Where am I?

 

in the words of Salty Sol Fleishman (for those of your who remember Tampa Bay Channel 13 Sports: Where am I?

 

Gimme some lovin'

 

Nuthin' like cuddling up in the sun on a warm afternoon

 

Gorilla by the stream

 

There he was just sitting by the water, playing with his feet.

Just another surprise along the African safari walk as Disney's Animal Kingdom

 

Severe space storm headed for Earth

Satellites and power grids could face potential interruptions

SOHO via AFP - Getty Images

This ultraviolet view from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory shows a flare bursting from sunspot 930 on the sun. The sunspot unleashed an X-3 flare on Wednesday, sending a radiation storm toward Earth.

View related photos

Space.com

By Robert Roy Britt

Senior Science Writer

Updated: 5:31 p.m. ET Dec 13, 2006

Space weather forecasters revised their predictions for storminess after a major solar flare erupted overnight, threatening damage to communication systems and power grids.

"We're looking for very strong, severe geomagnetic storming" to begin probably around midday Thursday, Joe Kunches, lead forecaster at the NOAA Space Environment Center, told Space.com Wednesday afternoon.

The storm is expected to generate aurorae or northern lights as far south as the northern United States on Thursday night. Astronauts aboard the international space station are not expected to be put at additional risk, Kunches said.

Radio communications, satellites and power grids could face potential interruptions or damage, however.

Solar flares send radiation to Earth within minutes. Some are also accompanied by coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, clouds of charged particles that arrive in a day or two. This flare unleashed a strong CME that's aimed squarely at Earth.

"It's got all the right stuff," Kunches said.

However, one crucial component to the storm is unknown: its magnetic orientation. If it lines up a certain way with Earth's magnetic field, then the storm essentially pours into our upper atmosphere. If the alignment is otherwise, the storm can pass by the planet with fewer consequences.

Kunches and his team are advising satellite operators and power grid managers to keep an eye on their systems. In the past, CMEs have knocked out satellites and tripped terrestrial power grids. Engineers have learned to limit switching at electricity transfer stations, and satellite operators sometimes reduce operations or make back-up plans in case a craft is damaged.

for related content

Scientists observe solar tsunami How forecasters rate space storms

Another aspect of a CME involves protons that get pushed along by the shock wave. Sometimes these protons break through Earth's protective magnetic field and flood the outer reaches of the atmosphere—where the space station orbits—with radiation. The science of it all is a gray area, Kunches said. But the best guess now is that there will only be a slight increase in proton activity. That's good news for the astronauts.

"When the shock goes by, we don't expect significant radiation issues," he said.

The astronauts were ordered to a protective area of the space station as a precaution last night.

Now that sunspot number 930 has flared so significantly — after several days of being quiet — the forecast calls for a "reasonble chance" of more major flares in coming days, Kunches said.

© 2006 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.

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Peter Boyle Dies...

NEW YORK (CBS) -- CBS News is reporting the death of Peter Boyle, the prolific film, stage and TV actor. A publicist confirms Boyle died at Presbyterian Hospital in New York after a long battle with multiple myeloma and heart disease.

He may best be known for his work on the TV sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond" and for his work in the movies "Taxi Driver" and "Young Frankenstein." He received critical acclaim playing a foul-mouthed bigot in the 1970 movie "Joe."

The Emmy Award-winning actor was born in Philadelphia and once taught drama in Pittsburgh. He was an alumnus of the Second City troupe in Chicago. Peter Boyle was 71. He is survived by his wife Loraine and daughters Lucy and Amy. Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.

Link to story on News Radio 880

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Mount Everest in Florida

 

Nobody does Asia like Disney. This is the new Everest roller coaster. Almost looks like it belongs

 

A place to hang your hat

 

Just one of the buildings at the All Star Music resort.

 

You talking to me!

 

 

Lorikeet Cage

 

A startled flash reveils this guys hanging out on a tree branch waiting for the next feeding time.

 

Not Officially Winter

It's not winter yet, but this morning it's 18 with a wind chill of -6.  BUT NO SNOW!!!
Going to be a cold day, but warming over the weekend while we are out at Buckingham Assembly Hall for out Circuit Assembly.  A good weekend for a gathering.

Think Pink!!!

 

 

Happiness is an empty glass

 

I can never seem to relax on vacation until after my first tropical drink and this one from Frenchy's hit the spot. Along with a bowl of the She-Crab soup and a grouper sandwich. At least something never change.

 

The Safari out back the Animal Kingdom Lodge

 

 

All Star Micky greets you

 

 

More Color

 

A little closer look... In a few more weeks they will be gone, as the frosts of the season start to take over during the night. But for now the beauty of fall is on the plants and trees and in teh air.

 

Colors of Fall

 

Earlier this year I came home to our landlords planting what looked like a bunch of sticks in front of our white picket fence. After waering them all summer, this fall look what turned out.

