Saturday, September 09, 2006

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Rover nears crater science trove



BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Rover nears crater science trove: "Nasa's robotic Mars rover Opportunity is closing in on what could be the richest scientific 'treasure trove' of its mission so far.

Within the next two weeks, Opportunity should reach the rim of a crater wider and deeper than any it has visited in more than two-and-a-half years on Mars.

Rocks exposed in the walls of Victoria Crater could open a new window into the geological history of the Red Planet.

Opportunity has been exploring Mars' Meridiani Plains since January 2004."
LONGVIEW HILLS KEEPS GROWING.............

Down at the south end of LVH's there is not many lots left, before long we will be full. It's great to see growth and just hope the grounds will be kept up by management, paths, roads. lake and etc. I feel we pay enough to deserve the best park to live in and to call home.
(picture by C.Burke)

Tsunami education in South Beach..

Well,

About 7 CERT team members and 8 volunteer fireman showed up to pass out information and talk with the residents who live in the Tsunami inundation zone. Only one crotchety person encountered and nobody got bit by doggies.

About half the residents were home and to the others we left the Tsunami map. The fire dept kept one of the big engines in the area so residents would get the idea we were really from the fire department as the CERT team does not yet have widespread recognition in the community.

After the Cert team finished the east side of South Beach and the Fire Department finished the west side ... The volunteers from the fire department went up river toward Toledo and talked to the residents along the sparsely populated road.

Before we talked to residents we drove to all the Tsunami safe exit points in the neighborhood, which there is only 2, so we could explain how they could go. Two City Council persons are on the CERT Team and they are so concerned about the exit points that they want to have community meetings in the South Beach Community Center to talk to these residents.

Thanks to Mike Mulligan and Sean Krause, of the Lost Creek CERT team, who took the time to walk and time the exit routes yesterday and pinpoint elevations with a GPS we were further educated as to just how difficult evacuation of that area will be. My impressions were that if you're over 50 you are going to have a rough go of it or if you are a young mom with small children it is going to be extremely hard to get out of the area soon enough.

Most notable in the area is no markings telling the folks which way to go. We told all that we could talk to and asked them to spread the word to their neighbors and to walk the evacuation route and time themselves. Why? Well with the big 9.2 earthquake scientists are predicting off our coast there will likely be only 12 to 15 minutes to get to high ground.

Thinking you don't need to know.... Wrong.. Ever go to the Aquarium? Where would you go if the Tsunami came? Like to eat at Fishtails? How about shopping for a new car at Toby Murrays? Eating at the 50's diner tonight? Showing company the Hatfield Museum? Do you know where to go? Have any ideas what a 9.2 earthquake will do to all the streets and roads? Think you are going to drive your car to safety..Not likely. Ever recommend to friends they camp out at Idaho Point?
A big sorry to the following folks:

Whitey Weitschat
Margie Grove
Kathy Furgason
Carole Grover
Jean Hart

I forgot to put your Birthdays up on the webpage.

Friday, September 08, 2006

GOOD TURN OUT FOR CONCERT.............




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The Oregon Coast Sweet Adelines Bon Voyage Show, was a great show, enjoyed by around 150 in attendance. Good food was supplied by the ladies of the group, for those who were hungry. Some residents from LVH's were also in attentance. We wish them a safe trip and much enjoyment in San Francisco, pictures to following when Frida gets back.
(pictures by C.Burke)


Tsunami

At 1:00pm a small group of CERT people from Lost Creek and Longview Hills plus some volunteer firemen and the fire chief and his assistant met at the Fire Station today. The Chief had called us to brief us on a job we had all volunteered to do.

Our Chief had been tasked with getting the word out to the folks about the Tsunami Inundation Zone. That is the land that will be covered by a 30ft wall of water when the Juan de Fuca plate slides under the North American plate 30 miles off of our beaches. That word is from the scientists and the science says we are now in the recurring geologic window for that to happen.

The chief was responsible for the drawing of the Tsunami maps you have seen around. On the Newport side of the Yaquina River it pretty much means stay away from the beaches. But South Beach is so low that much of it will be lost. That includes the Yaquina Bridge. A lot of it is built on sand and makes it a target for liquefaction during the coming earthquake.

So this tiny group will set out in the morning to South Beach to pass out the Tsunami Zone maps, answer questions and point to routes out of the area. The problems there are larger than life. The science says past earthquakes of this nature are in the neighborhood of a 9.2 on the Richter Scale. No one alive today has been in such a quake.. It's that huge. We can expect massive structural damage from the quake.. Ten minutes after the quake a 30ft Tsunami is expected to hit our shores completely inundating most of South Beach and ripping out the bay bridge. Roads most likely will be impassable. Escape will have to be done by foot.

To establish safe zones the fire chief took the scientific figure of a 30ft wave and added 10ft more to that figure in case it came at high tide and then he said he took the pessimistic view and added 10 more ft to that figure because it made him feel better. Using topographic maps the areas of safety were drawn.

In South Beach the hill that the bridge abuts reaches a safe altitude. On the other hand it is really just a sand dune.

