Sunday, August 30, 2009
Master List #18: The 101 Best Films of the 1930s
Even though the planet's mired in a similarly decade-defining depression, the movies of the 1930s are rooted so distantly away from the noisy present that watching them makes one obsess over how much life has seemingly since wriggled backwards or hence. They really feel not of this earth. Their striking opulence and risky experimentation; their steadfast dedication to amusement (there are more
Master List #18: The 101 Best Films of the 1930s
Even though the planet's mired in a similarly decade-defining depression, the movies of the 1930s are rooted so distantly away from the noisy present that watching them makes one obsess over how much life has seemingly since wriggled backwards or hence. They really feel not of this earth. Their striking opulence and risky experimentation; their steadfast dedication to amusement (there are more
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
2009 Movie Diary--Late May to Late August
I have to clear my MOVIE DIARY sidebar, so I'm committing it to posterity as an entry into the body of my blog. I review each film in fifteen words or less (which is harder than one might think). The best movies are marked with 2 stars. Anyway, from mid-May 2009 to late August 2009 (from bottom to top), I watched: **Village of the Damned (creepy kids abound in staid but entertaining 60s
2009 Movie Diary--Late May to Late August
I have to clear my MOVIE DIARY sidebar, so I'm committing it to posterity as an entry into the body of my blog. I review each film in fifteen words or less (which is harder than one might think). The best movies are marked with 2 stars. Anyway, from mid-May 2009 to late August 2009 (from bottom to top), I watched: **Village of the Damned (creepy kids abound in staid but entertaining 60s
Running Apparel
I like running clothes, and will buy something new for myself when I can come up with a reason to do it! Not even have to be a good reason or a new ... I'm not too proud to use stale, bad reasons if necessary. In fact, more than half of the cabinet is running gear consists of: running shirt and running shorts and a jacket and tights. Running shoes and socks and hats, oh my!
I've tried (but did not quite work yet) to get every color are available at both the top and running shorts. This project is in progress, but a fun one ... Everybody needs a hobby, right? And you'll see me Stylin 'when I was walking in the running the orange shirt and orange running shorts ... You even can not see me .... I almost neon at that time.
I felt very important to feel comfortable when walking, and of course the color-coordinated as well. Not only make the experience much more pleasant walk; run as clothing that is important for body temperature regulation: to remain calm in the hot months and
warm during the winter. Not to mention compensate for changes in humidity and cold winds, etc.
When I decided to train for my first marathon, it was the beginning of the new year. And that means I have to start to build up mileage in January. I really needed winter to running apparel. Fortunately, the mild winter one. Almost every day I can wear short-sleeved running shirt with a light running jacket and running tights. I always wear a hat walking and on cold days, gloves. Close serve two purposes: to keep my eyes from the glare and walked the cold, to keep the heat in. peeling gloves usually about half way through the walk. There are a couple of times to walk when I have to wear wool hats, but usually only when the wind came out.
I found that running a light jacket is necessary to run at that time this year. Not only keeping me warm, but it was vented, so I do not get too hot for walking. I've heard that running causes the temperature was 10 degrees warmer. Before I had a jacket to run, when I would run in cold weather, I'll wear long-sleeved running shirt. But this is not a great strategy when I started walking out I felt cold, and then, after I started to heat up, pushing the arm just does not do the trick to cool me. By having a vented jacket, is now the axis of moisture from my skin, and I do not get cold during the walk again. Because I hate to be too hot when walking, glad that I can take my running jacket if I get too hot, and put it back on as soon as I started to cool. We have a very low humidity in western Montana, so if I was walking when the sun came out, can heat up pretty quickly, even during the winter.
Although I will warm up in the sun, it was important for me to note that when running in temps below 45 degrees F, I have to run wear tight pants. It is important to keep leg muscles warm. Although sometimes I might be a little too hot when wearing tight pants, I found the recovery time is much faster, and I was not sick the next day. My main problem with running tights is that I do not have many colors to choose from as I did in the election running shorts. I think it's okay, because I only have one running jacket. So what's the point? I just learned to be content with just wearing a different hat colors run. Training of the most difficult times for me was the transition seasons: winter into spring and spring to summer. After walking in the pants and jacket all winter, I was excited to wear shorts to walk without a jacket, only wearing short-sleeved running shirt.
