Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Lunar Eclipse, September 27, 2015

There was a nice, impromptu party of about 15 neighbors to watch the lunar eclipse. The moon finally rose above the clouds and put on a good show.

We are now at Minor Lunar Standstill in the 18.6 year lunar cycle. Moonrise will now be almost exactly in the east and moonset almost exactly in the west for the next month. This was the sort of event the Anasazi and the folks at Stonehenge lived for and organized their entire civilizations around. Time for bonfires and dances!

By Late 2024/early 2025, we will be at Major Lunar Standstill, when the moon will rise and set pretty much wherever it damn pleases, and that will be another time for bonfires and dances!

Kale Is In Everything

"What Has He Ever Done For Us?"

I was waiting at a crosswalk for the traffic light to change when Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson walked past, just like he was a regular human being, or something. The couple next to me started a vigorous discussion:

She: "What has he ever done for us?"
He: "He's done everything for us!"

She persisted: "No, what has he ever DONE for US?"
He insisted: "He's done EVERYTHING for us!"

The Exorcist

The Simpsons See All

Sorry For Sparse Posting

Writing my childhood memoirs instead....

Donald Trump, A Religious Man

Humbled before the Majesty of God:
David Brody: “Who is God to you? What are some of your thoughts on this? Clearly, you’re a smart man, you’re a smart businessman, you’ve contemplated this before or have you contemplate this?”

Donald Trump: “Well I say God is the ultimate. You know you look at this? Here we are on the Pacific Ocean. How did I ever own this? I bought it fifteen years ago. I made one of the great deals they say ever. I have no more mortgage on it as I will certify and represent to you. And I was able to buy this and make a great deal. That’s what I want to do for the country. Make great deals. We have to, we have to bring it back, but God is the ultimate. I mean God created this (points to his golf course and nature surrounding it), and here’s the Pacific Ocean right behind us. So nobody, no thing, no there’s nothing like God.”

At Last, 'Happy Birthday' Is Free!

About time!:
The world's most popular English language song is potentially free from copyright after a federal judge ruled on Tuesday that filmmakers challenging Warner/Chappell Music's hold on "Happy Birthday to You" should be granted summary judgment.

According to the opinion on Tuesday from U.S. District Judge George H. King, "Because Summy Co. never acquired the rights to the Happy Birthday lyrics, Defendants, as Summy Co.’s purported successors-in-interest, do not own a valid copyright in the Happy Birthday lyrics."

The ruling means that Warner/Chappell will lose out on $2 million a year in reported revenue on the song. Unless something happens at an appellate court or unless someone else comes forward with a valid claim of ownership to the song, filmmakers like director Jennifer Nelson — who sued in 2013 over demands as much as six figures to license — will no longer have to pay to feature "Happy Birthday" in motion pictures and television shows.

Shaft