November General Banter

[chapelhillwx]

Here's the oak in my front yard. Sorry for the bad picture... a Droid can only handle so much foliage.

[WeatherNC]

Wishing all our Veterans on the SE side a great day, Thank You!

[buckeyefan1]

Wishing all our Veterans on the SE side a great day, Thank You!

+1

[DaculaWeather]

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Daywith the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"Legislation was approved on May 13, 1938, which made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." The act was amended later that year striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans."

Today (11^th hour, the 11^th day, of the 11^th month…and during the 11^th year) we remember that day we remember Veteran’s of every generation. Today and I’m sure throughout the entire weekend, you will see countless Veteran’s organizations at supermarkets, restaurants, game stores, pubs, etc asking for donations to help many worthy causes. In return, they will present you with a paper version of a red poppy. Why the poppy? This flower can be found in vicinity of a field of battle during World War I. The field is called Flander’s Field. A Canadian Army doctor Major John McCrae (later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel), was assigned to a hospital in the vicinity of the battlefield. His poem "In Flanders Fields" remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres salient in the spring of 1915.

I hope that you will take a moment to read the story of the making of that poem below.

Although he had been a doctor for years and had served in the South African War, it was impossible to get used to the suffering, the screams, and the blood Major John McCrae had seen and heard in his dressing station. As a surgeon attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Major McCrae, had spent seventeen days treating injured men -- Canadians, British, Indians, French, and Germans -- in the Ypres salient. It had been an ordeal that he had hardly thought possible. McCrae later wrote of it, "I wish I could embody on paper some of the varied sensations of that seventeen days... Seventeen days of Hades! At the end of the first day if anyone had told us we had to spend seventeen days there, we would have folded our hands and said it could not have been done."

One death particularly affected McCrae. A young friend and former student, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer of Ottawa, had been killed by a shell burst on 2 May 1915. Lieutenant Helmer was buried later that day in the little cemetery outside McCrae's dressing station, and McCrae had performed the funeral ceremony in the absence of the chaplain.

The next day, sitting on the back of an ambulance parked near the dressing station beside the Canal de l'Yser, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, McCrae vented his anguish by composing a poem. The major was no stranger to writing, having authored several medical texts besides dabbling in poetry.

In the nearby cemetery, McCrae could see the wild poppies that sprang up in the ditches in that part of Europe, and he spent twenty minutes of precious rest time scribbling fifteen lines of verse in a notebook. A young soldier watched him write it. Cyril Allinson, a twenty-two year old sergeant-major, was delivering mail that day when he spotted McCrae. The major looked up as Allinson approached, then went on writing while the sergeant-major stood there quietly. "His face was very tired but calm as we wrote," Allinson recalled. "He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer's grave."

When McCrae finished five minutes later, he took his mail from Allinson and, without saying a word, handed his pad to the young Sergeant. Allinson was moved by what he read. "The poem was an exact description of the scene in front of us both. He used the word blow in that line because the poppies actually were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene."

In fact, it was very nearly not published. Dissatisfied with it, McCrae tossed the poem away, but a fellow officer retrieved it and sent it to newspapers in England. The Spectator, in London, rejected it, but Punch published it on 8 December 1915.

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

[EmersonGA]

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Daywith the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"Legislation was approved on May 13, 1938, which made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." The act was amended later that year striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans."

Today (11^th hour, the 11^th day, of the 11^th month…and during the 11^th year) we remember that day we remember Veteran’s of every generation. Today and I’m sure throughout the entire weekend, you will see countless Veteran’s organizations at supermarkets, restaurants, game stores, pubs, etc asking for donations to help many worthy causes. In return, they will present you with a paper version of a red poppy. Why the poppy? This flower can be found in vicinity of a field of battle during World War I. The field is called Flander’s Field. A Canadian Army doctor Major John McCrae (later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel), was assigned to a hospital in the vicinity of the battlefield. His poem "In Flanders Fields" remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres salient in the spring of 1915.

I hope that you will take a moment to read the story of the making of that poem below.

Although he had been a doctor for years and had served in the South African War, it was impossible to get used to the suffering, the screams, and the blood Major John McCrae had seen and heard in his dressing station. As a surgeon attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Major McCrae, had spent seventeen days treating injured men -- Canadians, British, Indians, French, and Germans -- in the Ypres salient. It had been an ordeal that he had hardly thought possible. McCrae later wrote of it, "I wish I could embody on paper some of the varied sensations of that seventeen days... Seventeen days of Hades! At the end of the first day if anyone had told us we had to spend seventeen days there, we would have folded our hands and said it could not have been done."

One death particularly affected McCrae. A young friend and former student, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer of Ottawa, had been killed by a shell burst on 2 May 1915. Lieutenant Helmer was buried later that day in the little cemetery outside McCrae's dressing station, and McCrae had performed the funeral ceremony in the absence of the chaplain.

The next day, sitting on the back of an ambulance parked near the dressing station beside the Canal de l'Yser, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, McCrae vented his anguish by composing a poem. The major was no stranger to writing, having authored several medical texts besides dabbling in poetry.

