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Total Solar Eclipse at Ceduna, South Australia

Posted by michael on from the connecticut-yankee dept.

moooooooo writes "The total Solar Eclipse on December 4 is fast approaching with Ceduna in South Australia being one of the better places to observe this rare event. Accomodation was thought to have been booked out but a new site has been set up where you can find more information on the event. Information can be found here and accomodation info is at the bottom of the page. I heard on the radio that they will be setting up a "tent city" for those of us who want to camp out." There's a very impressive eclipse page describing the orbital conditions necessary for an eclipse and listing solar and lunar eclipses coming up.

144 comments

  1. 15 posts left by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Its so close! Im close to ejacluating!

  2. First by Inthewire · · Score: -1, Troll

    Post

    --


    Writers imply. Readers infer.
  3. FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    i own joo!

  4. A few of my favorite things by PhysicsScholar · · Score: 0

    - The solar-based spectacles, "Eclipse"
    - The IDE development kit, "Eclipse"
    - The Mitsubishi sports car, "Eclipse"

    --

    Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada, B3H 3J5
  5. Whats that Skippy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    First post skippy?
    but that will mean there are trolls around!

  6. Big deal. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    All it means is that you're standing in the moon's shadow. As if standing in the EARTH's shadow half a day on average weren't enough...

  7. Contray to popular belief.. by Metallic+Matty · · Score: 4, Funny

    staring directly at a solar eclipse is not a good idea..

    1. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by prelelat · · Score: 5, Informative

      actually you can stare at a Total eclpise without having to worry about your eyes burning out at all. Its when you view a Partial Eclipse that you will burn your eyes. When the eclpise you can start to view it without protective eye wear. You can even look at it with a telescope. But beware it will only last a few minutes some times even less and then you had better put on your eye protection again.

      When you are viewing a total eclipse what you see for light is actually the Corona of the sun.

      At Start and end of totality, light from solar surface passes through Crevices at the edge of the moon, producing Bailey's Beads(Points of light at the edge of the moon) or a diamond ring effect(One bright spot set upon the silvery corona)

      It is actullay quite amazing though I have never viewed one in real life I seen one on a video in my Atronomy class in university

      A total eclipse is rare because it takes about 54 years and 34 days for the total eclipse to return to (almost) the same area.

      it takes 18 years, 11 and 1/3 days to occure again but it will happen 120 degreese further west due to the rotation of the earth durring that time.

    2. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by Malcolm+Scott · · Score: 5, Informative
      actually you can stare at a Total eclpise without having to worry about your eyes burning out at all.
      No. Common misconception. The danger is at the end of the eclipse: your eyes are accustomed to the dark, your pupils are dilated, and suddenly the first Bailey's Bead appears. The Bailey's Beads can be very bright compared to the eclipse itself: the corona is instantly invisible again.
      it takes 18 years, 11 and 1/3 days to occure again but it will happen 120 degreese further west due to the rotation of the earth durring that time.
      Funny then about the one I saw a few years ago (1999?) in Austria...
    3. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by bobtheprophet · · Score: 3, Funny
      Haiku.

      It still seems stupid
      to stare at the sun, whether
      it's eclipsed or not.

      --
      Don't give me none of this "nature theme" business.
    4. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by prelelat · · Score: 5, Interesting

      "Funny then about the one I saw a few years ago (1999?) in Austria..."

      actually if you saw anything it was probably a partial eclipse where the moon is not quite covering the sun. These are alot more commen and are actually called "Annular Eclipses" these are not good for your eyes at any time. and occure when the moon is at Apogee(farthest distance from the Earth in its orbit) Its umbra shawdow winn not reach earth.

      So to what you said you saw it in 1999 that is not right because eclipses follow a designated path I have included a map of this path and as you can see it passes austria in december of 2002 and in 2013. http://www.uc.edu/geology/geologylist/worldeclipse .gif

    5. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by Malcolm+Scott · · Score: 1

      How about learning some Geography? ;-) Austria != Australia.

      As your map shows, there was a total solar eclipse on Aug 11 1999 passing through Austria (Europe!).

      See also here, here for photos, and here for more reports.

    6. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're an asshole.

    7. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by prelelat · · Score: 1

      sorry I miss read it to say australia. anyways whe I was saying was that it is uncommon to happen in the same area for that amount of time. Not that it was in common all together. Eclipses have 2 or 3 seasons each year in which they occure. Some times there total eclipses and some times they are Annular. it all depends on the alignment. Also there are acceptions to the rule in prince edward island there were 2 total eclipses consecutivly in 2 years.(or anouther maritime province I can't remember we just talked about it in class I'll see if I can find some info) this was really rare.

    8. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually according tn NASA there was a TOTAL solar eclipse in 1998

    9. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by Jimmy_B · · Score: 2
      No. Common misconception. The danger is at the end of the eclipse: your eyes are accustomed to the dark, your pupils are dilated, and suddenly the first Bailey's Bead appears. The Bailey's Beads can be very bright compared to the eclipse itself: the corona is instantly invisible again.


      I disagree; Bailey's Beads aren't that bright, and they appear gradually enough for you to look away. If you keep looking after that without putting on some protective gear, well, it's your own fault.
    10. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by pandemonia · · Score: 1

      That would be Austria (1999 in deed) and not Australia (2002+2013). Different places, you know...

      --
      -mz
    11. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When the eclpise you can start to view it without protective eye wear. You can even look at it with a telescope. But beware it will only last a few minutes some times even less and then you had better put on your eye protection again.

      While that is true that you can get away with it, I highly recommend not doing it. Looking at the eclipse naked eye for a little bit is slightly less risky (do a quick quarter-of-a-second glance before closing your eyes and you'll still get a good image of the sun with minimal risk), but it is bordering on insanity to point a unfiltered telescope at the sun, no matter the conditions. A moderate sized scope can focus enough energy to permanently blind you before you know what happened. Just don't do it. Look at some SOHO pictures instead.

    12. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by prelelat · · Score: 1
      well actually looking at the sun through a telescope would probably blind you. That is how Galileo eventually became blind because he was observing sun spots(not a good idea), but when you look at the total eclipse its not going to kill you. Here is an exert from one of my text books:

      "If you are fortunate enough to see a solar eclipse, keep in mind that the only time when it is safe to look at the Sun is during totality, when the solar disk is blocked by the Moon and only the solar corona is visible. Viewing this magnificent spectacle cannot harm you in any way. But you must never look directly at the Sun when even a portion of its intensely brilliant disk is exposed. If you look directly at the Sun at any time without a special filter approved for solar viewing, you will suffer permanent eye damage or blindness."

      Also I remember watching a video of people going to watch an eclipse. They brought big powerful telescopes to use. When totality occurred I think they took off their filters and watched it though I might be wrong. Especially when you think that looking at a full Moon will have enough light reflected from the Sun to cause damage to your eyes, so I'm probably wrong about the unfiltered telescopes.

    13. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by isorox · · Score: 2

      A total eclipse is rare because it takes about 54 years and 34 days for the total eclipse to return to (almost) the same area.

      Tukey got a total eclipse in 1999, and will again in 2006 - both total eclipses. (mag 1.029 and mag 1.052) 7 years, not 50. RTFA

    14. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As you can see on that map the path of the dec 4, 2002 eclipse crosses the path of the jun 21, 2001 eclipse at the west-african coast. There you have it.

    15. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But that is not the same eclipse path, it is a different path that happens to intersect the previous one in Turkey.
      All other countries witnessing the 1999 eclipse won't see one again in 2006.

    16. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by BigWhale · · Score: 1

      Ah, the sun could be indication of summer... ;)

      --
      The Sig, the sig
  8. Don't look at this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    hello.jpg

  9. in case trolltalk gets eclipsed: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll



    Guess what! (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @05:51PM (#4687567)
    (815) 727-0670
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Attention denizens of 20721: (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @04:40PM (#4687209)
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Trolltalk post #843 (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @03:17PM (#4686810)
    Attention denizens of 20721:

    The "owner" of "the new trolltalk [ezboard.com]" is a communist. Please do not post to that site. I went by to check it out, only to find that it had no more than two members, and that the most recent post had been deleted. If you fear your loss of freedom, please do not go to that site.

