v29.9: Break Free Series

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

Hopefully everyone had a good weekend.  For those of you who live in Eastern Canada, I hope Danny (plus the other low pressure system) didn't cause too much rain or wind damage.  We weathered the storm at my Mother's place this weekend.  By the time we were ready to hit the road home, the roads were already quite wet and dangerous and I couldn't see myself spending several hours driving in that just to get home.

-slurp-

v29.8: Calm Before the Storm

Morning folks,

-slurp-

No, you're not seeing things.  My last musing was titled "After The Storm" and this one is the Calm Before the Storm.  It is hurricane season and as such it has been predicted that we will get more hurricanes this year than we have in the past.  Already this is the second disruption that has come our way and while Hurricane Danny hasn't fully formed yet, there is a chance this could turn into a category 1 hurricane and hit us head on.

-slurp-

I'm not too worried though.  At most, I think we'll get some wind and a bunch of rain but I don't think it will cause much damage just like Hurricane Bill which blew through this area last weekend.  As a result of the storm, I do plan on cutting my weekend trip to the South Shore short as I really don't like driving on the highway (especially that highway) during stormy weather.  I also need to ensure I'm home at a decent hour Sunday because I have a lot of things that I need to figure out and do before the work week starts again.

-slurp-

So what exactly is a hurricane?  I have wondered about this and always wondered what the difference between a category 1 and a category 2 hurricane was.  Well today the wondering is over because today I'm going to tell all!

-slurp-

So in pure Musings over Coffee fashion, I must define the thing I'm talking about.  In this case, a hurricane is nothing more than a tropical cyclone.

A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones feed on heat released when moist air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor contained in the moist air.

-slurp-

I watched a documentary on television a few weeks ago about our earth.  They talked briefly about hurricanes and described them as nature's air conditioners.  It is no secret that the planet is getting warmer.  Global warming is starting to become more evident as the years go on.  You see this in our winters and how much warmer they seem.  You see this during hurricane season with more violent hurricanes and more frequent disturbances.  This is nature's way of telling us to stop.

-slurp-

Of course I drive a car, I burn fossil fuels and I don't always separate my garbage.  I have no write to tell people how they should change their lifestyle and save the planet when I myself have issues with it.  The most I can ask for is you teach your children (or grandchildren) about conservation and saving the planet.  I know it sounds horrible but my generation was brought up with leaded gas, oil burning furnaces, huge v8 gas hog vehicles and wide open landfills where we threw away EVERYTHING.

-slurp-

So back to the tropical cyclone.  What is the difference between all the categories?  Who is responsible for categorizing a hurricane?  How the hell do they get that soft flowing caramel inside the Caramilk bar?

Fortunately I have the answers to the first two questions and I'm still working on the third.

-slurp-

Hurricane categorization uses the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale system.  This system takes into consideration sustained wind speed, pressure and categorizes tropical cyclones from 1 to 5.  It also defines what kinds of damage you can expect.  Below was taken from the National Hurricane Center website:

Category 1

Sustained winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Damaging winds are expected. Some damage to building structures could occur, primarily to unanchored mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction). Some damage is likely to poorly constructed signs. Loose outdoor items will become projectiles, causing additional damage. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death. Numerous large branches of healthy trees will snap. Some trees will be uprooted, especially where the ground is saturated. Many areas will experience power outages with some downed power poles.

Category 2

Sustained winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Very strong winds will produce widespread damage. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings will occur. Considerable damage to mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction) and poorly constructed signs is likely. A number of glass windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Loose outdoor items will become projectiles, causing additional damage. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death.. Numerous large branches will break. Many trees will be uprooted or snapped. Extensive damage to power lines and poles will likely result in widespread power outages that could last a few to several days.

Category 3

Sustained winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Dangerous winds will cause extensive damage. Some structural damage to houses and buildings will occur with a minor amount of wall failures. Mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction) and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Many windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.

Category 4

Sustained winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Extremely dangerous winds causing devastating damage are expected. Some wall failures with some complete roof structure failures on houses will occur. All signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes (primarily pre-1994 construction). Extensive damage to doors and windows is likely. Numerous windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Windborne debris will cause extensive damage and persons struck by the wind-blown debris will be injured or killed. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted. Fallen trees could cut off residential areas for days to weeks. Electricity will be unavailable for weeks after the hurricane passes.

Category 5

Sustained winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Catastrophic damage is expected. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings will occur. Some complete building failures with small buildings blown over or away are likely. All signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes (built in any year). Severe and extensive window and door damage will occur. Nearly all windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Severe injury or death is likely for persons struck by wind-blown debris. Nearly all trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months.

-slurp-

There you have it, some nasty stuff there.  As I already mentioned, Hurricane Bill hit is last weekend and was only a Category 1.  Thankfully it was far enough off the coast that it didn't cause much damage but Hurricane Danny is threatening to hit is head on and while it is only a Tropical Storm right now, there are projected models that show it reaching Category 1 before it hits.  That could be interesting.

-slurp-

Well folks, time for me to make like a tree and leave.  It is Friday and that makes me happy.  Remember to make sure you clean between your toes when you shower, there is a lot of bacteria there that is often overlooked and can lead to warts and other foot related issues.

-slurp-

Cheers,

Al

v29.7: After The Storm

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

As I expected, Hurricane Bill came and went and if you didn't know it was coming, you would have missed it.  The storm flew into town generating as much wind as a single butterfly.  Of course, if you believe in the "Chaos Theory" you wouldn't take the wind of a butterfly for granted.

-slurp-

v29.6: Musing over Evony

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

Normally I don't around to writing on the weekends but today I thought I would put out a special musing dedicated to a game I've been playing for awhile, called Evony.

-slurp-

v29.5: There She Blows!

