I had several long-term customer engagements in TX while working which lasted longer than one year each. I enjoyed Riverwalk. I routinely ate at Potbelly's (in Chicago) during numerous Chicago customer engagements. Having been born in Chicago (raised in Elgin) I've had my fair share of Potbelly's (founded in Chicago in the 'Underground' district) - delicious. Didn't know they had a Potbelly in TX. In Chicago they serve absolutely delicious malted milkshakes.

 

This does not bode well for Florida (where I have many friends). Upgraded to a Major Hurricane this morning. I think Ray is in the North. I hope it stays Northward of you Ray, but I'm sure you're going to get plenty of water (storm surge).

 

Bought a Gorilla tail gate lift for my trailer. Having fun drilling holes for the installation in the rails in the heat. I think I'm going to like it

 

This is really getting old.



And in addition to that forecast, there's this news story:

Heart attack risk doubles on days of extreme heat and high pollution

https://www.abc15.com/news/health/he...high-pollution

The study put out by the American Heart Association looked at 200,000 heart attack deaths, tracking temperatures and pollution on case days.

Investigators found an 18% higher risk during two-day heat waves when the mercury was between 82-97º.

It climbed to a 74% higher risk during four-day heat waves when the temperatures climbed between 94-109º.


Heh, no mention of extended temperatures above 109º. I wonder if the risk increases exponentially? Would need a third data point to determine that.

 

That is an amazing and scary observation!. It sure makes me think twice about exerting myself outside if it's +95° out.

 

I have nearly the identical trailer as in the video except my side rails are not open but meshed like the ramp. First time I've seen this tail gate lift - rather cool. I will say my tail gate lifts FAR easier when I remember to grease the slots each year.

 

Yes, this summer is going to be one for everyone to remember - out-of-control. The stats regarding heart attacks is not surprising. Of course, there exist several (if not numerous unaccounted) variables, but the numbers are not surprising, IMO.

Don't forget SUPER Blue Moon begins this Thursday night.

 

Norm, whimps like me with bad backs are the only people that need one.

Another kind soul on CO found me some more 24 v

olts M 38 A 1 spark plugs I may have a corner on the market. If I drive 3 miles a week I think a dozen and 1/2 should keep me going for a long time

 

I think it's going to be a $hit banger ball for the Florida Gulf Coast. It 'should' be able to handle it pretty well, it's going to hit land in one of the least densely populated areas North of Anclote. I've spent years in that area - fishing and SCUBA diving (both in the Gulf and inland lakes doing cavern/cave diving). The area is replete with a vast karst topology which should help to lessen storm surge impact. Yet, NOAA-NHC has again rasied the Peak Storm Surge from 7'-11' to 8'-12'. Those are big numbers and depending on timing those could be significantly large numbers.
If your home isn't on stilts well above sea level, it's going to be the Shitzkies.

There are nine or ten Stilt Houses located ~3-5 miles offshore from New Port Richey, FL in the Gulf. I know (knew) the owner of one of them. Not sure how many remain. I've been inside several and have driven my vessels to them numerous times over a five year period. It will be interesting to see if they survive.

 

Jim - I understand the aging process - beginning to catch up with yours truly. There are 'those' mornings when I believe I'd be better suited placed in 'traction'.

I think you have cornered the market.

 

My parents asked me what I wanted for grade school graduation - I asked for a telescope & I was surprised to find they bought me a telescope - I was quite happy. I wouldn't say I've been riding the freak train on celestial navigation, but I've always been fascinated by celestial bodies in particular as they relate to historical science & navigation. It was an inexpensive lower-end Celestron telescope, but it was a telescope none-the-less - I was thrilled and it occupied many evening for me growing up. I was always envious of others who had more sophisticated telescopes. Maybe it's been since the launch of Hubble or more so the launch of the JWST (James Webb Space Telescope) to L2 (Lagrange Point 2) at 1,000,000 (million) miles from the Earth I've become more interested in celestial bodies once again. Although, it could be because I'm getting older than the dirt I walk on I want to just see, study & understand more about 'space'.

At any rate, I found one just outside the cost of a couple thousand (2,400) boxes of Titleist ProV-1 golf ***** which peaks my interest. $107,995.00 & doesn't include a stand, mounts, or navigation s/w. What a rip-off!
I think I need to lower my expectations.

Lunt Solar Systems 300 mm Double Stack H-Alpha Telescope with B3400 Blocking Filter

 

Got rusty box off plow truck- wow what a mess. This is how a 18 year old salt spreader/plow truck l





ooks!

 

For $107,995.00 you'd better be able to see a gnat's *** on Pluto!!!

 

We both know even at this (consumer) level you couldn't find a gnat's *** on the moon.

 

Greg - Well done, sir. PITA, but well done. Eight bolts? You saw/grind them off?

 

This is a beautiful image - beautiful I tell you. Bermuda is 850 miles from my doorstep. The hurricane is 500 miles from me. A beautiful image - absolutely beautiful.

 

I used to fish (Red Fish) at Cedar Key, FL once/month for nearly five years. Cedar Key is now under mandatory evacuation. Cedar Key and the surrounding areas of Cedar Key is not densely populated - that's a plus.

 

H-Alpha is for solar viewing. Not gonna see any gnats there.

 

In reality I'm somewhere along this range of telescope. Decisions, decisions...

NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

 

Greg that's the way we do it in the country

 

Hey Norm. This one might miss me, I'm in SW Fl Port Charlotte.

 

When I said I think you're in the North I meant you're currently up North (not in Florida). Yes, it appears (hopefully) landfall should be North of Port Charlotte. Although, Port Charlotte will receive a modest Storm Surge.

 

NOAA-NHC has now changed guidance of peak storm surge from 8’ 12’ to 10’ - 15’. $hit bangers ball for sure. That’s above MSL if it’s high tide residents will be on the East Side of Route 19. Yikes.

 

I’m going to check select buoys to follow barometric pressure when I get done with siding - just like I followed Sandy. The lower the barometric pressure the easier it is to raise water from its 29.92” MSL pressure and inundate landfall.

 

Afternoon guys,
Beautiful here, sunny and 82° at 1pm. Wife's growing some type of dwarf sunflowers on the deck and I got this picture.



Hope ya'll have a great day!

 

Norm, I was looking at a telescope to use with my camera, $1500. I had to ask myself how often I was going to use it. So, I told myself no. Chris, nice pic of the flower & bee. I guess it's a bumblebee, which looks a lot like a carpenter bee in my neck of the woods, but, as he's not wearing a carpenter's belt, it must be a bumblebee.

 

I have the similar 5" version of that. It fit my budget and needs well enough.

My feelings as well. I have a phone mount for the telescope so I can take pics if I desire, but in reality if I want to see good astronomy images I can search the web and find much, much better pictures than I could ever take even with thousands of dollars of equipment. So I content myself with my 5" telescope and my iPhone mount. iPhone 6S that is.

 

I am currently sporting a carpenter belt and busier than a bee. And, I’m cooked it’s so hot.

 

Thanks Dan! I'm not that up on my types of bees, I just thought it was a bumblebee. I don't know if it is the same one or not, but they sure have been frequenting the newly bloomed flowers all day! They are fun to watch.

 

Norm - Wish I could send you some of our weather, only 85° at 5:50 and very low humidity. Just got back from about a 2-hr ride on the Indian, it was really comfortable with a sleeveless shirt and leather riding vest, the nicest it's been in a long time. It's not supposed to get out of the 70's tomorrow.

I've been envious seeing all the pics of the Avocado slices you and Jim have been posting. My wife bought me 4 fresh avocados from Walmart. I had two Black Forest Ham with Sharp Cheddar Cheese sandwiches and a whole Avocado for dinner. The Avacado slices sure were good with just a sprinkle of salt on them!

 

Kenneth - Thanks for the input. I'm getting closer to what's realistic.
Dan - Those are the ideas/thoughts running through my noggin.
Chris - It was ~95°F, HI of 108°F, RH ~93% - it was brutal. The Black Forest Ham sammich & Avocado sounds scrumptious.

I drank at least two gallons of H2O and a pint of Pedialyte. I'm zonked. Almost finished. I did cover a remaining area w/ some sheet metal where I haven't installed new siding. Supposed to start getting rain showers (outer bands) from Idalia beginning tomorrow sometime after golf through Thursday - I need a break. Hope to get 18 in tomorrow morning before the bands begin to arrive later in the day, we'll see.

 

Cold be a Bumble Bee or a Carpenter Bee, can't tell from the image. The distinguishing difference is the abdomen of a Bumble Bee is hairy, the Carpenter Bee is smooth (not hairy). The other thing to note is a Carpenter Bee will burrow & nest into wood while a Bumble Bee will burrow & nest in the ground.

 

Idalia = $hit Bangers Ball

They just raised the Peak Storm Surge to 12' to 16'. That's big. When your $hit becomes your neighbors $hit and your neighbors $hit becomes your $hit y'all are in for a $hit Bangers Ball because no ones $hit will be their own $hit any longer.

This will be wild if it holds true.

 

 

Increased value coverage on Olds and F100 the other day. Olds is still the same but truck has been painted, so I told local agent that I assumed they would want new pics of truck. I had called my local office and she increased them. So I called Hagerty and asked if they wanted pics of painted truck. No they didn't need new pics. ??? HUH??? so if I had a fender bender would they fix it as well as it was in old pics? - with rust and primer? Well the Hagerty gal said I can send in new pics which I will. I will show them to you guys after I take 'em. Got better box on plow truck, it was harder getting old box off than setting better one. Cool here this morn, about 50, sposta get hot for Labor day- in the 90's.

 

Idalia MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE = 27.76" (940 millibars or 13.6 psi)
Generally speaking, every 1" lower than normal atmospheric pressure (29.92" = 14.7 psi) equates to an altitude of ~1,000'. Therefore, the hurricane can be perceived as residing about 2,000' above ground. That's how much less pressure resides at the water surface. Without delving into the math, that's a huge reduction of barometric pressure yielding a significant increase in peak storm surge as water has far less pressure exerted upon it.

They raised Idalia to a Cat 4.

 

Got'er done....




Back on the road. Paint even matches, sorta.....

 

Nice job Greg, glad ya got her back on the road!

 

Co worker and his wife have a recently purchased condo in South Carolina. They are going to go down there to check on it sometime this weekend. Good chance that they could drive into driving rain and wind, so I would assume that they will wait a bit till the hurricane passes.

 

At least wait until the electricity is back on.