Jim Lantern
Labor Day 2016 – Clockwork
Image from the Alan Parsons video “Time Machine” – figure engaging in labor of dragging a clock (or very big pocket watch) across a desert (of time).
Sunrise today was at 7:05am Central Time. Daylight Savings Time does not end until 2:00am Sunday November 6th, two days before Election day 2016. Fall Back One Hour, gain an hour of sleep – or work (a chance to do it over) if on a 3rd shift job. For time travelers, of a kind, answers can come before questions.
Sunset today will be 7:49pm CT. That’s 12 hours 44 minutes of daylight until the sand runs out. The Equinox (for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA) is officially at 9:21am CT September 22, 2016, but… “On the equinox, night and day are nearly exactly the same length – 12 hours – all over the world. This is the reason it’s called an “equinox”, derived from Latin, meaning “equal night”. However, even if this is widely accepted, it isn’t entirely true. In reality equinoxes don’t have exactly 12 hours of daylight.” And, “In the Northern Hemisphere, the September equinox marks the start of fall (autumn). Many cultures and religions celebrate or observe holidays and festivals around the September equinox.” However, checking the charts, Sunday September 25 is the closest to day equaling night at 12 hours 57 seconds of daylight. Thursday September 22 is the official First Day of Fall. Days become shorter after that of course, with the shortest day of the year at 9 hours 45 minutes 35 seconds – being the Winter Solstice on Wednesday 21 December 2016 at 4:44am CT – First Day of Winter. Will we have snow by then, mild weather, or perhaps record-breaking warm weather? At least we’ll find out on Election Day Tuesday November 8 if hell is to freeze over.
Moonrise today was at 10:56am CT. Moonset will be 10:23pm CT, a clear sky, down to about 80F. It’s 88 now at nearly 1:00pm CT as I write this, “feels like” (heat index) 91F – headed for an actual high of 91F. Windy – out of south at about 24-30 mph. Next FULL MOON for Oklahoma is 2:05pm CT Friday September 16. A very dark night coming with “no moon” October 30 into Halloween October 31. I’ll have to light the lantern.
I was outside an hour ago, enjoying the view of the sky. A perfect blue – easier to enjoy with my new sunglasses on, and new ball cap shading my eyes, looking to the south from my second level balcony. A few small very white clouds going by real fast from south to north. Although windy, it feels peaceful, and is somewhat quiet out there this Labor Day holiday, Monday September 5. A lively holiday weekend, however. Nothing quite like standing in the shower with a magnitude 5.6 earthquake at 7:02am CT Saturday September 3rd. It was so severe I briefly thought, “Oh, shit! They’re going to find me naked in the rubble.” I was going to jump out, grab a towel, try to get dressed real quick, but then decided to hell with it – riding it out in the shower. No damage here in Norman, Oklahoma, so far as I know. Most of the damages was in Pawnee, Oklahoma, where it was centered. Caused by “fracking” done by the oil and gas industry. As result, the “fracking” has been stopped by the government, wells shut down. It was felt in seven states. Even so, most people are already forgetting about it. Not the cows, however. A few were knocked over. Milkshakes. I got one of those at Braum’s yesterday with a cheeseburger and fries.
CNN barely noted the Oklahoma earthquake. Some coverage of the “Hermine” storm from Florida up the east coast. Even so, CNN (like FNC and MSNBC) has been so obsessed with Clinton and Trump coverage, that if an asteroid were to hit Earth then it would likely go unnoticed until the impact blast shock wave were to obliterate CNN.
I got bored watching TV. Turned it off. Even though some good movies on – most I’ve already seen. Should rest my eyes. So of course I’m writing now. Write blindfolded to make it easier on my eyes? Eventually possible perhaps by voice command, but I’ll not do that.
The wind has increased, sounding like a haunting howling ghost at my French doors to the balcony. I’ll have to fix that before winter arrives.
Rent and utilities paid, general supplies shopping done Friday September 2. Stocked up on food today Monday September 5 – stores open this holiday. First to Homeland grocery store at sunrise. Stopped in at the nearby McDonald’s for a sausage biscuit. Makes sense? Grocery store, then fast food restaurant? Well my bicycle motor needed some fuel. Unloaded at home. The two cats refused their food, again – apparently one of my neighbors has been feeding them something better so now I’m the bad human. Then on to Walmart for a few food items I can’t get elsewhere nearby or for a lower price. Last stop Dollar General about a 5-minute walk to the south from where I live. Enough food stocked up now to last until the world ends, or about 30 days, whichever comes first. Most of it in the freezer. I should get more food for emergency reserve when/if no power – not needing to be refrigerated or cooked, resulting from a storm or other cause. I need to restock my pantry.
All that good food stocked, and now I’m not really hungry. Trying to fight off a mild to moderate headache with Excedrin. Cause unknown. At least it’s not a migraine. Could be sinus. Local pollen alert – ragweed “very high” today and next 3 days. It’s the tree pollen that usually gets me when it is high. Not a problem today. The Excedrin hasn’t helped much, nor the Benedryl, set off some stomach ulcer pain. Hello Rolaids Mint. Milk helps too. Ice cream – now there’s a good idea! After all, it is a holiday. What’s a holiday without ice cream? Edy’s Cookie Dough. Medicine.
A week from today, Monday September 12, Dancing with the Stars returns to ABC TV. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry will be one of the dancers. Two weeks from today, Monday September 19, The Voice returns to NBC TV, with new judges Miley Cyrus & Alicia Keys, returning judges Adam Levine and Blake Shelton.
Okay. I’m back now. After, “Your server is going through a few minutes of routine maintenance. Please don’t touch your browser for a few minutes.” At least it wasn’t the end of the world, near as I can tell. Wow – now my headache is gone! Thanks, Doctor Google. [“You’re welcome, Jim. We were using the new Google-NSA satellite to monitor your brain cells when we detected the anomaly causing your headache and fixed it.”] Isn’t Big Brother ObamaCare wonderful? I’m really going to miss it after January 20, 2017.
I am looking forward to the end of the world on the Syfy Channel Tuesday September 27 with the start of the new series Aftermath. Before that, the new female version of Van Helsing starts on Syfy Channel Friday September 23. Before that, Designated Survivor, new series starts on ABC TV Wednesday September 21 – Kiefer Southerland becomes the new President of the United States by line of succession after a nuclear attack by terrorists kills the President and the rest of his Cabinet during the State of the Union Address. Meantime, out in the “real world” of government and politics, Clinton vs. Trump in the first of three presidential debates before Election Day, night of Monday September 26. Who will win? If Libertarian Gary Johnson is allowed to participate, then after Clinton and Trump destroy each other Johnson will be the sole survivor.
Could be better. Could be worse…
…The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a 2008 American romantic fantasy drama film directed by David Fincher. The storyline by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord is loosely based on the 1922 short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The film stars Brad Pitt as a man who ages in reverse and Cate Blanchett as the love interest throughout his life.
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Lantern Timeglass Journal 