Tonight we get to see (if it happens to be clear, which is doubtful here in my neck of the woods) the last total lunar eclipse until the end of 2010. The festivities start at 8:43 PM Eastern time, with totality beginning at 10:01, and lasting until 10:51. Even in totality, some indirect light gets filtered by the Earth’s atmosphere and makes it to the moon, so it remains visible. Our atmosphere filters out blue light, and since there hasn’t been a lot of volcanic activity this year,the moon should turn a vivid orange or red. As a bonus, the moon will be framed by the planet Saturn on one side, and the bright star Regulus on the other. It should be quite a show.
If it looks clear, I may just have to drag my telescope out (been a while since I used it; they put a gas station in behind my house a few years back, with lights that light up my back yard as if it’s high noon all night, which kinda put the kibosh on stargazing). Once the moon hides in our shadow, I should be able to see Saturn’s rings, though, and that never gets old, although it might get a little cold; it’s supposed be down toward single digits tonight here.
I hope it’s clear in your part of the world tonight. Enjoy.
:pirate: :yippee: Let’s Get This Party Started! :fist: A!I!V! PINK Live!
Back at’cha, Vernon.
http://tinyurl.com/34kaqs
:yippee:
:joe: :joe: :joe: :joe: :joe: 😮 😮 :yuck: :crap: :paranoid: 😯 😯
❓ ❓ ❓ ❓ Whatever :sheep: le
Good morning :joe: :joe:
I turned on the stock channel this morning. They are not happy Lots of talk about stagflation. Oil closed over $100. These guys are worried. But, our preznit says that all is well and that the spending on the iraq war has nothing to do with the economy.
The Bush administration’s attempt to shoot down an out-of-control spy satellite as early as this evening will help the military advance its anti-missile and anti-satellite planning and technology, according to space weapons experts and analysts. Both fields are of high interest to the military and of high concern for many other nations.
While U.S. officials have depicted the attempt solely as a precaution against the slim chance that the satellite’s hazardous rocket fuel could harm people on Earth, the test will inherently have spillover military consequences, the experts said.
To accomplish this week’s task, for example, the Navy has modified its Aegis anti-missile radar system for satellite tracking, making clear that a system designed for missile defense can be transformed into an anti-satellite system in a short time.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/19/AR2008021902510.html?wpisrc=newsletter
Bushco is always focused on war.
evil bush & many in the evil bush administration should have been impeached a while ago. I can’t say tea Cheers since I am out of tea…eek so I am off to make BREW MORE TEA! :reaper: :dancers: A!I!V! I was on Bill’s show but they had to “release” cuz no more time left. sniff. :reaper: :dancers: A!I!V! :pirate: :joe: *poof*
I was listening to Jeff Farias in my car yesterday and he was talking about Clinton’s campaign people and how they are doing things to undermine her. I didn’t get to hear what they were doing because a stupid mountain got in the way of my reception. Did anyone hear that?
It occured to me that the rethugs have had a long time to plan and infiltrate her campaign. Obama came out of no where and they probably didn’t take him very seriously until recently so don’t really have a plan of attack.
I’ll be listening to Jeff later on today, and let you know what I hear. I think Clinton was just totally taken by surprise by Obama. She was declared inevitable from the start, and this whipper-snapper comes in and screws everything up. Their machine was prepared to bring a cannon to a knife fight with the Republicans, but that doesn’t play so well against Obama – especially with his true-believer cult followers (this isn’t to say that everybody who supports Obama is a cult follower, just that he has some very hardcore people who have bought into him as the new messiah; I just hope they’re right – or even half right). So the Clinton machine doesn’t know what the hell to do about this whole Obama phenomenon, and they’re falling apart.
McCain and his wife are trying to use Michelle Obama against him now (with the ‘for the first time in my adult life, I’m proud of America’ line, which was actually kind of a dumb thing to say, even if it’s true). But that’s not gonna fly. I don’t think what your spouse says makes much of a difference, unless you spouse is a former president, and/or you’re running as a ‘team.’ We’ll see, but I doubt it’ll matter much.
Still somebody ought to tell her it aint good politics here in ‘merica to say you’ve not been proud of the good old US of A. Fact is, I continue to be ashamed of this country (more so with Bush, but there are lots of things in our history to be ashamed of). But, geez.
