Tuesday 22 March 2011

Earth Hour

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.

At 8:30 PM on Saturday 26th March 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour.

www.earthhour.org

Friday 18 March 2011

SuperMoon

The moon may look exceptionally large and bright over the next few nights, as it is closer to the earth than it has been at any time over the past 18 years.

At its closest point (the lunar perigee) it is about 220,000 miles away from us, compared to 254,000 at its furthest point (the lunar apogee).

Tidal forces from the moon are roughly 10-15 per cent stronger during the lunar perigee, but this doesn't necessarily mean they will have any significant effect on the tides on earth. At most, tides would be expected to rise by about an inch (3cm approx).

American astrologer Richard Nolle, who uses the phrase "supermoon" to describe this phenomenon, claims that it can be linked to extreme tides, storms and earthquakes.

However, a number of leading astronomers have denied that the proximity of the moon plays any part in causing earthquakes.

Thursday 17 March 2011

St Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It is named after Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the patron saint of Ireland.

When he was made a Bishop by Pope Celestine in 432 and sent as a missionary to Ireland, he was given the name "Patercius" or "Patritius" which comes from the Latin "pater civium" meaning "the father of his people".

St Patrick suffered many trials as a missionary in Ireland. There are accounts which talk about his struggles with the Druids.

The best known legend about St. Patrick is the story of how he drove the snakes from Ireland. Some tales tell that he stood on a hill and used a wooden staff to drive the snakes into the sea and banished them forever from the land.

St Patrick's Day became an official feast day since the early 17th century, and has since evolved into a time of celebration of Irish culture.

Saturday 12 March 2011

Pi Day

Pi Day is celebrated around the world on March 14th.

Pi is the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.

Pi = 3.1415926535...(to the 1st 10 decimal places) and is an irrational and transcendental number, meaning it continues infinitely without repeating.

Here is a musical interpretation of Pi: http://t.co/D8GyFZW

http://www.piday.org

Thursday 10 March 2011

Uranus in Aries triggers change

Uranus in Aries ushers in a cycle of change from 11 March, inspiring individual self-expression, innovative enterprises and extremism.

This cycle will last until March 5 2019.

Monday 7 March 2011

International Womens Day and Pancake Day

International Women's Day, held annually on 8 March, celebrates its centenary today.

The IWD theme this year is equal access to education, training, science and technology.

It happens to coincide with Pancake Day. Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, marks the last chance for feasting before fasting - using up rich ingredients before Lent, a period of abstinence in the Christian calendar, leading up to Easter Sunday.

For a traditional treat, simply sprinkle your pancakes with sugar and add a generous squeeze of lemon. Or for something sweeter, try topping with sliced banana and maple syrup. Enjoy!

Thursday 3 March 2011

World Book Night

Following World Book Day is World Book Night on Saturday (5 March). Coverage of this event will be broadcast on BBC 2. In celebration of reading, a million free books will be distributed across the UK and Ireland.

http://www.worldbookday.com

http://www.worldbooknight.org