Author: The Hinoeuma
Winter Solstice 2018
I was hoping to capture some images of the Moon, tonight but, we are so overcast from the rain storms, it’s just not going to happen. I will try tomorrow night.
Winter is officially here, as if all the snow we’ve had wasn’t a clue. The solstice arrived at 5:23pm EST and tomorrow’s Full Moon will be at 100% full illumination at 12:48pm EST. From The Almanac:
The word solstice comes from Latin sol “sun” and sistere “to stand still.” In the Northern Hemisphere, as summer advances to winter, the points on the horizon where the Sun rises and sets advance southward each day. The high point in the Sun’s daily path across the sky, which occurs at local noon, also moves southward each day.
At the winter solstice, the Sun’s path has reached its southernmost position. The next day, the path will advance northward. However, a few days before and after the winter solstice, the change is so slight that the Sun’s path seems to stay the same, or stand still. The Sun is directly overhead at “high-noon” on Winter Solstice at the latitude called the Tropic of Capricorn.
The solstice is the beginning of astronomical winter. (An almanac is defined as a “calendar of the heavens,” so we use the astronomical definition.) Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun. However, meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle. For the ancient Celts, the calendar was based around the solstices and equinoxes, marking the Quarter Days, with the mid-points called Cross-Quarter Days.
This is the longest night of the year. It is a time for rest and reflection. Just like Spring cleaning time, the beginning of Winter can herald a cleaning of its own. Cold temperatures and bad weather can mean more time indoors. It can be a time for sifting through the past or contemplating the future. Many may find that re-evaluating relationships and possessions is easier during this slower time. I will be lighting a candle and smudging. Wishing everyone health and happiness. ~Vic
30-Day Song Challenge: Day 21
A song you like with a person’s name in the title…
I’m with fellow blogger, Britchy, on this one. She lists several that I like plus, I add Alyson, Amie, Barbara Ann, Eleanor Rigby, Rhonda, Carrie Ann, Maggie May, Lucy, Sharona, Beth, Sara, Sarah, Shannon, Angie, Layla, Mandy, Rhiannon, Lola, Ruby, Lucille…the list is endless and most of them women.
These are my three favorites since I seem to post in threes, mostly and, one is a guy’s name.
This one is my middle name…
Lead singer and drummer Fred LeBlanc is a trip.
The original video is pretty raunchy, so I will go with this one.
30-Day Song Challenge: Day 20
A song that has many meanings for you…
“So little time to make you see…
What can’t be undone…
Was maybe never meant to be…”
“And when we’re done…
Soul searching…
And we carried the weight…
And died for a cause…
Is misery made beautiful…
Right before our eyes…
Mercy be revealed…
Or blind us where we stand…”
“wasting time…
lost my mind…
where’s the sign…
look for higher…”
“tell the sun, warn the moon…
the night and noon…
we’ve been waitin’…”
30-Day Song Challenge: Day 19
A song that makes you think about life…
“There’s no free rides, no one said it’d be easy…
The old man told me this my son I’m telling it to you…
Days turn to minutes…
And minutes to memories…
So, suck it up and tough it out…
Be the best you can…”
30-Day Song Challenge: Day 18
A song from the year you were born…
I read over the long list of songs released in 1966. There’s a lot of good stuff in there and I had a hard time choosing.
Q & A Tag: Come Chat With Me
I have been tagged for a Q & A with Bereaved Single Dad. And, away we go…
The Rules
♦ Answer the questions you receive (straight, funny, absurd…up to you)
♦ Create three questions of your own (for those you tag)
♦ Tag three people
The Questions
[1] Pink and yellow dot sports car or an Alvin & The Chipmunks designed utility vehicle?
I would take either but, I’m leaning toward Alvin & The Chipmunks. And, since ‘utility vehicle’ is vague, it would be a four-door, manual transmission Jeep! It would have loud speakers and play the 1958 Christmas Chipmunk Song, over and over. I would be marked for death. [I still want a hula-hoop…]
[2] Who would you make world leader? Your choices are Shaggy (Scooby Doo), Homer Simpson, Squidward (SpongeBob) or Rico (Penguins of Madagascar).
Well, Shaggy…of course. Being the scaredy-cat that he is, there would be no wars…only peace, love, funny walks and Scooby snacks. Homer Simpson would be taken out of the nuclear plant. [I haven’t the first clue who Rico is. Is Squidward the one that looks like an Ood from Doctor Who, only he is red?]
[3] You have to sit in a bath of cold food. Which food?
Doesn’t matter. I would be a fully clothed and saran-wrapped like a burrito.
My Three Questions
[1] If you were a Marvel Superhero, what would be your super-power?
[2] If you could go back to high school, what is one thing you would change?
[3] If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
My Tags
Britchy [Naturally, you were the first that came to mind…]
Coffee [Second one that came to mind…]
Fresh Hell
Anyone is welcome to participate. Anyone is welcome to not participate.
Thanks, Roy.
Movie Monday: Shoulder Arms 1918
Today, we are going waaaaaaay back…to 1918. On this date, Shoulder Arms, a Charlie Chaplin piece, was a very popular film. Was it a ‘number one’? Hard to tell. This film pre-dates the Academy Awards by 11 years. Starring Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Sydney Chaplin (Charlie’s elder, half-brother) and Tom Wilson, it is, primarily, a dream sequence set in France during World War I.
