Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Do we push Mother Nature too far?
Leonard Stier, and his son Michael Stier, Warren Rothel, Thomas Talarico, Kane Rusnak, Kurt Kabel, and Blaine Wilson, last but not least Danny Bjarnason.
Gone but never forgotten!!!!
God speed to those who passed, and prayers of strength and faith for those left behind.
From
The Big Ape
Monday, December 29, 2008
Why doesn't McDonald's sell hotdogs?
10. Get organized
Well sparky you should not wait until January 1st to does this. If you are disorganized don't wait do it NOW!!! You will be happier and the world around you will be neater. Hey who knows it will be like December 25th all over again on all the stuff you find that you forgot you had!
9. Help others
Well if you were not so self centered and chipped in and helped others they might return the favor, and then you would not be so disorganized!
8. Learn Something new
Once again if you only wait until January 1st to do this no wonder the world is passing you by. You should try and learn something new everyday! It does not have to be life altering, but stimulating the brain matter keeps the seniors lodges from looking like a parking lot for the compost heap in heaven.
7. Get out of Debt
Well sunshine debt is one thing, but sinking yourself beyond your limits is another. Economics 101 states debt is not bad as along as it is controlled, and we live within our means. It is when we try keeping up with the Jone's that we cause the world to come crashing down. Just ask GM or Chrysler they will back me up!
6. Quit drinking
Have you heard the term moderation? Nothing is bad for you for maybe the exception of smoking as long as it is done in MODERATION!!!! That is what is wrong with people in this world nobody can do anything without going Ape! Now I am even guilty of this or I would not be called the 500 LB Gorilla! Even though I only weighed 98 LBS I think I would still carry the nick name. People just seem to listen to someone that is bigger then if you are tiny. The 98 LB gorilla just does not have the same impact! lol
5. Enjoy life more
Well that is a no brainer! DUH if you were not so busy worrying about all your faults you would enjoy life more. A very wise person passed on the secret of life to me recently. Live simply in the Now! Don't worry about the past as you cannot change it, Don't get hung up on the future as then you will miss what is going on in front of you, and that is the Now! Thanks Cesar I am truly in gratitude to you!!!
4. Quit Smoking
Again Don't wait until January 1st to do this NOW!!! It is a very bad habit, it is killing you, and it is also expensive! Now with that being said I it know it is an addiction, and it will not be easy if you fail once keep trying. You also have to quit for the right reason, and that is for YOU! If you are quitting to make someone else happy you are setting yourself up to fail. You have to buy into the idea to truly succeed. Now look at it this way. You are going to feel better, and save money all in the same resolution! Wow... I should sell this information! Do I smell a book deal??? Get Oprah on the phone...lol
3 and 2. Lose weight and get fitter
Every one thinks they should lose weight, and go to the gym more often. That is why you need to circle the gym parking lots like a buzzard looking for dinner for about 30 to 45 days after Christmas. Personally I thought losing weight would have been #1, but I stand corrected. This is also the time we go use all our gift cards to purchase gym equipment to have it as a stylish close hanger or rack in about 3 months time. (guilty as charged)!!
Now the drum role please.......
1. Spend more time with friends and family
Well again that is a very noble idea, but I feel that you should not be waiting until January1st to do this. If you are feeling that you are not spending enough time or eating properly or needing to change a behavior don't wait there is not better time then the present sparky!!
I know you want one last bash where you know you smoked way too much, and drank enough to make an Irishman green with a hangover just smelling you. So as you drag your sorry carcases around asking yourself why you did this to yourselves? We will be standing back, and counting how long it takes for you to break the promises to god if he just stopped the room from spinning you will quit drinking, or doing what ever else promised in order to feel better. Sound familiar?
Well I would be remissed If I and the Ape Trainer did not wish you and yours a very good new years and all the best for 2009!
In parting I have to share this little story with you. I understand this is true. I hope this was not you, and if it was I think some new years resolutions are in order!!!!
