Cardude in Harvey bullseye

[GregBrannon]

Has anyone heard from Cardude?

[MurrayM]

Originally Posted by GregBrannon

Has anyone heard from Cardude?

He chimed in yesterday.

[cardude01]

I'm still here. We have just been cleaning up after the storm. Went down to my parents and sisters bay house down on the coast and are working on that this weekend. They had a little bit of damage down there, cabana blown away. Some roof damage. But overall we were so lucky.

[MurrayM]

Pace yourself, in both clean up and beer!

[CPseudonym]

Originally Posted by Ski in NC

Buy your supplies, food, water, fuel, etc....BEFORE the storm. Geez.

What?? Take responsibility ones self? Prepare for a flood when you know you live in a flood plain? What kind of mystical wizardry are you playing at man? This is madness, madness I say.

One of my best buddies moved to Houston 3 years ago and I just got off the phone with him before looking at the forum. His house and neighborhood are dry, the stores are open and stocked, he has plenty of gas albeit a bit pricier. Electricity never went out and he and his wife where able to help many less fortunate than they with food, water, hygiene products, charging cell phones etc all from their personal stash. He loaned out his generator and gave away extra fuel.

He said he hasn't seen half the crap they show on tv. Yeah it's flooded with big damage in many areas and some folks where too busy being interviewed by CNN to get rescued and had to take the next dump truck. Aside from some of the politicians mugging for the cameras and a few low life's taking advantage most folks aren't doing bad all things considered. They feel blessed and know many close friends that have lost everything but when the water moves on so will they.

They moved a friend and her 2 kids into their two extra bedrooms until they can get their place fixed but their willing to do that flood or no flood because that's just the way most good normal folks are. He also said the price gouging is not as widespread as the news makes it out to be, no surprise.

I continue to pray daily for our forum members affected to do well or be made whole in the most expedient fashion. The rest of us need to ask ourselves the following questions: if an emergency not necessarily as large in scope as this befalls you how many days of food water and other basics do you have right now? Are you prepared to flee(bug out) with little or no notice in the middle of the night or could you hunker down at home if possible for a week or two without outside assistance? Or perhaps you prefer the alternative.

Edit: goodonya Cardude, glad things are going well.

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by MurrayM

Sorry, but I wasn't willing to pay to read the article by James Dilingpole which you referenced in your post. I did find an article in The Gaurdian about it (linked below) which was interesting.

(*Edit* Link working now...will read it, but have to go to work and will comment later.)

The Gaurdian article questioned whether such pieces should be published at all, to which the editor of the Spectator said in defence, "...every fact has to be correct. But there is no such thing as a 'correct' opinion".

The Gaurdian went on to say, "Delingpole, who writes for controversial rightwing news site Breitbart, was censured by the Australian Press Council in 2012 after he quoted an anonymous source who compared the wind farm industry to a paedophile ring. He has dubbed greens as "eco-Nazis" and in another article he ended a long list of people and groups supporting action on climate change by writing, "Truly there just aren't enough bullets".

The Guardian piece ends with a quote from Prof Sam DuPont at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, "I am a sucker for conspiracy theories but you have to ask yourself what is the most plausible: hundreds of scientists from over 50 countries working secretly together to promote a false idea, or merchants of doubt with financial and commercial interests at stake working very hard to undermine the scientific evidence".

I've always thought of you as someone who carefully considers his opinion when it comes to giving advice or sharing experiences with the technical aspects of boating. Do you really subscribe to Delingpole's views, or did you quickly link to his article in a hasty bout of contrarianism?

https://www.theguardian.com/environm...press-watchdog

If you don't like Mr. Dellingpole and would like a list of peer reviewed studies on ocean chemistry that would call into question the belief that the oceans are becoming "acidified", they are readily available online. For me, the proposition that a change in pH from 8.2 to 8.1 is the greatest change in ocean pH in 50 million, or 300 million years, or whatever the claim is presumes a number of things, including, that we know what the pH of the ocean was 50 million years ago; that the normal variation of oceanic pH that fluctuates between 8.3 and 7.9 pH shouldn't be considered; and that a basic solution moving from (8.2) to still basic 8.1 pH is the same as "acidifying". Since I question those assumptions, I question whether those promoting this aspect of warming (which has been going on since 1780) as justification for spending trillions accomplishing nothing measurable are being rational.

[BandB]

Half day observations and random thoughts as we arrived in South Texas around noon and just retired for the day around nine.

We had neither one ever been in a hurricane area before today. Try as you might to empathize, television never feels completely real. Seeing the destruction in the Crescent Bend area and talking to the people there hits you very hard. After a few hours, I just had to step away a few minutes and escape and fortunately my wife knew me well enough to know that's what I was doing and needed. However, none of the people there can step away. It's there. It's in their thoughts. It's their world.

