Solar Eclipse, Australia 2012

My friends Roger and June went to Australia for this event, a full solar eclipse.  You could not see it from Europe or the United States. Has everyone recovered from the election and the storms? What is our next round of excitement?

122 Thoughts to “Open Thread………………………………………….Wednesday, November 14”

  1. punchak

    All the news about generals and beautiful women and e-mails (20,000-30,000!!) and telling and not telling, attorney general, all the people who should have known and didn’t know, Behghazi, etc. etc.
    A fiction writer wouldn’t have been able to concoct anything coming close to this.

    As a mom and grandmother, I feel for the children involved in the male/female melodrama.
    Petraeus’ daughter had a wedding only last month, happily unkowing about her dad’s affair.

    1. And who says our kids embarrass us at times. I guess ” and vice versa” comes in to play here.

  2. Steve Peterson

    Ah, Australia, I was there a few years ago for about a week for a wedding. Not sure I ever want to go back though, a REALLY long and expensive flight and then when you get there you don’t really feel like you have even left the USA. The only difference is that people have an accent (but you can get that by just driving a few hours in any direction here) and they drive on the opposite side. Other than that, it’s the same shit.

    The one thing that I hated about Australia was the fly problem. They are EVERYWHERE and they are THICK. Just standing there it’s not unusual to have 30 or so buzzing around your head with 5 or 6 landing on your face, in your ears, up your nose at any given moment. There they call the motion of you waving your hand near your face to shew them away the “Auzzie salute”.

    However, the night sky is awesome and they do have really good (strong) beer.

    1. One more chance. I am in a good mood.

      Those flies were talked about in my favorite book of all time, The Thornbirds.

      I hated driving on the wrong side of the road. Bad dyslexia kicked in immediately.

      You can get a great night sky in NM. No Southern Cross but great sky, nevertheless.

  3. @Steve Peterson
    Where were you at that had that problem?

    When I was there in Cairns and Sydney, we didn’t have that problem. Is it more of problem depending upon the time of year? Because, if I go back, I don’t want to go then! 🙂

  4. Lafayette

    Very sad to read that the News & Messenger and insidenova.com will close Dec 30, 2012. As a native of Manassas, it’s hard for me to imagine our community without a local paper. The paper employed 33 people. I wish them well.
    http://www.insidenova.com/news/article_62851762-2e69-11e2-8648-0019bb30f31a.html

  5. I thought that was very sad news. There is something about not having a hometown newspaper that is just not acceptable. I was sitting right there on facebook when it popped up.

    I thought Warren Buffett had bought it?

    I wonder if there is any appeal.

  6. Please consider calling the AG’s office over this child who is still sitting in prison. His accuser has admitted that she lied to get herself out of trouble for looking at porn.

    I don’t even thing this boy, Jonathan Montgomery even knew her.

    See our article.

    Life has to about more than in utero, Mr. Cuccinelli. He needed to drive over and expedite things–do whatever it takes to get this young man out of prison where he has been languishing for 5 years. Elena called the AG’s office.

  7. Steve Randolph

    http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/316714

    “Perhaps next year will be the year when state government,
    at least will face political reality. Localities need the break.”

  8. Lafayette

    He did buy it. I wonder if this is what will become of some other papers like ours that he bought up. I doubt there’s any appeal. Santa MUST bring Big Luc a computer now, that’s for sure.

  9. Steve Peterson

    @Cargosquid
    We were in Warrambool which is about a 4 hour drive west of Melbourne around Christmas. Man, it was enough to drive a person insane. My wife, in 100+ degree weather, had to wear a big round sun hat with a shirt over it covering her face, she was miserable.

    Heck, we even went to see a petrified forest about 20 miles away, there wasn’t a live piece of vegetation or animal as far as the eye could see and it was no different. Flies in your mouth, eyes, ears, hair, nose, crawling all over neck and face… it sucked.

    One cool thing though is that we did see some random penguins walking around, which was quite odd. Didn’t expect to see them on a rocky beach in summer conditions.

  10. Steve Peterson

    looks like things are kicking off in Israel, this may be the flash point to something bigger…

  11. punchak

    @Moon-howler
    Why on earth did you drive? The public transport in Sydney was great.

    It’s just abt 30 years since I was there. Loved the place; no flies in sight (April).
    Flew down to Tasmania, which is a beautiful, wild island. I love the friendliness and informality of the Aussies. Met a lot of them while working overseas. If there was any occasion, ANY occasion, for a party, the Aussies arranged a party. Most of them seemed like college kids, irrespective of age. / After a certain amount of beer, their “English” became a bit difficult to understand, though!

