Author Topic: New Forum & News Updates  (Read 1832959 times)

Offline Shutter

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7290 on: September 10, 2020, 04:41:16 PM »
Been raining for several days here...would be more than happy to send it to the fires if I could.
 

Offline Bruce A. Smith

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7291 on: September 10, 2020, 07:09:09 PM »
The Yale reservoir is something like 15-20 miles east of Ariel and Amboy. But it does sound scary. 22,000 acres already burning? Whew. This week is the first time I had any fear of the fires - smoke, yes, but not fire itself. Not sure where I would go if I had to evacuate.

We've had lots of small fires here in Pierce County, which includes both Tacoma and Mount Rainier National Park - so it is a mix of urban and rural. The big Forest Fires that you see on TV are - for us - on the east side of the mountains. We've been breathing their smoke this week as the winds have shifted to the east. Plus we're breathing the smoke from our own fires. Graham lost six homes and ten outbuildings on Monday night, and it's still smoldering. Graham is the next town north of me. I-5 got closed in multiple places around Tacoma on Monday and Tuesday from brush fires. I've been indoors since Monday night from the smoke, with my air purifier and a/c running. Currently, it's 90 degrees and smoky. 106 on the WAQA scale of 0-400, where 400 means "It is TIME TO GO!"

So, Kerm, you're getting smoke from the Yale fire, eh? We're all supposed to get the Oregon-California Smoke Bomb this evening. It could be a tough slog through the weekend.

C'mon RAIN!
 

Offline Bruce A. Smith

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7292 on: September 10, 2020, 07:10:23 PM »
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Been raining for several days here...would be more than happy to send it to the fires if I could.

I'll take it, Shut. Send it "Overnight Delivery!"
 

Offline Robert99

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7293 on: September 10, 2020, 07:58:35 PM »
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The Yale reservoir is something like 15-20 miles east of Ariel and Amboy. But it does sound scary. 22,000 acres already burning? Whew. This week is the first time I had any fear of the fires - smoke, yes, but not fire itself. Not sure where I would go if I had to evacuate.

We've had lots of small fires here in Pierce County, which includes both Tacoma and Mount Rainier National Park - so it is a mix of urban and rural. The big Forest Fires that you see on TV are - for us - on the east side of the mountains. We've been breathing their smoke this week as the winds have shifted to the east. Plus we're breathing the smoke from our own fires. Graham lost six homes and ten outbuildings on Monday night, and it's still smoldering. Graham is the next town north of me. I-5 got closed in multiple places around Tacoma on Monday and Tuesday from brush fires. I've been indoors since Monday night from the smoke, with my air purifier and a/c running. Currently, it's 90 degrees and smoky. 106 on the WAQA scale of 0-400, where 400 means "It is TIME TO GO!"

So, Kerm, you're getting smoke from the Yale fire, eh? We're all supposed to get the Oregon-California Smoke Bomb this evening. It could be a tough slog through the weekend.

C'mon RAIN!

Bruce, You had better get a "grab bag" ready of the most important items that you absolutely need to save and maybe even put them in your car.  And be sure you have a full tank of gas and some idea of where you want to head.  These wild fires have a mind of their own.

A few years back, my area was having a wild fire that was about 10 miles from my house and heading in another direction.  I took a look out my windows and saw that fire off in the distance and didn't seen any flames or smoke from anywhere else.  Within 15 minutes, the odor of smoke was coming through my air conditioner.  So I ran outside through my garage and there were ashes flying ever where in my drive way.  Law enforcement vehicles were driving through my project with their lights and sirens on.  A slurry bomber passed over my house at about 400 feet altitude.  This was an entirely different wild fire and it was stopped about three hundred feet from my house (on the other side of a four lane highway).  The fire did make it to the median and across the highway in some areas, but fire trucks were able to keep it away from me.  I was washing ashes out of my drive way and patios for the next two or three weeks.

My message is that wild fires are extremely serious matters. 
 

Offline Shutter

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7294 on: September 10, 2020, 08:01:51 PM »
Here is a map showing all the fires..

