Totally unrelated to politics (so report me! hee)

I used to be an astrology fan but don't give much credence to it anymore, figure it's mostly just ideas of reference and self-fulfilling synchronicity, but the effects of Mercury Retrograde, on communication in particular, is the one aspect of it that I just can't let go of yet.  Especially since it's uncanny how often I can just "tell" one is happening or about to be happening, like now.  Forewarned is forearmed.  Me, I'm just going to go sit on my thumbs instead of posting (much) until it all blows over.   And I'll go turn in my rationalist card now too.  :ashamedly skulks away:

"Mercury is retrograde from February 23rd to March 17th, 2013. Mercury's shadow period begins February 8th and ends April 6th, 2013.

As the planet of communication, Mercury retrograde tends to breed a certain level of confusion. Mercury rules our "lower" mind--how we perceive and interpret information that we receive from our environment, and how we relay that information to others. Mercury has rulership over such things as speaking, negotiating, buying and selling, listening, formal contracts, documents, travel, the mail and shipping, and so forth. All of these areas of life are affected when Mercury is functioning in a sluggish state. Decision-making is challenged during Mercury retrograde. Needless to say, it is not advised to sign contracts, engage in important decision-making, or launch a new business. Delays and challenges are more probable with Mercury retrograde. It's a time when being careless with money, our personal information, or paperwork can be costly.

There is absolutely a positive side to Mercury Retrograde. This period is best used for re-organizing and reflecting. We look at the world a little differently--through different filters--and can come up with some very important inner revelations. It may be difficult to communicate them under this influence, but not everything needs to be rationalized. Mercury retrograde periods can be times of heightened inner awareness, when meditation, benefiting from keeping a journal, reworking old plans, and reviewing past work are favored. Minor breaks in the mechanical aspects of communication can actually re-connect us to other means of communication, such as when there is an unexpected power outage and we're forced off the computer and television, finding different and often satisfying ways to entertain ourselves." ....