Tag: mercury
The Witch From Mercury has become the ultimate Gundam show
Finally, a Gundam for everyone
One Liners: AMR Songs, BPI, Patrick Wolf, Angel Olsen, Mercury Prize
StreamElements adds YouTube sponsorships to Mercury platform
TikTokkers, led by Mercury Stardust, double $1 million livestream goal for trans healthcare
As the country honors Transgender Day of Visibility – and legislators simultaneously debate access to life-saving treatments — TikTokkers have put their money where their mouths are, raising more than $1 million for trans healthcare services in less than six hours.
The donations came through a social media livestream takeover by Mercury Stardust, also known as TikTok’s “Trans Handy Ma’am”, and creator and advocate Jory (known as @AlluringSkull). This is the second annual “TikTok-A-Thon for Trans Healthcare” led by Stardust, who raised $120,000 last year in a 24-hour livestream.
What was initiated as an elongated 30-hour livestream running Thursday through Friday night and once again benefiting nonprofit Point of Pride — an organization created by former trans apparel brand Point 5cc to fund gender-affirming clothes, treatments, and surgeries for trans folks around the country — turned into an astonishingly speedy, mutual aid fundraising project.
The livestream hosts, accompanied by Point of Pride president and co-founder Aydian Dowling, had met their first $250,000 goal before the event even kicked off. “We raised 50k in one hour during a test stream last night! This money will provide help to 11k Trans ppl who can’t access it otherwise! Thank you to everyone who has supported this already,” Stardust wrote in an Instagram post days prior to the livestream.
By 10:30 p.m. Thursday, the fundraiser had collected $930,000. In the five minutes it took the group to spot a spider floating in frame and concoct a plan to move it outside, the fundraiser has gained another $5,000.
According to the fundraiser’s Point of Pride donation page, all proceeds will go to the organization’s Gender Affirming Care Access fund, part of a series of scholarship and grant-giving opportunities hosted by Point of Pride to provide Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and other gender affirming surgeries and treatments. The TikTok funds will provide one year of free HRT access for at least 100 applicants and additional services for another 250 recipients. Additional funds will support donations of chest binders and femme shapewear to more than 3,000 recipients, with the potential to help 11,000 trans people.
Upon hitting the $1 million mark, under a shower of confetti, Dowling popped in frame to make a statement. “The amount of beauty and joy that this is going to bring… This couldn’t have come at a better time.”
“If you take away our healthcare, we will find a way to support each other,” Stardust told the livestream viewers. “Like we always have. Mutual aid at its finest.”
The TikTok-A-Thon, which has increased its goal to $2 million, will run until 11 p.m. EST on March 31. Tune in on TikTok or Instagram, or text “STARDUST” to 44-321 for more information.
The Wall Street Journal: Biden EPA reinstates limits on mercury, restoring regulation stripped away by Trump
It’s a good time to look at Mercury
January 30, and the days just before and just after that, will be a good time to try and see Mercury because it’s at its greatest western elongation. You won’t need a telescope for this, but you may need to wake up early. Also, the Southern Hemisphere will get a better view than the Northern. And as always with stargazing, if the clouds don’t cooperate, you’re out of luck.
What is the greatest western elongation of Mercury?
Mercury is an “inferior planet.” That doesn’t mean it’s just not all that great. For Earthlings, the term simply refers to Venus and Mercury, the planets that orbit closer to the Sun than we do. So any time we try to look at one of these planets we’re looking more or less toward the sun rather than out into space.
You don’t tend to glimpse Venus and Mercury too often, because they’re hugging the sun, an object that’s exponentially brighter in our sky — as you’ve probably noticed.
But when an inferior planet is at or near one of its “greatest elongations” (each inferior planet has an eastern and a western “greatest elongation”) you’ll have a decent shot at seeing it. Because it’s at a point of greatest (deep breath) angular separation from the Sun relative to Earth — so it’s not necessarily at the greatest distance from the sun in its entire orbit, but that’s what it looks like to us Earthlings, and because of that, it will seem brighter, and will look that way for longer.
How can I see Mercury at its greatest western elongation?
You’ll have to look toward the sun during twilight just before dawn, or just after sunset. If you have a fairly clear line of sight to the horizon Mercury should be there, a little dot in the clown close to where sky meets land. To differentiate this tiny, faint planet from any stars that may be visible, it may help do download a stargazing app with an augmented reality component. SkySafari is one example of such an app.
UK weather: Brits brace for another freezing day as mercury dips to -15C overnight & icy fog causes travel chaos
BRITS are bracing for yet another freezing day after temperatures dipped to a bone-chilling -15C overnight.
Icy fog has already begun to descend on the country causing travel chaos nation-wide – with roads closed, trains cancelled and flights axed.
A runner braced the cold for an early-morning jog[/caption]
A Southeastern train makes its way through Ashford in Kent as rail services remain disrupted in the icy weather[/caption]
Brits were forced to bunker down overnight as a -15C deep freeze swept in.
And today won’t be much better, with yellow weather warnings for snow, ice and fog covering vast swathes of the UK.
Brits have been told to only drive if absolutely necessary amid fears icy roads will cause accidents and long tailbacks.
