Category: nature

Houston, We Have A Problem

Herman, who has a second home in Houston where his daughter and family also live, sends along this link to an article on the flood status there, as well as to this video:

Herman also adds these comments:

The second bridge, as you watch this video is the one which Patty and I take to and from Amy’s. Although they are not flooded, and neither are we, this is the bridge that crosses Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive. What is in between is Buffalo Bayou, normally dry, with just a bit of water. The view is looking north, toward our home, and the very tall building as the camera pans right toward town is the AIG building, just a mile from Amy and Franklins.  As you can see, Allen Parkway, which is about 30 ft below the bridge is completely covered as is Memorial. This crossing is about seven minutes from city center.

rDay Eight-Hundred-Eighty: Eclipsed

As the morning engagement with the sun approached, we did a little prepping. Although I decided not to try to photograph the sun directly, a classic cereal box viewer was fashioned for Kim and Charlie, and I tried to project a pinhole image onto a viewing surface. And in the heat of the moment, I suddenly tried to photograph the pinhole projection, handheld, an abject failure.

Brother Dennis sent along some event documentation of Laura, himself and another Venice witness.

Photo Illustration by Laura and Dennis

The hero of the day was Corb who sent me his wonderful image from Salem. Eclipse done right!

Photo by Corbin Smith

 

Then a friend just now sends me this:

WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 21: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Donald Trump looks up toward the Solar Eclipse while joined by his wife first lady Melania Trump on the Truman Balcony at the White House on August 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Millions of people have flocked to areas of the U.S. that are in the “path of totality” in order to experience a total solar eclipse. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

And here are some great reader photos just posted by the NYT.

rDay Eight-Hundred-Seventy-Seven

Not sure this is going to show what we want to show.  Here’s the deal:  There’s a tree at the southeast corner of our property that has extended itself well out into the street.  But a guy named Michael, a “certified arborist”, came along today to trim it back to legal and non-disruptive levels.  To begin with, I had trouble finding a relatively recent “before” pic (the one selected shows branches and leafage that hit the top of the relatively low vehicle — the “Blue Rascal” itself — depicted; you might have to look very closely) and the “after” pic is kind of a head scratcher.  But anyway, here we go …

Prepping for Totality

We’ve all been inundated lately with eclipse information and safety warnings.  But there probably can’t be enough said about the risks and the safety steps needed.  I guess I have waited too long — can’t find eclipse glasses anywhere in this community.  All sold out.   And I’m not about to shell out for genuine welders’ glasses (the ONLY other alternative to ISO-certified eclipse lenses for any direct viewing).  But I was thinking of just building and doing a pinhole viewer (and optionally, perhaps, photograph or video the projected image) without looking toward the sun at all.  Here is what looks like a pretty good set of tips from the San Francisco Exploratorium, as well as this video describing one possible approach:

Note that the Exploratorium will be livestreaming the eclipse starting at 10:15am PDT here.   But here are some times that will help you decide when you should start watching, depending on your location.  Along with the jillions of other sites that will undoubtedly be streaming live, this would have to be the safest and most comfortable way to view!

And here’s a large batch of related articles, including some attesting to the emotional impact of the whole thing, including the admonition that you join a crowd for viewing, rather than risk the terror of being alone when it happens!