Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Sky watching tonight!
Peak of Quadrantid meteor shower
January 3, 2012 in the World
The maximum of the Quadrantid activity in 2012 is expected during the night of the 3rd January 2012. The Quadrantids are an easily visible January meteor shower. The peak intensity is exceedingly sharp: the meteor rates exceed one-half of their highest value for only about 8 hours (compared to two days for the August Perseids). This means that the stream of particles that produces this shower is narrow - and apparently deriving from and within the last 500-years from some orbiting body. The parent body of the Quadrantids was recently tentatively identified as the minor planet 2003 EH1, which in turn may be the same object as the comet C/1490 Y1 which was observed by Chinese, Japanese and Korean astronomers 500 years ago.The radiant of this shower is an area inside the constellation Boötes. The name comes from Quadrans Muralis, an obsolete constellation that is now part of Boötes. It lies between the end of the handle of the Big Dipper and the quadrilateral of stars marking the head of the constellation Draco. (From: Wikipedia, license: CCA-SA)
The skyWorld
When?
Tuesday, the 3rd of January 2012
January 3, 2012 in the World
The maximum of the Quadrantid activity in 2012 is expected during the night of the 3rd January 2012. The Quadrantids are an easily visible January meteor shower. The peak intensity is exceedingly sharp: the meteor rates exceed one-half of their highest value for only about 8 hours (compared to two days for the August Perseids). This means that the stream of particles that produces this shower is narrow - and apparently deriving from and within the last 500-years from some orbiting body. The parent body of the Quadrantids was recently tentatively identified as the minor planet 2003 EH1, which in turn may be the same object as the comet C/1490 Y1 which was observed by Chinese, Japanese and Korean astronomers 500 years ago.The radiant of this shower is an area inside the constellation Boötes. The name comes from Quadrans Muralis, an obsolete constellation that is now part of Boötes. It lies between the end of the handle of the Big Dipper and the quadrilateral of stars marking the head of the constellation Draco. (From: Wikipedia, license: CCA-SA)
The skyWorld
When?
Tuesday, the 3rd of January 2012
Happy Festival of Sleep Day !!!
When: Always on January 3rd
No, you are not dreaming. But, perhaps you should be. Festival of Sleep Day is today. It is an opportunity to sleep in, snooze, doze, nap, and catch 40 winks.
We feel this is the perfect date for Festival of Sleep Day. The holidays are over...Wow, weren't they exhausting! It's cold and snowy.... time to hibernate. And, why not re-charge the batteries as a new year of school and work begins?
Festival of Sleep Day is a favorite holiday to catch up on a little sleep. Whether its all day, a full 8 hours, or just a power nap, enjoy the day sleeping. Cozy up in bed on the couch, or any other comfortable place. Oh.... don't forget your favorite stuffed animal. It's okay to sleep alone, sleep alone or with someone else. We do not recommend groups sleeps.
Caution: Sleeping at work is not recommended, today, or any day. The only exception is for mattress testers.
Warning #2: The Surgeon General has determined that sleeping is good for your health.
Origin of Festival of Sleep Day:
Our research on this day failed to uncover the origin of this sleepy day. Perhaps the founders were too groggy to properly record the very first Festival of Sleep Day.
Note: There is some reference to Sleep Week in March.
http://holidayinsights.com/other/festivalofsleep.htm
Monday, January 2, 2012
Happy: Run it Up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day
When : Always January 2nd
"Run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes" is an expression. It means to float an idea to see what people think, or if they notice. The term is commonly used in advertising and print media.
Run it Up the Flagpole to See if Anyone Salutes Day is set aside to allow people to do just that. Be creative today. Use this day to try and test new ideas and concepts. Don't limit the ideas to business applications. In your personal life, try out a new dress or clothing style, perhaps a different haircut. Or, maybe buy a new houseflag and run it up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes...or even notices.
Origin of Run it Up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day: We discovered no substantial information about the origin of this day. Because this is a common expression, we suspect someone decided there should be a day dedicated to express or display new ideas, and concepts, etc. And, there's no better time to try something new than early in the New Year. So, January 2nd is a good day for Run it Up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day.
Ice storm came in today... and quickly melted
But I was able to snap these photos before it all disappeared.
Check out the designs within the ice. Totally cool.
