Pic Today 3/5/11

MARDI GRAS WEEKEND IS HERE

Even though Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday") isn't until March 8,

the parade, parties and most of the festivities

are definitely this weekend.

The second largest Mardi Gras parade and party in the nation

starts today in the historic Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis.

The parade starts at 11:00 a.m. and the streets

will be full of partying until late at night.

So if you plan on being there, bring your mask

and bundle up (cause the forecast is chilly and drizzly);

and definitely don't drink-and-drive.

Have fun. Enjoy the parade.

And catch lots of beads.

(Mardi Gras is traditionally the last day of excess

before the beginning of Lent - March 9.

So get ready to repent!)

Pic Today 3/4/11

BETTER GET YOUR BEADS

There's still time to shop for your

Mardi Gras beads . . .

Whether you're decorating your 'King Cake'

or wearing too many strands 'round your neck,

you've got to have BEADS.

The Mardi Gras celebration and parade

are happening TOMORROW,

and taking over historic Soulard in St. Louis.

So grab your mask, get dressed for a wild time

and DON'T FORGET YOUR BEADS.

It's a Mardi Gras tradition.

If you're lucky, you can catch what they're throwing

from all the Mardi Gras floats along the parade route.

Parade promoters say 17-million beads will be tossed.

(It's amazing what people will do for beads!)

"Hey mister, throw me some beads."

Pic Today 3/3/11

IT'S NOT A TROPHY,

IT'S A STOVE

Meet James Dorn.

He finds old stoves, and restores them.

From early 19th century cast iron, wood burning barrel stoves,

to early gas ranges, even the early electric ones from the 1950s,

James considers each one a "work of art."

He replaces worn or missing parts (or makes them from scratch),

cleans and re-assembles, nickel plates the ornate features,

and gets them back into working order.

(Each one is fully functional, and ready to heat.)

He heats his own shop with an old U.S. Army barracks stove,

and visitors love sitting around it, warming up, on a chilly afternoon.

All his reconditioned stoves are for sale at

Remember When Antiques (1955 Cherokee St., St. Louis),

including Endurance 'Air Tight', Quick Meal and Magic Chef stoves.

"Some take nearly a year to make right," James says with pride.

Most of his customers buy them to use, he says.

But everyone is a "work of art" to admire.

Good job, James.

Pic Today 3/2/11

GRAB YOUR FRISBEES,

LET'S PLAY GOLF

There's a new way to play 18 holes of golf.

Leave your clubs behind,

and grab your discs (a.k.a. frisbees.)

This new sport is gaining popularity.

No golf cart, no golf clubs, no caddy,

just 18 holes of varying length and difficulty.

The object of the game is to get your disc

(a variety of discs in your bag -- driver, chipper, putter)

into the basket in the fewest number of throws.

Different discs have different weights and designs.

(Yep, you guessed it -- the discs are expensive,

about $20 a disc. Each player had his own bag of discs!)

These disc golfers seemed to take the game very seriously,

as they tallied their scores for each hole.

(I tried not to laugh!)

Pic Today 3/1/11

OUR SUN IS GETTING RESTLESS

Recent sun flares have been getting bigger lately.

Late last week, a massive one erupted

and lasted 90 minutes (most unusual.)

Fortunately for us, the solar flare was aimed

in an opposite direction from the Earth.

And so we didn't feel the consequences,

which can include disruption of radio transmissions,

failed satellite communications and electrical interference.

The NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory tracks

sun spots and solar flares as they have significant

impact on atmospheric and electrical conditions.

As we get closer to 2012, when the sun is due to

reverse its magnetic poles (every 11 years),

solar flares grow with intensity.

This photo captures last week's massive flare

which reached 300,000 miles beyond the sun's surface.

Swirling and twisting masses of erupting plasma

are seen blowing into space -- some returning to the surface,

and some escaping in tremendous explosions.

(Those of us in northern parts of the globe

are witnessing dramatic Northern Lights, aurora borealis.)

Photo: Courtesy of NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory