Today's SCIENCE Blog: How Big Is Pluto?

Here's an article that gives you a great idea of just how big of a planet Pluto really is. We found this fascinating. What do you think?

Rob and Tom 

How Big Is Pluto?

By Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com Contributor

SOURCE: http://www.space.com/18568-how-big-is-pluto.html#sthash.bcXZ4vdn.dpuf

After 76 years of classification as a planet, Pluto was demoted in 2006 to a dwarf planet, in part because of its size but also because of its minor gravitational effects on the bodies around it.

When NASA's New Horizons mission visited in 2015, it took the most accurate measurement of the world, revealing it to be larger than previously thought, but still not large enough to be qualified as full-grown planet. Pluto remains one of the most well-known non-planetary bodies in the solar system.

Radius, diameter and circumference

When New Horizons arrived at Pluto, it measured the diameter of the world to be 1,473 miles (2,370 kilometers) across, about two-thirds the diameter of Earth's moon. This makes it larger than the dwarf planet Eris, once thought to be larger than Pluto. Eris is 1,445 miles (2,326 km) in diameter.

"This settles the debate about the largest object in the solar system [beyond Neptune]," New Horizons principal investigator Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, said during a NASA press briefing reviewing the mission flyby.  

 

This graphic presents a view of Pluto and Charon as they would appear if placed slightly above Earth's surface and viewed from a great distance. Credit: NASA

Unlike many of the planets in the solar system, such as Earth, Pluto does not bulge at its center; its radius — 1,185 km (737 miles) — is the same at its poles and at its equator.

Circumference: If you were to take a walk around the equator of Pluto, you would travel about 4,627 miles (7,445 km). That is just a bit less than the distance from Denver to London (4,683 miles).

Pluto is thought to have a rocky core covered by ice, which would mean that its surface features would change with temperature as it travels closer to and farther from the sun. In fact, as the ice melts, the atmosphere of the tiny body expands outward.

Although all of the planets beyond Mars are gas giants, Pluto is small and rocky. The tiny body has a mass of only 1.31 x 10²² kilograms, about two-tenths of a percent of Earth's. It has a volume of 1.5 billion cubic miles (6.4 billion cubic km).

Pluto's small size and low mass mean that it has a density of 1.86 grams per cubic centimeter according to recent measurements by New Horizons, about 40 percent of Earth's density.

- See more at: http://www.space.com/18568-how-big-is-pluto.html#sthash.bcXZ4vdn.dpuf

Demoted from planetary status

Since its discovery in 1930, Pluto's status as a planet has been debated. It is less massive than seven of the moons in the solar system — Earth's moon, the four Galilean moons of Jupiter, Neptune's moon Triton, and Saturn's moon Titan. [Infographic: Pluto's 5 Moons Explained]
In 2003, the icy body of Eris was found far beyond the Kuiper Belt. Originally, it appeared to be larger than Pluto. The discovery sparked a debate about what it meant to be a planet.
In 2006, the International Astronomical Union came up with four criteria that cause an object to be classified as a dwarf planet. A dwarf planet:

• Orbits the sun
• Has enough mass to assume a nearly round shape
• Is not a moon
• Has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit

Under this criteria, Pluto's low mass does not directly keep it from full planetary status, but the fact that it fails to sweep clean the area surrounding it. Of course, the reason it can't clear out the Kuiper Belt it orbits through is because it lacks the gravitational force to do so, a fact related to its mass.
Follow Nola Taylor Redd on Twitter @NolaTRedd or Google+. Follow us at @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
Editor's note: This article was updated on March 18, 2016, to correct Pluto's mass, volume and density.
- See more at: http://www.space.com/18568-how-big-is-pluto.html#sthash.bcXZ4vdn.dpuf

A Touching Dog Photo from Harlow, Indiana and Reese

It all started with Harlow (a Weimaraner) and Sage (a Dachshund). They became famous on Instagram and then from a wonderful book about their exploits. When Sage passed away, Harlow grieved and her parents adopted two other Dachshunds over time- Indiana, a black and tan Dachshund with a big personality, and little Reese Lightning, a tiny dapple Dachshund.
   Little Reese of course had never met Sage, but Sage was featured in a book. Recently, the Harlow and Sage Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/harlowandsage) posted this very touching picture and caption that brought a tear to my (Rob) eye. 
  As dog parents, this really touched us.

You can read all about Harlow, Sage, Indiana and Reese too: Both of their books are available at: www.harlowandsage.com

Learning all about her big sister, Sage. 📚

The U.S. South and Dog Abuse: Another Dog Duct Taped Over Mouth

   As someone who lived in the southeastern U.S. and works for dog rescues, I am continually APPALLED by the way southerners (who claim to be devout (and right-wing) christians) continually abuse dogs. On April 4th another dog's muzzle and head was duct taped. What in the hell is wrong with southerners? 

