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Dear Commons Community,

NASA has given us a treat today by releasing images from its WISE satellite.  After fourteen years of preparation and three years of collecting data, we now have an atlas of the entire infrared sky. The image above is just the capstone for a cosmic map that contains 18000 images and 560 million different objects.

This represents the culmination of years of work by NASA’s WISE satellite and the astronomers behind it. By studying the universe in infrared wavelengths, we can see objects that are far too dim to be seen in visible light. Each of the 560 million objects represents either a star or entire galaxy, many of which were completely unknown until WISE began its survey three years ago.

For more, check out NASA’s website and the WISE homepage.

Hooray for NASA!!

Tony

Dear Commons Community,

Maureen Down in her New York Times column, socked it to the U.S. Supreme Court Justices today.  She comments on the 2000 presidential election and the Citizens United Decision with self-interested sugar daddies and wealthy cronies overwhelming the democratic process.

“This court, cosseted behind white marble pillars, out of reach of TV, accountable to no one once they give the last word, is well on its way to becoming one of the most divisive in modern American history.

It has squandered even the semi-illusion that it is the unbiased, honest guardian of the Constitution. It is run by hacks dressed up in black robes.

All the fancy diplomas of the conservative majority cannot disguise the fact that its reasoning on the most important decisions affecting Americans seems shaped more by a political handbook than a legal brief.”

Her personal shots at several of the justices were particularly sharp:

“John Roberts Jr.’s benign beige facade is deceiving; he’s a crimson partisan, simply more cloaked than the ideologically rigid and often venomous Scalia.

Just as Scalia voted to bypass that little thing called democracy and crown W. president, so he expressed ennui at the idea that, even if parts of the health care law are struck down, some provisions could be saved: “You really want us to go through these 2,700 pages?” he asked, adding: “Is this not totally unrealistic?”

Inexplicably mute 20 years after he lied his way onto the court, Clarence Thomas didn’t ask a single question during oral arguments for one of the biggest cases in the court’s history.”

Go get them Maureen!

Tony

Dear Commons Community,

On Tuesday, the National Archives launched its new website www.1940census.archives.gov in preparation for its first-ever online U.S. census release. Visitors will be able to search, browse, and download the 1940 census schedules, free of charge.  A National Archives 3:13 minute video short l is available on the site above to help you in searching for individuals.

After two tries, I was able to locate the actual census form used for my parents and grandparents.  Here is a tip for searching:  the forms are kept by house and street address within “enumerator code” order.  For New York City, an enumerator code reduces to a square block.  So for instance if you were looking for an address on the south side of 36^th Street between 5^th and Madison Avenues, you would need to locate the enumerator code used for the west side of Madison Avenue, the south side of 36^th Street, the east side of 5^th Avenue and the north side of 35^th Street.  There is menu of choices for all of the above which will help you in your search.

It was fun looking up family from the period.  Above is a partial image for the form used for my parents.

Tony