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Saturday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 08:20:00 AM EST
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Hurricane season is about to arrive in the Southeast. Isaac has hit Jamaica and will be headed to Guantanamo next, and presumably on to Florida.

If you're there, please take extra precaautions.
And try to sing. I hear it's a good stress reliever. To get you started:

This is an open tread, all topics welcome.

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    Saturday Open Thread | 37 comments (37 topical)

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    Isaac, the tropical storm (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by fishcamp on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 07:51:59 AM EST
    is 95 miles from Guantanamo and headed towards Florida.  The computer graphics I look at show it coming real close to my house.  If anybody wants to come down and ride out a hurricane now is the time.  I'm all stocked up with food and ice and today I'm getting fuel for my "new" generator that I bought six years ago and have never used.  Hope it starts.  If this storm gets to hurricane status it will be a small one...hopefully.  The torture never stops.

    Good luck, fishcamp! (none / 0) (#2)
    by Zorba on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 08:40:52 AM EST
    We send positive thoughts and energy your way.
    Are your kitties still all hurricane-wired-up?

    Parent
    Good luck - hope you don't even have (none / 0) (#9)
    by ruffian on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 10:36:20 AM EST
    to test that generator.

    I was hoping we would get enough of it in Orlando to shutdown work on Monday, but looks like we won't. Oh well, maybe next time.

    Parent

    During last year's .... (none / 0) (#10)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 10:38:01 AM EST
    pseudo hurricane in NYC, I watched a hurricane double feature at the height of the storm.  John Ford's "The Hurricane" (1937) and the John Huston Bogie-Bacall flick "Key Largo". It added to the fun.

    Something you might consider.

    Parent

    My favorite hurricane song (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by SuzieTampa on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 11:56:26 AM EST
    is "Wasn't That a Mighty Storm" about the 1900 hurricane that hit Galveston. Isaac won't be like that, of course. I like this version from Nanci Griffith's "Other Voices," which has a great collection of singers.

    The "other voices" on that recording (none / 0) (#29)
    by Peter G on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 05:17:41 PM EST
    include Tom Rush, at least.  Who else?

    Parent
    Hey, don't be so demanding! (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by SuzieTampa on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 09:23:16 PM EST
    I'm filling up my fridge with water for a hurricane. Not an easy search, but here you go:
    Ladies' Voices:
    NANCI   GRlFFITH (LEAD),
    CAROLYN HESTER (LEAD)
    ODETTA (LEAD),
    EMMYLOU HARRIS (LEAD),
    LEE SATTERElELD, SUSAN COWSILL, MAURA KENNEDY,
    YVONNE RlCHARDS, PAM ROSE, MARY ANN KENNEDY
    Men's Voices:
    TOM RUSH (LEAD),
    JAMIE HARTFORD (LEAD)
    FRANK CHRlSTIAN (LEAD),
    RAY KENNEDY, TOM LITTLEFIELD, PETE KENNEDY,
    MARLIN "GRIFF" GRIFFITH, DAVE OLNEY, SHAWN CAMP,
    RON DE LA VEGA, ANDREW HARDIN,
    TOM RUSSELL, ERIC TAYLOR, DOUG LANCIO
     

    Parent
    Pardon me but I gotta brag (5.00 / 7) (#18)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 12:50:01 PM EST
    My Grandson intercepted a pass in the end zone and ran it back 107 yards for a touchdown!!!!!!!!!

    Spectacular! Must have been so exciting (none / 0) (#20)
    by ruffian on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 01:46:05 PM EST
    Congrats to him - how old is he?

    Parent
    He's 12 (none / 0) (#26)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 04:29:08 PM EST
    Plays in what is PeeWee. Full pads, etc. regular rules... Qtrs are 10 minutes, 10 minute halftime.. except no kick offs and no punts. Offense gets the ball on the 30 and a "punt" is 30 yards marked off.

    This is his 3rd year. Plays corner back on starting D, WR on second string O.

    Lotsa fun and it lets the kids figure out if they wanna play middle school and maybe high school.

    Parent

    Isaac Satellite Picture This Morning (none / 0) (#3)
    by CoralGables on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 08:42:18 AM EST
    looks like a picture from the Talk Left Double Yolk

    It's going to be a very wet couple days.

    Batten down (none / 0) (#4)
    by Zorba on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 08:57:06 AM EST
    All your hatches!  And good luck to everyone down there in the path of Isaac.

    Parent
    On the upside (none / 0) (#5)
    by CoralGables on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 09:09:46 AM EST
    I may not need my AC all day.  It's 73 out, the coolest it's been in months day or night. Of course the backside of these things are usually more sauna like so it's an enjoy while you can and stock the ice (to ice down the beer)

    Parent
    Seems like a cruel joke that you have (none / 0) (#6)
    by Anne on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 09:45:41 AM EST
    electricity for the AC when you don't need it, but might not have it when you do...losing power in the summer is definitely harder than when it happens in the winter.  When it's cold, you can always have a fire going, put on more clothes and blankets, etc., but when it's hot and humid, there's not a lot you can do to get cool.  And if it's raining, you can't even have the windows open!

