Better Chance Of Auroras Than Rain..

Our local star 🌞 is all fired up

Aurora appearances, may be abrupt

Rain chance for tomorrow, near nil

Least we're coming out of deep chill

New island off Iwo Jima, blasting away

'Bout 2 dozen mountains, lava at play

Iceland seems to be calming down

Cape Verde..mo' lava underground?

Or maybe just a little gas

Pretty obvious, Earth not taking a pass

Another day w/ no big quakes

But, planet taking no weather breaks

Chance of tornadoes down dixie way

As they continue to deny & pray

Does congress still have a backbone?

Time to send fat Santos slime home

And, then off to jail

Let 'em light up his ready tail..:)

Stay warm out there

Today On Earth

The toy toss & shredddd

Cold With Cannibal CME's..

Deep arctic cold has descended south

So dry, no vapor emerges from a mouth

Off the sun, monster blast set to overrun

Earlier blasts..so, short wave radio..none

Not one quake today at magnitude 5

Boundary dwellers will remain alive..

Well, it's Earth, so still people will die

From disease or mayhem as bullets fly

Maybe Ukraine, Israel or the USA

Some dumbass didn't put a gun away

Those that die..'always had a smile'

What total crap about any child

Truth is..pro'ly pissed somebody off

Like video game, at life kids scoff

No consequences for major crime

Kids know..they ain't doin' no time

Simple fix: rape, kill or steal

Bullet in your head is the deal

Sorry about your unfortunate life

But, w/ 8 billion, don't need your strife

Plan you kids, raise 'em right

Maybe there'd be a lot less fright

For us all..

Today On Earth

Latest style

Dog mohawk!!

Boreas Takes Control

As a chair tumbles across the yard

Easy spot, the north wind's blowin' hard

Extreme weather is doin' an Earth romp

Blizzard in Russia & Ukraine

Great Lakes snow scene quite the pain

PNG offshore w/ a mag. 6.5 quake

Even Barbados w/ a big Earth shake

Sun still blasting big solar wind our way

Spots & Canyon of Fire -whoa- on display

Full Beaver moon was bright last night

Jupiter & Saturn added to that sight

Big dog continues to improve

Rascal getting into the walking groove

News remains ARabs & jews..at war

1,000's of years, not gotten far

Religious zealots kill & scream

My imaginary god's not a dream

'It's so real, he's in my head'

'You don't believe, I kill you dead'

So..let's give them their death wish..

We got the spare nukes..

Today On Earth

Gotta look hard to spot

The rising Beaver Moon

On & Off Earth... Returns

December 2023

On & Off Earth

Change remains the one constant we can reliably depend upon but the rate of change is what throws the daily wrinkles our way. For a slow rate of change look no farther than December, the tenth month. At least, it was the tenth month on the original Roman calendar. When January and February were added, by the Romans to ‘fix’ the leap year issue (it didn’t) the names were not adjusted. The readjustment in the late 1500’s to our current Gregorian calendar did not consider name changes, nor do I see anyone looking to make those changes today.

A fairly obvious change, this column is back after a season long break. When last we spoke, the days were long, the leaves were green, the ground dry. The leaves have swapped green for their vibrant Fall colors but have now lost the battle with gravity’s relentless tug and now the night are long. It still remains dry, even with the soaking rain the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. 

For much more rapid change, step outside. Today will look and feel different than yesterday, or even than earlier today. Slightly more gradual change but worthy of note; 2023 has broken the old record for warmest year, surpassing 2022, which surpassed 2021 in a, mostly, annual trend going back over the last 30 years.

Of all the changes we can address, that steady warming of our home planet, not so noticeable in our December but now roiling southern hemisphere weather, is in need of a more proactive response and changes from all 8 billion of us. What isn’t changing is our shocked reaction to ongoing droughts and fires, often doused by deluges and accompanying floods. All soon followed by news stories of storm heroics and then, the laying of blame. That’s actually easy; it’s our fault, all of us.

Another easy change to observe, just off Earth, is the moon’s daily movement across our sky. Still gibbous and bright as December begins, but rising 50 minutes later each night, our satellite shrinks to a crescent and sits just above Libra’s brightest star Spica in the pre-dawn southeastern sky on the 8th. Venus is the ridiculously bright ‘Morning Star’ below and left of the pair. One day later the even thinner crescent has moved across 12 degrees of sky and is just to the right of Venus.

The Moon/Venus pairing will not be as close as the near miss back in November (the moon actually occulted, blocked, Venus for some Eurasian viewers) but will still be worth an early rise and peek. That view, back in November, is actually what provoked the change in me, after a needed break, to begin this column again!

