Category: Miscellaneous babble

Way back in my prehistory, my 10th grade math teacher (and school vice-principal) threatened to kick me out of class because all I would do in her class was read a book. Usually not a math book either. This perturbed her mightily, so one day she took me aside to ask why I never paid attention during class while she was lecturing. I told her quite plainly it was because I already knew the stuff she was teaching and had already done the homework (usually I was doing the day’s assignment in class while she was teaching us about it).
So she decided to give me a test to challenge me. If I did well, I could spend my time in the library. It was a tough test, but I did very well on it. I told her I just wanted to stay in class and keep reading. She left me alone after that.
Anyway, a couple of years at graduation and being the vice-principal of the school, she gave one of the commencement addresses. There she gave everyone a valuable piece of advice that has stuck with me ever since.

A good speech has a beginning, an end and no middle

It’s something I keep in mind whenever I have to do any public speaking. Maybe if more people kept this in mind when writing speeches they would be less boring to listen to.

I’m a huge fan of Wallace and Grommit so I’m really looking forward to the feature film coming out in a couple of months.
Of course the wife doesn’t understand why I enjoy them so much, but she did like Chicken Run so maybe I can get her to go see this one too.

TD 9 got named Irene yesterday morning. May not stay a storm for much longer, but in any case looks to be curving back out into the Atlantic and shouldn’t be a bother to the US at all. With nothing else brewing out there at the moment, back to our regularly scheduled enjoyment of the weather.
From this morning’s 5 AM discussion:

IRENE IS IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF MODERATE NORTHWESTERLY VERTICAL SHEAR…AND THIS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE FOR 36-48 HR. THIS SHOULD LIMIT STRENGTHENING EVEN THOUGH THE STORM WILL BE MOVING OVER WARMER SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES. AFTER THAT TIME…THE LARGE-SCALE MODELS ARE IN POOR AGREEMENT ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE UPPER-LEVEL WINDS NEAR IRENE.

THE INTENSITY FORECAST IS BASED ON A GRADUAL DECREASE IN SHEAR THAT WILL ALLOW SOME STRENGTHENING THROUGH 72 HR. AFTER THAT…THE FORECAST TRACK TAKES IRENE OVER COOLER SSTS…WHICH SHOULD LIMIT STRENGTHENING. THE INTENSITY FORECAST IS BASED ON THE SHIPS MODEL. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE GFDL IS AGAIN DISSIPATING IRENE IN LESS THAN 48 HR.

TD 9 seems to be encountering a number of conditions hindering development into tropical storm status, but now is moving into warmer waters which should help it gain strength. The 5 day track shows it staying out at sea and making a turn to the north well away from the US. Hopefully it stays there.
From this morning’s 5 AM discussion:

GIVEN THE INCREASE IN ORGANIZATION AND GRADUALLY WARMING SE SURFACE TEMPERATURES…SLOW DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE IN SPITE OF THE SHEAR…AND THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE INTENSITY FORECAST. IF THE GFS/CANADIAN UPPER-LEVEL PATTERN DOES DEVELOP…THE SYSTEM COULD GET MUCH STRONGER THAN CURRENTLY FORECAST. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE GFDL MODEL…WHICH HAS CONSISTENTLY DISSIPATED THE DEPRESSION…NOW CALLS FOR IT TO REACH HURRICANE STRENGTH IN ABOUT FOUR DAYS.

Finally getting the last of the boxes unpacked and the office set up. Most of the book boxes are unpacked and the books back on the shelves where they belong. The next step now is to move everything out of the bedroom and take up the carpet so we can start Phase 2 of the Flooring Project.
I have to remember to call the store and see if those transition strips I ordered have come in yet.