    Thank you,
    PFTROTT

    (People for the Return of TrollTalk)
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Re:Trolltalk post #843 (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @03:23PM (#4686841)
    Correction: The post was a crapflood. But still, watch the commies.
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    in case trolltalk gets crapflooded. (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @02:55PM (#4686683)

    Plea for forgiveness... (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @02:46PM (#4686623)
    I have a problem.

    I used to be a regular at geekizoid. I make no excuses -- at the time it was a fun place. People posted random thoughts... nonsense articles... flamed each other with wanton abandon. It wasn't full of stuck up dickless wonders like certain other sites. Amazing as it may sound now, this haven of juvenile fun was hosted by Vladinator, aka Scott Lockwood, aka Fat Fucking Loser.

    Things changed, of course, because nothing involving a brain-dead obesity like Lockwood can remain fun for long. Sure enough, the drooling fat fool tried to make geekizoid into a more "serious" site, and offer commercial hosting to other piss-poor attempts at slash/scoop sites -- amusing to anyone familiar with the long history of hilarious incompetence shown by the band of half-wits administering his systems. It is at this point that anyone bar a few determined Lockwood mockers and his pet cock-suckers left *.geekizoid for good.

    This is my problem. I was once a geekizoidian. I now hate and despise Lardinator and all those associating with him. How do I remove this taint from my soul and rejoin the troll brotherhood? Am I doomed to wander, anonymously, the wastelands of 20721, forever excluded from decent troll society?

    Please help. [ezboard.com]
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    !!Troll Gespräch Auswahlsterndatum JETZT (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @02:19PM (#4686455)

    Collection Stardate di Trolltalk TODAY (Score:-1, Troll) from Anonymous Coward the 16 saturday November, @12:02PM (# 4685796) That is pathetic (Score:0) from gnillort (myslashdotemailaccount@yahoo.com) the 16 saturday November, @10:5ÂM (# 4685513) (customer #617577 Info | last newspaper: Wednesdays October 23, @07:53PM) rather than it eliminates the infuence of Vlad that crapflooding and the cabal/AVT/CUNT/CLIT/Klerck that crapflooding, yo [ the fatasses of slashdot.org]u are based here. I have an alternative perfectly good [ ezboard.com ] all the putting to point. Why not diagli a test? [ answer to this | parent ] YOOOOU Is TEH GAY! (Score:0) from Anonymous Coward the 16 saturday November, @10:4ÀM (# 4685454) in A.D. Faggotry 2002 was beginning. AV3: Which thing happens? Boy 1 Of The Telephone: Someone them pump on boy 2 of the extremity telephone: We do not obtain lubricating AV3: That what! Boy 2 Of The Telephone: Hard main turn AV3 of the tap: He is You!! Vlad: As you are fagmasters!! Vlad: All your females are belong to we Vlad: You are on the sense to the dead women from AIDS AV3: That what you say!! Vlad: You do not have probability to survive smoke your Vlad pole: IT HAS HAS HAS HAS.... AV3: It removes every AV3 ' cockring ': You know that what you that fairies AV3: It moves ' jizcatcher ' the AV3: For justice great [ answer this | parent ] to 1 January 2003: daily count down. (Score:0) from Anonymous Coward the 16 saturday November, @07:01AM (# 4684935) the count down: 45 days [ answer to the srings of this trolltalk | of the parent ] to life! (Score:0) from Anonymous Coward the 16 saturday November, @06:49AM (# 4684907) who on earth could carry therefore unexpected of tide-fluctuates of the vitalità of new to this justification cruddy for a sid secret? why, momochrome naturally! only its brightness could possibly king-corroborate therefore condition sad of the degeneration and to newly breathe the new life within this justification weak person for a troll collective. All hail the momochrome! [ answer to srings of this | the parent ] Re:trolltalk to life! (Score:0) from Anonymous Coward the 16 saturday November, @06:59AM (# 4684931) moreover, "of tide-fluctuates of the vitalità" had been continuous for a enough sure time before that the sig. Momochrome has been sormontato with the jealousy that popolano was speaking about someone except he and decided therefore to throw its hat in the ring. It is nothing. Washed - in on-state. To the

    Read the rest of this comment... by
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Plea for forgiveness... (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @02:46PM (#4686623)
    I have a problem.

    I used to be a regular at geekizoid. I make no excuses -- at the time it was a fun place. People posted random thoughts... nonsense articles... flamed each other with wanton abandon. It wasn't full of stuck up dickless wonders like certain other sites. Amazing as it may sound now, this haven of juvenile fun was hosted by Vladinator, aka Scott Lockwood, aka Fat Fucking Loser.

    Things changed, of course, because nothing involving a brain-dead obesity like Lockwood can remain fun for long. Sure enough, the drooling fat fool tried to make geekizoid into a more "serious" site, and offer commercial hosting to other piss-poor attempts at slash/scoop sites -- amusing to anyone familiar with the long history of hilarious incompetence shown by the band of half-wits administering his systems. It is at this point that anyone bar a few determined Lockwood mockers and his pet cock-suckers left *.geekizoid for good.

    This is my problem. I was once a geekizoidian. I now hate and despise Lardinator and all those associating with him. How do I remove this taint from my soul and rejoin the troll brotherhood? Am I doomed to wander, anonymously, the wastelands of 20721, forever excluded from decent troll society?

    Please help.
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Re:Plea for forgiveness... (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @04:03PM (#4687050)
    Kill yourself. It's the only solution. Now. Be sure to tell Vlad on the way out who you were.
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    !!Troll Gespräch Auswahlsterndatum JETZT (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @02:19PM (#4686455)

    Collection Stardate di Trolltalk TODAY (Score:-1, Troll) from Anonymous Coward the 16 saturday November, @12:02PM (# 4685796) That is pathetic (Score:0) from gnillort (myslashdotemailaccount@yahoo.com) the 16 saturday November, @10:5ÂM (# 4685513) (customer #617577 Info | last newspaper: Wednesdays October 23, @07:53PM) rather than it eliminates the infuence of Vlad that crapflooding and the cabal/AVT/CUNT/CLIT/Klerck that crapflooding, yo [ the fatasses of slashdot.org]u are based here. I have an alternative perfectly good [ ezboard.com ] all the putting to point. Why not diagli a test? [ answer to this | parent ] YOOOOU Is TEH GAY! (Score:0) from Anonymous Coward the 16 saturday November, @10:4ÀM (# 4685454) in A.D. Faggotry 2002 was beginning. AV3: Which thing happens? Boy 1 Of The Telephone: Someone them pump on boy 2 of the extremity telephone: We do not obtain lubricating AV3: That what! Boy 2 Of The Telephone: Hard main turn AV3 of the tap: He is You!! Vlad: As you are fagmasters!! Vlad: All your females are belong to we Vlad: You are on the sense to the dead women from AIDS AV3: That what you say!! Vlad: You do not have probability to survive smoke your Vlad pole: IT HAS HAS HAS HAS.... AV3: It removes every AV3 ' cockring ': You know that what you that fairies AV3: It moves ' jizcatcher ' the AV3: For justice great [ answer this | parent ] to 1 January 2003: daily count down. (Score:0) from Anonymous Coward the 16 saturday November, @07:01AM (# 4684935) the count down: 45 days [ answer to the srings of this trolltalk | of the parent ] to life! (Score:0) from Anonymous Coward the 16 saturday November, @06:49AM (# 4684907) who on earth could carry therefore unexpected of tide-fluctuates of the vitalità of new to this justification cruddy for a sid secret? why, momochrome naturally! only its brightness could possibly king-corroborate therefore condition sad of the degeneration and to newly breathe the new life within this justification weak person for a troll collective. All hail the momochrome! [ answer to srings of this | the parent ] Re:trolltalk to life! (Score:0) from Anonymous Coward the 16 saturday November, @06:59AM (# 4684931) moreover, "of tide-fluctuates of the vitalità" had been continuous for a enough sure time before that the sig. Momochrome has been sormontato with the jealousy that popolano was speaking about someone except he and decided therefore to throw its hat in the ring. It is nothing. Washed - in on-state. To the day today, who even remembers itself of who Momochrome was? The sure one not sweeping in order to remember itself of and has been in the hardcore of troll-scene of Slashdor from when before the scene has existed. Momochrome was a famous one to piè of page of the a-line to page 4,275 of the history of trolling and the greater part of people has not been taken care to read that page, and many less notes to piè of page. Momochrome who? Not squilla one flange [ answer to srings of this | the parent ] Re:trolltalk to life! (Score:0) from Anonymous Coward the 16 saturday the November, @07:0ÃM excuses (# 4684944) Excuses \A*pol"o*gy \, n.; pl. Excuses. [ apology of the L., gr.; from +: cfr. apologies of the F.. See Apologetic. ] 1. Something said or written in the defense or the justification of that what appears badly to others, or of that what can be responsible to the disapprobation; justification; axis, excuses of the Tertullian for christianity. It is not my intention to excuse for mine poem; some will think it do not have need of justification and others will not receive any. -- Dryden. 2. An acknowledgment planned like atonement for one sure observation or improper or injurious action; an admission to an other of a wrong one or a discourtesy made he, accompanied from an expression of the sorrow. 3. Qualche.cosa supplied like substitute; a espediente. It goes to work inventing the excuses for stretches them of the window. -- Dickens. Syn [slashdot.org]

