Tonight, March 28th, people in cities around the world will turn off their lights in honor of Earth Hour. And it really is an hour: from 8:30pm to 9:30pm local time. Cities across the USA and the world are participating, turning off as many outdoor lights as they can (lights critical for safety are not turned off, of course!) Major US landmarks are going dark including Broadway and the Vegas Strip (that I want to see!)You are encouraged to take photos or videos of the event and upload them. Blogging and Twittering are also encouraged.
As for me, I will be manning a telescope at a star party at the University of Arziona in Tucson. We have some people around town with light meters who will try to measure potential changes as well as photographers at strategic points around town taking pictures before, during and after Earth Hour. Earth Hour is a major event in Tucson, which is one of the best cities in the country for its outdoor lighting policies.
Now if I can't appeal to your sense of environmental awareness and responsibility guys, chicks dig candleliht dinners for a cause. It might help you tomorrow night in another department if you know what I mean!
So turn out the lights, just for an hour.Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicst Blog.
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16 comments:
Hale, did you use the term 'chicks' for us voluptuous women out here??? Did you?
I forgive you for the reference, hale. This "chick" appreciates a man who lights a candle or two for her.... Those small, thoughtful gestures are the ones that get to me.
I"ll do my part, I'll turn out the lights and go to bed early :)
Okay, I'll do my part. Maybe the 4-7 inches of snow we were going to get that is really only 1/2 inch will keep things light. No star watching though. The north wind at 35 prevents us from spending any amount of time outside.
I like candles, they are nice when you have a special person to enjoy them with.
I don't think I can blame global warming on light bulbs. And now with the little LED's, you get more light and less heat!
I was just trying to manipulate overly macho guys into participating in Earth Hour...shhhh! They might figure it out!
I can see the headlines tomorrow morning "GOVERNOR ORDERS LIGHTS OUT FOR EARTH HOUR. MASSIVE MANHUNT CONTINUES FOR ESCAPEES FROM STATE PRISONS".
Sorry HB, with all due respect, I'm not buying it and the lights are going to stay on.
No women to romance, but I'll turn off the lights I usually leave on. Can I keep my computer on though?
Huck, I"m sure it will be fine, we were only asked to turn the lights out, to ask to turn the computers off would be a very mean and cruel thing!!If it makes you feel better, dim the screen :)
Turning out the lights lets prisoners escape? I said turn out lights, not unlock doors! And if you read the post closely, you would see that I made a note about not turning off lights truly needed for safety.
I have blogged about light pollution before. The trick is to have good lighting design which is usually lower cost and safer. Think about driving by a nice brightly lit convenience store at night. Can you see the cashier inside or is the outside area overlit? If you are blinded by lights, there could be a holdup going on inside that no one driving by could see. A softer, shielded light lets you see what is going on much better and creates fewer ares shrouded in shadows where people can hide.
I am happy to say that a church about a block from here built a new parking lot last year and installed very well designed lighting. I should take a picture of it at night and post it next to a place with poorly designed lighting so you can see what I am getting at. Note for future blog.
I wasn't serious about the headline...just a joke. I could have made the scenario at a hockey game: WORLD RECORD HOCKEY SCORE AT BRADLEY CENTER 120-110. GOAL JUDGES ADMIT PUCK WAS HARD TO SEE.
I do agree with the light pollution. Especially when you drive down business strips. By the way, I wonder what Las Vegas is going to do tonight?
Yeah, I was thinking about Vegas, too. I wonder if more drunks will get hit by cars.
Am I okay, I left on my solar lights...
Hale, you are forgiven...as is anyone who still calls me a 'chick!'
PS to Hale: I am thinking about a trip to Tucson...I'll let you know when.
Lunch or dinner with you would be nice...
Oh, just to let the rest of you know, I have a niece in Tucson and one just outside of Tucson who seem to need me...and some friends in other parts of the state. Who would have thought I would have so many folks, relatives and friends, in AZ???
Let me know when you are coming, Beejay...you have my email and cell phone number :)
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