December hosts one of the better meteor showers of the year, the Geminids. If clear and not too cold, the moonless sky on the night of the 13th into the wee hours of the 14th will be perfect for setting up a lounge chair, bundling up and gazing eastward. Your eyes will catch the streaks. This year, upwards of 100 meteors per hour are forecast.

The second half of December sees the moon grow until it reaches the Full ‘Long Night’ Moon on the 26th. It will pass Saturn as a crescent on the 17th and rounding to gibbous, pair with Jupiter on the longest night, the 21st; The Winter Solstice, the ancient cornerstone of the Winter holiday season. Bundle up and get out on your planet, only 6 months to summer!

Randy Holladay

Comments welcome at oldrockguy.gmail.com

Colder..W/O Sun.. But, The Moon... Whoa

Sitting around the campfire last night

You had to sit close to feel fire's might

But, rise & step away from the fire

Brightness in the east, rising ever higher

A gibbous moon & Jupiter lit the scene

In muted grays w/ house in reds & green

All that moonlight did not dent the cold

Wrapping around you, the still air bold

Cold it remains, sun a hint in the haze

Sure feeling like late November days

🌎

Round Earth, Philippine plate, squeezed

Rocks slip 'n slide, quakes are teased

Nothing too big, well, maybe the sun

Lot of spots, the blasting is not done

Reports of aurora even w/ the moon

Rumor has it, more coming soon

Etna blasting, melting the snow cover

Iceland fixes road, gonna recover?

Today On Earth

Sauna Mtn

Adds a squeezebox

Cuz Pam can play anything

Cold... But With Sun!!

Feeling like late November today

Mostly deep chill in entire USA

Some snow scattered about out west

Go for sleeves, forget the vest

Quakes, quite a few, none too strong

Icelanders movin' back, hope not wrong

We got rain, but drought, not done?

Maybe fires have had their run..

🌔

Big bright moon & Jupiter last night

Even w/ a few clouds, quite a sight

They'll be near but moon's movin' on

On the sun, stability about gone??

At my house, it's solar heat

Price is right, temp is sweet

Today On Earth

High clouds, gorgeous sunset

Black... Or Red Friday??

It may push corporations into the black

But, shoppers experience a red ink attack

Xmas religious theme mostly ignored

'Cept, if new greed ideas can be explored

Shoppers piling up debt deep into new year

While 'need' for all the gifts remains unclear

Buying off the kids? appeasing the wife?

Single has drawbacks but low on strife:)

Big, mag. 6.9, quake in Mariana Isles

Tsunami site..spins for long whiles

Sunspots continue to grow..large

Nearby star remains..in charge

On we burn long stored sunlight

Even as HOT future comes into sight

Big whoop, lull in jewARab war

Trace back to killing Babylon's 'whore'

Men wanted the power & control

So, deeper we spiral into that hole

Over breed

Under feed

Ignore the need

Fire up the greed

It's black Friday, get out & spend

Likely, somewhere w/ gunfire it'll end

Today On Earth

Jambalaya!!

'You Can Get Anything You Want At Alice's Restaurant'

If a listen, Turkey Day doesn't include

Just what are you thinking, dude??!!

Sure, parades, dog shows & football

But, in 20 minutes Arlo says it all

Police over-reaction, war insanity

50 years later, still see it all, daily

🌳🌲🌳

In the forest, the trails are clear

So..it's easy to sneak up on a deer

🦌

But, if it sees you first

And, gives a cough in a burst

It's a quick adrenaline surge

Chatting w/ it allowed me to calm/purge

Skies are clear, solar heat on high

Got a big brown dog nearby

We are staying home this year

Dog overdo & relapse I fear

🌏

Turkey, Chilé and Tajikistan

Mixing a big shake into today's plan

Huge canyon erupted on the sun

Grazing Earth w/ solar wind fun

🍗🍠🍖🍩🍰

Still lots to be thankful for

All better w/ donnie behind a jail door

Least, armageddon is still on hold

But, jew v ARab war is gettin' old

Like 2,000 years old..morons

Created nightmare man-god cons

Jesus Jehovahammed.. fools

And, on the world drools

Really could use a Putin

Shootin' 🔫

Today On Earth

 

Mom's jade plant

About to bloom!!

And The Rain Did Fall... Woooo!!