Who can say where you will be if this tragic event happens? If you are at breakfast or shopping in South Beach where would you go? You have 10 minutes....

My heart goes out to the people who are in the rest home on the way out to Idaho Point. They are in Wheel Chairs.... They have ten minutes. When one of the group asked about them we all knew the answer.. Even the person asking.

What about the Condos being built on top of the marsh just in front of the rest home? How could our government allow such a thing to be built there?

The chief said I hope folks just give a few minutes thought to what they are going to do.. I've had trouble sleeping nights...

tomorrow I write how it went.

AP nation news - StatesmanJournal.com


AP nation news - StatesmanJournal.com: ".Korean Park Features Talking Pachyderm






















SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- He's no Dumbo the Flying Elephant but with his ability to 'speak,' perhaps as close to the Disney cartoon character as a real life elephant can get."
Pearl Harbor Survivors


The below link goes to a website dedicated to recording the stories of the Survivors of Pearl Harbor before they pass away.

To go to the Survivors site

click here

USATODAY.com - Redwood may be tallest living thing

USATODAY.com - Redwood may be tallest living thing: "Redwood may be tallest living thing
Posted 9/8/2006 8:58 AM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Subscribe to stories like this Subscribe to stories like this
REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — A redwood in a remote Northern California coastal forest has been tentatively measured as the world's tallest living thing."

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Aldous Huxley
9/7/2006 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]
'Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "William James
9/7/2006 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]
'A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Terry Pratchett
9/7/2006 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]
'The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.'"

Thursday, September 07, 2006

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Ernest Haskins
9/6/2006 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]
'Save a little money each month and at the end of the year you'll be surprised at how little you have.'"

So What is that thing in the theme picture anyhow?

Destroyed by fire
A 1980 Volkswagen Vanagon, driven by John L. Drago, 48, of Toledo was destroyed Monday afternoon after it caught fire just south of Depoe Bay. Drago was able to stop on the southbound shoulder of U.S. Highway 101, and he and two passengers escaped the vehicle without harm. The highway was completely blocked for about a half hour while the Depoe Bay Fire Department extinguished the blaze. (Photo by Charles Burke)



Note:This article appeared in yesterdays Newport Times........just wanted to share with all that I made my debut as a photo taken for the times....off and on that is maybe, the Newport Times today and who knows the New York Times tomorrow. HA!

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Honey.... Why is the water bill so high?

TURN UP THE SOUND... NOW GO ==>

http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=281
A little Fun...

Last night after Jacky and Lori returned from art class they mentioned the pool players were trying to turn on the LARGe screen TV and could not get it to work. So off I went to see what the matter could be. Well ya'll have to punch the button on the lower rt of the remote control that turns it on or off. Put a sign on the top of the TV to help the next person out.

I sat way back from it to see what it looked like. After a time I was satisfied and poked the remote at it and punched the TV button and it went off.... But....... The other TV came on... ummmm.. So I punched it again and the large screen goes on and the little guy goes off... Hey.. Hey!! This could be fun. Turns out the large and small TV's and the VCR are all Magnavox brand... So expect some surprises while we all learn about the equipment. Jim Rose and I put a splitter on the cable so both TV's could be used and Jim installed about 20ft of cable so it can be rolled around to different sites in the clubhouse. It has rollers and can easily be moved by anyone.

I found how to adjust the picture.. It's all done with the remote. After fooling with it awhile I can say there isn't anything that you can do to improve it but go ahead and try if you must. She's old but she is a beauty and she is ours.

Where it is now may not be where it will be. Some are thinking about pulling a bookshelf out so it will fit where the old one is now. Think about it and we will see.

Now, it's old but it works and cost $50. I am thinking we use it. Find out how the residents feel about it after a time and should it go bad one day we will know whether buying a new one is right for LVH or whether it's a waste.
LARGE...LARGE...LARGER....LARGE.. LARGE SCREEN TV



In the clubhouse NOW our large screen tv. Who is in charge of Monday night Football? What about the World Series and basketball. Where are the hot dogs and peanuts, beer and soft drinks?
NEW BUILDING AT LITTLE WHALE COVE............

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Driving to Lincoln City on Sunday, I noticed how good they on coming with the new building where the Little Whale Cove Inn use to be. This looks like it will have three floors, not sure what it will be, maybe someone out there knows.
(picture by C. Burke)
A new Costso??

Yesterday found me reading the latest Consumer Reports magazine. There were a couple of paragraphs about how Amazon.com has a new on-line grocery store! I selected the link on the computer and went on a tour of the new store where they list more than 14000 grocery items.

The thing that strikes you real quick is that you must buy large quantities of a product similar to the way Costco sells groceries. The prices are in line with grocery store prices. Just like Costco the problem is the larger sizes are a bit intimidating.

What about the shipping? Free with purchases of $25 or more. I ask you now if a trip to Costco is 60 miles one way... That would equal 120 miles round trip. Average 20 miles per gallon. 120 divided by 20 = 6. $3/gal for gas X 6= $18 round trip plus wear and tear on your car and about 6 to 8 hours of your time. Plus a Costco membership is $45 annually.