H. Clinton appeared on track for inevitable historic prominence. Along comes B. Obama eclipsing her shouting star. Regardless who wins the nomination we are on the brink of an historic nexus. And if the stars line up properly, either will ascend to that most covetted asterisks in history – First.
It is/was possible for both to have attained a “first” in history, if Obama had been a little more patient. Either choice is better than another rethug in the White House. Neither is my first choice, though. But I can live with either one.
Insert reference to greek alphabet here. Iota sounds good.
Why I worry about Obama
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/19/chris-matthews-humiliates_n_87493.html
He is very inspiring, but he’s going to have to stand up to the Rethugs and convince folks that he has the experience to do what he says. He is charismatic, and maybe that will be enough against McCain, but a little substance will help.
Worse, his supporter, Texas State Sen. Watson, references the most controversial aspect of Obama’s health plan, no mandates, by saying people won’t have to worry about having their wages garnished. Unfortunately, if the healthcare costs are only borne by the people who wish to purchase healthcare, premiums will be higher and the people who don’t buy in, if they become ill, will be cared for at all our expense. It is the aspect of Obama’s plan that Edwards says he finds the most troubling.
Atlantis has landed so the Navy can shoot down the spy satellite during the lunar eclipse further adding to the celestial festivities.
Maron v. Seder MP3 from yesterday here (untested) no thanks to SEDER again but from a different and familiar source via Fernando. Gracias!
They posted a VOD, once again without Maron to which I say why and why bother? It is in the usual VOD section if you want to watch only Sam’s side of the conversation.
I’m not sold on Obama either. Or Clinton. I think their healthcare plans are a boon for the private insurance industry, for one thing. Obama says no mandates, but will wind up instituting stiff penalties for people wanting to buy in after they get sick. What happens if you can’t afford to buy in at that point? Or if you get hit by a bus and aren’t covered?
But nobody’s plan is going to go through untouched, so it will get changed. My worry with Obama is that he’ll give the store away just to get something passed.
But, whatever. He appears to be the chosen one. I’m just going to hope that he can beat McCain and then will be everything the Obamites think he is. It would be a very good thing indeed.
Democrats giving the store away – and the farm, and the planet, etc. – has been SOP for almost three decades. The Party still lacks real leadership, real fortitude and real direction. Almost every Democrat arriving in Washington since 1980 is afraid they will be raked over the coals by the radical right media, which then gets reported by the main stream media as if the raking itself is a news story.
Actually, main stream media is one of those urbane urban myths. The media did act independently until that same point in history where our country started visibly coming apart. (Nixon and Ford managed to keep most of their destructive policies hidden from public view.) It’s been down hill ever since January 20, 1981, and still no end in the downward track in sight.
There are and were other factors, such as fiscal policy turning from sustainability year after year to maximizing profits for the next quarterly financial filing. Greed is NOT good, and we have a mortgage industry meltdown to prove it. Throw in a right-wing scare machine, a desparate lower class turning to false radical religions promising anything and everything but more bent on accumulating wealth for the “church” leaders and we have a failing society with no real hope, and no real desire it give any.
Did I hear someone say it was happy hour somewhere in the galaxy?
Obama is more of a blank slate and hopefully less beholden to a lot of interests. Part of his strength is that he does not carry as much baggage and seems to be reluctant to be pinned into corners by avoiding specifics. Probably wisely so if you look what they are trying to do to his wife based on some imprecise language.
Of course, that all leads him to the criticisms the Clintonista are curently peppering him with like the flowery speechifying and plagiarism and inexperience and lack of accomplishment. Classic Rove playbook, attacking an oppenent at their strength.
The Basher, :jesus: of 8)
I couldn’t stand not knowing so I went on an expedition. I was hoping this was the wrong person.
Roxine S. Grant
Roxine S. GRANT Born May 28, 1947 in Missoula, Montana, passed away Dec. 24, 2007. Survived by her sister, Sharon Kilburgh of San Jose, CA and two nieces, Angela Oliver and Katherine Stearns, both of Seattle, WA. Graduate of the University of WA and active pharmacist. Roxie in 1967, with dear friend, Walt Crowley and sister, Sharma Oliver, both recently passed, founded The Helix, America’s first anti- war publication. In 1976 Roxie founded Elder Affairs, a publication exclusively for the elderly. A teacher of astrology and rescuer of animals, Roxie fought injustice where she found it. She passed surrounded by relatives and long-time friend, Naomi Silbertstein. Peace Roxie.
