Weekend open thread
I heard rumors that someone was arrested in Chesapeake, Virginia for stalking the Shipleys last month. But what do I know?
I guess if someone did get arrested, they’d have to hire a lawyer.
Category: Open thread
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Remember that thing about the Sun, and how it drives the weather? Mr. Sunshine has been rather quiet for the past few years. Since 2006, in fact, when the SOHO observatory satellites started their job, the Sun has been very quiet.
Latest images are at this link:
https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/sunspots/
Note that the current sunspots are no bigger than Earth. The Jupter-Earth scale is in the lower righthand corner of the photo. The 2008 Solar Minimum had only a brief break, and went back to being a Solar Minimum.
Isn’t sunspot activity supposed to peak on an 11 year cycle?
Correct. The eyeball-observed observed sunspot cycle is approximately 11 years.
It is more properly a 22 year magnetic field cycle, where the polarity flips at ~11, so there are two observed min/max in one ~22 year cycle.
There are additional, longer term things cooking, including the net strength of the max and mins.
The sun puts out less net energy at minimum, so a long term lack of sunspots is a big chill event for Earth. (Some debate and details remain. We may soon gat more “min” data, the hard way.)
Actually, if I remember correctly, it’s a 22-year cycle–11 years of increase followed by 11 years of decrease.
The peak in the cycle occurs on a regular basis, but the downward part of the cycle isn’t usually without spots. I think this is something new and might account for the weather phenomena we’re seeing, such as snow in the Atacama Desert in Chile and snow on the Sahara dunes in Morocco.
I’ve been following this since 2007. You’re right, this is a main driver behind the weather that we’ve been seeing not just this year but also in the past years. They’re getting snow in the Arabian Peninsula, the Sahara Desert… Rivers are freezing over, snow is falling in enough volumes that villages have to literally tunnel through.
The Sun is behaving now the way it did at the threshold of the Maunder and Dalton Minimums. The sun is entering another solar grand minimum, and that’s impacting atmospheric and weather patterns on the planet. It’s also impacting volcanic and earthquake activities.
I’ve informed folks to read up on the mini ice age, specifically its beginning, but definitely its duration.
Can you send me links to that info, thebesig? I have a lot of articles going back to 2004 that show a pattern change in the weather cycle that can lead to a change in the climate trend.
Thanks.
Found some links. Never mind.
Solar winds have been weakening, and our electromagnetic field has been weakening. These are the first and second line of defense against cosmic rays, which facilitate water droplet formation and increases cloud formation as well as contribute to increased precipitation… with conditions already existing that could hold continental ice sheets a lot better with each passing winter.
Scored two USGI fiberglass M-14 stocks for $50.00, They still have armorers numbers on them from years past but look great.
A question for all you cat people. What does it mean when a cat reaches out to touch your face? It doesn’t seem like an aggressive move at all. It happens when the cat is being petted, and seems like it’s returning the chin scratch thing.
Just wondering.
The Late Great Smokey the Poohcat used to do that with me. It’s a sign of pure affection.
Kitty loves you, mommy. The long, slow blink is also saying ‘I love you’.
Eric, the Mighty Viking Warrior Cat, does that to me when he’s happy and I’m petting him. I’m sure it’s his way of repaying me for petting him.
Mine does that too, to include chin licks and nibbles. It means they love you.
Time to vent! The DPAA (Defense Department POW/MIA Accounting Agency) is again thanked for its tireless efforts by a commenter. I understand why. The DPAA has a history of omitting or giving full attribution to those independent, non-governmental individuals and organizations that provide remains or the location of remains of our Fallen. Thus, many people are under the mistaken impression that all credit goes to DPAA. Well, DPAA can kiss my ass for their slovenly work and their ignoring reports of found remains served up to them. That’s the DPAA’s history but it appears to be changing for the better. Lord knows, it could not get worse. That’s all. Closing the vent.
Since it’s a federal holiday, and today was a third weekend day, thought I’d throw this in!
Actually, Dennis Howard Chevalier/Denny H. Chevalier found him! Not only did he find D.B. Cooper, but he got Cooper to come to his defense here! 🙄
Re the comment by Steven Thompson on Monday morning feel good stories:
Is there something going on with Jonn?
Anybody have any clues?
We’ll find out soon enough.
Was wondering too since the Feel Good’s pop up at 0700 to the second. Know he preloads them but still.
I sent an inquiry to TSO this morning. Haven’t heard yet.
…and TSO isn’t getting any feedback, either, so far.
I don’t know who I got with this but I know damn well I got someone.
I wonder what the status of this is?
It was 24 hours ago + 2 hours.
I hope he got his catheterized dick stomped.
Let me re-phrase. I hope the Judge and the Court caused him significant erectile dysfunction because of shame and grief.