Behold: the dusty crowded star nurseries toward Orion’s Belt, 1400 light years away, as observed via X-ray data from the Chandra Observatory and infrared images (inset pic 2) from the Spitzer Space Telescope. To wit:

[the main image] reveals many stars of the recently formed, embedded cluster NGC 2024, ranging in age from 200,000 years to 1.5 million years young. The X-ray/infrared composite image overlay spans about 15 light-years across the Flame’s center. The X-ray/infrared data also indicate that the youngest stars are concentrated near the middle of the Flame Nebula cluster. That’s the opposite of the simplest models of star formation for the stellar nursery that predict star formation begins in the denser centre of a molecular cloud core. The result requires a more complex model; perhaps star formation continues longer in the center, or older stars are ejected from the centre due to subcluster mergers.

(Image: Optical: DSS; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech;  X-ray: NASA/CXC/PSU/ K.Getman, E.Feigelson, M.Kuhn & the MYStIX team)

apod

This afternoon.

The just-published ‘Céard é an Scéal?’ is a series of research reports that “investigates public opinions towards the Irish language across the country’ organised by Conradh Na Gaeilge.

Highlights of the Kantar Millward Brown’s survey findings include:

53% in the south and 40% in the north agreed that there should be support available to help raise children through Irish

54% in the south and 36% in the north agreed Gaeltacht scholarships for adults should be made available

17% in the south and 5% in the north have requested services as Gaeilge from the state

64% in the south agreed that Irish should remain a core subject in the Leaving Certificate (only 14% disagreed)…

Troid!

Full report here

Conradh Na Gaeilge

Bitch Falcon – Damp Breath

Welcome to the hard rock of ages.

Dublin power trio Bitch Falcon turn the amps to 11 for this pneumatic blast of head-shaking metal.

Afghaniscan directed the video of Lizzie, Barry and Nigel at play in the studio.

Singer Lizzie Fitzpatrick explains the message in the song:

“Damp Breath is a story that deals with someone being managed by a person of authority who is potentially seedy in their intentions….

“Would things be easier if they embrace their sexuality and use it their advantage or would behaving in that way quickly create dread, anxiety, self-loathing and a complete abandonment of feminist values which ultimately would results in overwhelming guilt.”

Nick says: A Falcon for this millennium.

Bitch Falcon

This afternoon.

Outside Leinster House.

Members and supporters of Extinction Rebellion hold a protest in response to comments about climate change made by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the launch of the government’s first progress report on its Climate Action Plan last Thursday.

Yesterday the Sunday Business Post reported that Mr Varadkar said:

“One thing that we definitely face as a result of climate change is warmer winters. We’re already experiencing warmer winters, and that actually means using less energy because it’s warmer and people need less heating, and it also means fewer deaths as a result of cold weather.

“It’s interesting that when you do look at those things, that there is a ledger, and there are benefits and there are downsides. The downsides outweigh the benefits but we need to be aware of them too.”

Meanwhile…

The group tweetz:

“… let’s take a look at Leo Varadkar’s ledger.”

Fewer deaths and warmer winters due to climate change: Varadkar (Aiden Corkery, Sunday Business Post)

Pic: Extinction Rebellion Ireland

 Dublin Institute of Technology lecturer, journalist, FOI sleuth and founder of investigative news site Noteworthy and Right To Know, Ken Foxe tweetz:

“Here’s another unusual ‘quirk’ from the ‘clock-in’ system for TDs & Senators. Even though they’ve only to record attendance for 120 days a year, they get paid for 150 overnights.”

TAA?

Related: Why do TDs living a relatively short drive from work in commuter towns get €15,000-a-year in “accommodation” expenses? (Ken Foxe, 2016)

Behold: the 2015 Jaguar C-X75. But not just any old Jaguar C-X75.

This was the vehicle driven by Dave Bautista’s villainous Mr Hinx in the 2015 Bond  movie ‘Spectre’. Well, one of four anyway. After filming, the car was fully serviced by the Williams Formula One team which collaborated in its manufacture, touring the world as a press car for the movie. It was also driven by Williams F1 driver Felipe Massa before the 2015 Mexican Grand Prix.

An ultra rare Jag and a piece of film history, it’s up for auction at the end of the month for €720,000+.

uncrate

Neeraj Jain (above) who was killed while cycling to work last Friday: I BIKE Dublin plan a week of activities to mark Mr Jain’s death

Following the death of Neeraj Jain who was cycling to work last Friday morning when his bike collided with a cement mixer at the back of the builkding site of the National Children’s Hospital….

….I BIKE Dublin is organising a series of actions this week to draw attention to “the fatal neglect of our roads by critical public services”.

Mr Jain, from Faridabad, India, moved to Ireland in 2018 to pursue a Masters degree in Engineering in UCD and was working with Deloitte in Dublin.

Ciarán Ferrie of I BIKE Dublin writes:

This week, I BIKE Dublin will hold a series of actions targeting those State institutions that bear responsibility for the safety of people who cycle in this city….

We demand that the killing of Neeraj Jain marks a turning point – and that those responsible for safety on our streets ensure that no more cyclists are killed.

I BIKE Dublin demands:

A commitment from those responsible for the safety of our roads that there will be no more deaths of people who cycle.

We demand this commitment from:

Owen Keegan, CEO, Dublin City Council

Shane Ross, Minister for Transport

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris

Anne Graham, CEO, National Transport Authority

Moyagh Murdock, CEO, Road Safety Authority

Dr. Sharon McGuinness, CEO, Health and Safety Authority

Dublin City Council to immediately fast-track a programme of physically protected cycling infrastructure in the Dublin City Council area. NB The space for this can be taken from private motor traffic lanes and on-street car parking and not from pedestrians; this history of reallocating space from pedestrians is completely unacceptable.

Dublin City Council to immediately release all statistics in relation to the 5 axle HGV ban, including the names of companies in violation and the frequency of violations.

Dublin City Council to install speed cameras to measure the worst streets in Dublin for speeding motorists.

An Garda Síochána to desist from all social media activities pending an independent review by the Garda Ombudsman into derogatory and insensitive communications dating back to 2017 (following inappropriate tweets from the @gardatraffic account which make jokes about bicycles on the same day that Neeraj Jain was killed).

I BIKE Dublin

Last Friday: This Morning

Pulling with my Parents.

Via RTÉ 2:

Luca (26) grew up in Castleisland and having lived in Cork for a few years decided he missed the simple country life and moved back home…

Luca has been on tinder on and off for a couple of years…..Mum and Dad want him to find someone that has their head screwed on and knows where they are going in life. Mum’s preference is a teacher or nurse and she s hasn’t met any of his previous girlfriends as Luca knows she probably wouldn’t approve…..

Pulling with My Parents at 9.30pm on RTÉ 2.

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