The Coffee House

[DanOstergren]

Is the high number of tornadoes in the last few years normal? I don't remember seeing nearly as many videos and reports like this before. We had a tornado in my area (the US PNW) last year, and a warning just a week ago. It's highly unusual for this area.

Last year when my best friend and I were driving from Chicago to La Crosse WI we were surrounded by almost 40 tornadoes, though none were within a dangerous proximity thankfully or within our sight. We were unaware of them until seeing news about them later that day. On the day of my flight home from that trip, a bunch of flights out of Chicago Midway airport were delayed because there were tornadoes forming over Lake Michigan, and the storm that came through the airport tarmac was insane. I've never seen anything like it. Anyone who's been to Midway Airport knows you have quite a view of the tarmac due to the very large windows in the airport terminals too.

Last week my best friend sent me a video of huge hail falling outside his apartment in Kankakee IL, along with tornado sirens going off in the distance, right before his power went out. Thankfully there was no tornado touchdown in his area. I'll be flying to that are at the start of May and I'm hoping no tornadoes come through the area (while I'm visiting or EVER).

 

[nerwin]

I came across this on Amazon. It's cute and takes awful photos but would look cool on my shelf and use it onice in awhile for fun..very unique.

Amazon.com

 

[DanOstergren]

I came across this on Amazon. It's cute and takes awful photos but would look cool on my shelf and use it onice in awhile for fun..very unique.

Amazon.com

View attachment 285424

Looks fun for sure, and in the right setting I'm sure you could get some great shots. Some of the reviewers images show some good potential. Can't balk at that price either.

 

[VidThreeNorth]

Looks fun for sure, and in the right setting I'm sure you could get some great shots. Some of the reviewers images show some good potential. Can't balk at that price either.

If this is a "real" twin lens design with a mirror behind the viewing lens, one of the challenges you will have is that the camera will pan "backwards". That is to say, the viewing image will move to the left when you pan right. You might find this fun. If this is actually an electronic view, then it might be switchable.

 

[VidThreeNorth]

A while back, I mentioned a Korean drama series on Netflix called "When Life Gives You Tangerines." I think this series is over now. I ran across this posting which seems to summaries the whole series. The summary itself is about 1 hr and 13 min long. I emphasize that this is Verrry Long. I don't know how popular it has been, but someday, I hope to see it myself. Part of the interest for me is that Korea was a culture that I learned about mostly online. I have known a lot more about Chinese and Japanese cultures. The story and characters seem to reflect fairly real Korean life. It's the differences, particularly from Japanese that I find striking. Anyway, you might find it interesting.

"A Poor Couple Finally Struck It Rich, But the Husband Unexpectedly Discovered He Had Cancer.", posted to YouTube by "CoCo-Drama", Apr 2, 2025:

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[nerwin]

If this is a "real" twin lens design with a mirror behind the viewing lens, one of the challenges you will have is that the camera will pan "backwards". That is to say, the viewing image will move to the left when you pan right. You might find this fun. If this is actually an electronic view, then it might be switchable.

Its a toy camera. Its very small. All electronic...just a screen on top and a cheap sensor in one of the "lenses" the other one is fake. Regardless of what it is....for a cheap chinese toy camera it's one of the coolest ones I've seen.

 

[webestang64]

Is the high number of tornadoes in the last few years normal?

Last year article but applies to this year and the future........ Why Have There Been So Many Tornadoes This Year?

 

[smoke665]

Surprise, surprise surprise, doing some yard work today, walked by the asparagus beds to find several spears ready to harvest. It's way early!

 

[smoke665]

Walking through the yard yesterday, puffs of yellow pollen were flying up, everything outside is coated with it. Hopefully we'll only get rain tomorrow and not the storms to cleanse the air.

This week has been hard, my best friend from college passed away after a brief illness. Tom and I were the same age, and share a lot of memories from school and in the years following. His wife (also a close friend from college) was supposed to start radiation for colon cancer yesterday, but with Tom's passing I haven't heard if it was delayed.

 

[SquarePeg]

Walking through the yard yesterday, puffs of yellow pollen were flying up, everything outside is coated with it. Hopefully we'll only get rain tomorrow and not the storms to cleanse the air.

This week has been hard, my best friend from college passed away after a brief illness. Tom and I were the same age, and share a lot of memories from school and in the years following. His wife (also a close friend from college) was supposed to start radiation for colon cancer yesterday, but with Tom's passing I haven't heard if it was delayed.

Sorry for your loss, that’s a tough one. Sounds like the wife will need good friends around. Focusing on that is a nice way to honor his memory.

 

[smoke665]

Sorry for your loss, that’s a tough one. Sounds like the wife will need good friends around. Focusing on that is a nice way to honor his memory.

Thanks. Unfortunately we live a long way from her now. Fortunately their 3 children all live close, so she will have good care.

 

[jeffashman]

Walking through the yard yesterday, puffs of yellow pollen were flying up, everything outside is coated with it. Hopefully we'll only get rain tomorrow and not the storms to cleanse the air.

This week has been hard, my best friend from college passed away after a brief illness. Tom and I were the same age, and share a lot of memories from school and in the years following. His wife (also a close friend from college) was supposed to start radiation for colon cancer yesterday, but with Tom's passing I haven't heard if it was delayed.

My deepest condolences. It is always sobering to look at my High School forum only to see how many folks I went to High School with have already passed away.

 

[nerwin]

I did it guys..had to buy it.

It really is small, but very cool! It actually flips up and has a decent screen and the tiny sensor and lens has auto focus and focuses really close. Yes the image quality is not great, says its 12mp but it's more like 2mp quality. But that's the whole point of it, just suppose to be fun. I like that it's actually square format too. You have no choice so it forces you to find compositions, it really is neat.

I haven't taken it outside due to rain but if the light is good...even window light it doesn't produce terrible images at least they are usable and have a certain aesthetic, I know lo-fi photography is a bit of the thing now with old point and shoot digital cameras.

 

[terri]

Thanks. Unfortunately we live a long way from her now. Fortunately their 3 children all live close, so she will have good care.

That's good to hear, anyway. Condolences on your loss.

 

[snowbear]

@DanOstergren: good question about tornados. I’m going to try to find some information on this though it might be a day or two.

@smoke665: sorry to hear this. Losing an old friend is always hard.

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Back in Maryland for a week or so. We needed to get the sheds cleared out: keeper stuff in one area and toss it out in another pile for junk collectors. A landscaper is coming to clean up the outside. Cut down a dead oak tree (telling them I want at least one four to eight foot section for wood projects), and removing the sheds.

The only thing we are really keeping are some gardening tools, a bug zapper, a sun dial, and an electric pole lamp. I’m not sure of the proper name but they sit on poles in the yard, usually toward the road and driveway or walkway. Smeone gave it to mom and dad but there wasn’t any outside electrical and they never bothered to install it.

Most of the house has been emptied and transported up by the movers. I have to go through some things in the basement with a critical eye and decide what goes to Maine and what goes to the dump. I will go back up at the end of the week and take the yard tractor, one of the workbenches, the kayaks, and some boxes. We bought this, today, to make it easier to transport. Tired of trying to rent them and plan on getting a couple snow machines (snow mobiles) later.

Thinking of either a red splash / stripe or mural, though not a Frank Franzetta inspired one, like seen on 70s vans.