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

Friday has found us once again.  This time it comes just before a hurricane that is scheduled to hit us sometime this coming Sunday.  I won't say I'm not worried about it as there is potential for some family traveling on Sunday and driving in a Category 4 Hurricane is never advisable.

-slurp-

v29.4: Living From Anywhere

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

I did not get a chance to write yesterday.  I decided yesterday that I had a lot of mundane tasks to complete and rather than come into the office where there were a bunch of distractions, I stayed home and worked remotely.  Isn't technology fun?

-slurp-

v29.3: Life Scripted

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

Ever feel like you life is a play scripted for the enjoyment of some higher being?  You go through the motions every day as if some unseen force is watching you and taking joy in the show.  I sometimes feel this way, in fact, I have started writing a story about it.

-slurp-

v29.2: PWSD

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

I'm suffering from PWSD this morning.  What is PWSD you ask?  Well before you go and Google it, let me tell you it isn't anything serious and I believe one in every one person suffers from this condition.

-slurp-

v29.1: Thinking Inside the Box

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

I'm sure most of you have heard the saying, "Think outside the box".  Well today I want to talk about "Thinking Inside the Box".

-slurp-

v29.0: What's Up With Work?

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

It has been a few days since I've written.  I was off Monday and Tuesday and as such didn't even think to write.  Yesterday I was playing catch-up in the morning and dealing with other issues during the day.  Today, however, is like any other day so here I sit writing.

-slurp-

v28.9: Fantabulous Friday

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

You're not seeing things this morning, it is indeed Friday.  For some of us this marks the end of a long week of work and the beginning of a glorious weekend; for others it is just another day.

-slurp-

I awoke this morning tired and confused.  The fact that it was Friday didn't fully register at first.  I had to look long and hard at the Calendar and cross referencing it with my BlackBerry to make sure I wasn't seeing things.  Then, like a wave crashing down the surf, the reality of what day it was hit me.  I have been looking forward to this day all week.  Why you ask?  Here are a few reasons:

1. My son comes home from a week of camp


2. My Mother is coming to visit this weekend


3. My Daughter's 7th Birthday party


4. It is the last day of work for the week


5. It is Payday


6. Long Weekend for me (Monday and Tuesday off)

Imagine waking up and forgetting what day it was only to find out it was Christmas morning.  Of course today isn't Christmas yet (thank the gods) but it is the next best thing and I can't wait until work is over.

-slurp-

But I digress about real life.  If you wanted to read about real life you would read my biography.  Of course for you to read that I would need to write one, so I guess your out of luck there.  You see, a biography is simply defined as an account of the series of events making up a person's life.  Normally the "person" is someone well known or important to many; which I am not (yet).  Also, I am only in my early 30s and have many many more years of life left; I am also not one to only write half a story (oh wait!  I knew I was forgetting to do something) so why write a biography about a guy in his early 30s?  I've been a child/teenager longer than I have been an adult, what life lessons could I have possibly learned that are worth sharing in a biography?  You see my point?

-slurp-

I must admit, I'm a bit stuck on that last sentence: I've been a child/teenager longer than I have been an adult.  There is so much truth in that statement that it is like a major wake-up call.  It is simple math really; a person ceases to be a child at the age of 13 where they become a teenager (get it?  ThirTEEN, FourTEEN, FifTEEN, etc.  You'd be surprised how many people don't notice that).  You are then considered a teenager until the age of Twenty.  Funny that you cease to be a teenager at the age of 20 but are not legally an adult (in most places) until the age of 21.  Twenty is an interesting age.  I remember when I turned 20; seems like it was just yesterday (lol).  So if you're considered a child->teenager for the first 20 years of your life and you take 20 and double it you get 40.  That means, until you reach the age of 40, you have lived more as a child and teenager than you have as an adult.  Kind of encouraging for those of us who think they're "old" after 30.  Since the average lifespan of a person in Canada (as of this musing) is 81.2 (yeah, .2), you should expect to live as long as your childhood/teenage life at least 3 times over as an adult.  In that case, you have no right to feel old until you've reached that last 20ish years, so I don't want to hear any more bitching about being old. :)

-slurp-

While I'm on the topic of life and life expectancy, did you know the average life expectancy for someone living on the planet earth is only 66.6 years?  In fact, the lowest life expectancy I could find was 40.4 years in Lesotho which is a little country in South Africa.  Hard to believe isn't it?  Think of all the people you know that are older than 40 years.  Now imagine all of them being dead and gone.  I can't imagine being in a place like that; my mother and father would have both died before my first child was born.

-slurp-

Now that I have depressed everyone I need to take my leave.  I have a lot of things I need to get cleaned up today before I go home.  I am only in the office half a day today so there is quite a bit I need to get done.  Remember to take at least 5 minutes today to close your eyes and imagine yourself in a happy place.  Learn to shift your perspective and you will be a happier person.

-slurp-

Cheers,

Al

v28.8: Testticulating Thursday

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

We have been blessed with another day on this planet.  A plant which is spinning in circles as it rotates around a massive ball of fire somewhere in the galaxy.  Just to give you an idea of how fast we're moving; if the earth were to sudden come to a stop, the force of the stop would be so great those of us on the farside of the earth would be projected off into space while the rest of us on the near side of the earth would be flattened like pancakes.  That is, of course, if the earth didn't crumble to pieces and break apart like a moist straight from the oven biscuit. Mmmm

-slurp-

v28.7: One Step At A Time

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

The mind is truely an amazing thing and a terrible thing to waste.  Using nothing but our minds we are able to trick our bodies into thinking we are somewhere else or create an alternate reality whenever we feel like it.  The mind can also be a dangerous thing because it sometimes causes us to dream up "realities" that are not real which can cause stress and anxiety.

-slurp-