I have to be careful, because the spring in Montana could bring some unexpected, very bad weather. It only takes one time caught in a blizzard of spring for me to realize that even though it may look good to begin with, I ran for 2 to 2 ½ hours at a time. A lot can happen weather-wise during that time. As they say in Montana, 'If you do not like the weather, wait a few minutes. " I ran a long training run with my friend Vickie ride a bike along with me, and easier to start with many more layers of clothing to run. When I am warm, I'll spill execute one item of clothing, and he will fall over just like that in the saddle bag. I'm doing a lot of my long walk during the spring weather is unpredictable, so have there with me for a long training run to make it easy prepared for whatever weather may bring. Thanks, Vickie! Of course, my favorite season to travel is summer: mainly because most of the clothes go as the season. As I said before, I hate to be too hot when running, so I walked in shorts for most likely the types who have generously parted to allow the runner next to me the most comfortable and coolest running. But I also have a few more shorts long run good for a cold morning or late spring day. My undershirt (running shirts - tank tops) is a very mild cold, wick-away material. I've noticed that some of my running shirt does not breathe well, so I use mostly for the morning walk when it was not too hot yet.
Okay .... so maybe I had gone too much about running clothes, but my point is this: when walking, I want to be smart about what I wear. So have many choices about what to wear, I do not have to worry that I am not entitled to run a piece of apparel. That's how I justify permanent
When I decided to train for my first marathon, it was the beginning of the new year. And that means I have to start to build up mileage in January. I really needed winter to running apparel. Fortunately, the mild winter one. Almost every day I can wear short-sleeved running shirt with a light running jacket and running tights. I always wear a hat walking and on cold days, gloves. Close serve two purposes: to keep my eyes from the glare and walked the cold, to keep the heat in. peeling gloves usually about half way through the walk. There are a couple of times to walk when I have to wear wool hats, but usually only when the wind came out.
I found that running a light jacket is necessary to run at that time this year. Not only keeping me warm, but it was vented, so I do not get too hot for walking. I've heard that running causes the temperature was 10 degrees warmer. Before I had a jacket to run, when I would run in cold weather, I'll wear long-sleeved running shirt. But this is not a great strategy when I started walking out I felt cold, and then, after I started to heat up, pushing the arm just does not do the trick to cool me. By having a vented jacket, is now the axis of moisture from my skin, and I do not get cold during the walk again. Because I hate to be too hot when walking, glad that I can take my running jacket if I get too hot, and put it back on as soon as I started to cool. We have a very low humidity in western Montana, so if I was walking when the sun came out, can heat up pretty quickly, even during the winter.
Although I will warm up in the sun, it was important for me to note that when running in temps below 45 degrees F, I have to run wear tight pants. It is important to keep leg muscles warm. Although sometimes I might be a little too hot when wearing tight pants, I found the recovery time is much faster, and I was not sick the next day. My main problem with running tights is that I do not have many colors to choose from as I did in the election running shorts. I think it's okay, because I only have one running jacket. So what's the point? I just learned to be content with just wearing a different hat colors run. Training of the most difficult times for me was the transition seasons: winter into spring and spring to summer. After walking in the pants and jacket all winter, I was excited to wear shorts to walk without a jacket, only wearing short-sleeved running shirt.
I have to be careful, because the spring in Montana could bring some unexpected, very bad weather. It only takes one time caught in a blizzard of spring for me to realize that even though it may look good to begin with, I ran for 2 to 2 ½ hours at a time. A lot can happen weather-wise during that time. As they say in Montana, 'If you do not like the weather, wait a few minutes. " I ran a long training run with my friend Vickie ride a bike along with me, and easier to start with many more layers of clothing to run. When I am warm, I'll spill execute one item of clothing, and he will fall over just like that in the saddle bag. I'm doing a lot of my long walk during the spring weather is unpredictable, so have there with me for a long training run to make it easy prepared for whatever weather may bring. Thanks, Vickie! Of course, my favorite season to travel is summer: mainly because most of the clothes go as the season. As I said before, I hate to be too hot when running, so I walked in shorts for most likely the types who have generously parted to allow the runner next to me the most comfortable and coolest running. But I also have a few more shorts long run good for a cold morning or late spring day. My undershirt (running shirts - tank tops) is a very mild cold, wick-away material. I've noticed that some of my running shirt does not breathe well, so I use mostly for the morning walk when it was not too hot yet.
Okay .... so maybe I had gone too much about running clothes, but my point is this: when walking, I want to be smart about what I wear. So have many choices about what to wear, I do not have to worry that I am not entitled to run a piece of apparel. That's how I justify permanent
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Milky Way and the Galactic Center
At the SFAA star party a couple nights ago on Mt Tam, the conditions were very clear and dark and we had a nice view of the Milky Way. With an excellent southern horizon, we could see all of Scorpius and Sagittarius and as my daughter and I were giving star tours to guests at the star party, I was happy to point out these two constellations and note that the center of the Milky Way was in the vicinity of the tail of Scorpius and the "teapot" of Sagittarius. This is called the "Galactic Center" and is the central bulge of the Milky Way Galaxy.Looking toward the galactic center, however, you don't see a huge ball of light. That is because there is a massive dust cloud that lies between the Sun and the galactic center. Too bad for us, because it would be quite amazing to see the center of our own galaxy. Nonetheless, there is much richness in the sky near the galactic center and even in city lights you can begin to see some of that beauty if you use a pair of binoculars. Standard 7x35 or 10x50 binoculars can substantially increase the amount of light you can see, and that means you can begin to discern the stars and shapes of deep space objects such as the Lagoon Nebula or the Swan Nebula. Take out binoculars and point yourself south and see if you can start to see some of the wonders that are at the heart of the Milky Way.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
ManiaDrive - Car Game for Linux
Maniadrive is a great arcade type car game.
ManiaDrive is a free clone of Trackmania, the great game from Nadéo studio, and is an arcade car game on acrobatic tracks, with a quick and nervous gameplay (tracks almost never exceed one minute), and features a network mode, as the original.
Features:
- Complex car physics
- Challenging "story mode"
- LAN and Internet mode
- Live scores
- Track editor
- Dedicated server with HTTP interface
- More than 30 blocks - Full soundtrack
Both Linux and Windows version including source is available at http://maniadrive.raydium.org/index.php?downloads=yes
Once downloaded, untar it and run ./mania_drive.sh from terminal
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Womens Jean Jackets - Plus Size
Having the image plus-size may not make a woman's dressing up, whether it is for business, casual, or formal. One of the easiest way to dress up a pair of slacks, skirt or dress is to add a jacket. Knowing your body type and choose colors that flatter your figure and enhance skin tone and can help you select a versatile plus size jackets that can last for years. At first, please try to cut in the jacket. Plus size women should try to avoid a boxy jacket, a shortcut. They must choose, not that skim the hip length. Little padding in the jacket's shoulders can help improve the plus-size figures, and add a dimension to life.In some women have a more simple-size image. A good choice for this body type is in accordance with the straight line. Search for a jacket with a long sharp lapels that do not take too much emphasis on the waistline. Plus size women with a curvy figure, however, need to find the very opposite. Selecting a short jacket with curved lapels, and the waist fit. In this case, which will accentuate a jacket cinched at the waist while minimizing the abdomen. Jacket must fit properly into the body to the crack. Someone with a large bust should have a jacket to avoid in the breast pocket. However,
a jacket with a simple cut and tapered waist is the best option for women with large breast size.
Plus women have a relatively small size of the back and up, will find a longer jacket that skim the hips to be flattering. Avoid jackets that end right at the hips, because it will draw attention to the area you want to juggle. Develop the view that the proportion is very important. For example, a long jacket that 5'6" woman look higher can have the opposite effect on someone less than 5 feet tall. Follow the following tips to help select the right size plus the length of a jacket.