You gotta read this police report Jacksonville, Fl., Police Dept. A man goes to a party and has too much to drink. His friends plead with him to let them take him home. He says no he only lives a mile away. About five blocks from party, the police pull him over for weaving and asks him to get out of the car and walk the line. Just as he starts, the police radio blares out a notice of a robbery taking place in a house just a block away. The police tell the man to stay put, they will be right back and they hop a fence and run down the street to the robbery. The guy waits and waits and finally decides to drive home anyway. When he gets there, he tells his wife he is going to bed, and to tell anyone who might come looking for him that he has the flu and has been in bed all day. A few hours later the police knock on the door. They ask if Mr. ????? is there, and his wife says yes. They ask to see him and she replies that he is in bed with the flu and has been so all day. The police have his driver's license. They ask to see his car, and she asks why. They insist on seeing his car, so she takes them to the garage. She opens the door. There sitting in the garage is the police car, with all its lights still flashing. True story: Told by the driver at his first AA meeting. | |||
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Thanks Diane H...
Remember don't go through life having regrets...face life finishing beaten and battered sliding into heaven with both feet saying woooooooo hoooooo that was fun!
Until Next Time
Cheers
From The Big Ape
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Are You a Digital Criminal?
Remember:
- The mint makes it first, it is up to you to make it last.
- Evan Esar
From The Big Ape
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A Day Of Congratulations
Now like I said there was two people that was very deserving of Congratulations. Well as promised the documentary of Ethiopia is in the can as they say in the industry. I would like to send CONGRATULATIONS to Kyle Bakx on a job well done. I have seen the 5 episode documentary on Ethiopia. Not only was it informative and entertaining it was touching. Kyle is a very good producer, and I am sure this is only 1 of many documentary's that he will produce in his career. Now he sat down and answered a few questions for the old Ape, but before we get to them as promised Kyle wanted me to tell you this:
The "Medicine Hat Magic" documentary is finished and ready to air.
The half-hour Chat TV special tracks the efforts of a group of
volunteers with relief organization Canadian Humanitarian. The
documentary will air on Chat TV on Tuesday, December 16, at 7:00.
Chat is on Shaw Cable channel 3 and Bell Expressvu channel 248.
We're just finishing up the covers for the DVDs. For those wishing
for a copy of the DVD, it is easy. Call the front desk of the station
at 403-548-8282. The cost is $25 and tax. For those living outside
the beautiful city of Medicine Hat, don't fret, we can mail the DVD to
your doorstep. We will only be taking orders till around Christmas
Day. The DVD's will then be ready to be picked up/mailed early in the
new year.
Enjoy the documentary!
Now as Kyle says don't forget to order your DVD as a keepsake of that documentary hi-lights Medicine Hat people making a difference in Ethiopia. Now as promised I was also lucky enough to get Kyle to sit down long enough to answer a questions as to who Kyle Bakx is, and what was it like doing something like this:
Q Who is Kyle Bakx tell me a bit about yourself?
A I went to school in Winnipeg, graduating with a journalism diploma at
Red River College and a communications degree at the University of
Winnipeg. While going to school, I worked as a radio news broadcaster
for a radio station in Steinbach, MB, then as a TV reporter/producer
for Global News in Winnipeg. After finishing college and university I
made the move to Chat TV as the municipal affairs reporter,
predominantly covering politics and business. Outside of reporting, I
have a strong passion for traveling and being in the great outdoors. I
enjoy athletics of all nature -- including being an active triathlete.
I volunteer for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in
Medicine Hat and at the Tongue on the Post folk music festival.
Q How did you first hear about what was going on Ethiopia?
A I completed my first triathlon in Okotoks, AB, this past summer.
After the event, I picked up a pamphlet and saw that a Medicine Hat
charity was the recipient. I thought it would make for a great news
story, so I met with the executive director. After learning that many
Medicine Hat residents were going to travel to Ethiopia on an
expedition with the organization, I pitched the idea to the TV station
and to the organization, to track the efforts of the volunteers by
filming a documentary. The organization loved the idea and so did
management at Chat TV.
Q Is there any more trips like this one that we can see from you?
A Hopefully, but nothing on the horizon for now. Although I seem to
always have side projects on the go...
Q What is the biggest message you would like to convey from a trip like this?
A The thing that stuck with me the most is the pride of the people in
Ethiopia. Most live in homes made of tin that are only the size of a
mini-van. Most Ethiopians are classified as living in either moderate
or extreme poverty. Almost 80 per cent live on less than 2 american
dollars a day, while, a quarter of the population earn less than a
single dollar. The situation in Ethiopia is conflicting -- on one
hand, a middle class has slowly begun to emerge over the last decade.
But on the other hand -- economy has made the situation worse for the
poor -- as inflation has doubled and tripled the cost of food. It's
financial pressure that's hard for many parents to burden.
