Magazine Posts

The days have flown into years,
memories faded from view.
I'll remember you, always,
long after life is through.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Spiral galaxy NGC 3169 looks to be unraveling like a ball of cosmic yarn. It lies some 70 million light-years away, south of bright star Regulus toward the faint constellation Sextans. Wound up spiral arms are pulled out into sweeping tidal tails as NGC 3169 (left) and neighboring NGC 3166 interact gravitationally. Eventually the galaxies will merge into one, a common fate even for bright galaxies in the local universe. Drawn out stellar arcs and plumes are clear indications of the ongoing gravitational interactions across the deep and colorful galaxy group photo. The telescopic frame spans about 20 arc minutes or about 400,000 light-years at the group's estimated distance, and includes smaller, bluish NGC 3165 at the right. NGC 3169 is also known to shine across the spectrum from radio to X-rays, harboring an active galactic nucleus that is the site of a supermassive black hole.

Photo by Mike Selby

Shrimp with chorizo is a great comfort Food Soup and this recipe brings a wonderful flavor combination in about 45 minutes.  More at Simply Recipes ➜

When I tripped and fell on the cement,
you could hear my voice, in lament.
Wondering, if anyone had seen me fall,
no one around, no one at all.

I knew you when,
before we met.
I'll know you again,
at the final sunset.

Alone in the dark,
no stars in the sky,
sitting close together,
we.

What thoughts are there,
about the passing by,
the closeness of you,
we.

Long are the memories,
of this life, ours,
at last were together,
we.

A reflection in time,
seen in your eyes.
The bygone days of
love and deceit.

The years
passing, slowly by.
Moments of love,
a losing of life.

What good
are the words,
losing the love
of friend and family.

Why are we here,
this short time,
wasting our moment
of memories past?

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Is star AE Aurigae on fire? No. Even though AE Aurigae is named the Flaming Star and the surrounding nebula IC 405 is named the Flaming Star Nebula, and even though the nebula appears to some like a swirling flame, there is no fire. Fire, typically defined as the rapid molecular acquisition of oxygen, happens only when sufficient oxygen is present and is not important in such high-energy, low-oxygen environments such as stars. The bright star AE Aurigae occurs near the center of the Flaming Star Nebula and is so hot it glows blue, emitting light so energetic it knocks electrons away from surrounding gas. When a proton recaptures an electron, light is emitted, as seen in the surrounding emission nebula. Captured here three weeks ago, the Flaming Star Nebula is visible near the composite image's center, between the red Tadpole Nebula on the left and blue-tailed Comet ZTF on the right. The Flaming Star Nebula lies about 1,500 light years distant, spans about 5 light years, and is visible with a small telescope toward the constellation of the Charioteer (Auriga).

Photo by Thomas Röell

"The insurance industry and Republicans are using the debt ceiling fight and President Biden’s vows not to cut Medicare to fend off changes to private Medicare Advantage plans, which are popular among the public but have faced criticism about their costs to the government."  More at Roll Call ➜

You think you know me,
because you know my name.
I have news to tell you,
life's not a game.

There are games, plenty,
and could name a few,
but what is the purpose,
if I don't know about you.

I am no "straight arrow."
Just a guy from the "sticks"
who has thrown everything,
from stones to bricks.

Don't get me wrong,
I didn't smash and grab.
I worked with a Mason,
one summer. My job, on the
ground was to throw bricks,
up to the roof, where he would
pluck them from the air,
stacking them before he
troweled "mud" or mortar,
then constructed a chimney.

It happened one morning.
I can't remember the day or time.
My writing was chaotic
and wasn't expecting a rhyme.

And, yet there it was,
simple as one plus one equals two.
I wrote down my words,
again, thinking of you.

Why the rhyming of words?
It wasn't making any sense.
I may not be the smartest,
but I know I'm not dense.

Over the years, I wrote,
as an idea popped in my head.
Words mean life to me,
they do now, as I've said.

Many years, gone by, now.
Words still flow, sometimes,
without any rush or hurry,
not even nickels or dimes.

I believe,
the first day
I stopped
drinking,
was the day,
they invented
the funnel.