Book Review - Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

"The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you." Neil deGrasse Tyson

I have seen Neil deGrasse Tyson speak and read his entertaining and informative book, The Pluto Files (I still say it's a planet!), so when he came out with Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, I had to read it.

What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There’s no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson.

But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in tasty chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.

While you wait for your morning coffee to brew, for the bus, the train, or a plane to arrive, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry will reveal just what you need to be fluent and ready for the next cosmic headlines: from the Big Bang to black holes, from quarks to quantum mechanics, and from the search for planets to the search for life in the universe.

Tyson is not only one of the smartest people on this earth but very entertaining. I found that he can explain complicated ideas so well, that normal everyday people can understand them. In this book he starts in chapter one at the very beginning, the creation of the universe, also known as the big bang.

The journey he takes us on covers the formation of our solar system, our galaxy the matter and galaxies far beyond us and the ways we have to explore them. He explains gravity, Einstein, Newton and many other scientists whose names we use today such as the Hubble telescope, named after Edwin Hubble, an American astronomer who proved that there were other galaxies beyond our home galaxy, the Milky Way.

He explains, protons, neutrons, cosmic rays, dark matter, dark energy and here's one I've never heard of, Invisible light. To say I understood it all would be a lie.

Tyson starts his last chapter, Reflections on the Cosmic Perspective, with a quote; Of all the sciences cultivated by mankind, Astronomy is acknowledged to be, and undoubtedly is, the most sublime, the most interesting, and the most useful. For, by knowledge derived from this science, not only the bulk of the Earth is discovered ...; but our very faculties are enlarged with their grandeur of the ideas it conveys, our minds exalted above (their) low contracted prejudices.

At first, I thought this had to be a recent quote but found it extremely interesting that it was made way back in 1757 by Scottish Astronomer James Ferguson.

In the last paragraph of his preface Tyson writes; In this slim volume, you will earn a foundational fluency in all the major ideas and and discoveries that drive our modern understanding of the universe. If I've succeeded, you'll be culturally conversant in my field of expertise, and you just may be hungry for more.

Well, much of the book I didn't understand but what I did understand, I found it fascinating. I read in short bursts which doesn't help with a book like this and do plan to read it again some time in the future.

I will say that Tyson did succeed in making me hungry to learn more.

2 Yoga Hand Mudras

Many times in yoga, usually when sitting cross legged or when doing Savasana,  a relaxing pose that is much like a wide awake nap (I have drifted off during it) we are told to touch our forefinger and thumb together and keep the others loose. I always wondered the reason for this.

This is called a mudra and for this move it's know as the Guyana or Chin Mudra. Mudra means "seal" in sanskrit and is used to channel a body's energy flow. According to Yoga Journal.com in this mudra the index finger represents individual consciousness and the thumb represents universal consciousness. The index finger represents the limited perspective of self and the thumb is the expanded perspective of Self. When the two join, the limited self is connected to the spacious Universal Self.

This mudra creates a more receptive state and also calms the mind. It also helps to get rid of "dull energy" and brightens a persons mood. I have met many cranky people who could use this.

Placing your hands together is known as the Anjali Mudra. The hands are placed together and held in the heart area honor and is used to express love, gratitude and the respect you have shown yourself and the universe.

It all may sound airy fairy but I use these daily in my affirmations and visualizations and must say, they do help.

Rock Lose Game to Rush but Win the Fight at Home Opener

Tonight the Toronto Rock played host to the Saskatchewan Rush at the ACC. This was the Rush's first game of the season while the Rock lost their first game last week to the Buffalo Bandits.

Once again Teena and I have season tickets and were there tonight. I've always love the atmosphere of the home opener. There's just so much anticipation and hope for the season ahead.

As always, Scotty Newlands sang the national anthem.

Our friend, Trish, surprised us by buying a ticket beside us and showed up unannounced.

Opening face off.

Nick Rose (Rosey!) was in goal. He didn't have the best of nights but then was not well-protected by the Rock's defence either. He was pulled after the 9th goal was scored on him in the second period.

Instead of piped in music, the Rock had a DJ. I miss the other tunes, especially Cotton Eyed Joe.

It was good to see the red headed guys back.

Game action

Toronto went down 2-0 very quickly but battled back to tie it up 2-2 here. After that, it was all downhill.

Like I said, it was all downhill.

More action

The Toronto Rock Cheerleaders in their Christmas outfits.

Iggy Rock worked the fans.

Half way through the 4th quarter, Toronto's Billy Hostrawser and Saskatchewan's Mike Messenger went at it.

 This was the punch the bloodied Messenger's face.

So in the end, Toronto lost 17-9. They were outplayed and outclassed. They lost the game but won the fight. Hopefully that will give them the spark they need for the coming games.