 

Saturday Afternoons Part 2

 

and a nice LARGE cup fo coffee...

 

Saturday Afternoons...

 

there is something wonderful about a cool but sunny Saturday afternoon and the warmth of a cafe...

 

The Wall

 

This is a piece of the Berlin wall. I always thought that it was bigger, thicker and taller. But the reality is that it was just a large chunk of cement that caused the world to tremble for decades. Strange how something physical can stand for so much evil. The wall has fallen but has it really freed the world from that much evil?

 

Rainy Weekend Ahead

INLAND SUSSEX-DE BEACHES-WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-
OCEAN-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY- COASTAL ATLANTIC-COASTAL
OCEAN-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.GEORGETOWN.REHOBOTH
BEACH.
FREEHOLD.SANDY HOOK.JACKSON.HAMMONTON.
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE.OCEAN CITY.ATLANTIC CITY.
LONG BEACH ISLAND.WHARTON STATE FOREST
412 PM EDT FRI OCT 27 2006

.HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 11 AM EDT SATURDAY.
.HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SAT AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING.WHICH IS
IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 11 AM EDT SAT FOR WIND CONDITIONS AHEAD OF THE
APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE. AND, A HIGH WIND WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED AS THE
COLD AIR POURS INTO THE REGION ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE SYSTEM. THIS HIGH WIND
WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM SAT AFTERNOON THROUGH SUN AFTERNOON.

LOW PRESSURE TAKING SHAPE OVER THE UPPER MS VALLEY WILL INTENSIFY WHILE
REACHING THE OH VALLEY EARLY SAT MORNING. THE CIRCULATION AROUND THE LOW
WILL BRING STRONG WINDS FROM THE SOUTH & SE AT 35 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS
BETWEEN 50 & 60 MPH. AS THE LOW TRACKS NE THROUGH PA, THE COLD FRONT WILL
MOVE OFF THE COAST IN THE LATE MORNING HRS SATURDAY CAUSING THE WINDS TO
SHIFT TO THE SW WITH GUSTS STILL PEAKING TO 50 MPH.

MEANWHILE, HEAVY RAINFALL ON THE ORDER OF 1.5 TO 2.5 INCHES WILL SATURATE
THE GROUND. THE FORCE OF THE WINDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SHIFT FROM THE SE TO
SW OCCURS ON SAT WILL LIKELY BRING DOWN POWER LINES & TREES WITH SOME AREAS
EXPERIENCING POWER OUTAGES ESPECIALLY IN THE WARNING AREA.

THE WINDS WILL ABATE FOR SEVERAL HRS SAT AFTERNOON, THEN INCREASE ONCE AGAIN
IN THE LATE AFTERNOON. FOR THAT REASON, A HIGH WIND WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT
AT THAT TIME.

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR
OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR
MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND
EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH.OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR STRONGER MAY
OCCUR. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

Blogger Beta

in the process of updating the blog with the new blogger beta. bear with me as the changes are put on place.

Winter Is Coming and it's about time!

The first frost of the year is here!!!!
Buffalo, NY has gotten over a foot of snow so far.
Looks like I may be getting the winter that I have wanted since moving here.

-----------National Weather Service Alert--------------------------------

A VERY COLD AIR MASS WILL REMAIN OVER THE REGION.

253 PM EDT FRI OCT 13 2006

.FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 8 AM EDT SATURDAY. THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A FREEZE WARNING.WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 8 AM EDT SATURDAY. THE FROST ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A COLD HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL REMAIN OVER THE MID ATLANTIC REGION BRINGING FAIR BUT QUITE CHILLY WEATHER TO OUR FORECAST AREA THROUGH THE WEEKEND. WITH CLEAR SKIES & LIGHT WINDS, TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO PLUNGE TONIGHT. MORE WIDESPREAD FREEZING TEMPS ALONG WITH HEAVIER FROST IS EXPECTED
TONIGHT. THIS SHALL END THE GROWING SEASON FOR MUCH OF THE AREA.

A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPS ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THOSE WITH COLD SENSITIVE PLANTS.OR OTHER CONCERNS RELATED TO FREEZING TEMPS.SHOULD BEGIN PREPARATIONS NOW BEFORE THE COLD TEMPS SETTLE IN OVERNIGHT. IF POSSIBLE. PROTECT ANY COLD SENSITIVE PLANTS BY BRINGING THEM INDOORS.

IT WOULD BE WISE TO HARVEST THAT LAST TOMATO, EGGPLANT OR PEPPER BEFORE THE PLANTS & VEGETABLES TURN TO COMPOST COME SAT MORNING.

ANOTHER COLD NIGHT IS EXPECTED ON SAT NIGHT.

A few things you might not know about the great state of NEW JERSEY

Thanks to NJ 101.5 FM Radio for this list

A few things you might not know about the great state of NEW JERSEY...

New Jersey is a peninsula.


Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida.


