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I am a reporter with a unique beat. I use my understanding of planetary cycles to provide advance notice and analysis on the Zeitgeist of the day. If you have ever wondered “why is this happening now,” my insights will transform your experience of the headlines, adding new meaning and understanding. Call it Astrology for News Junkies. If you’re curious to know why the Impossible Burger is trending…or why the outcome of the 2019 Israeli elections was likely to be a shocker …or why “Woodrow Wilson, Stud Muffin” was a New York Times headline in December 2013, you will find it here, in over a decade’s worth of historical research and reporting.
Note that I do use astrological jargon in The Forecast in my effort to show how the planetary patterns are reflected in mundane events. I explain what the jargon symbolizes, so that all who want to understand the connections between astrology and the news may do so. However, I do not use astrological jargon in personal consultations, just plain English.
Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 4/30/2015: Bruce Jenner’s Perfect Timing; Mercury in Gemini
/in The ForecastAllll-righty then.
This was Wednesday:
Moon continues its sojourn in analytical Virgo, seeking perfection and order in all things. There’s an easy flow of action to this day, courtesy of a contact between the Moon and Mars at 4:21PM ET. This is preceded by a supercharged contact between the Moon and Venus in multitasking Gemini at 3:38PM ET. Translation: a potential ego drama over seemingly trivial details. Move on!
The other pattern exact today is a cooperative connection between the Taurus Sun and visionary Neptune in Pisces, exact at 7:11PM ET. Dreams, healing, music, art, empathy, illusion, martyrs, suffering, faith, hope and charity — with drugs, spirits, oil, gas and other toxins mixed into the headlines. In your own personal world, you may be feeling especially sensitive, as emotions are building to a seriously ripe Full Moon late Sunday. Feed your soul. Indulge in a gentle, dreamy escape. Practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.
This is Thursday:
Moon is void between 8:23AM and 10:03AM ET. Then it enters Libra, seeking balance and harmony in relationship. At 10PM ET, Mercury leaves Taurus for Gemini, the sign it rules. Mercury will be in Gemini until July 8th, where it functions with speed and efficiency. Make your pitch!
And now, the news.
Many were feeling especially sensitive to a beer company’s latest campaign slogan — and not just because it is cumbersome and clumsy. Bud Light: “The perfect beer for removing ‘no’ from your vocabulary for the night.” I can’t believe some marketing team got paid thousands of dollars for that brain-dead effort. If the marketing objective is to brand mediocre “beer” as an aphrodisiac, a catchier line would be “Bud Light: With you all the way.”
Should I ditch astrology for the glamorous life of an advertising copywriter?
But I digress. As it turns out, since our collective consciousness has just been through two heavy years of Saturn in Scorpio (10/12 – 12/14), thus raising awareness of the harsher realities (Saturn) of sexual energy (such as date rape), I’m pleased to report that Bud Light pulled its tasteless campaign.
Drugs, suffering, prisons and martyrs. These are uncomfortable potentials of Neptune. Add a challenge to Neptune from Saturn in Sagittarius (foreigners) and it might reflect the timing of Indonesia executing eight people by firing squad last night — only one was Indonesian. Most had spent over ten years on death row, convicted on charges of narcotics trafficking. One of those men, Myuran Sukumaran, became an accomplished artist while incarcerated. His paintings will be exhibited around the world this year, as transiting Uranus conjuncts his natal Mercury. Horoscopes live forever.
Here in the US, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case brought by Oklahoma inmates about whether the drugs used in lethal injections created unconstitutional pain and suffering (Neptune also refers to the surreal). Not-so-surreal was the detailed Moon-in-Virgo questions asked by SCOTUS in the second day of arguments in a case involving same-sex marriage. Chief Justice John Roberts, whose horoscope certainly suggests potential for innovative thought and perspicacity made a point that hadn’t been getting a lot of attention:
That question created some buzz, as the above link explains. Frankly, I’d be surprised if the Court does not rule in favor of a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. And then they will move on to hearing cases arguing that discrimination is OK if not discriminating would violate one’s religious beliefs. We’ve got two more years of Saturn in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces…
…and here are thoughts on that Saturn-Neptune aspect, as well as a reminder on what we can expect in the aftermath of the seventh Uranus-Pluto square. I wrote it at the beginning of the year. I wrote this other piece at the end of last month — it has more perspective on the onslaught of recent catastrophic headlines — see the paragraph about the quindecile.
