Total Solar Eclipse

......just thrilled many Asians.

I remember the total eclipse ten years ago (above) very well. Most of SW Germany, and, indeed Western Europe, was overcast. Just south of us, in Stuttgart, the Solar Eclipse Festival was drenched. As we waited on a hill south of Heidelberg thick clouds blanketed the sky. Then, as the partial eclipse strengthened, a few minutes before the Sun was due to be covered, we felt wind on our cheeks, the clouds started agitating, and a hole appeared in the clouds directly in front of the Sun. It remained until a minute or two after the total eclipse passed, we few were treated to an unforgettable spectacle, and then the clouds drew over thickly again. It began to rain.

Weird and magical....

Uncertain Outlook for DOE’s Energy Innovation Hubs

The House and Senate excerpts make interesting reading.

The Heidelberg "Thingstaette"

A Nazi-era arena. Thanks to UT's own Glenn Reynolds, who lived in Heidelberg for a year as a kid while his father taught at the University of Heidelberg: Glenn posted this link describing the arena on his famous Instapundit blog.

Scientist shortage?

..Maybe not.