This past week has been a major deep freeze here in the West. In the last few days it has now warmed up to a lovely -20C. This blast of coldness has confirmed something that I have long suspected. For me it is now a profound, deep, meaningful truth:
Cold is cold.
When a comment is made about how cold it gets out here in Western Canada I have often heard people console themselves with the statement "But it is a dry cold". I don't find that comforting. I have also heard people talking about my home region, the East Coast, and exclaim that it is such a damp cold there, and that a -10C temperature there is far worse than a -20C here.
I will now testify that that isn't true. Cold is cold.
Weather for Sackville, New Brunswick today: Freezing rain warning, -9C, 64% humidity
Weather for Olds, Alberta today: Cold, -29C, 70% humidity - colder and more humid than Sackville which is going to get freezing rain.
A few days ago we had a low temperature of -34C (-29F). Even then humidity was hovering between 69 and 74%. Not very dry, but very, very cold.
These observations prompted me to further investigate the claims of "its a dry cold". A quick Google search turned up this weather lore from The Weather Network:
Moo = Ask me if this is a dry cold.
There you have it. Empirical evidence that the perceived benefits of a dry cold is a myth._____________________________________________
Cold is cold.
When a comment is made about how cold it gets out here in Western Canada I have often heard people console themselves with the statement "But it is a dry cold". I don't find that comforting. I have also heard people talking about my home region, the East Coast, and exclaim that it is such a damp cold there, and that a -10C temperature there is far worse than a -20C here.
I will now testify that that isn't true. Cold is cold.
Weather for Sackville, New Brunswick today: Freezing rain warning, -9C, 64% humidity
Weather for Olds, Alberta today: Cold, -29C, 70% humidity - colder and more humid than Sackville which is going to get freezing rain.
A few days ago we had a low temperature of -34C (-29F). Even then humidity was hovering between 69 and 74%. Not very dry, but very, very cold.
These observations prompted me to further investigate the claims of "its a dry cold". A quick Google search turned up this weather lore from The Weather Network:
I know many who have experienced cold stress, especially those of you on the Prairies, may take exception to this, but the assumption that dry cold is better than damp cold is largely a myth. Soldiers exposed to severe cold in climate controlled cold chambers did not find damp cold any more penetrating than dry cold, and if you consider the physics of heat transfer, the differences between the two are negligible. But why then do the majority of Canadians prefer dry cold to damp cold? One's perception of comfort or discomfort while exposed to cold air depends on several factors but let's just consider the weather conditions. Cold, dry days have usually sunny skies, high pressure and light winds - weather that is much more pleasing than overcast skies and shivering wind chill. Also soaking up sun's rays only adds to your comfort. So there's good reason to believe that you'll be more comfortable in a dry cold than humid cold, but it's not because of the difference in humidity. Of course, all this assumes one is not perspiring, his or her clothes are dry and it's not raining.
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/index.php?product=help&pagecontent= faq&pagecontent=weatherlore
Moo = Ask me if this is a dry cold.There you have it. Empirical evidence that the perceived benefits of a dry cold is a myth.
Labels: Rants
Phases and thoughts of our earthly companion, the Moon.
[large] 1/13 sec, 300 mm, f11 on a Nikon D300
God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
- Genesis 1:16
[large] 1/125 sec, 300 mm, f5.6 on a Nikon D300
The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
- 1 Corinthians 15:41
[large] 1/200 sec at 300mm f7.1 on a D300
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
- Psalm 136:1-9_____________________________________________
[large] 1/13 sec, 300 mm, f11 on a Nikon D300
God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
- Genesis 1:16
[large] 1/125 sec, 300 mm, f5.6 on a Nikon D300
The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
- 1 Corinthians 15:41
[large] 1/200 sec at 300mm f7.1 on a D300
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
- Psalm 136:1-9
Labels: astronomy, Photography
The whole world is reeling as a result of consumer and corporate greed.
