create orange moons, sunsets, and sunrises...none of which are visible in our cloudy skies. We have had smoke from Canada drift down our way, but the upper air flow says different this time around.

Unusual August weather in Alabama. Didn't get out of the 60's Sunday. Barely hit 70 yesterday, and this AM it was 66F with a light drizzle. Sure has been a pleasant break from the heat. Of course we still have August to finish up and sometimes it can be quite hot in September.

Take care!

Nice photo of the Moon Q. Don't remember seeing it that color ever.

Koreans call this bandalgom Half Moon Bear. It is a Formosan Black Bear. I don't think any exist in Korea anymore. We had a large black chow that Ms. So brought on a game show in Seoul once. Everyone said it looked like a half moon bear.

I think one of the moon themes in Asian culture is that two people when separated far apart can look at the moon at night, and think of the other because they are both looking at the same moon. I think this theme goes back to ancient China. In Korean history we know it goes back to the Three Kingdom period. This old song was recorded in a Chosun Dynasty collection several centuries ago. The original is very difficult to translate, it's old Korean. A few different modern interpretations can be found on the internet. This one is by Lee Jang-pyo-

정읍사 ( 井邑詞 ) Jeong Eub Tale ( 달님이여 ) Dear Moon by ( 이정표 ) Lee Jung-pyo

1.How did you spend your long day
2.Hope it wasn't too difficut
3.Thoughts of you come to mind again today
4.As light of day gradually fades
5.Moon, please shine brightly
6.I worry at night's darkening on your path home?
7.Perhaps your body is weary
8.When you set down, in the dark of night, exhausted
9.My dear moon!
10.Rise up, higher, higher!
11.Far and wide, please shine brightly
12.On the dark night's path
13.So my dear doesn't fall over uneven ground
14.By a fine golden light
15.It's cold, Send some warmth that way
16.To the ends of the earth, from the far heavens
17.Dear moon.

Another more or less contemporary reference to this theme is Teresa Teng's oldie super hit, The Moon Represents My Heart. I think everyone at least the older folks in East Asia knows this oldie. Chinese, Korean, Japanese the same. It's promoted quite a bit in learn Chinese videos because it's so simple to learn.

I heard a great youtube presentation of this song, by a another Chinese singer with a great English translation by a Bangladesh interpreter, but it won't let me cross post it.

The moon represents my heart with English and Pinyin ( translation in the notes where it says "more")

This piano version is really nice-

月亮代表我的心

I got all excited this am when I found a translation I had forgotten of a Chinese song from an OST. Chi Qing Zhong (End Song from Movie "Qing Ya Ji") (痴情冢 (电影《晴雅集》片尾曲)) I had to use the google translate to assist. This is part of the lyrics-

今生缘浅与君别
jīnshēng yuán qiǎn yǔ jūn bié
A brief life then bid your farewells
来世饮愿再重结
láishì yǐn yuàn zài zhòng jié
Drink to meeting again in the next
星晴明月照山野
xīng qíngmíng yuè zhào shānyě
The stars are clear and the moon is shining on the mountains
风博雅弦望君乐
fēng bóyǎ xián wàng jūn lè
Elegant strings of blowing wind foretell your joy

Anyway lost in reveries, losing tolerance for the absurd presented daily.