    Read the rest of this comment... by
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Warning to Crapflooders (Score:1)
    by gbwd on Saturday November 16, @02:33PM (#4686546)
    (User #626693 Info)
    Hi everybody (Dubya here),

    i am logging the IP addresses of everybody who posts to this here trolltalk forum. if you are a crapflooder i WILL turn you in to the authorities.
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    You only popped up yesterday (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @02:39PM (#4686594)
    You fuck the dick mister.
    If you really want to avoid crapflooding, go join chainrust.
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    A note to the Vladequacy/AVT CRAPFLOODERS (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @01:49PM (#4686311)
    Fucking stop it already.

    plz die k thx
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    This is pathetic (Score:0)
    by gnillort (myslashdotemailaccount@yahoo.com) on Saturday November 16, @10:54AM (#4685513)
    (User #617577 Info | Last Journal: Wednesday October 23, @07:53PM)
    Rather than get rid of the influence of Vlad crapflooding and the cabal/AVT/CUNT/CLIT/Klerck crapflooding, you fatasses sit here. I have a perfectly good alternative [ezboard.com] all set up. Why not give it a try?
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    GOD DAMMIT CHAINRUST (Score:1)
    by gbwd on Saturday November 16, @02:25PM (#4686490)
    (User #626693 Info)
    Hi everybody (Dubya here),

    dear Mr. Chainrust, please stop trying to attract attention to yourself. it is painfully obvious you are not welcome under any name you choose for yourself. instead of wasting your time here trying to be "cool" with us trolls, someone your age should be spending his time with real other people at his age and developmental level. why don't you go partake in some time-honored American extracurricular activities? you could go and join the Boy Scouts, sign up for ROTC (the War on Terror needs you), or if you're one of them new-age sensitive guys [www.dobi.nu], you can learn some Home Ec or something. just stop gallavanting around here like a damn fool.
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Re:This is pathetic (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @12:39PM (#4685992)
    I just LOVE Klerck's site [klerck.org]! Especially the "fash" section [klerck.org], where I learned to cut the bottom off of an old pair of testicles to use as a hair enhancement! Oh, and the "fetish party" photos [klerck.org]!

    Of course, don't forget to read Klerck's emails [rotten.com]! Here you will discover how truly difficult it is to decide what to do on the weekends... have an orgy? A mass rape party? Go to the mall and sodomize yourself with splintery broomsticks? Autofellate or autoeroticasphixyate yourself?

    In short, if you haven't checked out Klerck's site [goatse.cx], you don't know what you're missing!
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    YOOOOU ARE TEH GAY! (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @10:42AM (#4685454)
    In A.D. 2002
    Faggotry was beginning.
    AV3: What happen?
    Phone Boy 1: Somebody pump us up the butt
    Phone Boy 2: We get no lubricant
    AV3: What!
    Phone Boy 2: Main cock turn hard
    AV3: It's You!!
    Vlad: How are you fagmasters!!
    Vlad: All your females are belong to us
    Vlad: You are on the way to death by aids
    AV3: What you say!!
    Vlad: You have no chance to survive smoke your pole
    Vlad: HA HA HA HA....
    AV3: Take off every 'cockring'
    AV3: You know what you doing
    AV3: Move 'jizcatcher'
    AV3: For great justice
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    January 1st, 2003: daily countdown. (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @07:01AM (#4684935)
    The countdown: 45 days
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    trolltalk srings to life! (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @06:49AM (#4684907)
    who on earth could have brought such a sudden tidal-wave of vitality back to this cruddy excuse for a secret sid? why, momochrome of course! only his brilliance could possibly have re-invigorated such a sad state of degeneracy and breathed new life back into this feeble excuse for a troll collective.

    All hail momochrome!
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Re:trolltalk srings to life! (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @06:59AM (#4684931)
    Also, the "tidal-wave of vitality" had been ongoing for quite some time before Mr. Momochrome became overcome with jealousy that people were talking about someone other than him and thus decided to throw his hat into the ring. He's nothing. A washed-up has-been. Nowadays, who even remembers who Momochrome was? I sure don't fucking remember, and I've been into the Slashdor troll-scene hardcore since before the scene existed. Momochrome was a one-line footnote on page 4,275 of the history of trolling, and most people didn't even bother to read that page, let alone the footnotes.

    Momochrome who?? Doesn't ring a bell.
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Re:trolltalk srings to life! (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @07:06AM (#4684944)
    apologies

    Apology \A*pol"o*gy\, n.; pl. Apologies. [L. apologia, Gr. ?; ?
    from + ?: cf. F. apologie. See Apologetic.] 1. Something said or written in
    defense or justification of what appears to others wrong, or of what may be
    liable to disapprobation; justification; as, Tertullian's Apology for
    Christianity.

    It is not my intention to make an apology for my poem; some
    will think it needs no excuse, and others will receive none. --Dryden.

    2.
    An acknowledgment intended as an atonement for some improper or injurious remark
    or act; an admission to another of a wrong or discourtesy done him, accompanied
    by an expression of regret.

    3. Anything provided as a substitute; a
    makeshift.

    He goes to work devising apologies for window curtains.
    --Dickens.

    Syn: Excuse.

    Usage: An apology, in the original sense
    of the word, was a pleading off from some charge or imputation, by explaining
    and defending one's principles or conduct. It therefore amounted to a
    vindication. One who offers an apology, admits himself to have been, at least
    apparently, in the wrong, but brings forward some palliating circumstance, or
    tenders a frank acknowledgment, by way of reparation. We make an apology for
    some breach of propriety or decorum (like rude expressions, unbecoming conduct,
    etc.), or some deficiency in what might be reasonably expected. We offer an
    excuse when we have been guilty of some breach or neglect of duty; and we do it
    by way of extenuating our fault, and with a view to be forgiven. When an excuse
    has been accepted, an apology may still, in some cases, be necessary or
    appropriate. ``An excuse is not grounded on the claim of innocence, but is
    rather an appeal for favor resting on some collateral circumstance. An apology
    mostly respects the conduct of individuals toward each other as equals; it is a
    voluntary act produced by feelings of decorum, or a desire for the good opinion
    of others.'' --Crabb.

    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    You idiot. (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @06:56AM (#4684925)
    Momochrome is nothing. Trollaxor is a 5000% better troller than Momochrome is, 300% more intelligent, 1000% more creative, at least 35% more handsome, and he has sex nearly three times as often. Momochrome isn't the king of Trolltalk and never was; the king of Trolltalk has always been Mr. Trollaxor. Other trolls have come and other trolls have gone, but Trollaxor has been running this show this entire time. Idiots. Don't you know who your leader is? You will soon.
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Single Jewish bisexual geek-grrl seeks romance. (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @05:38AM (#4684788)
    TROLLTALK PERSONAL ADVERTISEMENTS
    YOUR LOVE CONNECTION FOR THE TROLLER SCENE

    Single Jewish bisexual geek-grrl seeks seeks friendship, pen-pals, romance, and marriage. Very attractive [att.net]. Into BSDM / watersports / felching. Passions include Socialism, anal sex, and protesting (anything!). I am an excellent Slashdot troller. I've been a writer for reputable and unbiased news-journals such as Indymedia.org, Adequacy.org, and my new weblog, IniquityDaily.com! If you care about any of these things, or if you'd just like to listen to me tell you all about my life for hours on end, or even if you'd just like to get together for some buttfucking, I'd like to hear from you! Male or female, young or old... I can't afford to be picky! (No further inquiries from Scott Lockwood will be accepted, though.)