But the people are so proud. We would visit their homes and they made
sure to sweep the dirt floors and make the beds. They couldn't
believe that a white-person would actually take the time to see their
home. The people are very happy as well, despite the hardships.
Q What can my readers do to help the cause over in Ethopia?
A Go on the next expedition -- there's two every year! The organization
is excellent and any contribution goes a long way. Visit the website
on ways to help out -- www.canadianhumanitarian.com
Q Walk me through a day that transpired on the trip?
A Everyday was completely different. One day in particular began with
us volunteers breaking up into small groups to conduct home visits --
where we would visit the homes of the children enrolled in programs
with Canadian Humanitarian. We would make sure that the children have
a safe home, where they are encouraged to go to school and do their
homework.
Q What is the biggest thing that the people of Ethiopia are missing?
A It's very hard to say, beyond the necessities. For many, food is the
main concern. Inflation has doubled and tripled the cost of food.
For others, clean water is a major concern -- not only for drinking,
but for washing and bathing.
Q If there was one wish for the people of Ethopia what would it be?
A It's as basic as food.
Q If you could compare the children of Ethiopia to the children of
Canada do they have any similarities? Differences?
A They are identical. They laugh at the same jokes, play the same games
and have the same potential as children in Canada, but don't have the
same opportunities (school, work, sports)
Q What role do you think our Gov't should have if any on trips like this?
A The Canadian government really lacks when it comes to foreign aid.
Not only do they not meet their funding goal -- but most of the money
is spent in Canada, not overseas.
Q How different is the media's role from there to here?
A The media is very well respected in Ethiopia -- but the majority are in jail.
Q You talked about a group of kids that we seen that were sponsered
compared to all the other children that were not. How were those
children picked to be sponsored?
A Canadian Humanitarian choses which children can be enrolled in their
programs based on the most need. That is where the biggest impact
will be made. Children in CH programs receive medical attention, a
hot lunch everyday, help with homework, and much more. But, the kids
must attend school and show commitment to their education.
Q What negative issues did you see from the people of Ethiopia?
A Aids has eradicated the social structure. So often we would see
families with only single mothers supporting the household. They are
then forced to work long hours to put food on the table. A
consequence is that the children don't receive enough attention.
That's why the children showed such great appreciation when us
Canadians would play games with them, or just simply help them read a
book.
Well I hope you enjoyed reading about what Kyle experienced n Ethiopia as much as I enjoyed writing about it. As Kyle reminded to you that special is tonight at 7PM. Again don't forget to place your order for your own copy of the special or better yet buy a few copies and give them away as stocking stuffers or gifts to someone special on your Christmas list.
So in closing Congratulations to Diana T and Kyle Bakx you are very special each in your own right!
Cheers
From The Big Ape
Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a
horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
Monday, December 8, 2008
8 Christmas Myths
Christmas Myths....
According to Bret Burquest
Christmas, like many other holidays, has its share of historical inaccuracies and myths.
For example, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was not one of Santa's reindeer and didn't live on the North Pole. In fact, he was invented in 1939 by Robert L. May, a copywriter for Montgomery Ward department stores, as a promotional gimmick.
By 1946, a total of 6 million copies of the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer booklet had been distributed to Montgomery Ward customers.
May's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, developed the lyrics and music for a Rudolph song which was recorded by Gene Autry in 1949. It sold 2 million copies that year alone and went on to become the second best-selling record of all time, second only to "White Christmas."
However, May's original story differs from the song lyrics.
According to May, Rudolph lived in an ordinary reindeer village considerably south of the North Pole. Even though he was taunted for having a shiny red nose, his parents were not embarrassed. They brought Rudolph up in a loving home and gave him a high sense of self-esteem. Santa delivered presents to their house one night during a thick fog. Impressed by the glow of Rudolph's shiny red nose, Santa chose him to lead his team of reindeer to complete his rounds.
This brings to mind other Christmas myths.
MYTH #1 -- Santa Claus is a fat man in a red suit. Not true. He's fairly thin and usually wears boxer shorts with a tank top around the house. He just dons multiple layers of clothing to keep warm in late December, when zipping around the night sky in an open sleigh. Santa's delivery outfit is bright red to protect him from trigger-happy sportsmen -- he doesn't want to be mistaken for a flock of geese.
