Well, after a high on Saturday of -6.4°F, we made it down to -20.4°F around 11:00pm. It wasn't a record, as the lowest low for January 6th was -23°F in 1996. I haven’t yet discovered what the lowest *high* temp was for January 6th, but I’ll bet we’re close. Temps are on the rise now, already way up to -13°F!
No problems to speak of with iguanas dropping out of the trees, I suppose? [grin]
Alan
P.S.: The high pressure ridge is weakening; we had enough rain to dramatically decrease the air pollution, and more is coming tomorrow, they say. No iguanas dropping out of our trees.
P.P.S.: Glad you like the items I post, listener; sometimes I feel I rather overdo it. And I am feeling much better today--after sleeping deeply for two hours yesterday afternoon and a good six or seven hours last night. Also after actually typing and preparing my letter of resignation for hand delivery on the morrow.
I really think that is part of his delusion, Susan. He certainly hasn't read the Constitution, and as I understand it, when an aide tried to his eyes glazed over by the 4th Amendment.
The Family is a criminal enterprise [Click] "…we should pity the President rather than hold him in contempt because he’d been raised in a culture of criminality and had no experience following the law."
Okay, I gave in and got from Audible. The search results also yielded Fury of Fire, the first book in a new series which, according to the blurb, "blends action, Fantasy and steamy Romance." How could I resist? :D
The title was understood, Cat. And re steamy romance, an american version of the Christine Keeler/Profumo affair in the White House would certainly be a big improvement over what is currently going on there.
So today was the forum for the 8 Democratic candidates for Illinois Attorney General, sponsored by 4 DFA affiliates ("chapters" isn't technically correct) and Americans for Democratic Action. I found all candidates reasonably impressive. But I went in leaning toward Nancy Rottering, whose unsuccessful Congressional primary campaign I had actively supported in 2016, and continued to like what she said. She's going to get my support again. As I mentioned two years ago, she is the major of the suburb that banned assault weapons and successfully defended the ban before the Supreme Count. I also noted that she was one of two candidates not from the City of Chicago. As a suburban Democrat, I'm not very impressed with the City of Chicago.
Nancy Rottering sounds perfect, Bill. She seems capable of standing up to even the Supremes, and on controversial issues. All the best to her!! Good for you taking care to listen to the candidates.
Yesterday Chicago tied to record for most consecutive days when the temperature did not reach 20F. We didn't break the record today. In fact, it warmed up enough we got an ice storm.
Wow--that doesn't sound like any fun AT ALL! I hope your house is warming up, Bill.
I remember the the heavy snow that shut Chicago down in January 1967[Click] being in the TV news; I recollected it being earlier, but seem to have been in error.
Recently I saw a post on Facebook asking "Do you remember the blizzard of '78 in Chicago?" I know there are pictures in my parents' photo album of snow drifts coming halfway up the kitchen window.
From the link above (that has the top 20 weather events for Chicago & area:
The Winters of 1976-77 1977-78 and 1978-79 Back to back to back brutal winters occurred in the late 1970s. These were three of the five coldest winters on record. 1976-1977 had 54.1 inches of snow and was the 3rd coldest winter ever. January 1977 was the coldest January on record with an average temperature of 10.1. There were 12 days below zero in January 1977. December 28 1976 to February 8 1977 has the distinction of being the longest continuous string of sub-freezing weather in Chicago history, 43 days. Winter 1977-1978 was the 5th coldest. The 82.3 inches of snow that fell was the 2nd highest seasonal total. Winter 1978-1979 was the 2nd coldest. The 89.7 inches of snow that fell is the all-time season record. One of Chicago's worst blizzards occurred January 13th and 14th 1979. The storm total was 18.8 inches of snow. Roofs collapsed from the weight of the snow, people fought over parking spaces and a mayor lost his job.
Greatly condensed from an analysis behind a paywall: If the Virginia House of Delegates election results tell us anything, it is that the US House of Representatives will probably get far more representative in 2018. The change in party numbers in Virginia was notable, but the big story is the tremendous increase in women, people of color and under-40's delegates. The GOP delegates remain almost exclusively white males. About a third of the Democrats in the House are women; nearly all House Democrats are over 40, and most are over 60. We could well see a huge change in the demographics of the Democratic caucus--not to mention its expansion. I can go for that…
If DT doesn't get funding for his border wall in a budget, he might veto it [Click] and personally own the resulting government shutdown.
Well, IMO, if it should pan out it could eventually stop people getting addicted via prescription, but pretty obviously wouldn’t stop those abusing opioids for the sake of intoxication. And to call it a global opioid addiction crisis is hardly accurate, given the hugely disproportionate use of opioids in the USA. And there is the little question of cost of such drugs. Methadone still strikes me as a very good choice for chronic pain when used carefully; unlike its principal rivals for the purpose (timed-release morphine and oxycodone)it costs only dollars a day, not hundreds of dollars per day. One must be very careful about how one takes it in order to avoid an express ticket to Summerland. ================== Agroforestry [Click]
The theatre company putting Victorian sci-fi centre stage [Click] "As an adaptation of HG Wells’s The Crystal Egg prepares to open in London, its creators explain how they turned a short story from 1897 into a play for our alien-obsessed times" I wasn't familiar with the story, but have downloaded and commenced reading it. So far it is interesting.
