A near-Earth asteroid – called 2012 DA14 by astronomers – will pass very close to Earth on February 15, 2013 -

A near-Earth asteroid – called 2012 DA14 by astronomers – will pass very close to Earth on February 15, 2013 - 



A near-Earth asteroid – called 2012 DA14 by astronomers – will pass very close to Earth on February 15, 2013. Astronomers estimate that, when it’s closest to us, the asteroid will be about 21,000 miles (35,000 kilometers) away – much closer than Earth’s moon (about 240,000 miles away) – and closer even than some of our own orbiting satellites. Astronomers’ calculations of asteroid orbits can be trusted. After all, even decades ago, they knew enough about calculating orbits to send people to the moon and bring them safely back, and today we are able place our space vehicles in orbit around objects as small as asteroids. So, no, 2012 DA14 won’t strike us in 2013. There was a remote possibility it might strike us in 2020, but that possibility has been ruled out also.


Earlier this year, when a collision between 2012 DA14 and Earth in 2020 was still possible, I asked astronomer Donald Yeomans to clarify the risk. Yeomans is, among other things, manager of NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program Office at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In March 2012, he told EarthSky that a 2020 collision between Earth and asteroid 2012 DA14 was only a “remote possibility.”

… approximately one chance in 83,000, with additional remote possibilities beyond 2020. However, by far the most likely scenario is that additional observations, especially in 2013, will allow a dramatic reduction in the orbit uncertainties and the complete elimination of the 2020 impact possibility.

It turned out they didn’t have to wait until 2013. By May, 2012, astronomers had ruled out even the remote possibility of a 2020 collision.

Still, 2012 DA14 and asteroids like it are sobering.

Read more - 
http://earthsky.org/space/asteroid-2012-da14-will-pass-very-close-to-earth-in-2013

In 59 Philadelphia wards, Mitt Romney did not get one single vote... - Zero. Zilch. -

In 59 Philadelphia wards, Mitt Romney did not get one single vote... - Zero. Zilch. - 


It's one thing for a Democratic presidential candidate to dominate a Democratic city like Philadelphia, but check out this head-spinning figure: In 59 voting divisions in the city, Mitt Romney received not one vote. Zero. Zilch.

These are the kind of numbers that send Republicans into paroxysms of voter-fraud angst, but such results may not be so startling after all.

"We have always had these dense urban corridors that are extremely Democratic," said Jonathan Rodden, a political science professor at Stanford University. "It's kind of an urban fact, and you are looking at the extreme end of it in Philadelphia."

Most big cities are politically homogeneous, with 75 percent to 80 percent of voters identifying as Democrats.

Cities are not only bursting with Democrats: They are easier to organize than rural areas where people live far apart from one another, said Sasha Issenberg, author of The Victory Lab: The Secret Science of Winning Campaigns.

"One reason Democrats can maximize votes in Philadelphia is that it's very easy to knock on every door," Issenberg said.

Still, was there not one contrarian voter in those 59 divisions, where unofficial vote tallies have President Obama outscoring Romney by a combined 19,605 to 0?

The unanimous support for Obama in these Philadelphia neighborhoods - clustered in almost exclusively black sections of West and North Philadelphia - fertilizes fears of fraud, despite little hard evidence.

Upon hearing the numbers, Steve Miskin, a spokesman for Republicans in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, brought up his party's voter-identification initiative - which was held off for this election - and said, "We believe we need to continue ensuring the integrity of the ballot."

The absence of a voter-ID law, however, would not stop anyone from voting for a Republican candidate.

Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia who has studied African American precincts, said he had occasionally seen 100 percent of the vote go for the Democratic candidate. Chicago and Atlanta each had precincts that registered no votes for Republican Sen. John McCain in 2008.

"I'd be surprised if there weren't a handful of precincts that didn't cast a vote for Romney," he said. But the number of zero precincts in Philadelphia deserves examination, Sabato added.

"Not a single vote for Romney or even an error? That's worth looking into," he said.

In a city with 1,687 of the ward subsets known as divisions, each with hundreds of voters, 59 is about 3.5 percent of the total.

