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Friday, December 31, 2010

Zucchero & Paul Young - Senza Una Donna (Without a Woman)


Senza Una Donna - Without A Woman (feat. Paul Young) Lyrics

I change the world
I change the world
(Uh! Uh!)
I change the world
I wanna change the world
(Uh! Uh! Uh!)

This ain't the way I spend my mornings baby
Come stai? (how are you?)
You've been with him,
And now you come back lady
What's he like?
I just sit, and what the ocean
By myself, even doing my own cooking
You can laugh, you're forgiven, but
I'm no longer frightened, to be living

Senza una donna
No more pain and no sorrow
Senza una donna
I'll make it through tomorrow
Senza una donna
Giving me torture and bliss
Without a woman, ah, better like this

There is no way,
That you can buy me baby
Don't make fun
You got to dig a little deeper lady
In the heart?
Yeah, if you have one
Here's my heart, feel the power
Look at me, I'm a flower
You can laugh, you're forgiven, but
I'm no longer frightened, to be living, yeah

Senza una donna
No more pain and no sorrow
Senza una donna
I'll make it through tomorrow
Senza una donna
Giving my torture and bliss
Oooh, Oooh...

I stay here and, watch the ocean
Don't know why, don't know why, I keep on talking
You may laugh, you're forgiven, but
I'm no longer frightened (maybe)
To be living

Senza una donna
No more pain and no sorrow
Senza una donna
I'll make it through tomorrow
Senza una donna
Giving me torture and bliss
Without a woman, Vieni qui! Come on in

Senza una donna
I don't know what might follow
Senza una donna
Oh maybe from tomorrow!
Senza una donna
Giving me torture and bliss

USA - Washington DC museums - Well recommended!

Museums

Friday, December 31, 2010; T19

Museums
Openings

"JOURNEY THROUGH HALLOWED GROUND" Local artists commemorate the Civil War's sesquicentennial with works related to the conflict, opening Tuesday at the Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas. Open daily, except Monday, 10 to 5. 703-330-2787. www.manassascity.org. $5, $4 seniors and children, free for age 5 and younger.

"SLICES OF LIFE" A group exhibit with works by Jerry Berry, Lucy Blankstein, Chuck Bress, Zandra Chestnut, Keith Egli, Nicholas Fan, Lee Goodwin, Michael Oberman, Arlene Polangin and Jerry Weinstein, opening Sunday at the Ratner Museum, 10001 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda. Open Sunday 10 to 4:30, Monday-Thursday noon to 4. 301-897-1518. www.ratnermuseum.com. Free.

EXHIBITIONS

ACADEMY ART MUSEUM "Constructed Spaces: Contemporary Color Photography," through Feb. 13. An exhibition including large-scale work by Edward Burtynsky, William Christenberry and others. Open Friday-Monday 10 to 4, Tuesday-Thursday 10 to 8. 106 South St., Easton. 410-822-2787. www.academyartmuseum.org. $3, 12 and younger free.

AIR AND SPACE/DOWNTOWN "Beyond: Visions of Our Solar System," through May 2. Open indefinitely: "The Wright Brothers and the Invention of the Aerial Age." "Explore the Universe." "How Things Fly." "America by Air." "Apollo to the Moon." "Early Flight." "Flight Simulator Zone." "Milestones of Flight." "Sea-Air Operations." "Space Race." "Moving Beyond Earth." An interactive exhibition that explores recent advances made in human spaceflight, including the space shuttle and space station. "Barron Hilton: Pioneers of Flight Gallery." The museum's exhibit of aviation and rocketry in the 1920s and '30s reopened with additional artifacts, such as Anne Lindbergh's telegraph key and hands-on activities for kids. Open from 10 to 7:30 on Friday and Saturday. Open daily 10 to 5:30. Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW. 202-633-1000. www.nasm.si.edu. Free.

AIR AND SPACE/DULLES Open indefinitely: "Business Aviation." "Commercial Aviation." "Human Spaceflight." "Rockets and Missiles." "Sport Aviation." "Vertical Flight." "World War II Aviation." Open from 10 to 6:30 through Saturday. Open daily 10 to 5:30. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy., Chantilly. 202-633-1000. www.nasm.si.edu/UdvarHazy. Free.

ALEXANDRIA BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM "Style and Identity: Black Alexandria in the 1970s, Portraits by Horace Day," through April 30. A look at Alexandria through portraits. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 to 4. 902 Wythe St., Alexandria. 703-746-4356. www.alexblackhistory.org. $2.

AMERICAN HISTORY "The Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey - Where Art and History Intersect," through May 1. A look at African American history through books, sculptures, paintings, manuscripts and vintage photographs, some dating to 1632. "A Gateway to the 19th Century: The William Steinway Diary, 1861-1896," through April 8. An exhibit on the diary kept by William Steinway, the first president of the piano company Steinway & Sons, that tracks the Civil War and the development of New York City. Open indefinitely: "Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life." More than 60 artifacts associated with Lincoln's life. Open 10 to 7:30 through Thursday. Open daily 10 to 5:30. 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-633-1000. www.americanhistory.si.edu. Free.

AMERICAN VISIONARY ART MUSEUM "What Makes Us Smile?" through Sept. 4. A look at human joy through cartoons, costumes and other laugh-inducing items. Open daily, except Mondays, 10 to 6. 800 Key Hwy., Baltimore. 410-244-1900. www.avam.org. $15.95, $13.95 seniors, $9.95 students, free for age 6 and younger.

ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY MUSEUM "Word, Shout, Song: Lorenzo Dow Turner Connecting Communities Through Language," through July 24. An exhibit highlighting the 1930s discovery that the Gullah people of Georgia and South Carolina still possessed parts of the language and culture of their enslaved African ancestors. Open indefinitely: "Separate and Unequaled: Black Baseball in the District of Columbia." An examination of the popularity of the national pastime when played by African Americans. Open daily 10 to 5. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. www.anacostia.si.edu. Free.

ART MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAS "Argentina in Focus: Visualizing the Concept," through Sunday. Works by Cristian Segura and Sergio Vega. "Vidas Minadas: Diez Anos" ("Mined Lives: Ten Years"), through Sunday. A solo exhibition by the artist will be on display on the museum's second floor. Open daily, except Monday, 10 to 5. 201 18th St. NW. 202-458-6016. www.museum.oas.org. Free.

ARTHUR M. SACKLER GALLERY "Gods of Angkor: Bronzes From the National Museum of Cambodia," through Jan. 23. A collection of Cambodian sculptures. "Fiona Tan: Rise and Fall," through Jan. 16. A collection of stills and video from the Indonesian artist. Open indefinitely: "Contemporary Japanese Porcelain." "Sculpture of South and Southeast Asia." "Xu Bing: Monkeys Grasping for the Moon." "Korean Ceramics." "Taking Shape: Ceramics in Southeast Asia." Open daily 10 to 5:30. 1050 Independence Ave. SW. 202-633-1000. www.asia.si.edu. Free.

BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART "Advancing Abstraction in Modern Sculpture," through Feb. 20. Abstract sculptures by modern artists, including David Smith. "Andy Warhol: The Last Decade," through Jan. 9. More than 50 Warhol works spanning the last years of his career, known for his large-scale works. $15 adults, $12 seniors, $5 students and ages 6 to 18, free for age 5 and younger. Open indefinitely: exhibits include the Cone Collection of postimpressionist and early-modern art, Old Masters galleries, the American Wing of American decorative arts, the Garrett and Lucas collections of prints and drawings, and the Saidie A. May collection of art since 1900. Open Wednesday-Friday 10 to 5, Saturday-Sunday 11 to 6. 10 Art Museum Dr., Baltimore. 443-573-1700. www.artbma.org. Free.

CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER "E Pluribus Unum - Out of Many, One." Artifacts, video and architectural models illustrate the history of Congress and the Capitol. Open Monday-Saturday 8:30 to 4:30. First and East Capitol streets NE. 202-226-8000. www.visitthecapitol.gov. Free.

CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM "Ben Gest: Commissure," through Jan. 23. Gest's photographs capture subjects deep in thought during everyday moments. Open Tuesday-Saturday 11 to 5. 100 W. Centre St., Baltimore. 410-783-5720. www.contemporary.org. Free.

CORCORAN "Spencer Finch: My Business, With the Cloud," through Jan. 23. The local artist examines clouds in this exhibit presented as part of the "NOW at the Corcoran" series. Open indefinitely: The collection includes "Treasures of European Decorative Art and Sculpture," "The European Landscape," the Salon Dore French gilt room, 16th-century Italian earthenware, 17th- to 20th-century European paintings and 18th- to 20th-century American paintings. "Nature as Nation: 19th Century American Landscapes From the Collection." Open Wednesday-Sunday 10 to 5. 500 17th St. NW. 202-639-1700. www.corcoran.org. $10, $8 students and seniors, free for children younger than 12.