MYTH #2 -- Santa Claus lives at the North Pole. Not true. He lives in Canada, halfway between Medicine Hat and Moose Jaw. The north pole is a large block of ice, populated by three polar bears and a wayward penguin. Canada is a lot like the North Pole -- it's cold and nobody ever goes there. (writers note: Does that mean he lives in Maple Creek???)
MYTH #3 -- Santa has a bunch of little helpers called elves. Not true. They're mostly vertically-challenged (short) Swedes.
MYTH #4 -- Santa Claus climbs down chimneys to deliver his presents. No longer true. He once did climb down chimneys but got stuck several times in Colorado where legislation in 1969 required all chimneys to contain filters. In 1970, Santa reverted to using doors and windows, but he was busted in 1972 in Hackensack, New Jersey, for breaking and entering. Ever since then, Santa has used the Star Trek method of teleportation whereby his molecular structure is disassembled on the rooftop and reassembled directly in front of the Christmas tree. This way he is guilty only of entering but not of breaking, usually a misdemeanor in most places.
MYTH #5 -- Santa Claus likes to have some cookies and milk waiting for his arrival. No longer true. In 1983, he developed a gastrointestinal infection while hovering over Thailand. Too much curry, causing a bad case of diarrhea, which can be quite a dilemma while flying through the air in an open sleigh. (not to make fun of the old boys plight, but that is a picture that I can see Tim Allen reenacting!)
MYTH #6 -- Kids will get presents that reflect the latest craze. Not true. There is no latest craze. Remember Cabbage Patch dolls, Teen-age Mutant Ninja Turtles and Tickle-Me Elmo? They were the latest craze for about fifteen minutes. By the time the kids open presents, the latest craze will become a closet relic. If you want to give your kids a gift that has some worth, give them something that will get them out of the house, like a bicycle or a chainsaw.
MYTH #7 -- Santa knows who has been naughty and nice. Not true. That's the CIA, FBI, NSA, NWO, DEA, IRS, ATF, CFR, KGB, MI6, MJ12 and the Jehovah Witnesses who are keeping tabs on everyone. Santa has enough to do without spying on you.
MYTH #8 -- Santa's reindeer are named Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. Actually, those are only nicknames to make it easier to come up with Christmas jingles. Their real names are Fox Maulder, Elmer Fudd, Engelbert Humperdinck, Johnny Paycheck, Chester A. Arthur, Joe Sixpack, D. B. Cooper and Dweezle Zappa.
Now you are up to date on the latest 8 myths about Christmas. If you have any others that you as readers have heard of by all means pass them along.
Now I can't even take credit fo this statement, but I do like it....
"Myths die hard. We need them to overcome the paranoia of the narrow confines of our perceived reality."Until next time...Be kind to one another as we are no longer sure who is a spy for Santa these days! Gee maybe I should have been nicer to that door to door salesperson that came to the door last week! LOL
Cheers
From The Big Ape
Friday, December 5, 2008
It Has Been A Tough Week
Some of us that were following the Steinke trial the past 3 or so weeks have seen conclusion to a horrific tragedy. It took 12 peers 11 hours to find this person (I even have trouble calling this person a man) guilty. I am not sure how there could be any other decision, but it is like go to a decision in a prize fight. When it goes to the judges anything can happen. The only down side to this trial verses a prize fight.... in a fight you have the opportunity to TKO the vermin before the end of the match. Why can't we do that with people such as this. Now you might find me a bit twisted, I do feel sorry for this pukes mother. When women have kids they never imagine that their bundles of love are going to go down in history as one of the biggest murders in Alberta and possible one of the top 10 in Canada if not the World. She is going to beat herself up after each breath she takes until the end. That if she would only... things might have been different. Well I can say it is not your fault! In today's society there is enough stop gaps if the person really wanted to get help to change their ways there is help out there! Now on Dec. 15th the media circus will begin in Medicine Hat as that is where the final sentencing will take place. Can't we do the tax payers a favor and just exterminate him? He is going to be 48 before he see's the light of day. Where is he going to be other then at the Gov't Tit looking for support as no one will ever hire him! Not to mention that the world will be alot different then it is now. Lets do the tax payer song I owe, I owe it is off to work I go to support the people that thinks we owe them a living!
