The Secrets to Working Successfully With Group Work

When it comes to working with groups, always use your outgoing, resourceful, creative and smart students as group leaders. Teach them the message that the success of the group is also their own personal success because they are members of the groups.

1. Encourage them to work with their groups so their groups can function on a higher level.

2. Consider having a special incentive (i.e. a prize or bonus) for those who proved themselves to be good, caring and effective leaders.

Here are a few classroom tested tips for setting up group work procedures:

1. Lead the class into a discussion on what a good group leader means to them. Write the criteria on the board. Have each group rank the qualities.

2. Give the leaders autonomy in carrying out group decisions especially when it comes to solving issues of disagreement.

Periodically, have each group review its performance about a given task or project.

Start with small scale group tasks

When you feel that your class is really to experiment with group work, illustrate the task in slow step-by-step fashion. Don't continue until you have everybody's attention. Make sure students know you're the boss and they should listen to the procedure otherwise your classroom management will get out of hand. They will have plenty of opportunity to talk once they start the group work. Give students a set time for the assigned stage of work in class.

Tell them how many lessons they will have for the assigned group task. Give them a deadline and tell them what should be finished at home and what should be finished in class.

Teaching students the importance of group work is a lifelong skill. Successful group work lends itself to nurturing people skills such as collaboration and teamwork. Preparing students for this lifelong skill begins with the younger years.

Make Your Teaching Sparkle. Teach for Success. Make a difference in the classroom.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorit_Sasson

Reasons Why The Sears Tower Was Built

Sears is knows as one of the highest structures in the world. Many people want to know the answer to the question, why was the Sears tower made. The construction of this building started in 1970. It was finished after three years. It has one hundred eight floors. It can be found along the Wacker Drive in Chicago. It has outdone the World Trade Center as the highest building in 1974. We can answer the question, why was the Sears tower made by reviewing its history.

1. The first answer to the question, why was the Sears tower made was because the company, Sears and Roebuck decided to build a tall building where all their offices can be found. It was one of the biggest companies in the sixties. It had three hundred fifty thousand workers within Chicago.

2. The second answer to the question, why was the Sears tower made was because of the design made by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. They decided to create a unique design that will become a huge building with several offices. Their creativity led to one of the tallest building we have today.

3. The third answer to the question, why was the Sears tower made was because Sears wanted to build a massive office because they projected their growth to become bigger after a few years. They wanted to have one main headquarters where all their employees can work.

In the eighties antennas were placed on top of the Sears building. It added a lot to the height of the building. It became one thousand seven hundred seven feet. The antennas were for the television networks. It helped in improving the reception of the network, WMAQ-TV.

One of the antennas was extended adding the total height of the building to one thousand seven hundred thirty feet in 2000. Sears experienced downsides in their business later on and they decided to move out of the building because maintaining it was very costly. They experienced the slumps due to the tight competition with the other players in the industry.

Lightning strikes on the Sears building is a very common occurrence because of its height. The antennas are the ones hit most often. It is estimated that it gets hit at least more than six hundred times in a year. Sears building has toilets found on the one hundredth third floor. It has the second tallest toilets in the globe.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Leones

How to Build the Personal Touch With Students

I suppose building a personal connection with students is similar to pitching an idea to an editor. You have to do something to grab the attention of that editor just like engaging your students.

And like editors who want to feel connected to the story, students want to feel a sense of connection with their teacher.

So on that note, building a personal connection for many new teachers is challenging because of the trickiness in balancing classroom management and teaching.

The key is to build personal touch with students (in smallish doses) consistently with each student over a period of time which will have the full class effect. Don't worry if you haven't built a personal connection with all your students. Some students won't respond as positively to the personal touch and that is fine. Students will notice and feel the kind of person you are and will connect to you in one way or another. The most important thing is not just keep to your role as classroom manager teaching academic content.

After all, you are not teaching x number of students, you are teaching 30 (more or less) INDIVIDUAL students with individual needs. There is a real difference.

You will begin to also notice that building this connection will also affect how well you are able to engage your students right from the very minute you enter their class.

If they don't feel a connection with you however slight as it may be, they may not necessarily feel compelled to learn. with that said, I'm not suggesting you go out to be their best friend, but connecting with your students does not necessarily begin with teaching academic content.

So in order to help you build the right classroom environment for starting a lesson, pay attention to the following issues, which can substantially affect the 'pitch' of your lesson.

1. Is the class calm enough? Maybe your class would use a little more personal contact with students. Start small. You don't have to have a lengthy conversation just say something short and sweet like: "I noticed how well you did during that football game - well done!" Just keep it genuine.

2. Pay attention to external circumstances - temperatures, excessive heart, the time of day.

3. Entering the classroom with a smile on your face is humbling and brights up the room. A smile brings the students closer to who you are.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorit_Sasson

Reasons Why Apples and Teachers Are Associated

Apples have been long associated with teachers. It was a popular gift of students to their teachers in hope of getting better grades. The origins of this association is not clearly known although there have been a few attempts of explanations of how it all began. No one can really explain the answer to the question why are apples associated with teachers.

1. The first possible answer to the question why are apples associated with teachers is because of the fact it became one of the traditional presents given to teachers in European countries like Sweden and Denmark in the eighteenth century. Americans also followed this tradition and it grew popularity.

2. The second feasible answer to the question why are apples associated with teachers is because of the popular belief that apples are good for our health. It can keep the doctor away. It is one way of showing concern of parents and children for the teacher's health. Apples have high amounts of antioxidants that are good for the immune system. This made the apples a meaningful gift.

3. The third feasible answer to the question why are apples associated with teachers is because in the late years of the twenties, people called students who gave gifts to teachers not just apples as "apple-polishers".

4. The fourth possible answer to the question why are apples associated with teachers is because in the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, teachers earn poor wages. The parents gave apples from their orchards so they can give some compensation to the teachers. It is one way for the families to give something back to the teachers at that time. Back then students gave apples in baskets until it became common just to give one apple.

5. Another reason why apples are associated with teachers is because apples are sweet. Teachers are usually sweet people to be around with. They also need to be sweet to young children who need a lot of encouragement as they are growing up. Apples just like chocolates are good gifts to give to someone you care as it reflects the feelings you get from the person.

6. Another good reason why apples are associated with teachers is because back in the eighteenth century, there were plenty of apple trees you can find. It is an inexpensive gift you can give to anyone especially to a teacher who would surely appreciate an apple. People back then can quickly pick up an apple from a tree and give it to the teacher.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Leones

The Meaning of the Red, White and Blue Colors of the American Flag

Many people want to know the answer to the question, why is the American flag red, white and blue. Knowing the American flag's meaning lets the citizens comprehend the symbols, colors and the design represent. It is also a reminder to the people how the country started.

1. The first answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because they are the colors the represent the thirteen state that battled the regime of the United Kingdom in the United States.

2. The second answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because the red represented courage, white represented purity and blue stood for the Americans' belief in justice. These are the character traits that Americans believe.

3. The third answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because it was the agreed colors by the congress in 1782. The national records however do not have the explanation why the congress back then chose these colors.