There's a tremendous amount of help being given. The kindness and generosity of people is incredible. However, it's all so totally inadequate. Millions are pouring in, but billions are needed. I spoke to people who seem to have a good idea of the task ahead but to more who seemed to be in some level of denial. Maybe that's what they need to get through it. But they weren't recognizing the time it will take to settle with an insurer, and then the time and the money rebuilding will require. What they consider temporary is going to be life for a long time. There was one couple working hard to clean up around their lot and mentally and physically exhausted that we had taken away to a hotel for two nights. I saw many working at high speed seeming oblivious to how long it was really going to take.

Since this is a boating forum, boats in the water did better than anything else we saw, better than boats on land, much better than dry stack boats, and much better than buildings. It struck us that maybe they needed to build houses out of fiberglass. The coastal area of Texas does have a different building code that the rest of the state, but in my lay opinion and that of some more knowledgeable than I am it's well short of the code in South Florida and what a true hurricane area needs. For those who haven't been in South Florida recently no homes are built there our of wood, no stick built homes as such. It's concrete block and concrete and steel as construction materials. You see the houses and buildings destroyed here and you're not surprised. My hope is that this area won't rebuild in the same way they did previously but will do so better. The problem is that is financially very difficult.

I learned some things about insurance in Texas. First for the Houston flood area. 71% of the damage will not be covered by insurance. I also learned that windstorm coverage is not required in a homeowners policy in Texas. Of course banks require it for a mortgage. Some people have it through their homeowners' insurance but many through Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.

We saw some very elderly or with serious health issues that you have to worry about.

We can only imagine the issues in Houston. We just chose this area. We know we can't fix things for any of them, can't undo what has happened, but if we can just help a few with a small need then it feels worthwhile. Probably anything we've done, some organization would have taken care of soon, but we were there and able to right now.

Most are in far better moods than the situation merits, feel lucky to be alive. Six months or a year from now while they're still waiting, that may change. There were a couple very depressed and some of us just sat and talked to them awhile. We also saw a couple who were very angry and displacing that anger not on the major stuff bothering them but on something very minor. We did run across a couple too who had moved onto their boats.

Electricity will be back in about a week. They got a fuel truck delivery today with free fuel. The return of water isn't yet known.

As everywhere there are a few working every day helping others and not even giving attention to their situation. One lady was asked if she didn't need to be doing something at her house. She said, "Oh Harvey has taken care of it, nothing I can do there, so might as well be here."

The spirit of people is amazing. Seeing their determination and what they're dealing with is awesome.

The outcome of all this is not known yet and will really unfold based on how we respond as a nation, which ultimately determines the level of repair, and then what changes the state and local communities make, which ultimately determines the likelihood of this repeating itself.

For any of those of you who have given money, I don't know where it's all going, but I can reassure you that a lot of items very needed are reaching those in need. They appreciate it too.

[MurrayM]

Originally Posted by Delfin

If you don't like Mr. Dellingpole and would like a list of peer reviewed studies on ocean chemistry that would call into question the belief that the oceans are becoming "acidified", they are readily available online. For me, the proposition that a change in pH from 8.2 to 8.1 is the greatest change in ocean pH in 50 million, or 300 million years, or whatever the claim is presumes a number of things, including, that we know what the pH of the ocean was 50 million years ago; that the normal variation of oceanic pH that fluctuates between 8.3 and 7.9 pH shouldn't be considered; and that a basic solution moving from (8.2) to still basic 8.1 pH is the same as "acidifying". Since I question those assumptions, I question whether those promoting this aspect of warming (which has been going on since 1780) as justification for spending trillions accomplishing nothing measurable are being rational.

You're probably familiar with this graph...

Ocean Acidification Graph | Smithsonian Ocean Portal

...which shows atmospheric CO2 climbing lock-step with carbon being absorbed in sea water, with a corresponding drop in pH. Yes, the graph starts in 1960, but that's not the point. Bear with me.

We know how much carbon has been in the atmosphere going back hundreds of thousands of years by testing air bubbles entrapped in Antarctic ice sheets. Unless chemical reactions waffle and drift over time, one can surmise the oceans have been reacting with the atmosphere as seen in the graph.

I know I don't have to spell this out to you, but that's why global warming and/or acidification of the oceans is a theory (like evolution) where estimations are made into the future or the past based on observations today.

Creationists dispute evolution (as do Pastafarians who follow The Great Spaghetti Monster) but most accept the theory today. Would be interesting to compare how much opposition Darwin faced in his day with those who oppose Humans having anything to do with altering our one and only planets climate.

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by MurrayM

You're probably familiar with this graph...