Shawl jacket you should not be knowledgeable on the part of the body you. Instead, go longer or shorter. The long jacket, narrow trousers or skirt you have. You need a jacket or skirt around two-thirds of the length of the overall look. Try longer jackets knee length skirts and short jackets over long skirts.
Scarves is accessory to add a personal touch to the plus size jacket. Use a long scarf to draw you a picture. Scarves also draw attention to the face and a fun way to add a little interest in your outfit.
Plus women have a relatively small size of the back and up, will find a longer jacket that skim the hips to be flattering. Avoid jackets that end right at the hips, because it will draw attention to the area you want to juggle. Develop the view that the proportion is very important. For example, a long jacket that 5'6" woman look higher can have the opposite effect on someone less than 5 feet tall. Follow the following tips to help select the right size plus the length of a jacket.
Shawl jacket you should not be knowledgeable on the part of the body you. Instead, go longer or shorter. The long jacket, narrow trousers or skirt you have. You need a jacket or skirt around two-thirds of the length of the overall look. Try longer jackets knee length skirts and short jackets over long skirts.
Scarves is accessory to add a personal touch to the plus size jacket. Use a long scarf to draw you a picture. Scarves also draw attention to the face and a fun way to add a little interest in your outfit.
Plus Size Womens Motorcycle Jackets
You will have a difficult time looking for nice looking plus size coat that looks hip and professional if you really live in a cold climate, but not impossible. There are some trendy brand to choose if you take the time to search online. The best way to avoid embarrassment is to take your time to find the best and do not see the coat procrastinate. If you wait for the final coat to find the perfect dress for you may not arrive in time if need be sent. You are also likely to take if you expect to get a good looking plus size jackets are still in the shops. Odds you will not find what you need because most stores do not stock a lot of plus sizes.
It seems like every time I need to
rush to buy clothes from the article I'm not satisfied with the purchase last. I always regretted not forward. When you take some additional time to select and choose from a variety of styles available plus size coats you may be more than happy with your purchase for a long time.
If possible, try to choose a neutral coat that can be used in more than one time. You do not want to invest money in a coat that you will only wear one time. However, you also do not want to buy a coat that totally distracts from the outfit. For example, do not wear a coat with a short length of full-dress! Even if you only wear a coat for a short period of time still need to look this good. You want to make sure that you like to put some effort into it and not something you just threw it in the last minute.
Although often can be difficult to find plus size coats that are suitable for the special night in the city to plan to pay certain future. With little effort you can find a formal coat or jacket that looks good, fit right, and does not cost much money. If you want to know the most popular type of plus size coats for women, visit Plus Size Coats and Jackets today.
If possible, try to choose a neutral coat that can be used in more than one time. You do not want to invest money in a coat that you will only wear one time. However, you also do not want to buy a coat that totally distracts from the outfit. For example, do not wear a coat with a short length of full-dress! Even if you only wear a coat for a short period of time still need to look this good. You want to make sure that you like to put some effort into it and not something you just threw it in the last minute.
Although often can be difficult to find plus size coats that are suitable for the special night in the city to plan to pay certain future. With little effort you can find a formal coat or jacket that looks good, fit right, and does not cost much money. If you want to know the most popular type of plus size coats for women, visit Plus Size Coats and Jackets today.
Womens Plus Size Spring Jackets
If you are a plus size women can be sometimes difficult to find plus size coats that look good and feel comfortable either. One company that has made a commitment to design professional coats for plus size women Catherines. Catherines Plus Size Clothing specializes in the design and production of clothing for full figured women have a great product line and hard to find sizes including coats and jackets. Catherines perhaps best known as a classic and sophisticated style. They tend to have more professional design that's cool. However, you will likely find unique designs and patterns in their stores and on their website that you will not find anywhere else.
Catherines has a variety of sizes including plus coats khaki shorts and a denim jacket comes in various designs and patterns. Plus one size is currently jacket features on their website is linen Cross Dye Jacket features a unique top stitching patterns and waistline. Very fine details,
Catherines has a variety of sizes including plus coats khaki shorts and a denim jacket comes in various designs and patterns. Plus one size is currently jacket features on their website is linen Cross Dye Jacket features a unique top stitching patterns and waistline. Very fine details,
but certainly make a fashion statement for the modern plus size woman who want to see him one of the best at work or just walk around the city. The material is very soft look and features a belted waist to help trim the trim.