Grocery Shoppers of LVH ... Could be the name of a new club where members submit a community combined order once an agreed time period and then break those larger quantities down into more acceptable smaller parcels for one another.

We could save time, wear and tear on our vehicles, money on our grocery bill and fill the gas tank less often.

Here is a link to the Amazon.com grocery store

September brings moon to the fore in the night sky

September brings moon to the fore in the night sky: "Full moon occurs every 29.53 days. When the full moon rises on Thursday the orbital cycles will match up, resulting in the largest-appearing full moon of the year -- fully 14 percent larger than when the full moon is farthest away from Earth."

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Large Screen TV Update...

I have had several questions about the coming debut of the large screen TV so here is what's going on. JoJo Teichert is the person from whom we are buying the TV. Tomorrow, Wednesday the 6th at 1:00pm I go to her home to get it with my truck. I will have someone to help move it.

JoJo does not know the status of the TV .. Whether it is working or not. She says it was the last time she used it months ago. I will take it to the clubhouse and hook it up to cable and see if it is working. If it does and all is well then I will buy it from her. At the next Social Club meeting I will ask for $50 to cover my outlay. If it doesn't pass I'll just eat it.

I went to Larry Henson this afternoon. He wants us to understand that if it needs repairs or replacement it is the responsibility of the Social Club. His concern also is that the pool players be able to view the set as this is part of their meeting. They like to watch sports while they play. The TV has its own rollers so I think the pool player will be happy as they can position it where they may. The hole where the current tv is is not large enough for this TV to fit so that is a problem to be resolved.

Think of the addition of this tv as a chance for us to see if it is something that folks will use. When it no longer works then we will have a good idea whether we want to spend money on a new one.

Testing Limits, 220 Miles Above Earth - New York Times

Testing Limits, 220 Miles Above Earth - New York Times: "During her six-month stay on the International Space Station in 2002, Peggy Whitson, a NASA astronaut and biochemist, lived in a constant state of free fall. The station’s fast orbit of Earth — at 17,500 miles per hour — put everything and everyone into a weightless state, making life interesting, to say the least."

CNN.com - A prizewinning head - Sep 4, 2006


CNN.com - A prizewinning head - Sep 4, 2006: "PALMER, Alaska (AP) -- It was admittedly rather ugly, but Brenna Dinkel's cabbage was big enough to win the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off at the Alaska State Fair.

Just before the weighing began Friday in front of a packed grandstand, 11-year-old Brenna pointed out one particularly gooey leaf to her friends.

'Yuck,' she said."

Monday, September 04, 2006

FAMILY SEEMS TO GROW OUTSIDE OUR GATE...........

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Today as we were driving out I noticed how the wonderful Flamingo Family has grown, but the new one may or may not be one. It's always a treat to see how she has dressed them year round, we thank her so much for the entainment. Thank You!!

(picture by C. Burke)

AP nation news - StatesmanJournal.com

AP nation news - StatesmanJournal.com: "Rescuers to Carry Oxygen Masks for Pets



APPLETON, Wis. (AP) -- Pets here will be breathing a little easier now that local rescuers will be carrying oxygen masks designed for animals.

Six Appleton fire trucks and 13 ambulances will be equipped with masks intended for use on dogs, cats and other small animals."

On coast, plans raise ripples of concern

On coast, plans raise ripples of concern: "On coast, plans raise ripples of concern
Reaction - Communities see benefits but worry about possible damage to fishing and other activities
Monday, September 04, 2006
LORI TOBIAS

Two proposed wave energy parks are generating excitement as a way to power up coastal economies but also are drawing questions about how they might affect fishing, surfing and other ocean pursuits."

Helping Those Who Helped After 9/11, Many Ground Zero Workers Are Now Sick. Will The Government Now Help Them? - CBS News

Helping Those Who Helped After 9/11, Many Ground Zero Workers Are Now Sick. Will The Government Now Help Them? - CBS News: "Helping Those Who Helped After 9/11
Many Ground Zero Workers Are Now Sick. Will The Government Now Help Them?

NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2006
World Trade Center Cleanup (CBS)

Quote

'They threw us all a curve ball. And I think as a result of them not being up front with everybody that was down there, they damn well should step up to the plate.'
Daniel Arrigo, ground zero worker


(CBS) For most of her life, Belinda Shaw was the picture of health, reports CBS Evening News Sunday anchor Russ Mitchell.

'Everybody knows Belinda. They know how I am and they know — very strong robust girl full of muscles and always on the go,' says Shaw."

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Al McGuire
9/3/2006 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]
'I think the world is run by 'C' students.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Joe Ancis
9/3/2006 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]
'The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Joe Ancis
9/3/2006 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]
'The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well.'"

Sunday, September 03, 2006

"ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL GARAGE SALE AT LVH'S 2006"





(Click on picture to enlarge, then arrow back)
Many items could be brought or bargain for at the annual Longview Hills Garage Sale. You could find everything from A to Z and then some. Even had some pre Duck Fans around, before the big game started on TV. Many attended the after sale pizza party at the Club House, thank you to all those who took part and hope everyone found what they needed. Until next year save up those unwanted items.

(pictures by C. Burke)