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Yes. That name comes from astrology, as do the other nicknames for the various full moons of the year. The January 2019 eclipse is being called "super wolf blood moon," because the full moon in January is called the "wolf moon" and the moon will be close to Earth and appear large in the sky (thus, a "supermoon").
A total lunar eclipse is a good excuse to stay up late, so dig out the binoculars, blankets, and hot drinks. And while you wait for the penumbral phase to shift into the umbral phase, see who can say "perigee syzygy" five times fast.
"Even if you took literally every single ounce of platinum in the world, it still wouldn’t add up to enough needed to pay down our nation’s debt."
By Jake Berry on Monday, January 14th, 2013 at 10:06 a.m.
According to the National Republican Congressional Committee, President Barack Obama, U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster and other Washington Democrats have a platinum target on their backs.
That's because some economists and legal scholars say Obama -- and, by extension,other Washington Democrats could solve the nation’s debt limit problem by taking advantage of an obscure law to mint platinum coins, which Obama could use to offset the debt and avoid a standoff with House Republicans over spending cuts. U...
Neither the White House, nor Kuster, the target of a recent attack by the GOP congressional group, have commented on the matter. But, according to the Republican campaign committee, not even all the platinum in all the world could solve America’s spending problems.
"Heard of that trillion-dollar platinum coin Democrats want?" the congressional committee said in a press release issued Wednesday, January 9.
"Well, even if you took literally every single ounce of platinum in the world, it still wouldn’t add up to enough needed to pay down our nation’s debt," the release stated."Yet President Obama and Washington Democrats like Ann McLane Kuster continue to support policies that bankrupt our country."
The NRCC's point is a bit silly because that's not what economists are proposing. But just for fun -- and a chance to leaf through the pages of "A History of Platinum" -- we decided to check it out.
To be clear: We are not making a Truth-O-Meter ruling on whether Obama can do it or whether the strategy would succeed. We are simply addressing the NRCC's comparison of the total amount of platinum to the federal debt.
Is the NRCC right? We decided to check the scales.
First, let’s get a few calculations out of the way.
As of January 9, the date of the NRCC statement, the national debt stood at $16.432 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
That same day, the price of platinum was listed at $1,583 per troy ounce, according to Platinum Today, a website (Troy ounces are the unit of measurement used to measure precious metals).
By those numbers, it would take approximately 10.38 billion troy ounces of platinum to pay off the debt.
So, has the world produced that much platinum? We decided to check the records.
According to the Platinum Metals Review, a publication by Johnson Matthey PLC, a London-based precious metals company, 130,715 million troy ounces were supplied between 1975, the first formal records available, and 2006. And more recently, mines supplied 36.935 million ounces from 2007-2012, company records show.
That brings the total of platinum mined since 1975 to 167.65 million ounces -- less than 1/60th of the 10.38 billion needed to pay off the debt.
Numbers prior to 1975 are harder to track. Johnson Matthey, the industry group, didn’t keep formal records on platinum production before that time. Thankfully, historians Donald McDonald and Leslie B. Hunt offered some thoughts on the matter in their book, "A History of Platinum."
According to the book, referenced on the Johnson Matthey website, two countries -- Columbia and Russia -- supplied most of the world’s platinum through most of the 19th Century. But, in 1888, explorers discovered platinum deposits in the ore mines of in Ontario, Canada.
Between 1902-1919, companies mined about 33,000 ounces of platinum from the mines. And by 1929, that number increased to about 300,000 ounces per year of platinum, along with the five other metals known as the Platinum Group Metals.
Elsewhere in the world, explorers discovered the Merensky Reef in South Africa in 1924, and over the years it became the world’s largest source of platinum. By 1938, the amount produced from the Merensky Reef reached 25,000 ounces per year, and by 1955, that number reached 200,000 per year, and in 1973, it exceeded 1 m...
