Survival Guide: Tell time using the Sun or Moon

The June solstice occurred today (2011-06-21) at 17:16 UTC. A solstice is when "the Sun's apparent position in the sky reaches its northernmost or southernmost extremes" ["Solstice" - Wikipedia]. For the Northern Hemisphere of our planet, that means it is the middle of traditional Summer. For the Southern Hemisphere, the middle of traditional Winter. Knowledge of today's solstice will be useful in the first of the survival guide series when "telling time using only the Sun or Moon".

CAUTION: Daylight saving time can cause confusion in some of the calculations, so I recommend ignoring DST entirely until you have the final times you are seeking. Only then should you try to adjust it according to the strange daylight "saving" time system or make any adjustments based on your preferences or location.

ESTIMATE DAY LENGTH

The length of the day depends almost entirely on Latitude. (Your location North or South of the Equator.)
- At the Equator, the day is always twelve (12) hours and the night is also twelve.
- During the equinox (mid-Spring and mid-Autumn), the day is roughly twelve (12) hours, regardless of Latitude.
- During the solstice (mid-Summer and mid-Winter), the day is roughly fourteen (14) hours (Summer) or ten (10) hours (Winter) at the "midpoint" between the equator and a pole.
- During the solstice, the day is either all hours (Summer) or non-existent (Winter) at the poles.

I try to remember those as the "10, 12, 14 facts" - 10 in the Winter, 12 in the Spring, 14 in the Summer.

You can roughly guess how long the day is at your location using the "10, 12, 14 facts" I listed above and a rough guess at your Latitude. (Keep in mind the days are longer closer to the pole in Summer and shorter closer to the pole in Winter. Also, remember the "10, 12, 14 facts" apply best at the approximate "midpoint" between a pole and the equator.)

CALCULATE TIME OF SUNRISE AND SUNSET

STEP 1: Find your estimated day length.
STEP 2: Divide the STEP 1 result by 2.
STEP 3: Subtract the STEP 2 result from 12 to get the time of sunrise (in hours). Add the STEP 2 result to 12 to get the time of sunset.
STEP 4 (optional): Convert to AM/PM, if you must. Personally, I think the 24hr clock is cleaner.

(Do not adjust for daylight saving time, if you intend to use these times in other calculations.)

NOTE: Knowing how to roughly estimate the sunrise and sunset times can be helpful even if you have a clock. Sometimes it's just nice to know how much time you might have remaining in your day or night.

ESTIMATE THE TIME OF MOONRISE AND MOONSET USING EARTH'S SHADOW
(We use the Earth's shadow on the Moon to estimate the Moon's rise and set times based on sunset and sunrise. Since a full Moon has no shadow on it, it needs no adjustments; a full Moon rises at sunset and sets at sunrise.)

STEP 1: "Read" the Moon from its right edge to its left. The right edge is sunset, the left is sunrise.
STEP 2: Imagine that the moon is divided (from top to bottom) into a number of segments equal to the number of hours in the night.
STEP 3: Estimate how many of those segments are covered in the Earth's shadow.
STEP 4: Look at where the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon. Is the shadow to the left or the right of the light?

- If the shadow's on the right, add the STEP 3 result to the time of sunset to get the time of moonrise.
- If the shadow's on the left, subtract the STEP 3 result from the time of sunrise to get the time of moonset.

STEP 5: The moon transits the sky in approximately 12 hours.

- If you know the Moon's rise time, add 12 hours to estimate the set time.
- If you know the Moon's set time, subtract 12 hours to estimate the rise time.

ESTIMATE THE TIME USING THE SUN OR MOON

STEP 1: Pick an "orb" that you can see. Sun or Moon?
STEP 2: Imagine the path of the orb across the sky. (Remember, depending on your location and the season, the orb may not ever pass directly overhead; it may only arch in some portion of the sky.)
STEP 3: Divide the path of the orb into segments of the same number as the hours of its transit. (For the Sun, this is day length in hours. For the Moon, this is 12 hours.)
STEP 4: Note the segment which the orb is currently in, counting from left (rise) to right (set).
STEP 5: Add the STEP 4 result to the rise time of the orb.
STEP 6: This is the estimated current time.

