I'm sad. As I mentioned earlier, the third largest solar flare ever recorded occured on my birthday. That was pretty cool, but it turns out that it was just the start of the most active period of solar activity ever recorded which was topped off today by the largest solar flare ever seen, one much bigger than the one that occured on the 28th. At least this one wasn't pointed directly at the earth. Stupid Sun, now if I ever mention the solar flare on my birthday (which is now the 4th largest ever recorded) people (who care) will say, "oh, but a bigger one happened a week later!"