“Here come the Geminids”

Folks willing to endure some cold and stay up past their bedtimes are about to be treated to the annual Geminid meteor shower this week, which is expected to one of the best of the year. "Not only is it the year's most prolific, with up to 120 meteors per hour visible from rural skies, the moon is essentially out of the picture," according to Sky and Telescope. This pre-Christmas display of celestial fireworks will reach its peak during the long, dark hours from Wednesday night (Dec. 13) into early Thursday morning (Dec. 14). The Geminids are named for the constellation Gemini, the point from which the meteors seem to radiate. The Geminids are active every December, when Earth passes through a massive trail of dusty debris shed by a weird, rocky object named 3200 Phaethon. The dust and grit burn up when they run into Earth's atmosphere in a flurry of "shooting stars.” Geminid meteors are bright and fast (79,000 mph). To increase the chances of seeing meteors, choose a site at least 40 miles from a major city. Suggested gear includes a lawn chair and lots of warm clothing/blankets.

In Other News On December 14, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to vote to roll back the rules that uphold net neutrality -- the principle that internet service providers (ISPs) must allow equal access to web content, regardless of the source. While some on the FCC argue that the decision will boost economic growth, the only thing we know for certain is that eliminating net neutrality will make internet service look a lot more like cable TV. That's good for a handful of corporations, but bad for just about everyone else. So why is the FCC trying to export the flawed and unpopular cable TV business architecture to the realm of internet service? The short answer is that corporate interests are using their extensive influence to promote an "internet for the elites.” Target wants to offer same-day delivery service for online purchases. The traditional brick-and-mortar retailer announced a $550 million purchase of Shipt, which it said will bring same-day delivery to about half of its stores by early 2018. By next year's holiday shopping season, Target expects to offer same-day delivery from a majority of its stores and in all major markets. Shipt uses a network of over 20,000 personal shoppers to fulfill orders from various retailers, delivering them within hours in more than 72 markets.