    Write to:
    Esther Sassaman
    2776 Hampshire Blvd #B1
    Cleveland Heights, OH 44106.

    Or e-mail me [mailto]. Or call me at (216) 321-3546. I don't get many phone calls, and the last person who called me hung up on me and it made me sad. Hope to hear from you soon!

    Love,
    Perdida ;-)
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Lame (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @10:19AM (#4685368)
    What are you trying to accomplish by that? Do you want to force her to leave k5 and change her nick?
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Re:Lame (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @11:34AM (#4685665)
    That would be nice, actually.
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Re:Single Jewish bisexual geek-grrl seeks romance. (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @06:42AM (#4684900)
    would I ever be this bitter about perdida? only if I couldn't posess her. :(
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    QwErTyUiOp AsDfGhJkL zXcVbNm 1@3$5^7*9)!2#4%6& (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @05:33AM (#4684777)
    thank you trooltalk for making me feel "normal" again.
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Generous RePOST (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @05:30AM (#4684771)
    Years ago, I won the battle of the sids, and relegated all the old-guard troll cabal to the obscurity of a clumsy mailing list. I graciously left ?sid=trolltalk to the neophytes and amateurs, as a sort of stomping ground wherein they might practice the craft. Trolltalk survives today as ?sid=20721, and the tradition had continued quite nicely until recently.

    Now it appears that inter-factional rivalry is attempting to rear its ugly head. The phoneboy cabal, after such ruthless and base treatment of vlad, in a capacity quite extending beyond that which is decent, breaking the code of troll ethics, our own version of 'honor among thieves', and in fact, quite actually breaking several state and federal anti-trolling laws, have debased this once lovely stomping ground and brought their diseased and perverted notions into the fore. And now they promise to utterly dominate the underworld of our own slashdot! This cannot be allowed to happen.

    With Klerck acting as regent during the Geekizoid era (and furthering the art of the troll with skill and finesse, I might add), the slashdot underground moved along nicely, with the occasional hiccough brought on by taco and his feeble anti-trolling efforts.

    And so, as your rightful King, I do hereby proclaim an edict: Henceforth, anyone attached to the Phoneboy Cabal is to be considered corpus memento, and is to be treated as such with extreme prejudice.
    [ Reply to This | Parent ]
    Re:Generous RePOST (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16, @11:36AM (#4685674)
    Anyone who believes that "honor among trolls" shit is a fucking moron.

    1. Re:in case trolltalk gets eclipsed: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      You should be posting this Here, we need more junk to hit 3k!

  10. Oh boy! Oh boy! I can't wait!!! by GeckoFood · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...they will be setting up a "tent city" for those of us...

    Now all I need it the airfare to get there, and I'm all set! Oh...I almost forgot...better get permission from the wife...

    Damn. She said no. :-(

    --
    Be excellent to each other. And... PARTY ON, DUDES!
    1. Re:Oh boy! Oh boy! I can't wait!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      how do I write the sound of a whip

    2. Re:Oh boy! Oh boy! I can't wait!!! by Peterus7 · · Score: 1

      My astronomy teacher went to see an eclipse that would be visible in eastern washington, and apparently one of the side effects of eclipses, according to him, is they will cause clouds to form. That's what happened in his case, and 15 years later he's still mad. Permission from wife, that's great... and the reason I'm never getting married!

    3. Re:Oh boy! Oh boy! I can't wait!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      One question: Are those your balls hanging from the rear view mirror of her car? I hope the poon is worth it. ;P

    4. Re:Oh boy! Oh boy! I can't wait!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      whoo-chh

      ive got nothin

  11. An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by PhysicsScholar · · Score: 4, Informative

    I know everyone here probably knows what an eclipse is, and you all probably appreciate the grandeur exhibited by shadows created with celestial entities.

    But I myself wasn't quite sure why Ceduna in southern Australia was a good place to view it. However, after some research, I found the following information:

    To witness all that this total solar eclipse has to offer, viewing must be within the narrow path of the moon's umbral shadow, which passes directly over Ceduna.

    Although the sun will be partly eclipsed throughout South Australia, and 88% eclipsed from Adelaide, the spectacular effects of this eclipse will not be visible outside the shadow's path due to the intensity of remaining light from the sun.

    Even 99% eclipsed gives you much less than 99% of the 'total eclipse experience'!

    The bottom line: if you are in your parents' basement at the time, you will miss the total eclipse.

    --

    Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada, B3H 3J5
    1. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by Malcolm+Scott · · Score: 2
      To witness all that this total solar eclipse has to offer, viewing must be within the narrow path of the moon's umbral shadow, which passes directly over Ceduna.
      Wow! Amazing! To see the eclipse you've actually got to be somewhere where the eclipse is happening!

      I mean seriously, isn't it common knowledge that the eclipse will only be visible from a small area? It's certainly part of pre-university physics here :-) Otherwise you would experience eclipses much more regularly.

      (And BTW, "narrow path" = about 50-150 miles wide IIRC. At least it was in 1999(?) in Europe.)
    2. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by minesweeper · · Score: 3, Informative
      My astronomy professor, who's seen many more solar eclipses than I will in my lifetime, said that the difference between a 99% solar eclipse and a 100% total eclipse is like being 99% pregnant versus 100% pregnant. Either you get the full experience, or it's basically a wash.

      In other words, if you're close to the path of totality, make sure to go see the total solar eclipse, even if it's just a little bit out of your way. It makes a big difference.

      Additionally, this solar eclipse will be right at sunset in Australia. It should be a doubly spectacular sight.

    3. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by ashlyn · · Score: 1

      I've been to Ceduna and it's pretty much one of the flattest places on Earth. There is nothing as far as the eye can see and it's so far from the city that there is no chance of any "light interference"

      It's actually quite a pretty place to visit. So much of nothing, but heaps to see..

    4. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by Soft · · Score: 2, Funny
      it's so far from the city that there is no chance of any "light interference"

      Especially as a solar eclipse must happen during the day...

    5. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by Soft · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Wow! Amazing! To see the eclipse you've actually got to be somewhere where the eclipse is happening!

      Actually no, the 1999 solar eclipse was visible from the Mir space station as a huge shadow on Earth. Spectacular.

    6. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by Peterus7 · · Score: 1

      What, watching it off streaming video is missing it? Bummer! I always thought that was the total experience, especially if you have broadband!

    7. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by Malcolm+Scott · · Score: 1

      OK, perhaps I should have said "to see the eclipse from Earth..." :-) Amazing picture though.

    8. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by G-funk · · Score: 1

      I suppose it won't even be noticable in queensland....

      crap.

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
    9. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by darkov · · Score: 2

      But I myself wasn't quite sure why Ceduna in southern Australia was a good place to view it.

      The thing is that Cenduna is in the middle of nowhere. There's nothing for hundreds of kilometers in either direction. Cenduna at least has some services for the hundreds who will show up.

      --
      Reliable, Great Value Hosting: $7.95/mo 2.4G/120G
    10. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Yes, this is common knowledge among the sci/tech literates. I think PhysicsScholar was fishing for mod points from aolers, and it worked.

    11. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by Sparr0 · · Score: 1

      Click HERE to see a map of how it will look from various parts of Australia. I will try to explain the image...

      The "Path of Total Eclipse" is the space between the two lines with the ellipses between them. You have to be standing somewhere between those two lines to see the 100% total eclipse.

      The XX% lines tell how much of the sun (by diameter, not area, oddly) will be eclipsed if you are standing on that line.