   There's apparently a LOT of mental illness in the southeastern U.S. Further, they refuse to spay and neuter their dogs thinking it takes away from their "masculinity" or "femininity" then let their dogs have sex with other dogs and have puppies that they abandon on the side of the road to die! This is so infuriating to anyone who loves animals or anyone with common sense! 

   As a dog rescuer 95% of all rescued dogs come from Southeastern U.S. States from Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana. THESE States show appalling behavior toward dogs and cats!!

   What really gets me is that most southerners consider themselves "very religious" and yet these behaviors are MOST common in the U.S. Southeast. If you know someone in the southern U.S. that refuses to spay or neuter their dog, 

Tell them the consequences. It that doesn't work, call animal control or calll the ASPCA or SPCA.

  U.S. Southerners need to learn how to treat animals with RESPECT.  

Dog Found Abandoned With Duct Tape Over Mouth, Head in South Carolina

Posted 7:47 PM, April 4, 2016, by Kennedy Ryan, Updated at 03:02am, April 5, 2016

A photo of a dog with its head and mouth wrapped with duct tape was released by the Darlington County Sheriff's Office on April 4, 2016.

Authorities in South Carolina were searching Monday for the owner of a dog who was abandoned with her head wrapped in duct tape.
Deputies with the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office were alerted to the dog’s location by an anonymous tip, according to a post on the agency’s Facebook page.
When deputies arrived they found a black dog with her mouth and head wrapped with duct tape.
The deputies were able to catch the dog and safely remove the tape, the post stated.
The dog was then taken to a local animal shelter where caregivers nicknamed her “Aurora.”
“Aurora was found wandering with her mouth taped SHUT! With tape around her head and mouth, someone let her loose to fend for herself! We are horrified!,” a post on the DarlingtonCounty Humane Society Rescue’s website.
“Aurora is a sweet, gentle dane mix and she deserves better,” the post stated.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office at 843-398-4501 or 843-398-4920.

Must Read: Forgiving Troy: A True Story of Murder, Mental Illness and Recovery Book by Thom Bierdz

If you're looking for an interesting book to read about struggle, murder, forgiveness and emotion, you must read

"Forgiving Troy: A True Story of Murder, Mental Illness and Recovery"   by Thom Bierdz.
  We connected with Thom through Facebook. He's an amazing artist and painter that many people would know from his television career. (We saw his guest appearance on Murder She Wrote). In his life, he experienced tragedy and triumph. His own brother killed his mother and this book follows that event and the aftermath toward a path of understanding and even forgiveness. This is a fascinating insight into what he endured and a must read.

ABOUT THOM:   Viewers of Young and the Restless would know Thom Bierdz.  Thom has been known to millions as Phillip Chancellor III on CBS #1 soap opera. In 1989, when real life tragedy struck his own family, he penned the best-selling memoir, "Forgiving Troy" and channeled that energy into a successful art career. The author is busy working on the film version of his book, acting projects and art exhibits. The author resides in Los Angeles, California.

ABOUT THE BOOK: Thom Bierdz loved his schizophrenic brother. Despite Troy's erratically cruel behavior, his years of creative threats were not taken seriously. Then the unthinkable happened. Now Thom must delve into hospital records, police reports and his own painful memories in a search for understanding. In this honest, soul-searching account, nothing is omitted as one of TV's most beloved soap stars follows a path towards the ultimate act of forgiveness.

Available on Amazon.com

A Fun Afternoon: Mansion Ghosts and Little Italy

Carty, Rob, Tom, Jen at Vaccaro's!

On Saturday April 2 we took our friends Jen and Carty on a kind of paranormal investigation of the historic Carroll Mansion in Baltimore. We followed it up with a great Italian dinner at Sabatino's in Little Italy and dessert at the famous Vaccaro's Italian Bakery Cafe.

AT THE MANSION - We learned a lot about the mansion from a young man,who is the docent there, but because he was so knowledgeable and talked the entire time it was difficult to tune into any entities there.

ABOUT THE MANSION:

Room that housed the tavern

  The house was built around 1811, at the corner of what is now known as Lombard and Front Streets, which at the time was a very wealthy part of Baltimore. In 1818 it was purchased for the sum of $20,000 by Richard Caton, the husband of Mary, youngest daughter of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.  For the last twelve years of his life, Charles Carroll spent his winters in the house, often receiving distinguished visitors there.  It was in this house that he died on the third floor in his bedroom, which was the last part of the tour. 