DUMBARTON HOUSE The circa-1800 headquarters of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America houses a collection of 18th- and 19th-century English and American furniture, ceramics, silver, textiles and paintings. Open Saturday and Sunday 11 to 3, Tuesday-Friday 10 to 4. 2715 Q St. NW. 202-337-2288. www.dumbartonhouse.org. $5, free for students.

DUMBARTON OAKS MUSEUM "American Art at Dumbarton Oaks," through Feb. 13. American paintings, prints and sculptures from the museum's collection. Open Tuesday-Sunday 2 to 5. 1703 32nd St. NW. 202-339-6401. www.doaks.org. Free.

FAIRFAX MUSEUM Open indefinitely: "The Fairfax Story.""Historic Postcards of Fairfax: Images From the Tony Chaves Collection." Open daily 9 to 5. 10209 Main St., Fairfax. 703-385-8414. Free.

FREEMAN STORE AND MUSEUM "Treasures From Our Attic," through April 30. Items such as clothing, tools, toys and photographs from the collections of Historic Vienna Inc. will be in display. Open Wednesday-Saturday noon to 4 and Sunday 1 to 5. 131 Church St. NE, Vienna. 703-938-5187. www.historicviennainc.org. Free.

FREER GALLERY "Cornucopia: Ceramics From Southern Japan," through Jan. 9. A variety of glazed and decorated objects crafted over a period of 300 years beginning in the 17th century. "Chinamania: Whistler and the Victorian Craze for Blue and White," through Aug. 1. The 23 pieces in this small exhibit include blue-and-white Chinese ceramic dishes, as well as drawings, paintings and etchings by James McNeill Whistler, the American expatriate who helped popularize Chinese porcelain in Victorian England. Open indefinitely: "Arts of the Islamic World." "Freer & Whistler: Points of Contact." "Small Masterpieces: Whistler Paintings From the 1880s." "Ancient Chinese Jades and Bronzes." More than 100 pieces in jade and bronze showing the Liangzhu culture and its impact on future art. Open daily 10 to 5:30. Jefferson Drive and 12th Street SW. 202-633-1000. www.asia.si.edu. Free.

HEURICH HOUSE MUSEUM This late-Victorian-era home of a prominent German immigrant and Washington brewer features original 1890s interiors and furnishings. Tours are Thursday and Friday at 11:30 and 1 and Saturday at 11:30, 1 and 2:30. 1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW. 202-429-1894. www.heurichhouse.org. $5.

HILLWOOD "A Photographic Journey of the Ambassador's Daughter: Moscow 1937-38," through May 29. A collection of 30 photographs of Russia taken by Emlen Knight Davies, daughter of the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union. Open indefinitely: The former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post displays her collection of Russian and French decorative art and maintains 13 acres of formal gardens. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 to 5. 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. 202-686-5807. www.hillwoodmuseum.org. $12, $10 seniors, $7 students, $5 ages 6 to 18.

HIRSHHORN "Colorforms," through Sunday. The exhibit explores the history of artists' fascinations with abstract color from World War II to the present. "Guillermo Kuitca: Everything, Paintings and Works on Paper, 1980 - 2008," through Jan. 16. More than two decades of paintings, including 45 canvases and 20 works on paper, by the Argentine artist. Open daily 10 to 5:30; sculpture garden open 7:30 a.m. to dusk. Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. 202-633-1000. www.hirshhorn.si.edu. Free.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON "East of the River: Continuity and Change," through Saturday. A traveling exhibit of the Anacostia Community Museum, this display looks at Washington communities east of the river. Open indefinitely: "March on Washington: 45th Anniversary." Open daily 10 to 5. 801 K St. NW. 202-383-1850. www.historydc.org. Free.

INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM Open indefinitely: Displays of wristwatch cameras, poison gas guns, a World War II Enigma cipher machine and other coding machines and disguises. "Weapons of Mass Disruption." An examination of the history of and pressing issues pertaining to cybersecurity. Open Friday-Sunday 10 to 6, Monday-Thursday 10 to 4. 800 F St. NW. 202-393-7798. www.spymuseum.org. $18, seniors $17, ages 5 to 11 $15, younger free. Separate admission to "Operation Spy," $14 for age 12 and older; combination ticket $25.

KOSHLAND SCIENCE MUSEUM Open indefinitely: "Global Warming Facts & Our Future." "Infectious Disease: Evolving Challenges to Human Health." Open daily, except Tuesday, 10 to 6. Sixth and E streets NW. 202-334-1201. www.koshland-science-museum.org. $5, $3 seniors and students.

KREEGER MUSEUM The Philip Johnson-designed former residence of Carmen and David Kreeger displays their collection of 19th- and 20th-century paintings and sculpture, and traditional African art. Guided tours by reservation only Tuesday-Friday at 10:30 and 1:30. Open Saturday 10 to 4. 2401 Foxhall Rd. NW. 202-338-3552. www.kreegermuseum.org. $10, $7 seniors and students.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, JEFFERSON BUILDING Open indefinitely: "Exploring the Early Americas." "Creating the United States." American treasures including a draft of the Declaration of Independence. "Here to Stay: The Legacy of George and Ira Gershwin." Items including manuscripts, sheet music, letters and photographs highlight the lives of the Gershwin brothers. Open Monday-Saturday 8:30 to 4:30. 10 First St. SE. 202-707-4604. www.loc.gov. Free.

MADAME TUSSAUDS Wax figures of celebrities and historical figures. Open daily 10 to 6. 1025 F St. NW. 888-929-4632. www.madametussauds.com. $20, $18 age 50 and older, $15 ages 3 to 12, younger free.

MANASSAS MUSEUM "From the Ashes: Manassas Then and Now," through April 2. An exhibit highlighting the visual changes in Manassas since the Civil War. Open indefinitely: The collection comprises memorabilia of the Virginia Piedmont, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the early years of Manassas. Open daily, except Monday, 10 to 5. 9101 Prince William St., Manassas. 703-330-2787. www.manassascity.org. $5, $4 seniors and children, free for age 5 and younger.

MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY "Visions of Liberty," through Friday. Freedom depicted through patriotic art. Open indefinitely: "Maryland's Maritime Heritage: From Fells Point to the World." "Maryland Through the Artist's Eye." "Nipper's Toyland: 200 Years of Children's Playthings." Open Thursday-Saturday 10 to 5. 201 W. Monument St., Baltimore. 410-685-3750. www.mdhs.org. $4, $3 students, seniors and ages 13 to 17, free for age 12 and younger.

MERIDIAN INTERNATIONAL CENTER "The Glory of Ukraine: Sacred Images From the 11th to the 19th Centuries," through Jan. 16. Items from the collections of the oldest monastery in Ukraine, the Lviv National Museum and the Museum of National Cultural Heritage PlaTa, including textiles, crosses and pottery. Open Wednesday-Sunday 2 to 5. 1630 Crescent Pl. NW. 202-667-6800. www.meridian.org. Free.

MEXICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE "Weaving Diversity: Textiles From Oaxaca," through Feb. 26. An exhibit of attire common in the late 19th and 20th centuries from the Textile Museum of Oaxaca. 2829 16th St. NW. 202-728-1628. portal.sre.gob.mx. Free.

MOUNT VERNON Open indefinitely: The home and burial place of George Washington offers information and tours about the first president. "A Leader's Smile." The lower half of George Washington's dentures, as well as the first president's last remaining tooth, are displayed. "Bringing Them Home: 150 Years of Restoring the Washington Collection." Treasures found during the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association's 150-year pursuit of Washington artifacts. Open daily 9 to 4. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Alexandria. 703-780-2000. www.visit.mountvernon.org. $15, $14 seniors, $7 ages 6 to 11; free for age 5 and younger.

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, KECK CENTER "Art & Science," through April 2. An exhibit highlighting the artwork collection by the National Academy of Sciences, on display by appointment only. Open indefinitely: "Art and Science: Highlights From the Collection of the National Academy of Sciences." A display of artwork that explores the melding of arts and sciences, by appointment only. 500 Fifth St. NW. 202-334-2436. www.nationalacademies.org/arts. www.cpnas.org. Free.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES Open indefinitely: The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. "Polar Exploration." A display of items from polar expeditions, including the first successful attempt to reach the North Pole in 1909 by Robert Peary. "Discovering the Civil War: Part II," through April 17. The second part of the exhibit, titled "Consequences," teaches visitors about the two 13th Amendments to the Constitution proposed by Congress, documentation of the violence against African Americans and firsthand accounts of the Battle of Gettysburg. Open indefinitely: "The Charters of Freedom: Our Nation's Founding Documents." An exhibit placed alongside the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to highlight how each document came into being and its creation. Open daily 10 to 5:30. Constitution Avenue and Ninth Street NW. 202-357-5000. www.archives.gov. Free.

NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM "Lego Architecture: Towering Ambition," through Sept. 5. Architectural artist Adam Reed Tucker uses Lego blocks to re-create landmarks including the Empire State Building. "Designing Tomorrow: America's World's Fairs of the 1930s," through July 10. A look at the legacy of the fairs in Chicago, San Diego, Dallas, Cleveland, San Francisco and New York during the Great Depression. Open indefinitely: "Washington: Symbol and City." Open Sunday 11 to 5, Monday-Saturday 10 to 5. 401 F St. NW. 202-272-2448. www.nbm.org. Free, $5 donation suggested.

NATIONAL CAPITAL TROLLEY MUSEUM Open indefinitely: Antique street cars and trams; unlimited trolley rides through Northwest Branch Park. "Street Car Communities." Open Saturday-Sunday noon to 5. Northwest Branch Park, 1313 Bonifant Rd., Colesville. 301-384-6088. www.dctrolley.org. $7, $5 for seniors and ages 2 to 17.

NATIONAL FIREARMS MUSEUM "Hollywood Guns," through June 1. A display of firearms used in movies, including guns from "Die Hard" and "Pulp Fiction." Also included are weapons from "Star Wars" and "No Country for Old Men." Open indefinitely: The displays trace the evolution of firearms and their role in the history of the United States. A recently added wing includes 400 rare guns, some previously owned by royalty. Open daily 9:30 to 5. 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax. Free.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, EAST BUILDING "In the Tower: Mark Rothko," through Sunday. Black-on-black paintings that Rothko made in 1964 in connection with his work on a chapel for the Menil Collection in Houston. "American Modernism: The Shein Collection," through Sunday. An exploration of modernism's rise through avant-garde works by Marcel Duchamp, Georgia O'Keeffe, Man Ray and others. "Arcimboldo, 1526-1593: Nature and Fantasy," through Jan. 9. Paintings of composite heads by Giuseppe Arcimboldo make their first appearance in the United States. Open Monday-Saturday 10 to 5, Sunday 11 to 6. Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-737-4215. www.nga.gov. Free.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, WEST BUILDING "The Pre-Raphaelite Lens: British Photography and Painting, 1848-1875," through Jan. 30. A look at nearly 100 photographs and 20 paintings by British artists. Open indefinitely: "From Impressionism to Modernism: The Chester Dale Collection." Open Monday-Saturday 10 to 5, Sunday 11 to 6. Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-737-4215. www.nga.gov. Free.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC "Simply Beautiful: Photographs From National Geographic," through Feb. 6. Photographs based on the National Geographic's upcoming book, "Simply Beautiful." "Geckos: Tails to Toepads," through Wednesday. More than 75 live geckos from around the world. Open daily 9 to 5. 17th and M streets NW. 202-857-7588. www.nationalgeographic.com/museum. $4-$7.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART "African Mosaic: Celebrating a Decade of Collecting." A collection of 112 objects that represent 10 years of work toward building a permanent collection. Open daily 10 to 5:30. 950 Independence Ave. SW. 202-633-4600. africa.si.edu. Free.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CRIME & PUNISHMENT Open indefinitely: Various displays about the history of crime, crime-fighting and punishment in the United States. Ted Bundy's VW Beetle. Open Friday-Saturday 10 to 8, Sunday-Thursday 10 to 7. 575 Seventh St. NW. 202-393-1099. www.crimemuseum.org. Web tickets: $17.95, $14.95 seniors and ages 5 to 11, free for age 4 and younger. Regular tickets: $19.95, $16.95 seniors and ages 5 to 11, free for age 4 and younger. Local residents with valid I.D. receive $6 admission on Sundays.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE Open indefinitely: Displays about medicine, including the the world's largest and most representative collection of microscopes, human bodies and skeletons. "Abraham Lincoln: The Final Casualty of the War." The exhibit focuses on the last hours of Lincoln's life, including the bullet that killed him, the probe used to locate the bullet, bone fragments and hair from the site of the wound. Open daily 10 to 5:30. 6900 Georgia Ave. NW, Building 54. 202-782-2200. Free.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF LANGUAGE Open indefinitely: Displays about languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Cherokee and Latin. "The Emergence of American English." American English as it changed from the British English of around 1812. Open Tuesday and Saturday 10 to 4, and the first and third Sunday of the month 1 to 4. 7100 Baltimore Ave., College Park. 301-864-7071. www.languagemuseum.org. Free.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY "Cyprus: Crossroads of Civilizations," through May 1. A look at the history of the Mediterranean island over 1,000 years. Open indefinitely: Ocean Hall. "African Voices"; Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals; Hall of Paleobiology; FossiLab; Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals; Western Cultures Hall; Korea Gallery; Osteology: Hall of Bones; insect zoo and reptiles and amphibians. "Written in Bone: Forensic Files of the 17th-Century Chesapeake." Open 10 to 7:30 Friday and Saturday. Open daily 10 to 5:30. 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-633-1000. Free.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS "Books Without Words: The Visual Poetry of Elisabetta Gut," through Jan. 16. A display of visual poetry in the form of books, collage-poems and book-objects by the Italian artist. Open daily 10 to 5, Sunday noon to 5. 1250 New York Ave. NW. 202-783-5000. www.nmwa.org. $10, $8 seniors older than 65 and students, age 18 and younger free.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN "Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture," through Sunday. An exhibition highlighting the contribution of Native Americans to contemporary music, including Russell "Big Chief" Moore and Rita Coolidge. "Vantage Point: The Contemporary Native Art Collection," through Aug. 7. A look at the museum's contemporary art, including paintings, drawings and photographs, examining the past and present of Native Americans. Open indefinitely: Displays about the history and culture of Native Americans. "Our Universes: Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World." "Our Lives: Contemporary Life and Identities." "Our Peoples: Giving Voice to Our Histories." "Return to a Native Place: Algonquian Peoples of the Chesapeake." "Window on Collections: Many Hands, Many Voices." Open daily 10 to 5:30. Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW. 202-633-1000. www.nmai.si.edu. Free.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS "In Plane View," through Jan. 13. More than 50 photographs by Carolyn Russo illustrate iconic aircraft from the National Air and Space Museum, examining the aesthetics behind their design. Open daily 9 to 5. 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Triangle. 877-635-1775. www.usmcmuseum.com. Free.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY "Americans Now," through June 19. The National Portrait Gallery surveys the past 10 years in popular culture with a collection of portraits depicting individuals from sports, politics and entertainment. Portraits include the president and first lady, Cormac McCarthy, Martha Stewart, Willie Nelson, Michael Eisner and Toni Morrison. "Elvis at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer," through Jan. 23. Photographs capturing Elvis Presley's transition to an American icon, as well as American everyday life. "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture," through Feb. 13. A display of portraits from the late 19th century through today illustrates the changing social attitudes toward sexual difference and how they are depicted. Open indefinitely: "Glimpse of the Past: A Neighborhood Evolves." A photographic exploration of the neighborhood surrounding the Patent Office Building, one of the oldest federal buildings in Washington. Open daily 11:30 to 7. Eighth and F streets NW. 202-633-1000. www.npg.si.edu. Free.

NATIONAL POSTAL MUSEUM Open indefinitely: "The Art of Cards and Letters." "Binding the Nation." "Customers and Communities." "Moving the Mail." "Victory Mail." Open daily 10 to 5:30. 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. 202-633-5555. www.postalmuseum.si.edu. Free.

NAVY MUSEUM A display of naval artifacts, models, documents and fine art chronicling the history of the U.S. Navy dating to the American Revolution. Exhibits include a movable gun mount and an authentic periscope visitors can use to peer at the Anacostia River. Open Monday-Friday 9 to 5; open Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10 to 5. 805 Kidder Breese SE. 202-433-6897. www.history.navy.mil. Free.

NEWSEUM "Elvis! His Groundbreaking, Hip-Shaking, Newsmaking Story," through Feb. 14. An exhibit about Elvis Presley as he was portrayed in the media and how his music and physicality pushed boundaries. Includes private telegrams, letters and scrapbooks. "Covering Katrina," through Sept. 5. A look at the hurricane through the eyes of journalists covering it, including artifacts used by them as well as photos and news clips. Open indefinitely: "G-Men and Journalists: Top News Stories of the FBI's First Century." Coverage of the FBI's most famous investigations. Open daily 9 to 5. 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 888-639-7386. $19.95, $17.95 seniors, military and students, $12.95 ages 7 to 18 free age 6 and younger. Buy one, get one free between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 26.

ART MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAS, TERRACE LEVEL GALLERY "Al Margen," through Jan. 7. Petra Barth's photos showcase Latin America and the Caribbean from 2004 to the present. Open Monday through Friday 10 to 5. Terrace Level Gallery, 1889 F St., NW. 202-458-6016. www.museum.oas.org. Free.