Other interesting plus size jacket available on their website is Grommet Detail sateen jacket features an open front and mandarin collar. A flattering shape is created by using a belt at the waist Faux and elongated sleeves. This jacket can be paired easily with both a nice pair of jeans or slacks. A good jacket is the flexibility it offers. You can wear it for a few nights out on the town with jeans. Or, kick it a notch for business meetings or interviews with the good pair of trousers or slacks. Choice is yours!
When shopping for plus size coats and jackets you can get more bang for your buck by looking for pieces that are flexible and can be used on more than one type of opportunity. This can really stretch your dollar and give you more choices and flexibility for the wardrobe. For more information on plus size clothing including plus size pea coats and jackets visit Plus Size Coats and Jackets today.
Other interesting plus size jacket available on their website is Grommet Detail sateen jacket features an open front and mandarin collar. A flattering shape is created by using a belt at the waist Faux and elongated sleeves. This jacket can be paired easily with both a nice pair of jeans or slacks. A good jacket is the flexibility it offers. You can wear it for a few nights out on the town with jeans. Or, kick it a notch for business meetings or interviews with the good pair of trousers or slacks. Choice is yours!
When shopping for plus size coats and jackets you can get more bang for your buck by looking for pieces that are flexible and can be used on more than one type of opportunity. This can really stretch your dollar and give you more choices and flexibility for the wardrobe. For more information on plus size clothing including plus size pea coats and jackets visit Plus Size Coats and Jackets today.
Plus Size Womens Jackets With Hoods
In accordance with the size and the labor market for women is one of the most limited, running until the election, in the mode. For some reason that option several times in the range of larger-sized wound, or several times a revealing way to slim and not at all suitable career for women. While some designers have taken more than one step to the sign, which is easy to see why a lot of plus size women with a frustrating shopping experience.
The key to find the most appropriate in size and started working the line with clean, free of bold color or intricate details and embroidery. Here are some tips on what to look for:
• Keep things as simple as possible, less frills and details to help elongate the body and take from the added bulk.
• Look for a more structured finish. jacket with a boxier firm but does not match the fabric of this type of weight with both.
• Since common to find many pieces of smaller, very specific that you can fit after the fact will be a valuable resource.
• If you are more plus size 5'6" a boot cut pant will give the illusion of a longer leg when paired with a foot stiletto
• If you are under 5'6" go directly to cut the breath, again paired with a foot stiletto.
• Accessories must be proportional. Chunkier bracelet clutch purse and a larger work well.
• Contrasting color blouse and eager to help create a waist line where the two meet, to give effect slimming.
• Plus custom sizes suitable for women, always a great choice as this can help create the right you have to cut with a feasible option, and in various colors and fabrics.
• When choosing a search for a pattern of asymmetrical proportional.
• Watch the length of your jacket. You want something that hits around the top of the hip.
• Do not buy a jacket you can not close. Many department store sales people will try to let you know that is not designed to be buttoned, this does not happen. find a suitable and comfortable it has been adjusted downward in accordance with their needs.
• Look for a flat front trouser. Pleats add bulk is not suitable for plus size women.
• Pay no attention to size. Most of the fashion industry does not run on standard sizing, so do not get hung on the numbers. One of the tricks used high-end designers are making them smaller than the size of 'normal' ie they are actually size 4 size 8. This little trick makes the faithful women to more expensive brands that they think they are more appropriate. Finding the right fit even larger if compared with 'normal' size you buy, this will open the options and you save money in the long term.
Chris Vance is a senior fashion trends and inspector is required to wear, clothing custom home design special custom fit, custom shirts, custom tuxedos and sports clothes for men and women.
The key to find the most appropriate in size and started working the line with clean, free of bold color or intricate details and embroidery. Here are some tips on what to look for:
• Keep things as simple as possible, less frills and details to help elongate the body and take from the added bulk.
