Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 23, 2015

THE WORLD AROUND US

14

Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 23, 2015 


SCIENTISTS AT KECK OBSERVATORY DISCOVER THE FLUFFIEST GALAXIES

An international team of researchers led by Pieter 
van Dokkum of Yale University has used the W. 
M. Keck Observatory to confirm the existence of 
the most diffuse class of galaxies known in the 
universe. These “fluffiest galaxies” are nearly as 
wide as our own Milky Way galaxy—about 60,000 
light-years—yet harbor only one percent as many 
stars. The findings were recently published in the 
Astrophysical Journal Letters.

 “If the Milky Way is a sea of stars, then these 
newly discovered galaxies are like wisps of clouds,” 
said van Dokkum. “We are beginning to form some 
ideas about how they were born and it’s remarkable 
they have survived at all. They are found in a dense, 
violent region of space filled with dark matter and 
galaxies whizzing around, so we think they must 
be cloaked in their 
own invisible dark 
matter ‘shields’ 
that are protecting 
them from this 
intergalactic 
assault.”

 The team 
made the latest 
discovery by 
combining results 
from one of the 
world’s smallest 
telescopes as well 
as the largest 
telescope on Earth. 
The Dragonfly 
Telephoto 
Array used 
14-centimeter 
state of the art 
telephoto lens 
cameras to 
produce digital 
images of the 
very faint, diffuse 
objects. Keck 
Observatory’s 
10-meter Keck I 
telescope, with its 
Low Resolution 
Imaging 
Spectrograph, 
then separated the 
light of one of the 
objects into colors 
that diagnose its 
composition and 
distance.

 Finding the distance was the clinching evidence. 
The data from Keck Observatory showed the 
diffuse “blobs” are very large and very far away, 
about 300 million light-years, rather than small 
and close by. The blobs can now safely be called 
Ultra Diffuse Galaxies (UDGs).

 “If there are any aliens living on a planet in an 
ultra-diffuse galaxy, they would have no band of 
light across the sky, like our own Milky Way, to 
tell them they were living in a galaxy. The night 
sky would be much emptier of stars,” said team 
member Aaron Romanowsky, of San Jose State 
University.

 The UDGs were found in an area of the sky called 
the Coma cluster, where thousands of galaxies have 
been drawn together in a mutual gravitational 
dance. “Our fluffy objects add to the great diversity 
of galaxies that were previously known, from giant 
ellipticals that outshine the Milky Way, to ultra 
compact dwarfs,” said University of California, 
Santa Cruz Professor Jean Brodie.

 “The big challenge now is to figure out where 
these mysterious objects came from,” said Roberto 
Abraham, of the University of Toronto. “Are they 
‘failed galaxies’ that started off well and then ran 
out of gas? Were they once normal galaxies that got 
knocked around so much inside the Coma cluster 
that they puffed up? Or are they bits of galaxies that 
were pulled off and then got lost in space?”

 The key next step in understanding UDGs is 
to pin down exactly how much dark matter they 
have. Making this measurement will be even more 
challenging than the latest work.

 The W. M. Keck Observatory is located near the 
summit of Maunakea on the island of Hawaii. Its 
two, 10-meter optical/infrared telescopes feature a 
suite of advanced instruments including imagers, 
multi-object spectrographs, high-resolution 
spectrographs, integral-field spectrographs and 
world-leading laser guide star adaptive optics 
systems.

 Keck Observatory is a private 501(c) 3 non-profit 
organization and a scientific partnership of the 
California Institute of Technology, the University 
of California, and NASA.

 You can contact Bob Eklund at: b.eklund@
MtnViewsNews.com.


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

WATER RECYCLING RETROFITTING

 

 by Christopher Nyerges 

[This article is based-upon a chapter from Nyerges’ book “Squatter in Los Angeles,” available from 
Kindle, or from School of Self-Reliance, Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA or www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.
com.]


THOSE MAGNIFICENT MAY FLOWERS 

During California’s drought of 
the late 1970s, I helped many 
people disconnect their water 
lines from the city’s sewer line so 
their waste water (minus the toilet) could go into their 
yards, thereby using that water at least twice.

I mostly worked with Timothy Hall of the non-profit 
WTI, because he knew more about plumbing than I did 
at the time. We began by disconnecting a bathtub drain 
pipe from the sewer line of the non-profit’s facility. It 
didn’t take much time to disconnect the drain from 
under the bathtub, but we did have to crawl under the 
house in the narrow crawl space, getting covered with 
cobwebs and this very fine decomposed granite that 
stained our clothes and didn’t wash out. Then, we used 
old recycled galvanized pipes and connected the pieces 
until we had a line going all the way down hill about 
100 feet away to where trees would be planted for an 
orchard. 

