. He adds, “The feedback has been very positive.
Why Did Two Girls Want to Kill for Slender Man? -- NYMag If 12-year-olds Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser knew that the internet character they worshipped was a fantasy, why did they want to kill their friend for him? Video stills and Morgan’s drawings are part of the court record; mug shots courtesy of the Waukesha Police Department. Payton had been called “Bella” since about the first grade. Morgan had been Bella’s best friend since fourth. Both girls loved cats and playing dress-up. There were three girls at the sleepover at Morgan’s house that night: Morgan and Bella and Morgan’s newer friend Anissa, who lived in the same housing complex as Morgan — Sunset Apartments, on Big Bend Road — and rode the school bus with her every day. Waukesha is a suburb of Milwaukee, a politically conservative and fairly bleak place, despite its spot on a few “best places to live” lists. As the girls set out for David’s Park, Bella walked ahead and Morgan and Anissa lagged behind. Hide-and-seek was a haphazard affair. “Where’s Bella’s body now?”
Lesson Ideas for Teachers | Dynamic Earth Pre & Post Visit Material... We have worked very closely with practicing teachers to develop a range of activities suitable for you to use in the classroom, the school hall or even the playground. All activities aim to help you extend your pupils experience at Dynamic Earth creating something that has a greater longevity, looking at topics from different perspectives or simply increasing the depth of learning back at school. All activities are linked intrinsically with the Curriculum for Excellence, with many being cross curricular and encouraging mixed stage learning. Teacher resources In support of this topic we have produced some teacher resources for use with your class. Geological Time Communication Rock Opera Tectonics Marie Tharp and Sonar For more teacher resources on the Curriculum for Excellence click here We would love to hear any feedback you have on our teacher resource packs.