In the nearby cemetery, McCrae could see the wild poppies that sprang up in the ditches in that part of Europe, and he spent twenty minutes of precious rest time scribbling fifteen lines of verse in a notebook. A young soldier watched him write it. Cyril Allinson, a twenty-two year old sergeant-major, was delivering mail that day when he spotted McCrae. The major looked up as Allinson approached, then went on writing while the sergeant-major stood there quietly. "His face was very tired but calm as we wrote," Allinson recalled. "He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer's grave."

When McCrae finished five minutes later, he took his mail from Allinson and, without saying a word, handed his pad to the young Sergeant. Allinson was moved by what he read. "The poem was an exact description of the scene in front of us both. He used the word blow in that line because the poppies actually were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene."

In fact, it was very nearly not published. Dissatisfied with it, McCrae tossed the poem away, but a fellow officer retrieved it and sent it to newspapers in England. The Spectator, in London, rejected it, but Punch published it on 8 December 1915.

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Here is a sad fact from WWI that I heard on Rick Steves:

"It's said that if all of Britain's WWI dead were to march four-abreast past the Cenotaph, the sad parade would last for seven days."

[LithiaWx]

Mount Baker in Washington State is expecting 49-76" of snow between now and Monday. That's 4' to 6.5' FEET. epic...

http://forecast.weat...n&FcstType=text

[Local Yokel Wx]

I am excited to report snow is falling in Cullowhee!

We are making snow as we speak as the wetbulb temp is right under 26 F.

About a tenth of an inch with more too come...

[MotoWeatherman]

I am excited to report snow is falling in Cullowhee!

We are making snow as we speak as the wetbulb temp is right under 26 F.

About a tenth of an inch with more too come...

What are the details of that contraption you are using to blow snow? I am interested in trying to rig up something like that.

[Local Yokel Wx]

What are the details of that contraption you are using to blow snow? I am interested in trying to rig up something like that.

Its a simple setup combining compressed air and pressure washer. Wetbulb temps around 26 - 27 or below is doable with real powder falling around 23 - 24 and below.

I got this one from snowstormsnowmaking.com but also check out snowathome.com for both great products and free plans to build your own, which could be $300 cheaper. I have built several ones in the past however the automated process from snowstormsnowmaking.com make it 10x easier as you simply plug and play with no adjustments to see what quality snow comes out the nozzles.

My air compressor is a Makita with 6cfm @90 psi while my pressure washer is a measly 1.3gpm. The more air and water moving through the nucleation nozzles (the real maker of the snow as the nozzle splits it into finer the mist) the better quality snow.

Current wetbulb temp is 25.9 and I currently have an inch on the ground. As it goes below 24 I should see much more as it becomes more powdery.

[MotoWeatherman]

Its a simple setup combining compressed air and pressure washer. Wetbulb temps around 26 - 27 or below is doable with real powder falling around 23 - 24 and below.

I got this one from snowstormsnowmaking.com but also check out snowathome.com for both great products and free plans to build your own, which could be $300 cheaper. I have built several ones in the past however the automated process from snowstormsnowmaking.com make it 10x easier as you simply plug and play with no adjustments to see what quality snow comes out the nozzles.

My air compressor is a Makita with 6cfm @90 psi while my pressure washer is a measly 1.3gpm. The more air and water moving through the nucleation nozzles (the real maker of the snow as the nozzle splits it into finer the mist) the better quality snow.

Current wetbulb temp is 25.9 and I currently have an inch on the ground. As it goes below 24 I should see much more as it becomes more powdery.

Awesome. I'm going to check that out. I'm on well water here so I don't have to worry about any sort of water bill. LOL.

[Gastonwxman]

Well guys, whether or not you have noticed it, it has been a whole year since we first established our new home here on Americanwx from Easternwx. Already we have experienced some extreme weather over the past year from the rare Christmas storm, massive Spring severe weather outbreaks, heat and rain to early frosts. We now have such to go back to whenever we feel like it to remember those days. Here's to another good year on the forum for the Southeast crew! Let's keep those terrific weather discussions and random banters going.

[DaculaWeather]

Well guys, whether or not you have noticed it, it has been a whole year since we first established our new home here on Americanwx from Easternwx. Already we have experienced some extreme weather over the past year from the rare Christmas storm, massive Spring severe weather outbreaks, heat and rain to early frosts. We now have such to go back to whenever we feel like it to remember those days. Here's to another good year on the forum for the Southeast crew! Let's keep those terrific weather discussions and random banters going.

+1

[burgertime]

Well guys, whether or not you have noticed it, it has been a whole year since we first established our new home here on Americanwx from Easternwx. Already we have experienced some extreme weather over the past year from the rare Christmas storm, massive Spring severe weather outbreaks, heat and rain to early frosts. We now have such to go back to whenever we feel like it to remember those days. Here's to another good year on the forum for the Southeast crew! Let's keep those terrific weather discussions and random banters going.

Amazing how smooth the transition was! I like this board much better than Eastern and without Marcus upgrades actually get done. Here's to another great winter!

