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September 19, 2014NWS Binghamton Winter Weather Preparedness Webinar Thursday September 25th 2014 1 pm Register Today Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/209515346 For audio on this call… Dial: 1-203-607-5026 Passcode: 636205 In order to prepare for the upcoming winter season, I wanted to invite you to a webinar that will cover the following topics: – Winter climatology – Types of Winter Storms – NWS Winter Weather Products and Services – Proposed changes to winter storm criteria. – Snow squalls alerting program. – Winter 2014-15 Outlook: an early look. – Winter Preparedness including NY and PA winter weather awareness weeks. Title: NWS Binghamton Winter Weather Preparedness Webinar Thursday September 25th 2014 1 pm Date: Thursday, September 25, 2014 Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Mac®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer Mobile attendees Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet
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September 2, 2014Generators come in two basic types: standby and portable. The source of backup power you ultimately choose will be determined by many factors, including your power requirements. A standby generator is permanently installed outside your home or commercial building and wired directly into the electrical system to provide power to some or all of your home’s circuits during a disruption of normal utility power. Depending on the model, they may start automatically when the power goes out and stop when the power returns. Standby generators are fueled by liquid propane or natural gas and require professional installation, often with a permit. The number of circuits to which a standby generator can provide power–and the number of appliances you can run on those circuits–is determined by the power capacity of the generator. Standby generators are typically fully enclosed and vary in size. Check the dimensions carefully. A standby model may cost as little as $1,500 or as much as $15,000 or more–the greater the power capacity, the higher the cost. Standby generators create from 5,000 to 25,000 watts or more of power. You’ll have to choose a generator that supplies sufficient peak and continuous wattage for the appliances on the circuits you need to power. You can choose between an air-cooled and a liquid-cooled model standby generator. Generally, liquid-cooled models are bigger and create more power. Portable generators are versatile. You can use them for emergency power at home, for power in remote locations where utility power is unavailable, or for recreational purposes, like boating or camping. Portable generators are fueled by gasoline and include 120-volt power outlets like the ones in the walls of your home. When the generator is running, you can plug appliances and tools directly into these outlets. Some generators also include 120/240 or 240-volt outlets. These...
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June 4, 2014Nature’s pharmacy includes hundreds of medicinal plants and herbs that can be used for healing. You probably have medicinal plants in your home or garden. Whether you are hiking in the woods or looking for a natural remedy these 5 plants can help. Aloe vera – Aloe contains various compounds that reduce inflammation, swelling, redness, pain and itching. The plant can be used to treat burns, cuts and minor abrasions; also as a mild laxative. Cut and pop open a fresh aloe leaf and rub it on the wound. Dandelion – Dandelion is a nutritious healing herb that stimulates the flow of bile, prevents gallstones and cleanses the liver. It enhances the body’s ability to eliminate toxins. Eat the leaves in salad or steam them as a veggie. Lemon balm – lemon balm has a calming effect on heart palpitations and an agitated state of mind it can soothes stomach and calms nerves. Use in a tea to soothe tummy trouble or calm nerves, use two teaspoons of leaves for each cup of water, steep 10-20 minutes and drink. (not to be used during pregnancy as it can stimulate the uterus.) Lavender – Lavender is a natural sedative, stress reliever, to restore calm and relieve tension. Add dried lavender to bathwater as aromatherapy to soothe and calm, or make tea from one teaspoon leaves and flowers steeped in one cup boiling water. Parsley – Parsley leaves, roots and seeds all contain oil with significant diuretic and mild laxative properties it can be used as a breath freshener or for relief allergies and tummy troubles. Use two teaspoons dry leaves or one teaspoon of crushed seeds per cup of boiling water, steep for 10 minutes, then strain and drink as tea; chew on a few sprigs for bad breath. Whether it’s...
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May 3, 2014Align your map to your surroundings. Spread the map out flat. Set the compass dial to North (0 degrees). Lay the compass on top of the map and align one long side of the baseplate along one of the magnetic north lines you added. Turn both map and compass together until the red end of the needle is on the “N.” The top of the map now points to true north. Align your map to a landmark. Pick up the compass. Point the direction of travel arrow at the first landmark you chose in the field, in this case the north end of the lake down in the valley in front of you. Rotate only the dial until the red end of the needle points again to North. Hold the baseplate still at this time, keeping it pointed at the landmark. Put the compass back on the map with one long baseplate edge touching the landmark. Carefully pivot the entire compass until the orienting lines inside the compass housing are parallel with the magnetic north reference lines you drew before you left home. Draw a five or six-inch line from the landmark along the edge of the baseplate. Measure distance accurately on a map Find a thin strip of paper about a foot long. Align the edge of one end of the paper with your starting point. Make a tick mark there. Now rotate the paper gently to follow the bends in the trail, making tick marks at significant turns until you reach the end point. Lay the paper along the bar scale and read the distance.
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Being able to navigate using nature is an extremely useful skill, always be aware of what direction you are traveling and always tell someone where you are going. Using your watch you can very easily find your north and south lines. By watching this short video you will have a good explanation and way to get a general direction for when you are traveling.