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Offline Shutter

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7295 on: September 10, 2020, 08:45:42 PM »
here is a interactive map of the fires..

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Offline Bruce A. Smith

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7296 on: September 10, 2020, 09:47:18 PM »
I've been gathering my grab and go bag through the day. Got a wad of cash yesterday at the bank - ya know, the preliminaries.

The real question is where to go. The ocean? Then there's the problem of traffic. I'm pondering this one Big Time.

In the meantime, I'm dealing with smoke. Had to go to "My old Betsy" of a dual-stage respirator to spend 20 minutes in the garden watering everything. My ol' N-95s weren't gonna cut it. Surprisingly, not too dry even in the 93 degree temps - the sun never got too strong with all the haze. Hot, yes, but not boiler-plate blazing.

Ya know, R99, I smiled when you wrote that smoke poured-in through your A/C. I have to play a game with my A/C and air purifier since the A/C brings in cool - but dirty - air. So, I turn off the A/C every fifteen minutes or so, and let the air purifier play catch-up.

This ain't no way to live. We gotta fix this fire stuff. I can't even imagine what 377 is living through down in San Francisco. And Petey in Santa Rosa? I'm sure he ain't got no air purifier, unless the VA bought him one....
 

Offline georger

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7297 on: September 10, 2020, 11:27:00 PM »
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Here is a map showing all the fires..

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Makes you sign up for The Morning Brief from some newspaper just to see this! SPAM IS EVERYWHERE!   
 

Offline Shutter

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7298 on: September 10, 2020, 11:33:33 PM »
It's the Seattle Times...I didn't get any popups except for using adblock?
 

Offline Robert99

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7299 on: September 11, 2020, 02:01:18 AM »
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I've been gathering my grab and go bag through the day. Got a wad of cash yesterday at the bank - ya know, the preliminaries.

The real question is where to go. The ocean? Then there's the problem of traffic. I'm pondering this one Big Time.

In the meantime, I'm dealing with smoke. Had to go to "My old Betsy" of a dual-stage respirator to spend 20 minutes in the garden watering everything. My ol' N-95s weren't gonna cut it. Surprisingly, not too dry even in the 93 degree temps - the sun never got too strong with all the haze. Hot, yes, but not boiler-plate blazing.

Ya know, R99, I smiled when you wrote that smoke poured-in through your A/C. I have to play a game with my A/C and air purifier since the A/C brings in cool - but dirty - air. So, I turn off the A/C every fifteen minutes or so, and let the air purifier play catch-up.

This ain't no way to live. We gotta fix this fire stuff. I can't even imagine what 377 is living through down in San Francisco. And Petey in Santa Rosa? I'm sure he ain't got no air purifier, unless the VA bought him one....

Bruce, No smoke came through the air conditioner, but a smell definitely did.  It smelled like someone was burning pizza over a mesquite fire.
 

Offline georger

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7300 on: September 11, 2020, 05:02:21 PM »
Has anyone asked the Fazios where they sit with respect to the fires now approaching Portland? 

Anyone know? 
« Last Edit: September 11, 2020, 05:03:11 PM by georger »
 

Offline Robert99

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7301 on: September 11, 2020, 06:44:04 PM »
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Has anyone asked the Fazios where they sit with respect to the fires now approaching Portland? 

Anyone know?

Their Tina Bar area property should not be in much danger.  Most of the trees nearby are on the north end of their pasture area and on the Tina Bar beach area which includes their sand operation.  The area on the east side of the Northwest Lower River Road is farm land and any row crops or whatever that was grown there this year has probably already been harvested and the area should not be much of a problem. 

Their buildings are not close to any trees and the pastures are some distance away from the buildings also.  If push comes to shove, one fire truck should be able to keep things under control.
 

Offline Bruce A. Smith

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7302 on: September 11, 2020, 08:06:43 PM »
I agree with R99. The Fazios have little threat from fire. Smoke is the big problem. Tina Bar is registering 250 on the WAQA scale, which ranges from 0-500. Bad, but livable with masks and air purifiers.

However, about 70 miles upstream at The Dalles, they are pegging at 500, which is Get OUTTA Dodge time."