[Mr Bob]

Hey Mr. Bob, went to Demos in Nashville good cheap spot! Thanks for the recommendation.

While I would like to take credit...I think Larry recommended that one...I will have to try it myself next time I am up there.

[strongwxnc]

No doubt man. My memory fails here, but I think we were in the middle of tracking something or.... Anyway, I recall the made dash to sign up here after we got word that eastern was dead...

So far so good at amwx..

Amazing how smooth the transition was! I like this board much better than Eastern and without Marcus upgrades actually get done. Here's to another great winter!

[Gastonwxman]

Don't know how I forgot to post this for the longest time but I finally remembered today. Found this little guy crossing the road one day (about at least 2 months ago). A car nearly ran over it but I managed to pick it up right quick and carry him back to my yard. I've been keeping it as a pet, giving it clean water to swim and drink, well-balanced meals, and the occasional walk--around in the yard so he can exercise. I have to put him into a box with a blanket to cover over the top so he'll stay warm since he absolutely hates it when it gets real cold at night and will sit on top of the rocks with his whole body pulled into his shell. I've named him Henry.

I've looked around online but I can't seem to find out what kind of turtle I have here. Anyone know? TIA

[WeatherNC]

I've looked around online but I can't seem to find out what kind of turtle I have here. Anyone know? TIA

Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

range in NC

http://www.herpsofnc.org/herps_of_NC/turtles/Chrpic/chrpic.html

[buckeyefan1]

Don't know how I forgot to post this for the longest time but I finally remembered today. Found this little guy crossing the road one day (about at least 2 months ago). A car nearly ran over it but I managed to pick it up right quick and carry him back to my yard. I've been keeping it as a pet, giving it clean water to swim and drink, well-balanced meals, and the occasional walk--around in the yard so he can exercise. I have to put him into a box with a blanket to cover over the top so he'll stay warm since he absolutely hates it when it gets real cold at night and will sit on top of the rocks with his whole body pulled into his shell. I've named him Henry.

I've looked around online but I can't seem to find out what kind of turtle I have here. Anyone know? TIA

It looks like a redbelly slider

[wx4life]

It looks like a redbelly slider

I was about to day the samething. I had three at one time.

[buckeyefan1]

I was about to day the samething. I had three at one time.

The only turtle we have had as a pet are the two box turtles my son has found. The first one 4 years ago, was injured (shell), and the second one last year, was in the road.

[Gastonwxman]

Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

range in NC

http://www.herpsofnc...pic/chrpic.html

Thanks. That was a very useful link you posted there. I had no idea that they had the tendency to freeze in their own nest, only to come back later when it's warm again. At least now I know that my turtle can actually stay in his water if painted turtles are able to withstand freezing.

The only turtle we have had as a pet are the two box turtles my son has found. The first one 4 years ago, was injured (shell), and the second one last year, was in the road.

Do you remember how the first one was injured? Usually it takes a quite a while for turtles to heal (or so I've heard). Seems like the both of us found our turtle (your second) the same way: On the road lol.

[buckeyefan1]

Thanks. That was a very useful link you posted there. I had no idea that they had the tendency to freeze in their own nest, only to come back later when it's warm again. At least now I know that my turtle can actually stay in his water if painted turtles are able to withstand freezing.

Do you remember how the first one was injured? Usually it takes a quite a while for turtles to heal (or so I've heard). Seems like the both of us found our turtle (your second) the same way: On the road lol.

We found him while walking near the Congaree river. I'm not sure what happened to him, but he had a couple of cracks in his shell. They were not deep, but he did need a boost calcium for about 9 months for him to completely heal. His favorite food is a night crawler

[burgertime]

Not an attack, just a joke...

[FoothillsNC]

Not an attack, just a joke...

Blah. No snow for you this Winter.

[DaculaWeather]

LOL!!!

[GaWx]

While I would like to take credit...I think Larry recommended that one...I will have to try it myself next time I am up there.

Yes, I recommended it. However, the ironic thing is that I've never even been to Nashville. My friends keep raving about it.

Aside: Those same friends had been pushing for me to go to Nashville with them for several years. We finally made plans together for early May of 2010 about a month in advance. But about two days in advance, I told them we should cancel because it looked like it was going to be nasty/rain much of the weekend per models/fcasts. Well, it did end up raining a lot that weekend. Moreover, that was the weekend of the historic flood! So, I've still never been.

[burgertime]

Blah. No snow for you this Winter.

Haha just to clarify I was talking about Valk...but I guess I'll take credit for making fun of you too Robert!

[FoothillsNC]

Haha just to clarify I was talking about Valk...but I guess I'll take credit for making fun of you too Robert!

oh my bad. your clever subtlety evaded me. I think.

[buckeyefan1]

Not an attack, just a joke...

[Lookout]

Just an FYI, WeatherNC has been great, who I wanted as a member. Not to toot my own horn..toot toot. He is really going to be an invaluable asset come this winter.

I felt compelled to you guys this as both a warning that you better watch out with regards to trolling and with respect to misbehavior, attacks, and trolling, etc and as recognition of the job he is doing so far.

I feel like we really lucked up getting someone like him.