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"Chances of getting records from a federal agency drop. An analysis of 37,000 Freedom of Information Act requests submitted to federal agencies through MuckRock.com shows that in 2010, barely more than half of requests yielded the records sought. But by 2022, barely more than 10% of requests met with success". More at The Conversation ➜

My beloved,
now in my past,
is having a
birthday, March 15th

I never thought,
I'd spend this time,
on her birthday,
after she's gone away.

I miss you my love,
after these many years.
No special dinner,
just a menu of tears.

I loved you more,
than I had a right to do.
Understandable to me,
for I still love you.

Happy heavenly birthday, Mrs. Fischer

You were my light,
You were my dream.
You were everything,
Happiness became our scene.

Memory loss,
quite possibly so,
knowing not where you're going,
How do you know?

My head was spinning,
in circles, I went.
I wasn't prepared,
had only a tent.

A tent, is good,
if you don't have a place,
or you want to avoid,
leaving a physical trace.

I'll work harder,
is what I said,
to get ahead in the World,
prior to being declared dead.

I didn't ask you to love me.
I never asked you to stay.
My inconsiderate attitude,
is driving you away.

No illusions of grandeur,
thinking I could be with you,
for it wouldn't be fair, anytime,
if you chose old vs. new.

I enjoyed being near you,
as you made me feel good,
but it was as one sided,
as I thought it would.

I ruined a relationship,
in a most selfish way,
while the person I loved,
has left, gone away.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

What phase of the Moon is 3.14 radians from the Sun? The Full Moon, of course. Even though the Moon might look full for several days, the Moon is truly at its full phase when it is Pi radians (aka 180 degrees) from the Sun in ecliptic longitude. That's opposite the Sun in planet Earth's sky. Rising as the Sun set on March 9, 2020, only an hour or so after the moment of its full phase, this orange tinted and slightly flattened Moon still looked full. It was photographed opposite the setting Sun from Teide National Park on the Canary Island of Tenerife. Also opposite the setting Sun, seen from near the Teide volcano peak about 3,500 meters above sea level, is the mountain's rising triangular shadow extending into Earth's dense atmosphere. Below the distant ridge line on the left are the white telescope domes of Teide Observatory. Again Pi radians from the Sun, on March 25 the Full Moon will dim slightly as it glides through Earth's outer shadow in a penumbral lunar eclipse.

Photo by El Cielo de Canarias

Pi Day π (pi) is observed on March 14 (3/14 in the month/day format) since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant digits of π. Pi (π) Day has become an international holiday, celebrated live and online all around the world. 

What is π anyway? Divide any circle’s circumference by its diameter; the answer (whether for a plate or a planet) is always approximately 3.14, a number represented with the Greek letter π. Mathematicians have been calculating π’s digits with more and more accuracy and have discover they go on literally forever, with no pattern.

A brightness,
A light,
An open door,
to a right,

to love once more.
Someone to love,
we'll be friends,
divined from above.

I have no interest,
at this moment in time,
to date her or stay with me,
in this life of mine.

Someone I can talk with,
someone who cares.
A lovely person,
who I'm now aware.

Does she love me,
that I don't know.
She does care for me,
so, I won't pursue or go.

If love develops,
it will be good for me
and hopefully provide a benefit,
to this person, she.

Half-truths, Half-lies,
Does not a whole make.
Telling the truth, all of the time,
is good for all our sake.

Latent dreams,
drifting past.
So many dreams,
will never last.

Dreams, stuck
in your head,
looking forward,
but dreams are dead.

When dreams,
shared by two,
now one is gone.
What must I do?

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

A broad expanse of glowing gas and dust presents a bird-like visage to astronomers from planet Earth, suggesting its popular moniker: the Seagull Nebula. This portrait of the cosmic bird covers a 2.5-degree wide swath across the plane of the Milky Way, near the direction of Sirius, alpha star of the constellation of the Big Dog (Canis Major). Of course, the region includes objects with other catalog designations: notably NGC 2327, a compact, dusty emission and reflection nebula with an embedded massive star that forms the bird's head. Likely part of a larger shell structure swept up by successive supernova explosions, the broad Seagull Nebula is cataloged as Sh2-296 and IC 2177. The prominent bluish arc below and right of center is a bow shock from runaway star FN Canis Majoris. Dominated by the reddish glow of atomic hydrogen, this complex of gas and dust clouds with other stars of the Canis Majoris OB1 association spans over 200 light-years at the Seagull Nebula's estimated 3,800 light-year distance. Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator

Photo by Gianni Lacroce