Bunker 2017
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Bunker 2017
Greetings, long-term Bunker residents and new TTF members!
Welcome to the Forum's virtual bar/cafe/restaurant/pub/rec room. You can drop in and discuss anything, topic miscellaneous. If you're happy or infuriated, or have a subject you'd like to air but don't want to start a new topic, or just feel like saying something, post it here! It's a bit like Facebook, but without the ads and games....
This place is called "The Bunker" because here we can hide from the world and escape from reality, just for a little while. Please don't be shy, the Bunker is open to all, no dress code necessary. No dress necessary at all....
We're going in the Wayback Machine to 1912 aboard the RMS Titanic.
We aren't taking halfway measures here. This is the First Class lounge. The bar is open for all First Class passengers (including you). The ship's band plays in a corner. Popular tunes of the day like "Turkey Trot", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and a new one, "Everybody Loves A Chicken". But they won't play "Nearer My God To Thee". Don't worry, the ship is unsinkable and there are no icebergs in our virtual route.
Happy New Year everybody!
Welcome to the Forum's virtual bar/cafe/restaurant/pub/rec room. You can drop in and discuss anything, topic miscellaneous. If you're happy or infuriated, or have a subject you'd like to air but don't want to start a new topic, or just feel like saying something, post it here! It's a bit like Facebook, but without the ads and games....
This place is called "The Bunker" because here we can hide from the world and escape from reality, just for a little while. Please don't be shy, the Bunker is open to all, no dress code necessary. No dress necessary at all....
We're going in the Wayback Machine to 1912 aboard the RMS Titanic.
We aren't taking halfway measures here. This is the First Class lounge. The bar is open for all First Class passengers (including you). The ship's band plays in a corner. Popular tunes of the day like "Turkey Trot", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and a new one, "Everybody Loves A Chicken". But they won't play "Nearer My God To Thee". Don't worry, the ship is unsinkable and there are no icebergs in our virtual route.
Happy New Year everybody!
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Bunker 2017
Opening in 45 minutes...
Happy New Year to all Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and Asia (and to the 3 or so Forum members in Africa).
Happy New Year to the US and Canada East, Central, and Mountain zones.
Happy New Year to all Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and Asia (and to the 3 or so Forum members in Africa).
Happy New Year to the US and Canada East, Central, and Mountain zones.
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Bunker 2017
And we're open!
** Moves velvet ropes aside **
Happy New Year!
** Moves velvet ropes aside **
Happy New Year!
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Bunker 2017
Happy New Year everyone!
I have been watching the World Clock to see when the West Coast went past the end of year marker - some 18 minutes ago.
I was anxious to get in and make sure that no one took my corner seat at the bar.
I have been watching the World Clock to see when the West Coast went past the end of year marker - some 18 minutes ago.
I was anxious to get in and make sure that no one took my corner seat at the bar.
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Bunker 2017
It has your name on it. Just don't disturb the sleeping Richard in his Fury Green Thong
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Bunker 2017
Happy New Year!
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Bunker 2017
It's a pretty hoity toity bar this year! I feel like there IS a dress code on the Titanic. Wouldn't this place be more suitable for musicians who are not actually playing a gig in the bar?
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Bunker 2017
I have been on TTF for 15+ years and never posted in the Bunker before. So now I have.
Random thoughts and observations.
Happy New Year.
It was cool to see the bones get a lot of screen time on the NY Phil Live from Lincoln Center last night. I got to meet Colin Williams and George Curran at STS in 2015. The Atlanta Symphony must be a pretty good training ground as 3 former ASO players are in the NYP brass section now.
Clemson sure beat the snot out of OSU. And FSU beat Michigan, so maybe the Big 10 ain't what it's cracked up to be and the ACC is pretty darn good.
Every time I sell a trombone I end up wishing I still had it at some point. Mostly. Except for that Getzen 1050 with the bad slide. And there was a Conn something or other that I really hated and only kept for a month. If I was a rich guy, I would be dangerous and probably own about 20 horns.
Maybe this is the year I will lost some weight. But probably not.
I don't mind global warming in the winter but I hate it in the summer.
Maybe the Braves won't suck as bad this year as last.
I wish my community band had members that actually practiced their horns. And drummers with at least a small sense of rhythm.
Enough for now. Y'all have a good year!!
Random thoughts and observations.
Happy New Year.
It was cool to see the bones get a lot of screen time on the NY Phil Live from Lincoln Center last night. I got to meet Colin Williams and George Curran at STS in 2015. The Atlanta Symphony must be a pretty good training ground as 3 former ASO players are in the NYP brass section now.
Clemson sure beat the snot out of OSU. And FSU beat Michigan, so maybe the Big 10 ain't what it's cracked up to be and the ACC is pretty darn good.
Every time I sell a trombone I end up wishing I still had it at some point. Mostly. Except for that Getzen 1050 with the bad slide. And there was a Conn something or other that I really hated and only kept for a month. If I was a rich guy, I would be dangerous and probably own about 20 horns.
Maybe this is the year I will lost some weight. But probably not.
I don't mind global warming in the winter but I hate it in the summer.
Maybe the Braves won't suck as bad this year as last.
I wish my community band had members that actually practiced their horns. And drummers with at least a small sense of rhythm.
Enough for now. Y'all have a good year!!
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Bunker 2017
Happy New Years!
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Bunker 2017
Happy New Year!!!
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Bunker 2017
I hope everyone here has their best year yet in 2017. IT is likely to be a rocky year here in the States. I hope it doesn't upset too many applecarts around the world.
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Bunker 2017
sent my daughter back to school for Winter Term. We were happy that she was able to carry her trombone onto the plane.
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Bunker 2017
Thongs of Fury.
Can 2017 be weirder, more alternative universe, than 2016?
I guess we'll soon find out.
Can 2017 be weirder, more alternative universe, than 2016?
I guess we'll soon find out.
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Bunker 2017
One thing I've learned - things can always get worse.
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Bunker 2017
That's quite a sight. I consider myself lucky to see a handful of wild eagles a year, let alone more than one at the same time.
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You want to keep the ShihTzu leashed.
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Bunker 2017
The hatching of the Southwest Florida Bald Eagles has been getting a lot of attention over recent days on the TV news in Australia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gymPFiPE88I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gymPFiPE88I
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Bunker 2017
Quote from: Graham Martin on Jan 02, 2017, 09:20PMThe hatching of the Southwest Florida Bald Eagles has been getting a lot of attention over recent days on the TV news in Australia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gymPFiPE88I
I can tell
They're showing it in school
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gymPFiPE88I
I can tell
They're showing it in school
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Bunker 2017
Well, the Holden has always been my favourite car and the one I have driven for most of my time in Australia. That particular vehicle, although based on an American model, is Australian designed for the Australian market. Unfortunately, as it related in the video and you referred to, Holden is almost no more in Australia. Many of us are pretty peed off at GM's action in pulling out - after we showed so much loyalty to the brand - and that is why I will never buy another Holden, or GM vehicle. Albeit,our Government could have got them to stay if they had really tried. And that's only one of the reasons I would never vote for the Australian coalition government parties. Never have, actually!
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Bunker 2017
I love my Williams trombone.
Went back to work after a big break and decided to start with the Williams and very glad I did. The Horn That Plays Itself.
Hate coming back from long breaks but always look forward to getting back into it
Went back to work after a big break and decided to start with the Williams and very glad I did. The Horn That Plays Itself.
Hate coming back from long breaks but always look forward to getting back into it
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Bunker 2017
New show this year, Megan?
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Bunker 2017
Quote from: BGuttman on Jan 12, 2017, 10:10PMNew show this year, Megan?
No, actually for the first time we're running a repeat show for a third year (usually shows here run for two years). This means I've played our High Wire music something like 2000 times.
No, actually for the first time we're running a repeat show for a third year (usually shows here run for two years). This means I've played our High Wire music something like 2000 times.
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Bunker 2017
Quote from: Jhereg on Jan 13, 2017, 06:54AM... This means I've played our High Wire music something like 2000 times.
Better than having to play Rolling Thunder that many times
Better than having to play Rolling Thunder that many times
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Bunker 2017
Truth!
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Bunker 2017
The past few weeks have been pretty awful. We all find out we're losing our jobs, then Brett's mom passed away...can you imagine, losing your job and your mother within just a few weeks?
I used to think it would be fun to decide where to live after the circus. The truth is I'm overwhelmed and torn.
I used to think it would be fun to decide where to live after the circus. The truth is I'm overwhelmed and torn.
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So sorry to hear about Brett's mom.
Yeah, losing a job and a parent at the same time is very stressful. There was a piece in the New York Times magazine a few years back (maybe a lot of years back) talking about life stressors. Losing a job, divorce, and losing a parent all are extreme stressors.
I hope all of you will bounce back from this quickly. Hope that some of you may actually find employment with the Feld organization so you don't lose seniority (if that's possible).
I saw in another thread you were interested in auditioning for the LA Phil. Hope that happens (and that you succeed).
Yeah, losing a job and a parent at the same time is very stressful. There was a piece in the New York Times magazine a few years back (maybe a lot of years back) talking about life stressors. Losing a job, divorce, and losing a parent all are extreme stressors.
I hope all of you will bounce back from this quickly. Hope that some of you may actually find employment with the Feld organization so you don't lose seniority (if that's possible).
I saw in another thread you were interested in auditioning for the LA Phil. Hope that happens (and that you succeed).
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Sorry to hear of your loss Megan.
It is very disappointing to hear about the circus closing down but at least you can say you were part of a history that went back 150 years, where the circus band became an important part of the circus entertainment spectacle, in some places the only entertainment show people were able to see.
A Short History Of The Circus Band here:
http://www.sideshowworld.com/13-TGOD/2004/tgodcircusbands.html
Although the circus started in Great Britain, it was the USA that made it a true travelling entertainment show by introducing the tent and the band, which was then taken back to Europe.
You are part of that great history of the circus, Megan.
It is very disappointing to hear about the circus closing down but at least you can say you were part of a history that went back 150 years, where the circus band became an important part of the circus entertainment spectacle, in some places the only entertainment show people were able to see.
A Short History Of The Circus Band here:
http://www.sideshowworld.com/13-TGOD/2004/tgodcircusbands.html
Although the circus started in Great Britain, it was the USA that made it a true travelling entertainment show by introducing the tent and the band, which was then taken back to Europe.
You are part of that great history of the circus, Megan.
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Bunker 2017
Phew! Australia is experiencing a heat wave and it is going to get worse. The strange thing is that, although we expect to get hotter weather in Queensland, that has not been the case recently and it is the Southern States that have the highest temperatures. But starting today South East Queensland is going to get 10 degrees Celsius above-the-average temp. On Sunday 39C = 102F.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-10/australia-heat-wave-catastrophic-fire-conditions/8258164
I suppose we have to expect this with the present global warming; last year being the hottest on record and this year set to be hotter.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-10/australia-heat-wave-catastrophic-fire-conditions/8258164
I suppose we have to expect this with the present global warming; last year being the hottest on record and this year set to be hotter.
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Bunker 2017
Meanwhile, northeastern United States finally had a decent snowfall. We got about a foot of snow in the Hudson Valley. It's the first time all winter I've been able to ask myself "skis or snowshoes?".
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Yeah. We have a foot and a half here and they are talking about 2 feet in Worcester, MA. No school in Boston today and tomorrow. Don't know about here yet. I think I'll be shoveling my driveway for the weekend.
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Bunker 2017
Quote from: BGuttman on Feb 04, 2017, 10:07PMYeah, losing a job and a parent at the same time is very stressful. There was a piece in the New York Times magazine a few years back (maybe a lot of years back) talking about life stressors. Losing a job, divorce, and losing a parent all are extreme stressors.
When my mother died 26 years ago at age 71 that was very bad. I found myself spontaneously breaking into tears for a year after that.
But a couple days ago my father died at age 100 and I'm fine with it.
From Woodrow Wilson to Donald Trump, he got to witness an amazing stretch of human history, and perfectly timed his ride on the wave of American prosperity.
I think the happiest time i had with my father was when I was about four or five. I'd climb up in his lap and say "draw me a train" and he'd pull an envelope out of the wastebasket and draw me a scene with a steam locomotive.
That's a long way to have to go back for a happy memory.
I know a lot of people would be glad just to have a father like mine who never came home at 2am in a drunken rage or one like mine who had a long, continuously-employed professional career. I am grateful that he had those positive qualities. I've met fathers who didn't and their families were a wreck.
None-the-less, my strongest memories will be the disappointing ones. His hands-on parenting was pretty much limited to dragging us to church every Sunday.
He expressed no interest in any of my interests even when they were interests that he had had at one time, like wood-working projects or photography.
I learned early on not to bother asking him questions because his answer would typically be, "I guess you'll just have to put on your thinking cap, my good man!" If I had a complaint about something, his remark would be, "Well that's just tough!"
He had a PhD in Chemistry and was a calculus whiz but was incapable of helping me with any of my homework. He could not understand why I had questions about something that was so obvious to him.
The only time I ever heard him say, "I'd like to help you with that" was after he was able to add, "but I'm just too old and weak to be much use."
If you went down the list of classic father-son activities, we did none of them. To this day I can't pass a football or hit a baseball. The only sit-down serious father-son talk we ever had was when he told me I HAD to go to his alma mater for college because that was the one he'd pay for.
But then I ended up having to pay for most of it anyway even though he could have easily covered it. That was seriously bad financial guidance from my parents that took me almost 20 years to unwind.
One of my biggest surprises was after my mother died and I came home to find him playing the piano, choosing hymns to play at the funeral.
Huh? My dad plays piano?!?
For years, all we had ever heard from his childhood piano study was "America" and he said he could play nothing else. But here he was now, sight-reading through the hymnal.
All during my beginner trombone years he could have been helpful and plunked out a simple accompaniment to a simple solo. That would have been great fun but it never happened. It would have cost him nothing but a little time but he never ventured to try.
So, I don't mourn my dad's passing. He had a longer life and more chances to do the things he wanted than most of us can hope for.
I do regret the missed opportunities and all the things that could have happened and should have happened but didn't because... he just didn't want to bother.
May he rest in peace. He's finally getting that nap he always seemed to need.
When my mother died 26 years ago at age 71 that was very bad. I found myself spontaneously breaking into tears for a year after that.
But a couple days ago my father died at age 100 and I'm fine with it.
From Woodrow Wilson to Donald Trump, he got to witness an amazing stretch of human history, and perfectly timed his ride on the wave of American prosperity.
I think the happiest time i had with my father was when I was about four or five. I'd climb up in his lap and say "draw me a train" and he'd pull an envelope out of the wastebasket and draw me a scene with a steam locomotive.
That's a long way to have to go back for a happy memory.
I know a lot of people would be glad just to have a father like mine who never came home at 2am in a drunken rage or one like mine who had a long, continuously-employed professional career. I am grateful that he had those positive qualities. I've met fathers who didn't and their families were a wreck.
None-the-less, my strongest memories will be the disappointing ones. His hands-on parenting was pretty much limited to dragging us to church every Sunday.
He expressed no interest in any of my interests even when they were interests that he had had at one time, like wood-working projects or photography.
I learned early on not to bother asking him questions because his answer would typically be, "I guess you'll just have to put on your thinking cap, my good man!" If I had a complaint about something, his remark would be, "Well that's just tough!"
He had a PhD in Chemistry and was a calculus whiz but was incapable of helping me with any of my homework. He could not understand why I had questions about something that was so obvious to him.
The only time I ever heard him say, "I'd like to help you with that" was after he was able to add, "but I'm just too old and weak to be much use."
If you went down the list of classic father-son activities, we did none of them. To this day I can't pass a football or hit a baseball. The only sit-down serious father-son talk we ever had was when he told me I HAD to go to his alma mater for college because that was the one he'd pay for.
But then I ended up having to pay for most of it anyway even though he could have easily covered it. That was seriously bad financial guidance from my parents that took me almost 20 years to unwind.
One of my biggest surprises was after my mother died and I came home to find him playing the piano, choosing hymns to play at the funeral.
Huh? My dad plays piano?!?
For years, all we had ever heard from his childhood piano study was "America" and he said he could play nothing else. But here he was now, sight-reading through the hymnal.
All during my beginner trombone years he could have been helpful and plunked out a simple accompaniment to a simple solo. That would have been great fun but it never happened. It would have cost him nothing but a little time but he never ventured to try.
So, I don't mourn my dad's passing. He had a longer life and more chances to do the things he wanted than most of us can hope for.
I do regret the missed opportunities and all the things that could have happened and should have happened but didn't because... he just didn't want to bother.
May he rest in peace. He's finally getting that nap he always seemed to need.
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Bunker 2017
It looks very much as though New South Wales will see the hottest day ever today (Saturday)with catastrophic fire conditions! And then the heat wave will head our way (Queensland), with Sunday likely to be extremely hot.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-11/heatwave-moves-across-australias-eastern-states/8261520
Most surprising is that many sporting events have been put back until the evening and some horse racing abandoned. I do not remember that happening previously but the extreme temperatures are certainly very dangerous for athletes, with many being taken to hospital over recent days. Bad for kids also and there was one school yesterday where they stupidly held an open-air Assembly, due to construction work on the hall, and then had to call the ambulances for seven kids suffering heat exhaustion.
I suppose we should get used to it because it is the result of global warming and the scientists are all predicting heatwaves and fierce storms will become the norm.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-11/heatwave-moves-across-australias-eastern-states/8261520
Most surprising is that many sporting events have been put back until the evening and some horse racing abandoned. I do not remember that happening previously but the extreme temperatures are certainly very dangerous for athletes, with many being taken to hospital over recent days. Bad for kids also and there was one school yesterday where they stupidly held an open-air Assembly, due to construction work on the hall, and then had to call the ambulances for seven kids suffering heat exhaustion.
I suppose we should get used to it because it is the result of global warming and the scientists are all predicting heatwaves and fierce storms will become the norm.
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Bunker 2017
Quote from: Graham Martin on Feb 10, 2017, 07:45PMI suppose we should get used to it because it is the result of global warming and the scientists are all predicting heatwaves and fierce storms will become the norm.
You've got it all wrong. Herr Trump says global climate change is a Chinese hoax. Plump Trump caint nev'r be wrong!!! Jus aks DD 'n Badger.
You've got it all wrong. Herr Trump says global climate change is a Chinese hoax. Plump Trump caint nev'r be wrong!!! Jus aks DD 'n Badger.
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Bunker 2017
My condolences Robcat. 100 years. He had an excellent run.
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Bunker 2017
Quote from: BGuttman on Feb 09, 2017, 05:10PMYeah. We have a foot and a half here and they are talking about 2 feet in Worcester, MA. No school in Boston today and tomorrow. Don't know about here yet. I think I'll be shoveling my driveway for the weekend.
Pfffft... Wimps! I have a meter in my back yard right now, and it's been one of the best years for scant snowfall since 2006. 3 years ago I had to have my roof shoveled off twice.
Pfffft... Wimps! I have a meter in my back yard right now, and it's been one of the best years for scant snowfall since 2006. 3 years ago I had to have my roof shoveled off twice.
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Bunker 2017
Doomsday has arrived.
New South Wales residents have the 'worst ever' fire rating and have been told to prepare for catastrophic fire conditions before it's too late, as temperatures across the country are set to break records. The word 'catastrophic' is an official level of fire danger!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-12/fire-heatwave-worst-possible-conditions-for-nsw/8262774
In South-east Queensland we are also experiencing a hot weekend, with the Bureau of Meteorology saying temperatures look set to break records.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-weather-more-heat-records-to-tumble-as-state-scorches/news-story/69cdcf1628e75a7b11ebf896c608a281
I made sure to take our morning walk very early because Maggie is an old dog (nearly 15) and I do not want her suffering from heat exhaustion after everything she has been through in recent months. But she would not let me cut the walk short, absolutely insisting we did the full thing - very slowly!
New South Wales residents have the 'worst ever' fire rating and have been told to prepare for catastrophic fire conditions before it's too late, as temperatures across the country are set to break records. The word 'catastrophic' is an official level of fire danger!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-12/fire-heatwave-worst-possible-conditions-for-nsw/8262774
In South-east Queensland we are also experiencing a hot weekend, with the Bureau of Meteorology saying temperatures look set to break records.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-weather-more-heat-records-to-tumble-as-state-scorches/news-story/69cdcf1628e75a7b11ebf896c608a281
I made sure to take our morning walk very early because Maggie is an old dog (nearly 15) and I do not want her suffering from heat exhaustion after everything she has been through in recent months. But she would not let me cut the walk short, absolutely insisting we did the full thing - very slowly!
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Bunker 2017
Remember, Grah, she has to check the pee-mail. So she has to go to all the spots to sniff.
Wish I could send you some of our snow. We have more than enough, thank you with a pile to come tomorrow into Monday. I may be digging for a week!
Wish I could send you some of our snow. We have more than enough, thank you with a pile to come tomorrow into Monday. I may be digging for a week!
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Bunker 2017
Quote from: robcat2075 on Feb 09, 2017, 06:03PMWhen my mother died 26 years ago at age 71 that was very bad. I found myself spontaneously breaking into tears for a year after that.
But a couple days ago my father died at age 100 and I'm fine with it.
From Woodrow Wilson to Donald Trump, he got to witness an amazing stretch of human history, and perfectly timed his ride on the wave of American prosperity.
I think the happiest time i had with my father was when I was about four or five. I'd climb up in his lap and say "draw me a train" and he'd pull an envelope out of the wastebasket and draw me a scene with a steam locomotive.
That's a long way to have to go back for a happy memory.
I know a lot of people would be glad just to have a father like mine who never came home at 2am in a drunken rage or one like mine who had a long, continuously-employed professional career. I am grateful that he had those positive qualities. I've met fathers who didn't and their families were a wreck.
None-the-less, my strongest memories will be the disappointing ones. His hands-on parenting was pretty much limited to dragging us to church every Sunday.
He expressed no interest in any of my interests even when they were interests that he had had at one time, like wood-working projects or photography.
I learned early on not to bother asking him questions because his answer would typically be, "I guess you'll just have to put on your thinking cap, my good man!" If I had a complaint about something, his remark would be, "Well that's just tough!"
He had a PhD in Chemistry and was a calculus whiz but was incapable of helping me with any of my homework. He could not understand why I had questions about something that was so obvious to him.
The only time I ever heard him say, "I'd like to help you with that" was after he was able to add, "but I'm just too old and weak to be much use."
If you went down the list of classic father-son activities, we did none of them. To this day I can't pass a football or hit a baseball. The only sit-down serious father-son talk we ever had was when he told me I HAD to go to his alma mater for college because that was the one he'd pay for.
But then I ended up having to pay for most of it anyway even though he could have easily covered it. That was seriously bad financial guidance from my parents that took me almost 20 years to unwind.
One of my biggest surprises was after my mother died and I came home to find him playing the piano, choosing hymns to play at the funeral.
Huh? My dad plays piano?!?
For years, all we had ever heard from his childhood piano study was "America" and he said he could play nothing else. But here he was now, sight-reading through the hymnal.
All during my beginner trombone years he could have been helpful and plunked out a simple accompaniment to a simple solo. That would have been great fun but it never happened. It would have cost him nothing but a little time but he never ventured to try.
So, I don't mourn my dad's passing. He had a longer life and more chances to do the things he wanted than most of us can hope for.
I do regret the missed opportunities and all the things that could have happened and should have happened but didn't because... he just didn't want to bother.
May he rest in peace. He's finally getting that nap he always seemed to need.
Condolences Sir May your father RIP.
But a couple days ago my father died at age 100 and I'm fine with it.
From Woodrow Wilson to Donald Trump, he got to witness an amazing stretch of human history, and perfectly timed his ride on the wave of American prosperity.
I think the happiest time i had with my father was when I was about four or five. I'd climb up in his lap and say "draw me a train" and he'd pull an envelope out of the wastebasket and draw me a scene with a steam locomotive.
That's a long way to have to go back for a happy memory.
I know a lot of people would be glad just to have a father like mine who never came home at 2am in a drunken rage or one like mine who had a long, continuously-employed professional career. I am grateful that he had those positive qualities. I've met fathers who didn't and their families were a wreck.
None-the-less, my strongest memories will be the disappointing ones. His hands-on parenting was pretty much limited to dragging us to church every Sunday.
He expressed no interest in any of my interests even when they were interests that he had had at one time, like wood-working projects or photography.
I learned early on not to bother asking him questions because his answer would typically be, "I guess you'll just have to put on your thinking cap, my good man!" If I had a complaint about something, his remark would be, "Well that's just tough!"
He had a PhD in Chemistry and was a calculus whiz but was incapable of helping me with any of my homework. He could not understand why I had questions about something that was so obvious to him.
The only time I ever heard him say, "I'd like to help you with that" was after he was able to add, "but I'm just too old and weak to be much use."
If you went down the list of classic father-son activities, we did none of them. To this day I can't pass a football or hit a baseball. The only sit-down serious father-son talk we ever had was when he told me I HAD to go to his alma mater for college because that was the one he'd pay for.
But then I ended up having to pay for most of it anyway even though he could have easily covered it. That was seriously bad financial guidance from my parents that took me almost 20 years to unwind.
One of my biggest surprises was after my mother died and I came home to find him playing the piano, choosing hymns to play at the funeral.
Huh? My dad plays piano?!?
For years, all we had ever heard from his childhood piano study was "America" and he said he could play nothing else. But here he was now, sight-reading through the hymnal.
All during my beginner trombone years he could have been helpful and plunked out a simple accompaniment to a simple solo. That would have been great fun but it never happened. It would have cost him nothing but a little time but he never ventured to try.
So, I don't mourn my dad's passing. He had a longer life and more chances to do the things he wanted than most of us can hope for.
I do regret the missed opportunities and all the things that could have happened and should have happened but didn't because... he just didn't want to bother.
May he rest in peace. He's finally getting that nap he always seemed to need.
Condolences Sir May your father RIP.
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Bunker 2017
As predicted, temperatures in South East Queensland kept rising in the state's heatwave, making it the hottest day on record.
Thargomindah in the south-west was the hottest place at 46C, but Birdsville in far south-west Queensland was not far behind on 45C. In Brisbane and here on the coast it was extremely hot but bearable. Fortunately there were none of the power blackouts caused by over-demand that plagued the other states down South.
Thargomindah in the south-west was the hottest place at 46C, but Birdsville in far south-west Queensland was not far behind on 45C. In Brisbane and here on the coast it was extremely hot but bearable. Fortunately there were none of the power blackouts caused by over-demand that plagued the other states down South.
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Bunker 2017
It was a spectacular end to the hot spell last night with a really wild lightening storm as I was driving to band practice.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-14/queensland-storm-clean-up-underway-after-lightning-rain-bom/8267866?WT.ac=statenews_qld
We now have a couple of cooler days before the temps rise again over the weekend.
New South Wales had it even worse than Queensland with many bushfires destroying property and livestock. Fortunately there was no loss of life due to the fires but there are still 11 fires which are classified as out of control.
This video shows how these recent fires even created their own weather system:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-13/did-you-know-a-bushfire-can-create-its-own-weather/8267022
I hope that further storms in California do not cause the collapse of the Oroville Dam, which I understand is the tallest dam in the US. That could be catastrophic for those in the path of the 10-metre wall of water that would be created. I remember how much damage and flooding was caused here in Brisbane when they just released too much water from Wivenhoe Dam back in March 2011.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-14/queensland-storm-clean-up-underway-after-lightning-rain-bom/8267866?WT.ac=statenews_qld
We now have a couple of cooler days before the temps rise again over the weekend.
New South Wales had it even worse than Queensland with many bushfires destroying property and livestock. Fortunately there was no loss of life due to the fires but there are still 11 fires which are classified as out of control.
This video shows how these recent fires even created their own weather system:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-13/did-you-know-a-bushfire-can-create-its-own-weather/8267022
I hope that further storms in California do not cause the collapse of the Oroville Dam, which I understand is the tallest dam in the US. That could be catastrophic for those in the path of the 10-metre wall of water that would be created. I remember how much damage and flooding was caused here in Brisbane when they just released too much water from Wivenhoe Dam back in March 2011.
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Bunker 2017
Glad you got some cooler weather Grah!
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Bunker 2017
It seems like severe weather of various types will not leave Queensland alone. There is a high chance that the first cyclone of the season will form in the Gulf of Carpentaria tonight. It is presently a tropical low and was moving over Mornington Island early this morning, with wind gusts of up to 95 kilometres per hour and heavy rainfall. Fortunately for us down in South East Queensland, the low is expected to move south-west towards the Northern Territory border, where it has a more than 50 per cent chance of turning into a category one cyclone by this evening. If it does develop they are going to call it 'Alfred'.
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Man, you folks down under have been experiencing the most extreme weather imaginable over the last decade or so. If your not being fried to a crisp, your being washed away in floods.
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Bunker 2017
As I post this, Sydney is now copping it with severe thunderstorms and hail:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-17/sydney-braces-hail-and-damaging-winds-after-storm-warning/8280506
Also they are still fighting bushfires/grass fires in New South Wales:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-17/fast-moving-grassfire-threatens-homes-near-queanbeyan/8280414
Here in Queensland we expect to get hot weather and the odd cyclone during the season but NOT records being broken all the time. That is definitely the effect of global warming and we had better do something about it for the long term survival of humanity.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-17/sydney-braces-hail-and-damaging-winds-after-storm-warning/8280506
Also they are still fighting bushfires/grass fires in New South Wales:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-17/fast-moving-grassfire-threatens-homes-near-queanbeyan/8280414
Here in Queensland we expect to get hot weather and the odd cyclone during the season but NOT records being broken all the time. That is definitely the effect of global warming and we had better do something about it for the long term survival of humanity.
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Bunker 2017
Quote from: Graham Martin on Feb 16, 2017, 09:58PM...
Here in Queensland we expect to get hot weather and the odd cyclone during the season but NOT records being broken all the time. That is definitely the effect of global warming and we had better do something about it for the long term survival of humanity.
Sadly, not with this American President and his cohort of Climate Change Deniers.
Like the song says: "Better get ready to tie up the boat in Idaho" (West coast will be flooded with ocean rise). Of course this will result in the Earth making a recovery -- with no additional carbon dioxide being emitted by the now non-existent humans, the plants will clear the air and things will get back to normal. For the next species to climb to dominance.
Here in Queensland we expect to get hot weather and the odd cyclone during the season but NOT records being broken all the time. That is definitely the effect of global warming and we had better do something about it for the long term survival of humanity.
Sadly, not with this American President and his cohort of Climate Change Deniers.
Like the song says: "Better get ready to tie up the boat in Idaho" (West coast will be flooded with ocean rise). Of course this will result in the Earth making a recovery -- with no additional carbon dioxide being emitted by the now non-existent humans, the plants will clear the air and things will get back to normal. For the next species to climb to dominance.
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Bunker 2017
A category one cyclone has indeed formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria but is due to weaken before heading towards the Northern Territory coast. The low had been threatening to turn into a cyclone for days, and finally intensified into Cyclone Alfred about 7am this Monday morning.
I read an article about the naming of cyclones yesterday, which suggested hurricanes with female names lead to a higher death toll. So I smiled when I read the next bit about Albert, which was from a female Bureau of Meteorology forecaster, Sally Cutter:
"He had a good night, he's been sort of wandering around the south-west part of the Gulf for quite a while, and in the early hours of this morning he finally got himself organised and spun up."
She added, "Alfred's gone off to Mornington Island and come back, headed off to Groote [Eylandt] and come back, he's well-travelled," she said.
It seems to me that any familiar name, female or male, tends to make a cyclone sound like they really do have a friendly personality rather than just being a weather event that can be very dangerous.
I read an article about the naming of cyclones yesterday, which suggested hurricanes with female names lead to a higher death toll. So I smiled when I read the next bit about Albert, which was from a female Bureau of Meteorology forecaster, Sally Cutter:
"He had a good night, he's been sort of wandering around the south-west part of the Gulf for quite a while, and in the early hours of this morning he finally got himself organised and spun up."
She added, "Alfred's gone off to Mornington Island and come back, headed off to Groote [Eylandt] and come back, he's well-travelled," she said.
It seems to me that any familiar name, female or male, tends to make a cyclone sound like they really do have a friendly personality rather than just being a weather event that can be very dangerous.
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Bunker 2017
Praying for the people of Australia who will be affected by this Cyclone.