Huge LQG

The Huge LQG or The Penultimate LQG -

The news about the Huge LQG is still posted on Reuters/News Daily as of this writing and may still be found on Science Daily and even in the Wikipedia.  The discoverers posted their findings in the Arxiv paper "A structure in the early universe at z* ~ 1.3 that exceeds the homogeneity scale of the R-W concordance cosmology" by Roger G. Clowes, Luis E. Campusano, et. al..

This penultimate structure (LQG) is mind-bendingly large and even distorts our concepts of relativity and the cosmological principle.  In "classical cosmology" it was thought that the CP limited universal structure sizes to about ~ 370 Mega-parsecs (Mpc).  The newly discovered Huge LQG has an estimated size of ~ 500 Mpc - which is stupendous.  Even greater is it's estimated longest dimension: ~ 1240 Mpc.

We also refer to it as the Penultimate LQG as nature is full of surprises.  That is we expect an even larger LQG structure or hyper-structure may yet be discovered and described - an Ultimate LQG.  The red-shift* ("z") implies that the Huge LQG lies far in the past and a long, long way away.  The same may apply for the hypothetical Ultimate LQG.

This appears to upset the old (1977) documentary (and book) "Powers of Ten" and the orders of magnitude described.  The book was written by the late great Philip Morrison and late wife Phylis Morrison.  The office of Ray and Charles Eames (designers) was deeply involved with both projects.  The previous high limit on order of magnitude (according to these good folks) was 100 million light years (~ 3E x 7 Mpc) or 10E x 24 meters.

The 7 Mpc order of magnitude (and the previous limit of approximately 150 Mpc) has long since been toppled apparently by the discovery of the Huge LQG.  This begs a question - how does the Huge LQG compare in size with other large "structures" and "voids" in the known universe?  How do they compare with the size of the universe?

Credit: NotOnTwtr and a variety of sources.

Assuming that the numbers we were about to play with were best estimates and best measurements available we put the data together in a graphic and a table.

Our own Solar System is at too small a scale to give a relative comparison.  The same goes for our own Milky Way.  The Universe (estimated size - which is likely quite wrong!) would cover the whole chart and obscure the available comparisons!

Our own Local Group of galaxies "disappears" in the graphic due to it's relatively small size/volume.

The Great Wall refers to the Sloan Great Wall and is roughly equal in size to the "average" LQG.

The Huge LQG is slightly "larger" than the estimated size of the Giant Void.

The size comparisons with the Huge LQG suggest non-randomness.  However, we invite you to make your own conclusions.  Until the discovery of a larger structure (like the hypothetical Ultimate LQG) our universe may be seen as "expanding" - but is a non-random structure itself.

Free Counter

Blurricane

 Derivative work: NASA Hurricane Sandy (10/31/2012) with NASA GOES-13 Project


Blurricane - The extremely unfortunate portmanteau of blizzard and hurricane.  Late last month (October ~ 29th, 2012) the Atlantic spawned a tropical cyclone that became the almost 1000 mile wide storm known as Hurricane Sandy.  Blurricane now seems to be trending on Twitter. 

Blurricane is the preferred definition in this instance as it blurred the line between cyclone,
hurricane and a blizzard.  Other suggested names
would have been: blizzacane or hizzicane or huzzicane.  All extremely unfortunate. 

For more: NASA orbiting earth satellite observing Sandy: http://mobile.arc.nasa.gov/public/iexplore/scripts/v15/getnewsitem.php?id=430240 ; Climate Scientist - Sandy just a taste of things to come (CNN): http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/01/climate-scientist-sandy-just-a-taste-of-things-to-come/
Sandy death toll keeps rising (BBC News):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20171227

                     

Hurricane Sandy from Birth to Landfall latest NASA video Credit: U. S. Government Work; http://www.youtube.com/user/NASAexplore




Free Counter

The Lionfish Cookbook

Image licensed under Creative Commons by BONGURI

The Lionfish Cookbook: No, we're not kidding.  Just see the link to the News Daily article below.  Seems that the Lionfish invasion of the waters off Florida have become a problem.  So much so that they actually wrote a cook book with 45 recipes for these beauties.  They claim the delicacy is safe (except for the spines) and delicious.  We expect a good export business to Japanese fish markets...

And, yes, you can purchase The Lionfish Cookbook from the Amazon Carousel below...  Thank You,


FOM: "Eat 'Em" Stratagem for Lionfish Invasion in Florida (REUTERS), Lionfish (Wikipedia), Pterois volitans (Wikipedia), Pterois volitans (FishBase), Pterois volitans in the Encyclopedia of Life, Pterois volitans information page from the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce


Free Counter

Good Riddance Day

Good Riddance Day: Unfortunately, not a term of our creation plus we are a day behind on this one.  December 28 was the officially designated day to rid ourselves of a bad memory, experience and or so on from the year.  2010 was an especially unfortunate year for us as our Senior Editor's father became very sick for the last three months of the year and then passed away on December 19.  His brother and his wife lost her mother on Columbus Day due to end-stage cancer.  Also, supposed to be named after the Green Day song "Good Riddance" (The Time of Your Life).  GOOD RIDDANCE 2010!

