120px|Mauna Kea from Mauna Loa Observatory
Mauna Kea is a volcano on the island of Hawaii. Standing 4,205 m
(13,796 ft) above sea level, its peak is the highest point in the state
of Hawaii. However, much of the mountain is under water; when measured
from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
tall—significantly taller than Mount Everest. In Hawaiian mythology,
the peaks of the island of Hawaii are sacred, and Mauna Kea is the most
sacred of all. Mauna Kea can be ecologically divided into three
sections: an alpine climate at its summit, a Sophora
chrysophylla–Myoporum sandwicense forest on its flanks, and an Acacia
koa–Metrosideros polymorpha forest, now mostly cleared by the former
sugar industry, at its base. With its high altitude, dry environment,
and stable airflow, Mauna Kea's summit is one of the best sites in the
world for astronomical observation, and one of the most controversial.
The Mauna Kea Observatories are used for scientific research across the
electromagnetic spectrum from visible light to radio, and comprise the
largest such facility in the world. Their construction on a "sacred
landscape", replete with endangered species, ongoing cultural
practices, and viewplanes used in the traditional Hawaiian measurement
of time, continues to be a topic of intense debate and protest.
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<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauna_Kea>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1524:
Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano set sail westward from Madeira
to find a sea route to the Pacific Ocean.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_da_Verrazzano>
1893:
The Citizens' Committee of Public Safety led by Lorrin A. Thurston
overthrew the government of Queen Liliʻuokalani of the Kingdom of
Hawaii.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overthrow_of_the_Kingdom_of_Hawaii>
1966:
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress collided with a KC-135
Stratotanker during aerial refueling over the Mediterranean Sea,
dropping three hydrogen bombs on land near Palomares, Spain, and a
fourth one into the sea.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_Palomares_B-52_crash>
1989:
Patrick Purdy opened fire with an assault rifle on an elementary school
in Stockton, California, killing 5 and wounding 30 others.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_School_massacre>
2010:
The first spate of violence between Muslims and Christians began in
Jos, Nigeria, and would end in more than 200 deaths.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Jos_riots>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
chicken-hearted (adj):
Not brave; lacking courage; cowardly
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chicken-hearted>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
I think all the heretics I have known have been virtuous men. They have
the virtue of fortitude or they would not venture to own their heresy;
and they cannot afford to be deficient in any of the other virtues, as
that would give advantage to their many enemies; and they have not like
orthodox sinners, such a number of friends to excuse or justify them.
Do not, however mistake me. It is not to my good friend's heresy that I
impute his honesty. On the contrary, 'tis his honesty that has brought
upon him the character of heretic.
--Benjamin Franklin
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin>
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