      West of the "Eclipse Ends at Sunset" line the entire eclipse will be visible. Between that line and the "Maximum Eclipse at Sunset" line you will see at least half of the eclipse, including the best part (totality). Between that line and the "Eclipse Begins at Sunset" line you will only see the beginning of the eclipse which wont include totality (which is why they dont even bother to extend the XX% lines that far).

      So, to sum up... Queensland (in general) will have a crappy to moderate (with a tiny section of "great" in the southwest corner that I am ignoring for this summary) view of the eclipse. You will only see the very beginning of the eclipse because the sun will set during the first half of the eclipse. Depending on exactly where you are you could see from a few seconds up to a few minutes of partial eclipse, ranging from 60% to 100% coverage of the sun.

      If you live anywhere in Australia it would be worthwhile to drive a few hours to Ceduna to see the total eclipse. If you cant do that, at least go outside near sundown and see what you can from where you are, even a partial eclipse is an interesting sight (do NOT stare at it!) that you dont get to see every decade.

    12. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by G-funk · · Score: 2

      If you live anywhere in Australia it would be worthwhile to drive a few hours to Ceduna

      It's a few days from here to south australia, not a few hours - and I'm only in south-east queensland... North queensland, the top end, and the Kimberlies would be further still.

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
    13. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by Sparr0 · · Score: 1

      I think my map scale is broken... I make 1000 miles easy on a good day's driving. I admit, thats more than a "few" hours but unless something is horribly wrong with my map I dont see how it could take more than a day to cross Australia, let alone get to a somewhat central spot like Ceduna.

    14. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by shogun · · Score: 2

      Ok just had to check, I know its a little bigger a continent than some of you think. I put in Sydney and Perth in on whereis as driving from and to which are on opposite ends of the country and it gave me:
      Total travel distance: 4041.51 km, Estimated travel time: 54 Hrs 55 Mins
      thats over two days solid of driving!

    15. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by G-funk · · Score: 2

      Hahahaha! Nice..... a day to cross the country. 1000 miles takes 13 and a bit hours driving at 120km/h average speed, which is about as fast as you can go without getting booked in australia (outside of the Northern territory). That's assuming you've got a straight highway, with a constant speed limit of 120... not bloody likely. And as I'm rather attached to my limbs, internal organs, my licence, and my car, I would never drive more than 12 hours in one day, and I like to keep it to 10 or less. And it takes 4-5 days of reasonable driving (only 10-20 ks over the limit, 8 hours a day) to cross from sydney to perth, if you really rush it it's 3.

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
    16. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can also see the terrible weather we had on that day :-(

    17. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by Cy+Guy · · Score: 2

      100% total eclipse is like being 99% pregnant versus 100% pregnant. Either you get the full experience, or it's basically a wash

      Having 'seen' many partial eclipses, and then having gone to Hungary for the 8/11/99 Total Eclipse (we had just over two minutes totality) I have to whole heartedly agree. Though personally I would use the analogy of virginity rather than pregnancy.

      While partial solar eclipses and total Lunar eclipses are entertaining, I can only describe the total eclipse in superlatives like mind-altering, orgasmic, cosmic, spiritual, etc.

      I would disagree that all partials are interchangeable though. You have to get to something like 40%+ to really notice the lensing effect of the natural pin-hole cameras created by leafy trees (little crescent moon shadows are cast on the ground); and you have to get to somewhere like 90% for weather effects like the wind picking up or a noticeble change in temperature - or for the reaction this has on animals like the birds going quite.

      I would eventually like to experience an anular eclipse - which is also a type of partial eclipse, which I imagine will be much like like a total eclipse though I doubt it will be quite the same. My guess is it will be somewhat analogous to sex with a condom vs. sex without a condom. For one thing, you can't view an anular eclipse without protection, like you can a total - so like sex with a one night stand vs sex with your spouse, perhaps?

      --
      Work for Change & GET PAID!
  12. Info by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    There are those who believe that life here began out there.. far across the universe with tribes of humans who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians.. or the Toltecs.. or the Mayans. Some believe that there may yet be brothers of man who even now fight to survive somewhere beyond the heavens.

  13. Rape, What's the big deal? by an+Anonymous+Cowboy · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    First of all I just want to say that Slashdot sucks, and the mods are fucking retards, second of all....I guess there is no second of all. Rot in Hell you mother fuckers.

  14. I love you Kathryn Thurber!!! by BlackTriangle · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Please come back to me!

    Signed : One of your many, many, many ex lovers (maybe Commander Taco?)

    Turn around

    Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming round

    Turn around

    Every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears

    Turn around

    Every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by

    Turn around

    Every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes

    Turn around, bright eyes

    Every now and then I fall apart

    Turn around bright eyes

    Every now and then I fall apart

  15. Double-edged sword of nature by snellac · · Score: -1, Informative
    Solar eclipses are very rare, but one thing that most people forget is the inherrent danger in witnessing one with your bare vision. I study meterology at MIT, so I feel that I am qualified enough to comment on the situation at hand.

    First, solar eclipses occur when the moon passes through the path of the earth and the sun, creating its own umbral shadow casted upon the earth. This blackens the sky to almost nighttime for a few minutes, an often spectacular display of nature's erraticism and beauty at the same time.

    What most people forget, however, is that while the visible straight-line rays of color are blocked by the moon, most of the diffracting patterns of raycasting shadows and harmful radiation, such as UV, infrared and gamma, are not blocked by a line-of-sight blockade by the moon. This is why you often see cancerous lumps on the exposed skin of viewers of eclipses mere days after the event has passed.

    Not even sunglasses can block the longitudinal waves of harmful gamma radiation, which penetrates the skin and malforms cells into cancerous, replicating destroyers. So, while many people often embark a solar eclipse as a marvelous display of beauty, if you dare to venture near a window or even outside in Ceduna, Australia, dress up heavily, and don't look directly at the sun's raycasting aura.

    1. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by Malcolm+Scott · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Are you suggesting that the eclipse will cause *more* harmful radiation to reach Earth? Why?

      I understand that the moon may not block much, if any, but surely it can't amplify the radiation.

    2. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Hey, he said he studied metrology at MIT. So he's gotta be an expert, ya know.

      In actuality, I believe he once watched the Weather Channel on a sunny day while staying in a motel near Cambridge.

      Hence the qualifications.

    3. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by Soft · · Score: 2, Informative
      What most people forget, however, is that while the visible straight-line rays of color are blocked by the moon, most of the diffracting patterns of raycasting shadows and harmful radiation, such as UV [suv.com], infrared [usbirda.com] and gamma [pcpros.net], are not blocked by a line-of-sight blockade by the moon. This is why you often see cancerous lumps on the exposed skin of viewers of eclipses mere days after the event has passed.

      <g> (Moderators, in case your physics isn't too fresh, this is "funny", not "informative".)

      Didn't you forget all those dangerous, sneaky neutrinos?

    4. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "First, solar eclipses occur when the moon passes through the path of the earth and the sun..."

      So what do you call it when the sun passes the path between earth and moon? ;)

    5. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      The only thing funny about this is how stupid the moderator is

    6. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by Soft · · Score: 1
      So what do you call it when the sun passes the path between earth and moon? ;)

      Hot.

    7. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by iabervon · · Score: 3, Funny

      Not even sunglasses can block the longitudinal waves of harmful gamma radiation, which penetrates the skin and malforms cells into cancerous, replicating destroyers.

      Obviously, this has nothing to go with looking at it. And it's even worse without the moon blocking some of the radiation. That's why I've been hiding in a lead-lined room in the basement for the last ten years...

    8. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by Rasta+Prefect · · Score: 1

      I had no idea MIT offered courses in trolling....Nice piece of work though.

      --
      Why?
    9. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To those who take his advise, please also make sure you don't ingest any Di-Hydro Monoxide. :)

    10. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by cervo · · Score: 1

      Viewing the eclipse is dangerous. Here is a dated article about the solar eclipse, most relevant is the material towards the bottom of the page on how to build A Projection Camera or a Solar Filter to view the eclipse safely. Furthermore there are other methods discussed above on viewing the eclipse safety. It also states the Sun causes the eye damage and emits the radiation, not the eclipse.

