thelerner

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/moon-day-set-your-clock-blood-moon-eclipse-mars-n78411 Monday night's marvels are worth staying up late for: Not only will Mars be bigger and brighter than it's been for more than six years, but you'll also be able to see the first total lunar eclipse in more than two years. Total lunar eclipses occur when Earth is positioned precisely between the sun and the full moon. Because of the tilt of the moon's orbit, total eclipses don't happen all that often — about twice in the course of three years, on average. When they do, it can be a spectacular sight: The darkened moon takes on a reddish glow because of the sunlight refracted by Earth's atmosphere. The last total lunar eclipse took place in December 2011, but we're coming up on a series of four such events, known as a tetrad, which is dictated by a recurrence of the right orbital parameters. After Monday night's eclipse, the other three are due on Oct. 8, and then next year on April 4 and Sept. 28. "The most unique thing about the 2014-2015 tetrad is that all of them are visible for all or parts of the USA," eclipse expert Fred Espenak said in a NASA preview. Moon-Day isn't Doomsday Some doomsayers are selling the "Blood Moon" tetrad as an evil omen, but that's bogus. The only thing that's scary about this eclipse is what it might do to your sleep schedule: The moon won't start crossing into Earth's shadow until 12:53 a.m. ET Tuesday, and the total phase of the eclipse lasts from 3:06 to 4:24 a.m. ET. Espenak lays out the details on NASA's eclipse-centric Web site. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are visible to half the world at the same time. This time around, North America is prime territory, but portions of the eclipse can be seen from parts of South America, Europe and Asia just before sunrise, and parts of Asia and the Pacific just after sunset. You may have heard all those warnings about protecting your eyes during a solar eclipse — but a lunar eclipse is totally different, and totally safe. Look all you want. Want a closer look? Use binoculars. Want to take a picture? Espenak tells you how. Even if the skies are cloudy, you can get in on the show over the Web and via social media. To keep up with the stream, follow the hashtag #eclipse and keep an eye on NASA's Facebook page. Sky & Telescope This map shows the progress of the total lunar eclipse through Earth's shadow (penumbra and umbra) for Eastern Daylight Time on April 15. Due to the moon's off-center path through Earth's umbra, the northern half of its disk should look especially dark during totality. The penumbral phase occurs before and after the partial phase.Get in on Mars and more The moon isn't the only spacey attraction out there: It's also prime time for seeing Mars at its biggest and brightest. Mars reaches the closest point to Earth in its orbit on Monday, passing by at a distance of 57 million miles (92 million kilometers). On Monday night, it'll rise just before the moon and shine like a butterscotch-colored star virtually all night. Check out our viewing guide for the details. This is the closest Mars has been since late 2007, but after Monday night, Mars will recede from Earth for about a year, then make another approach for an even closer encounter in 2016. Slooh is planning a separate viewing party for Mars, starting 10 p.m. ET Monday. The International Space Station should be visible passing through evening skies over some parts of the United States — to get the viewing schedule for your location, consult NASA's "Spot the Station" website. Jupiter, Saturn and Venus are also out: For details on those night sights, head on over to EarthSky and Sky & Telescope. Monday night will be a hard act to follow, but there's more to come. In the weeks ahead, two meteor showers will be hitting their peak: the Lyrids and the Eta Aquarids. Getting up in the middle of the night for Moon-Day will be good experience for those coming attractions. Tip o' the Log to Sky & Telescope for the eclipse photo and graphics.

In the U.S Midwest I had allergies during the winter. Never happened before. They're predicting high pollen counts this Spring. I dislike using allergy medicines. I've started using a Neti daily. Any other suggestions?

Day 4 of using the Neti, my nasal openings seem much clearer. Usually at night I shift around, moving to my right side to clear my left sinus and vice versa. Last night I was in the sweet spot, both nostrils open and clear. SoG good idea on the apple cider vinegar. Its quite nice tonic in itself, its so inexpensive its unappreciated.

My qualification- this: I eat Ninja Hit Squads for breakfast. For lunch I destroy the armies of evil empires and stop alien invasions before dinner.