With nearly 2 3/4" of steady rain

Relief: from drought & fire pain

Overnite dense fog that lingers still

Tonight; cold front & the next chill

Aussie/Pacific boundary; big quakes

Tsunami..no idea, site kinda fakes

Growing Thanksgiving travel scene

Will not be joining, keeping it clean

Big dog getting better, not romp ready

Touching new leg but far from steady

High in the forest, red oaks leaves remain

Down low, view blocking beeches..a pain

Hint of blue sky, sun working its magic

Suddenly too bright, gotta move, quick

Sun is also sending its wind our way

Auroras, likely, where? who can say

Time to get out for a creek survey

Has the rain washed any leaves away

Today On Earth

Mojo..The Wild Child!!

RAIN!!! Wooooo!!

After almost 2 months w/ little rain

The wet stuff is actually fallin' again

System shredded dixie yesterday

Once again, the deniers pay

Seems we hit the 2+ degree threshold

Of world temp increase, banning cold

That's the 'tipping point' but long past that

Still we burn oil, to feed greedy fat cats

All as monster sunspot turns our way

Actually 3, looking ready to play

SpaceX continues to pollute the sky

Can't take night pic w/o a flyby

Also causing auroras to glow

Who's in control, we don't know

Average day of medium quakes

But, real news, drought on the brakes

Moon w/ Saturn pass last night

Tonight, sky views..outta sight

Cuz we go clouds & RAIN

Today on Earth

Puddles... from actual rain

WOOOOO

AND

Happy Birthday KayLee

Yesterday to Bob

Tomorrow, Imani

Saturday, Craftina!!

🎂🎂🎂

Clouds And Hopes For Big Rain..

Sun block is on, clouds movin' in

Rain chances finally.. way above thin

An inch would be nice, 2 even better

Just don't need another slate wetter

Only 7.6" since August & Ophelia w/ 3.1"

Even minor flooding would be fun

Still 2 disturbances in Atlantic basin

Iceland, pretty sure what they're facin'

Basaltic lava, oozing free

Giant cracks, Earth is gonna be..

Minor CME's headed our way

Auroras across arctic skies will play

Red Oak leaves still hangin' on

Big rain tomorrow, few mo' gone

Time to get some trails blown

Today On Earth

Today's harvest..

Key Lime, jalepeños

Cold Then Cool, Always Dry..

Only quakes today on Pacific rim

Fire danger here is looking grim

Storms to rage across deep South

Brazil's weather, like a dragon's mouth

Fan died of heat at the Swiftie show

No water allowed in, that does blow..

Still rain forecast for Tuesday here

But, for now, skies are totally clear

Auroras likely across Arctic skies

Moon nearing a Saturn flyby

Still a chance of a few meteors

To see, in wee hours, out of doors

Venus rules the pre-dawn sky

Jupiter sparkles riding the ecliptic high

Jews & ARabs still at war

No real good reason what for

Imaginary gods to whom they pray

Still have nothing at all to say

Glad Joe called a dick-tator a dick

Cuz Xi's such a lyin' slimy prick

Over breeders overrunning the Earth

Human life..of little worth

Whine & moan about your 'baby'

How 'bout a plan & daddy..maybe

Your problems are all your fault

Fix yourself..maybe whining'll halt

Today On Earth

Solar lighting fun..

Few Drops Of Rain... Lotta Solar Gain

Radar showed lotta green on the screen

Into the local dryness, few drops seen

Now a front is about through

Leaves are flying, sun's shining, too

Solar heat is warming the tire house

As crews stand ready, for fire douse

Danger for fires is very high

Perfect setup, big ole wind & super dry

Pig smokers will flick out a butt

Drive on..as forest takes it in the gut

Or today, could be a hunter, on the road

Sittin' in truck, like whiskey drinkin' toad

Shoot the deer as dogs run 'em buy

Like a TDS*, don't wanna have to try

Too hard..

Lot of excuses to support that retard

Misogynist hypocrites, posers for jesus

Think nasty's ok, be rude, stir a fuss

No thinking needed to yell, wave a gun

Act like you're the inbred chosen one

🌎

Very few & no big quakes today

Another minor CME blast headed our way

In Arctic Circle, auroras may dance

Iceland, yet to kindle lava romance

Still warm outside, that'll change

Today On Earth

What a fun way to spend a birthday!!

But, gonna be warm!!

Palestinian over-breeders bitch about Biden

Maybe should bitch about Hamas hidin'

In their hospitals & schools

Started this mess, now whining like fools

'someone help my 7 kids'

seems allah remains hid...

Live your whole life based on a lie

Shocked when your unplanned babies die

IDIOTS

Philippine Shake, Oak Leaves Flying

7.2 the original Philippine quake report

Now it seems, 6.7 on data re-sort

Not WIFI, slow..on..the tsunami site??

