Earth's Magnetic Pole Drifting Quickly

SAN FRANCISCO - Earth's north magnetic pole is drifting away from North America and toward Siberia at such a clip that Alaska might lose its spectacular Northern Lights in the next 50 years, scientists said Thursday.

Despite accelerated movement over the past century, the possibility that Earth's modestly fading magnetic field will collapse is remote. But the shift could mean Alaska may no longer see the sky lights known as auroras, which might then be more visible in more southerly areas of Siberia and Europe.

The magnetic poles are part of the magnetic field generated by liquid iron in Earth's core and are different from the geographic poles, the surface points marking the axis of the planet's rotation.

Scientists have long known that magnetic poles migrate and in rare cases, swap places. Exactly why this happens is a mystery.

"This may be part of a normal oscillation and it will eventually migrate back toward Canada," Joseph Stoner, a paleomagnetist at Oregon State University, said Thursday at an American Geophysical Union meeting.

Previous studies have shown that the strength of the Earth's magnetic shield has decreased 10 percent over the past 150 years. During the same period, the north magnetic pole wandered about 685 miles out into the Arctic, according to a new analysis by Stoner.

The rate of the magnetic pole's movement has increased in the last century compared to fairly steady movement in the previous four centuries, the Oregon researchers said.

At the present rate, the north magnetic pole could swing out of northern Canada into Siberia. If that happens, Alaska could lose its Northern Lights, which occur when charged particles streaming away from the sun interact with different gases in Earth's atmosphere.

The north magnetic pole was first discovered in 1831 and when it was revisited in 1904, explorers found that the pole had moved 31 miles.

For centuries, navigators using compasses had to learn to deal with the difference between magnetic and geographic north. A compass needle points to the north magnetic pole, not the geographic North Pole. For example, a compass reading of north in Oregon is about 17 degrees east of geographic north.

In the study, Stoner examined the sediment record from several Arctic lakes. Since the sediments record the Earth's magnetic field at the time, scientists used carbon dating to track changes in the magnetic field.

Keniko........ That is very sad about that little boy. I know what you mean about being cold and snowing its like that back home and I have to go back to that BRRR.

Here's one for the ladies:

REMEMBER THIS AT CHRISTMAS TIME

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should've known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

Supaa Dave

Its a bit early but

KENIKO

I spose that John had found love and security in yoko and nothing should come btween that .

Keniko:All the male reindeer got so wasted on their favorite food "mushrooms" the girls had t do all the work, yeah sounds like most familys i know unfortunately, Big Gay Al doesnt like the taste of shrooms

Big Gay Al:Y a drag queen dude,lmao

Slanshroom..... I see shroom is in your name.....Hmmmmm...lol.... How do I get a hold of your cd? I've gone to your site. Nice work. I finally got my band back together after almost 2 yrs. Most enjoyable. Visit me at http://www.thebluesmavericks.com Thanks. Take Care.

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I JUST discovered the Trans Siberian Orchestra!!! OMG!!!! They are just incredible!!! I'm running to the store after work to pick up 3 Christmas CD's for myself and a coupla work friends....OMGOMGOMG!!! They are fantastic!!!

WHY dint anyone tell me about them before..... :I Ahhhh, no matter, I know about them now!!! And I'm very excited...I listened to some sound clips and was just blown away...so were my friends.....dang...they were just playing in Portland, OR in November :( Next time fer sure!!

KENIKO - You can get Widowmakers Highway by Shroomboy by going to www.guitar9.com or www.CDbaby.com. Different prices in those sites - check for the least expensive.

Also, if you paypal me $12, I can send one right out. eme@freenet.co.uk for paypal.

Cheers

Disney's Pooh Redo

Just in time for his 80th birthday, Winnie-the-Pooh is getting an extreme makeover.

The Disney Channel announced Thursday that it was working on a new animated series called My Friends Tigger and Pooh. The show is slated to debut in 2007 and seeks to update the geriatric characters, which were created by British author in 1926 for his young son, Christopher Robin.

The most controversial part: the character of longtime bear buddy Christopher Robin will be banished from the Hundred Acre Wood and replaced a six-year-old tomboyish girl.

The kid-friendly cable network said they hope to attract an older audience by adding the unnamed tyke. The series also will change the look of the rest of the gang, including Piglet, Rabbit and Eeyore, by using brighter colors and 3-D computer animation.

"We got raised eyebrows even in house at first, but the feeling was these timeless characters really needed a breath of fresh air that only the introduction of someone new could provide," Disney Channel spokeswoman Nancy Kanter told USA Today.

The news has sparked outrage in Milne's native England, where fans have taken umbrage at the change.

"This is a betrayal of Milne's stories, because he wrote them specifically for Christopher Robin," one purist grouses in Britain's Independent newspaper.

But the makeover is getting a vote of confidence from someone close to Pooh Corner. Lesley Milne, widow of Christopher Robin Milne, says her late husband would be pleased.

Hi fellow satchites,

so what's the ratio for JOE actually being here? 1-1000? Oh well, we still luv im eh?

talking of Eh.....js1200js1000 haven't heard from you in a while, hope you are OK and haven't frozen your hands to a roof somewhere?

