Astronomy Pic of the Day

NASA Description:

A bright spiral galaxy of the northern sky, Messier 63 is about 25 million light-years distant in the loyal constellation Canes Venatici. Also cataloged as NGC 5055, the majestic island universe is nearly 100,000 light-years across, about the size of our own Milky Way. Known by the popular moniker, The Sunflower Galaxy, M63 sports a bright yellowish core and sweeping blue spiral arms, streaked with cosmic dust lanes and dotted with pink star forming regions. This deep exposure also reveals an enormous but dim arc extending far into the halo above the brighter galactic plane. A collaboration of professional and amateur astronomers has shown the arc to be consistent with the stellar stream from a smaller satellite galaxy, tidally disrupted as it merged with M63 during the last 5 billion years. Their discovery is part of an increasing body of evidence that the growth of large spirals by cannibalizing smaller galaxies is commonplace in the nearby Universe.

Quote of the Day

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

Actually, I just read this for the first time an hour ago, but I couldn't resist.

ht/Paul Krugman

Some Ideas about Standardized Testing

I have always thought that standardized tests in schools are of limited utility.  But I have never really considered what alternatives there are in attempting to measure a student's progress or the kinds of skills we really want out children to have.

This article finally reveals some of these alternatives.  A lot of food for thought.

One thing that I am not clear on is whether many of the skills described in this article can be taught.  Clearly they are developmental in the sense that some children will achieve this skills more quickly than others.  The real question is to what extent teachers can accelerate the process, or can teach a child a reasoning skill that she wouldn't otherwise develop on her own.

A fascinating topic that I hope to discuss further.

Surprise Surprise!

Not really.

I am kind of surprised that the IRS isn't stepping up enforcement on this.  On the other hand, I see no reason why a 501(c) organization is needed to achieve anonymity.  As far as I can tell, any entity not attempting to become exempt from tax can provide anonymity.

Of course, I am one of those crazy people who think that there should be no such things as exempt organizations.

See also this.

Banks are the Worst

Here is a story about Wells Fargo attempting to avoid the risk of title problems when they sell properties out of foreclosure.

I wonder how many other banks are doing the same thing.

A Little Respect?

Somehow I don't think it's going to happen.

Ridiculing the Angry Rich

There are several good posts in this vein today, beginning with - who else? - Paul Krugman's column.

See also this and this from Brad DeLong.

And this from Mike the Mad Biologist.  Click through to the posts he cites as well.

By the way, this is the first time I have come across Mike, and I liked his post so much I perused his blog and found this gem.  I especially like the last line:

"Personally, I would rather see Goldman Sachs banned from college campuses than ROTC."

Unfortunately, I tend to agree with Krugman:

"You see, the rich are different from you and me: they have more influence. It’s partly a matter of campaign contributions, but it’s also a matter of social pressure, since politicians spend a lot of time hanging out with the wealthy. So when the rich face the prospect of paying an extra 3 or 4 percent of their income in taxes, politicians feel their pain — feel it much more acutely, it’s clear, than they feel the pain of families who are losing their jobs, their houses, and their hopes. 

And when the tax fight is over, one way or another, you can be sure that the people currently defending the incomes of the elite will go back to demanding cuts in Social Security and aid to the unemployed. America must make hard choices, they’ll say; we all have to be willing to make sacrifices. " 

But when they say “we,” they mean “you.” Sacrifice is for the little people.

 

Good for Washington

At least some people have a good idea of what needs to be done.  On the ballot in the State of Washington this fall is a proposal to impose a tax on incomes above $200k for individuals and $400k for married couples, coupled with a reduction in property taxes and taxes on small businesses.

Good for Bill Gates Sr., who is the driving force behind this initiative.

OMG, even the churches favor this!