Obligatory Xmas Post

May your Christmas tree not catch on fire. Seriously, Christmas trees are extremely flammable so use caution all through the holiday season.

I think most people dislike Christmas, but don't want to say it. A silent majority, if you will. But the kids love it, so we all oblige.

Born Again

The longest night has passed, and our days grow longer. Slowly, to be sure, and months more of crushing Winter just now officially begins. But be of good cheer, we are reborn! And this is the true reason for the season.

Protip: The BNP is racist as hell.

Merry X-Mas!

Of Interest Perhaps Only To Me

Click for big! My discovery, simple minded as it is, was that the Sun moves all over the sky.

Having lived in cities for many years, I never saw the path of the Sun through the seasons. But now, high up in New Gondolin, I see the Sun go from Winter left to Summer Right, booking across the sky. Of course it is we - The Earth - that is moving, not the Sun, but hard to deny the illusion.

So you see above half my year. That is the Winter Sun, 2011. The dates above the other mountains cover the sunsets to come/gone. Spring/Fall is a magical spot there in the hollow of the closest mountain.

 Seeing the rhythms of our planet play out every night, every year, is awesome. Man.

Stuff in the Sky

Moonrise! Bright as a star. Fun fact to ponder - the light from the Moon is reflected light from the Sun. This light was created in the center of the Sun millions of years ago, finally escaped, streamed across space, hit the moon and bounced off, right into your eye. Where it bounces off again, but the energy is translated by your brain as... Moonlight.

The ISS, racing across the sky. There's six people up in there! Also, that sure looks like the Northern Lights, but I didn't see it with my eyes. So that's either a trick of light and clouds, or the Northern Lights can appear below my vision's threshold, but can show up on a longer exposure.

Moonset, an hour after an August Sunset. Fun project if you have a view of the Western horizon and some time - note how Moonset shifts over the year. You might be surprised!

All photos, once again, Redshirt Inc. Click for big! Prints available! I also can DJ weddings and Bar Mitzvahs.

Fryeburg Fair

Ayuh. At the Fair. The Oxen Pull was pahticularly excitin'. The weather was wicked nice let me tell you. Indian Summer they call it.

Click for big. All identities protected. Except for Joe Bolf. Both pics redshirt represented.

Springs Falls

More redshirt originals. The spot on the horizon where Spring and Fall are defined - by the setting sun. It's been a remarkable experience - I was vaguely aware the Sun "moved" throughout the year, but I now see it defined every day on a line of mountains stretching from the North through the West to the South. I've been watching the Sun move back and forth across this mountain range like a pendulum, and I'll tell you the experience has been nigh holy. Once you see the pattern in nature, you tap into this "divinity". Worship here, Northerners:

Look see in the center of this picture, at the unmoving star - Polaris, the North Star. The center of our existence, since we spin around this point and spinning is everything, seriously. Everything is spinning around something else which in turn is spinning around something else, so on and such to infinity. It provides a clear definition as to the structure of reality: Spinning. So feel no shame in dizziness.

Have a great Summer!

Choom Gang, represent.

Also, is that a beer bottle in the center of the bottom photo? Also too - I love "Yearbook" font.

Also, as well: This is the worst day of the year. DST ends. Sunset for me today was at 4:30 PM. Ug. And there's still daylight to lose till we rebound. Summer, how I miss you.

Happy Fall (Winter is Coming)

He eats rock and shits coal!

Why have people in a tank when the tank can run itself just fine without people? Also, it's got an attitude.

"To Serve and Protect" - rich people's assets, of course. Which includes prisoners - the "hip" labor force of the 21st century!

Why have people perform grunt tasks like hauling small Japanese women, when a robot can perform the same task for a fraction of the cost? Also, future Terminators should have cute bear or raccoon faces painted on their indestructible exoskeletons. Just for the lulz.

YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT "THE WAR OF JENKIN'S EAR"? PROCEED.

Substitute robots never get the proper respect.

Note these days well, meatsacks, the robots will take all of our jerbs soon enough. Leaving us countless hours for horseshoes and lemonade. Winter is coming for the species named "Man", and we are lucky enough to be here when it happens. It's going to be interesting to say the least!

They took our jerbs!