We advertised as “ecology plumbers” who would go to 
your home and retrofit your sink or bathtub drain so 
the water would go outside. We knew this was illegal 
according to the Building and Safety codes of the City 
of Los Angeles, but there was also a drought during this 
time, and people wanted to get as much use out of their 
water as possible. Timothy and I did a half-dozen or 
so of these jobs at a fair price, much to the delight of 
renters and home-owners.

The City of Los Angeles representatives made a lot of 
noise about the people saving water and using less. 
The news notices of the day talked about a lot of very 
standard ways to save water: turn off the water when 
brushing teeth, water your yard at night, plant drought-
tolerant plants, use lots of mulch, don’t wash off the 
sidewalk, use a full load when you wash clothes, etc. 

But through my work with Timothy and with WTI, we 
went way beyond those very basic ways to save water. 
And we taught others how to do likewise.

For example, we advocated in the 1970s against having 
a front lawn, one of the biggest and pointless water 
wastes in the entire country. We collected rain water 
in our own low-tech way. We washed a few items of 
clothes every time we took a bath. And we altered our 
own plumbing so that the kitchen and bathtub water 
could flow right outside into the garden. And it turned 
out that this last method – known today as “grey 
water recycling” – was then, and might still be, illegal 
according to the Department of Building and Safety 
of the City of Los Angeles. The rationale for this being 
illegal is that everyone has their own way of doing it and 
some folks are less careful than others. The city didn’t 
want pools of water outside homes and apartments 
which raise mosquitoes and possibly attract rats or 
roaches or worse. 

Still, we focused on kitchen sink and bathtub water, 
and we only did it where it could be done easily by 
gravity and where it would not be a problem. In one 
case, we disconnected the drain from under a second-
story kitchen sink, and attached a PVC drain pipe that 
had to go through the wall to the outside. We had to 
drill an appropriate sized hole, and then we attached 
the hardware to it which would allow the owner to 
screw on a garden hose. The garden hose was then 
moved around as needed by the homeowner so that the 
water would flow under fruit trees, ornamentals, or the 
garden.

We advised the customers that they should only buy dish 
soaps that contained no dyes or perfumes. Phosphates 
weren’t a big issue, as they are when your detergents 
flow into the Los Angeles County sewer system, and 
eventually flows out to the ocean. Phosphates in the soil 
act as a fertilizer. Timothy and I were delighted to do 
some part-time work that we enjoyed, and we felt made 
a difference in the world. Furthermore, for a few hours 
work, I would earn close to $50, which made me think I 
was pretty close to a millionaire for a day.

Also, since I had potted plants and a little nursery 
just outside the kitchen door, I would simply take 
the plastic dish pan when done washing dishing, and 
empty the water onto the plants. This is probably one 
of the easiest ways to recycle household water with no 
cost of retrofitting. It is really a no-brainer – even my 
mother did that consistently at her Pasadena home, and 
would yell at me and my brothers if we did not do so. 
“Why are you so lazy?” she’d chide us. “Take that water 
outside and water the roses!”

Later, in another home, I did the same thing with the 
washing machine, and kitchen, but not the bathtub 
because there was no way to use gravity for the water 
to flow outside. Still later, at a house I rented, I sent all 
the kitchen and bathwater out into the yard. I mulched 
heavily and would often toss seeds right out the kitchen 
window. When I finally left this little cabin in Altadena, 
a 15 foot avocado tree had grown in about 5 years from 
one of my seeds that I’d tossed out the window, and was 
producing fruit with no grafting. 

It made sense then, and it makes sense now, to recycle 
all one’s water. And despite all the smiley talk and 
encouragement from the folks at city hall, the right 
hand of the city does not always agree with the left 
hand. If and when Building and Safety finds out you are 
doing “illegal” greywater recycling, you’ll be cited and 
asked to hook back up to the sewer. The alternative is 
to buy the pumps and holding tanks they now require 
for this, and the expensive permit, upwards of about 
$10,000. And that price means that anyone smart will 
simply not talk to city hall, but find ways to “go green” 
safely and inexpensively.

Perhaps today because there are more and more of us 
residing on smaller and smaller parcels of land, many 
of the simple and common-sense things that we just did 
with no regard for any government dictates or rules is 
not as possible today. This isn’t because it’s not a good 
idea, but rather because not everyone takes the time to 
recycle and to compost in a way that is hygienic and 
sightly. 