Not a bad idea, but it flies in the face of the anti-elitism ideal of the sites founder. Having Inner 'high ups' and lower 'Regulars' is probably going to cause friction. I think Baguakickass's idea of teachers taking advantage of PPD makes the most sense. Especially since it gives teachers full editing control of everything posted there.

Thought this was sweet. I don't look at my facebook account often, but today there were quite a bit of sad postings. This one was a nice counter.

Thought this need repeating.

Lloyd Dobler: I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that. What he want to do- 30 seconds in.

Lin Aiwei posts here. He seems pretty knowledgeable about China, chi gung and classical learning. Still I tend to think its better to aim to learn fundamentals then find a master. China can be a good place for that too. If you learn the fundamentals you'll gain connections and know what you're looking for.

Ironically, because the stock market has done so well under Obama, they've made back multiples of the hundred million plus they've spent backing candidates that ran him.

From my own internet research on flouride a long time ago, I found a little bit is actually good, better then none. But there was a limit, too much was bad. There was a range and drinking flouridated water didn't put you over it, but multiple factors might.

Hobbit holes, very wise. Natural heating and cooling, a garden over head and the landscapes stays serene. I took a seminar (at Burning Man) by a guy who did aquaponics. He created long inground pools for trout (thus they stayed at a good temperature) and floated containers w/ plants on top in the water, providing shade, and living symbiotically w/ the fish. He got much of the trout food free from several fishmongers who'd throw away parts people wouldn't buy. Smart guy. Fish, plants etc., Not an easy system since there were vital balances that needed to be kept, but once done, its was amazing.

Beware of I'm looking for friends who are exactly this way. If you want life to open to you, be open to it. Spread a wider net. In college I went through a lonely period, then I joined a service fraternity, APO, based loosely from Boy Scouts. Its purpose was to do weekly service projects to help others. The byproduct was people who are willing to give up time to various charities are pretty nice people. Maybe something like that could work for you. There always organizations in need. Get involved, maybe you can pick up some new skills, meet new people.

You are not alone. I wrote the author a letter. Dear Author, As I write this I am sprinkling my beloved Winnie the Pooh doll w/ gasoline. After reading your book I can no longer stand to look at him. Signed A Sincerely Disgruntled Reader