Knowing how soon dawn or dusk will occur is something which I consider a necessary life-or-death survival skill. (We'll discuss this further in future guides.) Beyond that essential skill, knowing how to tell time using only the natural environment is, at the least, a trick which can entertain a few interested friends.

Survival Guide series

I am launching a new series of blog entries intended to guide readers in a variety of survival techniques. This, so called, "Survival Guide" series is my attempt at providing readers with the type of knowledge I think is fundamental to the survival of the independent human animal when facing "extreme" situations.

Beginning tomorrow (the day of the June solstice), I will publish a new "Survival Guide" on the INDY Blog every four days until July 31st, the day before the cross-quarter day of Northern Hemisphere Autumn (Southern Hemisphere Spring). The subjects covered will range from interesting "tricks" useful anywhere to skills necessary in obtaining basic needs in challenging situations.

My knowledge of these subjects has come from various sources. I credit the most impact to my lifelong involvement with the Boy Scouts of America (from Tiger Cub all the way through to Eagle Scout and Venture Scouts). I've also always been interested in testing the limits of the human body and mind; a study of the basic needs is essential to that understanding. I will be cross-checking my techniques in the various manuals I have and with some internet resources, if I find any that offer good visuals or more detail I'll be sure to link to them in the related article.

At the least, I hope you will tuck these tips away in the back of your mind, so that you can have them should you need them.

INDY Members attach OpenIDs

In a post in April, I encouraged all current INDY Members to attach OpenID logins (e.g. Google, Twitter, etc.) to their INDY accounts. By doing so, members would not have to remember an additional username/password for the INDY website and information would be better secured.

If you are a current INDY member, please consider attaching an OpenID to your INDY account as soon as possible. For assistance with this process, please revisit the original post on the subject of OpenID.

I intend to phase out the INDY password in favor of the more secure (and memorable) OpenID authentication by 1 July 2011, so attach an OpenID now to avoid any inconvenience or interruption of your access to the INDY website.

Presenting my music on SoundCloud

The date was May 16th. Years later, that date would host an event of great significance in my life: the birth of my son, but in May of 2000 I was just a 16 year-old kid stepping out on to a stage on a Tuesday. An introduction had just been made by microphone, the audience was about to hear an original piece written by a high school student. I was that student and the piece was "The Spirit of the Adventurer".

I was never a part of any school orchestras or bands, but I'd spent a great deal of time practicing with friends who were. (Especially in the weeks prior to that performance.) Issac, one of my friends, was a drum major for the high school marching band; I'd asked him to conduct my piece for our high school's Concert Orchestra while I took my preferred place at the piano.

Over the Summer, I composed another piece -- titled "Millennium Symphony". In the Fall, I performed it with my high school's Symphonic Orchestra. It was a piece which pushed the limits of conventional orchestra as I had written parts for two electric guitars. During the performance, the guitarists hid out of view behind the curtains until the start of their parts. With the first strum of their strings, they kicked up their amps and stepped on to the stage. Sitting at the piano nervously playing my part, I grinned when I heard the excitement from the crowd. Later I was approached by an older sibling of one of the members of the orchestra, he shook my hand vigorously as he said, "That was the BEST orchestra concert I've ever been dragged to! I am so glad I came tonight."

In the following months, I was asked to perform an arrangement I had made of James Horner's iconic song "My Heart Will Go On" with one of our school's talented vocalists: Kate Coppola. It was the first time I had performed on stage without an orchestra.

My next performance was at my high school graduation. Many talented seniors had been chosen to perform and/or speak during the ceremony; my assigned position was at the start of the schedule, playing music to settle the crowd before the other graduates walked out on to the field. I attended a notably large high school, so the ceremony took place in the school's stadium... in front of roughly five thousand guests. So, under the gaze of what was easily the largest number of people for whom I had ever played piano, I sat alone in the center of a field and debuted a new composition "Love's First Rose" along with an arrangement I'd done of James Horner's "Legends of the Fall" and my arrangement of Philip Glass' "Truman Sleeps".

Over the years, I've written several pieces of music, some mentioned here, some to be released in the future, and some that I keep happily tucked away in my mind or in their first drafts. I began my musical adventure by striking a few keys on the piano. Now, I would like to share that same adventure with you by striking the keys of a computer.