Anyhoo….
Bruce Jenner, as promised. Here is his horoscope.
Mr. Jenner is a Scorpio with Scorpio rising, suggesting depth, substance and a need to be — and be seen as — someone in power and in control. With that Scorpio Sun on the Ascendant, we anticipate a need to shine as a soloist in his vocation. Note that the Sun rules the Midheaven (career) and it is in mutual reception with Pluto, the ruler of the chart. Pluto is in the 10th house, along with Mars (action) in pristine Virgo. Fascinating to note that Mars rules the 6th house of work, cooperation and the body. Mars is in harmony with the Ascendant, which also refers to physical appearance. On the surface, we’d see the potential for a perfectionist drive, tremendous resources and discipline in presentation.
Scorpio rising and an eastern hemisphere emphasis suggest a defensive posture. As his astrologer, we’d want to find out why. What might he be protecting?
Mr. Jenner’s Moon is in Aquarius, and like his Sun, it sits on an angle of the chart, giving it added presence. An Aquarius Moon needs to be appreciated for being unique and for being socially significant. Keywords for Aquarius include: humanitarian, unconventional, friendship and offbeat. If you watched the Diane Sawyer interview last week, you’ll recall Mr. Jenner saying more than once that his “mission” (that’s Scorpio talking) was to promote tolerance and understanding (that’s Aquarius). He’d love to sit down with fellow Republicans Mitch McConnell and John Boehner and help them see that a transgendered person is nothing to fear (he said that as much, too). And with his Moon in the 3rd house conjunct Jupiter, he’d make an awesome sales pitch.
So here’s where things get interesting. His Moon is in an obsessive relationship with Pluto, suggesting some kind of competitive feeling with the feminine/maternal influence, impacting his identity. He’d need to communicate this awareness in a big way, and it’s no coincidence that he’s had such an international reach in his career — especially in the media.
We see an equally obsessive-compulsive relationship between Venus (social expression, values) and rebel/eccentric Uranus. Venus rules his 7th house of relationships, so we expect an intense need for freedom in his partnerships — and that need for freedom is likely quite avant garde. In Sagittarius and in the 2nd house, this Venus needs to have righteous expression of social values and self worth, but this need is likely to be constrained by Saturn, planet of necessary control. Why? Because Saturn is in a hard aspect with Venus. Something about this constraint is related to 1) an anxiety about being lovable; and 2) a conservative mindset, suggested by Saturn in the 11th ruling the 3rd.
Venus also rules the 12th house — traditionally the house of “self-undoing” or things that are suppressed in the subconscious. What clues about Mr. Jenner’s need for eccentric, righteous, honest social expression and self-worth will we find? Only a meet-up of Mercury, Neptune and the Nodal Axis, suggesting a bewildering and/or idealistic mindset, along with a need for avoidance of conflict at all costs (this meet-up is in Libra). We would know without a doubt that the relationship with the feminine/maternal is also bewildering, and we would ask him how this is so in the consultation. We’d ask how it influences areas of creative self-expression, and we’d soon be engaged in a meaningful conversation. If he’s like any of my clients, he would be thrilled (after the initial surprise), that his potential would be seen so clearly in his horoscope. How validating and empowering is that?
He would also be amazed that the timing of significant life events would also be suggested by planetary transits. “Mr. Jenner, there’s a strong suggestion of bewilderment about your identity — a potential ego wipe-out in 1958…” and he would tell you that this is when he felt compelled to put on a dress for the first time. “And in the summer of 1976, why do we see the suggestion that you were at the top of your game professionally?” That was when he became a gold medalist at the Olympics. And so forth.
As for the timing of his interview with Ms. Sawyer and the documentary about his transition that will air this summer, you better believe that such a ground-breaking disruption of the status quo involves the seventh Uranus-Pluto square, as well as those two potent eclipses at 14 Aries-Libra in April and 15 last October. Mr. Jenner’s Neptune is at 15 Libra; the North Node is at 15 Aries in his 6th house. Talk about a supercharged vision of self-expression meeting the public!
A North Node in Aries in the 6th suggests a need to be one’s own pioneering self — especially in the physical body. Uranus just hit that Node for the 3rd time this winter; Pluto is at 15 Capricorn — squaring the Node and Neptune all this year. And let’s not overlook an exact square between transiting Chiron and his natal Chiron in the 2nd house of self-worth, suggesting an opportunity to heal lifelong wounds. Not to mention other arcs I’d love to write about, in an article for which someone is actually paying me.
One segment of Ms. Sawyer’s interview showed her speaking with medical professionals about gender dysphoria. One of the doctors showed a chart — an infrared ultraviolet x-ray CAT scan thing of a human brain “lit up” in different colors. The colors represented hormones — male, female, whatever. Hardly anyone at home watching TV would expect to understand what those patterns of colored light on the brain meant, but everyone would trust that the doctor did; therefore, this chart was Reliable Proof that gender dysphoria was something that could be measured and validated.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if Ms. Sawyer — who is going to need a follow-up act for her journalistic scoop — did a serious journalistic piece on how a natal chart can also be used to anticipate one’s potential in life, including the timing of life events? It would be even more compelling if she interviewed some Serious People who had consulted with an astrologer and found it accurate and helpful.
It would be even more awesome if you found out what your unique horoscope suggests about your life potential. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Thank you for reading this forecast and sharing it with your friends. Thank you for the generous donations which have kept me inspired to write for the past six years.
Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 4/28/2015: More on Obama; Venus-Uranus Fallout; Sneak Peek at the Week
/in The ForecastGood Morning!
Monday’s Leo Moon was void during business hours between 10:12AM and 9:07PM ET. Did you feel a bit “meh” about this wonderful new week? Have any twists and delays in your efforts to move forward in a straight line? You were not alone. If you are a NYT subscriber, perhaps you read this helpful and aptly timed article about the futility of trying to push through obstacles when you are clearly headed in the wrong direction. Yesterday’s regal Moon was square Mercury in stubborn Taurus, doncha’ know…and that can present a logjam. Or a regal outburst of frustration. What does the article recommend? Walk, wander and chill…perfect during a Moon void.
Today the Moon is in Virgo, perfect for projects that involves organizing, analyzing and cleaning of the confetti and other remnants of the weekend’s Moon in Leo bash. Make good use of this energetic flow for the next three days.
The only other Moon void during the work week happens on Thursday between 8:23AM and 10:03AM ET. Other exact planetary patterns include Wednesday’s communicative alignment between the Sun and Neptune, suggesting headlines involving intangibles, such as high art and music, colored rose. Here’s one about a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Musicians against three movie studios who allegedly outsourced film scoring work, in violation of a union agreement.
On Thursday, Mercury leaves Taurus for airy Gemini, the sign it rules. That should pick up the pace and efficiency of thought and communication. It will also coincide with the planned crash of NASA’s Messenger spacecraft on Mercury. Amazing. On Sunday, just before midnight, we’ll have a Full Moon in Scorpio…suggesting a palpable building of emotions as we get closer to the weekend. There’s a big fight scheduled on Saturday night…sure to be intense. I think I’ll pass.
And now, more news.
Certainly you have heard about the 7.8 earthquake that occurred in Nepal just before noon on Saturday. With two potent eclipses and the seventh Uranus-Pluto square releasing over the past several weeks, a major seismic event is not surprising, but I can tell you from my own experience with earthquakes that this is no consolation. I did find it interesting that the most destructive quake to hit Nepal in the past 100 years happened on January 15th, 1934, after the last series of Uranus-Pluto squares. The chart for that quake is much more intense than this recent quake, as was the loss of life. I know that two events hardly qualify as a full-blown data analysis. I promise to do more when my MacArthur Fellowship materializes.
Not surprised about yesterday’s fiery turmoil in Baltimore, either, for reasons stated plenty of times before in this forecast. Sign of the times.
Meanwhile, during the earlier part of that long Moon void in Cancer, at least 17 million Americans did stay home Friday night (as suggested) and spend time with their favorite gal pal (also suggested). That gal pal was Diane Sawyer, whose riveting interview with Bruce Jenner could not have been more perfectly timed, also reflecting that cooperative aspect between Venus (women, aesthetics, values) and unconventional, tech-friendly Uranus in gotta be me-me-me Aries.
