Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, December 17, 2016

THE WORLD AROUND US

10

Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 17, 2016 


FIRST DETECTION OF BORON ON THE SURFACE OF MARS:

Boron has been identified for the first time on the surface of Mars, 

indicating the potential for long-term habitable groundwater in the ancient past.


“No prior mission to Mars has found boron,” said 
Patrick Gasda, a postdoctoral researcher at Los 
Alamos National Laboratory. “If the boron that 
we found in calcium sulfate mineral veins on 
Mars is similar to what we see on Earth, it would 
indicate that the groundwater of ancient Mars that 
formed these veins would have been 32-140 degrees 
Fahrenheit and neutral-to-alkaline pH.” The 
temperature, pH, and dissolved mineral content of 
the groundwater could make it habitable.

 The boron was identified by the rover’s laser-
shooting Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) 
instrument, which was developed at Los Alamos 
National Laboratory in conjunction with the 
French space agency.

 Boron is famously associated with arid sites 
where much water has evaporated away—think of 
the borax that mule teams once hauled from Death 
Valley. However, environmental implications 
of the boron found by Curiosity are still open to 
debate. 

 As the rover has progressed uphill, compositions 
trend toward more clay and more boron. These 
and other variations can tell us about conditions 
under which sediments were initially deposited 
and about how later groundwater moving through 
the accumulated layers altered and transported 
ingredients.

 Groundwater and chemicals dissolved in it that 
appeared later on Mars left its effects most clearly 
in mineral veins that filled cracks in older layered 
rock. But it also affected the composition of that 
rock matrix surrounding the veins, and the fluid 
was in turn affected by the rock.

 “There is so much variability in the composition 
at different elevations, we’ve hit a jackpot,” said 
John Grotzinger, of Caltech. As the rover gets 
further uphill, researchers are impressed by the 
complexity of the lake environments when clay-
bearing sediments were being deposited and also 
by the complexity of the groundwater interactions 
after the sediments were buried.

 “A sedimentary basin such as this is a 
chemical reactor,” Grotzinger said. “Elements 
get rearranged. New minerals form and old ones 
dissolve. Electrons get redistributed. On Earth, 
these reactions support life.”

 Whether Martian life has ever existed is still 
unknown. No compelling evidence for it has been 
found. When Curiosity landed in Mars’ Gale Crater 
in 2012, the mission’s main goal was to determine 
whether the area ever offered an environment 
favorable for microbes.

 Four recent drilling sites, from “Oudam” this 
past June through “Sebina” in October, are spaced 
about 80 feet apart in elevation. This uphill pattern 
allows the science team to sample progressively 
younger layers that reveal Mount Sharp’s ancient 
environmental history.

 “Variations in these minerals and elements 
indicate a dynamic system,” Grotzinger said. “They 
interact with groundwater as well as surface water. 
The water influences the chemistry of the clays, 
but the composition of the water also changes. 
We are seeing chemical complexity indicating a 
long, interactive history with the water. The more 
complicated the chemistry is, the better it is for 
habitability. The boron and clay underline the 
mobility of elements and electrons, and that is 
good for life.”

 

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


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges

OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

WHO IS SANTA CLAUS? PART I

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS... 

[Nyerges is an author / 
lecturer / educator who 
has written such books as 
“Extreme Simplicity,” “How 
to Survive Anywhere,” 
“Guide to Wild Foods,” and 
other books. Information about his books and classes 
is available at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance, or Box 
41834, Eagle Rock,CA 90041]

 Recently, I heard a discussion on the radio 
where two seemingly normal and sane adults 
were arguing about the racial heritage of “Santa 
Claus.” They argued about whether Santa was 
white or black. Really?

 A few years ago, I recall a Christian woman 
complaining that Santa Claus has gained a more 
prominent role during the Christmas season 
than the Jesus child. She argued that this was 
a sign that “we” have allowed secularism – 
and maybe even paganism – to creep into the 
Christmas tradition. Really?

 So, who is Santa Claus? Isn’t he just a fictitious 
jolly man to make us feel happy during the dark 
of December? Not really. There actually was an 
historical figure, upon which “Santa Claus” is 
based.

 Nikolaos of Myra was an historical 4th century 
Bishop in the Catholic church of Asia Minor 
(modern-day Demre, Turkey). He was born on 
March 15, 270, in Pataya, Lycia, in Asia Minor, 
what is now modern Turkey. At that time, 
however, the area was culturally Greek, and was 
politically a part of the Roman diocese of Asia. 
He was the only child of wealthy Greek parents, 
who both died in an epidemic when Nicholas 
was young. Nicholas inherited much from his 
parents, and was then raised by his uncle (also 
named Nicholas), who was a Bishop of Patara, 
and who trained young Nicholas into priesthood.

 Nicholas was said to be religious from an early 
age, and he always fasted on Wednesdays and 
Fridays. 

 Because of his outspoken beliefs, he was 
persecuted by the Romans and was imprisoned 
during the persecution of Diocletian.

 In case you never heard of the “persecution of 
Diocletian” (I hadn’t), it was the most severe of the 
persecutions against Christians, simply because 
they were Christians, in the Roman Empire. It 
was also known as the “Great Persecution.” In 
303, four emperors issued a series of dictatorial 
laws which essentially did away with any legal 
rights of Christians. The edicts demanded that 
the Christians comply with traditional Roman 
“religious” practices, meaning, giving sacrifices 
to the various so-called Roman gods. This 
persecution was severe, and was weakest in the 
British colonies where the Empire had the least 
sway. It was the most severe in the Eastern 
provinces, where Nicholas lived. 

