2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 1-Podcast 657

2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 1-Podcast 657

Seeing a full solar eclipse is an amazing experience. This was not an easy trip. It was not a short trip. There will be two parts to the eclipse podcast. The night before. The Day Of. We’ll start with the night before the solar eclipse in 2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 1-Podcast 657.

Long Wait For This One

A long time ago my best friend Steve and I set up telescopes and special projection devices in his back yard for an annular solar eclipse. We decided to recreate that experience in 2017 for this very nearly one-of-kind eclipse. Traveling down Illinois 1 all the way south to the Carbondale, Illinois area.

Searching For Totality

We’d heard this was the point of totality. That is, a line across the US where the eclipse would be total. We didn’t realize how lucky we were until we discovered we had landed in Makanda, Illinois. Find out why this is important in 2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 1-Podcast 657.

Sometimes You Luck Out

Two guys in an ambulance. Not really an RV. Primitive sleeping arrangements. A tent for Steve. Hammock inside Mobile Podcast Command for me. We rolled into a camping area. Asked some questions. Learned it was a specific place, which cost a lot more than what we thought initially.

Travel and Adventure Means Meeting Great Random People

Traveling you meet random people. Sometimes it’s good. In this case we meet Bud, who arranged for this park, in this town, for this eclipse. He turns out to be an historian, a businessman and a good guy. He joins us for 2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 1-Podcast 657.

Part II On The Way

Heading back to the Chicago area as I write this. Part II will be up as soon as possible. As a teaser to that podcast I will simply say I have heard a lot of people say, “I’ll watch the eclipse on TV”. With all my equipment and all of Steve’s telescopes and cameras, ham radios and special glasses, this is something you just have to experience. It was amazing. More on that later.

See You in 2024

The good news? Another eclipse goes right through Makanda in 2024.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 1-Podcast 657

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Charlottesville Is Final Nail In The Right's Coffin-Podcast 656

Charlottesville Is Final Nail In The Right’s Coffin-Podcast 656

Well before the 2016 primary campaign I posted a podcast announcing the death of the conservative movement. Whatever was left of the right is the final casualty this past weekend In Virginia. In Charlottesville Is Final Nail In The Right’s Coffin-Podcast 656.

A Deal With The Devil

During the 2016 presidential campaign Republican moderate leadership had the opportunity to allow the convention to move through the political process to select a candidate. Instead they chose to close ranks with a candidate famous for rhetoric and little else forcing that candidate on the American people. Surprisingly a week later, the democrats did the same thing. This faustian bargain resulted in a rhetorical presidency which has accomplished little.

Identity Politics Right Wing Style

In this way, the Grand Old Party closed ranks with the politics of division. Name calling and chaos. But wait! Right Wingers didn’t break windows or block freeways. It was the Left which used violence. Until now. In Charlottesville Is Final Nail In The Right’s Coffin-Podcast 656.

It Wasn’t Us!

Is it too soon to suggest humor in the irony of every paid commentator, blogger, show host and agitator of the right suddenly trying to show the world those people carrying Nazi Flags in Charlottesville aren’t really conservatives? Is it too soon to decry the loud mouths hocking constitutional conventions, fife and drum, messaging seminars and civil war?

Who is to blame? Everyone

Especially the voters. This generation of Americans. Children who think the louder they yell the better chance they have to get what they want. People who think good citizenship is doing a FaceBook Live video or throwing up a You Tube Channel predicting the end of the world. Commentators who want to tell you what happened when they weren’t there.

All Hat and No Cattle

People who refuse to help during election season but won’t miss a tea party meeting to discuss messaging and their version of the constitution. People who want to protest but can’t be bothered to stand up and run for office or do any of the hard work citizenship in a democratic society demands. Block a freeway? Why not! Shoot a congressman? Sure. Destroy someone online? Fun! Carry a nazi flag in a parade? Awesome! We’ll just blame the Mercers or George Soros. Doesn’t Matter.

Government Is More Powerful No Matter Who’s In Charge

Whatever you scream when you protest, one thing is true. Government power is more absolute. A prison we have created for ourselves is bankrupting us and destroying our society. National debt is dangerously high and climbing. Little more than window dressing passes for action. Political news watchers concern themselves with the latest greek drama live from the White House. Issues? Policy? You won’t get clicks with that.

Losing Equation

Neither majority nor minority provides anything close to leadership. Attacks and Counterattacks. Name calling. Gleeful enjoyment of this House of Cards. Surprise when it results in death. This does not end well.

Sponsored by Brush Studio in the West End Saint Louis Park

Charlottesville Is Final Nail In The Right’s Coffin-Podcast 656

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Solar Eclipse 2017 Craziness Begins Now On You Tube-Podcast 655

Solar Eclipse 2017 Craziness Begins Now On You Tube-Podcast 655

August 21st 2017. Across a great swath of the United States perhaps millions will gather to watch a total eclipse of the sun. Eclipses don’t happen every day, of course. Then again, it’s just a solar eclipse. In Solar Eclipse 2017 Craziness Begins Now On You Tube-Podcast 655, the Internet wants you to think it’s the end of the world as we know it.

The Age Of Aquarius

The Event. Planet Nibiru. A shift of the Earth’s magnetic poles. Shifting to a higher consciousness. Let’s not forget the emergence of the Anti Christ. Those with special knowledge are eager to share it with you. From ‘psychics’ to astrologers, to UFOlogists. Especially relevant is the ‘fact’ that this all ties in to this highly unusual or ‘special’ eclipse.

An Unprecedented Event?

Thing is, it’s not THAT special. Total solar eclipses occur on average 2 to 3 times in every three year period. It’s just that this eclipse features a path of totality all the way across the United States. Depending on who you listen to, this hasn’t happened since 1918, or 1776. We’ll break it down in Solar Eclipse 2017 Craziness Begins Now On You Tube-Podcast 655.

Back In The Day

2017 will not be like 1979. Back then, people stood in their back yard, took a look, and went back to their lives. It’s a new day. These days everything has to have some supernatural weight. Maybe that’s how we keep it interesting.

Welcome To The Dark Ages

Are we regressing to a primitive state? It’s certainly easier to do so when you have got so many charlatans so easily available. Fact checking would take centuries, even with an abby full of ‘Game Of Thrones’ style Maesters, sifting through their books and ancient scrolls. Solar Eclipse 2017 Craziness Begins Now On You Tube-Podcast 655 gives you an opportunity to hear some of the ‘theories’ and their prognosticators.

Bob Davis Podcasts Will Be There

Mobile Podcast Command will be headed to Carbondale, Illinois on August 21st, 2017. One of many towns and cities across the US which claim to be at the point of the ‘longest totality’. Why not join everyone else for a good old American Freak Out? Yes, we are accepting contributions to fuel the trip. In Solar Eclipse 2017 Craziness Begins Now On You Tube-Podcast 655 I also make a pitch for advertisers to sponsor this trip as well. Why not? Everyone else is!

Tribal Politics

On a more serious note; this kind of media feeding frenzy makes me wonder about the increasing tribal nature of Americans. Each of the theories you’ll hear expressed here about a what is, let’s face it, a regular eclipse…can be considered exclusive. Each theory boasts a constituency. If they can do this with a simple eclipse, just think about what they do with the day to day news.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Solar Eclipse 2017 Craziness Begins Now On You Tube-Podcast 655

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