Virtual Scratchpad

Seven Views of Hawaii

2008-08-04T17:10:00.001-10:00

Hawaii blogger Evelyn, over at Homespun Honolulu, is again hosting the Carnival of Aloha -- a Hawaii-themed blog carnival. Each month, bloggers who write about topics relating to Hawaii, or things Hawaiian, submit articles for inclusion in the carnival.

This month's edition -- #12 -- has articles by seven bloggers (including one by me). The topics range from travel in the islands (including some spots you may not have heard of) to island politics. Do drop by there and have a look. There's something for everyone, whether you're a Hawaii resident, a visitor (or prospective visitor) to the islands, or just curious about the Hawaiian Islands and the people who live here.

About the photo: Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in Hawaii, is a dormant volcano on the Big Island. When returning home from the U.S. mainland, this usually is the first glimpse of the island we see from the westbound plane. It's always such a welcome sight.

Wednesday Blogosphere Roving #21

2008-07-30T19:25:00.001-10:00

I've never done this before, but this week all of the Blogosphere Roving items have a common theme: the ocean. Many readers of the Virtual Scratchpad know that I have several other blogs, one of which is The Right Blue -- all about the ocean and diving, illustrated by my own underwater photography. This week's Wednesday Blogosphere Roving entries reflect those interests.

For images this week, we first have an excellent gallery of photos depicting Oceanic Whitetip Sharks; next, a Frogfish (a favorite find of divers here in Hawaii); then, a photo essay on Remoras (AKA 'shark-suckers'), a fish species little known to those who neither dive nor fish in the ocean; and then, a collection of odd-looking marine creatures -- most of which are unknown to non-divers, but which are well-known to those of us who regularly spend time under the sea's surface; and finally, a photo of a Dwarf Moray -- a cute eel from Hawaii (yes some eels are cute!). I'd like to point out something about that final photo: we divers rarely get to see the whole length of the Dwarf Moray, because they tend to hide in their lairs, only poking their heads out from time to time -- at least during daylight hours.

Like the photos, this week's articles are related to the ocean, too. Three of the articles are about marine creatures (Penguins, Blue Whales, and Crown-of-Thorns starfish); another is about a new type of computer that could be used underwater -- maybe for blogging? (No, not really -- not yet -- but maybe for taking notes.)

And then there is deep-sea biologist Kevin Zelnio's article in Seed magazine -- part of the magazine's Why I Do Science series. Kevin's article really resonated for me. He writes of the constant novelty he finds in the ocean. Truly, this is the draw for all of us who venture underwater, and the magnet that keeps some us returning again and again and again, for a lifetime.

So then, without further ado, here are this week's offerings:

Images:

Oceanic Whitetip Sharks - by Cor & Julie in Underwater World

Frogfish - by Steve in A Kona Hawaii Scuba Diver

Remoras - by David in One Diver's Perspective

Odd-looking Marine Animals - in Dark Roasted Blend

Dwarf Moray - by Andrew Cooper in A Darker View

Articles:

Wiring penguins to keep watch on the food chain - by in Penguin Geek

Do healthy reefs protect themselves? - by Kate Wing in blogfish

Blue Whales' Songs Deepen - by Emily in Ocean Blog

Sciday: Ocean Blogging…from Underwater?! - by Jason in Cephalopodcast

On the allure of the ocean's novelty - by Kevin Zelnio in Seed

And here is an assortment of things I posted on my other blogs during the past week.

In The Right Blue:

Marine Mammals in The Right Blue - from whales to seals

In B N Sullivan - Photography:

Royal Poinciana in Profusion - Brightly colored blossoms

In my aviation news blogs:

Garuda pilot goes on trial for 2007 crash at Yogyakarta - in Aircrew Buzz

Emirates Airbus A380 Cabin Interior and Special Luxury Features - in Cabin Crew News

Near mid-air collision at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport - in Professional Pilot News

That this week's roundup!

Converting Solar Energy to Electricity

2008-07-27T17:30:00.000-10:00

Here is a brief and straightforward explanation of how the sun's energy can be converted into electricity using photovoltaic panels:

(If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.)

Wednesday Blogosphere Roving #20

2008-07-23T17:55:00.000-10:00

This week's found images all display aspects of nature, yet they are varied in subject matter: Earth, sea, plants, and animals. The images range in mood from the dramatic to the sublime.

Regular readers of this blog know that I live on the Big Island of Hawaii, home of Kilauea volcano. For an assortment of reasons, the volcano is prominent in the consciousness of all of us who live here. We are accustomed to seeing images of Kilauea in the local press, on TV, and in our friends' photo albums. Given that familiarity, trust me when I say that Donna & Steve O'Meara's recently published photo of Kilauea is one of the most dramatic and stunning photos I have ever seen of our local volcano.