Now as a freelance writer I still have ties to the main stream media world. One of the daily papers that I enjoy reading, and occassionaly report dor is Brooks On-Line. They had a very interesting article one day earlier this week. Now as most of you know I was a long term resident of Brooks Alberta. Now as I have said I consider it my home town more or less. I will say it is not the same town I grew up in. I think that we all can say that due to the big boom especially in Western Canada their is not many towns that we grew up in are still the same. Especially towns located along the trans-canada hi-way. Change is not necessarily a bad thing at times though. Now having a fresh set of eyes looking at a situation is sometimes just what we need to get a new prospective on a situation. Recently Brooks did just that. They brought in FICE now that stands for Fresh Impressions Community Exchange. Now these folks come in and look at your town, talk to people, and then write a report based on their observations. Now sometimes things are pointed out that long term residents would not normally see. It is like living with a family memeber, and then if Grandma has not seen you for a long time says oh how you have changed since I last seen you. Well you might not notice because you see yourself every day. Though fresh eyes all sorts of new things can be brought to light. Now you have to be prepared for some constructive critisim. Again in order to grow to a better place you have to know what you need to change to make things better. Now I must admit I found this submission very intersting. If you live in Brooks the talk of the town is two things. 1. The smell of the city 2. Why is the crime rate so high. I would like to add a disclaimer. Crime is present in Brooks, but I will say I think the media has just picked up on it more. I am going to share part of the report with you, because of all the things that the outside group commented on about Brooks having a high crime rate was not one of them. Here is the report:
Much of the FICE (First Impressions
Community Exchange) report has been made public already after it was
reported in the weekly papers and to Brooks
Council on Monday. What the group from
Cochrane noticed when they came to Brooks
didn’t come as a surprise to many who live here.
We can see the short falls ourselves.
What the Cochrane group didn’t bring
up in either the written report or with the one on
one vocal presentation is how we think our crime
is a problem and a concern for outsiders. That
didn’t even show up on their radar.
Listed below are random comments from the FICE
report. The Brooks Economic Development
committee has the detailed report.
- Industrial looking main drag, similar to that of
- Older homes are nicely kept with big trees in
- Hanging baskets and banners are very
- The name says “City”, but it still very small town
- While there are many signs promoting a range of
- The Brooks sign was almost burred in grass.
- Coming in from Cassils was a pleasant surprise
- Stunning tree lined streets in older parts of town.
- For some on our team, the odour from the
Brooks.
- Quite a bit of low income housing appeared to be
- The apartment blocks we noticed were not
- Generally people were happy with the level of
schools.
- The Global Friendship/Immigrant Centre is a
community with so much ethnic diversity.
- There appeared to be a strong presence of police
- There were numerous store fronts that were
- A variety of stores downtown, but really nothing
visitors to downtown. Stores downtown were
weathered.
- We found parking to be quite good, especially
- The fact that Brooks has industrial land available
are struggling.
- There was signage that promoted Brooks was a
were in poor condition.
- Items such as drinking fountains and garbage
- As for tourism, it didn’t appear to be a strong
- Found some of the staff to be unsure of the
- Brooks presents itself as a fairly clean
- The entrance sign from the west, the feedlots
negative first impression
Now all and all I thought it was a good honest report. Now you can walk around with blinders on, and say these points were not fair. I think every comment was very honest, and I hope the powers to be take heed of these comments and do something.
So next time you want a honest unbiased opinion use a total stranger that is willing to give you their opinion, you might be pleasently surprised of the out come.
Well it is weeks end all we can do is hope the next week is better then this one. The year end is coming in quickly. I will talk in the coming days about not getting caught up in the whole idea of the giant commercialism of Christmas.
Until then.....Be kind to your web footed friends as a duck may be somebodies mother...
As Red Green says if women can find you handsome, they better be able to find you handy..Oh No I am really in trouble! I am not handy or hansome...lol
Have a great weekend everyone!
Cheers
From The Big Ape
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
A Message Needs To Be Sent!
Our Governor General is returning home from a trip abroad to try and sit down and work out a peaceful solution between this band of misfits. I don't know about you, but this reminds me of a blended family that just cannot get along! We need you to send an email to the Governor General:
info@gg.ca
I will even go one step further to add what you can cut and paste into the email so you don't even have to think about what to write. Now this is not a scam this is the direct email to the Governor General so for this to be taken seriously you need to add your name, city or town where you reside, and phone number. Here is what you can cut and paste into the email:
Madam Governor General. If the Conservative Party is defeated on a non-confidence motion,and the Liberals and NDP approach your office requesting a coalition ,I would implore you to refuse their request.I strongly believe this would be a blueprint for disaster.