PHILLIPS COLLECTION "Side by Side: Oberlin's Masterworks at the Phillips," through Jan. 16. Works from the Allen Memorial Art Museum at Oberlin and the Phillips's permanent collection, including Paul Cezanne, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Joseph Mallord and William Turner. "Installations: Jae Ko," through Feb. 20. The artist presents his three-part installation called "Force of Nature," made from packing paper. "Coburn and the Photographic Portfolio," through Jan. 9. In conjunction with "TruthBeauty," which includes 16 photographs by Alvin Langdon Coburn, selections of Coburn's book illustrations will be on display. "TruthBeauty: Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845-1945," through Jan. 9. More than 130 photographs that explores the evolution of pictorialism over 100 years. Open Sunday 11 to 6; Thursday 10 to 8:30; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 to 5. 1600 21st St. NW. 202-387-2151. www.phillipscollection.org. $12, $10 for seniors and students, free for age 18 and younger; weekdays by donation.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S COTTAGE "Being Lincoln," through July 31. A look into the lives of Abraham Lincoln impersonators and what it means to be like him beyond his iconic look. Open indefinitely: Multimedia tours give insight into the life of the 16th president. Tours run hourly Monday-Saturday 10 to 3, Sunday noon to 4. Visitors center is open Monday-Saturday 9:30 to 4:30, Sunday 11:30 to 5:30. Upshur Street and Rock Creek Church Road NW. 202-829-0436. www.lincolncottage.org. Admission to the visitor center is free. Tours cost $12, $5 ages 6 to 12.

RADIO AND TELEVISION MUSEUM Working vintage radios and televisions and related memorabilia. Open Friday 10 to 5, Saturday and Sunday 1 to 5. 2608 Mitchellville Rd., Bowie. 301-390-1020. www.radiohistory.org. Free, donations welcome.

RENWICK "The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts From the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942-1946," through Jan. 30. A showcase of arts and crafts created in World War II Japanese internment camps. "A Revolution in Wood: The Bresler Collection," through Jan. 30. This collection of 66 well-known works of turned and carved wood by artists such as Edward Moulthrop and Michelle Holzapfel was given to the Smithsonian by Fleur and Charles Bresler. Open daily 10 to 5:30. 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. 202-633-1000. americanart.si.edu. Free.

REYNOLDS CENTER FOR AMERICAN ART AND PORTRAITURE "Lost and Found: The Lesbian and Gay Presence in the Archives of American Art," through Feb. 11. A look at letters, photographs and writings that look into the lives of gay American artists. Daily 11:30 to 7. Eighth and F streets NW. 202-633-1000. www.aaa.si.edu. Free.

S. DILLON RIPLEY CENTER "The Healing Power of Art: Works of Art by Haitian Children After the Earthquake," through Jan. 9. Children express their feelings about the earthquake through art. "Southern Identity: Contemporary Argentine Art," through Jan. 23. A bilingual exhibition of artistic trends displayed in work by 22 Argentine contemporary artists. Open daily 10 to 5:30. 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. 202-633-1000. www.si.edu/ripley. Free.

SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM "Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell From the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg," through Sunday. Rockwell paintings collected by the two filmmakers. "John Gossage: The Pond," through Jan. 17. Between 1981 and 1985, John Gossage traveled the Washington suburbs with his camera to focus on a pocket of wild, untouched nature and published the book "The Pond." The exhibit is the first time all 53 gelatin silver prints will be on display. Open indefinitely: "Watch This! New Directions in the Art of the Moving Image." On display are nine works spanning 50 years, including Cory Arcangel's Nintendo-inspired "Video Painting," Jim Campbell's "Grand Central Station #2" display made from 1,728 LED lights and Kota Ezawa's three-dimensional digital animation, "LYAM 3D." Lower level open 10 a.m. through Sunday. Open daily 11:30 to 7. Eighth and F streets NW. 202-633-1000. www.americanart.si.edu. Free.

SMITHSONIAN CASTLE "Editor's Picks: The Best of Smithsonian Magazine's Seventh Annual Photo Contest," through Feb. 28. Thirty of the best photographs of more than 45,000 submissions in five categories: altered images, Americana, the natural world, people and travel. Open daily 10 to 5:30. 1000 Jefferson Dr. SW. 202-633-1000. www.si.edu/visit/infocenter/sicastle.htm. Free.

STABLER-LEADBEATER APOTHECARY MUSEUM Permanent collection. Shop furnishings, apothecary bottles and medicinal equipment speak to the role of medicine in early Alexandria. Open April-October, Sunday-Monday 1 to 5, Tuesday-Saturday 10 to 5; last tour at 4:45. Open November-March, Wednesday-Saturday 11 to 4, Sunday 1 to 4; last tour at 3:45. 105-107 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria. 703-746-3852. www.apothecarymuseum.org. $5; $3 ages 5-12; free for age 4 and younger.

TEXTILE MUSEUM "Colors of the Oasis: Central Asian Ikats," through March 13. A look at the museum's collection of ikats, clothing from central Asia that defined a man's status in society and wealth. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 to 5, Sunday 1 to 5. 2320 S St. NW. 202-667-0441. www.textilemuseum.org. Suggested donation $5.

THE LYCEUM "Patriotic and Public Spirited," through May 1. A display of ceramic wares showing the patriotism of Alexandria residents and its history. Open Monday-Saturday 10 to 5 and Sunday 1 to 5. 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria. 703-746-4994. www.alexandriahistory.org. $2 suggested donation.

TUDOR PLACE The National Historic Landmark and house museum offers a decorative arts collection, 5.5-acre garden and the largest George and Martha Washington collection outside the founding father's home. Special tour on domestic service every Thursday at 11. Open Sunday noon to 4, Tuesday-Saturday 10 to 4. 1644 31st St. NW. 202-965-0400. www.tudorplace.org. House tour $8, $6 seniors, $3 students, free for age 6 and younger; garden tour $3.

U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN "Seasons Greenings," through Sunday. A celebration how people use plants in holiday traditions. Open indefinitely: "Plants in Culture" and "Hawaii at the USBG." Explore the collection of more than 4,000 plants and a tropical rain forest. Open daily 10 to 5. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. www.usbg.gov. Free.

U.S. HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM Open indefinitely: "A Dangerous Lie: Protocols of the Elders of Zion." "Genocide Emergency: Darfur, Sudan." "Remember the Children: Daniel's Story." "State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda." The exhibit reveals how the Nazi Party used modern techniques to sway millions with its vision for a new Germany. Open daily 10 to 5:20. 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW. 202-488-0400. www.ushmm.org. Free.

U.S. NAVY MEMORIAL HERITAGE CENTER Ship models, artifacts, photographs and memorabilia. Open daily 9:30 to 5. Burke Theater, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-737-2300. www.navymemorial.org. Free.

VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS "Corot to Cezanne: French Drawings From the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon," through Sunday. More than 75 drawings and watercolors show the evolution of works on paper in France, including pieces by Bousin, Van Gogh and Picasso. "American Quilts: Selections From the Winterthur Collection," through Sunday. Quilts on loan from the Winterthur Museum in Delaware will be on display. "Sally Mann: The Flesh and the Spirit," through Jan. 23. Works by the contemporary Virginia photographer. Open Saturday-Wednesday 10 to 5, Thursday-Friday 10 to 9. 200 N. Boulevard, Richmond. 804-340-1400. www.vmfa.museum. $10, $8 for seniors and students and ages 7 to 17, younger free.

WALTERS "Walter Wick: Games, Gizmos and Toys in the Attic," through Sunday. A retrospective on the illustrator's work, including photographs, installation models and illustrations. "Beasts on Parchment: Picturing Animals in Medieval Manuscripts," through Feb. 6. A look at the creatures that fill the pages of medieval books and how medieval societies felt about them. "German Drawings From the Walters' Collection," through Feb. 13. Drawings acquired by the Walters family during travels to Germany in the 1860s will be on display. Open indefinitely: "Art of the Ancient Americas." "Palace of Wonders: The New Galleries of Renaissance and Baroque Art." Exhibits of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, Byzantine silver, medieval armor, Faberge eggs and 16th- through 19th-century paintings and sculpture. At Hackerman House: Chinese and Japanese porcelains, Japanese decorative arts, early Buddhist sculpture from China, and Southeast Asian art. Open Wednesday-Sunday 10 to 5. 600 N. Charles St., Baltimore. 410-547-9000. www.thewalters.org. Free.

WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL National Cathedral Creche Exhibit, through Jan. 7. Creche display from the cathedral's collection of more than 500 nativity sets. Open Monday-Saturday 10 to 4:30. Wisconsin and Massachusetts Avenues NW. 202-537-6200. www.nationalcathedral.org. Free.

WHITE HOUSE VISITORS CENTER Open indefinitely: "Furnishing the Nation's Home: Treasures From the President's House." "The Presidential Seal." "White House Pets." Open daily 7:30 to 4. 1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-208-1631. www.whitehouse.gov. Free.

WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE FOR AMERICA MEMORIAL Open indefinitely: "American Servicewomen in the Global War on Terror." World War II and Korean War artifacts and memorabilia. Open daily 8 to 7. Arlington National Cemetery, Memorial Bridge and Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington. 800-222-2294. 703-892-2606. www.womensmemorial.org. Free.