The Gofundme account for rebuilding Tina Johnson's home has now surpassed $170,000--of its original $40,000 goal. Excess will be donated to victims of sexual assault and arson. No word yet on the cause of the fire; it seems more likely to me that it started as an electrical fire, but even in that event donations are a statement of support for her public actions.
As soon as he heard about her house fire, my Wil said "There should be a GoFundMe page for her, and she'll be able to live in a house twice as large." He was pleased to hear there really was one, and we gave $10. Wish it could have been more.
One of the neighbors was quoted in the newspapers as hoping they would rebuild there because they are such good neighbors, and it looks like a nice semi-rural neighborhood. Zillow values the house at $100K (or $110K?), so about a third of that would be the land. Certainly they have homeowners insurance. So I think they will be just fine. Probably better form to build a house that is not out of proportion to others in the neighborhood and have upgrades inside. There was a story that a young alcoholic known to the neighbors was wandering around the area at the time and said things that indicated he might have observed the fire before it became obvious to others. Ten dollars is good. And even if the fire should prove not to be arson (which I still expect at this time), it will be a signal to everyone of widespread support for her.
HEATWAVE!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, after a high on Saturday of -6.4°F, we made it down to -20.4°F around 11:00pm. It wasn't a record, as the lowest low for January 6th was -23°F in 1996. I haven’t yet discovered what the lowest *high* temp was for January 6th, but I’ll bet we’re close. Temps are on the rise now, already way up to -13°F!
No problems to speak of with iguanas dropping out of the trees, I suppose? [grin]
DeleteAlan
P.S.: The high pressure ridge is weakening; we had enough rain to dramatically decrease the air pollution, and more is coming tomorrow, they say. No iguanas dropping out of our trees.
P.P.S.: Glad you like the items I post, listener; sometimes I feel I rather overdo it. And I am feeling much better today--after sleeping deeply for two hours yesterday afternoon and a good six or seven hours last night. Also after actually typing and preparing my letter of resignation for hand delivery on the morrow.
DT wants a new law that would limit free speech...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-free-speech-libel-law-michael-wolff-fire-fury-mental-state-latest-a8145741.html
Poor dweeb!
DeleteIt has been pointed out that he had better be prepared for a lot more unlaudatory books to come...more than one already announced.
DeleteAlan
He still labors under the misapprehension that he was elected King.
DeleteI really think that is part of his delusion, Susan. He certainly hasn't read the Constitution, and as I understand it, when an aide tried to his eyes glazed over by the 4th Amendment.
DeleteWanna bet he makes it to the 5th?
The Family is a criminal enterprise [Click] "…we should pity the President rather than hold him in contempt because he’d been raised in a culture of criminality and had no experience following the law."
Delete--Alan
So sorry I missed Renee!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the birthday wishes, everybody. Listener, I put on ten pounds just looking at that wonderful cake!
Alan, you post fascinating stuff, and a wide variety as well. Thanks.
Okay, I gave in and got from Audible. The search results also yielded Fury of Fire, the first book in a new series which, according to the blurb, "blends action, Fantasy and steamy Romance." How could I resist? :D
ReplyDeleteThe action and fantasy parts certainly fit the current White House, but somehow I can't see steamy romance there...
DeleteAlan
Hmmm. Preview is my friend. For some reason Fire and Fury got blocked out.
DeleteNo indeed, LOL. Steamy romance does not seem likely in the present WH.
The title was understood, Cat. And re steamy romance, an american version of the Christine Keeler/Profumo affair in the White House would certainly be a big improvement over what is currently going on there.
Delete--Alan
So today was the forum for the 8 Democratic candidates for Illinois Attorney General, sponsored by 4 DFA affiliates ("chapters" isn't technically correct) and Americans for Democratic Action. I found all candidates reasonably impressive. But I went in leaning toward Nancy Rottering, whose unsuccessful Congressional primary campaign I had actively supported in 2016, and continued to like what she said. She's going to get my support again. As I mentioned two years ago, she is the major of the suburb that banned assault weapons and successfully defended the ban before the Supreme Count. I also noted that she was one of two candidates not from the City of Chicago. As a suburban Democrat, I'm not very impressed with the City of Chicago.
ReplyDeleteNancy Rottering sounds perfect, Bill. She seems capable of standing up to even the Supremes, and on controversial issues. All the best to her!! Good for you taking care to listen to the candidates.
DeleteYesterday Chicago tied to record for most consecutive days when the temperature did not reach 20F. We didn't break the record today. In fact, it warmed up enough we got an ice storm.