Also from Hawaii, fellow Big Island blogger Andrew Cooper's image is of a sunset-burnished Wiliwili, a tree native to our area. Montucky shows us a collection of wildflowers from Montana, all of which were unfamiliar to me -- and some of which are new even to her! -- (and she knows her local wildflowers). Next is Jennifer Robin's photo essay about some personable chipmunks that visit her regularly (and of course she has named them). Finally, Patrick Morand produces a moody image -- a long exposure of the sea and the sky, with rocks in between.

Among this week's blog articles, the first two are about nature. In fact, I considered including them in the image section, since both include wonderful photos. They ended up in the article section because in addition to having eye appeal, they are information rich as well. Bob Johnson's piece is about viewing and photographing the aurora borealis, while Jennifer Schlick presents a primer on telling the boys from the girls -- boy birds and girl birds, that is.

Next, Will Taft gives us food for thought about the relative value of fresh water. Then JD offers some horror tales about what can happen (and not happen) when the technologies most of us take for granted are not well understood -- or are even misunderstood -- by police and other law enforcement officials. Finally, historian Mark Stoneman's most recent article comments on the recent capture of Radovan Karadzic, one of the great villains of our time. Mark's article includes an excellent list of supplementary readings regarding this singularly evil man, his misdeeds, and his ultimate downfall.

So then, without further ado, here are this week's offerings:

Images:

Pssst! Want to see an amazing new Kilauea volcano photo? - by Donna & Steve O’Meara in Hawai'i Today

Wiliwili Red - by Andrew Cooper in A Darker View

July: they keep on blooming - by Montucky in Montana Outdoors

Meet the Chipmunks - by Jennifer Robin in Robin's Woods

When the gray sky makes the sea gray - by Patrick Morand in French Landscapes

Articles:

Auroras Gone Wild - by Bob Johnson in Black holes and astrostuff

Telling Boys From Girls - by Jennifer Schlick in A Passion for Nature

Water Will Be the Next Oil - by Will Taft in Healthy Living

Justice Should be Blind, but not Computer Illiterate - by JD in Techfun

Radovan Karadzic is History - by Mark Stoneman in Clio and Me

And here is an assortment of things I posted on my other blogs during the past week.

In The Right Blue:

Scenes from The Right Blue's First Year - six of our favorite photos of underwater scenery from the past year

In B N Sullivan - Photography:

Buster In Profile - a portrait of my kitty!

In my aviation news blogs:

New FAA rule aims to prevent catastrophic fuel tank explosions in planes - in Aircrew Buzz

Flight attendant to ride Rocketplane into space - in Cabin Crew News

NTSB investigating two runway incursions at Teterboro Airport - in Professional Pilot News

That this week's roundup!

Blogging the Vog: Two positive developments

2008-07-21T09:20:00.001-10:00

Regular readers of this blog know that I closely follow developments concerning a local problem here on the Big Island of Hawaii, called "vog." Vog is volcanic smog -- a product of emissions from Kilauea volcano, which is located on our island.

Vog is a kind of air pollution that we Big Islanders have had to deal with from time to time over the past 25 years. Kilauea has been erupting continuously since 1983, but this past spring it entered a more vigorous eruptive phase. As a result, in recent months we have had contend with more vog, more frequently.

The vog creates problems for human and animal health, and has had negative effects on local agriculture. Since scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory have concluded that Kilauea likely will continue erupting indefinitely, local residents are wondering what can be done to mitigate the effects of vog on their health and their livelihoods.

In the past several days, two new developments have been announced. First, we learned that farmers in Hawaii will be eligible for disaster relief under new Federal legislation called the 2008 Farm Bill. An article in West Hawaii Today about provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill quoted Congresswoman Maizie Hirono, who voted for the bill:

"This program is designed to help farmers across the island chain," she said. "The most recent example can be found on the Big Island, where crops have been destroyed by the ongoing spread of vog. I hope the affected farmers will take advantage of this federal opportunity."

State Rep. Robert Herkes, who heads a Special Committee on Vog Effects in the Hawaii House of Representatives hailed the enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill, noting, "The protea and cut flower growers in Ocean View and Wood Valley in particular have been hard hit and this financial relief is especially welcome and timely."

The second newsworthy development is that a team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will come to the Big Island next month to assess the health risks from vog. According to West Hawaii Today, the visiting CDC team, which will include investigators from the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, will meet with officials from the state Department of Health, and others, "to do an environmental health risk analysis and assessment of the volcano's emissions, and develop strategies to mitigate their effects."

The vog task force includes Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim, and representatives of the county Fire Department; state Departments of Health, Civil Defense, Public Safety, and Agriculture; the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency; Hawaiian Volcano Observatory; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

We all will look forward to learning the task force's findings.