I will do a write-up of Mr. Jenner’s horoscope (he has not asked to be addressed as “Ms.” yet), hopefully in the next forecast. It paints an accurate portrait of his personal struggles and triumphs, and along with the timing of life events. It’s a complicated horoscope, as you can imagine, and I can’t help but think how much Mr. Jenner would benefit from a consultation with a sophisticated astrologer. It would be a validating, liberating experience. I hope he has one on call.
Meanwhile, let the record show a few more apt Venus sextile Uranus headlines, reflecting offbeat themes. First, it was a perfect backdrop for John Oliver to host a Monty Python panel discussion at the Tribeca Film Festival. Venus and Uranus together can be quirky and funny. It was also well-suited for a review of Anne Hathaway’s solo performance as a fighter pilot (Uranus refers to aviation) in “Grounded,” now playing at the Public Theatre. How about an NYT op-ed about how to attract women engineers? And finally, there was this story: “Websites in India Put a Bit of Choice in Arranged Marriages” — putting an innovative spin on an old-fashioned convention.
Last, but not least, a regal Leo Moon, combined with the social tolerance (and wit) of that Venus-Uranus made for quite a show at the Annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. And there was President Obama bringing down the house with a string of one-liners. But wait — you might say — didn’t I specifically write on Friday that Barack Obama wouldn’t be partying over the weekend? Watch his speech (aided and abetted by Luther, his personal anger translator). Do you really think he was joking? See the write-up here. The video of the whole speech is here. The part with Luther is here.
The heavy Saturn transits in the president’s horoscope are happening in tandem with transiting Jupiter to his Sun at 12 degrees Leo. This Jupiter transit suggests an ego boost, with opportunities for ego expansion and — in traditional astrology — good fortune and timing. It may facilitate the ambitious reach of those concurrent Saturn transits, but likely not completely cancel out their potential pitfalls. Horoscopes nearly always contain patterns that seem contradictory. This is why it is wise not to obsess about a seemingly “bad” or “good” pattern in your chart. Besides, planets don’t do anything — as astrologer Noel Tyl has said. People do!
On Saturday it was revealed that Russian hackers had gained access to President Obama’s unclassified emails. Heavy.
What’s going on in your horoscope?
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 4/24/2015 & the Weekend: Party On! (Except Barack Obama)
/in The ForecastToday’s major planetary action occurred in the early morning, with the sensitive Cancer Moon rattled and/or fired up by contacts to intense Pluto, action hero Mars and rebel Uranus — all by 9AM ET. No chance of sleeping in today with that kind of buzz.
At 1:04PM ET, Moon goes void on a communicative connection to Mercury, facilitating whatever you might have to say about getting needs for emotional and home(land) security met. No need to make a crisis about it, though some may be inclined to do so while the Moon is in a wandering freefall — challenged by its efforts to move forward in a straight line. Take care of routine matters; roll with whatever twists and flakes may crop up; avoid shopping sprees and making mountains out of molehills. An evening at home — or with your favorite gal pal — is not a bad strategy under the light of the Cancer Moon.
Moon engages in Leo at 9:13AM ET, encouraging drama queens everywhere to take center stage in efforts to be loved and adored. An easy flow between Moon and Saturn at 4:09PM ET facilitates serious effort. Use it to push through the challenges that may emerge regarding seeds planted on last week’s visionary New Moon, thanks to the First Quarter square between the Sun and Moon at 7:55PM ET.
An exuberant meet-up at 11:04AM ET on Sunday between the Moon and Jupiter lifts spirits. Dinner with unusual friends or an appreciation of some other innovative, unconventional aesthetic would be favored, courtesy of an alignment between Venus and Uranus. Did you know that astrology is ruled by Uranus? Don’t be surprised if your conversations have a metaphysical flavor, as Moon will be engaged with both Uranus and Venus around 8PM ET.
Caveat: on a clash between the regal Moon and assertive Mars at 11:34PM ET, avoid going to bed angry on Sunday night. Do something else with that willful force of nature. On Monday, the Moon will be void from 10:12AM ET until 9:07PM ET. Same way we started the work week last week…
And now, the news.