Plot from IMDB:
Charlie is in boot camp in the “awkward squad.” Once in France, he gets no letters from home. He finally gets a package containing limburger cheese, which requires a gas mask and which he throws over into the German trench. He goes “over the top” and captures thirteen Germans (“I surrounded them”) then, volunteers to wander through the German lines disguised as a tree trunk. With the help of a French girl, he captures the Kaiser and the Crown Prince and, is given a statue and victory parade in New York. Then…fellow soldiers wake him from his dream. [edited for grammar]
From an archived New York Times article:
“”The fool’s funny,” was the chuckling observation of one of those who saw Charlie Chaplin’s new film. “Shoulder Arms”, at the Strand, yesterday and, apparently, that’s the way everybody felt. There have been learned discussions as to whether Chaplin’s comedy is low or high, artistic or crude but, no one can deny that when he impersonates a screen fool, he is funny. Most of those who go to find fault with him remain to laugh. They may still find fault but, they will keep on laughing. In “Shoulder Arms”, Chaplin is as funny as ever.” [edited for grammar]
Trivia Bits:
♦ Many in Hollywood were nervous that one of their most famous peers was going to tackle the subject of WWI. It was released shortly before the Armistice so, it did not help boost national morale but, it did end up as one of Charles Chaplin’s most popular films and, it was particularly popular with returning doughboys.
♦ Released two weeks and one day before the end of World War I.
30-Day Song Challenge: Day 17
A song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke…
Just for the sake of the beautiful harmony (male or female), this one.
30-Day Song Challenge: Day 16
A song that is a classic favorite…
I’ve never seen The Eagles live but, from some videos, particularly the early years, they pretty much stay true to their studio recordings instead of trying to re-write history on stage.
RIP Glenn Frey.
New Kid In Town
30-Day Song Challenge: Day 15
A song you like that is a cover by another artist…
Angel of the Morning was written by Chip Taylor (uncle to Angelina Jolie). This song has been covered by many. It was originally recorded by Evie Sands in 1967 and it got airplay but, the label went bankrupt and distribution halted. After that, it was a feeding frenzy spanning 45 years, culminating in the very last version by Rita Wilson (Mrs. Tom Hanks).
The two most popular versions, both released in February, 13 years apart, I still own, both in 45s. Juice Newton is my favorite version.
Juice Newton 1981
30-Day Song Challenge: Day 14
A song you’d love to be played at your wedding…
I’ve already had two weddings. I don’t need another one. Sheesh. Both of my weddings were outdoors and music was limited, if present at all. It was just not something I thought much about. That being expressed, I will, instead, offer you another person’s wedding that I thought would be cool to attend/be part of…’cause there are NO weddings in my future. It is a compilation, not just one song.
The Best Daddy/Daughter Dance
30-Day Song Challenge: Day 13
A song you like from the 70s…
I remember lying on the floor and listening to this on my parent’s stereo cabinet. Remember those big, wooden things with Queen Anne feet and brass fixtures? It had a great sound and you could stack a lot of albums in it.
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
30-Day Song Challenge: Day 12
A song from your preteen years…
I’m going to take a leap of faith, here and assume this means the tween years, a term that wasn’t around in the 1970s. And, since it doesn’t say ‘childhood’, I will stay in the 10, 11 & 12 year range.
This choice was by far the hardest. 1978 was a great year for music but, this one-hit-wonder is my choice:
Driver’s Seat
30-Day Song Challenge: Day 11
A song you never get tired of…
THIS is going to be difficult because there are so many. I will go with this one.
Save Me
Movie Monday: The Desolation of Smaug 2013
Five years ago, today, the #1 film at the box office was The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, starring Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who #7) and Stephen Fry (apologies up front right now to all the Tolkien fans if I have missed a favorite actor of yours…I listed the ones that the U.S. audience would recognize).
IMBD Summary:
“The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim Erebor, their homeland, from Smaug. Bilbo Baggins is in possession of a mysterious and magical ring.
Interesting Trivia:
♦ Benedict Cumberbatch, in his own words, ”…ripped into [his] vocal cords quite literally, [he] had blood at the end of the day from tearing [his] throat to pieces…” in order to get Smaug’s voice right. The crew had to make a lot of “Gollum Juice” for him, a tea of honey, lemon and ginger, which Andy Serkis had created during the original trilogy when voicing Gollum.
♦ During filming, Sir Ian McKellen had to spend several hours in a box, with nothing but a microphone and pictures of the Dwarves for company (the footage would be edited in to make him look taller than the Dwarves) and, was so upset by this that he exclaimed “This is not why I became an actor!” The microphone was still on and everyone on-set heard him as a result. In consolation, the cast and crew surprised him by sticking gifts, and encouragement messages, into his trailer.
♦ This was the fourth highest grossing film of 2013.
♦ At one time, this film was the 24th highest grossing film of all time (worldwide theatrical total, not factoring in TV, DVD, broadcasting rights, stage adaptions & merchandising) but, sits at the #44 position as of December 7, 2018.
With three Academy Award nominations, two BAFTA nominations, one Grammy nomination, one People’s Choice Award nomination, seven Saturn Award nominations, various other nominations and six wins, I will leave you to read up on all of the accolades on your own (extensive list). ~Vic
Cosmic-Observation 