Subprime mortgages allowed people to purchase the dream homes they really couldn't afford. Banks wanted to make more money off of the consumer. Things got bad for buyers. The house of cards got wobbly and started to collapse.
We can look at the history books at what happened in the Great Depression and see the simple mistakes in fiscal policies that led to that financial collapse. I don't think we learned much since then..
Sitting here in Canada I wondered how such an obviously dumb thing could happen again, not realizing the impact it would have around the world. In my ignorance, I thought it would have some big problems for our southern neighbors that would spill over some into other nations' economies, but nothing like what is happening. Our global economy is incredibly inter-linked.
Banks in London and other European nations in trouble because of the US housing market?
Canadian banks writing off billions?
Talk of the US dollar being abandoned as a currency backing in foreign nations?
One in forty-five US homes possibly facing foreclosure?
Worldwide recession?
Turns out that mortgage debt was being traded all over the world, so the impact may be global. Because of house buyers and corporations wanting more.
Greed has a price, and the whole world may have to foot the bill._____________________________________________
Subprime mortgages allowed people to purchase the dream homes they really couldn't afford. Banks wanted to make more money off of the consumer. Things got bad for buyers. The house of cards got wobbly and started to collapse.
We can look at the history books at what happened in the Great Depression and see the simple mistakes in fiscal policies that led to that financial collapse. I don't think we learned much since then..
Sitting here in Canada I wondered how such an obviously dumb thing could happen again, not realizing the impact it would have around the world. In my ignorance, I thought it would have some big problems for our southern neighbors that would spill over some into other nations' economies, but nothing like what is happening. Our global economy is incredibly inter-linked.
Banks in London and other European nations in trouble because of the US housing market?
Canadian banks writing off billions?
Talk of the US dollar being abandoned as a currency backing in foreign nations?
One in forty-five US homes possibly facing foreclosure?
Worldwide recession?
Turns out that mortgage debt was being traded all over the world, so the impact may be global. Because of house buyers and corporations wanting more.
Greed has a price, and the whole world may have to foot the bill.
Labels: Rants
Today is a big day in the town of Olds. The much anticipated Wal-Mart opens its doors. To commemorate this event, may I present the following Jib-Jab video. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
I grew up as the son of a small business owner in a small town. Not much of a fan of ye ol' Big Box Marts.
PS. That song is going to be in your head for weeks._____________________________________________
I grew up as the son of a small business owner in a small town. Not much of a fan of ye ol' Big Box Marts.
PS. That song is going to be in your head for weeks.
Labels: Rants
We had submitted another photo of Ellie to a magazine photo contest. Once again, we received a runner up prize!
We have also uploaded a ton of new photos of the kids. Check them out at www.flickr.com/photos/johnstonekids
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We have also uploaded a ton of new photos of the kids. Check them out at www.flickr.com/photos/johnstonekids
There is something wrong with my radio. It seems more prevalent since we have moved out west. Often after my wife has driven the van somewhere I will get in and turn the van on and the radio just sounds terrible. It is all twangy and bad.
I have noticed that a lot of radios around here suffer this same affliction. Even stranger.. people seem proud of their malfunctioning radios. When I ask what that awful noise is, people respond with one word: "country".
Now, I have lived in rural, country environments before and it has never affected how the music sounds like this. It must be that the land is so flat that it distorts the radio waves or something._____________________________________________
I have noticed that a lot of radios around here suffer this same affliction. Even stranger.. people seem proud of their malfunctioning radios. When I ask what that awful noise is, people respond with one word: "country".
Now, I have lived in rural, country environments before and it has never affected how the music sounds like this. It must be that the land is so flat that it distorts the radio waves or something.
Labels: ramblings
One of the changes that I have had to make upon arriving in the West concerns something I have always taken for granted in my 35 years living in Eastern Canada. It concerns a matter of convenience, and has even been tied to the Canadian identity in verse. Yet it is conspicuously absent here in western Canada. I am, of course, talking about milk in a bag.