All I have to say right now is that ever since Barack Obama read a collection of Mean Tweets directed at him on Jimmy Kimmel’s show last month, I’ve been noting how transiting Saturn has been impacting Mr. Obama’s horoscope. Avid readers will recall that Saturn (authority, ambition, structure) was at the top of his chart at the end of last year, suggesting (as I had been writing for months and months), that he would be at the top of his game. Saturn has moved off his 28 degree Scorpio Midheaven and is now at 3 degrees Sagittarius. That’s an exact opposition to his Gemini Moon. Saturn-Moon transits can lead one to feel lonely and unlovable.
Yea verily, this is a heavy pattern, and with the Moon and Saturn ruling areas of Mr. Obama’s horoscope that refer to “behind the scenes” influences, one can only imagine what’s cooking. Yesterday, we saw a few manifestations. First, a fast-track approval process for the seriously behind-the-scenes Trans-Pacific Partnership appears to have been OK’d in Congress. Some people think this is a very bad idea. They might be happier to hear that in Florida, the president took a hard line against those who deny that climate change is real — Happy Earth Day, America! Third, and heaviest of all — was the announcement that an unmanned drone strike in Pakistan had killed an American and an Italian hostage, both of whom were being held by al-Qaeda. That drone strike allegedly happened on a militant Mars-Saturn pattern on January 15th. Mr. Obama accepted “full responsibility” for this Epic Fail. Heavy.
Saturn will be exactly at the top of Mr. Obama’s chart from July 3rd until September 1st, offering plenty of opportunities for him to demonstrate more hard lines and executive authority. Saturn will oppose his Moon for the third and final time the week before Halloween.
In your own personal world, it’s good to know about Saturn transits. Much can be accomplished, but discipline and focus is required. Feelings of depression and isolation are also not uncommon, which is why it is super-helpful to have an astrologer to help you put these heavy times in perspective. You can plan ahead for these challenges — and actually look forward to them. Doesn’t that sound like fun? Here’s how to schedule a personal consultation.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Astro-logical Forecast for April 4/23/2015: Good Luck; Good Timing
/in The ForecastMoon entered Cancer at 12:25AM ET, ending an almost 24 hour void, and a higher than average flake, twist and “meh” factor. Now that the Moon is fully and happily in gear (and in the sign it rules, no less), forge ahead on your initiatives. There’s a lovely balance this morning between the Moon and the Taurus Sun, and no serious bumps in the road for the rest of the day. Emotional security, nurturing and home concerns may become a focus — and be especially fulfilling. An easy connection between the Moon and sensitive Neptune at 5:23PM ET favors empathy, intuition and vision.
Get it off your desk today — or at least before the Moon goes void again on Friday at 1:20PM ET. Be advised that the Moon will be more rattled by its weekly clash with Uranus and Pluto early Friday morning. That’s another incentive to pitch today, as there will likely be less resistance. Good news, perhaps, for Loretta Lynch, who was nominated last November to replace outgoing U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Her nomination is expected to be voted on by the Senate sometime this afternoon.
Meanwhile, you may recall my wondering what sensational buzz we might experience over a seemingly mundane, yet captivating image-gone-viral during yesterday’s all-day Gemini Moon void. Not a dress of controversial colors this time, but an equally mysterious and wondrous quadruple rainbow seen in Long Island — or was it? The good folks at Snopes have the story.
Many believe rainbows are good omens, and it’s fun to note that this one appeared during an easy alignment between Venus and Jupiter, two planets which are considered to be lucky by traditional astrologers. And it is true that when Venus and Jupiter are making strong connections in someone’s horoscope, that Someone often attracts good things, e.g, marriage, money, a promotion or some other happy expansion. If you’d like to know when your horoscope will be experiencing these fortuitous patterns, book a personal consultation.
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 4/22/2015: Gwyneth Paltrow; Postcard From the Void
/in The ForecastThe last time we had an all-day Moon void in trivia-loving Gemini, the internet was abuzz with controversy over the color of a dress: black and blue? Or white and gold? What wandering twist will capture our attention today? This morning there was a traffic snarl in the UK, caused by a collie commandeering a tractor.