I have been feeling very sorry for all you US/Canadians with so much snow and cold weather going on, when all we have is...well...slightly chilly...that is until I watched the Seattle Philly game 42 nil whats all that about...no that wasn't the problem...two guys standing there with no tops on in the freezing snow...what?!!!! that's the problem....are they mad...well clearly they are....hope you are not all like that...you are going to need your hands to play your guitars...so wrap up OK!!!!

Keniko - Here is the recipe for a Pangalactic Gargle Blaster, taken from Zaphod Beeblebrox himself.

Take the juice from one bottle of that Ol' Janx Spirit.

Pour into it one measure of water from the seas of Santraginus V.

Allow three cubes of Arcturan Mega-gin to melt into the mixture (it must be properly iced or the benzine is lost).

Allow four litres of Fallian marsh gas to bubble through it (in memory of all those happy Hikers who have died of pleasure in the Marshes of Fallia).

Over the back of a silver spoon float a measure of Qualactin Hypermint extract, redolent of all the heady odours of the dark Qualactin Zones; subtle sweet and mystic.

Drop in the tooth of an Algolian Suntiger. Watch it dissolve, spreading the fires of the Algolian Suns deep into the heart of the drink.

Sprinkle Zamphour.

Add an olive.

Drink... but... very carefully and don't plan anything for the next week.....enjoy!

Happy weekends......

Oh forgot who mentioned them but Magic mushrooms...very dodgy....yep they taste awful, I remember I used to have to roll some in a ball, swig some lager and swallow the lot together quite a few times to be able to eat them...I got up to 100 but they had a bad effect....for months afterwards I would suddenly go into convulsions of a sort and black out, only for a couple of minutes, but it could happen anytime anywhere, happened right outside the copshop once, although to be fair the cop shop was only a few yards from the local pub so....anyway after that little episode I stopped doing mushrooms.

be careful out there....

Hugs Satriella xx

Ronnie..... Thanks for the info. I'll check on cdbaby and guitar 9. Unfortunetly I don't have a Pay Pal account. I know it's something I need to do. Thanks.

I thought I was going to Heaven today......we had out 3rd snow storm of the week and I tried to make it into work with my car Toshi. I had asked my sister if she could switch cars since I'd heard we were getting 5-8 inches. She said Oh No....we aren't getting that. Guess What?! We did!! I did fine on the back roads but it was really coming down fast & once I got on I-95 it got worse........My car spun & I ended up sideways in the Right Lane (3 lane highway) I was stuck, couldn't move but sideways. Thank God this was around 6:15 before traffic was really heavy. Cars and Tractor-trailers were going around me on both side. I was praying that No one plowed into me.....it seemed like an eternity before someone stopped & asked if he could help. So he used his car to push mine off to the side. The police didn't show up till 90 min. after I called. The snowplows finally started doing their job & plowed me in but I have a shovel in the car so I shoveled myself out & moved my car to a cleared area. A Co worker came & picked me up. My car is not meant to be driven in the snow, I do have 50lbs of Kitty litter in my trunk to help with the weight (rear wheel drive). This week I'll get another car for the snow. Just a clunker, not what I want to spend my money on but I gotta do it. I'm so wiped out from all that stress

Cheese101: Hey Traci......I've been better. Been feeling down lately, difficulties at work adding to the Blues. It will get better, I am working on it. My problems are insignificant compared to others. Trans Siberian Orchestra is playing here in Philly & NYC soon.....I've never heard them. I'll have to check them out. OMGOMGOMG!! LMAO Chee.. Many thanks sweetie!

962: Just wanted to make sure. ;-)) Yes, GREAT News about Eric Johnson getting Nominated for a Grammy!! I didn't recognize any of the other names. Fingers crossed for EJ!!

Clarky: So glad Shreds will be finished soon...it must be such a wonderful feeling to create beautiful music. I'm looking forward to hearing your Metal train.......lol I know it will be kickass!

Slashroom: Wow I never knew the Reindeer ate them too......guess that's how Santa gets them to fly? I've never tried fungus myself, very interesting about opening the 3rd eye....that would be cool. They talk about that in Yoga but I'm sure this is different. Sounds like you've got really cool folks. Enjoy the Holidays

Cuthbert: Smart words on school/education. Going back when I was 29 was the best thing I ever did....it's much,much harder as you stated. Congrats to you & Good Luck with your Masters.

Keniko: Hey there Ken!! I loved the info on the Reindeer......Very cool. Females are very special creatures indeed. LOL *Hugs*

Suzie2000: It's the weekend, Yeah!! I hope you have a nice one. Say hello to Matt. I owe you an email....I got my "Ray" DVD & I also ordered a Greatest Hits 2 CD set. I'm gonna listen to it now, just had in VAi Anthology.......Oh Yeah!!

Blue Moon: Nice one Bro Al, keep trying baby...... ;-D

Ovation: Hi yah Mikey!! How's things in the House of the Rising Sun? I know it's Land but I've always LOVED that song. lmao "Memoirs of A Geisha" comes out today! I can't wait to see it. Ken Watanabe is in it from "Last Samurai" as is the girl from "Hero" & "House of Flying Daggers"? or she was in "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" Not sure but she's great and I think it looks like an amazing Movie. "The Chronicals Of Narnia" The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe also comes out today. I loved the CS Lewis books. All Good Stuff!!!! ;-))

mari

MARI- glad you are ok after your scary car experience! Will e-mail soon- passed on your hello to Matt! and also Mr Humphries... LOL

DELFINO- Hope your course sorts out for you :)