4. The fourth answer to the question why is the flag red, white and blue could be because the color red was taken from the flag of the United Kingdom. The white represented the end of the colonization of the Great Britain. The blue represented heaven. The stars symbolized the dreams of the citizens of the United States. It also symbolized that hopes of the people in America should not be limited. The five points of the stars could be the representation of the rays of the sun which symbolized light.

5. The fifth answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because these colors symbolized freedom. The colors collectively represented liberation from any form of alien sovereignty. The colors of the flag are the powerful symbols for America's stand for independence. It also represented all the important beliefs the forefathers of the United States bravely fought for to achieve.

It is important to observe the proper etiquette when you are in front of the flag. It should never fall. It should never be torn or made dirty. There is also a proper way of disposing a worn out flag. There is a federal law in the United States that bans anyone using the flag for business purposes however this law is continuously not being followed because the first amendment can always counteract this law.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Leones

Reasons Why We Call the Smallest Finger the Pinky

The pinky is the smallest finger in the human hand. It has an important role in giving shape to our hands even with its tiny size. It is true that not all small fingers of people are colored pink but why do we call the smallest finger in our hand the pinky?

This is a term that has been used for many years already that we can't exactly pinpoint where or from whom it started. We can answer the question, why the small finger is called a pinky by looking at its etymology.

1. The first answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky could be because it was derived from a Scottish term. According to a dictionary made in 1808 by the writer named John Jamieson, the term pinky originated in Scotland where it was a word used by the old folks to refer to anything that is small in size. The term was later adapted by the Americans to call the smallest finger in our hand as the pinky. This is the logical explanation why we have come to call it the pinky.

2. The second answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky could be because it was originally a word used by the Dutch. The Scots actually got this term from them. The Dutch used the terms "pinck ooghen, " to refer to an eye that is not totally closed. If you translate these terms literally it would mean "pink eye". They also used it to refer to the smallest finger. This was the Dutch word that proliferated throughout Europe. It is not because the Dutch have fingers that are colored pink.

3. The third answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky is because according to the dictionary from Oxford, it originated from an adjective that was used centuries ago to refer to something that is tiny in size. This was an adjective used widely to pertain to the smallest finger. It does not have any connection to the pink hue.

4. The fourth answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky is because of the Americans who lived in the eighteenth century. They were the people who used it widely. The pinky swear even originated from that term since Americans during that time started using it as a symbol of staying true to a promise made.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Leones

A Brief History of Glastonbury Tor

Tor is a Celtic word that refers to a conical hill. Glastonbury Tor is one of these hills that is located at Glastonbury, in Somerset. It rises up out of the middle of the Somerset Levels.

Previously, the Tor would have been an island as the Levels used to be wetlands and were regularly flooded by sea-water, often being submerged for decades or centuries. The reclamation that took place and turned them into the inhabitable farmland that they are now left Glastonbury Tor stood as a hill rising steeply out of the surrounding plain, rather than the island that it had been. This change has given it a dramatic appearance, as it is the one landmark for miles on the otherwise flat ground.

The Tor has shown evidence of settlement going right back to Neolithic times. Flint tools of the sort used by humans for thousands of years have been found there, along with signs of Dark Age settlement, such as postholes. Other remains of this period are seen in a hearth and a metal worker's forge that have been discovered, as well as burial plots.

What appears to be a 5th century fort was also discovered on the Tor, or the remains of it at least, but it appears that this had its spot stolen by a church that survived until 1275. Then an earthquake hit Britain and destroyed many buildings around it, including the church. Another one was built later, but it got torn down too.

There is a belief that the Tor is the island Avalon from the King Arthur mythology, partly based on the island apparently being called Ynys yr Afalon (The Isle of Avalon) by the native Britons

The Tor also has rings of terraces around it, thought to either have been crafted for agricultural purposes, as they would make planting, taking care of and harvesting crops easier, or as defensive ramparts.

Whatever the Tor has done in the past, it is still a popular and dramatic landmark, and draws many visitors every year. When in the Somerset Levels it is hard to miss.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Sangers

Crushing Most Out of Your Limited Study Time

Most of us don't have the luxury of a full eight hours a day to devote to our language studies. In fact, many language learners I know can only spare a few minutes on weekdays, along with a couple of hours on weekends.

While that may sound like a valid excuse to NOT learn a language, it really doesn't matter. Many people in the same boat have managed to squeeze the most out of their limited time to successfully acquire a language by applying themselves fully.

Focus on core activities. What are the specific learning activities that generate the most results for you? Do you learn best working with your language learning software? Does your progress hit a stride when you engage in interactions with native speakers? After identifying the core activities that help you best, arrange whatever time you can set aside around them.

Alternate lessons with practice. Sitting through a lesson is only good if you can retain enough of it for practical use. For actual retention, nothing beats the value of practice and application -- that's why it's best to alternate between the two on a regular basis.

Be confident. If you think you can successfully acquire a language, you're probably right. If you think you can't, you're probably right, too. Confidence can do wonders to your language learning. Instead of running around circles trying to reason with yourself, it spurs you to just go for it. Many times, this is the intangible needed for you to succeed.

Make a habit out of it. Turn your daily studies into a habit, instead of something you'll do when you feel like it. The more you can integrate it as naturally as taking a shower before going to work (assuming you're not one of those people who leave the house unbathed), the more you'll see results.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laurianne_Sumerset

The Advantages of a Christian Boarding School

Christian boarding schools offers many benefits to teenagers and their parents. The obvious advantage is that the school not only provides a wide ranging education program but adds that extra component known to some as spirituality. Even parents who may not be church goers understand and appreciate the importance of a person's inner being and gives much attention to thinking of others and how we can all be better people by caring for others and not just for ourselves.

Christian boarding schools though should not be lumped into the too-much-religion category. The academic programs they offer are first-class, there is a small staff-student ratio and many extra subjects in such fields as outdoor education, sports and the performing arts.

The distinguishing feature though are the classes based on the Christian faith. If nothing else, students are taught the content, value and importance of the ten commandments and this in itself is both important and potentially life-changing. Obviously if the parents of a child are practicing Christians, they will want their child or children to be part of a school where their faith is promoted and taught.

Children, especially teenagers, go through tough times today and being in a Christian boarding school means that the issues that face teenager today are carefully and honestly explained. Parents want their children to be fully aware of the things which confront us all in real life and it is that type of education their teens will encounter in a Christian boarding school.

This type of boarding school will have the staff both in the administration and teaching faculties being practicing Christians. This means the whole school becomes somewhat like one giant family. The adults understand the teachings of the Bible and are able to communicate with students and fellow teachers on the same level. The school which prays together stays together.

A Christian boarding school takes a holistic approach to education. They want strong academic results, fit and healthy bodies and a growth and development of spiritual thinking. All these components are part of the structure of a Christian boarding school. Parents and other family members are welcome to attend the school and many do on Sundays when they can get together with their child or children and share in the worship service in the school chapel.