The next home game is at 7pm on December 30 against the Buffalo Bandits. Teena and I will be there.

Agnes Macphail Becomes First Woman Elected to House of Commons, 1921

Today in 1921, in the first Canadian election in which all women were allowed to vote, Agnes Macphail became the first woman to be elected as Minister of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons in Ottawa. She represented the riding of Grey South East until she was defeated in the 1940 federal election.

As a member of the United Farmers of Ontario party, Agnes originally planned to represent the farmers of her riding but decided to take up the cause for the rights of miners, immigrants, and of course women.

In 1923, after a prison riot in Kingston, Agnes went to investigate and was astounded by the poor conditions. It became one of her greatest accomplishments that after arguing years for change, from one of punishment, to one of reform and education in the Canadian penal system which also included a reduction of corporal punishment, that in 1939 the Penitentiary Bill finally recommended 88 changes to the penal system

Agnes Macphail passed away on February 13, 1954.

Canada's First Electric Car Unveiled 1893

Today electric cars are becoming the rage in North America but in this date in 1893, William Still and his patent lawyer Frederick Fetherstonaugh (pictured below) introduced Canada to the countries very first electric car. It also is noteworthy of being just the second car produced in Canada.

Known as the "Still" electric car, named for the inventor, it could travel 15 miles (24 km) between charges. As steam powered cars were considered too dangerous with all the high pressures involved and the gasoline engine was still in it's infancy and was noisy and smelly, the electric car looked as if it were the future of the automobile industry.

The car was built in Toronto at John Dixon’s carriage works located at Bay and Temperance Streets. Due to it's success, a group of businessmen bought into the car and created the Canadian Motor Syndicate. By 1902, improvements to the gasoline engine as far as smell, noise and power put the company out of business.

Fetherstonaugh happily drove his original model for 15 years. What happened to it or any other model car the company produced is unknown.

Queen Victoria's Daughter Princess Louise and Canada

Today in 1939, Princess Louise, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, died in England at the age of 91.

When she was 23 she married John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne who was at the time a member of Parliament in the UK. As his position as the Queen’s son-in-law limited his activities in the UK, in 1878 he was appointed the Governor General of Canada.

In a speech he said of Princess Louise being in Canada, “Although the sons of the sovereign have before this day visited these shores, this is the first occasion on which a daughter of the reigning house has seen the New World.” and went on to add “The presence of the Princess in Canada… will arrest our drifting into the Republic of the United States.”

The couple were well liked by Canadians, and the two enjoyed popular Canadian activities such as skating on the Rideau Canal and held tobogganing and curling parties at Rideau Hall, which is the official residence of the governor general.

So what is her significance to Canada besides being the wife of the Governor General? Her full name was Princess Louise Caroline Alberta and while she was alive, the newly formed Province of Alberta was named after her, as was beautiful Lake Louise in Banff National Park.

T. Eaton Company's First Santa Claus Parade, 1905

Today in 1905 the T Eaton Company held it's first Santa Claus Parade which took place in Toronto.

Santa's arrival that first year was actually not a parade but kids were invited to come to watch as Santa walked with the Eaton family from where he arrived at Union Station, to their flagship Eaton Store. Thousands showed up.

It was the following year that trumpeters and others were added to the event. By 1917 seven floats also heralded his arrival to town.

Eaton's sponsored the parade up until 1981 when it pulled it's funding. fearing the event would die, twenty firms got together to sponsor the 1982 parade and save the event, which is almost twenty years old than the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

Since 1905 there has never been a year that the Santa Claus parade has not taken place.

Ho Ho Ho!

"The Canada Spelling Book"" Becomes First Canadian Copyrighted Book Published 1840

Today in 1840, Alexander Davidson published the first Canadian copyrighted book, The Canada Spelling Book. Davidson did not like the amount of use American textbooks had in Canadian schools and in 1828 he commented that nine out of every ten books came from the United States.

That same year in a note to George Hillier, the civil secretary at York, he wrote “for several years past no English Books could be procured . . . so that I am led to believe that the supply from England is precarious, and not at all equal to the growing demands of the Province.” His note continued that "unless some proper elementary books be got into general circulation, common school education will continue to be little better than a mere farce, and an useless expenditure of public money.”

He also thought that spelling-books from England were “to us necessarily defective, not being suited to our scenery and other localities.” The lessons in his speller were illustrated by references to Canadian places, and the necessary connection between religion and education was maintained by ensuring that each reading lesson would “subserve the interests of religion and morality.” It was common for spellers of the day to provide moral lessons.

Davidson passed away on 23 Feb. 1856 at the American Hotel in St Catharines at the age of 62. The St. Catharines Journal wrote in his obituary that “He was a man of superior talent, as many articles of his plainly demonstrated: could grapple with most subjects, and evinced an acute and logical mind in their treatment.”