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Today, Monday 21st August 2017 a total eclipse of the Sun will appear. Much excitement and anticipation!
On August 21, 2017, tens of millions of people in the United States will have an opportunity to view a total eclipse of the Sun. A total solar eclipse was last seen on the U.S. mainland in 1979, but only in the Northwest. The eclipse this summer will sweep a narrow path across the entire country—the first time this has happened since 1918.
The U.S. Postal Service® anticipates this rare event with a stamp celebrating the majesty of solar eclipses. The Total Eclipse of the Sun stamp is the first U.S. stamp to use thermochromic ink, which reacts to the heat of your touch. Placing your finger over the black disc on the stamp causes the ink to change from black to clear to reveal an underlying image of the moon. The image reverts back to the black disc once it cools. The back of the stamp pane shows a map of the eclipse path.
The stamp uses a photograph taken by astrophysicist Fred Espenak of a total solar eclipse that was seen over Jalu, Libya, on March 29, 2006. Mr. Espenak also took the photograph of the full moon that is revealed by pressing upon the stamp image. The reverse side of the stamp pane shows the path across the United States of the total solar eclipse and gives the times that it will appear in some locations.
A total eclipse of the Sun occurs when the Moon completely blocks the visible solar disk from view, casting a shadow on Earth. The 70-mile-wide shadow path of the eclipse, known as the “path of totality,” will traverse the country diagonally, appearing first in Oregon (mid-morning local time) and exiting some 90 minutes later off the coast of South Carolina (mid-afternoon local time). A total solar eclipse provides us with the only chance to see the Sun’s corona—its extended outer atmosphere—without specialized instruments. The corona during an eclipse looks like a gossamer white halo around a black disk, or like the petals of a flower reaching out into space.
Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp. The Total Eclipse of the Sun stamp is being issued as a Forever® stamp. This Forever® stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce price. For more information about the Total Eclipse of the Sun Forever® stamp, visit: USPS.com
Monday 22nd May 2017 at 5:30 Eastern time in New York and 10:30pm in Manchester England, another Islamic terrorist took it upon himself to massacre innocent young lives.
The news break in uncertain terms. Vague snippets of information trickles into the news media outlets.
Then suddenly it is confirmed: “A suicide bomber at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester England has detonated himself and killed an unknown number of young innocent girls attending their favorite singer’s concert”.
I watched in horror as the details unfold and the chaos that ensued. Watching the sorrow and anguish of parents waiting for children that never emerged was excruciatingly painful.
The Manchester attack is a sickening new low, even by the depraved standards of terrorists. This was an act of pure, unadulterated evil. To target children and teenagers with a nail bomb is utterly loathsome. It was done with the intention of causing maximum carnage and terrible pain to those who survived the explosion.
The anger is monumental. FOR WHAT REASON WILL THIS EVER STOP???
Almost immediately little hastags appears on social media. #ManchesterStrong. #ManchesterKeepCalm. And so on.
Within hours of the attack the politicians and the British media were urging Britons to carry on as if nothing had happened.
Theresa May says such attacks “will not break us”, but her own life is lived in a bullet-proof bubble, and she evidently does not need to identify any young people in the Manchester morgues. Also, “will not break us” means that the tragedy will not break her, or her policies.
The young people of Manchester are already broken. Sadig Khan say “London is united with Manchester”, but yet he does not condemn Islamic State – who have claimed responsibility for the bomb attack and who have been celebrating on social media.
The mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham says the attack is the work of an “extremist”. An extreme WHAT? An extreme RABBIT? An extreme DOG? An extreme PIG?
Everyone seems scared to say what we all say in private. Politicians tell us they are unafraid. Yes of course they are unafraid, they are never the victims. WE, THE PEOPLE ARE THE VICTIMS!
NO! The time for prayers, hashtag campaigns and lightshows is over.
How about responding by targeting those responsible as well as the ideology behind the attacks?
But ‘carrying on exactly as before’ is not an option.
Except for the Queen, who was praised for her “strong words” against the attack, but yet, she did not cancel the garden party that took place at Buckingham Palace.
However in all fairness, the Queen and her thousands of garden party guests stood silently for one minute to remember the victims of the Manchester massacre.
Seems it is all just words, words, words, yada, yada, yada until the next terrorist attack on WE THE PEOPLE who are collateral damage in a fight that nobody is willing to tackle.
So now we just sit back and wait. Not for the next “IF”, but instead – for the absolute certainty and definite “WHEN”.
And while we wait, don’t forget to be strong. And keep calm.
Cartoonist Adam Zyglis perhaps illustrated the dire situation best.
With high expectations, and a spring in our step, we started out early on Easter Sunday morning to participate in the very fashionable New York’s Easter Bonnet Parade on 5th Avenue. Such a fun and joyous occasion. Everybody is there to enjoy the glorious weather and to watch the passing parade of hats and more hats in all shapes, sizes and colors. A beautiful spectacle of flowers and feathers, from classic to the outrageous and everything in between. Channeling each individual’s inner artistry, creativity had no bounds.
Rockefeller Center with its beautiful flowers and rotating Easter bunny balancing an Easter egg. (Above) The famous Saks Fifth Avenue store in the background.(Below)
The ever-ready bunny turning, turning, turning……to the delight of spectators.
And yes, she did balance it on her head. But just for a little while.