Christians believe that by becoming close to God, by following in the teachings of Jesus that everyone who does this will find true happiness and fulfillment in their life. If as a parent you share that belief then you will gladly have your child enroll in a Christian boarding school.

And if your teen has troubles, has maybe lost self confidence and has a low self-esteem, many Christian boarding schools offer therapies and programs designed to help individuals out of their difficulties and into a problem-free world. Christian boarding schools don't promise miracles but they certainly believe in them.

They believe that by putting God first in their teaching philosophy, they will give each child the best possible education and the best possible chance at inner peace and happiness.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenna_Brooklyn

Top Three Qualities to Get a Sports Internship

When looking to establish yourself as a knowledgeable, hardworking employee in the sport field, it is extremely necessary that you first acquire an internship. Internships have proven to be one of the most valuable ways to gain experience in your specific field, as well as establish relationships with your superiors who can help you advance your career. Networking has always been an important part of finding a job. People have often said, "It is not what you know, but who you know."

This statement holds validity in the sport field and being familiar with people within the industry can help to land you a solid internship, possibly even one you have always dreamed of. I have grown up an avid hockey fan, and because my family history, I have always cheered for the Buffalo Sabres. Due to my family history and ties, and my choice to major in sport management, my dream job has always been working for the Buffalo Sabres Organization in some form or another. There are several internships available for their organization that require numerous strengths, but the three that I feel are most important are communication, having a love for sports, and being able to adapt to and operate the new technology.

Communication is one of the most important strengths a person entering the job market can have. If you are unable to communicate it makes it very difficult for an employer to hire you, especially in the sport management market. Communication is used through e-mail, formal documents, presentations, sales, marketing, and numerous other aspects that are important to the daily routine of someone working in the sports field. Being a solid communicator allows you to establish comfortable relationships with employees, superiors, and customers, which can lead to higher productivity and a happier workplace.

The second strength I feel is necessary for gaining an internship in the sport field is simply a love for sports. I find it difficult to understand why someone who did not love sports would want to enter this field, but never the less it is still an important attribute to have. If you love sports it will make working feel more like leisure than work itself. People who have fun and enjoy going to work have proven to create a more effective and productive work environment. Most people who have a strong love for sports also tend to have a base understanding and knowledge for how a specific sport works and is ran. This can be beneficial, and can separate you from other applicants for an internship if the organization will not have to waste hours training you about the sport itself.

The third and final strength that I feel is most necessary for earning an internship in the sport field is the ability to adapt to and operate new technology. There are very few jobs these days in any field that do not require a base understanding of technology, such as how to operate word and excel documents, but jobs in the sport field can deal with even more advanced technology. Technology such as databases that are used to measure fan attendance and demographics are consistently beginning to be used in the sport field, and being technologically savvy and able to operate these programs are important to your development as an employee and can make you a more desirable applicant. This can again allow your employer to skip time training you in specific technology or programs if you already possess an understanding of how things work, and the reason for using those particular programs.

By possessing theses three strengths, (amongst others) it can give you a head start as an applicant when applying for internships in the field of sports. Acquiring an internship in the sport field can sometimes be the most difficult thing to do in your progression towards your career. Once you are able to gain an internship you then have your chance to prove yourself as an employee through work ethic and willingness to learn and progress as an employee. Internships provide you with the ability to branch out into other organizations or businesses, and use your work experience to gain a narrower career path. Without this experience it can be extremely difficult to get hired. Internships can open new doors for you as an applicant that can expand your options when entering the work force after college.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Gattie

Top 7 Strategies to Keep Physical Education Students Actively Engaged

Keeping your students motivate throughout the entire school year is a difficult task for a physical education teacher. Providing some variety in the lessons and giving students moments to look forward to will keep students eager to learn and stay motivated to participate. As classroom teaching and physical education teaching methods can differ, bringing back teaching methodologies that are known to keep students interested and focused are being used more in within PE and coaching settings. Below are 7 ideas to provide variety to a physical education class and keep students coming to class happy and optimistic about learning new skills and activities.

1. Give mini trophies at the end of the school year or at the end of physical education units to the students who have participated and preformed their very best throughout the school year.

2. Give stickers out at the end of the class to the students who participated and demonstrated sportsmanship in the class.

3. If your class behaves and participates well throughout a particular unit, at the end of that unit reward the class by letting them have one gym class in which as a class can play a game they have enjoyed from a previous unit.

4. Research new and unique games which students have never played, but you know they would really enjoy. Introduce this game when your students have behaved and deserve it.

5. Create a variety of different award certificates at the beginning of the school year that exemplifies model behavior. At the end of the school year give each student that fit into one of those behaviors a certificate. You can have certificates for participation, skill, preparedness, leadership, sportsmanship, etc.

6. Reward students who follow the rules and consistently behave with bonus points to help improve their grade.

7. Motivate and encourage your students throughout the school year. Learning should be the ultimate reward. By motivating them to learn, students will be receiving information and knowledge necessary to live a happy and healthy life. Always remind students that what they learn their physical education lessons can apply to areas of their life as they become adults.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_Cuttonaro

TExES Science 4-8 Exam - How to Pass It

Throughout my life, I have been inspired and challenged to overcome the many fears and weaknesses that I have. One of my weaknesses are the subjects of Science and Math. I was never good at these subjects in school, and I dreaded taking these classes. However, once I became a teacher, I decided that passing the Science 4-8 exam was an important goal of mine. After studying for about one month, I passed the test with flying colors!

So how did I do it? Well, first make sure that you have a structured study plan. Make it a habit to study at a certain time consistently. This way, your body will be conditioned to feel the urge to learn at a certain time. Next, get a good study guide. I checked several guides, but the one that I went with was the XAM Science 4-8 manual. Although there were a surprising number of typos in the book, it gave me a good foundation for what to expect on the test.

I would also recommend that you purchase the Cliffs Notes books on Biology, Chemistry, and Earth Science. It is a great supplemental guide that should help you when you get stuck on a concept. I would recommend that you study and prepare at least 2 weeks to ensure that you pass. If you are unable to pass the test, you will not be able to retake it again until 3 months later.

Also, I would recommend that you take the test at a center where you can test on a computer. It will save you the hassle of being in a crowded room of people, and you will be able to take the test at your convenient time.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Holden

The Bible, the Bone Yards, and the Genesis Flood - Part III

Bone Yards: Massive, colossal, graveyards all around the World!

Many of the following examples include marine and land animals buried together; a practical impossibility, except for a massive, catastrophic global flood.

Desert Finds

· Sahara Desert, Africa: two sauropods (huge long-necked dinosaurs) piled on top of one another, covered in river sediments; victims of a great flood, per Paul Sareno, on the National Geographic special "Dinosaur Fever", December 13, 1998

· Egyptian Whales: Fossils in a kitchen counter; countertop mfgr. in Italy, discovered a fossil in a slab of limestone marble that was being cut and ground for a high-end kitchen counter; the marble was from Egypt, a region that is 95% desert; paleontologists have been digging up whale bones there for decades; per National Geographic, Egypt's desert is littered with marine life; it is an area "...once covered by the ocean" (millions of years ago!)

