Yes, the eclipse indeed occurred.

Tornado in Magdalena, NM, though no harm was done.
Video here, including some good local characters.

Possibly the best opening line for a blog post ever:

We’ve spoken before about how awesome medieval bestiary lore is, but I fear I’ve given the impression that it’s all self-castrating beavers and Christ signification. It is both of those things, of course, but there’s so much more!

After which we learn the ways of love as derived from Medieval zoology. Hat tip to Sarah Hoyt, guestblogging at Instapundit.

A brief and petty post: it's time to retire the "Canada has no freedom of speech/First Amendment" nonsense. Here's the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Fundamental freedoms 2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) freedom of association.

It's a bit more complex than that, since certain limitations are accepted on these freedoms, but it's absurd to deny the very existence of such a freedom.

Cephalopod attack, octopus vs. gull

HT: Chas.