Hi everyone. I began watching the eclipse on and off beginning around 4:00. I took some pics during the umbral phase, but I won't have them ready to post to my album for a few days. The sky in Tropic was very clear this morning and it wasn't even too cold. The Moon set behind the pink cliffs of Bryce Canyon just before totality, but I really enjoyed watching the umbral phase. It was also nice doing so from my warm living room, with a cup of hot cocoa in my hand. While a bit unrelated, this eclipse has me stoked for the annular eclipse next May. Hope to see you all here for that. I was hospitalized for pneumonia just after Thanksgiving and I've missed over two weeks of posts from this group. When I finally opened my email this morning I had over 480 new messages! I didn't count, but most were from UA, and maybe one-third of those were about Alton Coal. Sorry that I rocked the boat so much when I first brought this up, but I just wanted others to be aware of what was happening so they could comment to the BLM if they wished. Please allow me some final (for me) thoughts, inasmuch as I was unable to respond earlier, during these past two weeks. I know you are all burned out by now, but I sort of started this thread and maybe I can help finish it. A recent assignment for my job as Cultural Resource Specialist for Bryce Canyon has been to review the Alton Coal Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and provide comments that relate to cultural resources. Often "cultural resources" are thought to refer only to archeological sites and issues, but in a broader sense, our night skies are also a cultural resource (and are referred to as such in the DEIS). I've also been reviewing the impact of the proposed mine expansion and related increased truck traffic on US 89. The rationale for this is that US 89 is a designated "heritage highway," the route goes through the middle of a national historic district in Panguitch, and Bryce Canyon NP and the Park Service are partners in the Utah Heritage Highway 89/Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area Alliance. I have found significant shortcomings in the DEIS, as have those here who are reviewing other aspects, such as archeology, wildlife, vegetation, etc. In my opinion the BLM should be held to a more rigorous standard. Individuals of this group (Utah Astronomy), with their knowledge of and concern for protecting the night sky as an important natural and cultural resource (I thought, anyway) may have some influence if they choose to "weigh-in" and submit comments to the BLM. That's the reason I brought this all to everyone's attention. (In truth, I think there were one or two earlier posts to mine, but there was little reaction then from UA.) I'd like to offer one final personal observation, and please, this is not directed to any one person but relates to comments I've heard on the radio and by other residents of the area: It seems ironic to me that the BLM is vilified by some for their actions, such as measures that they might take to limit access to public lands, but when the BLM's equally flawed actions (in this case the effort to allow the expansion of the Alton Coal Mine) might boost the area's economy or create jobs, the same people are all in favor of the BLM and its proposals. I think that citizens need to look at all government actions with a more critical eye. It's true that I am personally not in favor of expanding the Alton Coal Mine, but I've tried to make my analysis of the DEIS without regard to my personal feelings. The environmental review (the DEIS) offered by the BLM, so far, is simply flawed and the BLM should be required to do a better job for us all, rather than favoring special interests. That's all folks. Kim