Spring fashion: tops
7 years ago
Thursday, December 31, 2009
once in a blue moon
Rare New Year's Eve 'blue moon' to ring in 2010
By ALICIA CHANG, AP Science Writer Alicia Chang, Ap Science Writer
Tue Dec 29, 7:03 pm ET
LOS ANGELES – Once in a blue moon there is one on New Year's Eve. Revelers ringing in 2010 will be treated to a so-called blue moon. According to popular definition, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month. But don't expect it to be blue — the name has nothing to do with the color of our closest celestial neighbor.
A full moon occurred on Dec. 2. It will appear again on Thursday in time for the New Year's countdown.
"If you're in Times Square, you'll see the full moon right above you. It's going to be that brilliant," said Jack Horkheimer, director emeritus of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium and host of a weekly astronomy TV show.
The New Year's Eve blue moon will be visible in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Africa. For partygoers in Australia and Asia, the full moon does not show up until New Year's Day, making January a blue moon month for them.
However, the Eastern Hemisphere can celebrate with a partial lunar eclipse on New Year's Eve when part of the moon enters the Earth's shadow. The eclipse will not be visible in the Americas.
A full moon occurs every 29.5 days, and most years have 12. On average, an extra full moon in a month — a blue moon — occurs every 2.5 years. The last time there was a lunar double take was in May 2007. New Year's Eve blue moons are rarer, occurring every 19 years. The last time was in 1990; the next one won't come again until 2028.
Blue moons have no astronomical significance, said Greg Laughlin, an astronomer at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
"`Blue moon' is just a name in the same sense as a `hunter's moon' or a `harvest moon,'" Laughlin said in an e-mail.
The popular definition of blue moon came about after a writer for Sky & Telescope magazine in 1946 misinterpreted the Maine Farmer's Almanac and labeled a blue moon as the second full moon in a month. In fact, the almanac defined a blue moon as the third full moon in a season with four full moons, not the usual three.
Though Sky & Telescope corrected the error decades later, the definition caught on. For purists, however, this New Year's Eve full moon doesn't even qualify as a blue moon. It's just the first full moon of the winter season.
In a tongue-in-cheek essay posted on the magazine's Web site this week, senior contributing editor Kelly Beatty wrote: "If skies are clear when I'm out celebrating, I'll take a peek at that brilliant orb as it rises over the Boston skyline to see if it's an icy shade of blue. Or maybe I'll just howl."
By ALICIA CHANG, AP Science Writer Alicia Chang, Ap Science Writer
Tue Dec 29, 7:03 pm ET
LOS ANGELES – Once in a blue moon there is one on New Year's Eve. Revelers ringing in 2010 will be treated to a so-called blue moon. According to popular definition, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month. But don't expect it to be blue — the name has nothing to do with the color of our closest celestial neighbor.
A full moon occurred on Dec. 2. It will appear again on Thursday in time for the New Year's countdown.
"If you're in Times Square, you'll see the full moon right above you. It's going to be that brilliant," said Jack Horkheimer, director emeritus of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium and host of a weekly astronomy TV show.
The New Year's Eve blue moon will be visible in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Africa. For partygoers in Australia and Asia, the full moon does not show up until New Year's Day, making January a blue moon month for them.
However, the Eastern Hemisphere can celebrate with a partial lunar eclipse on New Year's Eve when part of the moon enters the Earth's shadow. The eclipse will not be visible in the Americas.
A full moon occurs every 29.5 days, and most years have 12. On average, an extra full moon in a month — a blue moon — occurs every 2.5 years. The last time there was a lunar double take was in May 2007. New Year's Eve blue moons are rarer, occurring every 19 years. The last time was in 1990; the next one won't come again until 2028.
Blue moons have no astronomical significance, said Greg Laughlin, an astronomer at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
"`Blue moon' is just a name in the same sense as a `hunter's moon' or a `harvest moon,'" Laughlin said in an e-mail.
The popular definition of blue moon came about after a writer for Sky & Telescope magazine in 1946 misinterpreted the Maine Farmer's Almanac and labeled a blue moon as the second full moon in a month. In fact, the almanac defined a blue moon as the third full moon in a season with four full moons, not the usual three.
Though Sky & Telescope corrected the error decades later, the definition caught on. For purists, however, this New Year's Eve full moon doesn't even qualify as a blue moon. It's just the first full moon of the winter season.
