Espectaculo de año nuevo

Una "Luna Azul" en la víspera de Año Nuevo

Este 31 de diciembre, no deje de observar la "Luna Azul" ya que la próxima "Luna Azul" de víspera de Año Nuevo se podrá apreciar recién en 2028.



Diciembre 29, 2009: Quienes planeen una fiesta, tomen nota. Por primera vez en casi veinte años, habrá una "Luna Azul" en la víspera de Año Nuevo.

"Recuerdo la última vez que ocurrió esto", dice el profesor Philip Hiscock, del Departamento de Folclore, en la Universidad Memorial de Newfoundland. "Diciembre de 1990 culminó con una 'Luna Azul' y en muchas fiestas de fin de año se habló del evento. Fue muy divertido".

Sin embargo, no espere que la Luna realmente se torne de color azul. "La 'Luna Azul' es producto del folclore", explica el profesor. "Es la segunda luna llena en un mes calendario".


Derecha: La luna llena del 2 de diciembre de 2009, en Turín, Italia. El fotógrafo Stefano De Rosa destaca que los colores en tonos de azul son emitidos por las luces navideñas que rodean a la iglesia que aparece en la imagen.

La mayoría de los meses tienen una sola luna llena. La cadencia de 29,5 días del ciclo lunar concuerda casi perfectamente con la extensión (de 28 a 31 días) de los meses calendario. Por cierto, la palabra "mes" proviene de "Luna". Ocasionalmente, sin embargo, la correspondencia uno a uno se rompe cuando hay dos lunas llenas en un solo mes. Diciembre de 2009 es ese mes. La primera luna llena apareció el 2 de diciembre; la segunda, una "Luna Azul", se podrá apreciar el 31 de diciembre.

Esta definición de "Luna Azul" es relativamente nueva.

Si en la época de Shakespeare usted hubiese dicho a una persona que algo ocurre "una vez cada Luna Azul", esto no tendría ningún significado astronómico. "Luna Azul" significaba simplemente algo raro o absurdo, como hacer una cita para el "doce de nunca". "Pero el significado es algo muy escurridizo", dice Hiscock. "La frase 'Luna Azul' ha estado de moda por más de 400 años y, durante ese tiempo, su significado ha cambiado".

La definición moderna surgió en la década de 1940. En esos días, el Almanaque del Granjero, en Maine, ofrecía una definición de "Luna Azul" tan complicada que incluso los astrónomos profesionales luchaban por entenderla. Involucraba factores tales como las fechas eclesiásticas de Pascua y Cuaresma y la aparición de las estaciones de acuerdo con el Sol medio dinámico. Con el propósito de explicar las lunas azules a las personas comunes, la revista Sky & Telescope publicó un artículo, en 1946, titulado "Una Vez Cada Luna Azul". El autor, James Hugh Pruett, citó el almanaque de Maine, de 1937, y opinó que "la segunda [luna llena] en un mes, como yo lo interpreto, se llama 'Luna Azul'".


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Esto no fue correcto, pero al menos fue más fácil de entender. Y de ese modo nació la definición moderna de "Luna Azul".

"Luna Azul" también tiene otras connotaciones. En el ámbito de la música, con frecuencia es un símbolo de melancolía. Según expresa una canción de Elvis, significa "sin mi propio amor". Lo bueno, entona él dulcemente en otra canción, es que un simple beso puede hacer que la "Luna Azul" se convierta en oro.

La moderna "Luna Azul" astronómica ocurre en algún mes aproximadamente cada 2,5 años, en promedio. Una "Luna Azul" que tiene lugar precisamente el 31 de diciembre, sin embargo, es mucho más inusual. La última vez que ocurrió esto fue en 1990 y el próximo evento de este tipo no se producirá sino hasta el año 2028.

Así que ponga ese antiguo disco de Elvis y "disfrute de la luz de la Luna extra en la víspera de Año Nuevo", dice Hiscock. "Eso sólo sucede una vez cada 'Luna Azul'".

Libros que se haran peliculas en 2010

Wondering what books are slated to become movies in 2010? Here's the scoop on some of the biggest movies based on books that are scheduled to be released in the coming year.
'Dear John' by Nicholas Sparks
Hachette Book Group
Dear John is trademark Nicholas Sparks--romantic, sappy, sad and redeeming. Dear John is a love story about an army sergeant who falls in love shortly before 9/11. Recommended for those who like sappy romantic comedies (or tragedies, in Sparks' case). Dear John was published in 2006. The movie will be released in February 2010.

Dear John Book Review
Dear John Movie Information

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'Alice in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll
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Lewis Carroll's classic children's book has been adapted to film many times before. The latest version of Alice in Wonderland is set to be released in March 2010, and will star Johnny Depp and Mia Wasikowska.

Alice in Wonderland Movie Information

'The Last Song' by Nicholas Sparks
Grand Central Publishing
When Veronica Miller's parents divorce and her dad moves from New York City to Wilmington, NC, she becomes angry and estranged from both of them. Two years after the divorce, Veronica's mother decides that she wants her to spend the whole summer with her father in Wilmington. This summer is the backdrop for another Nicholas Sparks tear-jerking, heart-rending family drama -- The Last Song. This book was released in 2009, but the movie rights were sold before it was even written. Also, Sparks wrote it with Miley Cyrus (who is starring in the movie) in mind. The movie is set for release in April 2010.

'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert
Courtesy Penguin
Elizabeth Gilbert's bestselling memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, chronicled the year Gilbert spent after a painful divorce pursuing pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and balance in Indonesia. Julia Roberts is starring as Gilbert in the movie version of Eat, Pray, Love, which is set to be released in August 2010.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert Book Review

'Eclipse' by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown
Eclipse is the third installment in the Twilight Saga. It opens with teenager Bella Swan and her vampire boyfriend Edward reunited after their tortuous parting in New Moon. Jacob Black, who harbors a generations-old vendetta against vampires in addition to unrequited feelings for Bella complicates the romance. To top it all off, a plague of murders in nearby Seattle points to an impending vampire threat.

Eclipse Book Review
Eclipse Movie Information

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I' by J.K. Rowling
Scholastic, Inc.
The final book in the Harry Potter saga will be split into two movies. The first, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I, will be released in November 2010. The second half of the book and final movie will be released in May 2011.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Book Review

Como vestirse para hacer ejercicio durante el invierno

What is Layering?
Layering simply means wearing a combination of clothes (in layers) to help regulate your temperature and keep you warm and dry. The layers you wear for a given activity are matched to the weather, your activity level and your personal preference There are essentially three layers to consider: base, mid, and outer. Each layer has a specific function. The base layer wicks moisture & perspiration away from your skin to keep you warm. The mid layer is for insulation and keeping you warm, The outer layer allows moisture to escape while blocking wind, and repel water..

The Base Layer is in contact with your skin. A tight fitting and wicking material is best to keep you warm and dry. Polypropylene, silk, polyester, Thermax, Thinsulate, wool are all good choices Avoid cotton because it traps moisture, so it stays wet and draws heat from you. Base layers come in various weights (lightweight, midweight and heavyweight). Select a weight based upon the outside temperature and your activity level. The lighter weight is better at wicking, the heavyweight has more insulation.

The Mid Layer provides insulation. It should be a bit looser than the base layer, but to function properly it needs to maintain contact with the base layer. Mid layers also carry moisture away from the base layer to the outer layer. Common material for mid layers include down, polyester, fleece, wool and newer synthetic / natural blends. Many mid layer clothing has extras such as pit zips, long front zippers, adjustable cuffs and collars.

The Outer Layer blocks wind and allows moisture to escape. Typical outer layers include shells made of Gore-Tex or a similar material. Extras such as pit zips, ankle zippers (for pants), and a variety of ventilation options are standard. Outer layers should also be tough enough to withstand tears and abrasions. Other less high tech options may include wind resistant materials, or water resistant fabrics.

Once you have a layering plan, you can adjust your temperature control simply by removing or adding layers as needed.

Another tip for maintaining the life of your clothing is to follow the care instructions on the item. Synthetic, technical fabrics need to be cleaned properly in order to wick, insulate and repel water. Special cleaning products can restore the moisture wicking and water repellent properties if necessary.

Head, Hands and Feet
After your core is covered, you need to properly dress your extremities. Wear a hat, mittens /gloves, socks and shoes that match your activity and weather conditions. To cool yourself if you overheat, you can often just remove your hat or gloves. Keep in mind that wind blocking fabric is also important for hats and gloves. Altough fleece is warm it does not provide protection from wind.

Proper laying will not only make you more comfortable during winter activity, but it also keeps you safe.

Luna azul (Ingles)

Blue Moon on New Year's Eve 12.29.2009


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Dec. 29, 2009: Party planners take note. For the first time in almost twenty years, there's going to be a Blue Moon on New Year's Eve.

"I remember the last time this happened," says professor Philip Hiscock of the Dept. of Folklore at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. "December 1990 ended with a Blue Moon, and many New Year's Eve parties were themed by the event. It was a lot of fun."

Don't expect the Moon to actually turn blue, though. "The 'Blue Moon' is a creature of folklore," he explains. "It's the second full Moon in a calendar month."

Right: The full moon of Dec. 2, 2009, over Turan, Italy. Photographer Stefano De Rosa notes that the blue colors are cast by Christmas lights surrounding the pictured church.

Most months have only one full Moon. The 29.5-day cadence of the lunar cycle matches up almost perfectly with the 28- to 31-day length of calendar months. Indeed, the word "month" comes from "Moon." Occasionally, however, the one-to-one correspondence breaks down when two full Moons squeeze into a single month. Dec. 2009 is such a month. The first full Moon appeared on Dec. 2nd; the second, a "Blue Moon," will come on Dec. 31st.

This definition of Blue Moon is relatively new.

If you told a person in Shakespeare's day that something happens "once in a Blue Moon" they would attach no astronomical meaning to the statement. Blue moon simply meant rare or absurd, like making a date for the Twelfth of Never. "But meaning is a slippery substance," says Hiscock. "The phrase 'Blue Moon' has been around for more than 400 years, and during that time its meaning has shifted."

The modern definition sprang up in the 1940s. In those days, the Farmer's Almanac of Maine offered a definition of Blue Moon so convoluted that even professional astronomers struggled to understand it. It involved factors such as the ecclesiastical dates of Easter and Lent, and the timing of seasons according to the dynamical mean sun. Aiming to explain blue moons to the layman, Sky & Telescope published an article in 1946 entitled "Once in a Blue Moon." The author James Hugh Pruett cited the 1937 Maine almanac and opined that the "second [full moon] in a month, so I interpret it, is called Blue Moon."

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That was not correct, but at least it could be understood. And thus the modern Blue Moon was born.


Blue moon has other connotations, too. In music, it's often a symbol of melancholy. According to one Elvis tune, it means "without a love of my own." On the bright side, he croons in another song, a simple kiss can turn a Blue Moon pure gold.

The modern astronomical Blue Moon occurs in some month every 2.5 years, on average. A Blue Moon falling precisely on Dec. 31st, however, is much more unusual. The last time it happened was in 1990, and the next time won't be until 2028.

So cue up that old Elvis record and "enjoy the extra moonlight on New Year's Eve," says Hiscock. "It only happens once in a Blue Moon."

La falla de Obama

President Obama faces the most serious crisis of his presidency. With Al Qaeda claiming credit for seeking to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane near Detroit and promises of more to come, his administration's handling of the plot, at each and every step, has been redolent of the Bush administration's actions before and after September 11. To show that he's serious about protecting Americans, Obama needs to fire Janet Napolitano for claiming that the system worked and take a hard look at the record of CIA director Leon Panetta as well.

To claim that the system functioned well is redolent of the Bush administration's attempts to substitute public relations for serious intelligence work. So transparent was the assertion that the administration is already backtracking. In his press conference, however, Obama offered nothing more than platitudes about remaining vigilant against terrorism. Sorry, but vigilance isn't enough.

What's needed is intelligence officials who are capable of interpreting the information they receive. The warning delivered on November 19 to the American embassy by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's father was clearly not taken seriously by officials in Nigeria. Where, for example, was the CIA station chief? Something is badly amiss with the intelligence process. Why wasn't Washington properly alerted about the warning? Why were the intelligence agencies asleep at the switch -- again?

No security system is going to be foolproof. But forewarned should be forearmed. The warning was there -- as it was with the 9/11 hijackers. Prior to 9/11, however, there was no sense of urgency about terrorism from abroad. Now there is -- or there's supposed to be. How could the CIA and the Homeland Security Department mess up so badly?

The sad truth is that Americans may well be little more protected after spending billions on security and creating an entire new federal agency in the form of the so-called Homeland Security Department than they were prior to it. But it is galling to see the Obama administration respond tardily and ineptly to the threats emanating from abroad and to try and brush off the public with blandly reassuring fictions about their security.

In coming weeks and months, Obama will confront further crises. His presidency will not rise or fall on health care, but on his ability to safeguard America. His lackadaisical response to this abortive terrorist act is cause for alarm. So far, Obama has left Americans up in the air.

Propositos de año nuevo

We begin each year by making solemn New Year resolutions. Want to get fighting fit? Or kick a bad habit? Make a New Year resolution. The tricky part is sticking to these resolutions. The stricter the New Year resolutions, the tougher it is to hang on to them. It would take some steely nerves to stay resolved. Read these quotes about New Year resolutions and find out how others stayed firm to their resolutions.

Marie Edgeworth
The man who will not execute his resolutions when they are fresh upon him can have no hope from them afterwards; they will be dissipated, lost and perish in the hurry and scurry of the world, or sunk in the slough of indolence.

Anonymous
A dog's New Year's Resolution: I will not chase that stick unless I actually see it leave his hand!

John Burroughs
One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things.

Andre Gide
But can one still make resolutions when one is over forty? I live according to twenty-year old habits.

Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones's Diary
I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second.

John Selden
Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty.

Henry Moore
I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's.

St John Chrysostom
When we once begin to form good resolutions, God gives us every opportunity of carrying them out.

Frases del año nuevo

The New Year may be a significant event for many people. But the absurdities of the celebration cannot escape a skeptic's mind. Here are some funny New Year quotes. What better way to start a New Year than with a hearty laugh? You can share your joy by greeting everybody with these funny New Year quotes.

Mark Twain
New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions.

Brooks Atkinson
Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.

Bill Vaughan
Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.

P. J. O'Rourke
The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to.

Jay Leno
Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average… which means, you have met your New Year's resolution.

James Agate
New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.

Eric Zorn
Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle.

Bill Vaughan
An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

Charles Lamb
New Year's Day is every man's birthday.

Oprah Winfrey
Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.

Mark Twain
New Year's Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.

Judith Crist
Happiness is too many things these days for anyone to wish it on anyone lightly. So let's just wish each other a bile-less New Year and leave it at that.

Anonymous
Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits.

Joey Adams
May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions!

Anais Nin
I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me.

Oscar Wilde
Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.

Robert Paul
I'm a little bit older, a little bit wiser, a little bit rounder, but still none the wiser.

Anonymous
A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one Year and out the other.

Leonard Bernstein
From New Year's on the outlook brightens; good humor lost in a mood of failure returns. I resolve to stop complaining.

G. K. Chesterton
The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. Unless a man starts on the strange assumption that he has never existed before, it is quite certain that he will never exist afterwards. Unless a man be born again, he shall by no means enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.