Posted By RichC on October 29, 2012
An animation of satellite observations from Oct. 26-29, 2012 (below), 
shows Hurricane Sandy move along the U.S. East coast and into the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern U.S. Sandy had still not made landfall by the end of this animation. This visualization was created by the NASA GOES Project at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., using observations from NOAA’s GOES-13 satellite.
Posted By RichC on October 29, 2012
It sure has been nice to see my daughter on weekends the last couple of months as her residency schedule has been somewhat gentler. Unfortunately she knows it will not last and the rotations will eventually be more challenging and stressful in a couple more weeks.
She went to a wedding show near Kings Island the Brenda and they came back with a few more ideas … although it really just reinforced what they had been planning. Brenda had recently purchased some “organza” (I have no idea what that is) and pulled out her “chargers” (again, no idea) to set a sample table. All I know, is that they were having a good time and things look like they are coming together.
Posted By RichC on October 29, 2012
Hurricane Sandy is still hours away from coming ashore in the northeastern U.S. but the winds, waves, rains and surge are already making an impact. Officials and residents are taking no chances and predictions are triggering evacuation orders for hundreds of thousands of residents, the cancellation of more than 7,700 airline flights. Schools and mast transit systems are closing as heavy rains and flooding are expected.
The storm has already begun disrupting businesses in the northeast and many companies planning to close Monday. Even "the New York Stock Exchange said it would close its Lower Manhattan trading floor, although shares of NYSE-listed companies would continue to trade on an electronic platform.
The National Weather Service said Sandy's hurricane-force winds, which extended 175 miles out from its center Sunday, could bring power outages for millions of residents. Temperatures could drop below 30 degrees in coming days across the eastern U.S., bringing further misery to those without power. West Virginia, Kentucky and other states could get up to three feet of snow in mountain areas."
Posted By RichC on October 28, 2012
Give some serious thought about the direction you see our country going before voting in November. No offense intended towards those desiring a compassionate federal government that oversees the care of its people, but socialism is a slippery slope that we’ve seen fail throughout history … and are witnessing in Europe today.
Below is minute and a half short commentary/ad from Thomas Peterffy who immigrated to the U.S. from Hungary in 1956 and doesn’t want to see America turn from capitalism toward socialism.
Posted By RichC on October 27, 2012
It was a cool and rainy morning as I waited to meet with a businessman from China interested in talking with me about homebuilt airplanes, and so I experimented with the new iPhone5’s panorama feature to kill some time … this time trying a close up panorama. I was more curious to see how it worked close up than trying to accomplish anything, but I was impress the improvement in this cellphone camera over my Palm Pre (image below pulled from original of photo above). I wonder what a few more years will be like and if we will even need a DSLRs?
Posted By RichC on October 27, 2012
This past week offered up the last of Indian summer unless something in the forecast changes and Brenda and I have appreciated the warmer weather, beautiful sunsets (driving by VOA park above) and evenings to work on projects.
Besides finishing the downspout and sump pump drain lines, I’ve also replaced and grouted the broken tiles around the pool (below) and “attempted” to paint the mailbox (cough, cough). Unfortunately, Brenda was also mowing the front yard … munching up a few leaves and pine needles … and the wind decided to test the stickiness of my fly-paper-like wet paint! Hmm … looked like I’ll need a little steel wool and a second coat if dry weather returns?
Posted By RichC on October 26, 2012
#4 Brad Kelley. Owns: 1.7 million acres in Texas, New Mexico and Florida. This Nashville, Tenn., farmer’s son sold his Commonwealth Brands cigarette company for $1 billion in 2001 and began investing in land. Big time. The Land Report estimates the tightlipped Kelley owns 1.7 million acres. Most recently he’s reported to have bulked up his holdings with ranchland in the Big Bend region of Texas.
#3 Archie “Red” Emmerson. Owns: 1.87 million acres in California and Washington. #3 Archie “Red” EmmersonIn 1949 Emmerson and his father, Curly, leased a sawmill and built the business into Sierra Pacific Industries. Red borrowed $460 million to buy 522,000 acres in California, a position since increased to almost 2 million acres.
Posted By RichC on October 26, 2012
Since the Little Red Riding Hood classic has been modified a few times through history, my “what big teeth you have” alteration of the tale is hardly a stretch for those near the water rather than a wolf in the woods for living on boats or an island.
These impressive photos are from Australian Sam Cahir while taking part in a Great White Shark tagging trip off the Neptune Islands, South Australia. According to the DiveSite, Cahir stated that the experience was a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” He said, “I feel humbled to have witnessed such a display of nature’s quirkiness” as he watch a Great White and Mako shark feeding on bits of tuna. Personally I think he is lucky to be alive.
Posted By RichC on October 25, 2012
Volkswagen has been receiving accolades from all directions after building the new VW Passat in Chattanooga Tennessee … and with that success the company is planning to do the same with a new SUV. One wonders if it will look like last years concept (above) or be entirely new? The reports are that it will be sized and priced larger than the $23,000 Tiguan and smaller than the $43,000 Touareg and be designed for American taste just like the new Jetta and Passat models. Personally a lighter $35,000 Volkswagen CUV built in America with a diesel would make a nice replacement for my Honda Pilot.
Posted By RichC on October 24, 2012
It looks as if we at least have one more hurricane for the 2012 season. Sandy has reached the hurricane wind threshold and is moving north. The projected path has the weak side of the storm passing east of Florida but over Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas. The beach erosion churn and rough weather will impact Florida’s eastern beaches and could produces dangerous surf and rip currents the rest of this week.