    There is something strangely exciting about an impending major weather event, like a blizzard or a hurricane - why is that?  On the one hand, we're a little fearful, but on the other, we're thinking, "this will be an adventure!"  Is it a throwback to our pioneer days?  Inevitably, the reality of no power for days and days, of damage to your home, of no heat or AC or ability to cook, of hundreds of dollars' worth of food spoiling, takes much of the pioneer fun out of it, and we feel stupid for ever thinking we'd be disappointed if the forecasted event didn't happen.

    In any event, here's hoping you all come through with minimal damage and disruption to life-as-you-know-it!

    Parent

    Not Andrew (none / 0) (#8)
    by Michael Masinter on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 10:35:22 AM EST
    I've lived in south Dade since 1975, so by my history, Isaac is just a big wet nuisance.  Andrew will forever be the standard for a hurricane; kids (now grown and living in safer places) in the closet under mattresses as the roof failed.  Later hurricanes knocked out power for as much as two weeks, but did no damage to our house, and nothing is likely ever to match the two feet of rain we got from tropical storm Dennis in 1981, though this could approach the 12+ inches Katrina dumped before swamping NOLA and wrecking the MS coast.  This looks to be a squally couple of days, not a disaster for southeastern Florida.  I bought gas for the generator this morning, and already have everything else; preparing for two is much easier.

    Parent
    I'm glad I got renter's coverage (none / 0) (#7)
    by SuzieTampa on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 10:20:41 AM EST
    that included the best I could do, hurricane-wise. In Tampa, it was already going to be crazy with the RNC and various closed streets downtown and protesters camping out. I'm thinking this should be a screenplay.

    But it is nice and breezy today.

    Not for everyone (none / 0) (#11)
    by CoralGables on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 10:53:02 AM EST
    It's only graphic in that you know someone is now dead, but if you want to watch the video of the NY gunman yesterday in the confrontation with officers it is available. Both officers look like they try to find clear shots while the crowd scatters when the gunmen pulls his weapon. No one in between them and from the time the shooter draws his gun until it's over is maybe 6 seconds.

    Watch for the man in the suit coming towards the bus bench but behind the planters

    Go full screen for best take on the reaction of each person as it unfolds.

    Apparently... (none / 0) (#13)
    by desertswine on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 11:10:59 AM EST
    the police were responsible for all 9 wounded in the incident.

    Parent
    Note to self: Stay away from sites (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Towanda on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 11:19:25 AM EST
    that always have "a large security presence."

    Translated:  Lots of guys with loaded guns.

    Parent

    Speaking of weather ... (none / 0) (#12)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 10:55:09 AM EST
    for the second year in a row, NYC has had a mild August.

    For non-NYers, August in NYC is traditionally days of scorching temps and barely survivable humidity, interspersed with violent t-storms providing very brief respites.

    The sweltering Augusts in NYC are so well known they've been the center piece in many movies from "Rear Window" to "The Seven Year Itch" to "Do the Right Thing".

    So it's quite odd to find August passing so easily. And as much as I hate Augusts in NYC. I find myself almost missing it. Almost.

    I have (none / 0) (#19)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 01:22:52 PM EST
    been to NYC in August back before you had mild ones and I was coming from SC back then. They were hot even by SC standards IIRC.

    Parent
    If you read the diaries of the early ... (none / 0) (#21)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 02:00:50 PM EST
    European settlers in Manhattan and Long Island, they fill most of their summer entries with constant complaints about the heat and the mosquitoes.  

    The mosquito population is also down, but that has have more to do with West Nile fear based pest control than weather changes.

    Parent

    TL: It's Isaac (none / 0) (#14)
    by Towanda on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 11:16:35 AM EST
    . . . on behalf of the many Isaacs who are wearying already of sightings of this misspelling, which has hit land well ahead of the winds.

    Current forecast (none / 0) (#16)
    by CoralGables on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 11:32:17 AM EST
    is a Category 1 as it reaches the Keys tomorrow morning and a Cat 2 when it approaches the Florida panhandle Tuesday. Those are both upgrades over yesterday as it now looks to skirt the northside of Cuba rather than weaken over Cuba.


    Parent
    fixed, changed to Isaac (none / 0) (#25)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 03:11:36 PM EST
    My great-grandfather was named Isaac, I should have known that, sorry to all the Isaac's out there.

    Parent
    Really? Isaac is such a grand old name (none / 0) (#32)
    by Towanda on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 09:36:31 PM EST
    not seen often enough these days.  But one of our friends is an Isaac, and he's been posting about the misspelling so common this week.

