Eclipse on Sat., April 4

A very short (5 minutes in totality) eclipse of the moon is going to happen early in the morning of Sat., April 4. If you can wake up in the middle of the night to watch this, it would be great. I'm going to try to.

Here's some information about it, from Sky & Telescope Magazine: "A total lunar eclipse has five stages, with different things to watch for at each. You only need your eyes to see this celestial drama unfold, though the view is certainly better through binoculars or a small backyard telescope. " The article goes on to explain what to look for at each of the five stages.


And this map shows the path our view of the eclipse will take:

Let's say you're awake and aware but your view is obscured by clouds (probably will be the case where I live). Then you can watch the NASA live-streaming video of the eclipse here.

And, more from Sky & Telescope: Some "useful projects" related to the lunar eclipse. Here I read for the first time that Christopher Columbus "timed the start and end of a lunar eclipse in 1504 during his fourth trip to the New World." Read on to find out why the information he got from that "useful project" was slightly inaccurate.

timed the start and end of a lunar eclipse in 1504 during his fourth trip to the New World. - See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/useful-projects-for-a-lunar-eclipse/#sthash.EmjvzhVr.dpuf

Clickjacking

Another warning for everyone who uses a computer to receive and send email, browse Web sites, and do anything that involves being connected with other people online:

Clicking on the "X" button to close a pop-up window can download malware onto your computer.

This is even done on Facebook pages, according to information a friend sent me, "to trick Facebook users into clicking on a play button of a video clip. Users do not realize that by trying to play the video clip, they are unwittingly saying that they like the clip or agreeing to an automatic monthly mobile phone charge..."

I checked Snopes.com to see what I could find out about this, and did not see this claim debunked, so I'm going to assume for now that it's true, and going to be very careful about watching all those hilarious and heartwarming videos all my friends are always posting!

Dumbest Presidential Candidate Ever?

I don't know. But I think so, since fellow Texan Rick Perry is apparently not running. I'm talking about Ted Cruz (of course).

Here's what he said on Late Night With Sean Meyers last week:

I just came back from New Hampshire where there’s snow and ice everywhere. And my view actually is simple: Debates on this should follow science, and should follow data. 

And many of the alarmists on global warming, they got a problem cuz the science just doesn’t back them up.

And in particular, satellite data demonstrates that the last 17 years there’s been zero warming. None whatsoever.

It’s why—you remember how it used to be called global warming and then magically the theory changed to climate change? The reason is it wasn’t warming, but the computer models still say it is, except the satellites show it’s not.

 Unbelievable. Except ... he's a pandering politician ... and pandering to a not-very-bright audience, apparently.

Weird Word of the Week: Chyron

You know that streaming line of information that trots across the bottom of your screen during newscasts, distracting and annoying you so it's hard to focus on the program you're trying to watch?

That's a chyron, named for the company that invented it, now called the ChyronHego Corporation.

(Thanks to Wikipedia for this information.)

Poetry Jam at the White House: Alexander Hamilton

Yes, I know I've got this bee in my bonnet. Lin-Manuel Miranda performed this song from what would become the musical "Hamilton" at the White House Poetry Jam in 2009:

More About the Musical "Hamilton"

From the interview of Lin-Manuel Miranda by Chris Hayes at MSNBC:

Hamilton on Broadway

 I really want to see this when it comes to Broadway this summer. Anyone else? If we get 15 or more people, we get a group discount.

No, I'm not kidding. No, I don't know where we could stay. No, I don't even know where I'll get the money to travel there and stay there and get even one or two tickets.

I'm just saying, I really want to see this.

Here's a longer bit. Watch it and you'll see what I mean!