· Atacama; Northern Chile: a six hundred mile desert strip, 7000' (1.33 miles) above sea level, representing the driest place in the world (50 times drier than Death valley, in California); no life form, nothing rots (indigenous people buried there well preserved-few microorganisms survive that can break down body tissues); Giant 4.5' tall penguins, Baleen whale fossils, myriads of megalodon teeth (gigantic forerunner to today's Great White shark, up to 60' long, 5' mouth openings, w-teeth up to 8" long!), ammonites and other marine fossils thrown around in an ancient flood deposit (see side bar above), prove the ocean water level in the area was once much greater than one mile above current sea level; in order for this to be true, the ocean water covering the Atacama could not have but covered an area far greater than local coverage, in all directions (in other words, this and other mountain fossil graveyards are by no means the product of "local" flooding); in fact, given the impracticality and the improbability of a sloping or ramping up of the ocean so as to cover the Atacama, it therefore cannot be but that at the time when ocean waters rose to a level higher than one mile over normal, all water levels worldwide must also have risen, which means that flooding was promoted at all similar levels all around the world! Thus, a 7000' rise in sea level so that the Atacama is covered, mandates a 7000' rise, wherever there is ocean water (see expert from answers.com, at the beginning of this piece.). Hence, when the Chilean Desert was covered, so was most if not all similar points American, the Mt. Etna caves, in Sicily and the Gobi, in Mongolia!

· Gobi Desert: dinosaur beds; "bone yard of the lost world"; 3000' to 5000' above sea level; 300 miles of rocky desert, the world's fifth largest, entirely sand on the western end; known for its important paleontological finds, which include mammals, the first dinosaur eggs and coal (an organic mineral and energy source, containing the remains of plants and animals, meaning it is a "fossil" fuel)

African finds

· Karoo Formation, of southern Africa: immense and densely packed with bones (some claim 800 billion vertebrate animals, a number that may be a bit farfetched); bones are still sticking out of the ground, after years of collecting; sediment composition is mostly sandstone and shale, up to 20,000' deep, across hundreds of miles (800 billion may not be so farfetched after all)! It is unmatched by any other fossil find anywhere else on earth. There is no way to account for this or any other such pile-up of bones, apart from the uplift imparted by a massive, surging flood of waters. It is not the consequence of millions of years of creatures falling on top of each other in death.

Asian Finds

· China, Jiayuguan: Chicken Bone Hill & Pao Te Hsien; the Liaoning fossil beds, site of dinosaur remains containing soft tissue and feathers; ancient relative of T. Rex; other massive fossil finds in China

· Monogolia, 2 days drive from Ulan Bator: 187 parrot-beaked dinosaurs (6.5' lizard, with a mouth like a parrot), all found within an area of only several square miles, fossilized at the same time, obviously rapidly buried in a water-borne sediment.

· Siberian Russia: "The pinnacle of the great fossil graveyards must be that of the Arctic and Siberia." Mammoths-an estimated five million-thousands of them, found "flash" frozen, as it were, in the permafrost, in northern Russia (while standing on their feet, alive, apparently before they could be overcome, lifted, and drowned by the flood waters!), along with elephants, horses, lions, foxes, camels and other species.

· West Indies, Guadeloupe: extremely hard limestone slab, almost a mile long-per records from the 18th century-containing the skeletons of many humans, who resemble modern day mankind; in a contradiction of "time", per geologists, the 25 million year old rock actually lies 7' to 10' below a coral reef that (conversely, also by geological/paleontological reckoning) is only 1 million years old.
Australian Finds
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A._Mitchell

The Bible, the Bone Yards, and the Genesis Flood - Part IV

Coal and Crude:

Some of the massive, colossal graveyards found all over the global did not suffer just a swift burial of plant debris and animal carcasses. Many, buried at a greater depth, were beneficiaries of humongous compression and great pressures and temperatures coupled with other "proper" conditions, including de-oxidation, which led to the vast coal, natural gas and oil fields of our day. Plants account for the coal beds; animals formed the oil fields (ordinarily). This again re-emphasizes the shear magnitude of the amount of vegetation on this planet before the flood, and the number of animals that roamed at the time. A rock hitting the earth could not and did not kill that much vegetation, or, all those creatures.

Side Bar

A thin section of coal, viewed under a microscope will reveal "...mass of plant debris, pieces of bark, wood, leaves, cells, spores and algae all floating in a black jelly." (end of side bar)

"700 trillion tons of vegetation are buried in the world's coal beds" found in every continent, Antarctica included, along with all of those massive graveyards of bones already mentioned. As with the bone yards, so likewise the evidence shows that graveyards of peat and the several grades of coal were begun as gargantuan depositories, with massive piles of trees, all stacked on top of each other-as if by some great catastrophe (the one to which you rightly appeal, Mr. Loy!)-then covered quickly by an unimaginable tonnage of sedimentary rock, which through enormous compression, squeezed out oxygen and moisture, thereby preventing decomposition, while prompting and promoting a chemical transformation; which in turn left coal in its wake. Similarly, the crude deposits around the world are the byproduct of giant graveyards of animal carcasses buried at a much greater depth, and thereby subjected to much greater pressure and heat than the bone yards. Whatever the depth of either end product, be it coal or crude, the initial pile of debris had to have been many times greater (a 10' coal seam, may have begun with a pile of dead plants 3 or 4 times higher.). It was this stifling pressure, absent of oxygen and other life gases (hydrogen and carbon), along with heat that set in motion the cogwheels of a chemical transformation that has given us our present day coal (plant debris; almost pure carbon, only 6% hydrogen) and oil preserves (animal fat; 10% to 50% hydrogen). Natural gas and petroleum deposits are, like crude, 10% to 50% hydrogen but, formed almost exclusively from deposits of marine life.

Accounting for the presence of all this debris is absolutely critical. How did it ever come to be? How did all of these mounds of plants and animals ever form? Decomposition and decay factors quite preclude the slightest possibility that all of this animal and plant carnage simply walked to its point of death and/or fell into place over unfathomable periods of time. As shown already, there is no other way these huge, tangled wreckages of jumbled deposits could ever have been formed, world-wide-layers upon layers as they were-apart from a calamitous event such as the Bible's flood, by means of which every tree and carcass was lifted into place, where they could settle and be buried in limestone, mud, and sand, as the water receded. The neat thin geological layers, free from any hint of trauma, as envisioned by evolutionary doubters and Bible flood-scoffers, simply do not and have not ever existed. They are nothing more than fabrications of over zealous, incredulous minds and, therefore lies.

The process needed to produce this coal and crude did not require vast periods of time (millions of years), as has been suggested by evolutionary geologists.

Conclusion

Thus, my friends, the ill-informed and poorly reasoned assumptions you proffer are soundly and roundly refuted, relative to geology and the practicality of a Bible-based flood. You say or you infer that man's "fallibility" inherently makes anything he says or writes wrong, or, prone to error. In that the geologist/paleontologist by his own work (and, increasingly by his words) has indeed proven himself wrong, world without end, and the Bible right, explain then how the Bible, having been penned exactly as it states-by men under the inspiration of God-must therefore be wrong! To the degree that his knowledge and work confirms the Bible, shows up and settles your ignorance in the process, explain then as well how you-having spoken so eloquently, albeit, ex-cathedra!-are therefore less subject to the mantle of fallibility than either the Bible writers or the modern geologists and paleontologists!

