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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
 Posted - 11/25/2012 : 10:52:11
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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ThorGoLucky
Snuggle Wolf
USA
1487 Posts |
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sailingsoul
SFN Addict
2830 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2012 : 18:32:40 [Permalink]
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Happy Holidays to you too Mooner and everyone at SFN.
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There are only two types of religious people, the deceivers and the deceived. SS |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2012 : 19:43:16 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by HalfMooner
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Nice! |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2012 : 03:09:07 [Permalink]
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Thanks to you all. I have plenty to celebrate and hope you all have even more.
And now for something completely different: Though it had appeared that the typhoon season was finally over here in the North-West Pacific, not it's looking as though there may be one last blast: A large and coherent tropical depression has developed in the seas around Pohnpei in the Caroline Islands:
The future Typhoon Bopha?
If it persists and builds, it should get as far west as the Philippines in about one week. It would by then be named Bopha (Philippine name Pedro). A possible December typhoon!
Predicted track of Bopha, per Joint Typhoon Warning Center. |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 11/26/2012 08:50:22 |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2012 : 00:31:01 [Permalink]
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Bopha's still an intensifying tropical storm. It's expected to become a typhoon within a few hours.
Here's the latest track from JTWC:
My added white dot shows Baguio's location.
(Note that the shaded area does not idicate the storm's
size, but possible accumulated error in tracking.) |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 11/30/2012 00:32:21 |
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ThorGoLucky
Snuggle Wolf
USA
1487 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2012 : 13:32:29 [Permalink]
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| I wondered why you posted seemingly late about this, and then I remembered that the Pacific Ocean is biiiiiig. |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2012 : 20:12:55 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by ThorGoLucky
I wondered why you posted seemingly late about this, and then I remembered that the Pacific Ocean is biiiiiig.
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Well, yeah. For months, I've been watching satellite images of various "pulses" in and near the inter-tropical convergence zone for signs of developing storms. Over and over, what looked to me to be the beginnings of huge tropical typhoon would vanish in hours. Finally I saw this huge bunch of clouds near Pohnpei in Micronesia that happened to form a circle. In a day or so, there was some rotation, and a day or two later the JTWC interrupted some employee's vacation to declare the beast a "tropical depression."
Anyway, all that started a long way from here, about 2600 miles / 4200 kilometers to the east. So there's been plenty of time to consider the thing. Typhoon Bopha now has a defined eye, 115 knots (132 mph / 213 kph) sustained winds at the eyewall, and is still growing. It's a Class 3 Typhoon. Within 9 hours, it is expected to reach its Class 4 peak ferocity of 125 knots (144 mph / 231 kph).
But it's sunny and mildly warm with clear blue skies and gentle breezes here in Baguio this morning. It'll probably be a day or two before Bopha's outermost bands are here. And the tracking projection now is showing Bopha going through the central Visayan Islands, (probably) not hitting my island of Luzon directly:
Typhoon Bopha's latest predicted track. Note it's now being given a straighter track, no longer expected to turn slightly northward. |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 11/30/2012 20:35:30 |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2012 : 09:01:42 [Permalink]
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Koror, the principal island of the Republic, of Palau, is about to be hit directly by the center of Typhoon Bopha. Bopha's now expected to be Class 5 and have winds of about 125 knots (144 mph / 266 kph). The Local Alert for Palau that I had read just a few moments ago but now cannot access, makes it appear it may be an enormous disaster. (It mentioned 50-foot / 15-meter waves, I distinctly recall.)
Bopha's eye wall is likely going to slam into Koror in just about 12 hours from now.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 12/01/2012 09:06:35 |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2012 : 12:12:15 [Permalink]
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I read these utterly useless comments on the local Yahoo News, from Filipinos who were awaiting the arrival of Super-Typhoon Bopha ("Pedro" here). Its tight eye-wall has now hit the middle of the east coast of Mindanao. I'm the "Arthur" who wrote the last comment. I couldn't not comment:
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 12/03/2012 12:15:57 |
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sailingsoul
SFN Addict
2830 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2012 : 14:45:30 [Permalink]
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| I'm with Arthur on this. Nice commentMooner and thanks for the hyperlink. |
There are only two types of religious people, the deceivers and the deceived. SS |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2012 : 21:35:49 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by sailingsoul
I'm with Arthur on this. Nice commentMooner and thanks for the hyperlink. |
Thanks, ss.
The posts there would not be untypical for a small sampling of American comments before a storm, but they do vividly illustrate a dark aspect of Filipino culture. The deep-seated spirituality and passive acceptance of karma were here for hundreds (or thousands) of years, even before the Muslims and Catholics arrived to rename those attitudes with words like "faith," "kismet" and "God's mysterious will".