      This article would seem to indicate that the sun does not emit more radiation as eluded to by other posts during the eclipse, but rather it is dangerous because you can look at it longer. If you stare at the normal sun your eyes start to hurt from the brightness, and you either close them or turn away after a short time. During the eclipse it isn't as bright so you can keep looking and the normal radiation emitted by the sun is exposed to your eyes for longer. This is from the black part that your eyes can fixate at. This is also the partial eclipse when part of the sun is still exposed.

      Additionally the topic of eclipses was discussed not too long ago on slashdot here And there are comments on the same thing of the eclipse burning the retina and so fourth. Consensus seems to be that the sun is no more dangerous during the partial eclipse, but we just look at it more than usual because it is an eclipse.

    11. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by Stoptional · · Score: 2, Informative

      "I study meterology at MIT [mit.edu], so I feel that . . . "

      "I own a chain of stores here in London, and after several meetings with lower management, . . . "

      "Seriously. I've noticed this too, lately, as I work for a small Verizon Wireless store . . ."

      Oh how the mighty have fallen. If you're going to make up stories at least make sure your past stories agree. Or at least are not so accessible.

      --
      Stoptional
    12. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope you're just trolling. First, if you actually study it, what the hell is "meterology"? We have a similar science called Meteorology that may interest you, but it's concerned with weather, not celestial mechanics.

      As far as the bullshit about radiation, as I understand it, 3500 km of rock makes a dandy shield (especially when added to the existing magnetospheric & atmospheric shielding).

    13. Re:Double-edged sword of nature by eatdave13 · · Score: 1

      ROTFLMFAO

      --
      "Verbing weirds language." -- Calvin
  16. NO SCRATCH, NO SNATCH by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll


    You pick up this working girl who's hooked on smack who hussles and scores. that's all I do she says. she says ten bucks for head, fifteen for half n half she says three hits a day at thirty five per, you say that's seven tricks a day atleast but she says sometimes I get lucky, once this guy gives me a bill and a half just to eat me, only time I ever came. You figure you can save her, you sell your color tv, it keeps her off the streets a whole day, you hawk your typewriter for one joe, your shotgun, your watch, a week later you say listen I'm a little short but she says, no scratch, no snatch. You say look it is better to give, but she says beat off creep. One night they spot you on the street in your skivies, trying to sell your shoes. You tell them who you are but they nail you. Then she happens by and she says christ you look fucked, she says hang tough, but you don't say anything, you just think what a bum rap for a nice sensitive guy like me.


  17. Time for some... by RebelTycoon · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Your Mama is so fat that ... that her ass blocks out the moon...

    Rooting for a good time!

    --

    Tournament Management Online &

    1. Re:Time for some... by RebelTycoon · · Score: 0

      Your Mama is so fat that ...

      She caused Total Solar Eclipse at Ceduna, South Australia!

      --

      Tournament Management Online &

  18. OMG!!! Al-Qaeda just exploded a nuke!!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    RIGHT IN D.C.!!!!!!! Our beloved Prez is dead. I can't go on...

  19. To the owner.. by jamesjw · · Score: 3, Funny


    To the owner of a Blue Mitsubishi Eclipse licence plate ERQ-1343, you left your lights on.

    --
    -- If at first you don't succeed, lie!
  20. haiku by bobtheprophet · · Score: 1

    Is it not silly
    to create a camp city
    to watch an eclipse?

    --
    Don't give me none of this "nature theme" business.
  21. Tent City? by Will_Malverson · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't those crazy foreigners know that it's almost WINTER?

    1. Re:Tent City? by Soft · · Score: 1
      Don't those crazy foreigners know that it's almost WINTER?

      Well, during the eclipse, the corona will be visible. As it is much hotter than the surface of the Sun itself (millions of K vs. 6000K), it should keep you warm.

    2. Re:Tent City? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      With daytime temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees centigrade ( 104 F), and December 4th being less than 3 weeks before midsummers day in the southern hemisphere, us crazy foreigners will be glad to get out of the tent by about 6am before we cook to death.

    3. Re:Tent City? by feronti · · Score: 2, Informative

      Besides which, it's Australia... they're just getting out of spring down there and heading into summer...

    4. Re:Tent City? by JonoPlop · · Score: 1

      It's summer down here. Yesterday in Adelaide it was 35C, it was 37 a couple of days ago...

  22. We have done it! by anonymous+coword · · Score: -1, Troll

    The 3000 mark has been broken, and this is the link to the 3000th post!

    --
    Nero-burning ROM for Linux!
  23. False. It is not approaching fast. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    The total Solar Eclipse on December 4 is fast approaching...

    December 4th is approaching at the same rate it always does. One day per day.

  24. How I Missed The Last Eclipse by DeadBugs · · Score: 1

    So I am out late partying. So late that I get home around sunrise. As daylight breaks I fall asleep. What felt like a few hours later I wake up and it is dark out. It seems I slept the day away. So I go back to sleep. What felt like a few hours later I wake up and it is light out. Now I panic.... How long have I been asleep? As the hangover fades my memory returns and I have missed the eclipse in the span of 6 hours of sleep.

    --
    http://www.kubuntu.org/
  25. Outback Eclipse Festival by OzJimbob · · Score: 5, Informative

    The other option is to head to the Outback Eclipse Festival at Lyndhurst, in the even more stunning Flinders Ranges. This point is further east than Ceduna, so the eclipse should happen even closer to sunset, and the even comprises a chill-out music festival over several days. I live in Adelaide, and I would be heading here rather than Ceduna (although unfortunately I'm saving for a DIFFERENT holiday so I can't afford to make an appearance!)

    --
    -"I still believe in revolution; I just don't capitalize it anymore." - srini!
  26. "total" eclipse in Ithaca by MacAndrew · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was in school at Cornell several years ago (1995?) when there was a total-but-not eclipse -- and annular solar eclipse. The one I saw was not quite like that of the link, but it was a very strange event. For several minutes, it was like daylight but not quite; the light was gray and there were bizarre shadows and diffraction effectcs.

    So not all solar eclipses are alike. It interests me that the Moon and Sun are so similar is apparent (angular) size. The Moon is unique in the solar system for its enormous one-quarter size relative to its planet.

    The link has a 1992 photo and numerous tips and links re eclipses generally.

    1. Re:"total" eclipse in Ithaca by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So not all solar eclipses are alike. It interests me that the Moon and Sun are so similar is apparent (angular) size. The Moon is unique in the solar system for its enormous one- quarter size relative to its planet.

      With that and many other unique facts about your planet, solar system, galaxy, and universe people still think it was created by accident. They just can't seem to get it that someone created us and our environment and with the complexity of our universe you just don't get that out of happenstance (apologies to the million typing monkeys).

    2. Re:"total" eclipse in Ithaca by TummyX · · Score: 1


      With that and many other unique facts about your planet, solar system, galaxy, and universe people still think it was created by accident. They just can't seem to get it that someone created us and our environment and with the complexity of our universe you just don't get that out of happenstance (apologies to the million typing monkeys).

      Duh. Well these amazing coincidences only had to happen once. It could have taken a billion eons and many cycles of the universe to happen. If it didn't happen, we wouldn't be here to question it. If it does happen, then everything would look like it was made perfectly for us to live in. We wouldn't be here to question it if it didn't form the right way. And with randomness and inifinite time, it had to eventually happen.

    3. Re:"total" eclipse in Ithaca by MacAndrew · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually, you could argue everything is not out of happenstance but physics and chaos theory. Our understanding is continually "evolving."

      As for coincidences, like the size of the Moon and Sun, you can find any number of them looking around you. Humans happen to like coincidences. But what might seem unique could be the result of ignorance or lacking imagination: we just don't know of other examples. Also, things that are similar are only so for a brief time. The orbits of the Earth and Moon have changed over time. The Moon used to be much closer to its planet, and is gradually drifting away. The year used to be much longer: the Earth has accelerated as it has drawn closer to the Sun.

      Stay tuned, we're learning faster and faster.

  27. Fucking Ghey! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Get it in ya!

  28. Nature's birthday present to me by HoneyBunchesOfGoats · · Score: 0

    Woohoo! Total solar eclipse on my birthday! Now, if only someone would pay for me to go to Australia for my birthday...

