Category: Lifestyle

Planetariums Reach for the Stars with New Technologies

Planetariums are a beloved tradition for family outings which are not only highly educational, but usually a lot of fun as well. But considering the incredible progress society has made in the technology of communications in the past 50 years or so, it seems strange that the technology almost every planetarium uses to display the heavens to observers has not changed in any significant ways since its first introduction in 1923, and that is the ‘star ball.’

Now there is a way of supplementing star balls with digital projectors and software, bringing the beauty of the entire universe into the dome shaped screen, the main even at the planetarium in a new and wonderful way.

The inexpensive change, estimated to cost about $38,000, would create a ‘rich and truly interactive experience’ to visitors. The technology is a team project of the University of Washington and Microsoft, and will bring to planetariums all over the U.S. a WorldWide Telescope, foru Sharp XV-Z15000 digital light processing projectors (DLP); a Navitar Screenstar conversion lens; an Nvidia GTX275 video card; and all the cables, switches and seven computers all running Windows 7 with 1TB hard drives and 6GB RAM.

“Planetariums with image resolution of a few million pixels typically cost several hundred thousand dollars,” said Andrew Connolly, team member and University of Washington associate professor of astronomy.

“Our system is about 8 million pixels, but at a fraction of the cost,” he said.

“Their cost is much less than most commercially available systems,” Mark Sonntag, director of the

Angelo State University (ASU) Planetarium.

Healthy Holiday Eating

TurkeyIt’s already that time of year: time to start planning how to stay in control of your eating during the holiday period. For those determined to maintain a healthy diet despite the overabundance of heavy foods that become available, there are ways to eat properly without depriving yourself of seasonal celebrations.

Instead of depriving yourself, just change the way you approach the ever-present temptations:
Here’s the way to do it:

First, use a smaller plate – and then don’t go back for seconds. You can fill up your plate and so feel that you’ve tasted all the goodies at the holiday dinner, without going overboard.

Modify family recipes: Tradition doesn’t mean that you can’t eat healthfully. Even if your grandmother used chicken fat and gravy, you can substitute applesauce for oil, cottage cheese for sour cream, and other low-fat ingredients, and still cook a delicious menu.

Eat before you go: Instead of starving yourself all day because you’re going to a party in the evening, eat healthy protein-based meals throughout the day so that you won’t be starving and ready to eat everything in sight at the evening event.

Keep Active: No matter how busy the holiday season gets, keep exercising – walk up the stairs in the mall and carry those gifts home from the store by foot if you can!

Forgive Yourself: Do your best. But remember, the holiday season is filled with temptation, so if you don’t keep all your resolutions all the time, that’s okay too.

Great Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe

Meat-LoafHere is the last recipe for the extra stuffing from Thanksgiving called “Stuffing Meat Loaf with Marmalade Glaze.”

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (preferably chuck)
• 2 cups cooked stuffing, roughly chopped
• 1 large egg, beaten
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1/4 cup orange marmalade
• 1/4 cup whole-grain mustard
• 10 ounces baby arugula (about 6 cups)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400° F.
2. In a large bowl, combine the beef, stuffing, egg, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Transfer the mixture to a rimmed baking sheet and form it into a 9-inch loaf (about 2 1/2 inches thick). Bake for 30 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, combine the marmalade and mustard. Spread on the meat loaf and continue to bake until cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
4. Divide the arugula among plates. Drizzle with the oil and vinegar. Serve with the meat loaf.

Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe

Here’s a unique recipe for your leftover Thanksgiving mashed potatoes called “Creamy Mashed Potato and Leek Soup.”
Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 leeks, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 bulb fennel, cut into 1/4-inch pieces, plus 2 tablespoons fronds
• kosher salt
• 3 cups mashed potatoes
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• crisps or crackers (optional)
Directions
1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the leeks, fennel pieces, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Add the mashed potatoes and broth and simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through, 4 to 6 minutes.
3. Puree the soup in the pot using a hand-held immersion blender (or, working in batches, in a standard blender).
4. Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle with the fennel fronds. Serve with the crisps (if desired).

Great Ideas for Thanksgiving Leftovers

Have you got some leftovers from Thanksgiving that you would hate to throw away? Here are some fast, easy and tasty ideas for your uneaten turkey, which, if you are anything like me, there is plenty of.
How about “Barbecue Turkey Sandwiches with Celery Salad?”
Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese (about 2 ounces)
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 bunch celery, thinly sliced on the diagonal
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal
• 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
• 1 pound cooked turkey, shredded (about 3 cups)
• 3/4 cup store-bought barbecue sauce
• 6 sandwich rolls, split and toasted
Directions
1. In a large bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, ¼ cup of the cheese, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper until smooth.
2. Add the celery, scallions, and parsley and toss to combine. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cheese. Set aside.
3. In a large skillet, combine the turkey and barbecue sauce and cook over medium heat until heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Sandwich the turkey mixture in the rolls and serve with the celery salad.