As you can see, I have created a profile on SoundCloud to better share my music on the web. Therein you will find a list of my currently available tracks and "sets" (specifically grouped tracks). I can only hope that you will enjoy listening to the music as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

INDY login with OpenID

Today, I'm proud to announce a new feature for existing INDY members.
If you're an INDY member, you can now "attach" one or many OpenIDs to your INDY account. This will allow you to log into INDY using your credentials from those sites.

As of the publishing of this post (2011-04-25 @ 16:00), the OpenID sites you can use are:

- Google
- OpenID
- Yahoo!
- Twitter
- Facebook

This simplicity this feature offers serves a dual purpose: it eases your login process to the INDY site and allows you to set a more secure authorization through OpenID(s).

I encourage all current INDY members to attach at least one OpenID to their account as soon as possible. At the least, this will give you "a second set of keys" should you forget the password for your INDY account. You can find the OpenID manager in the "My INDY" section. Look in the third row of navigation links.

Make Earth Day about the Earth

Good morning! Today is Earth Day [EarthDay.org].

Forty-one years ago, the first Earth Day took place in the United States of America. Twenty years later, Earth Day went international, inspiring environmental awareness around the globe. What is Earth Day now? To some it is a day of measuring the consequences of human actions; to others it is a day of natural wonder.

I find it unfortunate that society has become so focused on controversy and opposition that people have forgotten the joy and excitement of special days of recognition. In the case of Earth Day, it would seem that many people view it now as a day of either penance or preaching.

In March, I invited readers to make Earth Hour "a time for thoughtful reflection". For Earth Day, I invite you to put your focus on the Earth. Seems obvious, right? There's a catch.

I don't only mean for us to focus on the environmental impact of human actions on our planet; I want to draw focus and appreciation on the planet as a whole: the beauty, diversity, and power of our world. Perhaps, as a child, you felt awe when you witnessed some specific aspect of Earth for the first time: volcanoes, ocean life, mountain peaks, human cultures, ancient artifacts or sites, etc..

Today, look at the world around you as if you are seeing it for the first time. Appreciate the nuance and beauty that surrounds you, then share the wonder you've felt with others. Your individual impact on the planet may be up for debate, but the impact of your actions and words on the people around you will always be strong.

Happy Earth Day! And finally, remember to say, "I love the World!"

Define your Life

I came across this video recently in my internet wanderings. It's an animated short called "Thursday" by Matthias Hoegg. Without using words, this seven minute video questions the nature of our modern "lives".


URL: http://vimeo.com/16962056

In a world filled with such dazzling technology, fast-paced transportation, superficial distractions, and societally defined priorities, it is easy to lose touch with the people who we cherish and the desires/goals we have for ourselves.

Over the past year, I have had to learn a great deal about what matters most in my Life and how to truly place my focus on the people and experiences which I value. Life is defined by the people with whom we connect and the experiences we choose. Appreciate the beauty that can always be found everyday. Strive to spend your time in ways which both energize you and help cultivate connections with the people you cherish. Acknowledge that you affect everyone and everything around you and that your actions define Life.

Air Force told FBI about recovered flying saucers?

When I first read the headline "FBI Releases Document Confirming Roswell UFO" on Slashdot this morning, my initial reaction was to chuckle and think, "Yeah, right. Were they Asgard or Ferengi?" However, I still followed the link and tried to suspend any disbelief. I wasn't disappointed.

Tracing the story back to its source on the FBI's website, I found a memo written by Agent Guy Hottel to the FBI Director on March 22, 1950 [FBI Vault]. In this memo, the agent details contact from "an investigator for the Air Force" who stated that "three so-called flying saucers had been recovered in New Mexico" and that each was "occupied by three bodies of human shape but only 3 feet tall".

I've transcribed the body of the memo here:

The following information was furnished to SA [redacted text] by [redacted text], [redacted text]

An investigator for the Air Force stated that three so-called flying saucers had been recovered in New Mexico. They were described as being circular in shape with raised centers, approximately 50 feet in diameter. Each one was occupied by three bodies of human shape but only 3 feet tall, dressed in metallic cloth of a very fine texture. Each body was bandaged in a manner similar to the blackout suits used by speed flyers and test pilots.

According to Mr. [redacted text] informant, the saucers were found in New Mexico due to the fact that the Government has a very high-powered radar set-up in that area and it is believed the radar interferes with the controlling mechanism of the saucers.