To read more of what I have written about Kilauea volcano and the vog, click here.

[Photo Source]

Wednesday Blogosphere Roving #19

2008-07-17T06:00:00.000-10:00

Since I do underwater photography myself, I'm always on the lookout for top quality images from beneath the surface of the sea. This week, two of my found images are in that category, although they are completely different from each other. First is a superb underwater photo by Roger Horrocks that is nothing short of dreamy. Next, Cor & Julie show us an entirely new subject for underwater photography: pigs!! (Yes, real piggies, as in oink, oink.) That collection gets maximum points for originality!

The next three images have a common thread: Amazing color. Artist Carol Cooper presents her newest collection, called Hyperborea. Make sure you click on the link in her post to view the entire stunning Hyperborea collection. Craig, a photographer from South Africa, shows us a Dragon Boat, in rich primary colors. Finally, Sean Unruh's image of a vast field of sunflowers is dazzling. I saw such a sight once myself, in Spain, and I will never forget it.

(Can you believe it? No bird photos again this week!)

Among this week's blog articles, Tammy Erickson explores the notion of abandoning the traditional work week concept -- a concept that has become rather meaningless, especially to those of us who work online from home. Kathryn's 30 creative date ideas that don't cost a lot of money don't apply only to 'dates' in the traditional sense. Think about some of these ideas for yourself, or your entire family. Erik Johnels offers a step-by-step method for producing a press release. If you've ever thought of using a press release to publicize your business, website, or blog, but you didn't want to bother with an agency, this is the article to read. Next, we've all heard of (and probably used) Google maps, with driving directions -- but did you know that you can get walking directions, too? Makes sense, of course, but until it was pointed out, it had not occurred to me. Finally, Trisna sets forth an easy-to-follow set of instructions for how to turn a photo into a sketch -- with software, of course.

So then, without further ado, here are this week's offerings:

Images:

BBC Sardine Run Shoot 2008 Kicks Off - by Roger Horrocks in Digital Imagery Blog

Pigs On the Beach - by Cor & Julie in Underwater World

Announcing a New Series: Hyperborea - by Carol Cooper in Compass WebWorks

Dragon Boat - by Craig in Cape Town Photoblog

Italian Sunflowers- by Sean Unruh in Dust and Rust

Articles:

Do We Need Weekends? - by Tammy Erickson in Tammy Erickson - Across the Ages

30 Creative Date Ideas That Don’t Cost A Lot Of Money - by Kathryn in Money Saving Blog

How to Write a Killer Press Release - by Erik Johnels in The Weakest Link

Google's Handy Walking Directions To Pick Up Where Ask.com Left Off - by Dan Frommer in Silicon Alley Insider

Turn Your Photo into a Sketch - by Trisna in Chronicles of Trisna

And here is an assortment of things I posted on my other blogs during the past week.

In The Right Blue:

The Right Blue's 1st Birthday Review - six of our favorite underwater photos from the past year

In B N Sullivan - Photography:

Princess Michiko Hibiscus - one of the less common hibiscus varieties in our garden

In my aviation news blogs:

NTSB photos and update on the incident involving Sen. Obama's plane - in Aircrew Buzz

American Airlines cutting 900 flight attendant jobs - in Cabin Crew News

FAA will install new Runway Status Lights at major airports across the U.S. - in Professional Pilot News

That this week's roundup!

Hawaii Sunshine: Not just for tanning

2008-07-12T15:25:00.001-10:00

See that solar water heater in the photo at right? We have one just like it on the roof of our present house, which was built in 1997. In all that time, we have never run out of hot water. There have been times -- such as after a spell of three rainy days in a row -- when we had to turn the hot water on all the way when we showered instead of diluting it with cold as we usually do, but those instances have been few.

Hawaii, where I happen to live, is a sunny place. Everyone knows that. So I have wondered forever why more of my neighbors don't install solar water heaters in their homes. Now that energy costs are greater than ever before, it is even more of a head scratcher that so many people in Hawaii still rely on electricity to heat water for their homes, especially since Hawaii currently has the highest electricity costs in the United States.

That situation soon will change, at least for newly constructed homes. On June 26, 2008, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle signed into law a bill that requires all new homes built after January 1, 2010, to be equipped with solar or other energy efficient hot water systems. Hawaii is the first state in the nation to pass such a law.

“This solar power legislation is another important step in our long-term plan for energy independence in Hawai‘i,” said Governor Lingle. “In addition to solar, it is critical that we continue to develop innovative energy solutions that capitalize on our natural renewable resource advantages in order to achieve our goal of having 70 percent clean energy in Hawai‘i by 2030.”