Ocean Acidification Graph | Smithsonian Ocean Portal

...which shows atmospheric CO2 climbing lock-step with carbon being absorbed in sea water, with a corresponding drop in pH. Yes, the graph starts in 1960, but that's not the point. Bear with me.

We know how much carbon has been in the atmosphere going back hundreds of thousands of years by testing air bubbles entrapped in Antarctic ice sheets. Unless chemical reactions waffle and drift over time, one can surmise the oceans have been reacting with the atmosphere as seen in the graph.

I know I don't have to spell this out to you, but that's why global warming and/or acidification of the oceans is a theory (like evolution) where estimations are made into the future or the past based on observations today.

Creationists dispute evolution (as do Pastafarians who follow The Great Spaghetti Monster) but most accept the theory today. Would be interesting to compare how much opposition Darwin faced in his day with those who oppose Humans having anything to do with altering our one and only planets climate.

Your reference to neo-Darwinism is on point, but perhaps not in the way you think. As you believe in Darwinism, you believe in MMGW. However, with an increasing understanding of epigentics, outside of high school textbooks, Darwinism is no longer is a theory much respected by many eminent biologists. Outside the popular and political press, same with MMGW theory.

But science is like that. Just when the true believers are convinced all the answers are known, reality has a way of intruding on preferred ideology.

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/...lution/508712/

https://uncommondescent.com/intellig...arwinism-dead/

Had Evolution Moved Beyond Neo-Darwinism? - Biology - Science Forums

A Scientific Consensus: Darwinism is Dead

Regarding the Smithsonian graph, the +/- of pH in the ocean is around .3 due to natural processes. A change of .04 in pH is background noise, signifying nothing. Just curious, but would you call a pH of 8.08 acidic, or basic? If basic, is a change of .04 mean "acidification", or a variation in basic chemistry well within the range of normal variation?

But, back to hurricane Harvey....Rather than thinking that the solution to weather is spending trillions to accomplish nothing, perhaps we can spend billions building higher levies in Houston, New Orleans, etc. Just a thought.

[MurrayM]

Originally Posted by Delfin

Your reference to neo-Darwinism is on point, but perhaps not in the way you think. As you believe in Darwinism, you believe in MMGW. However, with an increasing understanding of epigentics, outside of high school textbooks, Darwinism is no longer is a theory much respected by many eminent biologists. Outside the popular and political press, same with MMGW theory.

But science is like that. Just when the true believers are convinced all the answers are known, reality has a way of intruding on preferred ideology.

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/...lution/508712/

https://uncommondescent.com/intellig...arwinism-dead/

Had Evolution Moved Beyond Neo-Darwinism? - Biology - Science Forums

A Scientific Consensus: Darwinism is Dead

Regarding the Smithsonian graph, the +/- of pH in the ocean is around .3 due to natural processes. A change of .04 in pH is background noise, signifying nothing. Just curious, but would you call a pH of 8.08 acidic, or basic? If basic, is a change of .04 mean "acidification", or a variation in basic chemistry well within the range of normal variation?

But, back to hurricane Harvey....Rather than thinking that the solution to weather is spending trillions to accomplish nothing, perhaps we can spend billions building higher levies in Houston, New Orleans, etc. Just a thought.

You assume much about my world view, which isn't bound by dogma chains of any camp. Always open to new vistas or realizations

Don't want to get into a potayto/potahto discussion about where the acidification starting line is...do you disagree that changing ocean pH levels effect shell growth?

There were land turtles in the Arctic 90 million years ago and the oceans have been knocked back to being mostly populated by jelly fish. Nature and Life always find a way. We just aren't smart enough to walk softly and stay out of the way.

Good chat...will be going off grid for a while to enjoy our corner of the planet.

Hope things begin to swing towards normalcy in Texas...

[GregBrannon]

I'm still here. We have just been cleaning up after the storm. Went down to my parents and sisters bay house down on the coast and are working on that this weekend. They had a little bit of damage down there, cabana blown away. Some roof damage. But overall we were so lucky.

Glad to hear that you and yours are well and lightly impacted.

[FF]

The BIG FUN will begin when "emergency" funds are being handed out by the Swamp.

My guess is at least 10-25% will be grabbed by other states for their "emergencys".

[Bigsfish]

BandB

First it is admirable you and WifeyB are doing your part to help clean up the aftermath of the storm.

You wrote:"71% of the damage will not be covered by insurance. ". That sounds like a strange percentage. Where did that number come from instead of 70%?

[Cottontop]

Originally Posted by BandB

Half day observations and random thoughts as we arrived in South Texas around noon and just retired for the day around nine.