  29. What a load of shit.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Dear moderators, the parent is not informative, it is nuts.

    This is why you often see cancerous lumps on the exposed skin of viewers of eclipses mere days after the event has passed.

    Hellooooooo! The eclipse causes more harmful rays to reach earth than normal?

    1. Re:What a load of shit.... by Soft · · Score: 1
      Hellooooooo! The eclipse causes more harmful rays to reach earth than normal?

      Didn't you know the Moon was a giant magnifying glass in the UV wavelength? That's why those Apollo photographs are distorted, which causes some lunatics to think they were faked...

  30. More information about Ceduna by Sex_On_The_Beach · · Score: 1, Informative

    More information about the event, including maps can be found here.

    --

    Quit Slashdot Today!
  31. Nice eclipse photos and info online... by EnlightenmentFan · · Score: 5, Informative
    For slashdotters who want to dream about Ceduna, you can link to a boatload of past eclipse photos at "MrEclipse.com".

    One of my favorites shows the 1970 eclipse near total, with a diamond-ring effect". I actually saw that one--it was amazing. When the sky gets dark, the birds figure it's night and go roost in the trees. Beautiful.

    Mr. Eclipse also links to Ceduna info, including an animation of the shadow's path across earth.

    --
    Making trouble today for a better tomorrow...
  32. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  33. If you intend to go by batty · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you're going to see this, there's a couple of things to remember.

    That area is largely arid - it can rightfilly be called desert.

    AND

    It's summer here.

    Temperatures in that area can reach 45C to 50C and water is hard to find outside habitation. Even if you do nothing but lay in your tent you WILL need 4 litres of water per day. You have to drink enough so that you piss clear. (Guide: The darker your urine, the more dehydrated you are)

    No, coffee, Coke and Pepsi aren't a substitute for water, even though they have water in them.

    No, neither is beer, even if it is Cooper's Sparkling Ale.

    --
    More fruitbats in Literature!
    1. Re:If you intend to go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Remember to replenish salt too.
      A box of cheetos will do.

    2. Re:If you intend to go by Gorak · · Score: 1

      "piss clear".

      Hmm. Bet I know where you got *that* from ;)

      (from an expat in SFO)

      --

      I had one, but the wheel fell off.
    3. Re:If you intend to go by tomschuring · · Score: 1

      it also has a world class surf break very close by called 'cactus' perhaps another insentive to go ?

    4. Re:If you intend to go by isorox · · Score: 2

      No, neither is beer, even if it is Cooper's Sparkling Ale.

      True, however my local pub waters there beer down so much, that is a substitute

    5. Re:If you intend to go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Having just driven across the Nullarbor, there are a few things to watch out for in Ceduna. The Oyster Bar is great. Order several dozens - Kilpatrick or fresh. Best price you'll find in Australia.
      Do not buy fish from Greeks in Ceduna - which means don't buy fish. Weird offcuts, funny paste substituted for calamari rings, ... Very dodgy (all proprietors), and it's all owned by members of the local Greek community.

    6. Re:If you intend to go by PaganRitual · · Score: 2, Funny

      coopers sparkling ale IS urine ;)

    7. Re:If you intend to go by kubrick · · Score: 1

      No, neither is beer, even if it is Cooper's Sparkling Ale.

      If I can't survive purely on Cooper's, then life no longer has any meaning. So I won't be following your advice in that respect... :)

      --
      deus does not exist but if he does
  34. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  35. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  36. We're all gonna die! by eggnogg · · Score: 1

    Or is it Haily's comet that is the sign of impending doom? egg

  37. camp anywhere on this line... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/TSE2002/TSE2 002gif/TP2002-Fig13s.gif

  38. Middle-of-nowhere by EuroChild · · Score: 1

    Not meaning to offend anyone that lives in the Ceduna area, but I wonder how many of the thousands of people that are going to have a look at the eclipse REALLY know how far Ceduna is from ANYWHERE. I have been there so I'd just like to tell people to be careful on the roads - fatigue gets pretty bad when you are driving in a straight line for hours on end. My suggestion is to break the trip up into at least 2 days - stop off in Port Lincoln - nice place (and you can see where they filmed the Australian version of Survivor!)

    --
    Does this make my brain look big?
  39. "That's no moon . . ." by Lagrange5 · · Score: 1

    All it means is that you're standing in the moon's shadow.

    That's CowboyNeal, you insensitive clod!

    --
    "Folks just call him Buckethead." -- Les Claypool
  40. Actually, it IS comming faster... by Eric_Cartman_South_P · · Score: 2
    ...didn't they slow down out clocks 1 second at New Years eve? That would mean December 4th is approaching something around 1/365.25 of a second faster per day.

  41. Total Solar Eclipse by inode_buddha · · Score: 1

    "... and everything under the Sun is in tune..."
    (Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon)

    --
    C|N>K
  42. Re:JUST MY THOUGHTS....... by Sandman1971 · · Score: 1

    Yup, same thing happened to me. Grade 3. The total eclipse was happening over what was lunch time. They forced everyone to stay in class. Only 1 guy with parental consent was allowed to leave (cuz his dad came to get him). They brought in a TV (you remember those, the big clunky brown TVs with shutters on 6 feet high rollers) for us to watch the eclipse. I still feel robbed.

    --
    It's better to burn out than to fade away
  43. obligatory jack handy quote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I"m surprised no-one has said this yet:

    "Wouldn't it be great, if in the future you had a time machine. Then you could go back in time and show up in front of a bunch of neanderthals right before a solar eclipse. Then you could tell them that you were going to put the sun out. When the eclipse occurs, they'd probably try to kill you or something. But then you'd explain about the rotation of the moon and earth and everyone would have a good laugh."

    --Jack Handy

    Just paraphrasing from what I remember.

    1. Re:obligatory jack handy quote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tintin did that. Tintin was smart.

    2. Re:obligatory jack handy quote by gdr · · Score: 2

      That may work with neanderthals but this eclipse is in 2003 and in Austr... oh, never mind.

  44. Australia by loconet · · Score: 2

    Why does it seem that all astronomical events can always be viewed better from Australia and surroundings?

    --
    [alk]
    1. Re:Australia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because we always buy the front-row seats...

    2. Re:Australia by BrokenHalo · · Score: 1

      If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand... :-)


      Seriously, though, it may be (partly) due to the fact that we haven't fscked up the atmosphere (yet, though some of us are working on it) to the extent that we can see beyond it. Also, we don't have to drive very far to escape the "light pollution" which makes (non-solar-related) observations hard...

    3. Re:Australia by BrokenHalo · · Score: 1

      Correction, that should be "can't see"... my bad.

    4. Re:Australia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's always been an easy one - in Australia the beer has twice as much alcohol as beer in the USA.

    5. Re:Australia by OzPixel · · Score: 1

      You mean, like the Leonid meteor showers that weren't visible in the Southern hemisphere ?

      I think "all" and "always" are overstating things a little. I suppose the air is generally less polluted (outside of cities), which would help in viewing these events.

      David.

  45. North America by loconet · · Score: 2

    too bad it doesn't look like we'll be seeing one of these any time soon :(

    --
    [alk]
  46. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  47. Birthday by norwoodites · · Score: 2

    Cool a total eclipse on my 21st birthday, the only problem I cannot leave work to see it in Australia.

  48. solar eclipse here! :) by Tuxinatorium · · Score: 1

    The site that the article linked to has a map which shows there will be a big total solar eclipse accross the USA in 2012. :)

    --
    Repeal the DMCA!
  49. watch on TV by vivek7006 · · Score: 1

    Watch it on TV dude. Why do want to go all the way there, just to get blind? Whats the big deal?

  50. Business Plan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    1. Tell people you're going to block out the sun.
    2. ???
    3. Prophet!

    1. Re:Business Plan by colenski · · Score: 1

      LOL!!! best pun yet on /. mod up!!

  51. Dance Party by noz · · Score: 2

    If you're in with the ravers, the Outback Eclipse Festival 2002 at Lyndhurst is a 4-day music festival celebrating the eclipse.