Here on the Big Island, another step was taken recently toward that clean energy goal at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) facility in Kailua-Kona, where ground was broken for a "solar power farm." The facility, near the Kona International Airport at Keahole, will be run by Hawaii-based solar power and technology company Sopogy. The solar farm will not use traditional photovoltaic panels but will instead use new concentrated solar power technology, according to an article about the project in West Hawaii Today.

"If it performs like it's performed in tests, we will be able to cut the cost of energy for people in Kona by half," said Sopogy President and CEO Darren Kimura. "As planned, it's the largest solar project in Hawaii. If we're successful, we could cover from here (NELHA) to the airport with solar panels and power Kona."

The new facility will use a technology, called MicroCSP, which was developed in Hawaii for local conditions. The technology already has been tested successfully at some Hawaii hotels.

Mr. Kimura explained that, while Hawaii gets lots of sunlight, its proximity to the ocean -- and the resulting humidity -- increases cloud cover, which limits the effectiveness of the traditional photovoltaic panels that need direct sunlight. Unlike photovoltaic panels, the MicroCSP collectors concentrate thermal energy, which is present even when there is no direct sunlight.

Traditional photovoltaic panels, which are made mostly of glass, are fragile and can break when storms or strong winds pass over them. Sopogy's MicroCSP collectors are less fragile, and are designed to flip over at night to prevent damage from wind and rain. Another feature of the MicroCSP collectors is their energy storage capability, which will enable them to provide consistent energy that will not fluctuate.

Sopogy hopes to have the new solar farm operational by the end of this year. Dare I say -- this is a bright development for Kona.

[Photo Source]

UPDATE Aug. 4, 2008: This article has been included in the 12th Carnival of Aloha, a blog carnival hosted at Homespun Honolulu. Please click on over there to see more articles about life in Hawaii.

Wednesday Blogosphere Roving #18

2008-07-09T06:00:00.001-10:00

First among this Wednesday's found images, Mark Thorpe, known for his underwater camera work, tries out his new super macro lens on land on some tiny insects. Looks to me like that new lens works just fine! Next, a fascinating two-part presentation from Cathy, who shows us a 4th of July parade in a small Alaskan town 33 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Then, Jinghui gives us a look at a very lovely Russian tall ship, and Dawn documents the life stages of a magnolia blossom.

(Can you believe it? No bird photos this week!)

Among this week's blog articles, Gary Arndt takes time out from his travels and picture taking to describe his impressions of Papua New Guinea; G.G. tells the best chicken story I've come across in a long time (and I'm a connoisseur of chicken stories!); Michael Arrington expresses some thoughts about voicemail that I happen to share; and Dr. Nicole Sundene offers some good suggestions for what to eat or drink if you just can't get to sleep. And to wind things up this week, Michelle Bennett writes about developing geothermal energy from volcanoes as an alternative source of power, a subject that interests me greatly since I happen to live on an island with a (very) active volcano.

So then, without further ado, here are this week's offerings:

Images:

Macro Bug Bites, hard!!! - by Mark Thorpe in CamDiver Chronicles

I Love a Parade... - by Cathy in Keeping it Real at 66 Degrees North Latitude

I Love a Parade, Part 2 - by Cathy in Keeping it Real at 66 Degrees North Latitude

Visit by Pallada from Russia - by Jinghui in Photojournalism, Travel, and Nature Photography

Life Cycle of a Magnolia- by Dawn in Photoblog

Articles:

Reflections on Papua New Guinea - by Gary Arndt in Everything Everywhere

About Bob ... - by G.G. in Guilty Gardener

Think Before You Voicemail - by Michael Arrington in TechCrunch

The Best Bedtime Snacks for Insomniacs - by Dr. Nicole Sundene in Kitchen Table Medicine

Harness a Volcano to Power Your Town - by Michelle Bennett in CleanTechnica

And here is an assortment of things I posted on my other blogs during the past week.

In The Right Blue:

Sipadan Island - Being there, Part 3 - dining in (relative) style on a remote island off the coast of Borneo

In B N Sullivan - Photography:

Sonoran Desert, Arizona - the unique landscape of southern Arizona

In my aviation news blogs:

Emergency diversion for Sen. Obama's chartered plane - in Aircrew Buzz

79 year old Continental Airlines flight attendant retires - in Cabin Crew News

Near midair collision at JFK airport - in Professional Pilot News

That this week's roundup!

Dramatic Video of Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano

2008-07-05T18:00:00.006-10:00

Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii put on quite a show on the Fourth of July, some of which is recorded on this Associated Press video. The video depicts lava from the east rift zone of Kilauea entering the Pacific Ocean. As soon as the lava hits the water, it creates a huge steam plume.

Next, the video shows bursts of lava shooting skyward and then splashing back down to the surface. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website explains that these are lava bubble bursts, caused by water seeping into the lava tube system through cracks. The water quickly flashes into steam, which expels lava into the air.

Near the end of the video there is a brief sequence that shows lava flowing through and igniting an area of vegetation.

(If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.)

Wednesday Blogosphere Roving #17

2008-07-02T16:40:00.003-10:00

This Wednesday's found images include a two-part presentation of jellyfish photos; an evocative representation of a beautiful summer day in Minnesota; an image that shows some of the detail on a famous building in Barcelona designed by Gaudi; and a wonderful series on the care and feeding of young starlings in Norway.

Among this week's blog articles, Mark Stoneman opines on the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the right to gun ownership (and be sure to read the comments at the end of the post for some thoughtful elaboration); Jenn Thorsen shows us some postcards from the Victorian era that commemorate American Independence Day; Evelyn presents a sampler of Hawaii blogging; and Ritu theorizes about how trying to 'game the system' at social media sites such as Digg might end up to be self-defeating.

Finally, after hearing the rumors about a purported link between certain vaccines and childhood autism, Chris decides to find out for himself whether or not those rumors are credible before he proceeds to have his baby son immunized. A scientist himself, Chris knows how to find, evaluate, and interpret pertinent research literature, and he shares his conclusions with his readers.

So then, without further ado, here are this week's offerings:

Images:

Jellyfish - by T. Bruce in Eyes Mind Heart

Jellyfish - Part 2 - by T. Bruce in Eyes Mind Heart

Minnesota Clouds Late June - by Danny in Waking Up to Another Beautiful Day

Ironwork on Balcony at La Pedrera or Casa Mila in Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona, Spain - by Carlos in Barcelona Photoblog

Pictures of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) feeding their young- by Thomas Laupstad in Photos from Northern Norway

Articles:

Accepting the Court’s Decision on the Second Amendment - by Mark Stoneman in Stoneman's Corner

Having a Blast with Victorian Fourth of July Postcards - by Jenn Thorsen in Thrift Shop Romantic

Summer Speeds Up at the Carnival of Aloha! - by Evelyn in Homespun Honolulu

The Autobury & System Gaming Connection: A Theory - by Ritu Pant in NetHackz

The MMR vaccine and autism - truth, lies and the media - by Chris in chrisdellavedova.com

And here is an assortment of things I posted on my other blogs during the past week. (NB: Usually I post one example from each blog, but this week there's another two-part tale in The Right Blue.)

In The Right Blue:

Sipadan Island - Being there, Part 1 and Part 2 - a 'two-fer' about this tiny, remote island off the coast of Borneo

In B N Sullivan - Photography:

Aspen's Dancing Fountain - another in a series of photos from my recent visit to Aspen, Colorado

In my aviation news blogs:

Frontier Airlines joins the capacity reduction juggernaut - in Aircrew Buzz

NetJets flight attendant sues Jennifer Lopez over dog bite, injuries - in Cabin Crew News

New safety recommendations for operators of turbojet aircraft - in Professional Pilot News

That this week's roundup!

A Lion Called Christian

2008-06-27T15:55:00.002-10:00

I'm a sucker for animal stories that tug at the heartstrings, and especially when those stories are about a cat. This video, sent to me by someone who knows those predilections of mine, is about a big cat -- a lion called Christian. He was raised by two people in their home until he became too big for domestic life. He was returned to the wild, but his human 'family' had a reunion with him after a year, and that's what this video is about.

Animal lovers -- and especially cat lovers -- should get out their hankies now, and prepare to say, "Awwwwww."

(If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.)

Wednesday Blogosphere Roving #16

2008-06-25T15:00:00.003-10:00

This Wednesday's found images are quite varied. First, two completely different images from Hawaii. Ernest Theisen's panorama of Kilauea Volcano's Halemaumau crater is an experimental image, as he explains underneath the photo. Although I've done a lot of underwater photography in my day, I've never managed to get a shot of garden eels -- but Steve has done a good job of capturing these elusive creatures. Then, speaking of Hawaii, one of the most amusing kitties on the Internet models a hula getup.

Next is a stunning beach shot from Deniss Saksa, followed by Zarquon's excellent image of a tropical bird -- and be sure to click on that last photo to enlarge it, so that you can see the details.

Among this week's blog articles, three offer useful advice, one profiles a most interesting and unusual job -- and then there are the answers to a question that you've heard again and again. (Wink, wink.)