WOODROW WILSON HOUSE "The Art of First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson: American Impressionist," through April 10. A selection of 18 paintings by the former first lady, five on public display for the first time. Open indefinitely: Displays in his home evoke President Wilson's administration and his era. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 to 4. 2340 S St. NW. 202-387-4062. www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org. $7.50, $6.50 seniors, $3 students.

Galleries and Art Spaces
The District

ADDISON/RIPLEY "No Edition: Painterly Prints," through Jan. 22. Works by Lou Stovall. 1670 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-338-5180.

ALEX "Safe Harbors: New Works With Paintings From Ireland," through Friday. Bethesda artists Kim Abraham's images inspired by Ireland. 2106 R St. NW. 202-667-2599.

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE "Charley de Limur: Home Landscapes, Work From California, the East Coast and France," through Jan. 10. A solo show by the Californian artist. 2142 Wyoming Ave. NW. 202-234-7911.

AMERICAN PAINTING "Small Treasures," through Jan. 15. More than 100 works by members of the gallery, the Washington Society of Landscape Painters and guest artists. 5118 MacArthur Blvd. NW. 202-244-3244.

BUSBOYS AND POETS "Furious Dancing: The Art Exhibit," through Jan. 9. Works by 18 artists in honor of Alice Walker's book "Hard Times Require Furious Dancing." 1025 Fifth St. NW. 202-789-2227.

CARROLL SQUARE "Artwork by Tracy's Kids," through Jan. 7. Young cancer patients and their families use art as therapy. 975 F St. NW. 202-624-8643.

CENTER FOR DIGITAL IMAGING ARTS "CDIA Unleashed: Work by Graduates of the CDIA Photography Program," through Jan. 15. A juried exhibition of works by CDIA alums. 1055 Thomas Jefferson St. NW. 202-625-1110.

CHEVY CHASE PAVILION "Food Glorious Food VI: Sustainable and Scrumptious," through Feb. 6. An exhibition of food-inspired art, recipes from local chefs and art sale raising money for the Capital Area Food Bank. "Painting With Fire," through Feb. 8. Painter Peter Kephart uses fire and gunpowder in the creation of his works. 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW.

nCITY GALLERY "Leaves, Words and Screens," Sunday through Jan. 29. Collages, lines and shapes created by Ronnie Spiewak have their own sense of movement and patterns. "Wally Szyndler, a Retrospective," through Saturday. Gourd masks and vessels are among the works on display by Wally Szyndler, who died this summer. 804 H St. NE, No. 1. 202-468-5277.

CIVILIAN ART PROJECTS "Jonah Takagi: Atelier Takagi," through Jan. 8. A collaboration with Apartment Zero and a new designer. 1019 Seventh St. NW. 202-607-3804.

CROSS MACKENZIE "Serve It Forth," through Jan. 14. A group exhibition of plates, platters and wall chargers. 1054 31st St. NW. 202-333-7970.

CURATOR'S OFFICE "Barock Girls," through Jan. 7. Victoria F. Gaitan's and Cecilia Paredes's baroque photographs. 1515 14th St. NW. 202-387-1008.

D.C. ARTS CENTER "Focus Group: Four Walls, Five Women," through Jan. 9. A group exhibition of mixed media by five black women younger than 40. 2438 18th St. NW. 202-462-7833.

D.C. LOFT GALLERY "Social Network in the Neighborhood," through Friday. Works by a dozen members of Mid City Artists that demonstrate the organization. 1926B 14th St. NW. 202-710-8283.

EVOLVE URBAN ARTS PROJECT "Into the Quietude," through Jan. 8. A look at tranquility through works by Lisa Rosenstein and James Halloran. 1375 Maryland Ave. NE. 202-489-8160.

GALLERY 555 "10' x 2' x 8 Artists," through Jan. 14. Eight artists will have a small area to display their work. 555 12th St. NW. 202-393-1409.

GALLERY A "Equine Perspectives," through Friday. Paintings of horses by Marian Bingham. 2106 R St. NW. 202-667-2599.

nGALLERY C "Memories Matter: Paintings by Nihal Kececi," Wednesday through Jan. 30. An exhibit of the artist's impressionistic landscape paintings. "Off Kilter: Paintings by Leslie M. Nolan," through Jan. 30. An exhibit of paintings Leslie M. Nolan, who uses bold colors to walk the line between reality and imagination. 901 New York Ave. NW. 202-347-2787.

GOETHE-INSTITUT "Documentary Photography 07/08," through Jan. 28. Works by winners of the Wustenrot Foundation Award. 812 Seventh St. NW. 202-289-1200.

INTERNATIONAL VISIONS "Yaw Obuobi: Rhythmic Pulse," through Jan. 22. Artist from Ghana uses collages made of yarn to depict indigenous life and traditions. 2629 Connecticut Ave. NW. 202-234-5112.

JERUSALEM FUND "Art of the Moghuls: Kashmir Shawls," through Jan. 7. 2425 Virginia Ave. NW. 202-338-1958.

LONG VIEW GALLERY "New Work," through Jan. 16. Paula Crawford's paintings mimic Hepatitis C, with which she was diagnosed. 1302 Ninth St. NW. 202-232-4788.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL "I'm a Fan," through Saturday. Fans made by VSA students will be on display in the hotel's gallery. 1330 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-554-8588.

MARSHA MATEYKA "Jim Sanborn: Photographs/Anish Kapoor: Prints/Gene Davis: Drawings," through Jan. 15. Works by the artists. 2012 R St. NW. 202-328-0088.

PARISH "Touch of Love," through Jan. 12. Paintings by Nurieh Mozaffari. 1054 31st St. NW. 202-944-2310.

MAYFLOWER "85 Years of Memories," through Friday. An exhibit of recently returned Mayflower items appropriated over the hotel's 85-year history. 1127 Connecticut Ave. NW. 202-347-3000.

REYES + DAVIS INDEPENDENT EXHIBITIONS "Michael Enn Sirvet," through Jan. 8. New sculptures by the artist. 923 F St. NW. 202-255-5050.

RUSSIAN CULTURAL CENTER "Soul's Great Gusts," through Jan. 10. Images exploring color and form by Lidiya D. Keiser. 1825 Phelps Pl. 202-265-3840.

SIXTH & I HISTORIC SYNAGOGUE "Joshua Cogan," through Friday. Photographs by the Emmy Award-winning photographer, presented as part of FotoWeekDC. 600 I St. NW. 202-408-3100.

nSTUDIO "The Magic of the Melting Pot: Immigration in America," Wednesday through Jan. 29. Artists create works influenced by the immigrant experience in America. 2108 R St. NW. 202-232-8734.

SUSAN CALLOWAY "Points of View: Contemporary Takes on the Landscape," through Friday. A group exhibition of six artists with different approaches to landscape painting. 1643 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-965-4601.

THE BING STANFORD IN WASHINGTON ART GALLERY "Collisions Between Historical Visions: The Art of Enrique Chagoya," through Jan. 15. A look at the various media from the artist that examine clashes between religion, race and culture. 2661 Connecticut Ave. NW. 202-332-6235. 202-332-6235.

THE CORNER STORE "Wild Washington," through Sunday. Panoramic photographs taken by Irene Owsley of the Potomac River and its environs. 900 South Carolina Ave. SE. 202-544-5807.

THOS. MOSER "Recent Work by Caroline Adams," through Friday. The artist's landscapes will be on display. 3300 M St. NW. 202-338-4292.

TRANSFORMER GALLERY "Alptraum!," through Jan. 22. Part of the gallery's "FlatFile" program, which brings small works by emerging artists into the gallery, "Alptraum!" means "nightmare." 1404 P St. NW. 202-483-1102.

WASHINGTON STUDIO SCHOOL "Lynne Van Dyke," through Friday. An exhibition of the artist's paintings. 2129 S St. NW. 202-234-3030.

WATERGATE "Alfredo Ratinoff: Oracles and Mandalas," through Jan. 15. Ceramics by Alfredo Ratinoff of Argentina. 2552 Virginia Ave. NW. 202-338-4488.

WOMAN'S NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CLUB "Impressions of a White House Christmas," through Jan. 12. Paintings and drawings of a holiday White House by Lily Spandorf. 1526 New Hampshire Ave. NW. 202-232-7363.

ZENITH "Universe," through Jan. 28. Paintings by Anne Marchand and sculptures by Craig Schaffer, two abstract artists. 1111 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-783-2963.

Maryland

ANNMARIE GARDEN Ornament Show and Sale, through Sunday. Artists and artisans exhibit their hand-crafted ornaments (hung on trees) during the third annual event. "Text/Message," through Jan. 30. An exhibition selected from more than 150 works by teenagers across the country examining the pressures of today's youth. 13480 Dowell Rd., Solomons. 410-326-4640.

ARTS BARN "Soaring the Universe," through Jan. 16. A dual exhibition by mother-daughter pair Bonita and Lora Tabakin-Latterner. 311 Kent Square Rd., Gaithersburg. 301-258-6394.