New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.


New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky.


New Jersey has the oldest lighthouse in the USA. The Sandy Hook Lighthouse was built in 1764.


New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq. mi.) than Havana, Cuba.


New Jersey has the most dense system of highways and railroads in the US.


New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the Diner Capital of the World.


North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius.


New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.


The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.


New Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns, some of the nations' most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Long Branch & Cape May.


New Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for Water Quality Control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.


New Jersey is a leading industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation when you include pharmaceuticals.


Two-thirds of the world's eggplants are grown in New Jersey.


Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.


New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production.


Here's to New Jersey-the toast of the country! In 1642, the first brewery in America opened in Hoboken.


New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah in! 1940, and he still lives there!


New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80% of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.


New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports at Newark International.


George Washington slept here. Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.


The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture projector were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ laboratory. We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.


The transistor was invented in Murray Hill, NJ at Bell Laboratories.


Bell Lab engineers in Holmdel, NJ were the first to detect the background radiation of the Big Bang.


The first seaplane was built in Keyport, NJ.


The first airmail (to Chicago) was started from Keyport, NJ.


The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ.


New Jersey is home to the Miss America pageant held in Atlantic City.


The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on their playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City.


Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world.


New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.


The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the Watchung Mountains.


New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world.


New Jersey had the first Medical Center, in Jersey City.


The Pulaski Sky Way, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway-highway.


NJ built the first auto tunnel under a river, the Hudson. (Holland Tunnel)


New Jersey is the only state in the nation which offers child abuse prevention workshops to every public school.


The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.


The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889. (Rutgers College played Princeton.)


The first Drive-in Movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ.


New Jersey is home to both of "New York's " Pro Football Teams!


The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson, NJ.

All New Jersey natives:
Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Queen Latifa, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Joan Robertson, Ken Kross, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, Alan Ginsberg, Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Linda McElroy, Eileen Donnely, Grover Cleveland, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Richard Wojewodzki, Joyce Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Lauryn Hill, Ice-T ,Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Robert Blake, John Forsyth, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gorden McCrae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Zebulon Pike, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm. Halsey, Jr., Dave Thomas (Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, and of course, Frank Sinatra

Fall is in the Air

“I can feel it coming in the air tonight”…  The heat of summer has gone and the wonderfulness of Fall is here.  We had our first night in the upper 30’s Friday morning and the days are only getting into the upper 70’s.  Hard to think that back in Florida the temps are still in the 80’s and 90’s.  I looked out the bathroom window this morning at the maple sapling along the fence and saw the first red leaves of the season.  With in the next 4 weeks the trees will show their bright yellow and reds of their autumn fashion. As the day time temps drop into the 50’s and 60’s until the first snow falls, maybe early this year!  The first snow last year was late December.  Maybe, just maybe we could have some around Thanksgiving or at least the week after so that I will be back from Florida.  My first visit back to my home town since moving away…    

So today… the yard needs winter prep, the closet needs thinning out, and the grill needs to be run before the snow comes.  The windows are all thrown open and the screen doors are still in place, but the storm windows will replace the screening in just over 2 months. Time to enjoy fall while its here.  Maybe a trip up to Warwick winery in the mountains for Doc’s Hard Apple Cider and live music, and cheese and fresh out of the oven bread from Bobolink Dairy.  Or maybe a trip up to New Hampshire or Vermont for maple syrup season.  Or maybe farther north to see the moose in Maine.  

I am looking forward to my visit to Florida, to see Mom, and friends.  A trip to my favorite zoo, Lowry Park Zoo with a life long friend.  Sounds like it’s grown a bit since we moved away.  Then there is the trip to Walt Disney World.  I can’t wait to once again walk through DAK (Disney’s Animal Kingdom) and see all the animals again.  We seemed to live there when we were in FL.  A trip to Animal Kingdom Lodge  and a meal at Boma is in order also.  With just 2 days there, we will be doing a whirlwind tour of all the new attractions at all the parks.  I know that Sim has a list of things she wants to see.  I will be taking as many pictures as I fit on my memory cards.  

I may go sans computer as I will not have an internet connection any where along the way and will rely on my Nextel i930 for email and web surfing.  This will be a real test of its strength.  I should be able to post to the blog via email and pictures via MMS.  We’ll see how it goes.  

Well time to get some work done…

L8rs,

The Moleman

only comercial plane with a Mach meter 

two seats on either side, the fron to back spacing was great, but the side to side was really tight. Good things the cross atlantic flight was only 3 hours. 

and while we are on the subject of speed how about the world's fastest commercial plane. the tour showed me that there is a major trade off between speed and comfort.  

while not really stealth, you can see it's beginning. All this from a plane designed in the 60's and flown for the first time in 1967 

all the different configurations and a posted top speed of 3.6 Mach 

and all that just to take pictures, no weapons and speed, height and a long lens. 

Still holds the records for the highest and fastest airplane