Comet Leonard

https://spaceweather.com/

Comet Leonard's magnificent tail is braided with multiple filaments of gas and dust. These were created by a series of outbursts that began on Dec. 15th. Two and perhaps three explosions in the comet's core sent streamers of debris billowing down the tail.

The same outbursts boosted the comet's brightness. It is now shining like a 4th magnitude star in the constellation Microscopium, an easy target for small telescopes in the southern hemisphere.

More outbursts are in the offing. The comet is heading for its closest approach to the sun (0.61 AU) on Jan. 3rd. Increasing heat could liberate new jets of gas and dust and maybe even blow away huge chunks of ice and rock. Stay tuned!

Desmond Tutu, South Africa's archibishop and Nobel laureate, dies at 90

https://abcnews.go.com/International/desmond-tutu-south-africas-archibishop-nobel-laureate-dies/story?id=81943246

Tutu, the first Black bishop of Johannesburg and archbishop of Cape Town, died on Sunday in Cape Town, the president's office said.

Additional link: https://www.foxnews.com/world/desmond-tutu-south-africa-equality-activist-dead-90-mandela

SEOUL INTRODUCES SELF-DRIVING TAXIS

https://hackaday.com/2021/12/26/seoul-introduces-self-driving-taxis/

Last year the Seoul city government passed an ordinance enabling the commercial operation of autonomous passenger-carrying vehicles. A six square kilometer region in the Seoul neighborhood of Sangam, near the 2002 World Cup Stadium, was designated as a pilot program test bed. This area encompasses 24 streets totaling 31.3 km. Two companies were selected, and the pilot program launched a few weeks ago. Currently there are three vehicles and passengers can ride for free during this introductory phase. Three more taxis and a bus will be added within this year, with plans for 50 in this region by 2026. For the time being, these cars require a standby driver who takes control in an emergency and in school zones. Check out the short news report (in English) below the break.

There was a smaller autonomous driving test program in the city of Sejong which we wrote about back in January, and [Alfred Jones] gave a keynote presentation at the 2021 Hackaday Remoticon on the challenges of designing self-driving vehicles if you want to learn more on this topic.

ITV announces death of Pope in Christmas blunder

https://www.rt.com/uk/544425-itv-announces-death-pope/

ITV News presenter Kylie Pentelow mistakenly announced the death of 85-year-old Pope Francis during a segment on his Christmas Day address.

“The Pope’s festive address focused on his prayers for the pandemic to come to an end. He said vaccines should be made available to those most in need,” Pentelow reported on Saturday evening, before adding, “His death was announced… uh, excuse me.”

A camera pan to Pentelow showed the presenter looking very uncomfortable as the segment moved on.

The mistake was ridiculed on social media, though it was also met with understanding. BBC broadcaster Scott Bryan tweeted, “Someone get this newsreader a drink STAT. We all make mistakes.”

“Spare a thought for everyone working the Christmas shift today,” another person wrote, while one former broadcaster revealed what may have been the source of the slip-up.

“When I worked at ITN news we had to do practice runs for announcing the Queen’s death,” she said. “We had all the right obits ready but all the names were replaced with Mrs Brown to avoid mistakes like this.”

>>15256505

agreed, anon

Many have fooled the public, time to release those of the old system, in order to build ta new world