A certain depth of perception, the result of an investigative effort, is suggested by mental Mercury’s alignment with muck-raking Pluto at 9:25AM ET, perhaps affording some insight into the Powers That Be. A cooperative connection between Venus in breezy Gemini and Jupiter in regal Leo exact at 2:41PM ET suggests general good cheer and an indulgent, extra-long lunch. Stubborn resolve in communication and action is suggested around 7:04PM ET, when Mercury and Mars meet up in earthy Taurus. On the plus side, maybe some positive talk and action in honor of Earth Day. On the down side, this would be the time to remember that crises that crop up during Moon voids are usually much ado about nothing, with little consequence for actions initiated.
The Moon doesn’t enter the next sign — Cancer — until 12:25AM ET on Thursday. Look up, and you can catch the annual April Lyrids meteors.
And now, the news.
Moon void, meet Supervoid. During Monday’s all-day Moon void in Taurus, astronomers announced the discovery of the largest “structure” in the known Universe: a giant, gaping hole. Meanwhile, sandwiched between the idealized beauty of Venus square Neptune (on Sunday) and the luxury of today’s Venus sextile Jupiter, last night a “perfect” diamond sold for $22m at Sothebys. Add Tuesday’s “think big” Mercury square Jupiter and a highly acquisitive and resourceful Mars in Taurus trine Pluto to that story.
What I’ve been seeing in the headlines this week are plenty of stories illustrating larger planetary patterns. The death of an estimated 900 migrants in a capsized ferry on Mediterranean is yet another story of how immigration and refugees are likely to be ongoing concerns, suggested by Saturn’s 28 month passage through Sagittarius (foreigners), currently squaring Neptune in Pisces (victims, refugees). The overall disruption of the status quo is, of course, reflected in the aftermath of the square between Uranus and Pluto. Let the record show that the only other time we experienced a longer period of Uranus-Pluto action was between 1496 and 1500, out of which emerged the New World. There was a big immigration problem back then, too.
Disruption of the status quo in work routines. These seeds were planted in the mid-60s, with the Uranus-Pluto conjunction in Virgo (Virgo refers to work routines, cooperative systems and service). We’d expect to see advancement on these seeds at the Uranus-Pluto square, and here’s a piece a reader sent in about the rise of machines and what it might mean for those with certain jobs. Pluto will be opposed by Uranus in Virgo in 2047 — so that’s when we should have full illumination on how those seeds have thrived.
Inequality of resources. This is another pressing Uranus-Pluto revelation. Ever hear of a “poor door”? In New York, 88,000 people have applied for a chance to live in a controversial Upper West Side building that has separate entrances for low-income tenants and much higher-income owners. Quoted in the NYT article: “I guess people like it,” said Gary Barnett, founder and president of Extell Development Company, the tower’s developer. “It shows that there’s a tremendous demand for high-quality affordable housing in beautiful neighborhoods.” What a jerk.
Meanwhile, federal workers are on strike today, including a number of them who work in the U.S. Senate cafeteria. Apparently they used to be U.S. government employees, but as of 2008, they are contract workers for a corporation headquartered in the UK. I was intrigued by this cashier’s account of how her life has changed, as well as this story penned by one of the cafeteria’s cooks, a single father working two jobs who also apparently receives food stamps to make ends meet.
Gwyneth Paltrow. The actress, whose horoscope is laced with patterns that can’t help but attract attention, was mocked last week when she accepted a challenge from Mario Batali to try to live on $29 worth of food for the week –and failed. She did not do her food stamp challenge shopping at Aldi, which has much lower prices, but this NY Daily News reporter did.
Current transits in Ms. Paltrow’s horoscope suggest a potential wipe-out and other immediate upheavals, and I thought to myself that this little PR effort wouldn’t be all we’d see in the headlines about her. Sure enough, today she filed for divorce from her husband, from whom she’d “consciously uncoupled” last year, at the beginning of a long and bewildering transit of Neptune to her Pisces Ascendant.
Presumably, Ms. Paltrow has a consulting astrologer on her team who helps her put relationship and other life challenges in perspective. To find out what’s going on in your horoscope — and how you can use astrology to resolve career and relationship concerns — consider scheduling a personal consultation. We will have an excellent discussion together.