The biblical flood did occur. The ancient animals, dinosaurs and plants were not destroyed by any supposed meteor strike, nor was there any supposed shortage of food for the super large among the animal kingdom. The earth was in fact teeming with life, as evinced by the presence in our day of bountiful evidences in the form of undeniable, irrefutable grave or bone yards, coal beds, crude/petroleum/natural gas deposits-all scattered all around the world, on all seven continents in staggering numbers, in the same basic strata. All of this ancient life was destroyed by a magnificent flood, per the Bible's prescription, at the same time, otherwise rot and decay would have prevented the formation of those vast coal, crude, and natural gas preserves.

The Bible in light of modern Archaeology

Now let us consider the Bible from a purely historical point of view (in terms of people), in light of the physical science of modern archaeology. Some say, on highly questionable authority (if on any authority at all), that it is a book of fables, Jewish folk-lore, having no basis historically. If this be true then, would it not negate this assertion (and similar commentary) excerpted and quoted from an otherwise authoritative, highly respected, non-religious, knowledgeable, objective and unbiased news and history reporting-source like the periodical "U. S. News & World Report"? Consider:

· "A wave of archaeological discoveries is altering old ideas about the roots of Christianity and Judaism-and affirming that the Bible is more historically accurate than many scholars thought."

· "Even on the critics' own terms-historical fact-the Scriptures seem more acceptable now than they did when the rationalists began the attack."

Time Magazine, 12/30/74

That said, we could here and now wrap up this segment of discussion and, go home. After all, who among minor league scoffers is even remotely prepared to be at loggerheads with even the least of the researchers, reporters and contributors to the likes of these two magazines (versed as they are in theses geological and archaeological genres as well as the Bible-in which they yet don't believe either)? Nevertheless, we press on.

It is said that Napolean's invasion of Egypt in 1798 provided the basis for the official launch of archaeology as we know it. Actual digging did not begin, however, until fifty years later with Botta in 1842 and Layard in 1845, in Mesopotamia. Ira M. Price, in his Monuments and the Old Testament (1899), has written that 100 years prior, there was no other source by which might be known the certainty of the ages past. There was no other representation of the millennial years leading up to the advent of the Greeks and the Romans, apart from the Bible.

On the other hand, archaeology, per R. K. Harrison, paints "...a reasonably precise picture" of all the Bible's claims. According to one Nelson Gleuck, one of the greatest authorities in Biblical archaeology, "As a matter of fact, however, it may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference." Entire periods of Old Testament history, previously unknown otherwise to generations of scholars, can now be reconstructed, thanks to this scientific study of ancient cultures (all of which then begs the question, in what sense is your feeble "analysis" scientific? Why would any geologist or historian be obliged to take notice of thereof, to say noting of ordering his life and/or work around it?). Hence, far from disproving the Book of books, archaeology (basis and chief cornerstone to all informed and reasoned criticism) has established itself, therefore, as "...the Bible's best supporting witness".
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A._Mitchell

Fun Facts About Iraq - Home of Ancient Civilizations

History

Did you know...Present-day Iraq was home of the ancient Mesopotamian civilization, which had been located in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley.

Democracy

Did you Know...After several decades of tyrannical rule, Iraq has made substantial progress in political reforms. In the key October 2005 referendum, a new constitution was adopted -- the first democratic constitution in 73 years -- and a new Parliament (a 275-member Council of Representatives) was chosen in elections. Meanwhile, Ibrahim al-Jaafari assumed power in the country. He was the country's first pro-democratic leader to take up the post of Head of Government; then al-Jaafari was succeeded by Nuri al-Maliki. The new government has been recognized by several nations of the world. The country was one of the world's worst dictatorships from 1979 until 2003 when Saddam Hussein was overthrown.

Geography

Did you know...The Arab country is the 65th largest nation on Earth, ahead of Japan, Germany and Norway. It -- 168,754 square miles-- is about the size of California.

Olympic Games

Did you know... Six athletes competed for Iraq, a war-torn country since 1990, at the Summer Olympic Games in the People's Republic of China. During that time, the Iraqi Olympic Committee had their hopes pinned on Ali Adnan, an archer. Before the 2008 Olympics, Adnan had trained in the Republic of Korea, the world's Olympic archery superpower.

Economics

Did you know... . In the 1950s, Iraq had a relatively high GDP per capita in comparison to most Asian nations, including South Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

The Mother Teresa of Iraq

Did you know...The country's idol Madeeha Hasan Odhaib, a former seamstress, was named one of "Time" magazine's 2008 100 Most Influential People in the world.In the last years, she backed up a host of women and children in the Arab nation. "Iraq is suffering one of the worst humanitarian crises we have ever seen. While Madeeha rightly makes Time's list, women like her are found throughout Iraq, sewing hope one stitch at a time. Through Madeeha we celebrate all of Iraq's courageous women, whose resilience and resourcefulness hold the promise of a new dawn", said Rania, Queen of Jordan, of Madeeha.

Universal Wonders

Did you know...The California-size land boasts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

- Hatra
- Ashur
- Samarra Archaeological City

Soccer

Did you know...In 2004, the national team finished fourth in the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, behind Argentina, Paraguay and Italy and ahead of South Korea and Australia. Exactly three years on, the Iraqi men's soccer national squad won the Asian Cup in 2007 (the winners of the regional tournament are often seen like the favorites to qualify for the FIFA World Cup). The award had been a long time in coming. In a country that's sometimes been unfairly viewed as one of the world's worst Olympic nations, this victory became an example for many impoverished countries in the Third World. Since then, Iraq's victory set off a wave of euphoria across Baghdad and Arbil, as well as Mosul and other Iraqi metropolises. The war-torn country of Iraq had never won an international tournament of such standing before.

Ancient Wonders

Did you know...Modern-day Iraq was the site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. These gardens were built by King Nebuchadnezzar II about 600 BC. Like the Colossus of Rhodes and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the gardens were destroyed by time.

International Organizations

Did you know...The country of Iraq is a full member of the United Nations as well as the League of Arab States and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (also known as OPEC ). On December 21, 1945, the Arab nation was endorsed by the UN. In the early 1980s, Iraq's ambassador Ismat Kittani became President of the Assembly of the United Nations in New York City, NY.

Independence

Did you know...The gradual introduction of reforms in the 1920s led to independence from Britain in the early 1930s, following the World War II , and Iraq became a modern monarchy.

Iraq in Miss Universe

Did you know...Inspired by Georgina Rizk's victory in Miss Universe 1971, the Arab nation sent a contestant to the Miss Universe Pageant in San Juan de Puerto Rico in July 1972. Miss Iraq Universe, Wijdan Burham El-Deen Sulyman , arrived on Puerto Rico to an enthusiastic welcome, but she was eliminated in the first round. No other Iraqi woman had ever participated in it before.

