151 posts from 2007

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The Seasons and Axis Tilt

The Earth's seasons are not caused by the differences in the distance from the Sun throughout the year (these differences are extremely small). The seasons are the result of the tilt of the Earth's axis.

The Earth's axis is tilted from perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic by 23.45°. This tilting is what gives us the four seasons of the year - spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter. Since the axis is tilted, different parts of the globe are oriented towards the Sun at different times of the year.

Solstices The solstices are days when the Sun reaches its farthest northern and southern declinations. The winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22 and marks the beginning of winter (this is the shortest day of the year). The summer solstice occurs on June 21 and marks the beginning of summer (this is the longest day of the year).

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Area wizards, witches create wands to cast a spell

So what would your wand be? In the spirit of J.K. Rowling's magical series about a boy wizard, the San Antonio Express-News asked readers to make their own wand. Our only prerequisite was that the wand have a meaning unique to the one who created it, much like the wands in the Harry Potter books.

It was hard, but we winnowed the stack down to one winning wand and four wonderful wands that were worthy of Mr. Ollivander (Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.) himself. They were all, ahem, Wand-erful. 

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The Golden Compass Controversy

DE SOTO, Ill. - It's fast becoming one of the most talked about movies of the year.  Now, "The Golden Compass" is causing some controversy in southern Illinois, even before it opens in local theaters.

It all started with a note sent home to some parents in the De Soto Consolidated School District.  The note comes from the Parent Teacher Organization at the school warning parents about taking their kids to see the movie, basing their warnings on the fact that the author of the trilogy Phillip Pullman is a well known atheist.

Some parents were upset to read such a note coming home with their kids on Wednesday afternoon.

"I was actually kind of shocked and a little surprised.  My son said I can't go see the movie because of the school and the teacher said I couldn't.  It's not their place," said Gidgyt Glisson of Elkville.

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At a press briefing this morning that touched on issues like the White House's extrajudicial wiretapping program and torture policies, the president was asked a question about Vladimir Putin's plan to hold on to power when his term as Russian president runs out.

Reporter: Mr. President, following up on Vladimir Putin for a moment, he said recently that next year, when he has to step down according to the constitution, as the president, he may become prime minister; in effect keeping power and dashing any hopes for a genuine democratic transition there ...

Bush: I've been planning that myself.