Here are this week's offerings:

Images:

New Panorama - by Ernest Theisen in A Pictorialist's Place

Garden Eels - by Steve in A Kona Scuba Diver

Fashion Friday: Tropical Daisy! - Daisy in Daisy the Curly Cat

Sunset on Stroomi Beach - by Deniss Saksa in Snapping Photons

El Tucán 006 - by Zarquon in Cyberware.ca

Articles:

Wave! – The World is Watching - by Jenn Thorsen in The BlogCatalog Community Blog

The answers to the question everybody wants to know - by Rob Stevenson in Rob's Megaphone

Free Flight Specialist - by Carrie Lowery in My Cool Job

The Top Eleven Laziest Foods to Grow - by Dr. Nicole Sundene in Kitchen Table Medicine

14 Simple Ways to Super Charge Your Brain - by Jay White in Dumb Little Man

And here is an assortment of things I posted on my other blogs during the past week. (NB: Usually I post one example from each blog, but this week there's a bonus: two-part tale in The Right Blue.)

In The Right Blue:

Sipadan Island - Getting there, Part 1 and Part 2 - a 'two-fer' about an incredible journey to an incredible place

In B N Sullivan - Photography:

Elks Building, Aspen, Colorado - one of a series of travel photos from Colorado, where I am this week

In my aviation news blogs:

Furloughs coming for 950 United Airlines pilots - in Aircrew Buzz

Details of the United Airlines Flight Attendant 'Early Out' Program - in Cabin Crew News

United pilots decry furloughs as 'drastic over-reaction' - in Professional Pilot News

That this week's roundup!

Blogging the Vog: SO2 Monitoring on the Big Island

2008-06-23T17:45:00.005-10:00

Hawaii's National Guard has joined the fray in coping with emissions from Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. Honolulu's KHON 2 News reports that State and Federal agencies -- including the Guard -- have set up new monitoring systems to track concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the ambient air at a number of locations around the Big Island. SO2 is considered to be potentially the most hazardous of the numerous gases emitted by Kilauea Volcano.

According to KHON 2 News, the monitoring equipment deployed to monitor SO2 on the Big Island is the same as that used to monitor for "weapons of mass destruction" -- presumably that used to detect evidence of chemical warfare agents. What a thought! -- yet what an appropriate and welcome peacetime use for such equipment.

KHON 2 News quoted Lt. Colonel Trey Johnson, Hawaii National Guard, who said, "In this particular case Kilauea was producing sulphur dioxide levels that were of concern, and that exceeded the county's ability to respond to it effectively."

Hawaii County Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira added, "We had none of that in place prior to April. And again thanks to all the partnership we had with all the agencies, mainly the 93rd, we were able to put that together so now we have some form of monitoring system in place that can be used as a tool."

In recent months, Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii has been emitting unusually high levels of gases, smoke, and ash, leading to unprecedented amounts of vog (volcano smog). At times the vog has been heavy enough to be visible throughout the island chain, even in communities on Kauai, the island farthest from the active volcano. Communities on the Big Island have been affected most, and most often, due to their proximity to the source of the emissions that create the vog.

About the Illustration: The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) produces mapped 24-hour composite images of SO2 emissions from Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano. The one shown above maps the SO2 cloud for June 20, 2008. Click on the image above to view the four most recent NOAA SO2 maps for Kilauea.

Click here for information and links to more resources about vog in Hawaii.

Wednesday Blogosphere Roving Hiatus

2008-06-18T22:00:00.004-10:00

No Wednesday Blogosphere Roving this week, I'm afraid. I am traveling, and I have not had the time to devote to reading scads of blogs and finding new images and articles to share this week.

In fact, I have not had a lot of time for much besides getting through airports, flying, driving, eating foods I'm unused to, and sleeping in beds that do not belong to me: you know the drill. This is not to say that there's nothing enjoyable in my destinations -- right now I'm in Colorado, and it's perfectly lovely here at this time of year. It's just that the process of travel really sucks! And the older I get, the less well I tolerate that process. [/end mini-squawk.]

Back to the Blogosphere Roving topic -- if you've been anxiously looking forward to my weekly finds, and you are now disappointed, may I suggest that you have a look at some of the blogs on the list of blogs I like; or, you could go over to one of my other blogs, The Right Blue, to read a recent story I posted there about an adventure dive in a very special underwater cave; or, you could have a look at my photography blog, from which I borrowed the photo included with this post.

And now I'm off to that bed-that-is-not-my-own for some needed rest.

Wednesday Blogosphere Roving #15

2008-06-11T17:25:00.001-10:00

Bonus time! There are five entries for this Wednesday's found images -- just like always -- but three of those links will take you to multiple colorful images. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Among this week's blog articles, there is one about "green" food (but the writer is not referring to green vegetables); one about a wonderful website where language lovers can pass the time happily, while learning something as well (and I thank the writer for this great tip!); and two great 'how-to' articles about photography.