This steady increase in production makes the numbers difficult to track. But, for argument’s sake, let’s use some very generous numbers and say all the mines across the globe combined to supply 1 million ounces of platinum each year back to 1902 -- far more than most estimates.
That would add 72 million ounces to the total 167.65 million tracked between 1975-2012, and the total production dating back to 1902 would then reach 239.65 million troy ounces.
That total, priced at the $1,583 per ounce, the Jan. 9 rate, would equal about $379.365 billion in value -- still less than 1/40th of the $16 trillion debt figure. Even doubling the 167.65 million figure from 1975-2012 (335.3 million ounces) would leave the total value of platinum at $530.779 billion -- still less than...
There are no formal counts of platinum production dating back before 1975, but based on recent records and historical accounts, there is no evidence to suggest the value of the world’s total platinum supply comes within reach of the national debt.
Records from Johnson Matthey PLC, an industry leader, show that 167.65 million troy ounces were supplied between 1975-2012, and historical records indicate that number far exceeds the amount mined in the years prior.
Even by the most generous counts, the total value of the the world’s platinum supply is only a fraction of the national debt. We rate this claim True.
Published: Monday, January 14th, 2013 at 10:06 a.m.
Poll results: Is Central Park a safe place?
Three weeks ago a remark that Central Park could become a “no-go” area sparked a big debate in Peterborough.
Supporters of the green space bemoaned the frequent anti-social behaviour and lack of permanent park staff during the winter, but they were keen to stress that the ‘crown jewel’ remained a safe place for families to enjoy.
Since then many people have been in touch to share their park-life experiences, both good and bad, and now vocal campaigning to deliver a greater presence at the site has paid dividends after Peterborough City Council agreed to pay Amey (the park’s operators) £1,254.35 to fund staff to work there during the Easter Holi...
And the council has now admitted that it may revisit the decision it made nearly a year ago to reduce Amey’s funding by £100,000 which meant that between October and the end of March there would be no permanent members of staff at Central Park, compared to three for the rest of the year.
Councillor Gavin Elsey, cabinet member for digital, waste and street scene, said: “People need to remember it was never the job of Amey staff to police the park, their job is to maintain it.
Highlighting that £19 million had to come out of last year’s council budget, Cllr Elsey said he was also hoping to see new enforcement teams - combining council staff and neighbourhood police officers - set up a base at the park.
The Peterborough Telegraph ran a poll on its website (see sidebar) to find out if people think Central Park is a safe and enjoyable place to visit.
Responding to the figures, Tony Forster, chair of Friends of Central Park, believes the recent media coverage has made people more fearful about visiting the Green Flag-winning park.
He said: “What people feel does not just depend on their experiences when they visit the park, it also depends on what they read about it.
MP for Peterborough Stewart Jackson, who initially suggested that the park could become a no-go area if anti-social behaviour was not tackled, said: “It’s important that we’ve raised the profile of Central Park as an asset that needs protecting. It is a jewel at the heart of the city and the Buttercross Café is a local...
One reader who contacted this paper highlighted damage that was going on at the park. She said: “We ladies have played tennis in Central Park for many years and are very saddened to see the decline and care of this beautiful asset of Peterborough.
How often do you visit?
Daily - 17%, Weekly - 26%, Monthly - 13%, Occasionally - 44%.
Have you ever witnessed anti-social behaviour?
Is Central Park an ideal place to visit with children?
How well is it maintained?
Which area would you most like to see more investment if it was available?
What do you do when you really want to party? According to Cashmere Cat’s latest banger, you take matters into your own hands.
“Throw Myself a Party” is the latest Cashmere Cat track from his forthcoming album Wild Love. Recently, he also released “Trust Nobody” featuring Tory and Selena Gomez, “Adore” with Ariana Grande, and the LP’s track title featuring The Weeknd and Francis and the Lights.
Wild Love is expected this year, but has no release date. Listen below (via HHNM).