Authors

Did you know...Feisal II, former King of Iraq, published "How To Defend Yourself ", a book on judo.

National Icons

Did you know... After winning the 2007 Asian Cup and other awards, Younes Mahmoud became the toast of his homeland. In Italy, in November 2007, Iraq's soccer player Younes Mahmoud won the "Facchetti Award", a prize in memory of Giacinto Facchetti, one of Europe's most popular soccer players in the past century. Facchetti's son Gianfelice has said of Younes: "I thought of Younes, because he, like my father, has left a beautiful legacy. He has given his fellow-countrymen hope and optimism with the goal which enabled Iraq to win the Asian Cup in the final against Saudi Arabia. He is the athlete who triggered the first real celebration in his country after years of horror. He has proved that the will of man is stronger than a war which started with a lie and which has never been explained".

Iraq's Capital

Did you know...Baghdad is one of the oldest metropolises in the world. Apart from that, from 1932 to 1955, it was one of Arab's most important cities, along with Cairo, Alexandria, Casablanca, Tehran and Karachi.

History

Did you know...Between 1932 and 1947, despite being made up of more than 10 ethnic groups, Iraq was one of the most stable and peaceful nations in the Middle East. During that time, it had not had wars, conflicts, coup d' etats, Marxist revolutions, and terrorism. The Asian nation had been put on the tourism map: it was well-known for its historical buildings, archaeological sites and Arab markets, as well as exotic dancers and friendly people.

Famous Women

Did you know... The California-size land is home to a number of notable women: Sabiha Al-Dabbagh, doctor; Sabiha Al-Khated, feminist; Intisar Shaker,athlete; Take Zaha Hadid, achitect; Queen Aliyah; Nzik Al-Mala Ikah, author; Suad Abdallah, performer; Hanaa Busha, feminist.

Ancient Empires

Did you know...Modern-Iraq was part of the Ottoman Empire.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is of Italian, African and Peruvian ancestry. He has published more than seventy-five research paper in English, and more than twenty in Spanish, concerning the world issues, olympic sports, countries, and tourism. His next essay is called "The Dictator and Alicia Alonso". He is an expert on foreign affairs. Alejandro is the first author who has published a world-book encyclopedia in Latin America.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alejandro_Guevara_Onofre

Forensic Science For Insect Lovers

Students pursuing a forensic science degree will need to be equipped with some knowledge in entomology. It is possible to be full majors of entomology specialists resulting in their being forensic entomologists. Entomology is the study of insects and is a branch of zoology. Students aiming to specialize in entomology will need to be equipped of the knowledge of the myths involved with the subject.

One myth you may encounter in the course of a forensic science degree is that forensic entomologists are able to make an accurate estimate of a person's time of death. As a matter of fact, it is the medical pathologists that do time of death estimates and not the forensic entomologist. All forensic entomologists can do is make a very precise estimate of postmortem time. This is because forensic entomologists have a concrete knowledge of the growth and lifespan of insects.

For the development of these specific species of insects, many variables affect its rate of growth. Under optimum conditions, growth rate of insects are very fast. Students and professional forensic entomologists create a baseline for insects development time in order for them to be able to estimate how long a dead body has been deceased. For instance, a colony of insects that have grown upon a corpse and was able to reproduce would give a specific time span.

Specifically, insects that feed on human tissue only feed on dead human tissue. For example, the Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis or the flesh fly prefers the indoors and grows as it feeds. It also has the capacity to give live birth, which has generated theories on the spontaneous generation of life.

Enodia port-landia butterflies also known as the Southern Pearly Eye which are plentiful in the South East United States are commonly found at human death situations because they feed on body fluids which are abundant in sugar. Wasps and bees are also important as their existence in a crime scene indicate many clues to the forensic entomologist.

Insects are now used to determine levels of toxicity due to drug use when no other source is present. When there is no blood, tissue or urine, insects are used to detect the presence of narcotics or other drugs. Students of a forensic science degree specializing in entomology need to be equipped with enough knowledge of toxicology for cases involving drug use. Certain fly larvae do not grow as fast as a result of a certain type of narcotics.

Future forensic science degree holders as well as Forensic entomologists are also consultants for major beverage or food corporations. In cases regarding contamination of products with insects, forensic entomologist are the ones who state the degree of contamination and if it occurred after the customer purchased the product or while the product was being created in the plant. A forensic scientist is also called in to court cases regarding emotional trauma caused by such structural or business related bug infestations such as bed bugs in hotels, which feed on animals as well as human blood.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Cos

Television Has Changed Forensic Science

The highly popular television series Crime Scene Investigation or CSI has brought about a new demand for students pursuing a forensic science degree. Techniques that are mostly provided by biomedical specialists are being used to solve crime-scenes and there is a large need for specifically forensic specialists in this area. Now available for students are an undergraduate Bachelor's Degree, a post-graduate Master's degree or a certification which you can augment your particular undergraduate degree with.
The basis for students of dentistry, medicine or veterinary medicine can be provided by a forensic science degree. A varied field which blends the different skills of various subjects such as digital and non-digital photography, physics, law, chemistry with an emphasis in DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid analysis is what comprises this particular field of study.
Holders of a degree in forensic science are able to quickly find employment as there is quite a need for specialists in this field today, due to the rising population causing the rising crime rate. Forensic science degree holders have employment opportunities in hospitals, police departments, crime or private laboratories, death investigators, general forensic scientists, laboratory technicians or forensic computer scientists among others.
Jobs include technical assistance with lie detector test, skills in computer analysis, academic assistance with psychological profiling, statistics and forensic engineering.
An establishment accredited by the Accreditation Commission of the American Academy of Forensic Science is highly recommended for forensic science degrees. Many different schedules are offered as part time or full-time course loads or online as well as on-campus learning. Forensic science degrees finished at accredited institutions with a preferably professional staff will give you better facilities, higher quality computer interface equipment, software and forensic-specialized libraries.
Internships usually given in the third year of study are available at police-departments in partnership with the establishment. This is a big step in accomplishing your forensic science degree course requirements as it is in your internship that you get an approximate feel for the demands of this type of work and exposure to real live crime scene investigations.
Your education should emphasize similar skills as that of the scientific method. Emphasis on research, presentation methods and publications on crime-related problems solved. Specialized studies in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Toxicology, High Technology Crime Investigation and Forensic Molecular Biology are eventually, the choices available for each student to concentrate in.
A four year undergraduate Bachelor's Degree, a two year certification or a post graduate Master's degree are available in this course of study. Certifications are available for those who have finished a different undergraduate course such as law or medicine and would like to augment their knowledge with forensics.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Cos

How to Cram For Exams In Under 2 Days

It's that stressful time of the year again. You have been going out and drinking all week and now you have an exam to perform in the next few days. There's not much time to dwell on the past on why you didn't turn up to the lectures or tutorials. It is now time to get down and dirty.