We had neither one ever been in a hurricane area before today. Try as you might to empathize, television never feels completely real. Seeing the destruction in the Crescent Bend area and talking to the people there hits you very hard. After a few hours, I just had to step away a few minutes and escape and fortunately my wife knew me well enough to know that's what I was doing and needed. However, none of the people there can step away. It's there. It's in their thoughts. It's their world.

There's a tremendous amount of help being given. The kindness and generosity of people is incredible. However, it's all so totally inadequate. Millions are pouring in, but billions are needed. I spoke to people who seem to have a good idea of the task ahead but to more who seemed to be in some level of denial. Maybe that's what they need to get through it. But they weren't recognizing the time it will take to settle with an insurer, and then the time and the money rebuilding will require. What they consider temporary is going to be life for a long time. There was one couple working hard to clean up around their lot and mentally and physically exhausted that we had taken away to a hotel for two nights. I saw many working at high speed seeming oblivious to how long it was really going to take.

Since this is a boating forum, boats in the water did better than anything else we saw, better than boats on land, much better than dry stack boats, and much better than buildings. It struck us that maybe they needed to build houses out of fiberglass. The coastal area of Texas does have a different building code that the rest of the state, but in my lay opinion and that of some more knowledgeable than I am it's well short of the code in South Florida and what a true hurricane area needs. For those who haven't been in South Florida recently no homes are built there our of wood, no stick built homes as such. It's concrete block and concrete and steel as construction materials. You see the houses and buildings destroyed here and you're not surprised. My hope is that this area won't rebuild in the same way they did previously but will do so better. The problem is that is financially very difficult.

I learned some things about insurance in Texas. First for the Houston flood area. 71% of the damage will not be covered by insurance. I also learned that windstorm coverage is not required in a homeowners policy in Texas. Of course banks require it for a mortgage. Some people have it through their homeowners' insurance but many through Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.

We saw some very elderly or with serious health issues that you have to worry about.

We can only imagine the issues in Houston. We just chose this area. We know we can't fix things for any of them, can't undo what has happened, but if we can just help a few with a small need then it feels worthwhile. Probably anything we've done, some organization would have taken care of soon, but we were there and able to right now.

Most are in far better moods than the situation merits, feel lucky to be alive. Six months or a year from now while they're still waiting, that may change. There were a couple very depressed and some of us just sat and talked to them awhile. We also saw a couple who were very angry and displacing that anger not on the major stuff bothering them but on something very minor. We did run across a couple too who had moved onto their boats.

Electricity will be back in about a week. They got a fuel truck delivery today with free fuel. The return of water isn't yet known.

As everywhere there are a few working every day helping others and not even giving attention to their situation. One lady was asked if she didn't need to be doing something at her house. She said, "Oh Harvey has taken care of it, nothing I can do there, so might as well be here."

The spirit of people is amazing. Seeing their determination and what they're dealing with is awesome.

The outcome of all this is not known yet and will really unfold based on how we respond as a nation, which ultimately determines the level of repair, and then what changes the state and local communities make, which ultimately determines the likelihood of this repeating itself.

For any of those of you who have given money, I don't know where it's all going, but I can reassure you that a lot of items very needed are reaching those in need. They appreciate it too.

Thanks for coming to help. I think you will be amazed at how quickly the area puts itself back together.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by FF

The BIG FUN will begin when "emergency" funds are being handed out by the Swamp.

My guess is at least 10-25% will be grabbed by other states for their "emergencys".

Curious FF, have you EVER said something positive about......

Oops, sorry, this is not OTDE. Never mind. My bad.

[FF]

" Curious FF, have you EVER said something positive about......"

My views on gov parallel George Washingtion's as given in his farewell address.

Gov is like Fire a useful servant but a fearful master.

Not a quote , the complete text is here,

https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=15

[dhays]

Originally Posted by Cottontop

Thanks for coming to help. I think you will be amazed at how quickly the area puts itself back together.

I hope you are right. I'd love to see folks be able to get back to a more normal routine as soon as possible.

[Delfin]

BandB and WifeyB - well done!

We were completely flooded out many years ago, and besides the image of 200,000 3" poinsettias floating in 4 feet of manure enriched Skagit River water what I remember is the neighbors helping to clean 5 acres of greenhouses. Your efforts won't be forgotten either.

Mother Teresa — 'Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.'

[Bigsfish]

IMHO. Houston will bounce back rather quickly compared to New Orleans for a myriad of reason but one major one is the refinery of oil goes through Houston.

[cardude01]

Originally Posted by Bigsfish

IMHO. Houston will bounce back rather quickly compared to New Orleans for a myriad of reason but one major one is the refinery of oil goes through Houston.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Lots of money and power in Houston. The smaller communities in Texas that were hit hard,like Rockport, will have a harder struggle possibly. The really tiny towns like Tivoli and Bayside could be in trouble for awhile.