ARTSITES GUILD FOR JUDAIC ART "Found Objects in Art," through Feb. 20. A group exhibition by artists including Marsha Goldfine, Bobbi Gorban, Cynthia Spritzer and Angie Hersh. 2200 Baltimore Rd., Rockville. 301-593-0273.

BLACK ROCK CENTER FOR THE ARTS Carol Brown Goldberg, Sondra Arkin & and Greg Minah, through Friday. 12901 Town Commons Dr., Germantown. 301-528-2260.

BOHRER PARK ACTIVITY CENTER "The Art of Seeing," through Jan. 9. An exhibition of photographs by the Silver Spring Camera Club. 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. 301-258-6350.

BRENTWOOD ARTS EXCHANGE AT GATEWAY ARTS CENTER "Impressed: New Visions in Printmaking," through Jan. 15. An exhibition of prints by undergraduate students at University of Maryland. 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301-277-2863; TTY 301-446-6802.

BROOKSIDE GARDENS "Art of Seeing," through Feb. 6. An exhibition and sale of paintings. visitors center, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. 301-962-1400.

nCONGREGATION HAR SHALOM "Brush, Stone, and Wood," Tuesday through Feb. 21. Works by David Firestone, Carolyn Thorington and Phil Brown. 11510 Falls Rd., Potomac. 301-299-0225.

nDELAPLAINE CENTER "Novel," Monday through Jan. 30. Realistic, impressionist and abstract paintings by Colleen Clapp, Scott Grove and Cristy Stup that are meant to appear as if they've been pulled from the page of a novel. "Portraits of Life," through Jan. 30. Six artists works' depict a moment in someone's life. 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. 301-698-0656.

GATEWAY ARTS CENTER "Vintage Visions: African American Cinema Posters," through Jan. 8. The posters will be on display at Gallery 110. 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301-864-3860.

GLEN ECHO PARK Holiday Art Show and Sale, through Jan. 9. Fine artworks including glass, ceramics, jewelry, photographs, paintings and more will be on sale. Popcorn Gallery, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. 301-634-2222.

KENTLANDS MANSION Multimedia exhibition, through Jan. 23. Works by Lida Stifel, Elroy Williams and Alexey Zoob. 320 Kent Square Rd., Gaithersburg. 301-258-6394.

LAKESIDE CAFE AND DELI "Weather," through Jan. 27. Members of Artists' Gallery interpret all types of meteorological conditions. 10227 Wincopin Cir., Columbia. 301-498-3946.

LENORE'S PLACE Works by Lenore Most. 7720 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 301-461-9641.

MARIN-PRICE "Joseph Sheppard," through Friday. Paintings and sculptures of the artist, who recently had a museum of his works opened at the University of Maryland University College. 7022 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase. 301-718-0622.

MARRIOT INN & CONFERENCE CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE "Color Exploration: Simplicity in the Art of McArthur Binion," through Feb. 28. An exhibit of work by the artist. 3501 University Blvd. E., Adelphi. 301-985-7300.

MONTPELIER ARTS CENTER "20th Annual Open Juried Patuxent Art League Exhibition," through Sunday. An exhibit open to all Maryland, Northern Virginia and District residents older than 18 who apply before Nov. 5. "The Extras," through Sunday. Contemporary photographs that use the historic Bromoil developing process. 9652 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel. 301-699-2255.

nNEW DEAL CAFE "Walking Through Greenbelt," Tuesday through Feb. 28. An exhibit of Nicholas Condon's pictures of the Prince George's County community. 113 Centerway, Greenbelt. 301-474-5642.

ORCHARD GALLERY "The Orchard Gallery Salon," through Tuesday. An exhibition by 12 local artists. 7917 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda. 240-497-1912.

SCHOOL 33 ART CENTER Andrew Shenker, through Friday. A solo exhibition by the artist. 1427 Light St., Baltimore. 443-263-4350.

BETTY MAE KRAMER GALLERY AND MUSIC ROOM "Three Visions of Nature," through Sunday. The gallery's inaugural exhibit features photographs by Montgomery County residents Nikhil Bahl, Joanne Miller and Bert G.F. Shankman. One Veterans Place, Silver Spring. 301-758-8898.

nSLAYTON HOUSE "Spirit of Nature," Thursday through Feb. 5. Photography inspired by the outdoors from Jeff Shi and Xiangfei Fay Shi. 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia. 410-730-3987.

nGARDEN GALLERY "Acrylics and Watercolors of Nancy Lee Galloway," Thursday through Feb. 20. Works by the artist. "Photography of George Shenk Jr.," through Feb. 20. Pictures taken in Annapolis. , 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd., Annapolis. 410-222-1777.

nWASHINGTON PRINTMAKERS GALLERY "Bewick's Legacy: Six Contemporary British Wood Engravers," Tuesday through Jan. 30. Work is on display from six British engravers inspired by Thomas Bewick, the inventor of wood printmaking. "Two Artists, Many Journeys," through Sunday. A dual exhibition featuring Parker's etchings and Nelson's woodcuts. 8230 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. 301-273-3660.

nWAVERLY STREET "Eric Harley Schweitzer: Paintings & Works on Paper and New Work by Gallery Artists," Tuesday through Feb. 5. Works by painter Eric Harley Schweitzer that often use bright colors to show non-objective forms. 4600 East West Hwy., Bethesda. 301-951-9441.

WEST ANNAPOLIS ART WORKS "Winter Artisan Boutique," through Jan. 30. Mosaics, pottery, oils, sculpture, jewelry and watercolors from over 20 local artists. 4 Annapolis St., Annapolis. 410-295-7045.

Virginia

APPLEGATE GALLERY "Small Works Show," through Sunday. A group exhibition by more than a dozen local artists. 101 Church St. NW, Suite C, Vienna. 703-281-1364.

ARLINGTON ARTS CENTER "Party Crashers: Comic Book Culture Invades the Art World," through Jan. 15. A look at the similarities and differences between contemporary artists and comic book images, with a second part of the exhibition on display at Artisphere. 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-248-6800.

nARTISTS' UNDERTAKING "Warm Visions and the Warm Glow of Copper," Tuesday through Feb. 7. Photography from Gerry Gantt and copper work from Anne Jordan, both of Fairfax. "Gifted - A Group Show," through Monday. A group exhibition of 18 local artists presenting mixed media, including copper work, paintings, pottery and basketry. 309 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-494-0584.

ARTSPACE "International Pen and Brush," through Jan. 23. Artwork and poetry by residents of Northern Virginia and Runnymede, England. 750 Center St., Herndon. 703-956-6590.

ATHENAEUM "Molded From Complicated Mixtures," through Sunday. Paintings based on plastic children's toys by Megan Marlatt. 201 Prince St., Alexandria. 703-548-0035.

BELNAVIS ART GALLERY "Let's Celebrate," through Friday. A group exhibit of small works for sale to celebrate the holidays. 6208 Rolling Rd., West Springfield. 703-866-0040.

BYRNE GALLERY Yuri Gorbachev, through Friday. A collection of paintings from the artists' recent museum exhibitions will be on display to celebrate the gallery's 15-year anniversary. 7 W. Washington St., Middleburg. 540-687-6986.

ARTISPHERE "Fields and Networks," through Jan. 8. Alice Whealin's ink drawings. "Unfolding Folding: Collider," through Jan. 12. An interactive installation examining geometry of crystals. 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-875-1100.

GARI MELCHERS HOME AND STUDIO "The New Reality: The Frontier of Realism in the 21st Century," through Feb. 27. A comparison of today's realist painters and their predecessors. 224 Washington St., Fredericksburg. 540-654-1015.

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY - VIRGINIA CAMPUS "Seven Deadly Sins," through Friday. Paintings and drawings looking at cardinal sins, with muralist William Woodward as the featured artists. 44983 Knoll Square, Ashburn. 703-726-3650.

LOFT GALLERY "Places and Faces," through Sunday. Oild paintings and sculpture by Lydia Jechorek and Tony Di Francesco. 313 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-490-1117.

MCLEAN PROJECT FOR THE ARTS "Contemporary Figurative Surrealism," through Jan. 8. A group exhibit displaying works with unexpected comparisons with a human aspect. Monoprints by Stephanie George, through Jan. 8. George's large-scale prints take inspiration from her dreams. Paintings by Cindy Neuschwander, through Jan. 8. Paintings of movement and stillness by the local artist. McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. 703-790-1953.

COLDSMITH GALLERY "Patriotic and Public Spirited," through May 1. Exhibit of commemorative wares featuring artifacts recovered from archaeological excavations. Open indefinitely: "Living Legends of Alexandria." 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria. 703-746-4994.

TORPEDO FACTORY ART CENTER, Multiple Exposures Gallery, Studio 312 "Small Works," through Monday. An exhibition of mixed-media small works juried by Lenny Campello. Target Gallery Washington Guild of Goldsmiths exhibit. through Sunday. Guild members exhibit their work, including jewelry and metalworking. 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. 703-838-4565. Ext. 4.

nTORPEDO FACTORY-THE ART LEAGUE "Understory," Thursday through Feb. 7. Works by artist Alison Sigethy, who draws inspiration from the natural world. 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. 703-683-1780.