• Look for a more structured finish. jacket with a boxier firm but does not match the fabric of this type of weight with both.
• Since common to find many pieces of smaller, very specific that you can fit after the fact will be a valuable resource.
• If you are more plus size 5'6" a boot cut pant will give the illusion of a longer leg when paired with a foot stiletto
• If you are under 5'6" go directly to cut the breath, again paired with a foot stiletto.
• Accessories must be proportional. Chunkier bracelet clutch purse and a larger work well.
• Contrasting color blouse and eager to help create a waist line where the two meet, to give effect slimming.
• Plus custom sizes suitable for women, always a great choice as this can help create the right you have to cut with a feasible option, and in various colors and fabrics.
• When choosing a search for a pattern of asymmetrical proportional.
• Watch the length of your jacket. You want something that hits around the top of the hip.
• Do not buy a jacket you can not close. Many department store sales people will try to let you know that is not designed to be buttoned, this does not happen. find a suitable and comfortable it has been adjusted downward in accordance with their needs.
• Look for a flat front trouser. Pleats add bulk is not suitable for plus size women.
• Pay no attention to size. Most of the fashion industry does not run on standard sizing, so do not get hung on the numbers. One of the tricks used high-end designers are making them smaller than the size of 'normal' ie they are actually size 4 size 8. This little trick makes the faithful women to more expensive brands that they think they are more appropriate. Finding the right fit even larger if compared with 'normal' size you buy, this will open the options and you save money in the long term.
Chris Vance is a senior fashion trends and inspector is required to wear, clothing custom home design special custom fit, custom shirts, custom tuxedos and sports clothes for men and women.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Get involved: Astronomy events in August
San Francisco Amateur Astronomers (SFAA) are hosting two events in the coming days, both open to the public at no charge.
The monthl
y meeting of the SFAA takes place on Wednesday evening August 19th at 7:30 pm at the Randall Museum in San Francisco. From the SFAA: "Jack Welch of the Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sonoma gives a presentation on how we measure time and how time measurement is handled in various astronomy and space situations. Welch will explain how our understanding of time measurement has changed as technology and theory have developed, and will explore some of the special challenges satellites and spacecraft have when it comes to timekeeping."
The monthly SFAA event on Mount Tamalpais in Marin features a speaker and a public Star Party. It takes place at the Mountain Theater on Mt. Tam on Saturday August 22nd at 8:30 pm (lecture) with the star party immediately following the lecture. From the SFAA: "Dr. Anthony Coloprete of NASA-Ames will fill us in on all the details of the LCROSS mission. Two spacecrafts are on their way to the moon, and the impending impact on October 9 will be visible even with small scopes from Earth. Why crash into the moon? Dr. Coloprete’s talk 'Prospecting for Water on the Moon' reveals all."
The SFAA welcomes all to their events each month. I hope to see you at one of these events.
The monthl
y meeting of the SFAA takes place on Wednesday evening August 19th at 7:30 pm at the Randall Museum in San Francisco. From the SFAA: "Jack Welch of the Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sonoma gives a presentation on how we measure time and how time measurement is handled in various astronomy and space situations. Welch will explain how our understanding of time measurement has changed as technology and theory have developed, and will explore some of the special challenges satellites and spacecraft have when it comes to timekeeping."The monthly SFAA event on Mount Tamalpais in Marin features a speaker and a public Star Party. It takes place at the Mountain Theater on Mt. Tam on Saturday August 22nd at 8:30 pm (lecture) with the star party immediately following the lecture. From the SFAA: "Dr. Anthony Coloprete of NASA-Ames will fill us in on all the details of the LCROSS mission. Two spacecrafts are on their way to the moon, and the impending impact on October 9 will be visible even with small scopes from Earth. Why crash into the moon? Dr. Coloprete’s talk 'Prospecting for Water on the Moon' reveals all."
