Welcome y'all again to the eleventh installment of the 36ish part 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Autosport Series. 11th race weekend of the season is go in a place called Capital of the First State.
Last race we had(?) some fun at the second most known race and track on the Nascar schedule - Talladega Superspeedway. Yes, there was a big one, but the race was rather and odd and boring affair, with cars really struggling to run even two wide on the banks. So most of the important parts of the race were run an awkward single file with an equally awkward winner in one, Joey Logano.
this is ultimately meaningless
Clint Bowyer hyped the race up after McMurray's scary practice crash, saying that the race will be 'nuts' after the alterations done to the restrictor plates. The only thing nuts right now is the form from the Ford teams. Kurt Busch who finished a fighting second in the race, put the blame on the rear spoiler's technical details. Logano and Harvick put the blame on the high speeds. Most fans put the blame on modern Nascar. I blame nothing.
So, here we are, somewhere near the halfway point of the regular season and nearly a third done in the season. Time to learn something of Delaware other than that it's the place of a well known train travel enthusiast.
a better Joey
I've recently read things about Delaware, and apparently it's the proud state that first ratified the Constitution of the US, thus being known as 'The First State'. This 'First State' is the second state at the bottom of the list of states by size. The state is roughly half the size of the Delmarva Peninsula, sharing it with neighbouring and equally swampy Maryland.
Delmarva Topography
At first this place got colonized by the Nether people, aka Dutch, founding a place called Zwaanendael Colony. What a grotesquely lovely sounding name. Can't expect anything better from Max fan hah!
But as with everything relating to American history, the place was first the homeland of the the Eastern Algonquian tribes known as the Unami Lenape, or Delaware, who lived mostly along the coast, and the Nanticoke who occupied much of the southern Delmarva Peninsula.
We now know that two related but distinct groups of Indians occupied Lenapehoking; not three as is sometimes stated. Those living in the northern half (above the Raritan River and the Delaware Water Gap) spoke a Munsee dialect of the Eastern Algonquian Delaware language, while those to the south spoke Unami – a slightly different dialect of the same language. The beliefs and cultures of these two general groups, although very similar, differed somewhat. For convenience, we will use the word Lenape (“common or ordinary people”) to refer to both the groups living in Lenapehoking.
Some of the Lenape lived in large villages of two to three hundred people, but most of them lived in small bands of 25 to 50 people.
Families were important to the Lenape Indians. There were strong ties between parents and children, and among all the related families that made up the clan. Women with Dog
The Lenape had three clans (or phratries) – Wolf, Turtle and Turkey – which traced their descent through the female line. For example, if a mother belonged to the Turtle Clan, then each of her children also belonged to the same clan. The sons had to marry women from other clans, and their children belonged to their mother’s clan.
Within their own groups the Indians were kind to one another. They felt a sense of responsibility towards everyone in their community. They did not steal from anyone in their own village, for there was no reason to do so. The land belonged to the whole community, shelters were shared, and no one hoarded valuable possessions.
Cheif with ChildrenMany of the groups inhabiting Lenapehoking had well-organized ways of governing their clans and villages. The chiefs – sometimes referred to as sachems - were chosen for their behavior, skill in speaking, honesty, and ability to make wise decisions. The chiefs also had to know about religion so that they could lead the people in rituals and ceremonies.
War leaders were different. They gained power through proven bravery and success in battle. They were able to gather young men together and go off on a raid without the approval of the chief.
The Story of Creation
Creation An early account told how Tantaque took a piece of coal out of the fire where he sat, and began to write upon the floor. He first drew a circle, a little oval, to which he made four paws or feet, a head and a tail. “This,” said he, “is a tortoise, lying in the water around it … this was or is all water, and so at first was the world or the earth, when the tortoise gradually raised its back up high, and the water ran off of it, and thus the earth became dry … and there grew a tree in the middle of the earth, and the root of this tree sent forth a sprout beside it and there grew upon it a man, who was the first male. This man was then alone, and would have remained alone; but the tree bent over until its top touched the earth, and there shot therein another root, from which came forth another sprout, and there grew upon it the woman, and from these two are all men produced.”
Beliefs and Rituals
EffigiesThe Lenape believed that there were spirits – called manetu – all around them. They believed that the great spirit Kishelemukong created the world and that evil spirits, known as manetuwak, were responsible for sickness and death. They felt there was a spirit in every wild storm and in each new bud on the trees in spring.
The Lenape believed that spirits could be helpful or harmful and so they had to be treated with respect. To gain a spirit’s favor, people left small offerings in the place where they thought it lived – for example, near a huge tree, a waterfall, or a strange and lonely rock. The gifts might be a handful of leaves or flowers, carved stick, or some pipe smoke. The Indians were careful not to offend the spirits.
For certain ceremonies in the village, a man would dress from head to foot in a bearskin costume with a red and black painted mask and would impersonate one of the spirits called the “Mesingw.” This important spirit was responsible to watch over and care for all the animals of the forest and was believed to roam the woods riding on the back of a deer. On special occasions he was called upon to come into the village and frighten young children for acts of disobedience. He never talked but used a turtle shell rattle and stick to communicate his thoughts.
