Paris Full Moon Picnic Group

Ahoy there,
The next full moon picnic will be Wed July 29 from 9 PM to 10:30 PM. (With moonrise around 10:05 PM. Sunset around 9:20.)

July was known to American Indians known as Full Thunder Moon, because of the frequency of thunderstorms (hopefully not next Sunday.) It was also known as the Full Buck Moon, because this is the month buck deer get new antlers.

WHAT: Everyone brings food and drinks to share.

WHERE: Pont des Arts. We'll gather around a bench near the middle of the bridge (probably 3rd bench from the Right Bank). Nearest metros: Pont Neuf and Louvre-Rivoli.

WHEN: Wed July 29 from 9 PM - 10:30 PM

WHY: Share one of the most memorable sights in Paris with some of the nicest people around.

WHO: You and your friends

HOW to find us: Keep your eyes out for a small white telescope on tripod if the sky is clear and a group of "lunatics" laughing and speaking English and French.

THEME: National Lipstick Day, National Chicken Wing Day, National Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day

BIRTHDAYS: Are you a Leo? If so, bring a cake so we can celebrate your birthday and blow out the world’s largest birthday candle. Happy birthday to me and to you other Leos!

PUZZLER I:
The path of the total solar eclipse on August 12 runs across Spain and ends on Mallorca just before sunset. Why have I chosen to go to Mallorca to watch it and is that a good place to view it?

PUZZLER ANSWER I:
I think trying to witness an eclipse just before sunset is not only risky, but also ironic. At sunset when the sun is low in the sky light has to travel through much more atmosphere, increasing the chance of clouds obscuring the view. It’s also ironic to try to see the sun disappear for the eclipse just before it disappears for the day. I’ve been lucky enough to have already witnessed 4 total cloudless solar eclipses so I guess I’m intrigued by something different. It would be especially entertaining if there are animals around because we know they tend to bed down during totality. What will they be thinking as they lay down when the sun disappears, then get back up when the sun reappears, roosters crowing, then see the setting sun disappear again a few minutes later and bed down again at dusk. Henrietta clucks, "Is it me or are days getting really short? Seems like I just got up and it’s already bedtime and I didn’t lay a single egg all day.” Of course I won’t really know what they’re saying because I don’t speak Spanish.

Not sure I’ll be seeing clear skies in Mallorca, but for sure I’ll be seeing a good friend who lives there. So it’s all good.

FYI, there’ll be a much longer total solar eclipse in next year across north Africa.
After that you’re pretty much out of luck in North America and Europe until 2045 and 2053 respectively.d

PUZZLER II:
Why does National Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day have such an awkwardly obscure name?

PUZZLER ANSWER II:
The name comes from the fact that when you load a mousetrap you’re sacrificing a piece of cheese that you bought. I think you’re also sacrificing the mouse! Nowadays National Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day has evolved to mean offering cheese to another person. Still seems like a gesture that doesn’t deserve its own day. Especially with added precision that this is only for cheese that you’ve purchased, not stolen? or made yourself? A marketing ploy by cheese producers? I’m sure I speak for all the other picnickers on Pont des Arts when I say, “Thank you for sacrificing your camembert!"

ciao for niao,
Captain Bob