NEW YORK - Bud Selig said Thursday he plans to retire as baseball commissioner in January 2015 after a term of more than 22 years marked by robust growth in attendance and revenue along with a canceled World Series and a drug scandal.
Selig, 79, said in 2003 that he would retire in 2006 but has repeatedly accepted new contracts.
Some owners - even his wife - have been skeptical in the past that he really would do it, but this marked the first time he issued a formal statement that he intends to step down.
"I look forward to continuing its extraordinary growth and addressing several significant issues during the remainder of my term," he said.
Selig said he will soon announce a transition plan that will include a reorganization of central baseball management.
He said he will leave on Jan. 24, 2015, which would mark the second-longest term for a baseball commissioner behind Kenesaw Mountain Landis.
A lorry carrying timber overturned and spilled its load, closing a major road.
The A470 was closed between Llandinam and Llanidloes in Powys following the spill at about 06:20 GMT.
Nobody was hurt, although a large amount of timber was spread across the road and verge, and work to turn the lorry upright continued until 13:20.
An environmental unit was called in to help with oil and fuel spillage and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended along with Dyfed-Powys Police.
The Truckee Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1073 has had another banner year introducing young people to aviation by giving them free airplane rides under the EAA’s Young Eagles Program.
More than 280 youths were flown by ten volunteer pilots who were supported by myriad ground safety volunteers.
In addition to free airplane rides, the chapter sponsored two youths to attend EAA’s 2017 Air Academy at Oshkosh, Wis., with all-expenses paid scholarships. The chapter is offering six scholarships to local Young Eagles ages 12 through 18 to attend the 2018 Air Academy.
On the second Saturday of each month, we hold a pancake breakfast and offer Young Eagles flights to children ages 8 through 17 years old. Come on out to your airport, have a great breakfast, and treat your kids to a free airplane ride, starting at 8 a.m.
The state’s first charter school opened in Harlem yesterday, with parents, teachers and community leaders betting it will become one of the city’s best – despite partitioned classrooms.
A 5-year-old boy with curly red hair, Carter Fagan, the first kid to arrive at Sisulu Children’s Academy on West 115th Street, got to ring a big brass bell to herald the opening – and kick off a statewide experiment in education reform.
Many other charter schools are in the works since Gov. Pataki signed a law last December allowing the creation of 100 publicly funded but independent schools.
Sisulu – to be run by a fledgling, for-profit Manhattan-based management firm, Victory Schools Inc.- is bent on proving that schools set free from Board of Ed rules and red tape can raise student achievement.
“I’m praying that this school will be one of the top – and I’ll work with him as well,” said Abigail Wright, whose son, Dajon, 7, is entering second grade at Sisulu.
The boy attended Community School 150 in The Bronx last year, and had reading problems. “He was lost,” his mom said.
She wanted to transfer Dajon to a high-performing Manhattan district or enroll him in Catholic school before deciding to “take a chance” on the charter – where she believes he’ll get more attention.
The school opened with 247 kindergartners through second-graders and plans to add a grade each year.
THE NEW YORKER, JANUARY 16, 2017 43 O January, two years after sta members at the Copenhagen Zoo sur- prised many people by shooting a healthy young gira e, dissecting it in public, and then feeding its remains to lions, another Danish zoo was pre- paring for a public dissection. Lærke Stange Dahl and Malene Jepsen---b...
A bill that would shield state-legal marijuana activity faces long odds in Congress this year, even though polls show 60 percent of Americans think Uncle Sam should leave legalization up to the states. No wonder Congress has such a abysmally low approval rating of 15 percent.
A new bill to regulate California's $1.3 billion medical marijuana industry cleared its first hurdle yesterday: the Assembly's public safety committee.
Assemblymember Tom Ammiano's AB 473 would license everyone in the commercial medical marijuana supply chain — from growers to stores — through the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Private patients, caregivers and collectives would be exempt.
