Science Friction

Thanks for your support, my love. The Hounds' fans are happy to have you supporting us.

I've watched these teams play ball all season and I still have no idea how to predict this one. The team that is best able to control its emotions may have the upper hand.

I would have rather have met you and Goldie to have seen the game. Maybe another time. It's so hard for me to get away this time of year.

I want to meet you and Mamaw. My two favorite Golden Girls bar none!!!

Holy Cow ... Here we go again !!!! The most heated rivalry in the state. To say these two teams and fan bases don't like each other is a gross understatement. This matchup has all the intrigue... race, lies, and , of course, videotape. There is a also family/school loyalty angle. The rivalry pits a grandpa(Corbin fan) versus grandson(KC player). There have been taunts, insults, and cheap shots(both verbal and physical) . Corbin's superstar has taunted and threatened online and "cheap -shotted "in both games played this year. A Knox player hurled racial insults at the Corbin faithful. And, of course, there is the now- infamous snapchat video controversy. Knox Central parents have displayed their Thug Life KC T-Shirts on social media and will no doubt be wearing them just as proudly on Saturday. Hounds' fans will color the sold out Arena red, red, and more red. Knox won the first game played this year 73-61 while the Hounds thrashed the Panthers in the second meeting 81-67 . Corbin upset the Panthers in the semifinals of the region last year 55-52. And as they always do, the Panther fans cried foul. Then they just cried... The Arena is expected to be sold out for Saturday's games. There won't be a better atmosphere in the state or a better venue to watch basketball than the 5,000 seat Arena in Corbin. I hear security is gonna be on high alert. All bags will be checks for weapons and any other unsportsmanlike objects ... It's Civil War in SEKY !!! Let's get it on .... Who wins and why????

This is my #6 story of 2017: 6. It's a Comet , it's a Rock , .... No , it's an Interstellar Asteroid!!!" For the first time ever, a visitor from interstellar space was spotted in our solar system in October of 2017. The object, detected by researchers using the Pan-Starrs 1 telescope in Hawaii, was first thought to be a comet but, when no coma was spotted, the comet designation was amended to that of an asteroid. A/2017 U 1 , or "Oumuamua" as its friends call it , could be about as much ice as rock. Believed to be less than 1,300ft. wide, Oumuamua approached our solar system from the direction of the constellation Lyra at about 57,000 mph. The icy rock, or whatever it is, entered the solar system nearly perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, and crossed the plane in early September inside the orbit of Mercury. Oumuamua made its closest approach to Earth in mid-October at a distance of about 15 million miles. If you are wondering where the damned thing is now(and I just know you are), it is high above the ecliptical plane and speeding toward the outer reaches of the solar system at a speed of more than 97,000 mph in the direction of the constellation Pegagus. Scientists want to study this object before it disappears from view forever because knowledge of its origin could shed light on the processes of planet formation in our cosmic neighborhood. One wonders just how many of these strange objects there are out there flying through interstellar space. How long will it be before the next one finds its way into our little planetary system? How do we go about finding more of them???

Thank you. February Madness...

What happened in the Bracken/ St. Pat game? What was up with the controversial ending?

This is my #7 story in astronomy for 2017: 7. World Ceres Victory: Building Blocks for Life Discovered on Dwarf Planet The largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter is the dwarf planet, Ceres, roughly the size of Texas. Glance at a photo of the big rock and it doesn't look much different from the Moon with its barren and cratered surface. But looks can be deceiving. Back this time last year, research scientists announced that they had detected organic molecules on the surface of Ceres. Of course, organic molecules are a necessity for life as we know it. When you combine this discovery with the fact that is believed that Ceres may have a liquid ocean beneath those carbon compounds on the surface , this Texas-sized rock suddenly becomes more exciting than José Altuve and the World Series Champion Houston Astros. The presence of both liquid H2O and carbon compounds on Ceres raises the possibility that primitive life forms may have emerged from there. Ceres was the first dwarf planet to be visited by a spacecraft( Dawn spacecraft visited Ceres in 2015 just a few months before New Horizons flew by Pluto). Ceres is likely a future destination for human colonization given its abundance of ice, water, and minerals.

What in the heck is a polar bear doing in KY? Way out of its element here. Back to the frozen tundra, bears!!!