    And what a grand man your great-grandfather looks to have been.  I can see where you got your great cheekbones.

    <Towanda says with envy through gritted teeth in her round, round face>

    Parent

    Neil Armstrong (none / 0) (#22)
    by Cylinder on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 02:39:37 PM EST
    Neil Armstrong dead at 82

    Former U.S. astronaut, Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, has died at the age of 82, U.S. media reported on Saturday.

    Armstrong underwent a heart-bypass surgery earlier this month, just two days after his birthday on August 5, to relieve blocked coronary arteries.

    As commander of the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. As he stepped on the moon's dusty surface, Armstrong said: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."
    Not many major American (none / 0) (#24)
    by brodie on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 02:52:34 PM EST
    heroes took the route he chose, preferring to return to a private life, making only a bare minimum of public appearances to satisfy TPTB.

    Kind of stunning news.

    Parent

    Oh... Neil Armstrong (none / 0) (#23)
    by desertswine on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 02:40:19 PM EST
    has died.  An era has come to an end.

    Fans of Diana Nyad (none / 0) (#27)
    by DFLer on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 04:52:00 PM EST
    check out my friend's song and vid on Youtube:

    link

    Isaac is moving at 18 mph (none / 0) (#28)
    by fishcamp on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 05:10:22 PM EST
    along the eastern coastline of Cuba probably wiping out the few Bonefish resorts they have.  The earlier big weather we had today was a storm band from Isaac that merged with a separate cell or some weather mumbo jumbo.  It's been very calm for the past few hours but it will be rough starting mañana.  Just finished helping several neighbors move their big boats into  a hurricane hole in the mangroves, tie them off to anchors and big mangrove branches, and go get another one.  I'm pooped.  The cats are fine but were real scared when I started putting up the hurricane shutters.  They like it now as the house is all dark and spooky.  Think I'll have a boat drink.

    Good luck to you, fishcamp! (none / 0) (#30)
    by Zorba on Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 05:35:06 PM EST
    You have done what you can.  Go have that drink, and keep us posted when you are able to.

    Parent
    Good morning... (none / 0) (#33)
    by fishcamp on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 05:43:21 AM EST
    The 5:00 AM report shows hurricane Isaac is 200 miles from Key West and if it continues on this course it will land six miles south of Cayo Hueso (Isle of Bones) which is the Cuban name for KW.  Since I live at mile marker 75 it could land 81 miles from me.  We had a very quiet night but the wind and rain bands are beginning to hit us.  Both crazy cats spent the night outside but are in now, well fed, and sticking real close to me.  They say we could get 80 mph winds in the middle keys but you know how those weather girl hotties like to scare us.  They have them strategically positioned throughout the keys leaning into the wind and rain.  I like the ones that wade out into the ocean while reporting.  More later when it really happens.

    Hang tight, fishcamp. (none / 0) (#34)
    by caseyOR on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 08:32:32 AM EST
    I have no idea if being 81 miles away from where Isaac hits land is far enough away that you are totally out of danger or not. so, if it is far enough, well, yea! and if it is not, well, I am sending all my good thoughts down to Florida.

    Keep us posted, please.

    Parent

    Thanks Casey, (none / 0) (#35)
    by fishcamp on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 11:08:02 AM EST
    that 81 miles is a bit of a misnomer as the storm is passing through my exact longitude right now but about one degree latitude south of me.  Key West is farther west of me.  It's confusing since as you drive from Miami to Key West about half way down the direction changes from north/south to east/west.  We're ok but do have big wind and rain.  It's quite amazing that the Miami Dolphins are playing the Atlanta Falcons in Miami right now.  I know they are getting rain and wind bands too.  BTW Portland is my home town.

    Parent
    I have never been to Florida. So, I have only (none / 0) (#36)
    by caseyOR on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 11:18:14 AM EST
    a general sense of the state's geography. I would never put the Everglades up near Tallahassee, for instance, but the only Keys i can name are Largo and West.

    My sister lives in Tampa. She was already a bit grumpy because of the impending influx of GOPers. The impending arrival of Isaac has  done nothing to brighten her mood. It seems that Isaac is bad enough to cause some disruption of daily life, but not bad enough to keep the GOPers out of town. :-)

    Portland is a great town. I moved to Oregon about 35 years ago and have never wanted to live anywhere else in the U.S.

    Parent

    Hi Casey (none / 0) (#37)
    by fishcamp on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 07:35:13 AM EST
    sorry I didn't get back to you but I was out moving more boats and was too pooped to pop when we finished.  Yes I loved Portland and graduated from Jeff High and Portland State.  I still have land up in Blue River, Oregon  about 40 miles east of Eugene where my grandparents homesteaded.  It's a long haul for me to get from MIA to PDX, in fact I can get to Europe one hour faster.  Italy always trumps Oregon when I get ready to travel.

    Saturday Open Thread | 37 comments (37 topical)

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