Here are three easy tips you can compress weeks of lectures and tutorial into a few days:

1. Look at past exam papers. Try to collect as much past exam paper info as possible. The questions in the exams will tell you exactly what you need to know and memorize. Some lecturers are lazy and will tend to use past exam questions in your new exams. Also, make sure you try to find the solutions to these questions. Sometimes you don't have enough time to look back at your notes or find the solutions in your text book.

2. Find a classmate or friend that has already done the exam the previous year. These people are very helpful in explaining certain theories and solutions. They will also condense their knowledge and give tips on what component of the exam to focus on. For example, some subjects have some filler materials in them and your friend of yours will tell you what materials you don't need to learn.

3. Read all the text material in one shot and then try to summarize it without looking or referring back to it. This forces you to memorize and focus on what the subject is about.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tito_King

Facts About Jupiter's Atmosphere

Jupiter's upper atmosphere experiences differential rotation. It rotates at different speeds due to the variance in the atmosphere and its unusual shape. This may also be partly due to the fact that Jupiter is almost entirely gaseous.
Jupiter is composed of 10% helium and 90% hydrogen, and also has traces of "rock", ammonia, water and methane. This is quite like the composition of the Solar Nebula, which formed the solar system. Saturn's composition is very similar to Jupiter's, but Neptune and Uranus have much less helium and hydrogen.
The facts about Jupiter that we can claim for certain about the interior of the planet (as well as the other gas planets) is only indirect knowledge, and it seems likely that it will remain thus. The data that scientists have received from the probe Galileo only extends to 150 kilometers below the tops of the clouds.
Scientists hypothesize that the core of Jupiter is made of rocky materials of a mass that equals ten to fifteen planets the size of Earth.
Above Jupiter's core is the bulk of the gas planet, which is metallic liquid hydrogen. These are the same electrons and protons found in the interior of the sun, but at a much lower temperature. On Jupiter, the hydrogen is a liquid, not a gas, and it conducts electricity. It is the source of the magnetic field of Jupiter. It also likely contains helium and some types of "ices".
Jupiter's outermost layer is made up primarily of ordinary helium and hydrogen. Other simple molecules are present in minute amounts in the atmosphere.
Scientists seeking facts about Jupiter expected to find a good deal of oxygen in Jupiter's atmosphere, but data from the probe Galileo suggests that Jupiter has much less oxygen than exists around the sun.
Jupiter and its sister gas planets have winds of high velocity that are confined in broad latitude bands. The winds in adjacent bands blow in different directions. The colored bands that dominate the planet's appearance are the result of slight temperature and chemical differences between the bands. The darker bands are called belts and the lighter bands are known as zones.
Information from the Galileo probe has indicated that the winds of Jupiter are faster than scientists expected - about 400 mph. Galileo also found that the atmosphere of Jupiter is very turbulent. This tells us that the planet's winds are driven more by internal heat, rather than like Earth's winds, which are driven by heat from the sun.
The bright colors one can see in the clouds of Jupiter are most likely the result of chemical reactions of the trace elements in the atmosphere of the planet. Facts about Jupiter indicate that this may perhaps involve sulfur, whose compounds have been known to take on many different colors.
The colors seem to be correlated with the altitudes of the clouds - reds are highest, then whites and browns, with blue the lowest. Sometimes scientists are able to see the lower layers of the atmosphere through holes in the upper layers.
The Great Red Spot of Jupiter has been seen by observers for over 300 years. It is actually an oval, about 12,000 by 25,000 km, large enough to hold two planets the size of Earth. Other, smaller spots have been seen for decades. Observations using infrared, and the type of rotation indicate that the Great Red Spot is actually a region of high pressure, with cloud tops colder and higher than the surrounding regions. There have been similar "structures" seen on Neptune and Saturn. It's not known how these high pressure regions can last for so long.
Jupiter radiates more energy than it gets from the sun. Jupiter's interior is hot - probably about 12,000 degrees kelvin. Jupiter doesn't produce energy the same way the sun does, however. The sun's energy comes from nuclear fusion, but Jupiter's interior is too cool for nuclear reactions to take place.
Jupiter has an extremely large magnetic field - a lot stronger than Earth's. The magnetosphere extends more than 650 million kilometers away - past Saturn's orbit. Facts about Jupiter confirm that its moons lie inside the scope of its magnetosphere.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Styles

Objects in Outer-Space

Comets (Sometimes called dirty snowballs or icy mudballs) are really small solar system bodies. They orbit the sun. When a comet is close enough to the sun; it emits a visible coma. As of 1995, we have cataloged over 850 comets. Comets are only visible when they are near the sun. Otherwise, they are invisible.
Asteroids (sometimes also called minor planets or planetoids) are very small solar system bodies. They orbit the sun. They are smaller than planets; but larger than meteoroids. If we add up the entire mass of each and every asteroid; it would be less than our Moon. 11 Asteroids have been explored by spacecrafts, so far. The largest asteroid is 1 Ceres. It is 974 km in diameter and holds about 25% of the mass of all the asteroids combined.
A black hole is a region of space that has a gravitation field so powerful, that even light cannot escape it's pull. A black hole only has a one way surface, which is called an event horizon. Objects can fall into it. But absolutely nothing can come out. Although its very hard to spot a black hole in the universe. It can often be detected due to it's effect on surrounding matter. Black holes started appearing 300-800 million years after the big bang. It's now believed that at the center of nearly every galaxy, there are super massive black holes. These super massive black holes have huge solar masses. The most massive black hole ever found was estimated to have 18 billion solar masses.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pavitar_Sidhu

Why Is Neptune Blue?

Our First Close-Up View of Neptune

Though Neptune is so far away from the Earth that it only looks like a tiny faraway star when observed with binoculars, we have discovered that this planet is actually a startlingly brilliant blue celestial object upon closer inspection. When Voyager 2 flew by Neptune in 1989 (twelve whole years after it was originally launched from Earth in 1977), we got our first glimpse the planet, revealing it to be a brilliant blue. So, what gives Neptune its blue color? We must first clarify what we are actually seeing and we also must know exactly what to analyze to discover the answer.

What We Are Actually Seeing

When we see the planets in the night sky, we are actually viewing the light from the sun that is reflecting off of them. Therefore, we can ascertain that we are seeing reflected sunlight off of Neptune. But, why does this reflected light appear blue and not yellow like the sun's light normally looks?

Where Do We Look?

The answer to why Neptune is blue lies within Neptune's atmosphere, which merges into its liquid mantle. More specifically, we must examine the components of its outer atmosphere to find out the solution our question. What do the high cloud tops of Neptune's atmosphere reveal?

Unveiling Neptune's Atmosphere

There are three major gases that make up Neptune's atmosphere: hydrogen, helium, and methane (along with trace amounts of water and ice particles). While hydrogen and helium make up about 99% of its atmosphere, it is the remaining roughly 1% of methane that is important. The presence of methane is why Neptune appears blue.

What Does This Methane Do?

These icy methane particles in the clouds take the red and orange light waves and absorb them, leaving the blue light waves to escape and reflect outward to our eyes. This is how the sunlight is reflected off of Neptune's atmosphere and appears blue.