I'm hearing that if North plays South and Corbin plays Knox, as expected, the Arena may be sold out on Saturday. To my knowledge, the biggest crowd they've ever had was Lynard Skynard. My guess is there will be more security in the house for Corbin-Knox on Saturday than they had for Skynard.

Don't know. My guess is, the coach says it's tourney time and we have to play as a team to win. If Corbin is going to get to Rupp, Taylor has to trust his teammates and distribute the ball to them. Sanders and Stewart are very capable amigos .

Unless it just can't be helped, no one on here should miss coming to the Arena for Saturday's potential matchup between Corbin and Knox Central. So, so many undercurrents...

Over the next week or so I'll begin counting down my top astronomy stories for 2017. Basically, I am just ranking these according to the impact and interest they had on me. My ranking is not necessarily the most important or far-reaching events but just what I considered interesting and what stood out to me. See if you can guess what will top my list. Today, is #8. 8. Atmosphere Discovered on a Distant Planet For the first time , scientists observed the atmosphere of a distant planet. The planet, named GJ1132b is 39 LY from Earth and is only slightly larger than Earth. It's radius is about 1.4 times that of the Earth and its mass is about 1.6 times that of our own pale blue dot. The direct observation of this planet's atmosphere is significant because, up until now, astronomers had only been able to study the atmospheres of gas giant planets the size of Jupiter. The atmosphere of GJ1132b is very hot and thick, which means it is likely more like Venus than Earth. Studying Earth-sized exoplanet atmospheres remains a huge challenge for our current telescopes but look for future instruments to be targeted for just this purpose. Because alien planet atmospheres may contain evidence for life, scientists are working hard to understand just what to look for in these atmospheres and how to look for it. Maybe sometime in the near future we will know whether planets such as GJ1132b show evidence of life-supporting environments.

Sanders had his best game in over a month. Stewart was his steady self. Good shooter, very quick getting to the hole. Taylor trusted his teammates for the first time in a month. Instead of overshooting and getting 40, he distributed more, settled for 20, and the team was better as a result.

Really good analysis... Spot on. J.J. had to work way too hard to get his shots. Most everything he took was with defenders in his face. To his credit , he made most every shot he took but he shouldn't have had to generate everyone of his attempts himself.

I'm pulling for Corbin's Josh Hamlin & Mercer and then the Bunnies from Somerset. Third favorite would be former Corbin coach Rodney Woods and Wayne.

Thank you very much. It was a tough one, as expected. We played well and we needed to. South is a really good team and Ramey is special.

Agree. Billy Hicks team will have their toughest test from LCA, in my opinion.

Final last night from Gilliam Gym in Corbin. Really good basketball game. Pretty close throughout. Corbin's biggest lead was nine in the fourth but South cut it to 2 at 55-53 late. Corbin scored the last six points for the final margin of victory. Both teams played very well. J.J. Ramey was exquisite. I only remember two shots of his hitting anything other then nylon. Ripped everything with Corbin defenders draped all over him. Without J.J.'s performance, this would have been a 20-point game in Corbin's favor. Everytime Corbin got a little distance between themselves and the Cards, J.J. would rip a couple of contested threes. What a treat it is to watch that kid!!! Corbin moved the ball much better in this one than in recent games. Taylor shared the ball and trusted his teammates more and they responded. Chase Sanders and Taylor Stewart both had really nice games and whenever Corbin needed a basket, Mr. Basketball candidate Taylor took it to the hole for a deuce. Both teams played terrific defense. Corbin did a really nice job on Cromer, who was pretty much held in check. The Hounds played their best game since dismantling Knox Central in mid-January. The Hounds are now 22-7 on the season. South Laurel, with Mr. Ramey, Cromer, and Anders will be a very, very tough opponent for whichever district champion they draw in the regional tournament.

I'm obviously rooting for the GRC Cardinals. That first round matchup between Pendleton and Paris is a delicious morsel. Potential second rounder between GRC and Campbell could be a dandy as well.

Corbin fans know you are pulling for the Hounds and we absolutely appreciate your support.

Boys and girls' teams BOTH miss the regional tourney. I wonder when that last happened?

Semifinal round from Oneida Baptist last night. Tough times at once powerful Clay Co. First time in 40 years that they don't advance to the regional. They finish the season below .500 . Consolation prize- they do get to "host" the regional at the Arena.

If Corbin plays at their peak performance level, they win. If not, just flip a coin.