http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizar_and_Alcor
Wikipedia
Mizar and Alcor
The Mizar-Alcor stellar sextuple system consists of the quadruple system Mizar and the binary system Alcor.
Mizar is a quadruple system of two binary stars in the constellation Ursa Major and is the second star from the end of the Big Dipper's handle. Its apparent magnitude is 2.23 and its spectral class is A1V. Mizar's name comes from the Arabic, meaning a waistband or girdle.)
With normal eyesight one can make out a faint companion just to the east, named Alcor or 80 Ursae Majoris. Alcor is of magnitude 3.99 and spectral class A5V.
Mizar and Alcor together are sometimes called the "Horse and Rider," and the ability to resolve the two stars with the naked eye is often quoted as a test of eyesight, although even people with quite poor eyesight can see the two stars. Arabic literature says that only those with the sharpest eyesight can see the companion of Mizar. Astronomer Sir Patrick Moore has suggested that this in fact refers to another star which lies visually between Mizar and Alcor. The name the Arabs used for Alcor was (suha), meaning either the ‘forgotten’ or ‘neglected’ one.
History
In Japanese mythology, Alcor is known as the lifespan star or "jumyouboshi" as it was believed that one who could not see this star would pass away by year's end. Of incidental note, the popular Japanese manga, Fist of the North Star, used this legend as a model for its death omen star, in which it was said that people who saw the star would die later in the year.
"The Arabs in the desert regarded it as a test of penetrating vision; and they were accustomed to oppose "Suhel" to "Suha" (Canopus to Alcor) as occupying respectively the highest and lowest posts in the celestial hierarchy. So that "Vidit Alcor, at non lunam plenam", (Latin for "he saw Alcor, but not the full moon") came to be a proverbial description of one keenly alive to trifles, but dull of apprehension for broad facts."
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: Friday, February 16, 2007 posted by H.V.O.M at 8:29 AM
This next clue was something I puzzled over a few years ago. I remember it because I puzzled over why I was puzzling over it. The article was dated 5/10/2004 and it indicates that her comments were made "last night" which meant the comments were made on 5/9/2004. Other articles indicate her comments were made on the previous Saturday night. Either way, it is certainly close to 5/9 and I had a profound sense of puzzlement about it. These comments were made not longer after I had moved out to Spokane after giving up that Microsoft was an honest company. What it means is there were people out there that remembered me and were concerned about my well-being because I guess it looked like I was being betrayed by the people accountable for my well-being. A week later was when I sent that email about “mark this day” or whatever it was I wrote. I assume I scared them because they were worried I was going to reveal that George W. Bush had been recruited by foreign powers long ago.
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=stem10&date=20040510&query=nancy+reagan
Nation & World: Monday, May 10, 2004
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Former first lady Nancy Reagan endorsed human embryonic research last night at a star-studded fund-raiser.
"Ronnie's long journey has finally taken him to a distant place where I can no longer reach him," she said. "Because of this, I'm determined to do whatever I can to save other families from this pain. I just don't see how we can turn our backs on this."
[JOURNAL ARCHIVE 16 February 2007 excerpt ends]
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2004_3761475
chron Houston Chronicle Archives
Celebrities raise funds for stem-cell research
PAUL ELIAS Associated Press
MON 05/10/2004 Houston Chronicle
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.- As President Bush resists mounting pressure to loosen the restrictions he placed on human embryonic stem cell research, Hollywood's supporting role in the debate is growing.
Celebrities including Dustin Hoffman, Michael J. Fox and Larry King raised $2 million for stem-cell research Saturday at a gala for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The money is part of nearly $20 million that the foundation is donating to advance stem-cell research.
A Parkinson's disease foundation run by Fox, who suffers from the degenerative nerve condition, has contributed another $10 million.
The star power is providing scientists and patients with additional muscle in a lobbying campaign against Bush's policy, which limits federal funding for research on human embryonic stem cells to colonies created before August 2001.
Saturday's dinner featured a rare public appearance by former first lady Nancy Reagan. Former President Ronald Reagan suffers from Alzheimer's disease and his wife believes stem cells might someday provide a cure.
"Ronnie's long journey has finally taken him to a distant place where I can no longer reach him," she said. "Because of this I'm determined to do whatever I can to save other families from this pain."
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/709526/William-Holden
Encyclopædia Britannica
William Holden
ARTICLE from the Encyclopædia Britannica
William Holden, original name William Franklin Beedle, Jr. (born April 17, 1918, O’Fallon, Ill., U.S.—found dead November 16, 1981, Santa Monica, Calif.), major American film star who perfected the role of the cynic who acts heroically in spite of his scorn or pessimism.
While attending Pasadena Junior College, Beedle acted in local radio plays and became involved with the Pasadena Playhouse. He was discovered by a Paramount Pictures talent scout and given the more glamorous surname “Holden.” Drawing on his muscular build and good looks, the studio assigned him the lead in the boxing melodrama Golden Boy (1939). The role was a ... (100 of 474 words)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Holden
Wikipedia
William Holden
After Columbia Pictures picked up half of his contract, he alternated between starring in several minor pictures for Paramount and Columbia before serving as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, where he acted in training films.
Holden was best man at the marriage of his friend Ronald Reagan to Nancy Davis in 1952