Having been through several typhoons here in the Philippines, I have regularly seen locals fixing shed roofs and other structural elements after they were ripped apart by winds. But I have never noticed any of my neighbors taking preventative actions before an impending storm. Nobody seems to consider reinforcing a chicken coop in advance of a typhoon. Just this passive acceptance of fate and prayer, always prayer.
To compare to Americans, only the wackier Bible-thumpers in the US would be so passive in the face of impending destruction. Here, it's the vast majority. |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 12/03/2012 21:37:14 |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2012 : 01:24:24 [Permalink]
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Sometimes they come back.
After devolving into a tropical storm well off shore in the South China Sea, Bopha has become a typhoon again, and is now headed toward northern Luzon (where I live). Forecasters give this prognostication "low confidence," but they think Bopha will loop around while weakening, cross its earlier path, and wander off to weaken further or die in the South China Sea.
"Low confidence" doesn't inspire much, er, confidence, so I'm making pre-storm checks around the house again.
The latest track prediction from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center:
Meanwhile, the local weather mavens at PAGASA think Bopha/Pedro will take an entirely different path:
In Baguio it's been dark and heavily overcast this afternoon. Now the sun is going down and the light showers are turning to steady moderate rain. |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 12/08/2012 02:40:28 |
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sailingsoul
SFN Addict
2830 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2012 : 10:06:02 [Permalink]
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What will you or have you done to prepare?
Here are just a couple of things I would do. Stock up on can goods that don't need cooking. Canned stew, vegetables etc.. This is very important if you have an electric stove vs propane. Know you won't run the risk of running out of propane as power can be out for an unknown amount of days if you cook with gas. Being able to cook would be very nice if that is compromised some way. If you have a car in the family fill it up while you can. Fill your freezer spaces with containers of water, as much that will fit, so they are frozen by the time the power may go out. This will provide you with several days of ice and water which will be in high demand anywhere there is no power for refrigeration or potable water. I've seen people in Florida wait hours standing by the few automated ice machines that can make bagged ice where there is power/water at the machine. That is just for starters. Best wishes and be safe through this Mooner |
There are only two types of religious people, the deceivers and the deceived. SS |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2012 : 22:00:01 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by sailingsoul
What will you or have you done to prepare? |
First, Bopha suddenly and convincingly dissipated as it approached the coast of Northern Luzon. That may finally be that for the 2012 Typhoon Season.
But you pose a good question, ss. Most of what I consider storm preparations consist on merely making sure our usual day-to-day supplies are not running low, and making certain the house looks water- and wind-tight. I make sure that we have plenty of non-perishable food (and dry dog food) and lots of drinking water (all five "jeep" tanks full) I check that there's plenty of propane for cooking. I also like to make sure the non-potable water in our tanks is topped off. It can be boiled and used for drinking water in a pinch.
I assure we have cash on hand, especially important when electronic cash transfers may be disrupted. I assure we have kerosene for our storm lanterns, that the LED flashlights are recharged, and that I have plenty of lighters. Most such preparations are simply things that should be done day-to-day, anyway. Now I'll read your kindly suggestions.
Here are just a couple of things I would do. Stock up on can goods that don't need cooking. Canned stew, vegetables etc.. This is very important if you have an electric stove vs propane. |
Propane stove only. Pretty much the standard here.| Know you won't run the risk of running out of propane as power can be out for an unknown amount of days if you cook with gas. Being able to cook would be very nice if that is compromised some way. If you have a car in the family fill it up while you can. Fill your freezer spaces with containers of water, as much that will fit, so they are frozen by the time the power may go out. |
Hadn't thought of that great idea. Will do. This will provide you with several days of ice and water which will be in high demand anywhere there is no power for refrigeration or potable water. I've seen people in Florida wait hours standing by the few automated ice machines that can make bagged ice where there is power/water at the machine. That is just for starters. Best wishes and be safe through this Mooner
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Thanks for all that! The main problem here on a street where only a Noah-style flood could inundate us is lack of electrical power, sometimes for upward of a week. The Samsung fridge I have has the best insulation I've ever encountered -- it keeps food cold for several days, with limited opening to get stuff. But after that a big container of ice immediately taken from its freezer compartment and placed in its cool compartment would greatly extend the fridge's preservation capacities.
I already have a good-sized Uninterruptable Power Supply, with just the DSL modem and the CCTV system plugged in. In the event of a Typhoon blackout, I plan to disconnect the CCTV stuff and use the UPS's AC output, while it lasts, only for the modem and for recharging cell phones. Next year, I get a generator! I was lucky not to need one very much this year. The "brown-outs" were only as long as half a day in duration.
Thanks again for the good wishes, and the helpful check-list! |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 12/08/2012 22:23:03 |
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Awesome Holidays!