FOM: Times Square Alliance for Official Good Riddance Day and Link to YouTube Video Performance of Good Riddance by Green Day


Free Counter

Escherite

Image licensed under Creative Commons by fdecomite

Escherite: Predicted/Suggested name for an artificial material reminiscent of some of the recursive surfaces famously and popularly depicted in some of the works of M. C. Escher.  Such a material would have no "inside" nor "outside" at the molecular level.  The name is the suggested conflation of Escher and the suffix -ite sometimes applied to minerals, chemicals and so on...

FOM: Strange New Twist: Researchers Discover Möbius Symmetry in Metamaterials (from Science Daily), Möbius Strip, Metamaterial and M. C. Escher


Free Counter

The Passage of our Editor's Father

Image MRSA Culture licensed under Creative Commons by Simon Goldenberg

The Passage of our Senior Editor's Father: Though not a true dictionary entry, we thought we should make note of the passage of our Senior Editor's father.  George James passed away on Sunday December 19, 2010 (though the COD says Monday December 20, 2010) and he was just 76 years young.  Though an autopsy would have been requested by our editor, the rest of his family passed on it without asking his opinion (!). 

At the time, GJ had been suffering from two pneumonias (Serratia and Pseudomonas) as well as the now dreaded MRSA!  Although Dad seemed to have responded successfully to treatments with massive doses of Vancomycin and 5 days treatment with Tobramycin.  He was eventually discharged from his 4th hospital stay and housed in a very good medical facility.  Unfortunately, the MRSA must have entered his bloodstream on or about the 19th as our editor found GJ foaming badly at the mouth - which appears to have meant that his organs were shutting down. 

His father responded positively to a request for an ambulance (which he never does!) and the ambulance came and took him away on a portable ventilator.  GJ was placed on a CPAP Ventilator once in the trauma room and remained so in the ICU.  No amount of 'pressors' could have preserved him as he appeared to be in complete shutdown - though our editor hoped desperately and tearfully otherwise.  He probably had no conscious mind nor spirit during this time and passed on probably that day.  Which is why an autopsy may have been helpful (or not).  Perhaps it could have positively identified MRSA in the bloodstream at that time - or not...

Looking back over the previous events, two of GJ's doctors at two of his previous hospital stays had predicted his death within a short while - possibly months.  Which came true just before this Christmas...

FOM: Medical Odyssey/Hospital Nomad


Free Counter

Hospital Nomad / Medical Odyssey

Image licensed under Creative Commons by TCDC Media

Hospital Nomad / Medical Odyssey:  It is hoped that this posting/definition will give you some insight as to where we have been just over the past 2 months. Our Senior Editor's 70+ years young father took very sick in early September and had to be whisked away to an emergency room.  He was having severe nausea and chronic vomiting (guess who got to clean the bucket?...) for a period of over 24+ hours.  Having suffered this way, he finally asked for medical care - and got it that day. 

Our Senior Editor and his father found out that he had a partial bowel obstruction - along with several other chronic medical conditions.  A naso-gastric tube was installed & removed about 1500 ml. of dark bile over a period of 30+ hours - thus avoiding surgery.  The recovery in the hospital took about 6 days.  Plus, we also found that Dad had lost his core/trunk strength (he had displayed some kyphosis earlier in April), leg strength, became dysphagic and was declared NPO.  Dad has basically been a bed-bound invalid, unable to swallow, since this time.  We will refer to this hospital as HSJ.

A swallow evaluation/study was done on Dad in their fluoroscopy dept. which determined that he aspirated when swallowing.  Even worse, he displayed no symptoms (asymptomatic).  Thus, he might have been dysphagic for a long time without even knowing it.  He has the possibility of contracting aspiration pneumonia if he attempts to swallow anything - which could even be lethal.

Thus was the beginning of Dad's medical odyssey.  Our Senior Editor and his brother being so concerned (this is their last living parent) that our Editor slept over many, many nights in more than one hospital with his father.  Thus giving rise to the term Hospital Nomad.  In the periods between hospitalization, Dad has spent three separate occasions in Medical Skilled Care Rehabilitation Centers as required by Medicare.  The long and short of it is that our Senior Editor has spent 63 of the last 65 days or so in the hospitals and Rehab Centers with his sick, invalid father during this medical odyssey.  His father is currently staying at his fourth hospital in this time.