The Reason for the Season

Nerd pop quiz! Name the reference.

As you ponder that, let us consider the always ignorant declaration: "Remember the reason for the season" said, no doubt, in the context of criticizing consumer based Xmas culture - what's Santa got to do with it?


Time's up! The answer is Jesus as Galactus, eater of worlds.

But that of course is not really the reason for the season. But rather, like all wise conquerors, Christians took over existing holidays and rebranded them all Christ style (see, Mithras) - pro tip! Jesus was not born on 12/25. That is if Jesus actually existed, which he did not, unless you're referring to some Mexican dude, then yes, there are very many Jesuses, some of which were born on 12/25 - and how cool would that be, just from the gift reception perspective?

No really. The reason for the season is this:

Shortest day of the year - death of the old year, and rebirth of the new. That's the basis for all myths from all religions - the cycle of the seasons, and the cycles of life. Everything else is nothing but flowery prose and forms of control.

And lo! We've gained 24 seconds of daylight so far this year!

Lying to Children

We fill our children's heads with lie upon lie. Santa. Easter Bunny. Tooth Fairy. Jesus. I could go on. Eventually the kids figure out, and realize they've been lied to all these years, and some degree of disillusionment sets in. How could it not? And thus begins a life long tale of ever increasing disillusionment - we call it "getting old".  And of course we then repeat the same lies to our children because, it's tradition. The holidays! Everyone does it....

In this fight, by the way, I'd say the Easter Bunny has a large edge, since he should be able to stab Santa several times in the guts before Claus can bring down the axe. However, how can anyone say they like Easter better than Xmas? It doesn't seem possible.

Don't get me wrong, I loathe Xmas too, but.... presents. Easter's just a collection of subpar candy, like an appetizer to the true candy meal of Halloween, with far less cool costumes (Church clothes?!). That said, if this is a depiction of Spring v. Winter, there's really no debate there either.

So, go Jesus Rabbit!

Fall, Again

Fall's back. Yay. Sure, there's some nice days and all, but I think it's a big bummer. You witness the Sun sinking from the sky, setting earlier and earlier every day. The leaves come out and party for a bit, than shrivel up and die, leaving behind a dull dreary bleakness that is broken only by rushes of blood to the head. Bah! Fall is my 3rd least favorite season, and I challenge anyone to place it higher. Over Spring? Over Summer? Don't think so. Winter need not be discussed.

But it's an Equinox, so it must be celebrated - the seasons are astronomical in origin, both in source and in measurement - Fall is when the Earth is at a precise spot. Here:

You'll note, perhaps ironically, that the Earth is noticeably closer to the Sun in Northern Winter than in Summer, yet Winter is cold as Hell. Why is this?! Axial tilt, dude. It's 23 degrees. Take a look:

You see how in the Winter, Earth's Northern Hemisphere is facing away from the Sun in January (Sun on the left side), whereas it is pointing towards the Sun in July (Sun on the right side) - that is a far more important factor in heating than distance to the Sun. I presume this means that the Southern hemisphere gets hotter Summers, since they are facing the Sun and closer. Thus, perhaps, the Rainforests around the world at that latitude.

Anyways, you should celebrate each Season, since they are very much the markings of the clock on our lives - round and round we go. Holidays are important as breaks in the everyday, a moment where the real world can be left behind a bit. Ceremony is important. Remembering why we're here and where we're going is important. It's all important.

Enjoy!

Indian Fall.

Happy Solstice!

Eastport ME


Also, a nice example of the power of the beaver on an environment. All of this wetland is created by the beaver and its busywork. You can see the sweet beaver lodge in the upper left of this photo, and the dam is just out of sight. Amazing creatures really -- besides man, they're the only animal to so broadly effect their physical environment. I've seen some sights you can hardly believe -- mile long trails and dredged canals, ten foot high, thirty foot long damns, old bridges converted into beaver castles... they're out there, in the woods, right now, building and building, to what end, who knows....

Happy May Day!

Here, we witness some elaborate mating ritual from the Olden Days. No one is quite sure what they are doing, but rest assured, there was some heavy petting shortly after this pagan ceremony.

Spring!

Awww part 2;


Enjoy the equinox everyone!