because it's not really a party without noisemakers

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."

out of context

vulva #29

in context [here]

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.

Boxing Day

Samantha Fox

Merry Christmas, baby

Bettie Page
Miss January 1955

'twas the night before Christmas

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.

holiday Playmates

Elisa Bridges
Miss December 1994


Jenny McCarthy
Miss October 1993


Lani Todd
December 2002

www.playboy.com

out of context

vulva #28

in context [here]
bonus [1]

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.

pin-up of the week

Aria Giovanni

Candy Cane Lane, indeed.

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.

Santa's little helpers

out of context

vulva #27

in context [here]
bonus [1]

Sophie & Rosie

loaded
January 2009


Sophie Howard


Rosie Jones

www.loaded.co.uk
www.page3.com

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:

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!!!

pin-up of the week

bad Santa

photo by DanCentury

out of context

vulva #26

in context [here]

a prayer for the holidays

Amen.

pin-up of the week

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

why a Christmas tree is better than a man

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

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.

encourage others to love

on flickr

pin-up of the week

Mary-Louise Parker

It would seem some pie making is in order, what with the holidays and all.

Oh look! The pie is ready.

Thanksgiving Day

Nymphs Filling The Horn of Plenty
Studio of Sir Peter Paul Rubens
oil on canvas
82 1/2 by 60 1/4 inches

out of context

vulva #24

in context [here]

I will chose a path that's clear

on flickr

pin-up of the week

Sasha Grey

If Sasha Grey is The Girlfriend Experience, then sign me up. From what I've seen of her work, she'd be an enjoyable experience. And look at that bush. That dark bush, hiding the mystery and the world. That's what a grown woman should look like naked.

She's "mainstream" now, so she's in Playboy this month. They have a few pictures you can see, but they force you to enter an email address to look, and then they want you to join their website. I already subscribe to the damn magazine. Isn't that worth something? I understand that they want to make money off the website, but I'm already paying for the print version. Why can't I look for free?

you'll have to read this one

A cruise ship passes a small desert island. Everyone watches as a ratty-looking bearded man runs out on the beach and starts shouting and waving his hands.

"Who's that?" asks one of the passengers.

"I have no idea," replies the captain. "But every year we sail past and he goes nuts."

out of context

vulva #23

in context [here]

surprises

on flickr

pin-up of the week

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

she's got my vote

Erica Campbell

Over at Masterjerker there is currently a campaign to elect the next Regular Masturbation Girlfriend. Erica Campbell is clearly the superior candidate, although as of this writing it's a close race with Erica and Nella each carrying 27% of the vote.

Erica Campbell recently quit nude modeling because she now considers herself a Christian and it violated her newly found ethical standards. So please, cast your vote for Erica Campbell. Because God doesn't want you to masturbate, but if you're going to do it anyway, He at least wants you to do it to a nice, Christian girl.

out of context

vulva #22

in context [here]

Examen of Consciousness

1. Recall that you are God's presence
"Lord, I believe that I am in your presence
and you are loving me."

2. Look at the day with gratitude
"Lord, as I look at the gifts of this day
I pause and give thanks to you,
who have given them all to me."

3. Ask for light from the Holy Spirit
"Lord, help me to understand the mystery of
my heart and to know my own limits.
Help me to see how I have responded
to your many gifts."

4. Review your day
"Lord, help me to see the faces of the
people I have met, the places I have been,
and the things I have thought, spoken, and
done."

5. Pray words of forgiveness and resolve
"Lord, where I have seen you present,
I give thanks and where I have resisted
seeing you, I ask your forgiveness. Lord, I
resolve, with your grace, to seek you and
see you at all times."

pin-up of the week

Dominque

I'm taking a pretty lazy approach to this week's pin-up post. This is a "scheduled" post since I'll be out tonight and won't be around to post something later. Nevertheless, last week, when I was posting Halloween themed items, I happened across this girl during a visit to Domai, and, well, she really got my attention. I have to say I love the red hair and that fiery bush, but if you ask me I'd bet that she's crazy as Hell. Well, all women are crazy, of course, each in their own unique way, but this one's just got a look in her eyes that says, "You so much as even look at another woman and I'll cut your fucking dick off."

Take my advice. Stay away from this one, boys.

www.domai.com

I have, thanks

out of context

vulva #21

in context [here]

All Souls' Day

All Saints' Day

Saint Dymphna
Patroness of Nervous and Mental Disease

Prayer in honor of St. Dymphna

Lord Jesus Christ, You have willed that St. Dymphna should be invoked by thousands of clients as the patroness of nervous and mental disease and have brought it about that her interest in these patients should be an inspiration to and an ideal of charity throughout the world. Grant that, through the prayers of this youthful martyr of purity, those who suffer from nervous and mental illness everywhere on earth may be helped and consoled. I recommend to You in particular

(Here mention those you wish to pray for)

Be pleased to hear the prayers of St. Dymphna and of Your Blessed Mother. Give those whom I recommend the patience to bear with their affliction and resignation to do Your divine will. Give them the consolation they need and especially the cure they so much desire, if it be Your will. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

All Hallows' Eve

Three-Dimensional Seduction of the Innocent
Dave Stevens
1985

pin-up of the week

drunken punkins

BONUS HALLOWEEN JOKES:

How do witches tell time?
With a witch watch.

When do ghosts eat breakfast?
In the moaning.

pumpkinhead

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

out of context

vulva #20

in context [here]

This one's a little hairy by today's standards. Perhaps it's a "were-muff." It is almost Halloween after all.

LEGO jack-o'-lantern

www.lego.com