The SFAA welcomes all to their events each month. I hope to see you at one of these events.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Perseid Meteor Shower 2009
It's August and that means its time for the annual Perseid Meteor Shower, this year reaching its peak on the evening and through the morning of August 11-12. Meteors are visible just about any night of the year, but throughout the year there are periods of intense activity in the sky ("meteor showers") because the Earth travels through a point in its orbit where there is a higher amount of space dust, rocks and other particles that enter the atmosphere at tens of thousands of miles per hour and burn up, creating bright streaks across the sky.
The Perseid Meteor Shower is going to be harder to see in 2009 because of the bright Moon that rises at 10:40 pm in San Francisco. For the city dweller, however, the shower is not much worse because of the bright Moon, as our city lights obscure many meteors anyhow. So the best you can do is simply enjoy the shower the evening of August 11th from wherever you are in the city. Pick a darkened comfortable spot. Lay back on a blanket and point your feet to toward the north
-east and look around the sky. As the evening wears on, the origination point ("radiant") of the meteor shower rises in the north-east. This area is near the constellations Perseus and Cassiopeia as shown in the illustration to the right.
This year there will be a possible jump in the number of meteors as the Earth passes through a denser-than-usual filament of dust from the remnants of comet Swift-Tuttle. That will happen around 1:00 am pacific time on the 12th, so if you are up late you might just see a more intense period of meteor activity. Throughout the entire evening, the Moon will remain the one bright light everyone cannot escape, so when it rises just point your gaze in another direction and keep your eyes on the sky. And stay warm!
If you want to see a good meteor shower this year that won't have moonlight in the way, look ahead to December 14th when the Geminids will peak at an even higher rate than the Perseids. However it will be considerably cooler and the weather is less predictable at that time.
The Perseid Meteor Shower is going to be harder to see in 2009 because of the bright Moon that rises at 10:40 pm in San Francisco. For the city dweller, however, the shower is not much worse because of the bright Moon, as our city lights obscure many meteors anyhow. So the best you can do is simply enjoy the shower the evening of August 11th from wherever you are in the city. Pick a darkened comfortable spot. Lay back on a blanket and point your feet to toward the north
-east and look around the sky. As the evening wears on, the origination point ("radiant") of the meteor shower rises in the north-east. This area is near the constellations Perseus and Cassiopeia as shown in the illustration to the right.This year there will be a possible jump in the number of meteors as the Earth passes through a denser-than-usual filament of dust from the remnants of comet Swift-Tuttle. That will happen around 1:00 am pacific time on the 12th, so if you are up late you might just see a more intense period of meteor activity. Throughout the entire evening, the Moon will remain the one bright light everyone cannot escape, so when it rises just point your gaze in another direction and keep your eyes on the sky. And stay warm!
If you want to see a good meteor shower this year that won't have moonlight in the way, look ahead to December 14th when the Geminids will peak at an even higher rate than the Perseids. However it will be considerably cooler and the weather is less predictable at that time.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Master List #17: The 101 Best Films of the 1940s
Though the 101 movies mentioned here are some of the best ever made, the 1940s still stands as my least favorite decade for movies. The texture of cinema in that era feels boxed in to me--as if only a few directors made an attempt to get away from the confines of studio-approved packaging. Those who did break out--like Welles, Sturges, and Capra, for instance--paid the price for their
Master List #17: The 101 Best Films of the 1940s
Though the 101 movies mentioned here are some of the best ever made, the 1940s still stands as my least favorite decade for movies. The texture of cinema in that era feels boxed in to me--as if only a few directors made an attempt to get away from the confines of studio-approved packaging. Those who did break out--like Welles, Sturges, and Capra, for instance--paid the price for their
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Get involved: AANC astronomy lectures and star party in September
Save the date: September 12th in Millbrae (just south of San Francisco near SFO). The Astronomical Association of Northern California (AANC), along with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), are sponsoring the AANC annual meeting and has designated Saturday September 12th as a day open to the public. The day will include lectures by expert astronomers and astrophysicists, solar viewing through telescopes during the day, brown bag workshops, exhibits by local astronomy clubs and dealers, and an evening star party. Families 
are welcome and children are admitted free. Check out the details on the AANC Annual Meeting 2009 website and register now. I'll be taking part throughout the day and I'll be supporting the evening Star Party as well. More on these topics soon.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
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