MANY CHANGES:    The mansion went through a lot of changes after his death. The Catons lived there until 1846. Then It remained empty until 1855 when the Sisters of Mercy purchased it and housed poor immigrants.Immigrants turned the first floor into a saloon and the second floor into apartments for German and Russian Jews, until 1868 when the Sisters sold the mansion for the paltry sum of $1,000.
   Over the next forty years, Carroll Mansion served as a saloon, furniture store, and in 1904 news articles report that the mansion was being used as a sweatshop to produce clothing. In 1914 the mansion was deeded to the City of Baltimore and in 1918 it became Baltimore's first vocational school.

Jen and Carty on the Carroll Balcony

Dining room where male ghost stood

GHOSTS 

First Floor- In the part of the mansion was made into a tavern Tom sensed a presence. I also got a headache so we confirmed someone was in there, but it was likely a residual ghost- which means it was a "thumbprint" of energy left behind from someone who experienced a happy time (which would make sense in a saloon) or a traumatic event there.

Carroll Mansion

SECOND FLOOR- At the doorway of the dining room, Rob sensed another residual haunt - a male figure dressed in 1800s garb that kept sweeping his hand into the room inviting people to dine. (I didn't know it was the dining room until we went in it and were told it was a dining room.)

Hallway where woman's ghost stood

 There was also another residual ghost, a woman, who walked the second floor hallway just at the top of the stairs. She was not an intelligent haunt- one that could answer questions - just a replay over and over of a woman that lived there. 

THIRD FLOOR - In the Carroll Bedroom Tom sensed another residual presence where Charles Carroll passed away. In one of the other rooms, in what turned out to be a tenement apartment in the 1850s and 1860s for immigrants, I (Rob) suddenly experienced burning in my throat, and found the first intelligent haunt/interactive ghost. It was that of a little boy who was an immigrant that died of a severe fever in that room. He was still there. - Because the docent ushered us out of the room quickly and kept talking about the history, it was impossible to get more information from the boy. I will have to try and cross him over at some point. 

GREAT FOOD! - We had a great dinner at Sabatino's and a fantastic dessert at Vaccaro's. Both of which are must-dos whenever you visit Baltimore's Little Italy. Carty and Jen are a lot of fun and we really had a great afternoon.

A Good Paranormal Detective Book: Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

The Paranormal Detective series called the "Harry Dresden Files" has done it again. I (Rob) just finished reading

another great book in the series called "Dead Beat." The series is written by Jim Butcher and Harry Dresden is a Wizard in Chicago that confronts all kinds of paranormal problems.
   Harry works with the police to solve paranormal issues, but in this novel he's trying to save his favorite detective's reputation. These books are never dull and always entertaining. I love Harry's character, and he has a half brother he lives with who is a vampire. A new character is introduced here, named Waldo Butters who is a medical examiner who seems scared of his own shadow but comes around. Oh yeah, there's also Harry's dog, too!
  A really great read. - Rob

BOOK SUMMARY FROM AMAZON: When a killer vampire threatens to destroy head of Special Investigations Karrin Murphy's reputation unless Harry delivers the powerful Word of Kemmler to her, he has no choice. Now Harry is in a race against time to find the Word before Chicago experiences a Halloween night to wake the dead.

Adoptable Dog of the Week: Little Bridget!

Looking for a tiny, lovable addition to your family?   (and with no worry about college tuition, back talking or bringing home someone you don't like!)   A dog is a LIFETIME commitment, and a member of the family, so if you are seriously ready to adopt, there's a sweet little girl waiting for you. As members of Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue, there are so many dogs that are looking for forever homes through the rescue and this is the highlighted dog of the week.
 
 MEET BRIDGET
     Meet the petite and oh, so sweet Miss Bridget. Bridget is eight years young and 8 pounds of loving dachshund. Her owner had to say goodbye when she entered a nursing home. Bridget was scared and sad at first, but she quickly learned that her foster parents and their two dachshunds were her new best friends. Now she plays with her buddies in the fenced back yard and snuggles with her foster parents on the couch. Bridget is crate trained and housebroken; she needs to be let out about every two hours when she isn't crated. She is learning commands and walks well on a leash. Bridget loves her food and uses her big eyes to tempt you to feed her more. Her favorite place to hang out is the back cushions of the couch. She is spayed and up-to-date on her shot. She will be ready to adopt shortly after some additional vetting. Bridget's adoption fee is $150.


CONTACT INFORMATION

Current Guardian:	Donna G. at Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue			State:	NJ
Email:	dgerhauser@verizon.net

Discrimination Now the Law in Southern U.S. States who passed "Religious Freedom" Bills

Seems like the Bible Belt states are preaching hatred and intolerance of gay people and now their legislators are making it the LAW. Southern Lawmakers have declared an all out hate-fest against gay people through laws legalizing discrimination. It's TRUE.   North Carolina has now made it LEGAL to discriminate against gay people. AND Mississippi is about to sign an even WORSE bill that would even prevent gay people from even eating at a restaurant, getting a hotel, or any other service. Georgia's law was just vetoed (under a LOT of Financial pressure by companies).
    As someone who believes that everyone has the same rights, and has the freedom (that's what the U.S. is founded on) to practice or not practice a religion, we're disgusted and outraged that Republican state legislators who represent Conservative Christians (NOT all Christians) who have a majority in ALL of these Southern state legislatures - continue to create and pass "Religious Freedom" legislation. BTW- no Democrat has ever supported this legislative bigotry.