In some of those divisions, it's not only Romney supporters who are missing. Republicans in general are nearly extinct.

Take North Philadelphia's 28th Ward, third division, bounded by York, 24th, and 28th Streets and Susquehanna Avenue.

About 94 percent of the 633 people who live in that division are black. Seven white residents were counted in the 2010 census.

In the entire 28th Ward, Romney received only 34 votes to Obama's 5,920.

Although voter registration lists, which often contain outdated information, show 12 Republicans live in the ward's third division, The Inquirer was unable to find any of them by calling or visiting their homes.

Four of the registered Republicans no longer lived there; four others didn't answer their doors. City Board of Elections registration data say a registered Republican used to live at 25th and York Streets, but none of the neighbors across the street Friday knew him. Cathy Santos, 56, founder of the National Alliance of Women Veterans, had one theory: "We ran him out of town!" she said and laughed.

James Norris, 19, who lives down the street, is listed as a Republican in city data. But he said he's a Democrat and voted for Obama because he thinks the president will help the middle class.

A few blocks away, Eric Sapp, a 42-year-old chef, looked skeptical when told that city data had him listed as a registered Republican. "I got to check on that," said Sapp, who voted for Obama.

Eighteen Republicans reportedly live in the nearby 15th Division, according to city registration records. The 15th has the distinction of pitching two straight Republican shutouts - zero votes for McCain in 2008, zero for Romney on Tuesday. Oh, and 13 other city divisions did the same thing in 2008 and 2012.

Read more - 
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20121112_In_59_Philadelphia_voting_wards__Mitt_Romney_got_zero_votes.html

Edible deodorant: Perfume candy to cure body odor? -

Edible deodorant: Perfume candy to cure body odor? - 



We all know what to do when we encounter someone with bad breath. Politely give 'em a breath mint and perhaps extol the virtues of flossing, right? But what about a person with B.O. so funky it could peel wallpaper off the wall? Then what?
Simple. Give them a few pieces of Deo Perfume Candy, a new confection billed as edible deodorant.
Beneo, an American nutrition and health company partnered with Bulgarian candy maker, Alpi, to develop sweets that will leave you smelling like a bed of roses.
"The innovative technology behind Deo Perfume Candy is based on research by Japanese scientists," explains Deo's website. "Their studies showed that when ingested, rose oil exudes aromatic compounds, such as geraniol, through the skin. When evaporating through the skin, geraniol aromatizes it with a beautiful rose fragrance."
One serving size (four pieces) contains 12 mg of geraniol. While the strength and duration of the perfume depends on body weight, developers say one serving size eaten by a person weighing 145 pounds could last up to six hours.
While this all sounds like something whipped up in Willy Wonka's dream factory, the science is nothing new. Anyone who's ever chowed down on garlic, asparagus or cumin know how easily different foods can effect body odor and fluids.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/12/edible-deodorant-perfume-candy-to-cure-body-odor/

Theme park devoted to Toilets takes off in South Korea -

Theme park devoted to Toilets takes off in South Korea - 



Spot the odd one out: museum, paintings, sculptures, toilets.

Sorry, trick question.

Earlier this year, the South Korean city of Suwon opened a theme park devoted exclusively to the culture of toilets.

It has bronze figures in various positions and various facial expressions answering the call of nature, a bowl-shaped exhibition hall, toilet-themed paintings, poop-shaped souvenirs and “Washroom” signs from around the world.

The museum used to be a house built by Suwon’s former mayor, Sim Jae-duck, reportedly born in his grandmother’s toilet. He is said to have been so embarrassed with South Korea’s backward public conveniences that he turned his obsession with them into a campaign for improvement in the 1980s.

About 16 of Suwon’s public toilets are listed as tourist sites on the city’s website and are part of a “Beautiful Public Restroom Tour” program. And yes, it attracts tourists from all over the world.

The theme park is not about scatological humour, though. It has messages of health, sanitation and water conversation.

Read more - 
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1286322--theme-park-devoted-to-toilets-takes-off-in-south-korea