Taking weather seriously (as we all do) are these two South African websites
http://saweatherobserver.blogspot.com/
http://www.stormchasing.co.za/
Storm Chasing SA has this to say about the coming weekend
Another Stormy Weekend
Tuesday, 26 May 2009 20:34
Recent model guidence has been indicating another possible stormy weekend ahead for the Western Cape and Eastern Cape with temperatures remaining below 10`C for some areas of the Eastern Cape on Sunday. It appears that while the Eastern Cape may feel the brunt of the cold the most, the Western Cape will be in for heavier rainfalls with the South African Weather Service forecasting over 100mm of rain in a four day period from Thursday to Sunday. While the models are still a bit back and fourth on this storm it definitely bears watching. Especially for those in parts of the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape.
EY
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
A 90 degree turn - a closer look at humour
I received this from the Wicked Witch in Tshwane
BEWARE OF PEOPLE WHO ONLY LAUGH AT JOKES
The word comedy was invented by the Greeks to give a name to a new kind of theatrical presentation which complemented tragedy. Essentially it was the opposite of tragedy which dealt with the downfall and demise of great heroic figures. Comedy poked fun at corrupt clergy, kind-hearted prostitutes and other ordinary people. Aristotle defined it as an imitation of men who are inferior but not altogether vicious.
Although it was often obscene, comedy became widely popular and philosophers like Cicero, in order to render it respectable, stated that it had a deeper meaning. They held that comedy’s role was to correct the irrational and immoral conduct of the foolish. Satire, or the vitriolic attack on somebody perceived to be wicked, was a tool in this kind of comedy.
Since I want to concentrate on humour, that peculiarly English form of observation, wit, or what Pope defined as nature to advantage dressed/ What oft was thought but ne’er so well expressed, and buffoonery, or what is nowadays called slapstick, will be put aside.
Sir William Temple, in an essay on poetry published in 1690, stated that no other language had the word humour in its vocabulary (That was quite a few years before Afrikaans came into being.)
According to him, the English have more humour because every man follows his own, and takes a pleasure, perhaps a pride, in showing it.
Because humour is concerned with the human condition and the follies of humanity at large, we still laugh when we read Chaucer or Swift.
A description of the posture of archers when loosing their arrows by Roger Ascham in Toxophilus, published in 1545, could be applied to the antics of certain modern bowlers and golfers, not to forget lady tennis players.
One wonders what John Aubrey (1626-97) that gossipy author of Brief Lives, would have made of the likes of Paris Hilton, Presidents Zuma and Mbeki, not to speak of President Mugabe and our own queen of African potatoes.
Jane Austen infused Northanger Abbey, a send-up of the Gothic novel, with humour. Charles Dickens and Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) used humour to their advantage in the creation of some of the most memorable characters in literature.
William Sydney Porter, better known as O Henry, was one of the first American writers to describe life in New York. His own life was less humorous. He wrote short pieces for magazines, married and was employed by a bank in Austin where a paltry sum of money for which he was accountable went missing. He fled to Honduras and only returned to America when he heard that his wife was dying. He was arrested and sent to prison for three years. It was a turning point and he made writing his career. His development of the short story influenced generations of writers. Although he made his characters funny, he treated them with compassion. He left over 250 short stories.
The head of the Department of Economics and Political Science at McGill in Montreal was the writer of about thirty books. In private life he was less funny and rather quick-tempered. He thought it absurd that he had to retire from the university at the age of 65. His intelligence and vast range lifted him above his contemporaries in the field of humour.
Frank O’Connor (pseudonym of Michael O’Donovan) was compared to Chekhov by no one less than W B Yeats for his brilliance as a short story writer. His First Confession and My Oedipus Complex must be two of the most enjoyable stories ever written.
Most people will admit that Lawrence Durrell was a great novelist. He is not as well-known for his humorous stories as his brother, Gerald. The latter wrote the very funny anecdotal My family and other Animals. In Esprit de Corps and Stiff Upper Lip, Lawrence Durrell pokes fun at diplomatic life in remote countries.
Other writers that should tickle anyone’s funny bone are James Thurber (who can ever forget Walter Mitty and the Unicorn in the Garden?), P G Wodehouse with his Bertie Wooster and Jeeves, the ultimate butler, Nancy Mitford, Jessica Mitford and Evelyn Waugh.
In South Africa we have the stories of Herman Charles Bosman, who put the Marico on the international map.
Look out for some of these titles
Black Mischief, Evelyn Waugh
Africa will never be the same once you’ve read this book.
Bosman at his best, a choice of stories and sketches culled by Lionel Abrahams
This is indeed a feast for the connoisseur.
Sonde met die bure and Met Herrie op die ou Tremspoor, C J Langenhoven
A master of the epigram, Langenhoven has an innate sense of the absurd.
Kooperasiestories, P G du Plessis.
Stephen Leacock defined humour as the kindly contemplation of the incongruities of life, and the artistic expression thereof. These stories are examples of the essence of humour.
