SIGNS OF A DIFFERENT MATTER



Snowmen protesting global warming. Courtesy of John M.

 In April of 2009, the White Sox opening game was canceled due to a snowstorm. At the time I wrote a blog, “Global Warming? It’s snowing in April!!,” that wondered how the world could be warming up if the temperature were falling. Two recent stories about movement of the earth and moon seem to tie in.

NORTH POLE MOVING
According to the Tampa Tribune, “A National Geographic News report described a gradual shift of the Earth's magnetic pole at nearly 40 miles a year toward Russia because of magnetic changes in the core of the planet.” So because the magnetic North Pole is moving, all the numeric designators at the end of the primary runway at Tampa International Airport are wrong! Taxiway signage has to change!

The Federal Aviation Administration has required that the busiest runway will be re-designated 19R/1L on aviation charts. It's been 18R/36L, indicating its alignment along the 180-degree approach from the north and the 360-degree approach from the south. So the designation has been wrong for years. Luckily no plane has been in an accident and Santa has not gotten lost.

WHAT'S YOUR SIGN?
A story came out a week or so ago about Minneapolis astronomy professor Parke Kunkle telling the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that the earth’s wobbly orbit means it's no longer aligned to the stars in the same way as when the signs of the Zodiac were first conceived. It all has to do with the moon’s gravitational pull on earth. That means that people’s zodiac signs might not be the one they thought it was. The story went viral and people started panicking!

It turns out the story is no big deal. According to the Associated Press, “Kunkle, who teaches at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, said that all the hubbub is based on ‘2,000-year-old information.’ He can't understand why his explanation of how a well-known wobble in the earth's orbit throws off astrology charts turned into an Internet sensation. ‘Astronomers have known about this since about 130 BC,’ Kunkle said while sitting in his office, where the phone rang constantly, as he said it had been since the article came out. ‘This is not new news. I have no idea why it went viral this time,' Kunkle said. 'Almost every astronomy class talks about it.’”

Astrology shows people how to rely on the location of various stars to make life decisions and define their personalities. I prefer tea leaves. ( Kidding on that!) By taking the new measurements into consideration, below is where, according to the Minnesota Planetarium Society, where the real signs of the Zodiac should fall.

Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.


Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.


Pisces: March 11-April 18.


Aries: April 18-May 13.


Taurus: May 13-June 21.


Gemini: June 21-July 20.


Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10.


Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16.


Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30.


Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23.


Scorpio: Nov. 23-29.


Ophiuchus: Nov. 29-Dec. ( new sign)


Sagittarius:Dec.17-Jan. 20

Shelley Ackerman, an astrologer and spokeswoman for American Federation of Astrologers, says not to worry because there are “an infinite number of ways to divide the constellations, and that scientists are continually discovering new stars and solar systems. Astrologers don't change their systems for every new change.”

So I guess you can just pick whatever sign you want because it is all bunk anyway!


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