Whatever the argument, I still believe that the simplest 
path is the best, and that the most natural course 
of action is the most ideal for the most people. That 
which has worked for millennia should still work as 
long as people are willing to slow down, and quit their 
blind faith in a technological god that they think will 
miraculously save us. 

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I 
were sitting on the back porch admiring the 
close of the day. Nothing is more relaxing 
than sitting together drinking coffee, glad 
that another day has quietly slipped by.

 Out of the clear blue sky my wife said, 
“Aren’t those flowers just magnificent?”

 I grunted a little grunt of satisfaction to 
which she replied, “Which do you like? The 
roses or the tulips?”

 Now I was in a bit of a predicament. I hate 
it when I get into a predicament, which is 
usually not my doing. I like to get along with 
people and just agree with them. What I hate 
is when people ask me a question and I really 
do not have an answer.

 As to, which flower I liked, I really do not 
know the difference between a rose and a tulip. 
To me a flower is either yellow or blue. That is 
the only different kinds of flowers I know. But 
not so with my gardening connoisseur wife. 
Every flower has a name and you had better 
give it the right name.

 As far as I am concerned, a flower is a 
flower. The purpose of a flower is to enjoy it; 
enjoy its look and its fragrance. All I can say 
about a flower is, “That’s a pretty flower.”

 This certainly is not acceptable to my wife. 
Every flower must be treated with the dignity 
they have earned.

 When it comes to flowers, especially the 
flowers in our backyard, my wife knows them 
all by name and their history from the time 
they were but a humble seed put into the 
ground. Personally, I do not have the time to 
invest in something like that. I find it strange 
talking to a flower. Talking to nuts, maybe, but 
not a flower.

 “You should learn to appreciate flowers, 
especially the flowers in May.” At this point, 
I realized that I was in for conversation on 
flowers, whether I wanted to converse on 
flowers or not. Since I am a well-seasoned 
husband, I knew I just had to buckle down 
and endure it until it passed by.

 One of my favorite Scripture is, “This too 
shall pass.”

 “Don’t you remember what you were doing 
in April?”

 Her question caught me by surprise. I was 
not quite sure what April had to do with 
flowers in our backyard, but I was about to 
find out.

 “Don’t you remember that in April you 
were complaining about all the rain?” She said 
it rather sarcastically and I knew there was a 
point somewhere, but I was not getting it at 
this time. I did remember complaining about 
the rain.

 It seems strange that every time I want to 
do something outside, particularly in the 
month of April, I no sooner get outside then it 
starts to rain. I know we need rain. Why can’t 
it rain at night when I am catching some Z’s? 
That is what I would like to know. Why does 
rain have to inconvenience me?

 If I plan for some indoor activity, it never 
rains. If I plan for something outside it always 
rains. I am getting a little paranoid at this. I 
knew in a moment my wife would straighten 
me out on this one.

 “Remember that little rhyme that goes, 
‘April showers bring May flowers’? We have 
these marvelous flowers in the month of May 
because of the rain in April. I think you need 
to begin to appreciate the rain because of what 
it brings about.”

 Well, I did remember that old rhyme from 
school days. I just never put any kind of 
practicality to that sort of thing. It is not that 
I do not like poetry; I just do not understand 
poetry. And, just to set the record straight, I 
have written my share of poetry. However, 
poetry, especially my poetry, does not have 
anything to do with real life.

 My mind was soon to be changed. I got 
a lecture on the whole dimension of April 
showers and the effect on the May flowers. I 
only wish I had a recording of that because I 
could put it online and let everybody know 
about this.

 When my wife went into the house to get 
some coffee, I had a moment to muse on that 
whole “April shower” bringing “May flower” 
idea. I must admit, there is something to it.

 When I am going through a very difficult 
time, I sometimes wonder what in the world is 
the purpose of it all? I would like to go through 
life without any difficulties whatsoever. But, 
just like those “April showers,” the difficulties 
in life have a purpose down the road a bit.

 The trials of life have a purpose that may 
not be evident at the time, but given enough 
time, those “April showers” will bring some of 
those marvelous “May flowers.” This should 
encourage me in particular to appreciative 
the difficulties in my life. They are not there 
arbitrarily.

 James understood this when he wrote, “My 
brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into 
divers temptations; Knowing this, that the 
trying of your faith worketh patience. But let 
patience have her perfect work, that ye may be 
perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 
1:2-4).

 When my wife came back with the fresh 
coffee, I said to her, “Your May flowers are 
simply spectacular.” She smiled, then nodded 
and just looked at her May flowers.

 

Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family 
of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 
34483. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver 
Springs Shores. Call him at 1-866-552-2543 or 
e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net or website www.
jamessnyderministries.com.