Been a long hard winter...

[Gob]

Still doing it hard here...

http://www.bom.gov.au/act/forecasts/canberra.shtml

Summary
Max 16
Morning fog/frost then sunny.
Possible rainfall: 0 mm
Chance of any rain: 5%

Canberra area
Areas of fog and frost early this morning. Sunny afternoon. Winds north to northwesterly and light becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming north to northwesterly and light in the late evening.

[Guinevere]

Yes, 60 and sunny is soooooo difficult.

[Gob]

I know, but I'm strong..

[Lord Jim]

I'm hoping that this fall and winter, I won't be able to post snarky stuff about how we're barbecuing in the sun and lying out at the beach while my Mid West and East Coast Plan B brethren are shivering and shoveling...(as I have done the past several years)

I'm hoping that I'll be posting about how we're stuck inside being hit by deluge after deluge after deluge...

And (fingers crossed) it seems like there's a decent chance that may happen:

California Drought State and Bay Area readies for El Nino storms

SANTA ANA -- While drought-plagued California is eager for rain, the forecast of a potentially Godzilla-like El Nino event has communities clearing out debris basins, urging residents to stock up on emergency supplies and even talking about how a deluge could affect the 50th Super Bowl.

Roofers, on the other hand, are reveling in the uptick in business as homeowners ready for the prospect of downpours after four years of dry weather.

In San Francisco, officials are discussing how to contend with possible street closures if there is extensive rain or street flooding during the Super Bowl in February.

"As we move forward with Super Bowl planning, this is one of the things we've put out to various departments and entities," said Rob Dudgeon, deputy director of San Francisco's department of emergency management. "What if it has been raining really hard? What if it has been raining three or four days?"

In a state known for striking mountain landscapes and dramatic seaside cliffs, Californians are used to preparing for natural disasters ranging from treacherous wildfires and earthquakes to devastating floods and landslides.

Often, the state's residents must be ready for more than one potential calamity at a time. Right now, firefighters are battling blazes during the state's wildfire season but also getting ready for the prospect of wet winter months ahead.

Federal meteorologists recently said the El Nino event is already the second strongest on record for this time of year. While the warming of Pacific Ocean waters tends to bring heavy winter rain to California and much of the southern and eastern U.S., California's state climatologist noted only half the time when there have been big El Ninos has there been meaningful, heavy rains.

California would need 1 ½ times its normal rainfall to get out of the extended drought, which is unlikely, according to Mike Halpert, deputy director of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center.

Emergency planners said the prolonged dry conditions across the state could lead to more debris, fallen trees and flooding during early rains.

"The potential for flooding is a very definite possibility with strong storms after a drought," said Tammy Dunbar, emergency planning coordinator for Santa Clara County.

In Los Angeles County, workers have been clearing basins and channels to prevent flooding and capture as much storm water as possible to replenish local water supplies, said Bob Spencer, a spokesman for the county's public works department.

In Laguna Beach, officials are urging homeowners to clear terrace drains and install floodgates where needed. They will also have code enforcement officers personally visit flood-prone properties, said Ben Siegel, deputy city manager.

In some places, residents are heeding the call to get prepared. In Palm Springs, where it rarely rains, homeowners have been getting their roofs checked and gutters cleared, said Rob Winkle, operations manager at Western Pacific Roofing.

"They want someone to come out and tell them everything is going to be OK," said Winkle, who said the company is fielding 20 percent more calls than usual from worried residents.

During California's prolonged drought, Hull Brothers Roofing president Chuck Jewett said he shifted his business to focus on installing cooling roofs for consumers weary of the heat.

But since the media began reporting on the potential for an El Nino that a NASA oceanographer compared to Godzilla, Jewett said his Culver City-based company has seen a four-fold increase in calls and has a two week wait for evaluations.

"They are like a beehive that is all stirred up," Jewett said. "This is the busiest we have ever been."

http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_2 ... readies-el

If we have to deal with some flooding, then so be it...

It's not nice to see anyone suffer, but if that's the price to pay to break this drought, (or at least put a major dent in it) then it's a trade off that's going to have to be made....

[Guinevere]

Also hoping for a good strong El Niño for you all (not least because that typically means a mild New England winter and we are due for one of those).

[Guinevere]

Another reason we may not have a rough winter - my new high efficiency boiler (95%) and re-plumbed heating system are being installed starting today.

Now to decide about the wifi thermostats or not. I already have programmable, but do I want the ones I can monitor and set from away? Or even fancier, do I want the nest "learning" thermostat???

[rubato]

Another reason we may not have a rough winter - my new high efficiency boiler (95%) and re-plumbed heating system are being installed starting today.

