Who left the dimensional door open? - Thread 008

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[acnielsen guy]

THREAD 008

Posts since 1/29/02 9,988

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[westmex]

Your state at least had the good sense to not go this route...Congratulations.....
.....Westy.....

[andysandmikesmom]

You are exactly right about worrying about our things when we die...why should we care? I buy my dolls, because I enjoy them, not because I want them stored for posterity or because I want to make money off of them, because I think they will go up in value....I buy them, because they make me happy....

Long ago, I went through the house with my son, and pointed out to him various antiques, that had been passed down through the family...and what I knew of their history...now my son really enjoy having items, that were family items, with a family history, and he will keep those things, because the actually mean something to him....

And he also said, he would keep all of my dads woodcarvings...I have been offered lots of money for some of my dads work, but have never, ever parted with his stuff...nor will my son...

But as for all the other stuff my hubby and I buy, my son will probably either sell most of it, or give it away...and I am fine with that...

I guess I am like my dad...dad always told me, that he was going to spend all his money before he died, and that I was on my own...I said, good, enjoy your money, thats the way it should be...he said, he would leave me his house and all his possessions, and I could do with them whatever I wanted...sell them, burn them, keep them, give them away, do whatever you want with the stuff...thats what dad said...

I kept a lot of his stuff, but I gave some of his things away to relatives...all the nephews got special knives that dad collected, and a small wood carving..all the nieces got some of moms music boxes...

And some very good friends of ours really admires some of dads stuff...dad tied many of his own fishing lures, and one of our closest friends loves to fish(My hubby and I dont really do much fishing) and he really was bowled over by some of my dads fishing lures...so I gave him a box with many of dads fishing ties lures and he was so delighted...and that would have made dad grateful and happy to know that someone else was using his stuff and appreciating it...and this mans daughter loved and collected rubber stamps...so did my dad, and he had about a thousand of them...so I let her pick out a hundred of them...that little girl was so happy...and it would have made dad happy to see that....

So thats just my own philosophy about what to do with our things when we are no longer around...

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, here is likely more than you ever wanted to know, but there are some pretty pictures!

What is the Puget Sound Convergence Zone?

The Convergence Zone (also sometimes abbreviated 'PSCZ') is one of the more fascinating weather phenomenons in the Pacific Northwest.

Weather 101 Answer:

Northwest winds in the upper atmosphere become split by the Olympic Mountains, then re-converge over Puget Sound, causing updrafts. Those updrafts can lead to convection and then rain showers or more active weather.

Weather 401 Answer :

The Puget Sound Convergence Zone (PSCZ) works best when there is a northwest flow in the upper atmosphere, and unstable air. They tend to be most frequent following a storm system, as usually winds blow from the northwest following a cold front passage.

Those northwest winds will collide with the Olympic Mountains. Part of the air flow will be deflected east down the Strait of Juan de Fuca, while the other part will be deflected down the western side of the Olympics.

When the eastern branch reaches the I-5 Corridor and the Cascade Mountains, it will then be forced to the south.

Meanwhile, when the western branch reaches the I-5 corridor and Cascade Mountains past the southern side of the Olympics, it will then turn to the north.
 

Eventually, the south-flowing branch and the north-flowing branch will converge. When that happens, the air has nowhere to go but up.

Rising air will lead to convection. That will lead to cloud and storm development.
 

Most Convergence Zones are strong enough to produce rain, but depending on how strong the winds are, and if the atmosphere is unstable, you can get strong thunderstorms, hail, or on cold days, heavy snow. It will also bring very heavy snows to the Cascades wherever it sets up -- usually between Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass.

(Instability occurs when you have much colder air moving into the upper atmosphere -- it makes it easier for clouds to form since the warm air from the surface can rise higher and faster. Usually also occurs with cold air moving in after a cold front passage.)

The Convergence Zone's favorite spot tends to be an east-west line that extends over the central and south Snohomish County area (Lynnwood, Edmonds, and Everett are the prime spots.) However, just to make forecasting a challenge, the Zone can move, depending on the strength of each wind component. If the south component becomes stronger, it will push the Zone further north, and vice versa.
 

Sometimes, the wind components can vary, in which case you can have a Zone move north and south like a flag flapping in the wind. The Zone can go as far north as Northern Skagit County, and as far south as northern Pierce County. Many times the Zone will begin in the usual spot, then race south over the Seattle/Bellevue metro area just before fizzling out.

Just outside the zone on either side, the weather tends to be rather calm but breezy. Many times in Seattle, the sun will be out, but you can see the dark ominous clouds to the north.
 

There tends to be a calm zone on either side because once those winds shoot up inside the Zone, they tend to subside on either side (much like a fountain -- the water shoots up the middle, then comes down on the sides). As air sinks, it tends to dry out, thus usually breaking up the cloud cover around the Zone.

Do It Yourself Forecasting

It's tricky to explain what to look for in the models for what would make a good Convergence Zone, but there are some tricks you can do to get a good short-term forecast of a Convergence Zone:

First of all, primo conditions would require about a 10-15 knot wind out of the Northwest (compass direction 300-330) at Hoquiam Airport. You also want strong west winds down the Strait of Juan de Fuca (check Port Angeles' weather.) The stronger the winds down the Strait, the more active the Zone can become (the "Fuel" if you will).

Check the current conditions here

You can tell a Convergence Zone is likely happening in the usual Edmonds spot. If you have North winds at Paine Field in Everett and south winds in Seattle. Sometimes, you can see the zone shift north and south of Everett and Seattle by watching the wind shift suddenly from north to south. If you live in the Zone areas like Lynnwood/Edmonds, watch the winds, and if it's pouring rain and then you get a sharp wind shift from south to north, the Zone just passed you and is heading south.

[palo verde]

I was just reading the Australian thread you pinged me to. Deep conversations!!!

westy, this is same article you linked us to on DD
(bout prostitutes in Australia bein' exhausted)
I hadn't read thread, but when I noticed today it was at post 339, I turned to the last couple of posts
I agree with oki, the conversation took a deep turn

[palo verde]

Hair, thank you very much for your post bout the Convergence
the pictures are pretty
I only read some of it now, but I want to read whole of it
I am interested
Love, Palo

[andysandmikesmom]

Wow, great article...I have copied and pasted it for my own use, and will be able to study it further...thanks a lot...I always hear about the convergence zone, but never knew much about it....Now I will be more knowledgeable about this

See there, we can have fun and act silly on this thread, but we also can an education about all different sorts of things...

[westmex]

Good job Hair, much better than my feeble attempt.....
.....Westy....

[palo verde]

I used to have daylight savings time in nyc
I hated it
but I thought it was cause inner city got so nutso during heat waves in summer
and DST somehow made the daylight go on forever, when we really needed the calming effect of night
I find it relaxing not changing my clocks twice a year
and I am content with how things are here in AZ

[westmex]

I don't change my clocks either...to he!! with em....
....Westy.....

[okimhere]

Oh, yes! The best that one can hope for is to have one's cherished possessions wind up in the hands of someone who will also love and care for them. You did good!

[palo verde]

westy, I see Bellingham on one of Hair's pics
isn't that where your mom hung out the wash (cause she didn't have dryer)
Love, Palo

[andysandmikesmom]

You hit it right, in a lot less words than I did...to have my possessions in the hands of someone who will love them like I do, it what I wish for...

[westmex]

Yep, nobody had dryers in those days except laundrys.....
.....Westy....

[westmex]

How are the ladies ih Australia doing? Are they recovering from all the action? Has the fleet left?....
.....Westy....

[okimhere]

You talkin' to yourself here???

[andysandmikesmom]

Well, the current man of the house, Mr. Dizzy, is getting quite annoyed with me...he keeps rubbing up against my legs, in an attempt to draw me away from the computer, and back into the family room, to groom and pet and cuddle and kiss him...hes just like the hubby....

Speaking of the hubby, he returns tomorrow, in the early afternoon...he always has tales to tell me of his 'rock and roll' weekends...I always have to laugh at the good times he has...he is happy with his weekends, and I am happy with my weekend alone with my computer, and FR and ebay...

Perhaps this is why we have been married for so long, and still enjoy each other so much...we allow one another to go their own way, when they wish...we trust each other, and are happy when the other is happy...

But he returns tomorrow, so I should go and give my undivided attention to Dizzy, and decide what type of welcome home dinner I should prepare for the hubby...

So be good all of you(or be bad, but dont get caught), and I will see ya all tomorrow...nitey nite...

[HairOfTheDog]

Good night! Pleasant dreams!

[westmex]

Yep, been known to answer myself too...lol....
....Westy...

[palo verde]

I see that Olympia where andysmom lives is south of Seattle
(I always pictured her north of it)
but Bellingham is in the north
is it in the rainy area described by Hair's post?

[okimhere]

Goodnight, Andysandmikesmom. Give Dizzy some pets but not enough to create static electricity (how DO you avoid doing that???).