I don't think its about a job, but taking on responsibilities forces people to grow and mature. We don't have a firm divide in Western culture, but the difference between a boy and man is the amount of responsibility they take on. Much of that is taking responsibility for their own lives and decisions. This is an admittedly harsh article, but its got some truths in it. Our society is what it is. To get along in it, often means work and sacrifice. http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-harsh-truths-that-will-make-you-better-person/ excerpt: 'Let's say that the person you love the most has just been shot. He or she is lying in the street, bleeding and screaming. A guy rushes up and says, "Step aside." He looks over your loved one's bullet wound and pulls out a pocket knife -- he's going to operate right there in the street. "OK, which one is the injured one?" You ask, "Are you a doctor?" The guy says, "No." You say, "But you know what you're doing, right? You're an old Army medic, or ..." At this point the guy becomes annoyed. He tells you that he is a nice guy, he is honest, he is always on time. He tells you that he is a great son to his mother and has a rich life full of fulfilling hobbies, and he boasts that he never uses foul language. Confused, you say, "How does any of that fucking matter when my [wife/husband/best friend/parent] is lying here bleeding! I need somebody who knows how to operate on bullet wounds! Can you do that or not?!?" Now the man becomes agitated -- why are you being shallow and selfish? Do you not care about any of his other good qualities? Didn't you just hear him say that he always remembers his girlfriend's birthday? In light of all of the good things he does, does it really matter if he knows how to perform surgery? In that panicked moment, you will take your bloody hands and shake him by the shoulders, screaming, "Yes, I'm saying that none of that other shit matters, because in this specific situation, I just need somebody who can stop the bleeding, you crazy fucking asshole." I don't get it. Would it help if I put on a lab jacket? Here, one sec, let me just ..." So here is my terrible truth about the adult world: You are in that very situation every single day. Only you are the confused guy with the pocket knife. All of society is the bleeding gunshot victim. If you want to know why society seems to shun you, or why you seem to get no respect, it's because society is full of people who need things. They need houses built, they need food to eat, they need entertainment, they need fulfilling sexual relationships. You arrived at the scene of that emergency, holding your pocket knife, by virtue of your birth -- the moment you came into the world, you became part of a system designed purely to see to people's needs. "Here's that shit you needed. Now fuck off." Either you will go about the task of seeing to those needs by learning a unique set of skills, or the world will reject you, no matter how kind, giving, and polite you are. You will be poor, you will be alone, you will be left out in the cold. Does that seem mean, or crass, or materialistic? What about love and kindness -- don't those things matter? Of course. As long as they result in you doing things for people that they can't get elsewhere. For you see ... ' David Wong has a couple articles like this. They're not nice.. but I they're important. I read them every now and then to remind myself about some truths in getting along in this world. You can't argue with the world. You don't have to agree with it. But you need to find, to make a comfortable spot in it. To do that you have to know the rules, and create a plan that allows you to thrive while keeping to your morality and code. It can be done, but it won't be easy. In the name of equal time, let me throw in a rebuttal by Alex: http://screengrab.me/2013/03/04/rebutting-david-wongs-6-harsh-truths/ excerpt: 'His affinity for Alec Baldwin’s speech in Glengarry Glen Ross is a case in point: “It’s brutal, rude and borderline sociopathic, and also it is an honest and accurate expression of what the world is going to expect from you. The difference is that, in the real world, people consider it so wrong to talk to you that way that they’ve decided it’s better to simply let you keep failing.” Apparently, you won’t be a “better person” unless you realize that a rude, outspoken corporate manager is actually just telling you the truth. But, at the same time, in the “real world,” it’s also “true” that no one tells you anything like this or in this way. Here, as he does throughout the piece, Pargin struggles to reconcile the different forms that truths take – it just isn’t possible to have an outspoken, “harsh” truth that resides in an alleged “reality” of silence at the exact moment when that same truth would be most applicable. It may as well be two different truths, and I think it is. As a side note, it’s worth pointing out that Pargin is misunderstanding Glengarry Glen Ross. The Baldwin character was inserted into the film version of David Mamet’s play as a parody of the overzealous, bullshitting alpha types that take hold of organizations and run them into the ground (neither the play nor the film exactly ends happily; the result of all these guys “closing” is the ruination of lives and the collapse of business. Wait, that sounds a lot like what happened to “the world” after 2007..)' final edit> I understand the rebuttal. Wong/Pargin's (same guy) article is not perfect; yet in the debate, if there was one, I'd be on his side. really last edit> I figure I'm about 76% mature. Nice to know I still have something to shoot for .

Great post. Another for my best of Taobums collection. It doesn't just ring true, but tells the reader to take action; confront and dig deeper into their psyche.

I enjoy using guided meditations. Some of them are in the trippy category. I certainly don't have 100% reality with them, but they're enjoyable. There's a Shamanic one with a constant hypnotic drum beat. After visiting the wise big headed woman you have a choice to leave her cottage and go anywhere you wish. For me its always the same. Its dark, I'm on a Hawaiian beach with my wife. We're just mellowing in each other arms. The kids are playing, there's a large bonfire. Other couples are around the fire. Thats it. Pretty much my idea of heaven on earth for a night at least.

The spirit of MPG lives on. The tradition of silly spammy sparguments lives on. Not pointing fingers at anyone, but really isn't this whole line of reasoning ridiculous? A rehash of old grudges. Lets move on.. Nothing to see here. Unless you want to wade in months old garbage

Actually he wasn't banned originally, he was given a 2 week suspension. During which the mods got an email from him which included a 'this is how I will have my revenge' section. Relatively mild but it was a tipping point. We decided to say bye bye Mo Pi Guy. We've had to deal with multi reports on him, had to split threads because of him as well as throw many into The Pit. Its a running gag that all Mo Pai threads end up in the Pit (not so much since MPG's leaving) MPG sent out so many posts saying You're all Deluded or You all live in a Fantasy World/ Wasting your Time with your Practice etc.,, that he became a negativity magnet. By denigrating almost everything that wasn't Mo Pai, he opened the door to much bad will. It wasn't Mo Pai that people were against, it was people reflecting negativity back at him. back on track. my point is he had control problems before the ban.