ReplyDeleteWow--that doesn't sound like any fun AT ALL! I hope your house is warming up, Bill.
DeleteI remember the the heavy snow that shut Chicago down
in January 1967[Click] being in the TV news; I recollected it being earlier, but seem to have been in error.
—Alan
Recently I saw a post on Facebook asking "Do you remember the blizzard of '78 in Chicago?" I know there are pictures in my parents' photo album of snow drifts coming halfway up the kitchen window.
ReplyDeleteFrom the link above (that has the top 20 weather events for Chicago & area:
DeleteThe Winters of 1976-77 1977-78 and 1978-79
Back to back to back brutal winters occurred in the late 1970s. These were three of the five coldest winters on record. 1976-1977 had 54.1 inches of snow and was the 3rd coldest winter ever. January 1977 was the coldest January on record with an average temperature of 10.1. There were 12 days below zero in January 1977. December 28 1976 to February 8 1977 has the distinction of being the longest continuous string of sub-freezing weather in Chicago history, 43 days. Winter 1977-1978 was the 5th coldest. The 82.3 inches of snow that fell was the 2nd highest seasonal total. Winter 1978-1979 was the 2nd coldest. The 89.7 inches of snow that fell is the all-time season record. One of Chicago's worst blizzards occurred January 13th and 14th 1979. The storm total was 18.8 inches of snow. Roofs collapsed from the weight of the snow, people fought over parking spaces and a mayor lost his job.
--Alan
Emendation: the list is of the top 20 weather events in Chicago and area in the 20th Century.
Delete--Alan
Thanks, Renee and Alan!
DeleteMy area of Vermont was the cold spot this past weekend, being 28 degrees below our normal temps for this time of year.
Trump’s Shrinking Work Schedule [Click]
ReplyDeleteWhite House preparing for trade crackdown [Click] Gee--what could possibly go wrong?
Greatly condensed from an analysis behind a paywall:
If the Virginia House of Delegates election results tell us anything, it is that the US House of Representatives will probably get far more representative in 2018. The change in party numbers in Virginia was notable, but the big story is the tremendous increase in women, people of color and under-40's delegates. The GOP delegates remain almost exclusively white males. About a third of the Democrats in the House are women; nearly all House Democrats are over 40, and most are over 60. We could well see a huge change in the demographics of the Democratic caucus--not to mention its expansion. I can go for that…
If DT doesn't get funding for his border wall in a budget,
he might veto it [Click] and personally own the resulting government shutdown.
Breakthrough brings non-addictive opioid alternatives a step closer [Click] "Key discovery around brain’s receptor proteins could help develop painkiller substitutes, raising hopes of an eventual end to global opioid addiction crisis."
========================
Well, IMO, if it should pan out it could eventually stop people getting addicted via prescription, but pretty obviously wouldn’t stop those abusing opioids for the sake of intoxication. And to call it a global opioid addiction crisis is hardly accurate, given the hugely disproportionate use of opioids in the USA. And there is the little question of cost of such drugs. Methadone still strikes me as a very good choice for chronic pain when used carefully; unlike its principal rivals for the purpose (timed-release morphine and oxycodone)it costs only dollars a day, not hundreds of dollars per day. One must be very careful about how one takes it in order to avoid an express ticket to Summerland.
==================
Agroforestry [Click]
The theatre company putting Victorian sci-fi centre stage [Click] "As an adaptation of HG Wells’s The Crystal Egg prepares to open in London, its creators explain how they turned a short story from 1897 into a play for our alien-obsessed times" I wasn't familiar with the story, but have downloaded and commenced reading it. So far it is interesting.
--Alan
The Gofundme account for rebuilding Tina Johnson's home has now surpassed $170,000--of its original $40,000 goal. Excess will be donated to victims of sexual assault and arson. No word yet on the cause of the fire; it seems more likely to me that it started as an electrical fire, but even in that event donations are a statement of support for her public actions.
ReplyDeleteAlan
Hurrah, Alan! Thanks for the update!
ReplyDeleteAs soon as he heard about her house fire, my Wil said "There should be a GoFundMe page for her, and she'll be able to live in a house twice as large." He was pleased to hear there really was one, and we gave $10. Wish it could have been more.
One of the neighbors was quoted in the newspapers as hoping they would rebuild there because they are such good neighbors, and it looks like a nice semi-rural neighborhood. Zillow values the house at $100K (or $110K?), so about a third of that would be the land. Certainly they have homeowners insurance. So I think they will be just fine. Probably better form to build a house that is not out of proportion to others in the neighborhood and have upgrades inside. There was a story that a young alcoholic known to the neighbors was wandering around the area at the time and said things that indicated he might have observed the fire before it became obvious to others. Ten dollars is good. And even if the fire should prove not to be arson (which I still expect at this time), it will be a signal to everyone of widespread support for her.
DeleteAlan