If they had a wave, see it on news tonite

Burma got hit pretty hard today, too

Maybe give junta reason to kill a few

Leonid meteor shower could be tonite

But, forecast, not too many in sight

Moon, a thin crescent, lovely in west

Will need clear skies to pass view test

Sun with only 2 tiny, stable spots

No eruption, yet, from Iceland's hot spot

Rain chances seem sketchy today

We'll see what happens on Tuesday

10" below last year's pace

More Earth reality, right in our face

Miami all tore up w/ wild storm

Deal w/ it ronnie, it's the new norm

Cowboy boots w/ lifts, seems pretty gay

And, nice campaign, getting blown away

Again, sounds pretty gay

Come outta the closet Ron..whatcha say

Today On Earth

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Sun Returns But Really Little Change

Another day w/ a little less light

Still not a hint of rain in sight

Maybe Tuesday, so they say

'Til then, another warmer day

Iceland volcano stirs but no eruption

Elsewhere 18 mountains, local disruption

Fiji & Indonesia, usual quakes

Sun small spots, but big solar wind breaks

October news, warmest ever seen

Earth getting brown, forget the green

Still we burn oil & then deny

That any changes we should try

Wars rage on, drugs we pop

Mindless shopping w/o stop

Democracy remains under assault

With one bullet, that we could halt

We got so many guns

A TDS* sees the light..uses one:)

Today On Earth

Buck Moth

Pretty but..

Nasty syringe covered caterpillar

so, it dead!!

*TDS TrumpDickSucker

and it's a stubby li'l dick

So Stormy says..

Numb The Dumb..

When we lose the impact of a word

Then the true meaning is not heard

'It's so awesome' but it rarely is

'It was epic' but just the usual biz

The overuse of fake new & hoax

Have turned both into mindless jokes

At the shocking we barely even blink

Easy to get elected if none care to think

Stare at a phone all day..& then believe

Whatever you see there, all to deceive

Take your money, control you mind

On we race ahead, leaving reality behind

We build more bombs then buy new clothes

Someone else'll fix it we all suppose

Problem: donnie's running to be king

To impose his sickness on everything

Call all fascist, meaning is lost

No democracy, will be the cost

🔫  😈 🔫

Still Earth's reality is in our face

Planet's about to cook the human race

Or in some places, momentary freeze

More extreme, putting on the squeeze

While we languish deep in drought

South & West there's flooding about

Alaska remains buried in snow

In Iceland, they ready for a lava blow

On the jews & aRabs fight

Putin's horrors pushed out of sight

All as Joe works to fix donnie's mess

His progress is great, credit far less

All as corporate greed rolls on

Semblance of competition, mostly gone

So..the big few, charge more & more

But, less in the box at your door

Sun remains spotty, nothing wild

Boundary quakes, mostly mild

Crescent moon back after sundown

Slowly cruising the ecliptic around

Near Saturn Monday, Jupiter next week

Few leaves, no bugs, have a peek

Here it's a hazy sky

And, 'course, gunfire nearby

Today On Earth

Big dog...Mohawk!!

Seeeeya Timmy, Hello Abigail!!

Timmy Scott, finally, a little reality

That, all but his supporters did foresee

But, begged for cash one last time

Before bailing, seems, basic GOP slime

I'm sure he made jesus so proud...

Sounds so stupid.. if said out loud..

But, there is good political news

Abigail, now, VA someone good to choose

Current joke Glennn, lied his way in

And AG & LtGov..chances'll be thin

Then, there's RVA's Lavar

But, 2 casino defeats, a record mar

But, Spanberger is the real deal

No need for an election steal

Sadly, in stupid fox watching land

donnie, still w/ dick-tator demand

Vengeance & power his only plan

Typical of a pussy-ass stubby dick man

Sadly, easiest way to stop that joke

Is to push him to have a stroke

Or...we got all these crazo's w/ a gun

Maybe a TDS* will use one!!

🌎

West & south, both getting rain

Here, still deep in drought pain

Pacific vs. Aussie plate

Still quakes, none too great

Iceland gearing up for the assault

Pending eruption, it'll be basalt..

Alaska, actually,  digging out of snow

On the Plains, again, temps grow

Earth continues, more extreme

This global warming, ain't a dream

And, it is..ALL OUR FAULT

Cuz burning oil, we won't halt

I need to call amerigas

get your tank & kiss my ass

Today On Earth

Virginia's next Governor

Then

President in 2028

At all..she'll be great!!

