On this day, May 5, 1903, James Beard, US culinary expert, author (Delights & Prejudices), was born in Portland, Ore.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, A Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing Mrs. Elsie Mitchell, the pregnant wife of a minister, and five children after they attempted to drag it out the woods in Lakeview, Oregon. The balloon was armed, and exploded soon after they began tampering with it. They became the 1st and only known American civilians to be killed in the continental US during World War II.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, Bly minister Archie Mitchell, his pregnant wife Elsie, and five children from Mitchell's Sunday school class were on a Saturday morning picnic. Thirteen miles northeast of Bly, or about sixty miles northeast of Klamath Falls, Mitchell parked the car, and Elsie and the children headed to Leonard Creek. Mitchell later remembered: "As I got out of the car to bring the lunch, the others were not far away and called to me they had found something that looked like a balloon. I heard of Japanese balloons so I shouted a warning not to touch it. But just then there was a big explosion. I ran up there--and they were all dead." It was a Japanese balloon bomb. They were 70 feet tall with a 33-foot diameter paper canopy connected to the main device by shroud lines. Balloons inflated with hydrogen followed the jet stream at an altitude of 30,000 feet.
Planet Earth still has lots of ice and snow
Why is that great news? Because it is not coming to Oregon. Our chances for snow in the Willamette Valley are low until after the first of the year. However, if you want snow, all you need to do is look at the nearby hills that are covered. Still more snow is available on Mt. Hood.
Some are worried about the Arctic melting. They should be worried about the coming snow and ice. For reference, Resolute, Nunavut Canada in the high Arctic is presently -15 F with a stiff wind that makes it feel like -45 F, AND it is completely dark 24 hours per day this time of year. Resolute is about the most northern settlement on Earth that is a real town, not just a military or weather station.
If anyone is worried about the sea ice, here is the latest from the Arctic. The Arctic ocean is completely covered with sea ice, but slightly less than normal for this time of year. The temperature at Summit Camp high on the Greenland ice cap is about -22 F. That is considerably warmer than it was a few days ago, when the temperature dipped to -60 F. The ice cap is still shedding icebergs into the North Atlantic at these temperatures, because that process is largely unrelated to the outside temperature.
The Antarctic is losing sea ice fast but slightly 'above normal' as their summer approaches. The temperature at Vostok, Antarctica is presently a relatively mild -22 F. Nevertheless, there is no melting at those temperatures.
In other words, planet Earth still has lots of ice and snow. Those on the East Coast USA may soon feel that they have more than their fair share.
Santa is definitely shivering at the North Pole. Merry Christmas to all.
--Gordon Fulks, Ph.D.| Post Date: 2020-12-15 16:11:16 | Last Update: 2020-12-15 16:21:32 |