So if you believe in protecting our country from a political fire storm I cannot stress enough that your help is needed on this matter. Remember if you are not doing it for yourself do it for your kids and grand kids!
A wise man once told me... Stand for something or fall for everything. Lets stand up to these 3 clowns, and tell them if they wanted to be the Prime Minister they needed to campaign harder!
Cheers
From The Big Ape
I don't mean to hurry you, but there is some what of a urgency on this matter. Please do it as soon as you can as decisions are going to be made with in the next 48 hours.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.
Lets fast forward to another court room on the next floor. We are winding down to a the jury actually getting charged to find a verdict for that clown that sits in a Calgary Court room for his fateful actions one April night 2 years ago when he killed three members of a family here in Medicine Hat. Now I found it kind of humorous that our local television station had a computer pol asking if their viewers were following the trial of the Murder? Well DUH! You would have to live under a rock, not watch TV, or listen to a radio, lets add not read a news paper to be immune to this story! Just by breathing you are getting injected with news on this story not to mention next to the Governments follies, it is the most talked about story in local coffee shops, and public space. Now I have got to hand it to the Crown Prosecutor Miss Romona Robins. She did a stellar job! She is a very sharp lawyer. I had the privilege of watching her in action for 3.5 weeks on a trial I was covering on a freelance basis earlier this year. She has a gatling gun style when cross examining her adversary. That tends to give her victim enough rope to hang themselves. She just pokes holes in the words that you have already stated. I think between the Windsor trial earlier this year, and now this trial. She is going to send her career into a rock star status. I kind of got focused on a rant there...sorry, but my point was that Steinke's lawyer made him out to be this poor little abused, depressed, addicted young man that was not sure what he was doing. HELLO people this little puke laughed about what he did! He is not remorseful for what he did. He is remorseful that he got caught! Hopefully the jury has seen that poor me attitude is just a lawyer created role instead of the misfit role that he really is. Well I think enough time has been spent on these two, but remember next time you screw up be responsible for your own actions. If there is one skill that we can teach our kids of today. Do the crime, pay the time. You can't hate the player, you have to hate the game!
Remember opinions are like certain parts of the anatomy, everyone has one. Just some are bigger then others!
Cheers
From The Big Ape ;-)
Monday, December 1, 2008
This Just In...
From the friends over at the Blog Catalog they wanted us as bloggers to remind our reading public about today's special day. Today is National AIDS day. As we know AIDS is a medical condition that is so under published. There is many mis-conceptions about AIDS. Now there is many sites from your local Government sites to various education sites. Here is an education site
that I feel best relays up to date postings. There is many mis-conceptions about how some people can or think they can catch aids:
- Casual, everyday contact;
- Shaking hands, hugging, kissing;
- Coughs, sneezes;
- Giving blood;
- Swimming pools, toilet seats;
- Sharing eating utensils, water fountains; or
- Mosquitoes, other insects, or animals.
- Unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral);
- Shared needles or equipment for injecting drugs;
- Unsterilized needles for tattooing, skin piercing or acupuncture;
- Pregnancy, delivery and breast feeding (from an HIV-infected mother to her infant); and
- Occupational exposure in health care settings.
Now take a few minutes today and visit an AIDS site and get better informed.
From our friends over at the space weather site they wanted to remind our viewers to look into the south sky this evening. Here is why:
When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look south. Beaming through the twilight is one of the prettiest things you'll ever see--a tight three-way conjunction of Venus, Jupiter and the crescent Moon. The event is visible from all parts of the world, even from light-polluted cities. People in New York and Hong Kong will see it just as clearly as astronomers watching from remote mountaintops. Only cloudy weather or a midnight sun (sorry Antarctica!) can spoil the show.
The great conjunction offers something extra to Europeans. For more than an hour on Monday evening, the crescent Moon will actually eclipse Venus. Astronomers call such an event a "lunar occultation." Venus emerging from the dark edge of the Moon is a remarkably beautiful sight. Sky watchers across Europe will be able to see this happen.
So I hope you have clear skies, and the time to go out and take a peek tonight.
So consider yourself up to date. ;-)
Cheers
From the Big Ape