Happy New Year! Party it up!!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
2012 year of the dragon
If you want a second chance to celebrate the New Year here’s your opportunity. According to the Tibetan calendar, February 22 marks the beginning of the new lunar year. 2012 is characterized by the Dragon and the element of water. It is considered to be a year of new beginnings and mixed blessings. In Chinese and Tibetan astrology, each year alternates between yin and yang. We are ending the year of the Iron Rabbit which was a yin year. The energy was focused on taking care of past and current situations. The Iron Rabbit was more about working through difficulties that had already begun in 2010, the year of Iron Tiger. However, 2012 is a yang year and will be much more active and forward moving than the yin of the Iron Rabbit. We can expect more excitement and unpredictability in the year of the Water Dragon.
Personality Traits Of The Water Dragon
The Dragon is a sign of energy and power and has a special place in Asian mythology. In the East, the Dragon is a symbol of luck and authority. People under the influence of the Dragon are considered charismatic, independent and resourceful. In astrology, the Dragon corresponds to the sign of Aries. People born in this year tend to be fearless and confident in their pursuits and are often successful. They need to be careful not to make decisions too quickly and be aware of being too arrogant. The element of water has the most calming effect on the Dragon and cools their fiery tempers. Water is said to bring out patience and sensitivity in a Dragon’s personality that is often overshadowed by their fiery need for attention. This influence tends to help them make wiser decisions and work better with others.2012 Year Of The Water Dragon
Dragon years occur every 12 years but Water Dragon years only occur every 60 years. The last Water Dragon year was in 1952. Dragon years are characterized as dramatic, full of lavish and unpredictable events. It is considered a good year for fashion, performing arts and cultural events. In the year of the Dragon, having a baby is considered to bring a household good luck. New business ventures and relationships are also considered to be auspicious and therefore successful.Predictions for 2012 are that this is a critical year for the consciousness of humanity that will begin to lead us into a new spiritual era. It is also believed to be a good year to start a new business especially if it is in the technology or internet fields. Water Dragon year is a social year with lots of extravagant food, generosity and good will. The cleansing effect of water will also help love relationships heal. Most of all, remember that Dragon’s traits will bring lots of unpredictability so try to relax and enjoy yourself.
Mindfully Working With Transitions
The Tibetan calendar follows the lunar year. Each month and year begins and ends according to the cycles of the moon. When we practice celebrating the New Year on a lunar cycle we are in essence synchronizing with the cycles of Earth. This means we may begin to align more with the oceans, seasons and ultimately ourselves. This is a very large topic to introduce but I think it’s worth mentioning.If we work with anything at all, noticing how we transition from the old to the new can be helpful. If we do not notice that a cycle is coming to an end, we may feel stuck and struggle needlessly. The current lunar cycle is coming to an end and many of us may already feel the anticipation of the seasons changing from deep winter to late winter.
When the end of a cycle presents itself, it is suggested to take care of loose ends. Take an inventory of what needs to be prioritized and finished. Focus on taking care of tasks already begun. On the big transition day, this year it will be February 22 or (New Years Eve of Water Dragon) it is tradition in the Buddhist culture to clean the house from top to bottom. Once we have taken care of loose ends of the past year, cleaned our home thoroughly it is time to celebrate the New Year. This may begin with another cleansing ceremony with juniper or sage smoke burned in or near the celebration. Celebrating with friends, food and music are a good way to begin anything especially the year. Finally, instead of making a resolution, try making an aspiration.
Resolutions tend to be rigid and set us up for failure. If we make a heartfelt aspiration for something to work toward in the coming year, we are more likely to accomplish that goal.
Watch the skies tonight!
Quadrantids 2012
January 1 to 5, 2012 in the World
The Quadrantids are an easily visible January meteor shower. The entire activity period of the Quadrantids runs from January 1 to 5, 2012. The radiant of this shower is an area inside the constellation Boötes. The name comes from Quadrans Muralis, an obsolete constellation that is now part of Boötes. It lies between the end of the handle of the Big Dipper and the quadrilateral of stars marking the head of the constellation Draco.Adolphe Quetelet of the Brussels Observatory discovered the shower in the 1830s, and shortly afterward it was noted by several other astronomers in Europe and America. (From: Wikipedia, license: CCA-SA)
The skyWorld
When?
Sunday, the 1st of January 2012
January 1 to 5, 2012 in the World
The Quadrantids are an easily visible January meteor shower. The entire activity period of the Quadrantids runs from January 1 to 5, 2012. The radiant of this shower is an area inside the constellation Boötes. The name comes from Quadrans Muralis, an obsolete constellation that is now part of Boötes. It lies between the end of the handle of the Big Dipper and the quadrilateral of stars marking the head of the constellation Draco.Adolphe Quetelet of the Brussels Observatory discovered the shower in the 1830s, and shortly afterward it was noted by several other astronomers in Europe and America. (From: Wikipedia, license: CCA-SA)
The skyWorld
When?
Sunday, the 1st of January 2012
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