    From inthemix.com, "Day will turn into night as the moon passes directly in front of the sun. This will be the best viewing point in the world to see this 100% solar eclipse."

    "Over 50 international and local live acts and DJs, performing artists, crazy installations, mega shade, free drinking water, chillout village featuring geodesic domes." See you there.

    1. Re:Dance Party by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      not to mention the World's Biggest Game of Twister! http://www.barrelfullofmonkeys.org/twist.html Wish I could get there, this event sounds better the more I hear about it

    2. Re:Dance Party by mgblst · · Score: 2

      The strange thing is that they have to switch of the music, a few hours before, until a few hours after the ecllipse, which if you have ever been to a rave, is a very strange experience...

    3. Re:Dance Party by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, Im flying to Australia to go to this festival. Any other Slashdotters making the trip?

      A desert dance party and a total solar eclipse, cant turn that down!

  52. Why eclipses interested Ptolemy. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Mundane astrology. Before you start laughing think, read, learn. History has been shaped by Tetrabiblos.

  53. Eclipse Viewing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You can get inexpensive eclipse viewing glasses at
    http://www.rainbowsymphony.com
    Still time to order.

    Bye, /////ANDRE

  54. Yet Another Eclipse Site by tconnors · · Score: 2

    This time, from where I work, yet another 2002 eclipse website

    They plan on having a live braodcast, but somehow I don't think that will work.

  55. I'll be there by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Im actually heading there a few days before. A bunch of us are flying over in a 4 seater twin-prop airplane.
    The best thing is we managed to find accomodation in Ceduna - a 3 bedroom beachfront cabin!
    I gloat over the suckers cramming into the tent city with no plumbing or facilities.. apparently there is supposed to be 15000-20000 people turning up.. i wouldnt want to be any part of that in a 30-40degree day.
    My question is about cameras. Would pointing a digital still camera, or even a normal video camera at the sun hurt the ccd?

  56. perfect size by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does anyone know if there is a reason that the size and distance from the earth of the moon creates almost a perfect match to make an eclipse? or is it literally just coincidence?

  57. Looking at the sun by GoLGY · · Score: 1

    Actually, a good peice of advice from my Physics lecturer while we were discussing filters for telescopes and whatnot - if you do want to venture out and take a squiz at the event, failing everything else, a pair of welding goggles will do the trick if you wish to look directly at the sun.

    --
    --- perl -e 'printf("%s\n", pack "H*", "7369670a676f6c677940676f6c67792e6e65740a2f736967")'
  58. south africa by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the eclipse also moves over africa. the best place to watch it from, is at the very top of south africa, near the border to zimbabwe. december is malaria time.

    it'll probably be cheaper and faster than travelling to australia.

  59. I say ditch your wife and still come by Doctor+Jerkberg · · Score: 1


    I've had this trip planned for years since I first heard that the eclipse was happening.
    I'll be going down in a big convoy of uni students (from Newcastle on the east coast, take us 3 days of driving).

    The best place to see it will be in Lyndhurst, which is seriously in the middle of nowhere.
    It's a town of 30 people surrounded by barren desert. The 'tent city' is actually going to be a giant music festival lasting 3 days that's in the middle of a meteor crater.
    It's going to be mad, with wacked out hippies, astronomer nerds and gerneral freaks going wild in the desert sands.

    Events even include the Worlds Biggest Twister Game So 3 days of fun and great music and then to finish it all off the moon will block the sun. Man, you will seriously never find a better party on earth!

    --
    I'm a tenth level vice-president!
  60. gloating, eh? heh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'll just look out my window. ;) But on the east coast where it's cooler and there are fewer ugg boot wearing westies. But, good luck in that Buddy Holly killin plane. hehe

    And, yes, pointing a ccd camera at the sun will hurt it. Pointing it at a full eclipse, however, is a different thing altogether.

  61. Yes all the accomodation is gone! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I was talking to the general manager of the one and only real hotel in Seduna today and yes all the accomodation is gone. I also asked about hiring a campervan etc from Adelaide and according to him they are all booked out. So if you want to go to Seduna you will be camping. Now personally there is no way I would go there and camp. It is desert and the way things are going this summer its likely to be extrememly hot and dry. I asked is he had room somewhere for a mate but he said no chance as certain well know people with a lot of money have snaped up any unofficial accomodation (they were too lazy to book).

  62. Mod parent up by zer0vector · · Score: 1

    I love how everyone seems to think that amazing coincidences must be due to some higher power, when in fact they HAD to happen, for us to be here to see them. This is a bit off topic, but a big case of this is when doctors say things like "Its a miracle, if the bullet had been 1/4 of an inch to the left, he wouldn't have made it." without realizing that lots of times the bullet is 1/4 of an inch to the left and therefore the doctor never sees them. Its basically an observational bias, the observing is making claims based only on the evidence presented to them, when in fact the evidence is biased because it was presented to them.

    --

    ----
    Striving to put right what once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next leap, will be the leap ho
  63. It's called the Saros cycle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    ...and it reflects the fact that there are multiple "months" which must coincide to produce the "same" eclipse again. You have the synodic month (phases of the moon = 29.530 days), the draconic month (time between moon's passages through same node = 27.212 days) and the anomalistic month (time from perigee to perigee = 27.555 days). 239 anomalistic months ~ 223 synodic months ~ 242 draconic months = 1 Saros or about 18 years, 10 1/3 days. It's the time between "similar" eclipses.

    It's NOT the time between all possible eclipses. Many different (40+) Saros cycles are going on at any one time. There's no way you could see two eclipses from the same Saros in just a few years, but the fact that an eclipse is total is the cool thing for most of us, not the fact that it's part of the same Saros cycle as another eclipse.

    Check out http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html to see one of the best pages out there on this stuff.

  64. why I'm headed to Ceduna for 30 secs of totality by chongo · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I'm on my way to the Ceduna region for somewhere between 30 and 32 seconds of totality. I'll spend ~2 weeks looking at sites between Canberra and Ceduna, but the highlight will certainly be totality.

    Why go all that way to in the place where the "sun don't shine :-)" for a few seconds? If you have ever seen / experienced a true 100% total eclipse you might understand. I have NEVER seem a photograph do justice to the experience. Not only do photographs fail to present the full dynamic range of the visual, they lack the wind, the temperature drop, the effect on plants, birds, insects, people ... You really have to see and experience a total solar eclipse directly.

    Each eclipse is unique. The shape and size of the solar corona. The colors. Solar prominence positions, shapes, rates of change. Sky brightness. Duration of the diamond rings. Shadow edge sharpness. Shadow band size and change rate. etc. etc. No two eclipses look the same.

    The eclipse near/at Ceduna will have some special features. The short duration is a result of the moon and sun being very near the same size. Long eclipses (such as up 7+ minutes) allow for observation of the inner corona (near the solar disk edge) only near the beginning and end of the Eclipse. Short eclipses offer excellent inner corona views throughout the eclipse. There is a trade-off between inner detail and duration.

    The eclipse will be near sunset. The same optical illusion that makes a full moon near the horizon seem large makes the solar corona (sometimes 2x to 4x the apparent size of the sun/moon disk) seem huge.

    The Sun will set after totality ends but while the moon is partially covering the solar disk. We will watch a crescent sun set. Instead of watching a single point wink out, we will watch two points wink out one after the other. Some are hoping to see a double green flash.

    The Sun should be entering quieter phase of its sunspot cycle. But for the last few months we have seen an unusual degree of activity this late in cycle. A more active sun frequently results in a non-uniform shaped corona. A more active sun frequently results more and unusual numbers of solar prominences.

    --
    chongo (was here) /\oo/\
  65. Too many people... by GoogolPlexPlex · · Score: 1

    I think that the hype over this solar eclipse has gone too far. Now they want to set up some "tent city" in the tiny outback town of Ceduna. I tell you, this is not the sort of town made to support large tourist populations. Next they will be setting up their loud music and who is going to clean up all the trash left behind. Who else will stand with me? I say, it's time for this eclipse to be CANCELLED and moved to a more appropriate venue.

    -the Concerned Residents Of Ceduna.

  66. don't forget.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...your bongos, your ganja and your anti-uranium-mining flags painted on bedsheets!