Newton's Laws

Sir Isaac Newton's three laws of motion were first compiled in his work Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica and published in 1687:

• First law: If there is no net force on an object, then its velocity is constant. The object is either at rest (if its velocity is equal to zero), or it moves with constant speed in a single direction
• Second law: The acceleration a of a body is parallel and directly proportional to the net force F acting on the body, is in the direction of the net force, and is inversely proportional to the mass m of the body, i.e., F = m*a.
• Third law: When a first body exerts a force F1 on a second body, the second body simultaneously exerts a force F2 = −F1 on the first body. This means that F1 and F2 are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. Actio = Reactio.

Kepler's Laws

Johannes Kepler's laws of planetary motion:

1. 1. The orbit of every planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the two foci, i.e. planetary orbits are not circluar but eliptical
2. 2. A line joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas during equal intervals of time, i.e. motion of the planet is faster when closer to the sun
3. 3. The square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. Captures the relationship between the distance of planets from the Sun, and their orbital periods

Kepler published his first two laws in 1609, having found them by analyzing the astronomical observations of Tycho Brahe. Kepler published the third law in 1619.

Eric Weisstein's World of Science

Eric Weisstein's World of Science contains entries on Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Biographies.

Kepler's Defense of Tycho against Ursus

History of Astronomy: Kepler's Defense of Tycho against Ursus by Edward Rosen, Popular Astronomy, Vol. 54, p.405, 1946. In 1595, the inexperienced Kepler had written a flattering letter to Nicholas Reimers (who called himself Ursus (the bear)), then Imperial Mathematician to Rudolph II, Holy Roman Emperor in Prague. In 1597, Reimers issued his De astronomicis hypothesibus, with its venomous attack on Tycho Brahe. He incorporated Kepler’s letter in it without Kepler’s knowledge or consent, thereby unscrupulously making it appear that in his duel with Tycho he was supported by Kepler. Kepler himself had by now become renowned through publication of his Cosmographic Mystery. Reimers died in mid-August 1600. In October 1600, Kepler, at the request of Tycho, began composing a rebuttal of Reimers works (A Defense of Tycho against Ursus (Apologia Tychonis contra Ursum)), but it remained unpublished by the time of Tycho's death (24. October 1601). In the end, Kepler's Defense of Tycho was found among his unpublished manuscripts by Christian Frisch, who edited Kepler’s collected works, and put it in print for the first time in 1858. More on Kepler at Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

The SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) is a Digital Library portal for researchers in Astronomy and Physics, operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) under a NASA grant. ADS maintains three bibliographic databases containing more than 9.9 million records: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Physics, and arXiv e-prints. Its main body of data consists of searchable bibliographic records and full-text scans of much of the astronomical literature that can be browsed or searched via our full-text search interface.

Goyas Geister (2006)

Movie: Goyas Geister --- Goya's Ghosts (2006): w/ Javier Bardem (Lorenzo), Natalie Portman (Inés / Alicia). Directed by Milos Forman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus). Some dark moments, good pace, some historic facts on the Spanish Inquisition in the late 18th century. Little about Goya and his life, rather than using Goya as an excuse to tell a tale of his time. Overall rating: 6 out of 10.

The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970)

Movie (YT): The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970). w/ Roger Moore (Harold Pelham), Hildegard Neil (Eve Pelham). Directed by Basil Dearden. Good idea, but pace too slow, scope too narrow. Ending not consistent and somewhat disappointing. Overall rating 6 out of 10.

Stargate (1994)

Movie (YT): Stargate (1994). w/ Kurt Russell (Col. Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neil), James Spader (Dr. Daniel Jackson). Directed by Roland Emmerich.Together with the military, a somewhat nutty specialist for hieroglyphics travels to a distant galaxy where they encounter an ancient civilization. Story flat. Some things unexplained. Mediocre acting and meager character development. Overall rating: 5 out of 10.

Die Liebe in den Zeiten der Cholera (2007)

Movie: Love in the Time of Cholera --- Die Liebe in den Zeiten der Cholera (2007). w/ Javier Bardem, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Benjamin Bratt. Directed by Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). Poet becomes rejected by his true love and waits until after her husband's death 52 years later to make his next move on her. Probably good movie, but story very slow, too sappy, annoying. Overall rating 3 out of 10.

Lifeforce (1985)

Movie (YT): Lifeforce (1985): w/ Steve Railsback (Col. Tom Carlsen), Peter Firth (Col. Colin Caine), Frank Finlay (Dr. Hans Fallada), Mathilda May (Space Girl), Patrick Stewart (Dr. Armstrong). Directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Poltergeist). Sci-Fi, horror. Manned space mission investigating comet Halley finds alien lifeform in the shape of a beautiful women and two male companions. After bringing them to earth, it becomes apparent that they are vampires that draw the lifeforce from their victims. Zombie scenes remind of Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983) and therefore lack originality. Story rather flat. Some gruesome scenes, some good special effects for its time. Mathilda May plays most of here role nude. Overall rating 6 out of 10.

Cosmetics Directive/Regulation

Cosmetics Directive/Regulation: Provides regulatory framework for phasing out animal testing for cosmetics purposes. Bans testing of finished cosmetic products and cosmetic ingredients on animals. Prohibits to market in the EU finished cosmetic products and their ingredients which were tested on animals for cosmetics purposes. The testing ban on finished cosmetic products applies since 11 Sep 2004; the testing ban on ingredients or combination of ingredients applies since 11 Mar 2009. The marketing ban applies since 11 Mar 2009 for all human health effects with the exception of repeated-dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and toxicokinetics. For these specific health effects the marketing ban applies since 11 Mar 2013, irrespective of the availability of alternative non-animal tests. Exemptions: Substances which are also used in other industries (e.g. pharmaceuticals) and are thus not developed for cosmetic products exclusively. Products containing animal-tested ingredients that were developed before the ban. Industry revenues (2010): 71 billion EUR ($93 billion). Ärzte gegen Tierversuche (in German).

Mati Klarwein

Art: Mati Klarwein (1932-2002): German-born painter. Painted Annunciation in 1961, which later (1970) became the cover of the album Abraxas by Santana.

Klarwein also created the cover for Miles Davis' Bitches Brew (1969). Studied with Ferndand Leger and Salvatore Dali.