WORKHOUSE ARTS CENTER "Mad for Color!," through Friday. Interior design styling using unique handmade furniture and decor. 9601 Ox Rd., Lorton. 703-495-0001.

The Joy of Stats



Documentary which takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride through the wonderful world of statistics to explore the remarkable power thay have to change our understanding of the world, presented by superstar boffin Professor Hans Rosling, whose eye-opening, mind-expanding and funny online lectures have made him an international internet legend.

VisualEconomics.com Best Infographics of 2010

(LINK TO FULL INFOGRAPHICS BELOW)

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Smories are original stories for kids, read by kids


This is truly an amazing site!

Stories by children told by children. Many have sub-titles as well.

S.Korea schools get robot English teachers

S.Korea schools get robot English teachers AFP/Ho – An English-teaching robot (R), "Engkey", stands in front of children at an elementary school …

SEOUL (AFP) – Almost 30 robots have started teaching English to youngsters in a South Korean city, education officials said Tuesday, in a pilot project designed to nurture the nascent robot industry.

Engkey, a white, egg-shaped robot developed by the Korea Institute of Science of Technology (KIST), began taking classes Monday at 21 elementary schools in the southeastern city of Daegu.

The 29 robots, about one metre (3.3 feet) high with a TV display panel for a face, wheeled around the classroom while speaking to the students, reading books to them and dancing to music by moving their head and arms.

The robots, which display an avatar face of a Caucasian woman, are controlled remotely by teachers of English in the Philippines -- who can see and hear the children via a remote control system.

Cameras detect the Filipino teachers' facial expressions and instantly reflect them on the avatar's face, said Sagong Seong-Dae, a senior scientist at KIST.

"Well-educated, experienced Filipino teachers are far cheaper than their counterparts elsewhere, including South Korea," he told AFP.

Apart from reading books, the robots use pre-programmed software to sing songs and play alphabet games with the children.

"The kids seemed to love it since the robots look, well, cute and interesting. But some adults also expressed interest, saying they may feel less nervous talking to robots than a real person," said Kim Mi-Young, an official at Daegu city education office.

Kim said some may be sent to remote rural areas of South Korea shunned by foreign English teachers.

She said the robots are still being tested. But officials might consider hiring them full time if scientists upgrade them and make them easier to handle and more affordable.

"Having robots in the classroom makes the students more active in participating, especially shy ones afraid of speaking out to human teachers," Kim said.

She stressed the experiment was not about replacing human teachers with robots. "We are helping upgrade a key, strategic industry and all the while giving children more interest in what they learn."

The four-month pilot programme was sponsored by the government, which invested 1.58 billion won (1.37 million dollars).

Scientists have held pilot programmes in schools since 2009 to develop robots to teach English, maths, science and other subjects at different levels with a desired price tag of five to eight million won.

Sagong stressed that the robots, which currently cost 10 million won each, largely back up human teachers but would eventually have a bigger role.

The machines can be an efficient tool to hone language skills for many people who feel nervous about conversing with flesh-and-blood foreigners, he said.

"Plus, they won't complain about health insurance, sick leave and severance package, or leave in three months for a better-paying job in Japan... all you need is a repair and upgrade every once in a while."

TALES OF THAILAND – A motorcycle trip from Bangkok to Pattaya

By Teacher Charlie

As 2010 comes to a close I thought I would start a series and what I will call ‘Tales of Thailand’. Having been in and out of my beloved home Thailand for nearly 20 years, I thought I would try to share with the world my observations of how this place ‘ticks’.

My first part of the series will be a tale about one of my greatest joys in being here; riding motorcycles.

This past year I collected well over 20,000 kilometers on two different bikes, one a Honda Wave 125 FI and the other an older Honda CBR 150. Both of which are excellent choices for this part of the world.

Let me start with my most recent acquisition, the CBR.

From Tales of Thailand

A CBR 150 in Thailand is famous because it is the bike of choice for many of Thailand’s police. Strong, light and quick, it gets you where you need to go with no fuss, no muss at a miserly clip.

The new models of both the 150 and 250 versions have just been introduced here. I spotted both at the Honda showroom in Jomtien this past week. Beautiful bikes with the 250 decorated with red, white and blue colors and the 150 in a charcoal grey.

When I inquired with the young lady there that speaks a bit of English, she informed me that the 150 is 75,000 baht and the 250 is 100,000 baht. Back a few months ago when I was looking for the same bike, new ones were nowhere to be found and I was told I would have to wait for the new arrivals.

On that particular weekend I was specifically in Pattaya to find a CBR and although not finding any new ones, I did manage to find a used one there at the same Honda shop as well as two newer ones along Sukhumvit in two of the countless motorcycles sales shops along that highway as it blasts through Pattaya.

I ended up buying an 8 year old bike for 24,000 baht (just about $800 USD) from the Honda shop on Thepprasit Road instead of the newer and significantly higher priced bikes on Sukhumvit. One reason I went with the 8 year old bike as it looked amazingly well maintained (previous owner was a German) and the mechanic there who I know and is one of the best, told me it was a great bike. He was ‘very sure’ I was getting a good solid bike and as it turns out after having put nearly 2,000 kilometers on it over the past 2 months, he was right.

It has purred like a kitten every step of the way, with gas consumption nearly matching that of its baby brother, the 125fi. It does have another 25cc though with a much larger fuel tank holding, at today’s prices, 300 baht compared to the 100 baht tank on a standard Honda Wave. I can cruise comfortably at 120kph with 140 possible on a good stretch of road.

Let me give you an example of a ride from Bangkok’s Morchit (Chatuchak or Jatujak; Thai: จตุจักร weekend market) to Jomtien and back. I’ll also let you in on a ‘secret’ way in and out of Bangkok that is perfect for a bike rider (motorbike riders can’t use the motorways or elevated highways) and makes you feel like Tom Cruise in the movie Top Gun.

From Tales of Thailand


It took me many times trying different ways in and out of Bangkok but the ‘secret short cut' is a road that parallels the main runways at Bangkok’s relatively new international airport of Suvarnabhumi.

I started the trip from home with 48,767 on the bike heading down Phahol Yothin Road (Phaholyothin) to Phetchburi Road which most foreigners know because of the huge computer plaza at Pantip.

This road is wide and easily maneuvered even with the heaviest of traffic. I have never seen a police ‘checkpoint’ on it either. All but one of the flyovers are ‘bike friendly’ allowing you to ‘fly over’ the congested and lengthy intersection below. If I remember correctly there are 4 major flyovers that eventually take you to where this road deadends into what is called ‘On Nut Road’. Take a left here and follow the signs for the new airport. My mileage at this point was 48, 874 km for this particular trip.

Just point the bike towards the airport for another 12 kilometers but DO NOT take the first big intersection and curving flyover that points to the airport. Continue a bit further past and under it until you come to another large intersection with two, right turn lanes with signs indicating ‘airport’. You will notice a large police box here which is a stone’s throw away from the new, large Thai police complex that ‘serves’ the airport facility. This road is an access road to the airport’s runways and facilities and parallels the main runways that point north to south.

The only trick here is you need to go down the access road until you reach an intersection where you need to turn and head closer to the runway, terminal and the huge Thai Airway’s maintenance hanger. Get to that road, hang a left and open it up and do your best Tom Cruise imitation as you have a total of 17 kilometers of fast road and little to no traffic before you reach the Chonburi/Bangna road and elevated highway.

From Tales of Thailand


Once again, hang another left and stay in the left lanes outside the ‘main road’ which is underneath the elevated highway. Why you might ask? The answer is bikes aren’t allowed on certain stretches of the main road and it is very difficult to ascertain just where or when bikes are not allowed although I have done it as well as others do it. If you don’t have an extra 100 baht for the police, play it safe. (This inside section of road is always called 'Frontage Road'.)

I won’t get into all the details of my trip from here but suffice it to say, 3 hours later and with the odometer showing 48,911 kilometers, I was sitting at the intersection of Jomtien’s Thepprasit Road and Sukhumvit Roads. Another 144 kilometer road trip completed.

In the day I was there, I put another 40 kilometers on the bike and combined with the 144 kilometers home, my fuel cost was less than 250 baht. Pretty economical I would say at less than 1 baht per kilometer. I might also mention I use 95 in the older CBR instead of 91. I also prefer to stop at PTT stations and use their facilities on my road trips and avoid at all costs the Caltex stations as on a road trip many months ago as I was returning from Koh Chang, I was refused use of their air bottle to put air in my rear tire. Only cars were permitted this luxury EVEN THOUGH I had just purchased a full tank of gas for my Honda Wave.

Trip to Pattaya/Jomtien

48,767 Start at home on Sunday

48,784 The intersection of Petchburi road and On Nut Road.

