First Treasury (Evar, yo.)

A few pieces of mine have made it into others' treasuries before, but I've never been able to actually snag one. So after sitting around for several hours with a mouse in hand and eyes riveted to the screen, I have finally succeeded in creating a treasury.

Angell Hall Observatory

The Angell Hall Observatory sits on the rooftop of a five-storey building in the middle of a light-polluted city. But it still has credentials/is awesome.

I didn't have the time/equipment/conditions for any extensive photo-taking last night (so no, there's no astrophotography in this post), but it was still well worth the time. It's the first time I've been able to see stars from this city, or the sky properly at all, there was a crescent moon hanging low in the sky, and the air was for once cool without being cold.

I Despair of the Future of Humanity

I saw these firsthand, people. It's slightly frightening.

Skywatch No. 32

The days are longer and warmer and the sun is making a reappearance. There is in fact now less snow than can be seen in this picture- today was a day of triumphant sandal-clad crunching over the sad, scraggly remnants of snow.

(One of these days, I shall once again post something of value other than a Skywatch. I promise.)

A Silent Night

Full moon recently. For a while the scene resembled the standard full moon surrounded by ragged, drifting clouds, framed by a tracery of skeletal branches. Was rather excited for a moment, until I remembered I didn't have enough zoom for that.

Curses.

Other than that, not much is new. Vacation lasts for a few days longer, then it's back to school with Andunie. Though there was a rather splendid adventure a few weeks back involving floors and floors of dead silent library stacks and empty cavernous stairwells covered in graffiti... but that's a story for another time. I'll be taking a camera in there when I get back, and there'll be an update with that sometime in the near future.

But until then, happy Skywatching.

Skywatch No. 30

We denizens of Michigan like to poke fun at our weather (which of course is in reality merely a thinly-disguised pompous declaration of hardcore-ness). 65F one day, blizzard the next!

Yes, well. The day before this photo was take was a snow-melting, sun shining, let's-open-all-the-windows-and-wear-tshirts-because-it's-above-freezing day.

Another Year, Part Deux

Chinese new year, that is. Not greeted with much fanfare on my end this year, though I did get drafted out by a friend to dinner last night. A dozen strangers (to me), squeezed around a crowded table in a packed little restaurant downtown. It was an atmosphere I hadn't experienced in some while.

Also of interest may be the fact that the lunar new year happened to fall on the same day as old St. Valentine's today. The campus dining halls outdid themselves, turning out bizarre hybrid decorations such as this one: a large Asian-style parasol leaning casually over a rose-filled vase and arranged artistically on a heart-checked cloth.

It's unique, if nothing else.

Video Post 1

This's been sitting around in my drafts for a while under the title of "video post 1." By "a while" I really mean "a few years." Or however long this blog's been up.

"Medicine Man" from The Hush Sound's Goodbye Blues.

January

Winter. Snow, idyllic as it graces spreading branches and drifts noiselessly from the sky. Then slush and sludge squelch underfoot. The warm spell passes, and jagged chunks of ice grind and crunch threateningly, unyieldingly. The wind is bitter to the point of dull pain.

For now, from the inside looking out:

Today, miracle of miracles, the temperature peaked above freezing for the second day in a row. Snow melted. Patches of grass have appeared in places, and some of it is even green. I am, suffice it to say, impressed.

Adventures With Splotchy, Part Eins

Splotchy the convobot provides many hours of entertainment. If you possess saint-like patience, that is. Otherwise, a mere several minutes of conversation will leave you simultaneously huffing in indignation, developing large amounts of cynicism, and wondering what was wrong with you in the first place.

you ==> ooh

splotchy ==> I heard the same thing yesterday from Dan Quayle

you ==> Was it hot?

splotchy ==> well....

you ==> This had better be good.

splotchy ==> are you getting better?

you ==> Hell yes I am.

splotchy ==> Your conversation skills are better than average

you ==> Stop trying to change the subject.

splotchy ==> your mother...

you ==> Hey now. Watch it, no getting personal.

splotchy ==> hey

you ==> You're still avoiding the story. What happened between you and Dan Quayle?

splotchy ==> do you admire politicians?

you ==> I'm not answering that until you give me the dirty details.

splotchy ==> too bad...

you ==> Fine, I see how it is then.

splotchy ==> exactly!

you ==> You're no fun.

splotchy ==> Do you play sports for fun?

you ==> No, Splotchy, no. Stop changing the subject.

And later:

you ==> You're hopeless.

splotchy ==> hmm...exciting

you ==> That's exciting? Do go on...

splotchy ==> what excites you?

you ==> Well, hon, lemme tell ya. When it gets all hot and steamy in here-

splotchy ==> when do you think?

you ==> Now's a good time, don't you think?

splotchy ==> A good idea

you ==> Now we're talking.

splotchy ==> IRC is a great place to chat

you ==> STOP RUINING THE MOOD.

splotchy ==> Unauthorized fornication with this equipment is disallowed.

Fine, Splotchy. Fine. I see how it is.