We had two fine, very clear nights in a row on Wed. and Thursday. It was the first time this year I felt motivated to undertake the massive setup and journey west to my secret observing site, beneath windmills in the next county over. It was very cold both nights, being 28 F when I left for home. The first night a serious wind chill sent me home earlier, but Thursday I managed to last the full three hours. This time of year there are very few stars in the sky, as our planet is turned to face out of our galaxy. But this opens up clearer views to other galaxies, and Spring observing is usually all about other galaxies. In the two nights I managed to observe 10 new ones for my observing program. I wonder how many other civilizations that encompasses? It can be a very humbling hobby. Some of the objects were tiny bare smudges, and an inexperienced observer would have seen nothing in the eyepiece. A few others were very prominent, and even a newbie would be able to seen them easily. But that looks like it for the April session; a week of clouds are forecast, and the moon will be too bright by the end of that time.
Tomorrow night is our Beltane celebration. It should be cool enough to have a wood fire. We will get our new Tarot cards then as well. We will try to get a walk in the woods scheduled for next week, to view any wildflowers brave enough to come forth in our cooler, not very sunny weather. The dandelions are in full bloom, at least.
In movie news, there are a few of interest to report. I will limit my comments on The Vanishing, from 1988. This is a very troubling horror film about the sudden disappearance of a young woman from a highway service center and rest stop. Such disappearances have been increasing in frequency for some time, and continue to happen with fearsome regularity. Britain seems to have many, and Mexico seems to make new records in disappearances every month. Canada has had its share, too, as has every country. The movie is one such disappearance explained fully, and it it not a comfortable movie to watch. Although it likely helped some young women who saw it stay alive (by staying out of strangers' cars), it also likely promoted copycat abductions among other sociopath males. Although I could quibble at length about some of the plot points and turns, the fact remains that this stuff happens all the time, and it leaves one feeling angry, saddened, and very upset. You will be punished for watching the entire film.
Next up was a classic Douglas Sirk melodrama with a big cast and Technicolor that will pop your eyes out. With a star cast and a breezy plot, the film is called Written on the Wind, and is from 1956. Robert Stack and Dorothy Malone star as bad brother and sister, heir to their father's oil millions. They have made nothing of their lives; the business depends on Rock Hudson, who manages to keep everything afloat despite the family black sheep. Lauren Bacall falls for Stack and his millions, and ends up marrying him. This is highball soap opera, and actually quite fun to watch. Malone emotes grandly during every scene she is in (hilariously, she won an Oscar), and though she is bad through and through, she does the right thing at the very end. Her brother, not so much. Recommended high kitsch.
I will return soon with more Homestead news, as well as the April reading summary.
Mapman Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment