ShowMeBlog

CERT class

  My grandson found out today that he is going to start getting un-employment money again.  He will get it until October.  I am not sure if this means that FL did accept the federal money or not.
  Russell is talking about going in the military.  He wants to go in for a number of reasons.  One is that he can not find a job and one is that he wants some of the benefits of going in the military. 

  I put a Joomla! site back up again. I just wanted to pay with the Joomla! software again.  It is a lot of work but it has so much power and if I was a little smarter I could do some pretty neat things with it.

  I am feeling a little better now.  I did not take the Doxazosin Mesylate last night.  I said I was not going to take it anymore but I am worrying about Sunday.  Sunday I will  have my first CERT class and it is 8 hours.  I have to get there by bus without a bathroom visit and then I will be in class for 8 hours and I do not want to be running to the bathroom all the time.

  I am not in CA, I am in FL, but here is a little video that gives you a little idea of CERT training.


 

The Sarychev Peak Eruption – Kuril Islands

  I saw this on TV the other day.  I have heard people talking about it.  A friend, Dick, just sent me a link for the photo.  So take a look at what people are talking about.

“A fortuitous orbit of the International Space Station allowed the astronauts this striking view of Sarychev Volcano (Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan) in an early stage of eruption on June 12, 2009. Sarychev Peak is one of the most active volcanoes in the Kuril Island chain, and it is located on the northwestern end of Matua Island. Prior to June 12, the last explosive eruption occurred in 1989, with eruptions in 1986, 1976, 1954, and 1946 also producing lava flows. Ash from the multi-day eruption has been detected 2,407 kilometers east-southeast and 926 kilometers west-northwest of the volcano, and commercial airline flights are being diverted away from the region to minimize the danger of engine failures from ash intake…”   NASA Photo

Ground Observer Corp

  I was a member of the Ground Observer Corp for years.  After they did away with the GOC our post all became weather observers. 
  Now I lived in Kansas City (Missouri) and KC is right in the middle of the United States so I am not sure it made much sense having us watch for Soviet bombers.  Smile

  But I found the following on the Gizmodo site:

“…Here's a transcript of a panel about SAGE that occurred at the Computer History Museum in 1998. I found this passage, about why they couldn't use human spotters to warn of invasions, fascinating:

"And they saw lots of things! [Laughter] They saw airplanes — many of them were civilian; they saw birds; they saw all kinds of things, and most of them they thought were Soviet bombers. I mean, this was a scary period. They would then telephone the nearest air base, which would then have to figure out if this information was worth anything. And pretty much none of it was worth anything. So, it very rapidly became obvious that despite the huge size of this program — there were 8,000 observation posts, and at the peak of the program 305,000 volunteers staffing these things 24 hours a day — the information was pretty much useless. So, commanders just ignored it. For one thing, by the time it had been verified, the bombers would already be there. So, what was the point?

The reason I'm telling you this story is that the purpose of this program was not really air defense. It was public relations. It was saying to the public, "We are doing something about this problem — we see it." At the same time, the Air Force started looking everywhere for ideas from scientists and engineers, and [referring to the slide presentation] now we're restarting, and I'm not sure what's going on.

What's the modern equivalent system that we'd use to defend ourselves against North Korean nukes? I don't know. I just hope its more than just a PR stunt…”

 

   I do not know who was making that statement but I guess it was very funny.  I wonder if there was anyone there to tell the speaker that he was full of shit and did not know what he was talking about.  I wish I had been at the meeting to show everyone that the  clown did not know his ass from a hole in the ground.

  We did NOT report Soviet bombers.  We reported ALL airplanes.  We did not call the nearest air base.  We dialed the operator and said “Aircraft FLASH – Aircraft FLASH” and the operator connected us with Air Defense Command. 

200 Pounds and Holding

  I am still at 200 pounds.  I only had two eggs to eat today and I am still at 200 pounds.  I just took my blood pressure and it is 150/87.  That is not good. 