In a tongue-in-cheek essay posted on the magazine's Web site this week, senior contributing editor Kelly Beatty wrote: "If skies are clear when I'm out celebrating, I'll take a peek at that brilliant orb as it rises over the Boston skyline to see if it's an icy shade of blue. Or maybe I'll just howl."
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Luke 2: 15-16 (King James Version)
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Santa's little helpers
This picture should have been included with Santa's little helpers last week, so it will be added to that post.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Luke 2: 8-14 (King James Version)
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
why a Christmas tree is better than a woman
photo by Streams of Consciousness
1. A Christmas tree doesn’t care how many other Christmas trees you've had.
2. Christmas trees don’t mind if you use exotic electrical devices.
3. A Christmas tree doesn’t care if you have an artificial one in the closet.
4. You can feel a Christmas tree before you take it home.
5. A Christmas tree doesn’t get mad if you look up underneath it.
6. A Christmas tree doesn’t get jealous if you enjoy other Christmas trees.
7. A Christmas tree doesn’t care if you watch football all day.
8. A Christmas tree doesn’t get mad if you tie it up and throw it in the back of your pickup truck.
9. When you're done with a Christmas tree you can throw it it to the curb.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Hanukkah for Gentiles
As you may know, we generally like to feature a little religion here on Sundays. Since it's an actual religious holiday, tonight being the third night of Hanukkah, we thought we'd present a brief guide to celebrating Hanukkah. In case, like me, you're not Jewish. Any errors here are my own.
Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees and the restoration of the temple in Jerusalem. It seems to me to be a much more spiritual holiday than the Christian Christmas, because you have to stop whatever you're doing to say a prayer and light these candles for eight nights in a row. But it's easy to celebrate. All you need are a lot of candles and a menorah. And a menorah can be almost anything. You can buy one, of course, but you can also easily make one. All it needs to do is hold nine candles, with one of the candles (the shammash) being higher than the rest.
So here's a handy guide to Hanukkah from a book I got at the library last year.
CELEBRATING HANUKKAH
from The Hanukkah Book by Mae Shafter Rockand
The candles are placed in the hanukkiah (menorah) beginning at the right side and increasing daily toward the left. The most recently added candle is lit first, using a servant candle called the shammash. The shammash is used because the Hanukkah lights are holy and are not to be used for illumination or to kindle another flame. The candles should last for at least a half an hour.
The candles can be lit any time after sunset. First the shammash is lit, but before using it to kindle the other lights, the following blessings are recited:
The last of these three prayers, the Shehecheyanu prayer, is said only on the first night.
After the candles are lit and the shammash replaced in the lamp it is customary to recite or chant the following:
Happy Hanukkah!!!
Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees and the restoration of the temple in Jerusalem. It seems to me to be a much more spiritual holiday than the Christian Christmas, because you have to stop whatever you're doing to say a prayer and light these candles for eight nights in a row. But it's easy to celebrate. All you need are a lot of candles and a menorah. And a menorah can be almost anything. You can buy one, of course, but you can also easily make one. All it needs to do is hold nine candles, with one of the candles (the shammash) being higher than the rest.
So here's a handy guide to Hanukkah from a book I got at the library last year.
CELEBRATING HANUKKAH
from The Hanukkah Book by Mae Shafter Rockand
The candles are placed in the hanukkiah (menorah) beginning at the right side and increasing daily toward the left. The most recently added candle is lit first, using a servant candle called the shammash. The shammash is used because the Hanukkah lights are holy and are not to be used for illumination or to kindle another flame. The candles should last for at least a half an hour.
The candles can be lit any time after sunset. First the shammash is lit, but before using it to kindle the other lights, the following blessings are recited:
Blessed are You, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.
Blessed are You, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in days gone by at this season of the year.
Blessed are You, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us in life and enabled us to reach this day.
The last of these three prayers, the Shehecheyanu prayer, is said only on the first night.
After the candles are lit and the shammash replaced in the lamp it is customary to recite or chant the following:
We kindle these lights on account of the miracles, the deliverances, and the wonders You performed for our fathers, by means of Your holy priests. During all the eight days of Hanukkah these lights are sacred, and it is not permitted for us to make any use of them, but only to look at them, in order that we may give thanks unto Your Name for Your miracles, Your deliverances and Your wonders.
Happy Hanukkah!!!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
Thursday, December 03, 2009
why a Christmas tree is better than a man
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Tuesday, December 01, 2009
out of context
vulva #25
There is no "in context" or "reveal" for this week's vulva. This vulva was found, growing wild on the internet, just like this. I don't recall where.
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