How about some good news? Start your weekend off on the right foot.

The Hubble has a new wide-field camera and here is a photo sent that illustrates how an “assembly line” of starbirth works in a nearby galaxy.

This galaxy is breathtaking. This star is M83 (also known as the Southern Pinwheel). It is 15 million light-years from Earth and is in the constellation Hydra. Looking up in the sky in the correct direction, you might be able to discern the galaxy with your naked eye if every condition was just perfect. This telescope view shows a spectacular spiral — and there we get the “Pinwheel” label.

CHA and Operation Warm Give Coats to Low-Income Children

The Chicago Housing Authority and Operation Warm Inc., are working together to distribute new winter coats to residents in public housing who have children born after January 1, 1995. This is the second year of this program.

Residents must register online at chayouth.org to receive coats. Last year, 4,000 coats went to area children in need. The program has 10,000 coats to give away this year.

The program receives government funds and funds from corporate and private donors. By the end of 2009 Operation Warm will have given away more than 600,000 new coats to children since 1998.

Coats in Chicago will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis to people who have pre-registered online. Public housing residents who do not have Internet access can receive help from a CHA FamilyWorks office, an on-site property management office or resident leaders.

Tiny Ears Found on Butterfly’s Wings

A butterfly species that has tiny ears on its wings can distinguish between high and low pitch sounds.

Scientists assumed butterflies were deaf until 1912, when the first butterfly ears were discovered. In the past decade researchers have begun to examine the anatomy and physiology of butterfly ears.

Scientists knew that the blue morpho butterfly had simple wing ears. In a new study, researchers delved into the anatomy of the odd-looking hearing membrane that sits at the base of the blue morpho’s wing.

After playing sounds with varying pitches, researchers discovered that the butterfly’s hearing membrane vibrated more with lower frequencies. After measuring nerve responses, they now conclude that the butterfly ear is extra sensitive to lower pitches.

I’m not even sure when life got away from me and I stopped reading books like I used to…

but I am determined to take back my mind! I went to the library the other day…and I brought home two books for myself to read. One fiction and one nonfiction. I’m proud to tell you that I have started both.

And I’m loving it!

I was just reading about the online Masters Organizational Leadership program at Lewis University Online.

This is a program that will provide practical knowledge, leadership techniques, learning about human behavior, and prepare students to assume an important role in important organizational environments.

There are five different fields of study from which to choose and I had an opportunity to look over the course descriptions as well.

This would be ideal for anyone looking for an educational opportunity to fit in around “life.”

Those of you who haven’t gotten it yet…keep your hands away from your face! They say that is the most significant way this is contracted…from touching your face.

Wash your hands about a thousand times a day, too. Can’t hurt…right?

I also just read that drinking a large amount of warm liquids throughout the day (coffee, tea, etc) washes off viruses that are trying to multiply in your body.

I can’t wait to turn them off when we all feel better!

I’m telling you…when we recover from this, we are all going to need orlando vacations. They will be sorely deserved.

Not only do we all feel wretched, but the house is literally falling down around us. The grey November days outside are doing nothing for the psychological factor of this either.

Otto is a dachshund-terrier mix and is 20 years and 8 months old. Otto is being recognized for his great age by Guinness World Records.

Lynn Jones of Shrewsbury, England, has owned Otto since he was six weeks old.

Wondering what Otto’s secret for longevity is? Love, good food and regular trips to the vet…according to his owners. Otto now suffers from arthritis and is no longer as active as he used to be.

What Otto lacks in physical ability, he makes up for in spirit. He is still playful and can jump all over people when they come near him.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau: The US major pumpkin states produce more than one billion pounds of pumpkins annually, worth over $100 million. Illinois is the leading pumpkin producer. California, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York come in right behind Illinois.

The largest pumpkin ever recorded is a 1,725 pound monster grown this year in Ohio.

“Return to the Hundred Acre Wood,” by David Benedictus, went on sale October 5 and picks up where A.A. Milne’s “The House at Pooh Corner,” left off.

Pooh purists think there’s no need for a new book. They argue that Milne’s work should be left to stand alone. The Trustees of Pooh Properties (managers of the affairs of the estates of Milne and illustrator E.H. Shepard) have wanted to carry on with the books first published in the 1920s for a long time.

This is a classic-looking Pooh, for those who appreciate this sort of thing (me…LOL). In the illustrations, Christopher Robin appears a little older. Piglet returns to his traditional green outfit, and Pooh hasn’t lost any weight. There is also a new addition to the Wood: Lottie the Otter, a stickler for etiquette who is also a fan of the game of cricket.

At the end of “The House at Pooh Corner,” Christopher Robin makes Pooh promise he won’t forget about him, ever. Pooh promises. Then Milne then makes a promise to the reader: Wherever they go, and whatever happens, there will always be a little boy and his bear playing in an enchanted place.

Most babies born in rich countries this century will reach their 100th birthday, according to new research.

Danish experts say that people in developed countries are living about thirty years longer than in the past. What’s more, this trend shows little sign of slowing. Illnesses affecting the elderly like heart disease, cancer and diabetes are rising. But at the same time, advances in medical treatment are making it possible for the elderly to remain active for longer.

In the U.S., records from 1982 to 2000 are showing a significant drop in illness and disability among the elderly. This has now begun to reverse, unfortunately, possibly due to the rise in obesity.