What meteorological phenomenon (phenomena) affects you this day ?

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

We were told when we went to McDonald Observatory about your telescope .
Or that you were soon to get one.

They were probably referring to this puppy ==>> SkyMapper

Originally Posted by Skymapper

[. . .] mission is to robotically create the first comprehensive digital survey of the entire southern sky. The result will be a massively detailed record of more than a billion stars and galaxies, to a sensitivity one million times fainter than the human eye can see.

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I didn't realize except around the edges you are a desert.

Yes, there is a misconception that we all live in the Outback. According to the CIA Yearbook, about 90% of us live in eight conurbations, that's a higher concentration than US, UK or Canada, and way more than China, India etc.

NYC is the only US city with a larger population than Sydney or Melbourne. Toronto is similar, it's also bigger than everywhere except NYC.

BR

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

We were told when we went to McDonald Observatory about your telescope .

I've never been to McDonald Observatory, but I have been to McDonald's Lavatory

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

They were probably referring to this puppy ==>> SkyMapper




Yes, there is a misconception that we all live in the Outback. According to the CIA Yearbook, about 90% of us live in eight conurbations, that's a higher concentration than US, UK or Canada, and way more than China, India etc.

NYC is the only US city with a larger population than Sydney or Melbourne. Toronto is similar, it's also bigger than everywhere except NYC.

BR

I understand about misconceptions. The media doesn't help. Most recently Harvey wiped out 2 small towns. Did anyone hesr about that once he flooded Houston? Nope. Houston got all the publicity.
The fires are all centered around Los Angeles. That makes national news. A few years back over half of Texas burned and many lakes dried up when we had a 2 year drought (no moisture whatsoever), but because it didn't affect Houston, it didn't make the news.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I've never been to McDonald Observatory, but I have been to McDonald's Lavatory

I've never been into a McDonald's anything anywhere. They had one for a while on our 'main' street shopping strip but it closed within a year, same thing happened to Starbucks, it only lasted a few months. They weren't around so much when I lived in the US.

@Cinisajoy - - when I started reading your post I read -- 'Most recently Harvey [Weinstein] wiped out...'

BR

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I've never been into a McDonald's anything anywhere. They had one for a while on our 'main' street shopping strip but it closed within a year, same thing happened to Starbucks, it only lasted a few months. They weren't around so much when I lived in the US.

@Cinisajoy - - when I started reading your post I read -- 'Most recently Harvey [Weinstein] wiped out...'

BR

Where did you live that McDonalds were not ubiquitous.
I think your Harvey did more damage.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Where did you live that McDonalds were not ubiquitous.

I lived on and off in the US between the late '60s and early '80s, in Boston, Raleigh and latterly Palo Alto. McDonald's was around but not so much, and I'm not sure Starbucks even existed back then - I associate it with the dotcom bubble.

The only relevant memories from back then are:

• A sign in a concave plate glass window of one of the large art-deco buildings in San Francisco or Los Angeles' downtown that read something like - "The Fine Arts Building welcomes McDonald's - opening March 15th".
  
• And stopping on the way to Yosemite for brunch, we parked in a McDonald's, but I spotted a regular diner across the highway so we went there. I know that was shortly after Five Easy Pieces was released because my wife said I shouldn't ask for a chicken sandwich :lol:

BR

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I lived on and off in the US between the late '60s and early '80s, in Boston, Raleigh and latterly Palo Alto. McDonald's was around but not so much, and I'm not sure Starbucks even existed back then - I associate it with the dotcom bubble.

The only relevant memories from back then are:

• A sign in a concave plate glass window of one of the large art-deco buildings in San Francisco or Los Angeles' downtown that read something like - "The Fine Arts Building welcomes McDonald's - opening March 15th".
  
• And stopping on the way to Yosemite for brunch, we parked in a McDonald's, but I spotted a regular diner across the highway so we went there. I know that was shortly after Five Easy Pieces was released because my wife said I shouldn't ask for a chicken sandwich :lol:

BR

You are right on the Starbucks. McDonalds turned into a rabbit in the mid 80's.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I think your Harvey did more damage.

He's not my Harvey - he's your entertainment industry's Harvey, don't worry none, we have our own Harvey's too.

BTW for US News I like Al Jazeera (English). It seems to have less of an agenda than US and European media - less hyperbole. hand wringing, bed wetting, invective etc. And their interviewers are not on smart-ass gotcha trips like the ones on BBC etc. And it gets out of the big cities, I recall it reporting from places like Akron and Kalamazoo last year.

BR

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

He's not my Harvey - he's your entertainment industry's Harvey, don't worry none, we have our own Harvey's too.

BTW for US News I like Al Jazeera (English). It seems to have less of an agenda than US and European media - less hyperbole. hand wringing, bed wetting, invective etc. And their interviewers are not on smart-ass gotcha trips like the ones on BBC etc. And it gets out of the big cities, I recall it reporting from places like Akron and Kalamazoo last year.

BR

Back on topic, thanks for the nice sunny warm day. We reached 80F.

[cromag]

A nice, sunny day here, as well. We reached 39º F.

[Cinisajoy]

While I appreciated red's gift yesterday, poohbear did not have to send me a gift. I woke up to 33°F this morning or almost 0°C.

[Blossom]

Snow! Christmas Snow! It snowed just enough to cover the grassy areas and trees and give the vehicles a good dusting. It was big hamster flakes. Perfect snow.

I was outside at 5am with my phone taking pictures and videos. People going to work thought I was nuts. I love my Fire Phone. It takes really good night pics.

Sadly it's starting to melt but it was beautiful. My wonderful husband went for a drive and video it for me at dawn. I'm on bed rest.

Sent from my XT1528

[Cinisajoy]

Warmer today than yesterday.

[BetterRed]

mid to high 30s. Cooler tomorrow (Monday) thank goodness.

[tubemonkey]

My Dash Wand says 37F clear skies and sun -- high of 40F and low of 29F.