    1. I didn’t go to Australia.

      Peterson and Cargo went to Australia but not together.

  12. punchak

    @Cargosquid
    We went in April. It was perfect! Stay on the coast, and I’m sure you won’t have
    any problem with flies.

  13. Lafayette

    @Moon-howler
    Check your porch for a special package with a note written in penmanship. It’s no dying art over in WestGate. 🙂 ENJOY!!

    1. delicious.

      Good penmanship also. Better than mine ever was.

  14. Mom

    @Lafayette
    You actually sign your burning bags of sh*t?

    1. That’s what she left on YOUR porch. She left something wonderful on my porch.

  15. Lafayette

    @Mom
    May as well…I’ll get blamed anyways.

  16. Steve Randolph

    The demise of the Manassas News&Messenger is a sad
    event for our community. For the Manassas/PWC area
    not to have a local newspaper, for the first time in over a
    hundred years, is difficult to confront.

    1. It certainly is. I don’t like relying on patch and blogs.

      We won’t even know when people die.

      The death of News and Messenger is like the death of Manassas as a home town.

  17. Steve Randolph

    “The people are immensely likeable – cheerful extroverts,
    quick-witted and unfailingly obliging. They have a society
    that is prosperous, well ordered and instinctively egalitarian.
    The food is excellent and the beer is cold.”
    (Know it sounds like Manassas City, but it,is in fact Australia)

    In A Sunburned Country
    by Bill Bryson

  18. @punchak
    I was there in May…near the Barrier Reef and down in Sydney. No flies. Must be regional. Great people, great food, great scenery.

  19. This is just the beginning of the future: http://fredericksburglive.com/ Multimedia content – podcast, video, fresh content all in one, online. Really, a 143-year tradition doesn’t stop, just because you can’t hold newsprint in your hands. This is the most exciting time to be a journalist – just have to morph along with the medium and find a way to get paid.

    1. Thanks Cindy. I am watching BRAVE (the movie). i want to explore the future when the movie is over.

  20. http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/ – Maybe Connection or Times newspapers will spring up with a Manassas and/or Woodbridge edition?

  21. Ray Beverage

    I see the demise of the N&M an opportunity for that great little Manassas Observor that shows up in my mailbox for free to possibily fill the void. I have said to many it reminds me of the MJM of years ago with its focus on “hometown” news. If I was the publisher, I would go after the advertising dollars and expand the frequency. The Observor reporters always do a great job in their accuracy!

  22. I no longer get the Observer. It used to dampen the driveway.

  23. Which local blogger fears to say our name? Voldemort!!! Voldemort!!!!Moonhowlings!!!

    I am richly amused by the fear.

    Meow!!!!! Someone is a big wussy.

  24. Program recommendation: Showtimeanytime.com:

    Oliver Stone’s Untold History of the United States

    Oliver Stone usually screams our history at us. He beats us over the head with it until we agree with him. Then he keeps beating. I didn’t feel that way this time. This series just started and airs Monday nights on Showtime at 8 pm. or…..use showtimeanytime or video on demand.

    It was very good. It started pre war Europe (WWII) and had a whole bunch of stuff on there that I never knew.

  25. Watching

    @moonhowler I don’t know if they mentioned it on TV, but Stone also wrote a book by the same name and I heard it was a really good read. I don’t get Showtime so I think I will get it for my Kindle. I was thinking it might make a good Christmas present.

    1. I didn’t realize Oliver Stone had a book out by the same name. thanks.

      If you have Verizon, you can get a bundle that has showtime in with HBO. I dont care much for the movies but I like the series. I have watched boardwalk empire for 3 years now. On showtime I watch Homeland and now the Stone film. There are probably other good ones.

  26. Lafayette

    Moon-howler :Which local blogger fears to say our name? Voldemort!!! Voldemort!!!!Moonhowlings!!!
    I am richly amused by the fear.
    Meow!!!!! Someone is a big wussy.

    If moonhowlings was typed on the over there on that blog. It might leave Sudley in the dark. Oh, they are in the dark without streetlights. 👿

    1. I double dog dare someone…..

  27. Lafayette

    @Moon-howler
    Sounds like a job for MoMmie dearest!

  28. Isn’t someone here an APPLE stockholder?

    It appears to be nosediving.

    1. Anyone who has a 401K is probably an apple shareholder. I wouldn’t say it is nose-diving. Look at it as a fire sale and buy some more. I will get the straight skinny on it and let you know.

      I bought at $80 so I am not sweating.

  29. Mom

    @Lafayette
    Been a little busy with targets of opportunity.

  30. Lafayette

    @Mom
    Open season, eh?

  31. Mom

    You might say that, and I’ve been keeping my powder dry for a very long time.

  32. One advantage to having a Republican President: the press does it’s job and scrutinizes everything. Think of how the press would publicize this: http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/11/14/why-isnt-sandy-obamas-katrina/

    Of course, we know WHY it’s not being called Obama’s Katrina…..

  33. Need to Know

    I sold Apple two months ago!!!! Locked in some nice gains.

  34. I would be paying some nice taxes if I did that.

  35. Why doesn’t Obama give out more permits for offshore drilling?

    Late breaking news: An oil rig has exploded in the Gulf of Mexico off of Louisiana.

    Yea, I wonder why……and they said it wouldnt happen again.

    That mean, nasty, hateful, stupid Obama! He cares more about the economy of the Gulf states than he does the oilmen.

    How many billions is this going to cost?
    [sarcasm button on]

  36. Um…oil rigs do have accidents.

    No one said that this wouldn’t happen again. And this was on a mature well. So, Obama’s illegal moratorium didn’t effect it.

    But..hey. Since we’re so worried about oil rigs in the gulf…. shut them down. All of them. As I said, Obama knows best and he was returned. Shut them all down and put in windmills.

  37. um…yes they do.

    um…should we just toss all standards to the wind?

    When you your people going to get tired of having their economy ruined by these slobs?

    Um…why do they blow up? Bet it isn’t conforming to standards.

  38. Israel is poised and perched to invade Gaza. How many rockets to they have to have fired on them before they go in to clean out the nest of insurgents firing on them?

    How freaking selfish on the part of these militants. They continue to fire on Israel. They live in close quarters and who will get killed when the Israeli’s retaliate…(and they really have no choice but to do so) The women and children will be the ones killed. The militants will all be in bunkers….safe from harm.

    Totally selfish to endanger the civilian population.

  39. @Moon-howler
    What are you talking about? Who said anything about “tossing standards.” How is one oil rig exploding ruining the economy? Last I checked, southern Louisiana is hurting more from the moratorium and will for decades than the BP oil spill.

    We’ll find out about it conforming to standards. Oil rigs are dangerous places.

  40. @Moon-howler
    This illustrates it perfectly.

    http://cdn.patriotupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Palestine-Israel-soldier.jpg

    If the Palestinians would lay down their arms, what would happen?
    If the Israelis lay down their arms, what would happen?

  41. The problem with that cartoon is there are no real soldiers of Palestine. How can a non-state raise an army.

  42. Pat.Herve

    One Man’s terrorist is another Man’s freedom fighter.

    1. I am fairly sympathetic to Palestine. I am not sympathetic to firing rockets into Israel. At this point, Israel has no choice but to go in there and clean out the place. Unfortunately, in such a densely populated region, women, children and civilians will be maimed and killed.

      The situation sickens me.

  43. Need to Know

    @Cargosquid

    I’ve seen that cartoon before and agree with its message. I think we are all on the same page here. The Palestinians cannot keep launching rockets into Isreal and not expect retaliation. The most disgusting part of this will be the UN condemning Isreal when they retaliate to stop the slaughter of Israeli women and children.

    1. Well they can prepare to meet their maker tomorrow. It sounds like invasion of Gaza is immenent.

      We all need to be careful what we wish for. Any flare ups in the middle east have the potential of being deadly and of long endurance.

      I feel sorry for those non-militants who are the ones who are going to get all torn up because of the actions of the hotheads. What can they really do about it? Nada.

  44. Need to Know

    Sorry for the misspelling – Israel. It’s been a busy week and I’ve already settled in for the evening.

  45. Steve Randolph

    http://hamptonroads.com/2012/11/follow-legislature-action

    “Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with
    their own government.”
    Thomas Jefferson

  46. No spell police here. We would all be in jail.
    @NTK

    I don’t try to always think somone is going to say the worst. Don’t you get depressed always thinking that?

    Israel needs to be reminded as they clean out the nests firing on them that every rocket or bomb they drop probably hits a woman or child. It just helps to be mindful of that. No point in desensitizing.

  47. Most war tears up civilizians. We kid ourselves in to thinking it doesnt…but it does.

  48. So, did anybody stockpile Twinkies before the union killed the company?

    1. Little Debbie will take over. That’s corporate America for you. Unions Schunions.

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