syrinx

As of September 27, we are told, the old solar disk has been free of "spots" for about 3 out of every 4 days so far in 2008. While it hasn't been a hotbed of activity, that's not a bad thing:

"By monitoring the sun's vibrating surface, helioseismologists can probe the stellar interior in much the same way geologists use earthquakes to probe inside Earth.

tags: science solar flares sun spots

National Geographic online provides a solstice facts article for the Friday June 20 solstice.It also has a photo show of different celebrations across the planet, and if you like the lead photo, there's a gallery of sun photos online as well. Of course, you can always do a wikipedia or google search on solstice too. Or go to the library and read a book.

tags: solstice sun national geographic

Draw a Person: part whatever of a series of psychological tests

Vern "Al" Equi Knox AKA "Sol" Invictus, spends most of his time in the tropics, seen in the northern and southern hemispheres during the alternate summer seasons, but really prefers the lands of the palm trees. Bonus feature here is Draw a Tree example.

Diagnosis: Person who draws this obviously has no ambition, is lazy, and doesn't like to work. Thinks the world should be warm, surrounded by sunshine and oceans, food should fall from the trees year round. Obviously delusional and out of touch with the real world. Will never amount to much.

tags: spring humor trees satire psychology tests reality tropics sun palm hell handbasket