BEWARE OF PEOPLE WHO ONLY LAUGH AT JOKES
The word comedy was invented by the Greeks to give a name to a new kind of theatrical presentation which complemented tragedy. Essentially it was the opposite of tragedy which dealt with the downfall and demise of great heroic figures. Comedy poked fun at corrupt clergy, kind-hearted prostitutes and other ordinary people. Aristotle defined it as an imitation of men who are inferior but not altogether vicious.
Although it was often obscene, comedy became widely popular and philosophers like Cicero, in order to render it respectable, stated that it had a deeper meaning. They held that comedy’s role was to correct the irrational and immoral conduct of the foolish. Satire, or the vitriolic attack on somebody perceived to be wicked, was a tool in this kind of comedy.
Since I want to concentrate on humour, that peculiarly English form of observation, wit, or what Pope defined as nature to advantage dressed/ What oft was thought but ne’er so well expressed, and buffoonery, or what is nowadays called slapstick, will be put aside.
Sir William Temple, in an essay on poetry published in 1690, stated that no other language had the word humour in its vocabulary (That was quite a few years before Afrikaans came into being.)
According to him, the English have more humour because every man follows his own, and takes a pleasure, perhaps a pride, in showing it.
Because humour is concerned with the human condition and the follies of humanity at large, we still laugh when we read Chaucer or Swift.
A description of the posture of archers when loosing their arrows by Roger Ascham in Toxophilus, published in 1545, could be applied to the antics of certain modern bowlers and golfers, not to forget lady tennis players.
One wonders what John Aubrey (1626-97) that gossipy author of Brief Lives, would have made of the likes of Paris Hilton, Presidents Zuma and Mbeki, not to speak of President Mugabe and our own queen of African potatoes.
Jane Austen infused Northanger Abbey, a send-up of the Gothic novel, with humour. Charles Dickens and Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) used humour to their advantage in the creation of some of the most memorable characters in literature.
William Sydney Porter, better known as O Henry, was one of the first American writers to describe life in New York. His own life was less humorous. He wrote short pieces for magazines, married and was employed by a bank in Austin where a paltry sum of money for which he was accountable went missing. He fled to Honduras and only returned to America when he heard that his wife was dying. He was arrested and sent to prison for three years. It was a turning point and he made writing his career. His development of the short story influenced generations of writers. Although he made his characters funny, he treated them with compassion. He left over 250 short stories.
The head of the Department of Economics and Political Science at McGill in Montreal was the writer of about thirty books. In private life he was less funny and rather quick-tempered. He thought it absurd that he had to retire from the university at the age of 65. His intelligence and vast range lifted him above his contemporaries in the field of humour.
Frank O’Connor (pseudonym of Michael O’Donovan) was compared to Chekhov by no one less than W B Yeats for his brilliance as a short story writer. His First Confession and My Oedipus Complex must be two of the most enjoyable stories ever written.
Most people will admit that Lawrence Durrell was a great novelist. He is not as well-known for his humorous stories as his brother, Gerald. The latter wrote the very funny anecdotal My family and other Animals. In Esprit de Corps and Stiff Upper Lip, Lawrence Durrell pokes fun at diplomatic life in remote countries.
Other writers that should tickle anyone’s funny bone are James Thurber (who can ever forget Walter Mitty and the Unicorn in the Garden?), P G Wodehouse with his Bertie Wooster and Jeeves, the ultimate butler, Nancy Mitford, Jessica Mitford and Evelyn Waugh.
In South Africa we have the stories of Herman Charles Bosman, who put the Marico on the international map.
Look out for some of these titles
Black Mischief, Evelyn Waugh
Africa will never be the same once you’ve read this book.
Bosman at his best, a choice of stories and sketches culled by Lionel Abrahams
This is indeed a feast for the connoisseur.
Sonde met die bure and Met Herrie op die ou Tremspoor, C J Langenhoven
A master of the epigram, Langenhoven has an innate sense of the absurd.
Kooperasiestories, P G du Plessis.
Stephen Leacock defined humour as the kindly contemplation of the incongruities of life, and the artistic expression thereof. These stories are examples of the essence of humour.
Monday, 25 May 2009
Post le weekend
Peter Farrell reported back on Sunday's weather
Surface turbulance up 100’, possibly 200’ agl
Surface wind W
Wind speed at 4000’ was 25 and at 8000’ was 35km/h
Wave from 3500 over Rawsonville
Cloud (lenticulars) zero at 12:00 and 7/8 at 5pm
Cloud Base at 3pm was 7500’ and about 4000’ at 5pm
That’s as I remember it.
Pete
It is good to know that the model forecast on turbulence is of practical use.
The sunset on Saturday after a day of flying of the winch.
EY
Surface turbulance up 100’, possibly 200’ agl
Surface wind W
Wind speed at 4000’ was 25 and at 8000’ was 35km/h
Wave from 3500 over Rawsonville
Cloud (lenticulars) zero at 12:00 and 7/8 at 5pm
Cloud Base at 3pm was 7500’ and about 4000’ at 5pm
That’s as I remember it.