A bill to regulate California's estimated $1.3 billion medical marijuana industry is scheduled to get its first hearing in an Assembly committee Tuesday. San Francisco Rep. Tom Ammiano's AB 473 would make everyone in the commercial medical marijuana supply chain register with the California Department of Alcoholic Beve...
Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, Israel is recruiting Crohn's Disease sufferers for a study on the ability of cannabis to treat the inflammatory bowel disease. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health's ClinicalTrials.gov, researchers with Meir are currently recruiting participants for phase 1 and 2 studies...
It's pretty clear the Oaksterdam raid was federal payback. Payback for opening the cannabis college. Payback for running Prop 19. Payback for being unashamed.
How else should we interpret the news that one year after sixty federal agents raided the downtown Oakland businesses, not a single charge has been filed against Oaksterdam operator Richard Lee? The federal message to pot's thought leaders seems clear: "Shut your mouth. We can end you at will."
Oakland North's Madeleine Thomas does good work on the anniversary story April 2, detailing how Oaksterdam stayed afloat after the raid and persists to this day.
TOKYO, May 30 (Reuters) - Japan’s Nikkei share average tumbled to six-week lows on Wednesday after political turmoil in Italy sparked concerns over the stability of the euro zone, hitting financial and exporter shares in particular.
The Nikkei ended 1.5 percent lower to 22,018.52, after falling to a six-week low of 21,931.65. The Nikkei managed to stay above its 75-day moving average of 21,920.19, which has become the index’s immediate support level.
Sources close to some of Italy’s main parties said Italy may hold repeat elections as early as July after the man asked to be prime minister failed to secure support from major political parties - even for a stop-gap government.
Italy’s political crisis, and the threat to the euro it could represent, triggered a rush to safe havens such as U.S. Treasury debt and the Japanese yen.
“The Italian political problems triggered global investors’ risk-off stance. Exporters and financials have been hard hit and they will likely remain vulnerable,” said Norihiro Fujito, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.
Insurers and banks, which have invested in higher-yielding foreign bonds because of Japan’s low yield environment, stumbled to lose 2.4 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.
Analysts said that there might be further selling in the financial sector because there was speculation that a spike in the yen could trigger further monetary easing by the Bank Of Japan.
The BOJ adopted negative interest rates two years ago in a move that has been hugely unpopular among banks.
“We don’t know if the BOJ would deepen negative interest rates to thwart any sharp spikes in the yen, but at least the bank will not abandon negative rates as long as the strong yen keeps threatening the economy,” said Hiroyuki Fukunaga, chief executive of Investrust.
Sompo Holdings shed 2.6 percent, Dai-ichi Life Holdings declined 2.8 percent. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group dropped 3.4 percent and regional bank Hiroshima Bank declined 2.9 percent and Hachijuni Bank tumbled 3.0 percent.
U.S. benchmark 10-year Treasury yields on Tuesday posted their largest one-day drop in nearly two years as prices rose on safe-haven demand.
Exporters were under pressure as the dollar slipped 0.3 percent to 108.38 yen. Companies with high exposure to the euro zone underperformed, with Mazda Motor Corp falling 2.1 percent, Makita Corp down 3.8 percent and Nikon Corp shedding 2.0 percent.
Traders said they expected the Bank of Japan to buy exchange-traded funds to support the market amid the morning weakness. The BOJ bought ETFs for five straight sessions up until Tuesday as part of its wider policy of supporting asset prices in the economy.
The broader Topix dropped 1.5 percent to 1,736.13.
The former neurosurgeon Ben Carson has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) STORY: The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to confirm retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in President Donald Trump's Cabinet. Carson, who ran for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination and later endorsed Trump, becom...
The census will also help determine which areas in town need more deer-management efforts.
Volunteers will be asked to “patrol” an assigned area by vehicle, keeping a log of any deer that they see while traveling in their zone, said town environmental analyst Craig Jobes.

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