What are you doing at 3 AM tonight?

Big show in our Dark Sky

By Will Collette

Tonight (actually, between 2 AM and 4 AM Wednesday morning), Charlestown is uniquely situated to view the annual Quadrantids meteor shower, the first of many similar events this year. 


At its peak, roughly 3 AM Eastern Time, an extraordinary 100 meteors per hour should come flying out from the direction of the now extinct constellation Quadrans Muralis. The astronomy community eliminated the old constellation by dividing it up into more easily recognizable ones. It's sort of like the way the Catholic Church decided to dump a bunch of saints because they couldn't be certain they ever actually existed (Saints Christopher and Valentine for example).

Power from the sun

 This is not a paid advertisement, wish it was.

by Tom Ferrio

Last week I gave you an update on our quest for solar energy. Today they came to start the installation of our solar energy system.

Planning Commission Alert

Hide your fingernails – here they come again!

By Will Collette

Last October, commenter T.J. Kahr wrote “The Charlestown Planning Commission in action is just so painful…I would rather have my fingernails pulled out one @ a time.” We’ve used that fingernail-plucking theme several times, since it aptly captures the experience.

Well, it’s gonna happen again on Thursday, January 5, as the Planning Commission goes at it again with a “Special” Meeting agenda packed with oldies but not-so-goodies.

In order, here’s what’s on the Planning Commission agenda:

Tear down at your own risk

Small enough to be torn down by volunteers?

"Cost-saving" maneuver would likely prove to be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

By Linda Felaco and Will Collette

At the December 28 Planning Commission meeting, foreman Ruth Platner cavalierly asserted that the costs of demolishing the existing buildings at the YMCA camp could be reduced by having volunteers tear down the smaller structures. The estimated cost for demolition is $59,000, but that could change, depending on the types of hazards that are uncovered in the process.

No one among Platner’s fellow Planning Commissioners challenged this bold proposal, nor did the town staff raise any concerns about the potential liability. 

Astronomy Picture of the Day

M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble 

From NASA

Explanation: This is the mess that is left when a star explodes. The Crab Nebula, the result of a supernova seen in 1054 AD, is filled with mysterious filaments. The filaments are not only tremendously complex, but appear to have less mass than expelled in the original supernova and a higher speed than expected from a free explosion. The above image, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, is presented in three colors chosen for scientific interest. The Crab Nebula spans about 10 light-years. In the nebula's very center lies a pulsar: a neutron star as massive as the Sun but with only the size of a small town. TheCrab Pulsar rotates about 30 times each second.

Could have seen this coming

Sensible thinkers think about war

By Tom Tomorrow




For the whole cartoon, click here.

Runaway Spending Cuts

The people who can least afford it are bearing the brunt of Washington's austerity.

By William A. Collins

Slash the budget,
That’s our plea;
Just don’t cut
What’s dear to me.

Science Bits

Light bulb standards go into effect; study shows progressive are the most popular; maybe we won’t lose all of our $75 million; don't make any fart jokes and beware of frostbite
By Will Collette

People like “Progressives” more than they like “conservatives.” According to a December 2011 survey by the Pew Research Center, 67% of the public have positive feelings about “progressives,” compared to 62% for second-place “conservatives.” At the bottom of the list were “socialists” who only have a 31% positive rating and a 60% negative rating. 


You can probably get a discount on this 2012 calendar. If you still haven't gotten yourself that special 2012 wall calendar for your office, this may be the one for you. The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists, based in Norway, offers a unique 2012 calendar illustrated with beautiful photos of field toilets used on actual Arctic expeditions.

Audit of nuclear plant 20 miles from Charlestown raises safety issues

Millstone nuclear power plant in Waterford, CT violated safety protocols

By Will Collette

Dominion Power operates the Milstone 2000-megawatt nuclear power station just 20 miles due west – the direction of prevailing winds – from Charlestown.

On Thursday, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission released the findings of its audit of the facility and concluded Dominion “failed over the past two years to receive approvals before making changes to systems important to safety,” according to the New London Day. 

A glorious day for the 6th annual Penguin Plunge

Clear skies and good turnout of folks "Freezin' for a Reason"

By Linda Felaco


For the sixth year in a row, crowds gathered at the Andrea Hotel in Misquamicut on New Year's Day to watch their friends and neighbors dive into the icy surf to raise money for the WARM Center of Westerly. 

Politics: 2012 style

The Art of Positive Campaigning

By Tim Eagan




For the full cartoon, click here.

OMG PD - Christmas spirit edition

Courtesy of South Kingston Patch.com, this edition of OMG PD is full of stories that are not to be missed.

by Patrick Luce

Reality versus feelings

There's a pill for that

By Matt Bors




For the full cartoon, click here.

Nobody does it like Dave Barry

Year in Review: 2011

By Will Collette

One of the great treats of New Year's Day is reading humorist Dave Barry's annual Year in Review. Dave writes for the Miami Herald, but his column - and especially his annual xmas gift review and Year in Review - get widely syndicated.

But not so much in our local papers. So, for your convenience, and New Year's enjoyment, click here to read Dave Barry's 2011 Year in Review.

New Year's bonfire is HOT!

Rain stops, crowds come and pallet pyre goes up

Before the fire storm

By Will Collette

The annual New Year's Eve bonfire at Ninigret Park was a crowd-pleaser. The ziggurat of construction pallets assembled by Frank Glista (his gang name is "Frankie Pallets," for obvious reasons) was set alight by Charlestown volunteer firefighters using a propane flame thrower at 5 PM.

It took a few minutes for the entire house-sized pyramid to fully catch. Once it did, the flames were spectacular (not to mention warming as the temperature started to drop). Sparks flew, but with much of the town's fire equipment and personnel on hand, there was no danger.

The fire burned for almost an hour and, I think, a good time was had by all. Money was raised to help RI-CAN and we all had a safe and enjoyable New Year's roast. Thanks, Frank! But next year, we want you to do a Gavlebocken!