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Rejected video for Shutdown comedy post
Oct. 4th, 2025 07:13 pmI used one from last night in Colbert, 'The Daily Show,' Meyers, and Kimmel take closer looks at the shutdown instead.
Happy Wester 2012!
Oct. 7th, 2012 04:15 pm
Adapted from my original 2007 post: Happy Wester Everyone!
Yes, you read that correctly--I wish you all a happy Wester! What is Wester? Well, it's the mirror image of Easter, which is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox. Therefore, Wester is the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Autumnal Equinox, which is today.* In the northern states of the U.S. and the southern parts of the Canadian Provinces, it is usually one of the last days of pleasant weather before the full chill of Autumn descends. As such, it's a good excuse to enjoy summer activities outdoors one last time.Thanks to
Although I'm probably the first person to wish any of you Wester (correct me if I'm wrong, as I'd like more documentation), I did not come up with the idea. It originated in Berkeley, California, during the 1980s, and the message was brought to Michigan by my colleague Tim Pearce. Tim invited me to a Wester party in 1991 and explained the holiday to me. The party was a blast, and I've been eternally grateful to him for introducing me to the concept. Therefore, I am sharing this meme with you.
One last time, Happy Wester!
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berkeleyfarm and etrangere for pointing out that Wester usually falls during Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) and to popesnarky for claiming the holiday for Discordianism. Hail Eris!*This timing assumes that the Eastern Hemisphere sets the date. If it were set locally, last Sunday would have been Wester, as the Harvest Moon was on Saturday of last week.
This year's greetings also posted to Crazy Eddie's Motie News.
The first full moon of 2012 will be tonight, the first of 13 full moons this year. Each of these moons has a name (and one of them has two names), as Space.com (via MSNBC) explains.*
How 2012's full moons got their strange names
Origins credited to Native Americans and early European settlers
By Joe Rao
updated 1/7/2012 3:07:59 PM ET
The start of 2012 brings with it a new year of skywatching, and lunar enthusiasts are gearing up for a stunning lineup of full moons. But, where does the tradition of full moon names come from?Tonight's full moon is the Full Wolf Moon which will reach maximum on January 9th (technically tomorrow) at 2:30 a.m. EST. The association of wolf with a full moon has cross-cultural connotations, particularly with superstitions about what else happens involving wolves, people, and full moons. Everyone, enjoy the light show and sing along with Warren Zevon. A-hoo!
Full moon names date back to Native Americans of a few hundred years ago, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. To keep track of the changing seasons, these tribes gave distinctive names to each recurring full moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred.
There were some variations in the moon names, but in general, the same ones were used throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England, continuing west to Lake Superior.
European settlers followed their own customs and created some of their own names. Here is a list of all of the full moon names, as well as the dates and times for 2012: (Unless otherwise noted, all times are given in Eastern Standard Time.)
Now that the show is over, surf over to Crazy Eddie's Motie News for the rest of the full moon names, along with important astronomical events associated with some of them.
*This article is among those I excerpted for last night's Overnight News Digest: Science Saturday (100 Year Starship edition) on Daily Kos. The headline article of that diary entry is one that also deserves a "Beginnings" entry of its own, especially given the science fiction slant of this blog. Like Anonymous, expect it.
It's been a while since I've shot spitwads at Objectivism here on DW and LJ. The last time I did so is here, although I have a history of doing so. However, I was very busy last week throwing rotten tomatoes at Ayn Rand, her books, and her philosophy over at Crazy Eddie's Motie News.
Objectivism and Scientology: a sublime to the ridiculous comparison
Quotes about Objectivism from the snarky to the serious
Collapse is all there in the Objectivist manual
Atlas Chugged
To be honest, I have an ulterior motive, as mentioned in The hornet swatting begins today. Unfortunately, the hornet managed to fly away. As long as he continues his flight, it's OK with me.
This is a video of my wife's guild running a naked raid on Sanctum. Unfortunately, my wife's Defiant character wasn't online for the mass wipe. Nor was I there on the Guardian side watching this. Too bad. It would have been a blast.
Speaking of which, it's time to play.
SPLITTERS!
Mar. 14th, 2011 03:25 amFive conference calls in one week all related to my activism totalling at least eight hours have left me in a goofy mood. To counteract all the SRS BZNS, here's a video of how activist groups should not act.
I plan on taking my own advice. I hope my fellow activists do, too.
I plan on taking my own advice. I hope my fellow activists do, too.