Currently, I'm at about 250 in Eatonville, and Tacoma is 325. Kerm is about 240 or so, 25 miles north of Woodland. Nature is quiet. Nothing is stirring. Not even insects. A heavy, grey-brown fog is everywhere. The smell in the air is variable. One whiff was aromatic, like a heavy cedar campfire. Most of the time it smells like burning garbage, or burning 2x4's with paint on them. Fortunately, the heat has passed. Currently it is about 68 degrees. Last night was quite chilly. A little rain is forecasted for Seattle on Monday, and the system will push the smoke eastwards. Good for us. Bad for Spokane.

I have a friend in Ashland, Oregon - near the California border - and haven't heard from him in a couple of days. I understand those folks have been ordered to evacuate. Ashland-Medford. Not sure where they would go, though.

As for Portland, Oregon, even though they are the ONLY city in the United States that has a National Forest within the city limits, it is small and I don't think Portland is at risk for fire. Again. It's all about smoke at this point. Maybe a couple brush fires along the Interstates, rail lines, etc., but that is all easily containable.
 

Offline Bruce A. Smith

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7303 on: September 11, 2020, 10:56:17 PM »
DB Cooper Poetry

Does anyone remember who wrote this poem? It won the DB Cooper Poetry Slam at the 2011 Symposium. Was it Snowmman? Farflung?


T’was the Night Before…



Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving, today is folklore,

Last year is history, like forty before.

So stop what you’re doing, give your brain a long rest,

Hear a tale of great daring, from the Pacific Northwest.


He dressed all in black, with a long skinny tie,

He looked just like anyone, a regular guy.

He asked for a ticket, a twenty in hand,

One way to Seattle, my first name is Dan.


Off to the gate, he would blend with the crowd,

Sit and have a few smokes, back then that was allowed.

His eyes were quite dark, and filled up with hate,

Northwest just announced, his flight would be late.


It started to gust, began pouring rain,

It would only get worse, for that three-engined plane.

Now chiseled in history, not some dark archive,

Is a skydive of infamy, from Flight 305.


He sat in the back, the very last row,

He gave his instructions, and wouldn’t ya know.

The Stewardess ignored them, this killed the whole plot,

She thought he was flirting, because she was hot.


He stood from his seat, took off his raincoat,

Said to her flatly, you should read that note.

All right sir she said, with an audible hiss,

It said I’ve got a bomb, come sit next to me miss.


He showed her his package, thoughts raced through her head,

What are all those things, and why are they red?

He said I’m in charge now, this is my last stand,

Get four parachutes, and two hundred grand.


She went to the galley, the note she would show,

To another Attendant, named Tina Mucklow.

She was blonde and soft spoken, and now a subplot,

Cuz Tina is gorgeous, I mean smokin’ hot.


She talked to the stranger, he said what to do,

Now go to the front, and tell all the crew.

Tina went to the cockpit, to see Captain Scott,

I hope that I mentioned, that she’s scorching hot.


Now land in Seattle, and pick up the chutes,

Tina will get them, in her Go-Go boots.

Then outside again, to pick up the money,

This also was done, by 305’s honey.


She brought him a drink, and lit up his smokes,

He sipped at the bourbon, and took a few tokes.

Now Tina was stuck, in the worst of nightmares,

When he said, OK miss now open those stairs.


She did as instructed, and did it just right,

For the pilots could see, the small flashing light.

They stared at each other, not one word was spoken,

That light said it all, the aft stairs were open.


Now Cooper just jumped, into the cold air,

The first to have used, those little-known stairs.

Some blame it on Nam, or President Nixon,

The answer’s much closer, with 305’s vixen.


She turned down his money, when he offered some,

Would soon join a convent, and be a hot nun.

What can be learned, from this history and lore?

Even with two hundred grand, some guys still….. just can’t score.
 
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Offline Parrotheadvol

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Re: New Forum & News Updates
« Reply #7304 on: September 12, 2020, 11:29:58 AM »
I don't recall ever reading that before. Whoever wrote it....very clever and well done!

I think that the line, "He showed her his package, thoughts raced through her head", was very clever indeed.