This: Essence of Taoism Story From NonTien There is an old story that once Confucius, Shakyamuni Buddha and Lao-tzu were drinking some peach wine together. Buddha opined that it was bitter, Confucius that it was sour – but Lao-tzu, smiling, found it to be sweet. The wine, of course, represents human life. Taoism is not a philosophy or religion of salvation or of escape, but of appropriately enjoying and dealing with the real life which we have. Taoism finds perfection in imperfection, and taking the eternal and universal viewpoint of the Tao, realizes that the good is not to be finally judged by personal or human preference. Taoism suggests that happiness is found in accepting our situation. There is no reason not to do anything reasonable to better ourselves, of course, but resentment, denial or a negative outlook on life do nothing towards increasing our happiness. Cheerfulness, humor and a freedom from fussing are the attitudes that will stead us best in life. This is not to say, however, that Taoism is any kind of forced and strained "positive thinking". It is fine to be sad or melancholic from time to time. This is a perfect occasion to read or write sad poems, listen to sad music and complain to our friends, and (in moderation) can add to the overall enjoyment of life. Taoism is also unconcerned with ideas of "advancement" and "success" through some special mode of thinking. A Taoist is only willing to struggle to survive up to a point, after which he is content not to survive, death being a natural commitment of life. Lesser considerations such as career, popularity, fame and wealth are then obviously highly trivial, and not such as to cause serious unhappiness. The Taoist takes his positive pleasures from the enjoyment of love (in all wholesome forms), learning (of interesting and worthwhile things), productive labor (of a kind actually beneficial to human beings), contemplation (whether of the taste of tea, the beauties of art or the moods of Nature), and Taoist practice (of meditation, t'ai-chi ch'üan etc.). Above all, he or she endeavors to preserve the basic human integrity and innocence with which we are all endowed at birth, and not to be subverted by the concerns of worldliness. The Taoist strives not to want and get, but to enjoy what is already present with gratitude and grace.

I always thought monks shaved there hair because hair is wrapped up in beauty and ego. So shaving it is a sign of humility. I do think think there may be something to long hair. Could be an electrical static thing or something else at work, but long hair may do something. Or as Edward said, long shiny hair means kidneys or some system working very well. Certainly in several chi gung's there is hair breathing techniques.

The sweet water phenomena runs through a wide gamut. I've seen old school kabalah talk about changing water into original water for life and showing microscope pictures of before and after. Certainly Emoto's (http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/index.html) work on the sensitivity of water, showing it how crystalizes once frozen after being shown good or bad images is interesting, though I don't know if its been independently confirmed. You have high up saintly guru's who use spit and dust to make medicine balls that are highly prized in Thailand. I wonder if the many cultures who bless there food are unconsciously trying to achieve just this change? In Franz Bardon's Hermetics, food, especially water is magnetically infused w/ positive messages. In orthodox Judaism there's specific prayers for each kind of food, invoking multiple holy names. Beyond words there is a mental focus called for. As an age old survival mechanism, is the person blessing food, improving it, making it safer to eat? Or are they making themselves, there body more accepting of food that could be tainted? How's that for a turn around? What if its not the water changed, but the observer?

Telling people to fuck off (SoG), in my case- screw off etc., is probably not show casing a uh.. site thats.. uh going to attract the best people.

Yeah, I don't think you necessarily have to 'live' there permanently, but getting back to basics and leaving the baggage of civilization behind is a cycle we all need.

I agree. I also think that this sound bite from MPG in the first writing in the first locked thread called 'Warning To Forum Members' is a bit passive regressive. It's very likely your account on another forum like TTB might get suspended or banned for something you do or say over here. This strikes me as willfully wrong, disrespectful and a bit paranoid. Though maybe he's got a point, after reading some of his comments over there I am glad he's banned.