Send her some cash..I did!!

Va & USA need her!!

*TDS - TrumpDickSucker

LOSER...

Not Quite To Solar Gain...

Lotta oak leaves still hanging tight

So..tirehouse not getting great sunlight

Drought grows deeper, but creek OK

Surprised Great Blue Heron yesterday

Hunting for an evening snack

Flew away..bet he came back..

November like temps remain the rule

Chilly start warming to nice..but cool

New induction stove..seeya propane

Amerigas & more remain Earth's bane

Quakes today, Hispañiola & PNG

Iceland gears up for lava flowing free

Saturn & Jupiter rule the evening sky

Mars & Moon you will not spy

Moon is new, Mars behind the sun

Rovers set on auto-store, not run

Halo CME sparked auroras into USA

'Bout all I got On Earth, Today

Turnover protection NOT installed

So..No kids allowed:)

Damn, this thing is hot in a hurry!!

Induction/Magnetism Rules

No Rain & No Solar Gain

Rain has stayed well south of here

But, w/ system's reach, skies not clear

Tree colors here, well past peak

With no rain, yard beginning to reek:(

Big dog in recovery mode

Don't go far for a pee commode

Only big quakes off PNG

In Iceland, locals been forced to flee

Melted rock not too far down

Forecast to soon spew on the ground

Mid-Atlantic Ridge & a hot spot

Rift w/ flows, it's what ya got

At least they use geothermal energy

Tough: volcanic living to be oil free

Free from oil..Palestinians

But, not from bombs, Jews w/ grins

Live in a cult based on superstition

Puts you in awkward reality position

Every fight over the irrational

Pray & pray but all full of bull

Allah & Jehovah, imaginary pals

Men only club to oppress the gals

Always close to a new conflict

Boasting sperm donors, w/ a little dick

Kinda like li'l vlady & buddy don

Gotta keep lying to keep up the con

Fat lyin blasts others on & on

But, Joe's still sharp, don's a mo-ron

On the local star, disruptions

But, only a few minor eruption

Auroras likely but only in high lats

That's it, that's all, where we're ats

Today On Earth

That's gold

And, yes, it's heavy..!!

See someone carry a bag of gold

In a movie or on TV

It's a big fat lie

You can't carry a bag of gold

Waaaay too heavy

What I'm holding weighed 65 pounds!!

Earth Gets All Shaky!! Remembrance Day!

Iceland, Chile, Indonesia & Japan

Dominican Republic & IRan

Even in Kansas & Ethiopia

Big planet's shaking..well..duh

Rain is staying south of here

But, skies remain far from clear

Warm to west, we've got the wedge

Sudden cold, the November sledge

Iceland quakes, volcano stirring

Remembrance Day, yet wars a'whirring

Too much money to be made

Arms makers wanna get paid

So, we make more bombs & guns

Single use & then leave ruins

Behind much, ragheads in IRan

Still, Jews w/ stupid god demands

Allow man gods to set up cults

Gonna get the same results

Today, Earth is way too full

So, keep personal beliefs, personal

Earth won't support 8 billion folks

Human tales..lies or jokes

Today On Earth

So..that's what's up there

Hidden away

New wire..should be easy?!?!

I Think..This..Is Rain??

Things are a little damp outside

And, it's cool, so we're gonna hide

I think this stuff..is called rain

Short of flooding, we won't complain

Whatever falls, won't end the drought

Cuz all next week, sun will be out

In the forest, leaves mostly brown

W/ every breeze, few more drift down

Few quakes today, mostly low mag. 5's

Up in Alaska big snow arrives

Humans, still burning up the oil

We are relentless w/ the planet spoil

Trees & rocks take the carbon in

We burn 'em, too quick a C cycle spin

Real problem, population, unspoken

Misogynist religions, seriously broken

100 years war seems rather short

When ARabs & Jews fight over a fort

'It's my mosque' 'NO, It's my church'

As ever closer to doom we lurch

Sad thing is, for fools, doom is OK

Since they worship death anyway..

'Cuz if you don't suffer in life..

Won't get joy in the afterlife'

⚰⚰⚰

All we know for sure, gonna be dead

Me, I'm looking to enjoy life instead

But, they gotta wave The Book

Koran? Bible? all just a male hook

To take the power of women away

Sperm donors rule..so they say

🌧

Seems the rain is already done

The Earth we've made, won't be fun

Today On Earth

Thanks to Max Teodorescu

&

spaceweather.com

Moon occults Venus

Cool look w/ UV filter!!