Pete
It is good to know that the model forecast on turbulence is of practical use.
The sunset on Saturday after a day of flying of the winch.
EY
Friday, 22 May 2009
Le weekend 23 - 24 May 2009
SATURDAY
Surface wind - NNE 10, 5000ft NNW 40, 10000ft NW 70, 15000ft NW 80, 20000ft NW 60
Layer of EXTREME surface turbulence, and MODERATE at 3000 - 5000ft, and LIGHT in between to 7000ft Windshear is 20ms per 4-km Wave from 18000ft upwards Cloud - solid overcast from 23 000ft upwards to 35000ft
Max 20.7C Dewpoint 6.3C Trigger 23.3Expect 0.5 ms to 3000ft
Boundary layer energy 1 J/kg
SUNDAY
Surface wind - NW 30, 5000ft NW 40, 10000ft NW 70, 15000ft W 90, 20000ft 110
Layer of EXTREME turbulence on the surface, and light from 5 - 10 000ft. Shear is 18ms per 4-km Moist lower air results in 3 - 5/8 CU from 4500 - 8000ft Wave wave from 14000ft upwards Max 18.4 Dewpoint 6.7 Trigger 17.7 Expect 0.9 ms - 1.3 ms to 5200ft
As is normally the case, i would expect the wave conditions to be far better than forecast and the surface winds slightly stronger than forecast.
EY
Surface wind - NNE 10, 5000ft NNW 40, 10000ft NW 70, 15000ft NW 80, 20000ft NW 60
Layer of EXTREME surface turbulence, and MODERATE at 3000 - 5000ft, and LIGHT in between to 7000ft Windshear is 20ms per 4-km Wave from 18000ft upwards Cloud - solid overcast from 23 000ft upwards to 35000ft
Max 20.7C Dewpoint 6.3C Trigger 23.3Expect 0.5 ms to 3000ft
Boundary layer energy 1 J/kg
SUNDAY
Surface wind - NW 30, 5000ft NW 40, 10000ft NW 70, 15000ft W 90, 20000ft 110
Layer of EXTREME turbulence on the surface, and light from 5 - 10 000ft. Shear is 18ms per 4-km Moist lower air results in 3 - 5/8 CU from 4500 - 8000ft Wave wave from 14000ft upwards Max 18.4 Dewpoint 6.7 Trigger 17.7 Expect 0.9 ms - 1.3 ms to 5200ft
As is normally the case, i would expect the wave conditions to be far better than forecast and the surface winds slightly stronger than forecast.
EY
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Stormy skies
the view from my office this morning - we had, unusually, thunder and lightning at daybreak.
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
The SparrowHawk: 3 ultra-light world records!!!
In meanwhile Jim (Jetpilot) Payne continues his endeavours
http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=828099
He commented as follows
My first thermal cross country in the SparrowHawk. Not a straight-forward day ... mostly blue along this route ... but good enough to claim 3 ultra-light world records: 500 km O&R speed at 92.54 kph, O&R distance at 622.4 km, and free O&R distance at 630.8 km. Thank you, Greg Cole. Circled White Mountain Peak for 100 Benbrook Challenge points.
Way to go ..
http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=828099
He commented as follows
My first thermal cross country in the SparrowHawk. Not a straight-forward day ... mostly blue along this route ... but good enough to claim 3 ultra-light world records: 500 km O&R speed at 92.54 kph, O&R distance at 622.4 km, and free O&R distance at 630.8 km. Thank you, Greg Cole. Circled White Mountain Peak for 100 Benbrook Challenge points.
Way to go ..
Ocana and other stories
Today is day 3 of the British Overseas Nationals in Ocana, Spain. It must surely rate as one of the nicests contest to fly in - http://www.soaringclub.com/senasa_scoring.html Gary Stingemore in a 29E is leading, but in 4th place in a 19 is Rose Johnson, with hubby Iain in a LS4 in 6th place (all of them have lots of frequent flyer airmiles to New Tempe, South Africa)
On day 4 is the Austrian Gliding Grand Prix -http://gliding-grandprix.lokf.at/ there Heimo Demmerer took 1st place on day 1, and overall in the lead is Eduard Supersperger, Heimo second and Wolfgang Janowitsch in third The results are at http://www.soaringspot.com/ggp2009/results/ and there is live tracking (using Silent Wings) for those with time and bandwidth on their hands.
The summer in the north is definitely picking up speed ;-)
EY
On day 4 is the Austrian Gliding Grand Prix -http://gliding-grandprix.lokf.at/ there Heimo Demmerer took 1st place on day 1, and overall in the lead is Eduard Supersperger, Heimo second and Wolfgang Janowitsch in third The results are at http://www.soaringspot.com/ggp2009/results/ and there is live tracking (using Silent Wings) for those with time and bandwidth on their hands.
The summer in the north is definitely picking up speed ;-)
EY
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