No further evaluation was attempted by SA [redacted text] concerning the above.

As I said above, I wasn't disappointed. This is very intriguing information, but not something I considered so important that I should interrupt my day's plans -- as you may have noticed since I'm not writing or publishing this until almost 12 hours after reading.

Before we discuss further, let me make it clear, this document was certainly released by the FBI, officially, so I do not debate the document's authenticity. Now, let's look at the facts we can discern in the memo and consider their impact.

First, we know that some individual gave a Special Agent (SA) this information. We don't know who that individual was or how they came by the information themselves. (No, we cannot be sure that the individual is the "investigator for the Air Force". That is part of the information seen here, not necessarily the agent's source.)

Second, we know that a Special Agent chose not to evaluate the information further. This could mean any number of things, mainly that the SA either felt that the matter was of no concern to the FBI (e.g. jurisdiction) or that the informant (or information) was of questionable authority.

As you can see, a reasonable critique of the information can free us from sensationalism while still embracing the excitement of a notable document. Personally, I find the narrative enlightening. (At the least, as to the reporting and documentation of the FBI and its agents in the 1950s.) Regardless of whether all of the contents describe factual details of what may or may not have happened in Roswell, New Mexico, I think it's important to strive to always keep our priorities and goals in focus as we enjoy the excitement of each day and the community we share here on Earth.

Site down time while I move to California!

The main INDY site will be down for a time while I move my things to California. I've decided to accept a job offer in Irvine. I have missed the ocean so much; I am thrilled to have this opportunity!

UPDATE (2011-04-01 @ 11:30): Here's a map of Irvine, CA. I found a place on Crosscreek which is about a 5 minute bike ride from Irvine College where I'll be working.
UPDATE (2011-04-01 @ 18:00): APRIL FOOLS! I do miss California and the ocean, but I'm kept content with the beauty of the Rocky Mountains; especially Fort Collins and working with the people I do at my current job.

A time for thoughtful reflection

Tonight, cities across the globe are powering down in recognition of Earth Hour. Over the years, Earth Hour has gathered a great deal of support. For some, the cognizance brought on by Earth Hour has changed how they behave in their daily lives; while others seem to only switch off their lights for that one hour before they again switch off their minds to the world for the rest of the year.

I've tried to make Earth Hour more than a simple act of environmental conservation and observation. Since I began recognizing it in 2008, I have tried to make Earth Hour a time of contemplation personally, culturally, and globally. Tonight, I encourage you to do the same.

As an aide in triggering those thoughts, allow me to share a list with you made by Tony Schwartz which he published in the Harvard Business Review. In his list, Tony presents us with a side-by-side grouping of things he thinks "We need LESS" and things "We need MORE":

WE NEED LESS:	WE NEED MORE:
Information	Wisdom
Shallow billionaires	Passionate teachers
Self-promotion	Self-awareness
Multitasking	Control of our attention
Inequality	Fairness
Sugar	Lean protein
Action	Reflection
Super sizes	Smaller portions
Private jets	High-speed trains
Calculation	Passion
Experts	Learners
Blaming	Taking responsibility
Judgment	Discernment
Texting	Reading
Anger	Empathy
Output	Depth
Constructive criticism	Thank-you notes
Possessions	Meaning
Righteousness	Doing the right thing
Answers	Curiosity
Long hours	Longer sleep
Complaining	Gratitude
Sitting	Moving
Selling	Authenticity
Cynicism	Realistic optimism
Self-indulgence	Self-control
Speed	Renewal
Emails	Conversations
Winning	Win-win
Immediate gratification	Sacrifice
Source: http://blogs.hbr.org/schwartz/2011/03/30-things-we-need-and-30-we-do.html

It matters little what you may think of specific items from Tony's list; my hope is that this will prompt you to consider the same comparison of "needs" in your own life, as it did for me.

Whether it's during the official Earth Hour (20:30 - 21:30 local time) [Earth Hour] or during a different hour of your choosing, I encourage you to turn off your lights, your gadgets, and your daily routine. In place of your usual behaviors for that hour, light a candle, sit outside, or simply meditate in the solace of your mind and spend an hour in consideration of your choices and how they affect you, your family and friends, your community, your culture, and your planet.