The link in the middle of the list goes to an amusing piece that proposes using a Google Map to keep track of where the plane belonging to the founders of Google has been sighted. By the way, the plane that Dan Frommer's article refers to is owned by Larry Page and Sergey Brin personally. It is not owned by Google-the-corporation, and I assume that Mr. Frommer knows this, despite his use of the term "Google Party plane." I mention this to assuage the potential for outrage among those who would be scandalized at the thought of Google having a "party plane."

Please note that one of the featured images this week is by Thomas Pitera, who also wrote one of those photography 'how-to' articles. This is the first time in the brief history of my Wednesday Blogosphere Roving series that I have featured both an image and an article by the same person in the same week. I think you'll agree that both are worthy of being featured.

Here are this week's offerings:

Images:

Images of the Week - by Thomas Pitera in Photography Savvy

Birch Wood Pattern - in Phogulum: Blog Through the Camera Eye

Speaking of Flowers - by T. Bruce in Eyes Mind Heart

Water Under the Bridge - by Gale Rainwater in Gale Rainwater Photography

South Africa – The Table above the Clouds - by CK II in CK Go Places

Articles:

Eating "Green" - by Karen in GeoFooding

Distractions at Oxford.com - by legbamel in One Step Forward

Where In The World Are Larry, Sergey, And The Google Party Jet? - by Dan Frommer in Silicon Alley Insider

Making the Most of Automatic Flash - by Thomas Pitera in Photography Savvy

Food Photography Tips and Tricks - by Jonathan Pollack in Digital Photography School

And here is an assortment of things I posted on my other blogs during the past week (one example from each blog).

In The Right Blue:

On a collision course with critters in the sea - answering the question: Do fish ever bump into you underwater?

In B N Sullivan - Photography:

Monkey Pod Tree In Flower - fragile-looking seasonal blossoms

In my aviation news blogs:

Continental Airlines to retire aircraft and eliminate thousands of jobs - in Aircrew Buzz

New designer uniforms for Singapore Airlines male cabin crew - in Cabin Crew News

JAL adopts 'Electronic Flight Bag' technology for its Boeing 777 fleet - in Professional Pilot News

That this week's roundup!

The Laws of Ultimate Reality

2008-06-10T16:55:00.003-10:00

I received this list as an email pass-around. The items on the list made me chuckle, probably because each has a grain of truth.

The Laws of Ultimate Reality:

Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

Law of Probability - The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in at first will always move faster than the one you are in now.

Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach

Law of Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.

Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

Law of Gravity - Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.

Law of the Alibi - If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.

Law of Close Encounters - The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

Law of the Theater - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.

The Starbucks Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

The Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better.Don't make an appointment and you will remain sick.

Law of Commercial Marketing - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

Law of Physical Appearance - If the shoe fits, it's ugly.

Law of Public Speaking - A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

Do any of these ring true for you?

Tip of the hat to my friend Kathy, who sent the list to me.

Wednesday Blogosphere Roving #14

2008-06-04T18:55:00.001-10:00

This Wednesday's found images are from a wide variety of locations in the northern hemisphere. They include Spring plants in a forest (Maine, USA); an Arctic sunset (Norway); an ethereal image of a bridge (Indiana, USA); a funny little critter (Virginia, USA); and a weather-beaten log house (Alaska, USA).

The topics of the first three of this week's blog articles are things you probably didn't know about, but might find interesting. Then, Tiffany Sanders presents an note-worthy -- and revealing -- look back at her life and writing career, on the occasion of her 42nd birthday. (Everybody say Happy Birthday to Tiffany!) In the final article for this week, Missy reflects on her blog, and notes that it has 29 distinct types of posts. Her post is recommended for bookmarking by bloggers to consult whenever they feel "stuck" for something new to post: surely there will be a mental prompt for a novel idea among those 29 types of blog posts!

Here are this week's offerings:

Images:

Forget-Me-Not & Ferns - by Mike in Maine Through the Lens

Sunset scene during the spring in Northern Norway - by Thomas Laupstad in Photos from Northern Norway

Madison Indiana Bridge - by Bernie Kasper in BFK Photography

Wanna see something funny? - by Birdlady in Wings n Things

This Old House - by Cathy in Keeping It Real at 66 Degrees North Latitude

Articles:

Do You Know the Name of Your State Soil? - by Cheryl in Hawaii Vacation Gifts Blog

Cattle May Move Inside With the Chickens - by Will Taft in Healthy Living

Green Public Relations - by JD in Techfun

The Tiffany Retrospective - by Tiffany Sanders in RockStories

29 Different Types of Blog Posts - by Missy Diaz in Groovy Entrepreneur

And here is an assortment of things I posted on my other blogs during the past week (one example from each blog).