 Since Nicholas refused to worship the Roman 
gods, he was imprisoned, and suffered hardship, 
hunger, and cold for about 5 years. With the 
rise of Constantine, the persecutions came to 
an end in 313. With Constantine in power, 
Nicholas was released. Constantine is known 
for “Christianizing” the Roman Empire, and re-
naming all the Mythraic and so-called “pagan” 
holidays so they could all now be regarded as 
Christian holidays.

 Shortly after his return to his homeland in 317 
A.D., Nicholas became the Bishop of Myra. 

 He was later invited to attend the First Council 
of Nicaea in 325, the famous council where much 
of the modern dogma of the Catholic church 
was determined. Nicholas of Myra was one of 
many bishops to participate in the Council at 
Constantine’s request. He is listed as the 151st 
attendee at the Council. There, Nicholas was a 
staunch anti-Arian. Arius, from Alexandria, held 
that the Son of God did not always exist, but was 
created by the Father. Nicholas disagreed with 
Arius, and defended the developing orthodox 
Christian viewpoint. According to stories told, 
Nicholas got so angry at Arius that he punched 
him in the face! Really? Proto-Santa Claus 
punches a fellow man of the cloth? Really? 

Part II Continued Next Week...

Every family has those 
traditions and days that 
help define their family. I 
personally know some families (although I shall 
not divulge any names unless there is enough 
cash present) that are adequately defined by 
April 1.

 Christmas Eve clearly defines me.

 Christmas Eve means many things to me. 
For one, it means shopping. Yes, it is true; I do 
all my Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. 
It cuts down on the stress. I know some people 
who spend weeks shopping and their life is full 
of stress.

 Unlike me in many ways, the Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage begins her Christmas 
shopping in January and by August, she is in 
full shopping mode. There should be a law that 
any present bought before December cannot be 
considered a Christmas present.

 When the children were still at home, I was 
just as eager as they were on Christmas morning 
to see what I had bought them for Christmas. 
They always appreciated the thought that went 
into their gift. You did not hear this from me, 
but sometimes my wife was surprised at the gift 
as well.

 There have been times, and again you did 
not hear it from me, when my wife bought a 
Christmas present and forgot about it by the time 
December rolled around. Once, and I will never 
repeat this, we discovered a cache of Christmas 
presents in the corner of our garage when we 
were packing to move. Only Santa really knows 
how long they were there.

 Up to this year, I have successfully eluded such 
Christmas faux pas. My Christmas Eve starts 
bright and early in the morning. My first stop 
is the “Slurp ‘N Burp Café” for a big breakfast. 
After an early breakfast, it is off to the mall for 
my Christmas Eve ritual of shopping. I only go 
to the mall once a year.

 It is a tradition with me. My philosophy is, 
the more torturous the shopping experience the 
more the recipient will appreciate the gift. For 
me, nothing is more torturous than a visit at the 
local shopping mall.

 Some go to the mall for pleasure and recreation. 
I go for penitence.

 The average mall is so anti-man that every man 
enters its doors at his own peril. Many insurance 
companies have a disclosure, in fine print, in 
their policies to men making all insurance 
claims invalid when in a shopping mall.

 Shopping malls are deliberately designed to 
frustrate the male equation of the marital state 
of mind. Let me list a few observations in this 
regard: Is it just me, or do they move the mall 
stores around from year to year just to confuse 
the average man? Why is it, no matter what door 
I enter the mall it is never there when I want to 
leave?

 Once inside the mall it only takes me 
three hours to acclimate myself to the hostile 
environment. By that time, I am hopelessly lost. 
As I wander aimlessly around the mall, I try to 
remember why I am there. One of the things 
on my shopping agenda is a Christmas present 
for my wife. Although I have had over 45 years 
experience in this, I am no better off then our 
first Christmas.

 In all those years, I have given her everything 
from jewelry to perfume to bubble bath. At this 
stage in my life, I do not know what to get her.

 Last year I was tempted to wrap myself and put 
the box under the tree, but I was afraid I would 
suffocate by Christmas morning. As I wandered 
from store to store, I could not find anything to 
buy for her. I could get her a card with money in 
it but I’m afraid the check would bounce - and 
then I would.

 If I bought her a dress, I would only be putting 
my life on the line. If the dress I bought were too 
small, she would be offended to think I thought 
she was gaining weight. If the dress I bought 
was too large – well, you know what that would 
mean.

 If I did not get her something, I would look 
pretty silly come Christmas morning – I mean 
sillier than usual.

 Wandering in and out of store after store 
brought me no closer to that gift of all gifts that 
would say, “I think you’re terrific.”

 I was exhausted and about to give up and go 
home in shameful disgrace. Then, when I was 
about to give up, there it was. The perfect gift. 
I could not believe my eyes. I rubbed them in 
disbelief and loudly exclaimed, “Yes, Virginia, 
there is a Santa Claus after all.”

 I wept, I laughed, I burped (musta been the 
soda). Right before my eyes was the perfect gift 
for my wife. A gift that said, “Honey, you’re the 
greatest.” Watching the salesperson carefully 
wrap my Christmas trophy, I could not help 
thinking about the real meaning of Christmas.

God searched all of heaven to find that one 
special gift to tell mankind how much He really 
loved them. Finding nothing better, He settled 
on that Gift of all gifts, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his 
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 
him should not perish, but have everlasting life” 
(John 3:16).

 My Christmas prayer is that this year you will 
celebrate with me God’s gift of eternal life in 
Jesus Christ.

 

 Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God 
Fellowship, Ocala, FL 34483, where he lives with 
the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone 
1-866-552-2543, e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. 
Website is www.jamessnyderministries.com.


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