Plastic jugs are the dominant milk form here. This adds a certain inconvenience to the late night milk drink as a tall cool glass of milk can not be poured in one fluid motion. With the milk bag, a pitcher can simply be pulled from the fridge, poured out in a glass and returned. Now with a milk jug I must take it out and remove the cap, pour a glass and replace the cap before putting the milk back. Certainly an inefficient way to get tall cool glass of milk.
Growing up in the Maritimes we always had milk in a bag. It permitted such great family games like "Who left an empty bag in the pitcher!?!" and "Where are the scissors?". I remember when this packaging was taken to an extreme as a kid when we could even purchase orange juice in a bag. We had one pitcher for milk and one for OJ. And of course, the inevitable happened one day. Someone had changed out the empty bags and put fresh ones in the wrong pitcher. Fruit Loops really are a little too rich with orange juice on them.
Anyway.. I will stand strong. I will adjust._____________________________________________
Plastic jugs are the dominant milk form here. This adds a certain inconvenience to the late night milk drink as a tall cool glass of milk can not be poured in one fluid motion. With the milk bag, a pitcher can simply be pulled from the fridge, poured out in a glass and returned. Now with a milk jug I must take it out and remove the cap, pour a glass and replace the cap before putting the milk back. Certainly an inefficient way to get tall cool glass of milk.
Growing up in the Maritimes we always had milk in a bag. It permitted such great family games like "Who left an empty bag in the pitcher!?!" and "Where are the scissors?". I remember when this packaging was taken to an extreme as a kid when we could even purchase orange juice in a bag. We had one pitcher for milk and one for OJ. And of course, the inevitable happened one day. Someone had changed out the empty bags and put fresh ones in the wrong pitcher. Fruit Loops really are a little too rich with orange juice on them.
Anyway.. I will stand strong. I will adjust.
Labels: ramblings
"I think the mountains are pretty, not you." - Ellie talking to mommy while looking at dad's pictures of mountains. Ellie said that the mountains are pretty and mommy asked if the mountains are pretty like her.
"No, I'm not smart. I'm Ellie." - Apparently correcting her dad after he told her that she is smart.
"Thank you Jesus for something." - Ellie when asked if she would like to thank Jesus for something after evening prayers.
"The dinosaur smells good." - I really have no idea where that one came from..
"Please daddy, don't sing. Don't Sing." - Ellie showing remarkably good taste at a young age.
"No, my name is Ellie Ellie Ellie." - When asked if her full name was Ellie Johnstone.
"What is happening in the world, daddy?" - Upon seeing her dad reading the newspaper.
"The house is going round and round." - Ellie after spinning around for a few minutes
"The sun is brushing it's teeth." - After watching the sun set, with the understanding that it is going to bed
(my new camera can take photos at different intervals. this series is one photo every 5 seconds during lunch. lots of silliness going on, but not much eating. click for larger view)_____________________________________________
"No, I'm not smart. I'm Ellie." - Apparently correcting her dad after he told her that she is smart.
"Thank you Jesus for something." - Ellie when asked if she would like to thank Jesus for something after evening prayers.
"The dinosaur smells good." - I really have no idea where that one came from..
"Please daddy, don't sing. Don't Sing." - Ellie showing remarkably good taste at a young age.
"No, my name is Ellie Ellie Ellie." - When asked if her full name was Ellie Johnstone.
"What is happening in the world, daddy?" - Upon seeing her dad reading the newspaper.
"The house is going round and round." - Ellie after spinning around for a few minutes
"The sun is brushing it's teeth." - After watching the sun set, with the understanding that it is going to bed
(my new camera can take photos at different intervals. this series is one photo every 5 seconds during lunch. lots of silliness going on, but not much eating. click for larger view)
Labels: Ellie
The annual countdown is on and you have one extra savings day this year. Since it is a leap year there are 101 days left until my birthday. Remember, saving one dollar a day makes it easier! Oh yeah, and Happy New Year!
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