In The Right Blue:

Rush Hour On the Reef - an underwater traffic jam

In B N Sullivan - Photography:

Bobcat Pair - wild cats from Arizona, grooming just like house cats do

In my aviation news blogs:

United Airlines to eliminate Ted, reduce its fleet, and cut jobs - in Aircrew Buzz

Flight attendant jobs with charter carriers - in Cabin Crew News

South African Airways pilots agree to pay concessions - in Professional Pilot News

That this week's roundup!

Blogging About Life in Hawaii

2008-06-02T17:44:00.005-10:00

There is a wonderful niche group of bloggers who write regularly about aspects of life in Hawaii. Some write of their personal experiences in Hawaii or about the community; others write advice for visitors to Hawaii. All offer their insights about what life in Hawaii is really like.

Each month, a number of Hawaii bloggers participate in the Blog Carnival of Aloha, hosted by Evelyn at Homespun Honolulu. This month the Carnival Takes a Closer Look at Hawaiian Life.

The collection of articles from Hawaii bloggers this month is excellent. The topics range from walking around the island of Oahu, to crossing streams on Kauai, to visiting a secret beach on the Big Island. You can find out about wine-tasting in Waimalu, and museums to visit on the Big Island. You can learn about Hilo Soil and Kilauea Vog. There are articles about creatures: you can learn about seahorse farming, and how to avoid being stung by a man-o-war. There are two articles about politics in Hawaii. Another article explains the Hawaiian spiritual system of huna.

Go and visit the 10th Carnival of Aloha, and have a closer look at Hawaiian life.

About the Photo: I took this photo at the top of Rainbow Falls, just outside of Hilo, on Hawaii's Big Island. If you'd like to see more of my photos, visit B N Sullivan Photography, where I display my garden, nature, and travel photography.

Evolution of the Human Eye

2008-05-28T18:40:00.000-10:00

Have a look at this brief but very interesting video from the National Center for Science Education about how the human eye evolved:

(If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.)

Tip of the hat to Brad Cavanagh at canspice.org, where I first spotted the video.

Wednesday Blogosphere Roving #13

2008-05-28T16:10:00.002-10:00

This Wednesday's found images include a pictorial trip around a Greek island; a striking view from the London tubes; and three photos from nature. (Note to the photographers in the audience: Look at Tom's photo of the fawn and tell me I'm not crazy for coveting his 400mm lens!).

Three of this week's blog articles include two how-to pieces on two entirely different subjects; and three pieces of commentary by writers who work in three separate scientific fields -- but after reading what all three have to say, I'm quite certain that if Brad, Chris and Mark met one another, they'd get along very well.

Here are this week's offerings:

Images:

A trip around Samos - by Keith in Keith's Images

Weebill - by David in David Kleinert Photography

Holland Park - by Hoshisato in There Will Come Soft Rains

Butterfly - in Perez Studios

Baby Fawn - by Tom in Mon@rch's Nature Blog

Articles:

Gloria Baraquio: Mistress of Crazy - by Brad Cavanagh in canspice.org

7 ways to be more lucky - by Steven Aitchison in Change Your Thoughts

How to Combine Two Average Photos into One Spectacular Photo - by Pete in My GPS Camera Phone

Science Tuesday: Breath-taking insanity - by Chris in chrisdellavedova.com

Is wilderness a place or a feeling? - by Mark Powell in blogfish

And here is an assortment of things I posted on my other blogs during the past week (one example from each blog).

In The Right Blue:

There's one in every crowd - even some fish hear a different drummer

In B N Sullivan - Photography:

Male House Finch - a common bird, with an uncommonly beautiful color

In my aviation news blogs:

Continental Airlines Boeing 737 has a 'close encounter' with -- a rocket? - in Aircrew Buzz

Delta flight attendant union certification election results - in Cabin Crew News

NTSB acts to prevent further Boeing 757 wing panel separation incidents - in Professional Pilot News

That this week's roundup!

Hawaii House of Representatives Committee to Study Vog Effects

2008-05-22T16:40:00.004-10:00

A Special Committee on Vog Effects has been appointed in the Hawaii House of Representatives. The committee is tasked with studying the impact of vog (volcano smog) on "the public's health and safety, agriculture, water quality, pets and animals, wildlife, and other areas," according to an item posted yesterday on the Hawaii House Blog.

The committee is composed of eight state lawmakers, mostly from the Big Island. The chairman of the committee is Rep. Robert Herkes (D, District 5: Puna, Kau, North Kona,South Kona), pictured at right.

"What is occurring is a natural disaster, but unlike a tsunami, hurricane, twister or major earthquake, it is not viewed as one," said Rep. Herkes. "The legislature needs to focus on the impacts on Hawaii residents such as health and safety, loss of agricultural crops or the impact on tourism and jobs, and explore all avenues of relief."

The Hawaii House Blog says that a report on the committee's findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives is due at least twenty days prior to the convening of the Legislature's Regular Session in January of 2009.

[Photo Source]