And due to tomorrow’s nation-wide strikes, travelling by train isn’t a viable alternative
Met Office forecasters issued several yellow weather warnings for snow, ice and fog across Britain from Monday through to Thursday.
And today could bring the worst of the poor weather as a band of snow and ice is set to push down through Scotland sparking a yellow weather warning.
The snow and sleet will continue across the North and East with the rest of the country experiencing frost and freezing fog.
It comes as…
- Schools shut and asked kids to stay at home and stay warm
- A hero schoolboy, 10, ran into a frozen Solihull lake to save a child who fell in
- Despite the tragedy, two girls were spotted playing on a frozen lake just hours later
- Can you be fined for keeping your child at home due to the snow? Your questions answered
- Full list of trains cancelled today – will you be affected?
Braemar in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, recorded the UK’s coldest temperature at -15.6C on Sunday night – the chilliest night of the year so far.
And tonight, the Scottish town of Glendoll Lodge hit bone-chilling -15.
Last night homeowners were promised £4 per kilowatt hour to switch off their appliances as part of the “demand flexibility service”.
Energy firms paid customers to cut energy usage during the surge slot of 5pm to 7pm, branded “Peak Save”.
The Electricity Systems Operator ran its fifth trial of the scheme yesterday, an event that was previously scheduled and Brits will be unable to take part in if if they have not already signed up.
British Gas, Octopus Energy and Ovo Energy all confirmed they would be taking part in the pilot run.
The cold snap is also set to continue into next week, the Met Office warned.
Motorists were stuck in standstill traffic on the M25 on Monday as snow brought delays of nearly three hours, one motorist said.
Other roads with long delays include the M11, M2, A21, A27 and A249, according to National Highways.
National Highways said the A1(M) northbound is closed between J7 and J8 after an HGV burst into flames sparking yet more carnage.
Darren Clark – severe weather resilience manager at National Highways – said gritters would be out to keep motorways and major A-roads open.
A sign warning people to keep off the ice at Verulamium Park Lake, St Albans[/caption]
One driver pushes their Mercedes out the snow on a road off the M25 near Enfield, North London[/caption]
He said: “National Highways is committed to treating every road which needs to be treated – whenever it is needed.”
Police also reported a 200 per cent increase in 999 calls last night during the “inclement weather”, seeing them urgently send a reminder.
Essex police wrote: “If it is not an emergency and the incident you wish to speak to us about is not happening right now, please do not call 999.
“Instead, you can report this online or call us on 101.”
It comes as a landlord was forced to lay out mattresses after 40 people, including babies and kids, had to abandon their cars.
Dr Alexandra Loske was one of those sheltering at the Bear Inn near Burwash, East Sussex, telling the BBC the snow was “biblical”.
But pub manager Pauline Wilson, 38, said the atmosphere was fantastic as guests guzzled hot chocolate and chowed down pigs in blankets.
On Monday, London Gatwick Airport said flights were operational and the airport remains open despite freezing weather causing some delays and cancellations.
London Stansted Airport says it remains “fully open and operational” but asks passengers to contact airlines for further flight information.
Emirates passengers at Gatwick Airport were found sleeping in the corridors early on Monday after flights were cancelled due to snow.
Schools are also being forced to shut due to the freezing weather – find out if your kids are affected here.
Met Office chief meteorologist, Steve Willington, earlier said: “It is staying cold with daytime temperatures remaining only a few degrees above freezing in many places over the coming days.
“Overnight temperatures dropping to -10C or lower in isolated spots.
“Although below average, these temperatures are not that unusual for this time of year.
“There is still a risk we could see some freezing fog in places particularly southern England, especially for Sunday and Monday mornings.
“And there is also a small risk of a band of sleet or snow moving into the far Southeast on Sunday.
“If this happens it could potentially bring some disruption, especially to rush hour on Monday.”
The UKHSA is advising people to look out for friends and family who are vulnerable in the cold and to ensure they have access to warm food and drinks.
Although below average, these temperatures are not that unusual for this time of year.
Steve Willington
It stressed people should maintain indoor temperatures of at least 18C.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, consultant in public health medicine at UKHSA, said: “Cold weather can have serious consequences for health and older people and those with heart or lung conditions can be particularly at risk.
“If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you.
“In rooms you mostly use such as the living room or bedroom, try to heat them to at least 18C if you can.
“Keep your bedroom windows closed at night. Wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer.”
Commuters wait for the tube in the snow at Leytonstone, East London, as snow sparks travel carnage across the country[/caption]
A man tows a toboggan as cold weather continues in Hertford[/caption]
People looking at a frozen lake in Richmond Park in South West London[/caption]
A girl charges down a snow covered hill on a sledge in Greenwich Park in South East London[/caption]
One Twitter user said he was stuck for 2.5 hours between junctions 26 and 25 northbound of M25 on Monday morning[/caption]
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Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Channelled Its Anti-Capitalist Subtext Into a Single, Incredible Punch
Is Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury about the drive for personal revenge through the medium of giant robots? Yes. Is it about the gender dynamics of space exploration defined by economics over environment? Yes. Is it about space lesbians? Hopefully, yes. But right now, it’s also about an anti-capitalist…