THE PURPOSE OF THESE "RELIGIONS FREEDOM" BILLS?

Here's a priest who KNOWS what Jesus taught

   These bills serve no purpose other than to promote discrimination against all people who are not of the christian faith (like muslims, buddists, jews, Hindus, etc.) and gay people, but incite violence like the Christian man in Atlanta who just burned 2 gay men earlier this month. 

THE BIGOTRY CONTINUES - 
   Another man in Atlanta who was interviewed on CBS news said that he and his wife want to open and adoption agency that only caters to Christians. Totally not understanding how it is discriminatory against everyone else. If he wants to promote his religion he can open a church, not a business that provides services to the general public. 

NORTH CAROLINA SIGNS BILL THAT BLOCKS THE PROTECTION OF LGBT COMMUNITY "North Carolina’s General Assembly voted Wednesday, March 23, 2016 to block cities and counties from passing protections against LGBT discrimination in a wide-ranging bill." STORY: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/north-carolina-lgbt-discrimination_us_56f2b7dbe4b0c3ef5217676c?

Christians have freedom to practice their religion in their church and in their home. No one else should be subjected to it. Once their beliefs affect those of others, they are violating other's rights. 

THE BACKLASH AS OF MARCH 30TH: It's great to see people FINALLY standing up against Right-Wing religious bullies and bigots. Here's how people have been taking a stand against North Carolina:
MAYORS, CITIES STAND UP TO ANTI-LGBT LAW IN NORTH CAROLINA "The governor of New York, and the mayors of New York City and Seattle, announced on Monday that their state and cities would be joining San Francisco in adopting a ban on publicly-funded employee travel to North Carolina in protest of the state’s new law barring localities for passing laws to protect LGBT rights." And 80 prominent business leaders have also joined the fight


MISSISSIPPI JOINS THE HATE STATES -  BREAKING: By 31-17 Vote Mississippi Senate Approves Sweeping Anti-LGBT License To Discriminate Bill

March 30, 2016  

The Mississippi Senate voted 31-17 along party lines to approve a sweeping bill that legalizes anti-LGBT discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations. The bill’s chief Senate sponsor, Sen. Jenifer Branning, faced some tough questioning, most of all from black Democrats, but the haters once again simply outnumbered the good guys.  The bill now goes back to the state House for concurrence on a Senate change which grants the state immunity on lawsuits related to the bill. If reapproved in the House, it then goes to the desk of anti-LGBT Republican Gov. Phil Bryant.





HOW TO TEACH A LESSON OF ACCEPTANCE OF OTHERS
   We were pleased to see that big companies and even sport franchises are standing up against legislated bigotry. This kind of bill failed in Arizona when the Superbowl threatened to pull out. Another is currently stalled in Tennessee because companies are outraged and are threatening to financially affect the state.  
BOTTOM LINE: Companies have to hit these conservative bigots where it hurts: In their Wallet. That's the only way to teach them acceptance. How sad.
   Its appalling that that these conservative Christians can't do the right thing and love everyojne and accept everyone as Jesus instructed them to do, so they have to get the message that discrimination is wrong through financial penalities. WHY do we have to keep teaching conservative Christians how to welcome everyone?
  
Fortunately, the Republican Governor of Georgia didn't sign it. But, WHY did he have to be threatened financially to do the right thing and fight bigotry?  It's SAD. 
Example of companies teaching Georgian Republicans and Conservative Christians how to be more accepting of others: Disney, Marvel to Boycott Georgia if Religious Liberty Bill Is Passed

The Walt Disney Co. and Marvel Studios indicated opposition to a Georgia religious liberty bill pending before Gov. Nathan Deal, saying that they will take their business elsewhere “should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law.”STORY  http://variety.com/2016/biz/news/disney-marvel-boycott-georgia-anti-gay-bill-1201737405/

IN NORTH CAROLINA- Businesses are Also Furious at the GOP Governor and Legislature for Passing the Hate Bill:

• PayPal, Dow Chemical, the NBA, the NCAA, Google and other businesses oppose North Carolina’s new anti-LGBT law.
• The law effectively legalizes discrimination against lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual people.
• Some of the state’s biggest businesses have yet to speak up.

Companies are taking a stand against North Carolina’s new anti-LGBT law, which Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signed on Wednesday. STORY: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/businesses-nc-anti-lgbt-law_us_56f42b8ee4b0c3ef52184903?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003