A special warning to all who may have a similar situation existing or arising with a loved one.  If you see your elders in decline you may wish to visit their primary care physician with them and discuss the option of in-home rehabilitation before you reach this state of affairs.  One of the undiscussed (?) issues with Rehabilitation Centers and similar communities is the potential for infection by communicable organisms/pathogens/microbes shared by that community.  Each time Dad was sent to one of these centers he developed pneumonia or MRSA. 

Early in November/late October, he developed pneumonia due to a species of Serratia.  Fortunately our senior editor was present when he began to sink and kept requesting an ambulance.  When Dad stopped talking, they finally called for Rapid Response.  When in hospital, you can usually request Rapid Response by dialling 141.  See your hospital staff for instructions before you panic and need this service - it can be a life saver. 

As it turned out, Dad 'coded' in the emergency room at a different, nearby hospital ('HSM').  There appeared to be only respiratory arrest - no cardiac arrest - but stopped breathing all the same.  Dad was then intubated, heavily sedated and put on a ventilator.  The ER team at HSM basically saved his life - for which our Editor nominated them for a recognition award.  The Rapid Response team remained in the ER room during the entire revival.  It was quite a moving experience.  But, our Senior Editor's father looked like one of those horrible rubber dummies in a horror movie and our Editor was about to freak out. 

He was eventually transferred to Intensive Care where he remained on the ventilator for about a day.  He coded again the next day and had to be placed on a ventilator again.  The IC team was excellent and they were also nominated for a recognition award.  Dad was eventually transferred to the hospital - for 13 days. 

He qualified for a specialty rehabilitation hospital where he may receive constant hospital care along with therapy for as long as they feel fit.  He is visited almost daily by the doctor, an RN and other professional staff.  Unfortunately, he acquired MRSA in his sputum and lungs at the start of this go-round.   Which is quite fearsome, as MRSA can then enter the bloodstream in this fashion.  But the antibiotics appear to have it under control.  Hopefully, Dad is coming to the end of his medical odyssey in a positive way and may be released to sub-acute care.  And our Senior Editor is hoping that he does not have to be a Hospital Nomad much longer - again in a positive way. 

Revised/Updated: 11/23/2010




Free Counter

Huggle

Bee Beard 2 image licensed under Creative Commons by Max xx

Huggle: The VERY unfortunate conflation of honey and smuggle.  Some executives have actually been charged with the allegations of honey smuggling and tainting it with antibiotics*.  One might be tempted to conclude that now the honey supply cannot be trusted much like the egg and dairy supply...

Can you imagine what the agency phone call was like? Riinnnggg: Hello, Special Crimes Unit, Bee and Honey Division. Actually, when that phone rings it sounds like a buzzing bee...

FOM: * US Indicts 11 Executives with Honey Smuggling (from BBC News), Honey, Honey Bee (from Wikipedia), Smuggling (from the Wikipedia), Memorandum from Senator Chuck Schumer on Honey


Free Counter

Spontaneous Creation or The Big Splat

Image licensed under Creative Commons by MikeLicht, NotionsCapital

Spontaneous Creation or The Big Splat: According to the great Dr. Stephen Hawking, the creation of the universe occurred absent the presence of a god or goddess*.  Therefore, (not sure if we are quoting him or the BBC News) the creation of the universe was spontaneous.  We also (here at the AZD) now refer to it as "The Big Splat" (relative to the Big Bang) - kind of like a paintball or an egg being splattered against the fabric of space time.  And, there you have it!  But the godless creation of the universe seems somehow meaningless and purposeless.  One can only imagine a cartoonish god (like the Seth McFarlane god of 'Family Guy' or the Terry Gilliam god of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail') splattering a great egg against the wall.  And where did the wall come from?

However, the argument could be made that absence of a Creator at the beginning does not rule out the existence of the same...

Incidentally, we can't wait for the great Stephen Colbert's take on this in his hilarious "Stephen Hawking is Such an *ssh#l@" segment.

FOM: *Stephen Hawking: God Did Not Create the Universe (from BBC News), REUTERS News Agency on the subject,  Anti-Time and SearchEdu.com on Spontaneous Creation


Free Counter

WikiRapes

Swedish Police Woman Image licensed under Creative Commons by ThisParticularGreg

WikiRapes: The VERY unfortunate and rather cynical conflation of WikiLeaks and rape/s or the (repeated) charges of rape/s....  Seems like Sweden (or Julian, ooohhhh...sorry about that!) just can't get enough of serious sex offenses and their related charges of same...

Hugo: Oh, dear God help us, we are going to hell...  AZD: No we're not!  Doesn't it seem like every time he (Julian) charges the USA with some nefarious activity that Sweden charges him with rape?  Hugo: Hmmm...could be a connection there...

FOM: Sweden Reopens WikiLeaks Founder Rape Investigation (from REUTERS News Agency), WikiLeaks Rape Inquiry Reopened (BBC News), False Charges Made Against Mr. Assange? and CIA Memo on USA Exporting Terrorism (from WikiLeaks). 


Free Counter