And then it started….with a purposeful stride to the action……
Elegant in their Gatsby style.
New York’s finest in full force to keep everybody safe. 
Waiting in great anticipation for the Cardinal to emerge from St. Patricks Cathedral
HOPE our little miracle of Hope was sharing in our joy!
In spirit and in our hearts he was with us
Hello!!! Is anybody home???
Channeling Artist René Magritte painted in 1964 – The Son of Man
THE END OF A MOST ENJOYABLE EASTER SUNDAY! INSPIRED AND DREAMING OF NEW HAT DESIGNS FOR NEXT YEAR! I AM THINKING CATS. WHAT ABOUT JUST WHITE FEATHERS? OR PERHAPS “IT TAKES A VILLAGE” OR JUST MORE CATS WITH FEATHERS, IN A VILLAGE…..WITH A CHICKEN……OR A PIGGY……WITH DIAMANTES….AND PEARLS…..WITH BABY’S BREATH….OH! WE ARE DROWNING IN POSSIBILITIES!
AND WE ALWAYS SPARE A THOUGHT FOR HOPE – FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS
Who would have thunk a young Halloween artist could be such a visionary?
MAY THE WORDS OF WISDOM DISPLAYED ABOVE, LEAD AND GUIDE OUR NEW PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD J TRUMP.
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN
DEMOCRACY REIGNS AND PREVAILS FOR
WE, THE PEOPLE
CONCRATULATIONS!
THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING LIT UP IN HONOR OF NEWLY ELECTED
PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP.
PICTURE TAKEN FROM 42ND STREET AND AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS.
6th November 2016 – The closer we get to election day, the more chaotic everything seems to be. Media supplying 24 -hour cycles covering the election, its candidates and all the gossip and scandals leading the way.
It has been a long and winding road to finally be here – two days before the most contested, discussed, argued, despised election ever. Certainly history is being made and we have front row seats observing it all. Forming opinions watching all that gets reported, with little consideration given to fact or fiction. Competition amongst the networks is fierce in so far of who can be the first to report a story. Any story. A fall, a slip of the tongue, another Wiki leaks dump, another scandal, another discrepancy, the flip-flopping of the FBI advising no further evidence found on Hillary’s stack of problems. Election fatigue is being felt all around. Any innuendo or attempts to deliver another scandal is being met with disinterest and exhaustion.
Comic relief in the form of the truly funny impersonators proved to be a very welcome distraction with Saturday Night Live being the most daring and outrageous. Darrell Hammond, John Di Domenico and Alec Baldwin being my favorites.
Hillary Clinton is slated to be the winner. Seems to be a no-brainer really.
With all the kings horses and all the kings men……Hillary Clinton will surely be President.
Since Bernie Saunders had been securely ousted by her own Democratic party, her path seems pretty clear.
With her huge staff of over 270 people, the unimaginable amount of money donated to her campaign, the formidable star power in the form of the sitting President Barrack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama campaigning with and for her.
Money cannot buy that kind of exposure and support. With CNN’s Donna Brazil sharing the questions with the Clinton campaign ahead of the debate, to be discussed for the 2nd debate between Mr. Trump and Hillary Clinton, certainly gave her an edge to prepare for concise answers to tricky questions ahead of the debate, which ensured her to perform well and look presidential. You might remember the general consensus afterwards was, indeed Hillary Clinton won the debate.
A celebrity strike force fanned out for Hillary Clinton:
- Jennifer Lopez performed a Get Out The Vote performance in Miami in October.
- Katy Perry, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Lin-Manuel Miranda, star of “Hamilton”all rallying to the cause.
- The cast of “The Avengers,” including Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo and Scarlett Johansson, made an anti-Trump ad.
- Broadway threw a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton. Billy Crystal hosted. Hugh Jackman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Emily Blunt, Josh Groban, Bernadette Peters and Neil Patrick Harris performed. Julia Roberts appeared. Barbra Streisand called in from L.A. to jab at Trump.
- More than 100 high-profile stars joined a MoveOn.org campaign called “United Against Hate” in a defeat-Trump effort.
- Other stars stumping for Clinton like Sean Astin, of “The Goonies” and Busy Philipps, of “Freaks and Geeks” were also encouraging people to go to the polls. And many more.
- Lena Dunham and soccer champion Abby Wambach visited multiple venues in New Hampshire to encourage people to turn out to vote.
- Jennifer Garner campaigned for Hillary Clinton with a rally at the University of Nevada
- Women for Hillary at the West Los Angeles College in Culver City in California included celebrities like Debra Messing, Sally Field, Garcelle Beauvais, Sophia Bush, Elizabeth Banks, Jaime King and many more.
- LeBron James and even Adele endorsed Hillary Clinton whilst attending her concert in Miami.
- Rumor has it that JZee are doing a performance with a possibility of Beyonce making a surprise appearance this weekend.
- Bon Jovi will be performing at her last appearance before Big Tuesday.
Mr. Trump is sadly lagging behind in star power endorsements. In fact he is the butt of jokes and ridicule.
Even though the pundits keep on reminding us that it will be a tight race, I wonder how tight can it be with such star power and support behind her?
With all the King’s horses and all the King’s men and ALL the stars aligning themselves in support of Hillary Clinton, the stars seem to point to Madam President!
thisthatandthenextthing 