48,796 Airport road

48,856 ChomBuri intersection

48,911 Thepprasit Road and Sukhumvit intersection in Jomtien

Jomtien to Morchit

48,938 Honda in Tapasat Road 08:30

49,041 Airport cutoff from Bangna road

49,055 Airport road end onto On Nut Road

49,067 Petchaburi Road entrance from On Nut Road

Home 11:30

Exactly 3 hours to get back – Four police checkpoints on the way back (getting close to the end of the month). Never stopped although the last one on On Nut Road came close as a cop was walking out to stop me but didn’t. I think my police bike look, shades, etc. made him think twice.

Crack down on Thai websites offering fake diplomas

THE Education Ministry of Thailand will take legal action against websites selling fake diplomas, Deputy Education Minister Chaiyos Chiramethakorn said on Monday.

There were about 10 websites selling such diplomas, he said.

'I have told the Office of the Higher Education Commission to file a case against them with the Crime Suppression Division,' Mr Chaiyos said.

In addition, he has told Ohec to send circulars to each university to check the database of their students and graduates, and print out the lists in case the database is hacked.

Mr Chaiyos is seeking other measures to control the sale of fake diplomas, and is encouraging universities to use technology, such as printing diplomas with a watermark, barcode or stickers.

Mr Chaiyos also voiced concern about the low-quality graduates being produced. -- THE NATION/ANN

Tests give low marks to Thai education standards

Part time ESL teacher needed at Rangsit


New Education World

Pathumthani (Thailand)

At least 400 Baht/hour

jeff@rmit.ac.th

New Education World is currently seeking part-time teachers for evening and weekend classes at our Future Park Campus located in Rangsit.

New Education World is one of Thailand’s leading academic language training centers – committed to providing quality training and support to open up a world of further education and career opportunities. We are an authorized training Centre for the Direct Entry program to RMIT University (Melbourne), and also specialize in training for a wide variety of English Language Proficiency testing (IELTS, TOELF, SAT, TOEIC etc.) – preparing students to meet the entrance requirements of Colleges and Universities all over the globe.

New Education World provides all its teachers with opportunities for professional development, highly competitive wages, and excellent additional benefits.

If you are a native speaker of English and are interested in applying, please send your CV to allen@neweducationworld.com.

Student Counselor required at Smiley Education

Smiley Education Co., Ltd

Smiley Education Co., Ltd is a growing organisation providing Educational services to domestic and international students to study in Australia, UK, and other countries around the world. Our passion is to help students reach their goals through quality education.

We are currently looking for a “Student Counselor” to join our team. This is a full time role, and you are also expected to work closely with other Directorates and report directly to MD.

Student Counselor

Key responsibilities:

  • Providing a multi-functional counselling to clients in regard to courses and institution details
  • Providing the pastoral care and welfare needs of our clients with respect to company’s policy
  • Accurately and timely communicate information to customers
  • Handling overseas student visa and work permission cases
  • Dealing with client enquiries regarding to accommodation placement and airport pickup queries
  • Liaising with institution representatives on student matters as required
  • Contributing to the development of company marketing plan, promotional material, and also advertising
  • Organizing company’s functions and fairs e.g. education interview programs and seminars
  • Handling general office and administrative responsibilities

Essential Skills & Experiences:

  • Excellent relationship building skills
  • Exceptional telephone manners and excellent communication skills
  • Ability to develop rapport with clients of different backgrounds
  • Good time management and organizational skills
  • Tertiary Qualifications in Business, Marketing, or related field
  • Good knowledge and previous experience in education or recruitment industry
  • Up-to-date working knowledge of key legislation and policies, relevant to international students

Desirable:

  • A passion for achievement, meeting new people, and delivering results
  • Customer focused, dynamic and innovative in spirit
  • Highly motivated, open minded and creative thinking
  • Knowledge of student visa regulations
  • Experience in flight booking and tourism management

What we offer:

  • Base Salary THB20,000 (based on experience) plus commission and bonuses
  • Extra allowances during events/ fairs

If you have the skills and background we are looking for, please forward your CV and covering letter outlining your specialist areas to info@smileyedu.com or call at 02 541 5751 - 2

The Book The King of Thailand in World Focus

Distributed to Educational Institutions and Libraries (23/12/2010) The Ministry of Education has distributed the book The King of Thailand in World Focus through Thailand Post to schools, universities, and libraries all over Thailand to be used as part of their English learning programs.

The book, published by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT), features the life and works of His Majesty the King through the eyes and observations of foreign journalists in Thailand.

Mr. Marwaan Macan-Markar, FCCT President, and other members of the FCCT Board presented copies of the book, the first paperback version, to the Ministry of Education in a ceremony on 20 December 2010 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya presided over the ceremony, which was also attended by representatives from Thai government agencies, as well as local and international media.

In his remarks, Foreign Minister Kasit said that articles in the book contain ethical and moral values which the young Thai generation can learn from His Majesty the King’s speeches and gracious conduct.

Dr. Weerachai Thavornthon, Secretary to the Minister of Education, emphasized the importance of the book, not only as an English-language learning tool for Thai schools, universities, and libraries in all parts of the country, but also as a resource for Thai youth to read and learn about His Majesty the King’s lifelong contributions for the well-being of his nation and people.

Mr. Ormsin Chivapruck, President of Thailand Post, expressed Thailand Post’s great pleasure to be part of the project to help disseminate information about His Majesty the King’s work and promote education for Thai youth in a wider context.

Mr. Denis Gray, editor-in-chief of The King of Thailand in World Focus, explained that the first edition of the book, containing a collection of articles and photographs, was produced in the mid-1980s to celebrate the auspicious occasion of the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Birthday. Since then, it has been periodically updated.

On the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 84th Birthday Anniversary in 2011, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to distribute copies of this book to schools, universities, and libraries abroad through Thai embassies and consulates all over the world. The objective is to make His Majesty the King’s contributions better known to the world at large.

Surprising Scientific Discovery



NASA science
NASA - "I believe we're on the threshold of a new era in which space weather can be as influential in our daily lives as ordinary terrestrial weather." Fisher concludes. "We take this very seriously indeed."

For months mounting fear has driven researchers to wring their hands over the approaching solar storms. Some have predicted devastating solar tsunamis that could wipe away our advanced technology, others voiced dire warnings that violent explosions on the surface of the sun could reach out to Earth, breach our magnetic field, and expose billions to high intensity X-rays and other deadly forms of cancer-causing radiation.

Now evidence has surfaced that something potentially more dangerous is happening deep within the hidden core of our life-giving star: never-before-seen particles—or some mysterious force—is being shot out from the sun and it's hitting Earth.

Whatever it is, the evidence suggests it's affecting all matter.

Strange and unknown

Alarmed physicists first became aware of this threat over the past several years. Initially dismissed as an anomaly, now frantic scientists are shooting e-mails back and forth to colleagues across the world attempting to grasp exactly what is happening to the sun.

Something impossible has happened. Yet the "impossible" has been proven to be true. Laboratories around the globe have confirmed that the rate of radioactive decay—once thought to be a constant and a bedrock of science—is no longer a constant. Something being emitted from the sun is interacting with matter in strange and unknown ways with the startling potential to dramatically change the nature of the very Earth itself.

Exactly what has scientists so on edge is the fact that the natural rate of decay of atomic particles has always been predictable. Indeed, using the decay rate of Carbon-14 has been a method to date archeological artifacts. The process, known as carbon dating, measures the quantity of Carbon-14 within organic objects. According to the numbers, Carbon-14 has a specific half-life of 5,730 years. Physicists have proven through exhaustive observation and experimentation over the course of a century that it takes 5,730 years for Carbon-14 atoms to decay into a stable Nitrogen-14.

The values don't change—or at least they never have in the past. With certain evidence that radioactive decay can be significantly affected by an unknown effect from the sun, much of science is turned on its head.

Rate of decay speeding up

Worst of all, if the decay rates of matter are being mutated then all matter on Earth is being affected including the matter that makes up life.

The mutation may go so far as to change the underlying reality of the quantum universe—and by extrapolation-the nature of life, the principles of physics, perhaps even the uniform flow of time.

In fact, some evidence of time dilation has been gleaned from close observation of the decay rate. If particles interacting with the matter are not the cause—and matter is being affected by a new force of nature-then time itself may be speeding up and there's no way to stop it.

Galaxies Beyond Human Comprehension

ESA-oshi-20100527 Thousands of galaxies crowd into this Herschel image of the distant Universe. Each dot is an entire galaxy containing billions of stars. For more than a decade, astronomers have puzzled over strangely bright galaxies in the distant Universe. These ‘luminous infrared galaxies’ appear to be creating stars at such phenomenal rates that they defy conventional theories of galaxy formation.

ESA’s Herschel infrared space observatory, with its ability for very sensitive mapping over wide areas, has seen thousands of these galaxies and pinpointed their locations, showing for the first time that they are packing themselves closely together, forming large clusters of galaxies by the force of their mutual gravity.

Source: ESA - oshi