At different times of the year the Lenape held ceremonies and rituals to honor the good spirits or drive out the evil ones. They celebrated the rising of the maple sap and the planting of the corn. They had a ritual for the first green corn of each year and a celebration of the harvest. And there were other good things to celebrate – a birth, a marriage, or a successful hunt.
Shaman Man Sitting
People known as shamans were thought to have more special power over spirits; these individuals often used their power for the good of others by becoming medicine men or religious leaders.
The Lenape believed that certain rituals, such as fasting, gave them special power to influence spirits. It was the custom for boys – and sometimes girls – to mark the time when they became adults by going away alone for many days to fast and dream. The special power they received at this time might enable them to have visions, and some of them might find a guardian spirit. This special guardian could take the form of a fox, a hawk, a small ant or even a rock and could protect the individual for life or tell them what their future would be.
In general, very few native people lived to be older than thirty-five years of age. Sometimes Lenape children died at a very young age because of sickness, injury, or lack of proper food. For this reason, children were not given a formal name until they were about three years old.
The dead were laid in a shallow grave lined with tree bark or grass mats. In early times, the arms of the dead person were folded across the chest. The knees were bent so that the legs were close to the body. Sometimes, a clay pot was filled with food and placed in the grave. This food gave the soul of the dead person strength to make the long journey to heaven.
The Lenape believed that the soul of good people went to live with the Great Creator Kishelemukong in the highest heaven, but the souls of evil individuals had to stay outside this “happy hunting ground“ forever. They believed that the starry cluster called the Milky Way was the path to heaven. The Lenape name for the Milky Way is Ane (A-nay-e). When a person died, his name also died. People did not say that person’s name ever again because it would bring sadness to the family.
The other European colony found on the Delaware was New Sweden. Yup, this place is actually some % Swedish. New Sweden was a Swedish colony along the lower reaches of the Delaware River in North America from 1638 to 1655, established during the Thirty Years' War, when Sweden was a great power. New Sweden was part of Swedish colonization efforts in the Americas.
Settlements were established on both sides of the Delaware Valley in the present-day American Mid-Atlantic states of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, often in places where Swedish traders had been visiting since about 1610. Fort Christina, now part of Wilmington, Delaware, was the first settlement, named after the reigning Swedish monarch, the sole daughter of Gustavus Adolphus. Along with Swedes and Finns, a number of the settlers were Dutch. New Sweden was conquered by the Dutch Republic in 1655, during the Second Northern War, and incorporated into the Dutch colonies of New Netherlands.
there's a place here called Arden, yes, like the Formula2, GP3 team of Horner/Red Bull fame
The northern part of the state has a quite distinct administrative geopraphical feature:
The Twelve-Mile Circle is an approximately circular arc which forms most of the boundary between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Delaware in the United States. It is not actually a circle, but rather a combination of different circular arcs that have been feathered together.
It is nominally a circle with a supposed—yet in fact only approximate and variable—12-mile (19 km) radius, centered in the town of New Castle, Delaware. In 1750, the center of the circle was fixed at the cupola of the courthouse in New Castle. The Twelve-Mile Circle continues into the Delaware River. A small portion of the circle, known as the "Arc Line," also forms part of the Mason-Dixon line, separating Delaware and Maryland. Two other small portions, although not actually demarcated until 1934, form parts of the boundary between the states of Delaware and New Jersey. Although the Twelve-Mile Circle is often claimed to be the only territorial boundary in the United States that is a true arc (excepting those following arcs of latitude), the Mexican boundary with Texas includes several arcs,[5] and many cities in the South (such as Plains, Georgia) also have circular boundaries.
The state is also home to the State's second lowest highest geographical high point, situated at a place called Ebright Azimuth. It is marked with a geodetic benchmark monument and has an elevation of 447.85 feet (136.50 m) above sea level. The only state high-point with a lower elevation is Britton Hill in the state of Florida at 345 feet (105 m) above sea level.
I can climb this in my sleep.
Race agricultural fact: Delaware's agricultural output consists of poultry, nursery stock, soybeans, dairy products and corn.
There is barely anything Paranormal or creepy about Delaware, which if you think of it, is the most creepy thing about it. So I'll leave 3 vids of the famous nextdoor neighbor.
Speaking of famous New-Jerseyians, this is widely considered the home race for our current 2017 Champ, Martin Truex; coincidentally he won his first cup race here in 2007.
Race day Numerology; Race #11
Number 11, also called master number 11, is one of the few compound numbers in Numerology that retains its own vibrational essence and is not customarily reduced to a single root number. Master numbers, like number 11 at its highest level of vibrational energy, have special spiritual significance and are indicative of the attainment of extremely high spiritual attainment.
To resonate at the level of master number 11, you have to reach a fairly high state of spiritual evolution. This is why the number 11 is often depicted as number 11/2 instead.
