The full damage extent to the Northeast is still ongoing from the superstorm Sandy.  The damage where I live (Silver Spring, MD) has been relatively mild.  Power (from Pepco) which usually goes out for days - didn't this time. Friends in N. VA didn't fare as well but most still had power restored within 24 hours.  This storm was huge and will be one for the history books but -  there will be others unfortunately.  Global Warming?  Yes - GW predicts extremes in weather events.  Most scientists (95%) agree and some have been saying so since the late '80s.  Climate change is real.   

(On the lighter side!)
Disney will own LucasFilm Inc.  My son thinks it's the "End of Days."  Never really thought George L. would sell but it kinda makes sense.  Jim Henson wanted the Muppets to be a part of Disney.  Stan Lee & Marvel too as well as others.  
Lots of questions though - especially how the new Star Wars "Episode 7" will flesh out - and #8 ; #9 etc.  I'm for new actors playing the roles in the books that take place after Episode #6 "Return of the Jedi."  That trilogy includes the "Admiral Thrawn" series (by Timothy Zahn)  that takes place 0-5 years after #6.  Kinda like a reboot of the movies in the sense of "Batman"  - same characters but different actors.  Hopefully Disney/LucasFilm will get a better director and writers so we don't suffer through what happenned in Episodes #1 & #2 (#3 was OK though). 

Super "Frankenstorm" Sandy hitting now as I'm typing here in Maryland.  Meteorologists have been consistent with the predictions via computer models so far - about  5 or so models - but three in which they actually "trust."
Hoping the other two models - European and something else I can't pronounce - are right
and the other models  proves wrong but hey....riding it out anyway.
Wish astronomers had computer models to predict meteor showers.  Well I'm sure they do but just like the weather it's not really predictable (my pet peeve). 
The kids are all excited 'cause there's no school for the next two days - maybe more.  With the projected power outages they won't be happy with no X-box or computer/TV.  Guess we'll play Monopoly.

Yes - everyone loves a good meteor shower, right?  Well I've been trying to see one since I was 5 years old.  Meteors ("shooting stars" "falling stars" "fireballs" etc.) are fairly common and I've seen plenty of those over the years. But an actual "shower" as in the photo to the left?  Zero.  Zip. None.  Not for lack of trying.  Seems that luck just eludes when it comes to these events.  Take the last shower - the Orionids Oct. 21/22.  Saw one or two flashes before clouds moved in.  That's it.  Friends recorded dozens of flashes per hour.  One acquaintance even recorded the "sounds" meteors make as they burn up in the upper atmosphere.  A few years ago I tried dragging my kids out on a cold night to see what was supposed to be a "spectacular" shower.  Kids were wise enough to stay in bed.  I caught pneumonia after falling asleep on a local soccer field - while waiting for the clouds to clear.  Same friend (the guy with the sound recording device) was on a boat on the same (clear) night miles away from shore and any lights.  He saw the sky literally light up - as close to the picture posted as he can describe.
Still not giving up though.  Astronomers predict a once-in-a-lifetime event in 2014 so we'll see.  There will be many more opportunities before then I'm sure.