Conclusion

Why is Neptune blue? We've seen that after the sun's light reaches Neptune, the methane in the atmosphere of Neptune absorbs the red end of the spectrum's light waves, allowing only the blue light to be reflected back towards Earth.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elena_Athanasiou

What to Consider When Looking For the Best Telescope For You

Are you a budding amateur astronomer looking for the best telescope? There are a few things that you should keep in mind before heading out to the store and spending your good and hard earned money.
Firstly, remember that aperture is the key to a telescope's performance, not magnification. Aperture determines the telescopes ability to capture light and this, over and above magnification, will determine how good the image is that you see. Thus, the best telescope, will have an excellent aperture to match its intended use. Magnification, by its very nature, will simply enhance the image that is already there.
So, if there is a faint and blurry image (as will be achieved with a cheaper and smaller aperture telescope), it will just become a bigger faint and blurry image. An easy rule of thumb to remember regarding magnification is... on a normal night with reasonable conditions, expect 50x magnification per inch of aperture. So, for example, a 2.5" telescope will have a magnification of 125x and a 6" telescope's magnification would reasonably be expected at 300x.
Secondly, telescope size, telescope design and telescope price will all be dictated by what you want to achieve, what you want to see, how much you want to spend (not just in money terms, but also in terms of time and effort), how technical you need / want your telescope to be and how portable you want to be. Answer these questions first before heading to the store because the best telescope for you will be the one that you use the most.
Lastly, a great way of experiencing astronomy, learning about telescopes and finding the best telescope for you is to join an astronomy club. There are clubs all over the world in every major (and many smaller) cities. Most clubs have observation nights or 'star-parties' and you can come along and learn and trial different telescopes to find the one best suited to your needs. You can look up clubs (and telescope information) in an astronomy magazine too. Two very good and popular ones are Astronomy and Sky & Telescope.

Adrian Magalas is a keen and passionate outdoors guys, loving adventure sports, snow skiing, hiking and cycling. He also has an interest in business ownership, internet marketing, photography and astronomy.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_Magalas

Advantages of Telescope Binoculars For Astronomy

Telescope binoculars are getting very popular these days as more and more people are going for it. Many people ask me if there is any difference between telescope binoculars and binoculars. The difference between the two is in its usage. Binoculars are used to get a magnified view of objects that are relatively close whereas telescope binoculars are used for viewing very distant objects - mainly for stargazing.

Telescope binoculars have the best of both binoculars and telescopes:
• You can view it using both your eyes, which means that your eye muscles will not get stressed.
• Sturdy and portable. You can carry it with you where ever you go.
• It has more focal length which helps you in stargazing.
• Focusing is very easy on telescope binoculars.
• Easily be mounted on a tripod for steady viewing.
• No set up time - just pull them out and start gazing!
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Marcus

There are many different types of telescope binoculars available on the market. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind while buying them:

First thing that you need to look for, while purchasing telescope binoculars, is 'porro prism' which are best for viewing in dim lights and make stargazing easy and enjoyable.

It is important to make sure that big astronomy binoculars have a provision for mounting on a stand. Mounting your binoculars using tripod or any fixed object will facilitate better viewing. Even a small shaking movement can disturb your view, from your focal point and moreover it is hard to keep the binoculars pointed in the same direction.

If you are interested in astronomy and do not use binoculars for watching the stars then you definitely are missing out on a great experience. It is such fun to watch stars in the clear sky with your telescope binoculars which are very easy to use. You can see different stars, constellations, moon and planets without straining the muscles of your eyes as the equipment facilitates viewing with both the eyes. The best thing about most of the binoculars is that they can be mounted very easily. They are pretty sturdy unlike telescopes which are very delicate and have to be handled very carefully. It does not take a long time for you to set it up on a tripod or any other stand. So just put the binoculars and tripod in a bag on your back - and get going!

Fun Astronomy Facts

If you want to measure our solar system, how would you do it? This simplest way is to measure it in light years. For those not familiar with the term, a light-year is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year. This is because the distances between stars is so huge that it is otherwise very challenging to imagine them. A light year is exactly 9,460,730,472,580.8 kilometers. Putting this into real world distances, the Milky Way is approximately 100,000 light-years across.

The Earth is one of nine planets that form the Solar System, so called because the sun, the source of solar energy, is the central point around which all the planets revolve. So far, scientists have not been able to establish or prove the existence of life forms on any other planet within the solar system. Often, the search for other life forms has focused on looking at the climatic conditions of the celestial body in question. Scientists assume that life forms on a different planet would need similar conditions as life on earth, such as oxygen, light and water, to grow. This may or may not be true.

Other than the sun, no other celestial body significantly affects the earth as the moon does. It is well know that the moon affects the rise and fall of the ocean tide. Such is the effect of the gravitational pull between the earth and the moon. Jupiter is easily the largest planet in our solar system. To put its size in context, Jupiter is more than 300 times the mass of Earth. Here is the interesting part; Jupiter has 63 moons that orbit it and yet it is not the planet in the Solar System with the most moons. That honor belongs to the ringed-planet Saturn, which has 66 moons identified so far. Pluto, the farthest flung among the nine planets, has been the subject of heated debate on whether it really qualifies to be considered a planet. Nowadays, it is classified as a dwarf planet. Its orbit around the Sun is somewhat heavily elliptical. In fact, there are instances where Pluto is actually closer to the Sun than Neptune, the planet that precedes it.

Now speaking of size within the Solar System, well, let us just say that the Sun is unmatched. Did you know that the Sun comprises more than 99% of the total mass of the entire solar system? Jupiter actually takes up much of the remaining proportion. Surface temperatures on the Sun stand at 5000 Kelvins (4727 degrees Celsius). With temperatures at its core reaching a 15.6 million Kelvins (15.6 million Celsius), the Sun is truly a celestial spectacle. It gets even better when one realizes that the Sun is classified as a class G star. Stars are classified in six major categories that tie in to the surface temperature and brightness. The categories are M, K, G, F, A, B and O listed in ascending order brightness and surface temperature. You can see that the Sun falls on the lower end of this classification. Category B and O are rare in the universe while most stars are in the category M and emit less heat and light energy. That said, the Sun is within the 90th percentile by mass among all stars. We have found other stars that are larger than our sun: one is estimated to be approximately 60,000 times bigger.

The Solar System forms a tiny part of the Milky Way Galaxy, a vast conglomeration of stars and planets. What makes astronomy so thrilling is that despite its size, the Milky Way is not the only galaxy in the universe. There are hundreds of billions of galaxies out there, probably more. The closest galaxy to our own Milky Way is Andromeda. Now, brace yourself for the distance: it is 2.3 million light years away. One of the most exciting phenomena for astronomers is the black hole. It is an area of the universe where the concentration of mass is so massive (no pun intended) that the gravitational pull it generates sucks in everything around it. Everything includes light. Remember that the escape velocity for any object in the universe is the speed required to escape the objects gravitational pull. The escape velocity for the Earth is slightly over 11 kilometers per hour while for the Moon is 2.5 kilometers per second. Well for a black hole, the escape velocity exceeds the speed of light. That is how strong the pull is.
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