New Poll for 2010: Constellations!

What is your favorite Constellation? 

I have listed fourteen of my favorites to vote on.  If you are a little foggy on the names of some of the constellations, or remembering which are which, you can get some help by clicking: Here! 

I decided to go with an astronomy related poll this year, since in 2009, my interest in space was renewed.  We went to the MetroParks for several night lectures during the year and even saw on separate occasions, the rings of Saturn, and Jupiter.  On the night we observed Jupiter, four of it's moons were visible, and the telescope was so good, that I can even see some of the stripes on the planet.  It was pretty cool!

If you vote for 'Other', please leave a comment as to which constellation you like that is not on the list. Any comments on what constellations you like and why, would be greatly appreciated.  Plus then I'll tell you mine, and why...

 

Also, I'm hoping to update the links a bit, so there are a few more Astronomy sites to click on.

Enjoy, and keep watching the night sky!

McDoogle

Your Challenge:  The night sky photo contains a constellation.  Do you see it?  Can you tell which one it is???  It is in the list of constellations to vote on.  Bonus points to the person you figures it out first!

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes

We went to see Sherlock Holmes on Christmas day, not realizing it was Opening Day. The theatre was packed. No wonder.

But I don't think anyone was disappointed. Sherlock Holmes was a great film. Not too cheesy. Not too corny. Not over the top in violence and unnecessary fight scenes.

The musical score for perfect for the setting and tone of this film.

I don't think it's a spoiler alert to say that the movie starts out with Sherlock outracing the police to the scene of a crime, to save a young lady from being an unwanted sacrifice for the evil villain Lord Blackwood. The staging of the opening appears as if Sherlock is on the run from the police and they are racing to capture him.

The villain is mysterious and appears to return from the dead to haunt Sherlock, Watson, and everyone else who caused him trouble while 'he was alive'. It becomes a bit of a magic vs. science theme, with Sherlock and Dr. Watson on the side of 1890's science.

The 1890's setting, played out with the London Bridge being built in the background and later in the foreground was excellent.

Robert Downey Jr was excellent portraying a more moody, gritty, not your Grandmother's kind of Sherlock Holmes. But more along the lines of what I thought Sir Conan Doyle intended with his character. Still amazingly intelligent, quick thinking, observant, and logical. This Holmes is also, moody, a fighter, and a bit smelly and unkempt - especially when bored and in-between cases.

Dr. Watson by Jude Law was also well done. Not the usual pastie we've grown accustomed by some who does have his own strength of convictions, is intelligent, and can stand up to Sherlock.

I was unfamiliar with the character of Irene Adler, having read one set of Sherlock Holmes stories previously in the 'Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes', but don't remember running into her character as the women who once bested Sherlock Holmes... twice! Irene was well played by Rachel McAdams.

The aforementioned villain is Lord Blackwood, played by Mark Strong. He was very believable, and had the right mixture of creepy and evil glint in his eye.

Of course, the real mastermind, Professor Moriarity.... we do not see! Not his face anyway. And of course he always gets away to test Sherlock Holmes again in future movies (sequels!).

I really enjoyed this movie.

Grade: A-