Kyndall read this kid's book that explained Easter's date to be the following formula:
The first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the first Day of Spring (March 21).
The tie to astrological activity made me uncomfortable (I am not confusing astronomy and astrology - I realize a Full Moon can be an innocent, natural event). Fortunately, Kyndall did some reasearch and found that this was ALMOST right; the correct formula is:
The first Sunday after the first ECCLESIASTICAL Full Moon after the first Day of Spring (March 21).
Here's an interesting note about that:
The times of the ecclesiastical full moons are not necessarily identical to the times of astronomical Full Moons. The ecclesiastical tables did not account for the full complexity of the lunar motion.
The vernal equinox has a precise astronomical definition determined by the actual motion of the Sun. It is the precise time at which the apparent longitude of the Sun is zero degrees. This precise time shifts within the civil calendar very slightly from year to year. In the ecclesiastical system the vernal equinox does not shift; it is fixed at March 21 regardless of the actual motion of the Sun.
For example, take the year 1962. In 1962, the astronomical Full Moon occurred on March 21, UT=7h 55m - about six hours after astronomical equinox. The ecclesiastical full moon (taken from the tables), however, occured on March 20, before the fixed ecclesiastical equinox at March 21. In the astronomical case, the Full Moon followed its equinox; in the ecclesiastical case, it preceeded its equinox. Following the rules, Easter, therefore, was not until the Sunday that followed the next ecclesiastical full moon (Wednesday, April 18) making Easter Sunday, April 22.
Similarly, in 1954 the first ecclesiastical full moon after March 21 fell on Saturday, April 17. Thus, Easter was Sunday, April 18. The astronomical equinox also occurred on March 21. The next astronomical Full Moon occurred on April 18 at UT=5h. So in some places in the world Easter was on the same Sunday as the astronomical Full Moon.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Monday, March 07, 2005
That time in the Two's
Well, Anna Laura is slipping out of the easily obedient stage and into a more frustrating stage where she mixes defiance with adorable. Although her sister is reflecting a few of her bad habits, Anna Laura regularly pushes back against what either Kyndall or I say.
She’s 2 and a half; I suppose we had our warning that it was coming.
Her intrepidity in the face of a spanking is impressive. She’ll put up a formidable protest to the very end, but might makes right – at least around here, today. She’s not into psycho-manipulation, even though it occasionally is the victor. God knew what he was doing when he made parents faster, smarter and stronger.
It’s all in waves, too. We can feel like weeks pass where she is a doll; then it’s a week of solid discipline. It’s not so much that she is evil about things. Sometimes she wants to exercise her own ability to do things – even the things she should not. Sometimes she is testing how serious we are when we tell her no. And sometimes she is pure evil.
The attitude that Kyndall and I have to keep is a hard one. We are not the mean guys here. By raising her with good standards and courtesies she’s becoming a better girl. We would be doing her a disservice if we did not give her boundaries. But after you get on to her for the 5th time in one hour – you start to sound like a Nazi camp sergeant, not a loving parent.
Where’s the manual?
She’s 2 and a half; I suppose we had our warning that it was coming.
Her intrepidity in the face of a spanking is impressive. She’ll put up a formidable protest to the very end, but might makes right – at least around here, today. She’s not into psycho-manipulation, even though it occasionally is the victor. God knew what he was doing when he made parents faster, smarter and stronger.
It’s all in waves, too. We can feel like weeks pass where she is a doll; then it’s a week of solid discipline. It’s not so much that she is evil about things. Sometimes she wants to exercise her own ability to do things – even the things she should not. Sometimes she is testing how serious we are when we tell her no. And sometimes she is pure evil.
The attitude that Kyndall and I have to keep is a hard one. We are not the mean guys here. By raising her with good standards and courtesies she’s becoming a better girl. We would be doing her a disservice if we did not give her boundaries. But after you get on to her for the 5th time in one hour – you start to sound like a Nazi camp sergeant, not a loving parent.
Where’s the manual?
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Alias: a mid-season pulse
I am not a fair-weather fan. When things get rough, I stick through – at least typically. Alias had a weakening second year and a pathetic third year. Now that we are in the 4th year things are picking up. It’s fair to say that each episode is enjoyable.
Here’s the trouble.
First, Lost is on right before it. Just like the first season of Alias was awesome, the first season of Lost is awesome. When you have the original plots and plot twists still playing out – things are great. Lost will have its day when it relies on clever writers to continue the story just like Alias. But having Lost before Alias makes me yearn for the first season of Alias even more.
Second, Alias is taking its time getting into the Rambaldi sub plot. I know some think Rambaldi is to blame for the weak 3rd season, but I say Rambaldi is all the 3rd season had going for it. This 4th season needs to get up and start delivering more Rambaldi fun.
Third, is the cast not trying as hard? I don’t know the first thing about acting or the first thing about rating actors (except the sickening performances of Ben Afleck) but it seems to me that all the cast has the cold or something and aren’t really getting into their characters very well. Is the direction bad or something? I don’t know. The first few shows were awesome, then they started to thin out a little. What’s the deal?
Finally, remember that fun episode in Sydney’s pad when she threw the birthday party? What happened to those days? What happened to that fun? What happened to that set? The most ever see anymore is the occasional sitting at the breakfast bar; bring back the coolness.
What’s the conclusion?
Alias is a great show, but right now: it doesn’t “Rock!”
Here’s the trouble.
First, Lost is on right before it. Just like the first season of Alias was awesome, the first season of Lost is awesome. When you have the original plots and plot twists still playing out – things are great. Lost will have its day when it relies on clever writers to continue the story just like Alias. But having Lost before Alias makes me yearn for the first season of Alias even more.
Second, Alias is taking its time getting into the Rambaldi sub plot. I know some think Rambaldi is to blame for the weak 3rd season, but I say Rambaldi is all the 3rd season had going for it. This 4th season needs to get up and start delivering more Rambaldi fun.
Third, is the cast not trying as hard? I don’t know the first thing about acting or the first thing about rating actors (except the sickening performances of Ben Afleck) but it seems to me that all the cast has the cold or something and aren’t really getting into their characters very well. Is the direction bad or something? I don’t know. The first few shows were awesome, then they started to thin out a little. What’s the deal?
Finally, remember that fun episode in Sydney’s pad when she threw the birthday party? What happened to those days? What happened to that fun? What happened to that set? The most ever see anymore is the occasional sitting at the breakfast bar; bring back the coolness.
What’s the conclusion?
Alias is a great show, but right now: it doesn’t “Rock!”
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