As a compound number we can combine the individual digits of number eleven and arrive at the root number from which 11 receives its root essence. When we combine eleven’s individual digits we come up with number 2.
The number 2 is highly emotional and intuitive number which is associated in the Major Arcana of the Tarot with The High Priestess card. At the level of master number 11, this energy is associated with the Tarot card called Strength or The Enchantress.
We will take a closer look at The Enchantress in just a bit, but before that, suffice it to say that the journey from The High Priestess to The Enchantress involves reconciling the energy of ego expressed in the dual number ones in 11 with the intuition that emerges from its two energy.
When 11 is expressed as 11/2 in numerology it is in reference to the fact that not everyone has developed the kind of spiritual energy necessary to realize the high vibrational frequency of master number 11. Unable to master this energy, those who are influenced by number 11 will experience their energy fall to the level of number 2. As the old saying goes, both 11 and 2 work on stage: 11 performs on the stage; 2 sweeps up afterward.
Number 11 is a highly spiritual number, balancing the intuitive qualities of The High Priestess with the leadership and creative qualities of The Magician. Those whose lives are informed by number 11 are both spiritually sensitive and charismatic, cooperative and independent.
The energy of 1 and 2, we have said, are similar to the primordial energies of Yin and Yang found in Taoism. The energy of 1 is independent and charismatic, while the number 2 is intuitive and creative. In the number 11, these energies combine to form a master number with incredible spiritual power.
You could say that 11 has an extra dose of 1 energy which is tempered by the cooperative 2 energy that emerges from reducing 11’s digits. Spiritual dynamism, charismatic charm, and the ability to cooperate with others in a team. This is the energy of master number 11
The number eleven is a very common number, appearing twice a day on the clock, or every hour when reckoning by the minute hand. It can appear as a price on a menu, the amount of change you receive from a purchase, an address, a page number in a book or as a day of the month.
When the number 11 appears in your experience it is likely to represent a calling from spirit or source. It could serve as a reminder for you to take a broader perspective about a particular problem or serve as a reminder not to neglect your deeper spiritual calling.
Not everyone is spiritually developed enough to live up to the calling of master number 11. As we noted earlier, those who can not live up to the high calling and purpose of master number 11 experience a fall down to the energy of 2 and find themselves relating to the trials and tribulations of life in a compliant and submissive way.
Those who are spiritually ready to enact the high energy and vibration of master number 11 will have the opportunity to experience life at the highest levels. Mastery of the energy of number 11 requires intelligence, strength, moral fortitude and personal discipline. However, once that is accomplished, literally anything is possible.
Astrology Chart of the Race:
The significant thing of this chart is found in the Sun's position at 15 degrees of Taurus, which literally marks the exact halfway point of the astrological and astronomical Spring. And this day represents a big mark in the Pagan - Wheel of the Year as one of the 8 holy Sabbath, the cross quarter day of Spring - Beltane.
Beltane marks the midpoint between the Spring Equinox & the Summer Solstice. These days at the middle of the season are called cross quarter days. They divide the quarters of the year, set by the solstices & the equinoxes.
By the mid-point in the season, there is a clear difference in the energy from the beginning of the season. You can see that the wheel has shifted. What’s happening in nature, the energy in the natural world is different here at Beltane, than it was just 6 weeks ago at the Spring Equinox.
At the Spring Equinox, life was just beginning to emerge. Depending on where you live, there may have been snow on the ground in mid-March. But here, at the beginning of May, there is no denying that the Earth has been reborn. The colors are vibrant. The air is growing warmer.
The Wheel has turned. The energy is growing. It is a special day to celebrate all things TAURUS.
Beltane is the time to acknowledge & honor the fertility inherent in all life. At Beltane we celebrate the life force within all of us & within the natural world. It’s a traditional time to celebrate the mothers, and their ability to birth new life.
This is the time of year for reclaiming your sexual energy.
Not simply the power sex has to create new life, but also for the pleasure it brings us. At this time of year, every act of pleasure is a celebration of the life force within you. That is why your spirit chose this life, after all – to experience the pleasures your Soul can’t experience without your body to touch things & to feel things.
This is the time of year to celebrate your body. To celebrate all the things your body can do & all the things you are able to experience because you have a body.
Here’s some wonderful questions to ask yourself at this time of year …
1. What is bringing you great joy right now?
2. What currently lights your spirit up? What do you feel inspired to devote your spring energy toward?
3. Do you feel connected with your sexual energy? Do you connect with that side of your self? How can you connect more deeply with that part of you?
4. What parts of yourself do you feel most confident about? Where do you need to boost your self-confidence?
5. What intentions do you want to plant for the coming weeks & months? What do you hope to grow in your life? What do you want to harvest in the fall?
yeah, it's that time of naked pagans around the campfire. I'm in
also a time of flowers, Nature, good food and all that jazz
Ok; back to the race. Schedule:
ALL TIMES ET
Helpful track map:
Here's someone from Dover:
Cheers to another Racing Weekend
*triple sacred boogity*
Blessed Beltane y'all
