Navy Memories #8: Warships vs. Big Waves

This one speaks for itself. Every sailor since ships were invented knows this experience.
I recommend watching in full screen mode.

Tuesday's Bluster

No, not the goings-on from the assorted clownery in the nation's capitol.

The winds we've been warned about for the last few days arrived during the night. While it's not constant, there are gusts from 45 to 60 mph. The last of the autumn leaves are carpeting the ground, or wallpapering the vehicles. Overall, the wind's not bad ... at least not yet. They're expected to peak by 10 am, and then subside by early afternoon.

I'm quite happy that there are no reports of outages or fallen trees in the local news; nobody needs that.

* * * * *

The Associated Press reports that Hawaii and Alaska have announced a joint space venture.

HONOLULU — Alaska and Hawaii on Monday agreed to work together to develop satellites, rockets and other aspects of space launches.

The two Pacific states will also share designs for rockets and satellites, cross-train personnel and share business and market development opportunities.

. . . Hawaii is on the leading edge of making sure the small satellite technology works, and soon expects to launch one of the so-called "CubeSats," he said.

Alaska, meanwhile, also owns and operates a launch complex on Kodiak Island. "I think we should tie that together," Campbell said.

. . . Hawaii doesn't have a commercial spaceport, though rockets may be launched into space from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai.

. . .
Henk Rogers, Honolulu-based technology entrepreneur and chairman of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, said people must explore space to protect against extinction, noting dinosaurs were wiped out after asteroid hit Earth 65 million years ago.

"We have to go. Our mission is to make a backup of life on Earth," he said at a news conference before the summit. "If we can take life as we know it to another planet like Mars, or even the Moon, it will be the most amazing that ever happens to that planet. And, I dare say, it would be the most amazing thing that we could do as a species."

Jenny S, do you see this? It's what you predicted, two years ago.

* * * * *

Speaking of Alaska-based industry, there's another development:

KETCHIKAN, Alaska — The first large commercial fishing vessel built in Alaska has been christened.

A ceremony for the Petersburg-based Arctic Prowler was held Saturday at the shipbuilder, Ketchikan Shipyard.

. . .  The Ketchikan Daily News reports (http://is.gd/Ion6Dz) the ship is 136 feet long and 40 feet wide. The Arctic Prowler has two 1,000-horsepower, eight-cylinder engines. On-board freezers can hold about 735,000 pounds of fish. Crew members can process fish on board the Arctic Prowler, and the ship is designed to accommodate long fishing trips in the Bering Sea.

Rough Night, Interesting Day Ahead (Updated)

The National Weather Service reports winds gusting to 131 mph at a point on the hillside above town, last night. Thousands were without power for much of the night (including us), and public schools - and UAA - are closed today.

Trees down, branches littering the roads ... fun and games. Later.

UPDATE:  The roads are indeed littered with fallen trees, and power is still off in much of town. My building was dark for most of the night, with the lights back on about 6:00 this morning.  Cell phones, landlines, and 'net service from one of Anchorage's two main providers is also offline.

Fun stuff.

It's Warm. TOO Warm.

AccuHunch is calling for a high of 36 today, with rain, freezing rain and snow - but probably not in that order. Oh yes, the forecast also includes 10 to 20 mph winds in town, with 45 to 60, gusting to 80 on the mountainsides above town. Tomorrow's forecast is pretty much the same, except 38 degrees for the high, and wind gusts of 90 mph.

Yuck.

It's going to be a good day to stay inside & get some other things done. My wife's company Christmas party is tonight, at a hotel downtown, so that's one outing we can't avoid. We'll drive her car, rather than my truck, as the lower-profile vehicle will be to our advantage in any wind gusts that occur.

Y'all have a great day.