  I signed up today for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.  I will take the three day class in July.  I got a feeling that me not having a car could be a problem.  I will take the training and I guess if a real emergency happens Ken might let me use his old car.  But then I am not sure how he would feel about me driving his car to a disaster area.
  I need to get a ham radio.  I sold my last one and I do not have one right now.  I need to get one again. I would like to get one before Hurricane season and I would like to have one when I go to the training.  It is not a ham radio organization but it would be nice for the members to know about ham radio and what can be done with ham radio.

  There is going to be a hamfest in October of this year.  I did not go to the one last year.  I love going to them but I hope I have some money when I go.  There is a lot of used equipment and often dealers will have a booth and you can get a good deal on a new radio.
  
  Field Day will be June 27th and 28th.  I hope I can make it to a field day site this year.  I hope they have one in a location that I get to without a car.  Yes,  I could just get on the ham radio, if I had one, and ask if someone in this area is heading to the event and I am sure I could get a ride. 
 

  When I attend the events above I hope to have my new cell phone and I will post a short post with a photo from the event and I may even stream a little bit of live steaming video.

Shuttle Landing at Edwards

“A cockpit view of a Shuttle landing at Edwards. They appear to "hand fly" the shuttle on landing -I'd have thought it would be more like a Cat III Auto land approach and touchdown but sure sounds like the PIC is flying it the whole way.
Funny hearing them comment/complain about not being given the landing weather info - cloud cover - when they were going to have to let down through an under cast deck - probably a cirrus or altocu deck but still from where they were it was an under cast and at their speed and descent rate things happen fast so it seemed like relevant info they'd be given over and over.  I'm sure they have chase planes up to recon the lower part of the descent.
Good clean let down - a  couple of pros bringing down the most expensive glider on the planet. 
Sorry, don't know the original source or author of the comments below. If this is from the most recent Edwards landing this is Endeavor in Nov 2008. Let me know if this size file is inconvenient.
Dick”

Thanks Dick for the video.  It is a great video.

The Winter Storm

  I saw on the news about the winter storm and the extreme cold.  I am in Florida and we have great weather right now.  I do not even own a coat. 
  I grew up and lived in Kansas City (MO).  I know about bad winter weather.  I had to live and work in Kansas City.  I worked at one hospital and we took over doing the snow work.  So I would have to drive to work and fight the ice and snow and then plow and de-ice roads and parking lots and then drive home in the storm.
  My heart goes out to all of you  people.  Most of all to the people that lose power. 
  I am so glad that I do not have to deal with winter storms now.
  I do not see how I could make it now.  That cold air would take my breath away and I am not sure I could suck in enough air to stay alive.
  You do know that winter has not even started yet? 
  I think   winter starts this year on December 21.  I  hope you all have a mild and easy winter.
 

What happened to the Acorns?

  The Washington Post has a story "Acorn Watchers Wonder What Happened to Crop."  A few years ago I would not have paid any attention to this story.  I remember hearing about missing bees and I did not believe that story and it turned out to be true and a big story.  So now I am wondering if this story about starving, skinny and crazy squirrels might be true.
  It seems naturalists and just common folks are finding that the acorns are missing.  There is no crop this year.   
  If you live in an area with acorns take a look around and tell us if they are missing this year.

Hurricane Ike heading to New Orleans?

 

  I am just a dumb old retired night watchman but it looks to me like Hurricane Ike is heading to New Orleans. 

  It is still very early.  It can turn and do lots of things.  It is looking better and better for FL. 

Getting Ready for Hurricane Ike

  Photo taken a few minutes ago of the people trimming and pruning the trees here in Miami.  They are getting ready for Hurricane Ike.
  I took this photo from inside the house.  The guy saw me and must be wondering why I was taking his photo. 

Hurricane Ike menaces Caribbean

  I been feeling pretty bad for the last week or two.  I am feeling better today.  I am not sure why I feel better today.
  I will just try and enjoy not hurting so much.

  It looks like Hurricane Ike may be more West of us.  It is still early and people here are getting ready for Hurricane Ike. 
  I would like the idea of living in the Florida Keys.  I think because I would be so far South.  But right now people are leaving the Keys because of Hurricane Ike.  If you live there you just pack up x number of times each year and leave.  I could not afford to leave.  I do not own a car and could not afford a motel room someplace x number of times each year.