Now to decide about the wifi thermostats or not. I already have programmable, but do I want the ones I can monitor and set from away? Or even fancier, do I want the nest "learning" thermostat???

The question I would ask is do you want thermostats someone else can hack into ? Wireless connection is ok within the house but is there really any useful functionality you will have by being able to change the settings remotely which will not be offset by the fact that someone else will be able to do the same thing? I know it sounds a little paranoid to worry about something like that but it is certain to happen to some fraction of the population. The larger the number who have internet-accessable home controls the greater the chance.


yrs,
rubato

[Guinevere]

Why would anyone want to control the heat in my house? Seems like it would take a lot of work, for a pretty small reward.

As for the away controls, I travel a lot. It could be useful and convenient to modify the temperatures if there is a cold snap or a warm spell. It's New England, if you don't like the weather, wait a minute..... Plus, I've pretty much accepted the fact that I'm going to be gone at least two weekends a month, between family commitments/responsibilities, and my own life.

[rubato]

Why would anyone want to control the heat in my house? Seems like it would take a lot of work, for a pretty small reward.... "

Why indeed. Why would they want to turn the heat off so your indoor pipes freeze and burst or to cost you a fortune by running the heat up to 90F in the winter when you are gone?

Once someone figures out the hack, the effort is nothing.

How many home control systems do you want to integrate? Heating and cooling, security, garage door openers, video surveillance?


I just don't see an advantage to remote control which offsets the additional risks. Some of the systems which use bluetooth + an iphone (or other smartphone) to control lighting and heating locally I can see the benefit of.



yrs,
rubato

[Guinevere]

Just heating.

And I understand "why" - the the question was "why my house." With all the hacking opportunities out there, it seems like I'd be way way down at the bottom of the list. I mean, I'm an adorable blonde chicka, everyone loves me

[rubato]

Just heating.

And I understand "why" - the the question was "why my house." With all the hacking opportunities out there, it seems like I'd be way way down at the bottom of the list. I mean, I'm an adorable blonde chicka, everyone loves me

Once something is connected to the internet I think less about the relative number of negative personal motives and more about the fact that only 1 out of 1,000,000,000 people has to have one.

I use a typical tumbler-style lock on my front door backed up with a dead bolt because I know that the number of people who it is possible to have arrive there in person is very small so that the limited security they provide is enough. And of course my neighbors love me and enjoy the free honey they get every year.


Anyway, let us know how it goes?


yrs,
rubato

[Sue U]

Now to decide about the wifi thermostats or not. I already have programmable, but do I want the ones I can monitor and set from away? Or even fancier, do I want the nest "learning" thermostat???

What's the cost differential between programmable, remote access and nest?

[Guinevere]

I have programmable now, so no cost. Wifi but not Nest is about $175 each (I need 2) with a $100 rebate x 2. Nest is $225-250 each with $100 rebate x 2. . I don't think the efficiency savings will pay for the difference between Nest and the other wifi, and I really don't need to spend $300 thermostats. I may do the wifi but have to decide in the next day or so.

[Sue U]

Go with the wifi. The cost is fairly negligible and if you have to come home either earlier or later than expected in the winter you can adjust remotely. I doubt that you'll end up saving much money, but it will make you happy, so do it.

[Gob]

Dear god, have we not suffered enough!!

Max 17

Morning fog. Late rain.
Possible rainfall: 2 to 6 mm
Chance of any rain: 80%
Canberra area
Partly cloudy. Areas of fog and frost early this morning. High (80%) chance of rain this evening. Light winds.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Dear god, have we not suffered enough!!

He's doing that because you are a non-believer.

[wesw]

guin, a disreputable plumber may see the advantage in having pipes burst all over town.....

many years ago a local glass company owner sent some kids out with bb guns......

[Lord Jim]

It's in everyone's best interest for The Altered State to have a rainy fall and winter..

California provides an enormous percentage of the produce (fruits and vegetables) for the whole country...

If we don't get some rain out here, you guys will be paying four bucks for a head of Romaine lettuce...

[MajGenl.Meade]

[Guinevere]

It's in everyone's best interest for The Altered State to have a rainy fall and winter..

California provides an enormous percentage of the produce (fruits and vegetables) for the whole country...

If we don't get some rain out here, you guys will be paying four bucks for a head of Romaine lettuce...

Speak for yourself, I buy my produce locally (actually, I get it delivered in a basket every week, by someone that provides that service. All local, all organic. Unless you want bananas, then they aren't so local). We even have, gasp, greenhouses, so we can have local greens in the winter.