Second Smallest Planet Discovered Outside Our Solar System

I’m sure Andrew over at A Darker View will have more on this.

Astronomers at Caltech have announced the discovery of the second smallest planet ever found outside our solar system…
…The discovery is also a win for the American team, who worked at the Keck Observatory atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii. The Swiss still hold claim to finding the smallest planet outside our solar system…

Full Article: Caltech researchers discover second smallest planet outside our solar system.

And a question I’ve always wondered… If a shooting star is basically an exploding star… is it not possible that the sun could just pop and shoot at some time?

If we circle the sun… what does the sun circle?

Social Media More Popular Then Pornography on the Internet

Ever since I started my blog, I’ve been on this big “Social Media” thing.   Lot’s of folks here on the Big Island really don’t get.  Many folks on Oahu get it.  But it has really taken off on the mainland.

I started my blog over a year ago and at the time I thought no way would I ever join Twitter or Facebook. I mean I already had a Myspace account that I was hardly using anymore.

Well things have sure changed quite a bit in just the last 6-7 months as I’m hooked on both Twitter, and now I’m becoming hooked on facebook.

I’m not quite sure why these sites are so popular and addictive, because typically you don’t even own the content that you are putting out there for the folks.

But it sure is fun to be in contact with so many people throughout the world with just the click of button!

Ian Lind writes in his post Startling social media stats, political skirmishes, and NPR digs into corporate marketing:

…The House Majority Communications Office presented a workshop yesterday for legislative staff on social media, and I was surprised by the statistics in a YouTube video that’s been floating around for several months which appear to show a tidal wave of new communications via tools like Twitter and Facebook. The video is available in a short version or a longer original version. Connecting with these data was worth the price of admission!…

This was the first time I had seen this video and some things really sunk in that let me know that I think I’m going in the right direction with things.

So if you haven’t seen it… check it out… because Social Media is More Popular then Porn on the Internet.

So never mind me… I’m going over to Twitter and Facebook for a few to talk to folks over there! LOL

Open House Exhibits Seek Public Input on Downtown Hilo Plan

Hawaii County News:

A public series of displays and open houses designed for the public to participate in the Five-year Action Plan Update for EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025: A Community-Based Vision and Living Action Plan (EDH 2025) continues today at the Hilo Public Library Lanai.

In addition to the Action Plan Update, a series of draft illustrations produced by local artist Charles Snyder, which reflect how Downtown Hilo could look in the year 2025, will be on display.

The Vision Concept and Action Plan Update displays will be available for viewing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hilo Public Library Lanai.

They will again be available for viewing in the County Aupuni Complex General Lobby, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan 20.

On Friday, January 15, 6:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. EDH 2025 team members will be present to answer questions in the Hilo Palace Theater Lobby. Team members also will be present to answer questions at the Hilo Farmers Market (Craft section, along Mamo Street, mauka of Punahoa Street), 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 16.

Information, surveys, and space for written public comments will be available at the display sites.

A draft of the newly redesigned Action Plan Matrix was unveiled at the second EDH 2025 Town Meeting in September 2008.  Since then, the EDH 2025 VisionKeepers and the Planning Department have conducted considerable outreach with implementation partners to refine and update strategies and actions in the plan.

The “Vision Concept” enhances the written EDH 2025 Plan by providing a visual representation of actions in the plan.  The eye-catching illustrations inspire dialogue and further the formation of collaborative partnerships. The public is invited to view the illustrations and offer feedback to help craft the final Vision Concept.

For more information, please email edh2025@gmail.com, or call 961-8133.

EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 is a grassroots community planning and implementation process in collaboration with the County of Hawai‘i Planning Department.  For further information, visit the EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 Website at www.co.hawaii.hi.us/edh2025.

Obama’s Sister Maya Soetoro-Ng Backs Brian Schatz for Lt. Governor

From Brian Schatz:

Aloha,

One of the most exciting, engaging and inspirational people I’ve ever met is Maya Soetoro-Ng, President Obama’s sister.  It may have taken a presidential campaign for our paths to intersect, but I am so much the better for it.

That is why I am proud and happy that Maya is supporting me in the upcoming election.  In her own words:

“Aloha. I’m Maya Soetoro-Ng, I’m a teacher, a mother, and a Hawai’i resident.  I want to tell you about my friend Brian Schatz. He brings people together to make good things happen. He’s guided by his roots in Hawai’i and his belief in a brighter future for all of us. Real leadership means the right combination of character and hard work. That’s Brian Schatz – someone we can count on day in and day out to get the tough jobs done. Please join me in supporting Brian Schatz.  He will make a great Lieutenant Governor.”

Click here to listen to Dr. Soetoro-Ng’s endorsement

I met Maya shortly after beginning the Draft Obama Hawaii campaign more than three years ago.  During that exciting and tough process, I learned  and re-learned a few key lessons about life, politics, and organizing. They are:

-Individuals really can make a difference in their communities through political action, and change is much more powerful when it comes from the grassroots

-There’s great power in bottom-up energy and basic community organizing
-People from Hawaii can reach the greatest heights, and we can lead America and the world to a better place

And I suppose we all re-learned another old lesson, which is that nothing replaces hard work.

These are valued principles.  I believe they will guide us in our campaign and together we can carry them forward.  Because it is not only about winning this election, but about taking control of our future with passion and principle.

Aloha,

2010 Legislative Timetable

January

20th Opening Day

Non-Administrative Bill Package Cutoff

25th State-of-the-State Address

Administrative Bill Package Cutoff

27th State-of-the-Judiciary Address

Bill Introduction Cutoff: Last day to introduce bills

29th Grants/Subsidies Cutoff

February

3rd State-of-the-University Address

4th Triple Referral Filing

12th First Lateral (Bills): Must be moved to final committee in originating chamber

15th Holiday: Presidents’ Day

19th to 25th: Mandatory 5-Day Recess

26th First Decking: Last day to file non-budget bills for Third Reading in originating chamber

March

4th First Crossover (Bills)

8th Budget Decking

10th Budget Crossover

Last day to introduce Substantive Resolutions

11th Triple Referral Filing (Bills)

19th Second Lateral (Bills): Must be moved to final committee in non-originating chamber

26th Holiday: Kuhio Day

30th First Lateral for Concurrent Resolutions

April

1st Second Decking (Bills): Last day to file bills for Third Reading in non-originating body

2nd Holiday: Good Friday

8th Second Crossover (Bills) & Last day to disagree

9th First Crossover for Concurrent Resolutions

16th Constitutional Amendments: Deadline for final form

19th Second Crossover for Concurrent Resolutions

22nd Last day to file Non-Fiscal Bills to deck for Final Reading

23rd Last day to file Fiscal Bills to deck for Final Reading

29th Adjournment sine die (Session pau!)