Published in print from 12/28/2007 – 12/29/2007.
My condolences to all of us.
🙁 :gate:
Rest well, Roxie. We’ll miss you.
😥 Roxie 😥
You are missed
Anyone have or see this book Rites of Passage: A Memoir of the Sixties in Seattle
By Walt Crowley?
thanks for letting me know Vernon.
Roxie was a superb human and a friend.
i never did know her last name. i hope she
pops up sometime and it turns out to be a false alarm.
🙁 🙂 Wherever you *fly* Roxie, my Spirit Sis & YOUR/our Spirit Sis :pent: ……the connection also is The LINK, that you even sent me, besides * :love: * to * :love: * to * :love: * ahhh another trilogy /|\
:peace: :yinyang: :pent: :pent: :om: /|\ Cheers to You & Those You Love, wherever thou (ye for friends) doth *fly* /|\ :love: :gate: :love:
/|\ 😉 :gate: :pent: :love:
Comment by Druid_666 — February 19, 2008 @ 9:50 pm
A lengthy fight, in the courts and on Capitol Hill, has come to an end.
The Department of Homeland Security, in a court filing Friday, said it will not pursue rules to curb union rights and will abide by regular civil service labor-management procedures.
Shortly afterward, a federal court issued an order closing the case, and the union that fought the rules declared victory.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/19/AR2008021902459.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter
That’s awful news. Last March, Roxie called Susan as soon as she had learned of Susan’s diagnosis. Such a caring person. (Quite the political activist, too.)
Roxie Seattle, R.I.P. :pent: :sdavid: :yinyang: :parrot: :parrot:
Thanks for the mp3s Vernon, they’re all helping me get through my renovations.
Roxine sounds like she was a great woman. 60 sounds too young.
Farewell Roxie. :gate: :jesus: Too many friends are dying. :reaper: is very busy these days.
🙁
Another shock. I hate getting old. I’m hearing about too many of these. Safe journey, roxie. 🙁
Well, it looks like something is blowing in and I may not be able to view the eclipse. It was looking good most of the day. Hopefully most of the rest of you will be able to enjoy it.
Sounds like the weather might postpone the shoot down, too.
The moon is bright and high in the sky here, right now. It should start to creep into our shadow in about an hour. Hopefully it’ll stay clear.
Crap! It’s cloudy here too. :tap:
Damn, fast breaking McCain scandal if weather permits.
It’s snowing here in the land of cheesesteaks.
Pack Up Your Sorrows
Belatedly for Pauline as well 🙁 :gate:
Well, clouds are rolling in now. Can barely see the glow of the moon, so I doubt I’ll get to see the show. At least I can go to bed early.
Getting cloudy in Brooklyn, too. I guess the moon is going to be eclipsed by the clouds as well. Oh well!
Perhaps Cowboy George and the luna-tic gang won’t get to shoot their missile and claim that SDI has been a great investment of money that our grandkids get to pay back.
When these guys are gone (I say that with fervent hope), we are all going to ask ourselves how they got away with it all.
Ah, clouds thinning out a bit now. Might have to stay up after all. The moon’s about a third of the way gone, so far.
Too bad it’s not a little frickin’ colder out.
Dear Roxie
😥
Total clear eclipse…well not quite, in Spokane.
Not quite total yet.
:gate:
Damn, another wonderful spirit goes on ahead of us :gate: :om:
:gate: Roxie
🙁 :gate: Roxie
pack up your sorrows is very Buddhist…love it.
saw total eclipse and what a treat that was! hear tell it was cloudy in jorja and so am very glad i stayed here longer.
packing up and heading east tomorrow. hope i have better travel weather than before. :bee:
It managed to cloud up here too .. Another fun snow storm is on its way.. :tap: :tap:
Yup, Fred, it’s raining here. No lunar eclipse for us. It’s in my sign, too, I think, Virgo.
We have our Thursday morning meeting with the “real” owners tomorrow am …..fortunately the Chinese guy understands our problems a lot better than the DU business school :barf: guy usually does. :reaper: :reaper: Must go beddy by… :yawn: :yawn:
was that fun!.
Bgurl arrived in the middle of it.
we sat in the lane and watched it with binoculars.
the dogs helped. we had a good bay at the moon with the hood dogs chiming in.
No Regrets
Urge for Going
All My Tears
:gate: