A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-11-04...The Dog Days of Summer

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997. Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay or a profile of another FReeper.

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~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

The Dog Days of Summer are almost behind us. For some it will be a reason to celebrate, for others (like me) it is a time to lament the passing of the summer season.

"While the dog days have made many us feel like we're swaddled in fur, the period is actually named after Sirius, the Dog Star. Sirius rises with the sun when summer is at its hottest. The dog days traditionally run from July 3 to August 11.

The ancients believed extra heat generated by Sirius in conjunction with the sun caused this sizzling spell of weather. Sirius is the brightest star at night, after all.

But Sirius, which is found in the Canis Major (big dog) constellation, is some 50 trillion miles (80 trillion kilometers) from Earth—too far away to influence temperatures here.

In Roman times the dog days—or dies caniculares in Latin—were associated with intolerable heat, lethargy, disease, and, appropriately enough, mad dogs." James Owen for National Geographic News July 16, 2004

What was the highest summer temperature ever recorded in the United States?

A - 114 degrees Fahrenheit
B - 124 degrees F.
C - 134 degrees F.
D - 144 degrees F.

Answer >>> C - The highest temperature ever recorded in the U.S. was in California's Death Valley. The temperature reached 134 degrees. The hottest record on Earth took place in El Aisisa, Libya. That temp was 136F.

When does summer officially start in the Northern Hemisphere?

A - June 19th
B - June 21st
C - June 22nd
D - It varies

Answer >>> D - It varies. The summer solstice doesn't always occur on June 21. In 1896, summer began on June 20. It won't begin on that same date again until 2012.

It's not just the heat. It really is the humidity! When the thermometer reads 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity stands at 60%, how hot do you really feel, according to the National Weather Service's heat index?

A - 116 degrees F.
B - 126 degrees F.
C - 136 degrees F.
D - 146 degress F.

Answer >>> C - According the heat index, 100 degrees F at 60% relative humidity will warm the human body as much as heat at 136 degrees F at 0% humidity. When the Heat Index gets above 90 then it's time to take some precautions. About 175 people die in this country every year due to excessive heat.

What is the official definition of a heat wave?

A - Two or more days of 90+ degree weather.
B - Three or more days of 90+ degree weather.
C - Any period of unusually hot weather.
D - A period of 48 consecutive hours when the air temperature is 15% or more above normal.
E - There is no "official" definition.

Answer >>> E - There is no universal "official" definition. The National Weather service has set no temperature or duration to define a heat wave. The American Heritage dictionary defines a heat wave as, "a period of unusually hot weather."

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-09-04 Military Monday 08-10-04 God Bless the USA ~ Lift Every Voice (Rerun)

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[Gabz]

I don't expect that to be in the paper, the local paper doesn't report any actual news.

Do many of them do anymore?

[Gabz]

Nitey night - have a safe trip.

[Aquamarine]

Good Night Lakeside. Have a safe trip.

[Texagirl4W]

There was always lots of rain during the storms but the most damage we had was from tornado's. We were about 80 miles from the gulf and most people lived in homes that were built above the ground. The bomb shelter was built during the late 50's, early 60's. It was a TRUE BOMB SHELTER in the ground.

[Mama_Bear]

I'm an optimist..........I'm looking forward to being in DC in January!

We debated whether to go back to DC this summer or to wait for the inauguration and go back in January. I have met so many wonderful west coast FReepers and would love to meet the east coasters, but I've lived through several winters growing up in DC and decided that we really didn't want to go back there in the dead of winter. Of course, we could change our mind and come back out in January. I would sure love to be there to see President Bush sworn in for FOUR MORE YEARS!! And to meet you and others that I have come to know on the forum.

[Darksheare]

*chuckle*
Not that I've noticed.
There hasn't been a good article that's just 'news' in a long time.

[Mama_Bear]

More than one ice fisher's pick-up landed on the bottom of the lake 'cause it crossed a patch of thin ice. And to add insult to injury the owner was responsible for getting it back out again and paying fines for polluting!

Oh, my gosh....that would be scary. I do not like driving on icy roads and I definitely wouldn't want to be driving on a frozen lake! Imagine how thick that ice would have to be in order to support the weight of a pickup truck!

That, and we *never* mention that state to the west of us that starts with an M....

LOL!! I believe I have already profiled the unmentionable "M" state, so there will be no need to mention it again. ;-)

[Mama_Bear]

Good night, Lakeside. Sweet dreams.

[Mama_Bear]

That is a beautiful photograph of the Aurora Borealis!

[Mama_Bear]

Dinner time here. I'll be back in awhile.

[Gabz]

I've met a couple of west coast FReepers - but mostly East coast and mid-America ones.

We attended the Inaugural Freeper Ball in 2001 and joined the DC chapter for a FReep at the White House and then met up with some VA FReepers when kerry showed up here 2 weeks ago. And I did attend CPAC this year for the first time. And my door is always open to any FReeper passing through my area.

I like FReepers!!!!!!!!!

[LadyX]

"As young as I was during the Cuban Missile crisis & subsequent Cold War -"

Actually, the Cold War commenced with Russia during the last of the fall of Germany in 1945, and lasted past Vietnam.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a defining moment in it, making Russia withdraw from Cuba with the missiles they had placed there as I have described here several times, and was in October of 1962 - mere days after the birth of my daughter on September 30th.
My boys were then 7 & 8, and we lived in Rapid City, my husband in SAC at Ellsworth AFB, 10 miles out on the plains.
He was in Security Police, guarding all the B-52's that were the guts of our bomb delivery systems of that day. At all times, 1/3 were in the air - 1/3 were in hangars awaiting takeoff - 1/3 in for maintenance.

His orders were to literally shoot to kill anyone who came into a hanger not on his published "Access List" when he was guarding them before going out to the runway for flight - - one night, he heard a lot of banging and talking, and in came three men not on The List.
He hesitated slightly as they spreadeagled on the concrete, and in dashed another guard shouting "They are supposed to be on The List!"

His Company Commander said loudly, "I ought to court-martial you!" and under his breath, ("Thank God, you DIDN'T open fire, Martin!!") with tears in his eyes.

When the Cuban Missile Crisis began, he was on 30 days of 12 hours on - 12 off duty, and we knew if one missile flew, he never would return - literally Last Man off the base, ensuring our eagles were safe.

What many did not then or since realize is what was targeted by Russia, and that those involved in Security did know.
The Number One target was NOT Washington, D.C....it was Offutt AFB, our Intelligence Center in the Midwest.

The Number Two target was where we were in Rapid City, South Dakota - - the reason being not only our B-52's, but more importantly, the fact all our missile-launching capability was within a hundred-mile radius of there, scattered around the Rocky Mountains.

Destroy those, and America could not retaliate against Russia.

Security during the Crisis had shoot-to-kill orders for anyone who tried to get on base who was not authorized - - and were informed that 70 % of the populace (then 45,000) in Rapid City were either a communist or communist sympathizer, who had moved there in previous years to try to take out the SAC base and its men who manned the launch sites.

A week after the crisis ended, Bernie received orders to go to Eielson AFB, 30 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska and we arrived there 6 January 1963.
That involved U-2 spy planes based there - AFTER the Gary Powers Incident when Eisenhower promised the Russians we'd stop the flights..:)), and a Secret Project in a hangar where even Security was not permitted to go!

Even had Russian jets fly over the base and waggle their wings, knowing the F-102's couldn't catch them....when they did it again, however, we had F-106's brought in from Seattle into hangars "at the ready" for them - and caught up with them before they reached Russian airspace.

One pilot described to Bernie he had drawn alongside (had orders not to fire first) - lowered his missile rack and pointed his finger at the Russian pilot - and his face turned chalk white..:))
End of Play Time...

There are rare moments of fun in war - - -

[Darksheare]

LOL!
Lowered the missile rack and pointed at the russkie!

[Aquamarine]

Security during the Crisis had shoot-to-kill orders for anyone who tried to get on base who was not authorized - - and were informed that 70 % of the populace (then 45,000) in Rapid City were either a communist or communist sympathizer, who had moved there in previous years to try to take out the SAC base and its men who manned the launch sites.

This could explain why South Dakota elects Senator Dashle.

[LadyX]

"LOL!
Lowered the missile rack and pointed at the russkie!"

As for the Secret Hangar far downfield, even Security did not have access to its tightly secured fenced area.

One night, though, a Security Policeman on duty was near it and the gate was briefly open - he drove in to investigate if there was a problem...

Within 24 hours, the airman, his wife and children and all goods from their base housing quarters were out of Alaska and never heard from again.....military life can be interesting.

[LadyX]

"This could explain why South Dakota elects Senator Dashle."

How very perceptive of you, Aqua!
That had not occurred to me, but would surely account for the leaning of South Dakota toward Democrats and Socialism.....

[Gabz]

LOL!!!!

I used to be a reporter - that's why I asked.

[Gabz]

Wow - what a history lesson!! Thank you very much.


BTW - your daughter is 2 years younger than I am. September 24, 1960.

[Mama_Bear]

I like FReepers!!!!!!!!!

Yep. They are the nicest people around!

[Mama_Bear]

I'm going to call it a day and say good night. Thank you for spending part of your day with us here at the 'Finest'.