Oregonians, prepare [just in case they get it right]

[Ivan Seeking]

30 degrees F and raining

We've been at, near, or below freezing for days. Now its raining and freezing as the water hits the ground. Classic Oregon! Right now, chains are required to drive in Portland on the highways, and the last that I heard, a sanding truck was stuck. City officials are asking everyone to stay home for the next 24 hours. On a positive note, the annual boat show is still going on today! We also have the national ice skating championship here today.

I have been sitting here since 6:00AM watching the weather radar. I started on a project for the state 8 years ago - an experimental de-icing system for a major bridge up in the Columbia Gorge - and right now I am waiting for the system to start automatically for the first time ever! Boy, this has been a long time in coming. We're not sure if the moisture sensors will work properly in the snow and ice, and since snow is just now falling on site, I'm chomping at the bit to force the system to run, but I would really like to see it go on in full auto. One cool thing is that a local weatherman is also on site doing live reports right next to the bridge. So between the internet road cams, weather radar, and the live TV coverage, its almost like being there. This is so cool.

My finger is twitching over the H2O detected = true bit...

The locals are going to be quite surprised when the bridge starts to steam like a tea kettle!.

 

[Moonbear]

The locals are going to be quite surprised when the bridge starts to steam like a tea kettle!.

I just got a position announcement for a job at Oregon State...might be worth applying just for the drive up to Portland to see that!

Is the weather in Corvallis much different from that in Portland? I'm not sure I'm right for the position they have open, but am going to inquire about it anyway (the announcement specifies someone using bioinformatics, which I don't currently do, but given the rest of the requirements, unless they had someone specific in mind when writing the announcement, I'm not sure if they will find anyone who fits ALL their qualifications, so I figure it's worth an inquiry to find out which of the qualifications are most important to them).

If I move to Oregon, do I automatically get upgraded to mentor status?

 

[Evo]

I have been sitting here since 6:00AM watching the weather radar. I started on a project for the state 8 years ago - an experimental de-icing system for a major bridge up in the Columbia Gorge - and right now I am waiting for the system to start automatically for the first time ever! Boy, this has been a long time in coming. We're not sure if the moisture sensors will work properly in the snow and ice, and since snow is just now falling on site, I'm chomping at the bit to force the system to run, but I would really like to see it go on in full auto. One cool thing is that a local weatherman is also on site doing live reports right next to the bridge. So between the internet road cams, weather radar, and the live TV coverage, its almost like being there. This is so cool.

My finger is twitching over the H2O detected = true bit...

The locals are going to be quite surprised when the bridge starts to steam like a tea kettle!.

Let us know if it works!

Moonbear, yes, I think moving to Oregon automatically makes you a mentor!

 

[tumor]

Ivan Seeking? did not you consider hiring a guy or two with shovels and a truck full of roadsalt instead ? to deice that bridge ?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I just got a position announcement for a job at Oregon State...might be worth applying just for the drive up to Portland to see that!

Is the weather in Corvallis much different from that in Portland?

Wow Moonbear, we would be neighbors . Did you know that Integral and I both graduated from OSU? We still live fairly close to the university. Also, OSU is a great school. I always like the OSU campus, and certainly the people there.

Our weather patterns are often different than Portland's but only at any moment. Overall it's about the same. There is an eastern wind that comes down the gorge that makes for ice storms in Portland area, but we still get some as well.

 

[Moonbear]

Wow Moonbear, we would be neighbors . Did you know that Integral and I both graduated from OSU? We still live fairly close to the university. Also, OSU is a great school. I always like the OSU campus, and certainly the people there.

Wow! I kept thinking you were in Portland. Well, if I apply and if I get an interview (big ifs considering the position description doesn't quite fit what I do, but you never know...might just depend on who else applies), then I'll have to arrange to meet up with you while in the area (maybe I'll get the grand tour of the infamous Home Depot. ). Besides, if I get that far in the process, now I know who to bug for insider info about the university and the area around it.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Ivan Seeking? did not you consider hiring a guy or two with shovels and a truck full of roadsalt instead ? to deice that bridge ?

Hah! We're talking about state money here! Well, really federal, but this is a pretty big deal. It could save a lot of lives and money. We're testing for the most efficient system.

I ended up having to force the moisture detection. We don't seem to have enough current to melt the ice on the sensors [not my calculation ]. ...while I was typing this just now one of the other contractors from this project called. I didn't realize that he lives near the bridge and was on his way over. As my data shows, it is twenty degrees, snowing, and the bridges [really two bridges are involved] and sidewalks are nearly ice free. It looks real good. Due to the nature of this storm, with very cold temps preceding the snow, we had a tremendous thermal load to overcome before the deck temp broke freezing, but it only took a few hours nonetheless. Normally we would be seeing a transition to freezing rain from rain, and we wouldn't have this uphill thermal climb, so really, I'm thrilled! This looks great.

The other contractor and I were joking about how pathetic we are. On a Saturday night, he and his wife are out walking around on a bridge in the middle of the night, in the snow, I've been sitting here watching data for fourteen hours, and we think we're having fun. In fact, it doesn't get much better! Pathetic

 

[Evo]

Hah! We're talking about state money here! Well, really federal, but this is a pretty big deal. It could save a lot of lives and money. We're testing for the most efficient system.

I ended up having to force the moisture detection. We don't seem to have enough current to melt the ice on the sensors [not my calculation ]. ...while I was typing this just now one of the other contractors from this project called. I didn't realize that he lives near the bridge and was on his way over. As my data shows, it is twenty degrees, snowing, and the bridges [really two bridges are involved] and sidewalks are nearly ice free. It looks real good. Due to the nature of this storm, with very cold temps preceding the snow, we had a tremendous thermal load to overcome before the deck temp broke freezing, but it only took a few hours nonetheless. Normally we would be seeing a transition to freezing rain from rain, and we wouldn't have this uphill thermal climb, so really, I'm thrilled! This looks great.

The other contractor and I were joking about how pathetic we are. On a Saturday night, he and his wife are out walking around on a bridge in the middle of the night, in the snow, I've been sitting here watching data for fourteen hours, and we think we're having fun. In fact, it doesn't get much better! Pathetic

Tsk. Tsu, you have my sympathy.

Congratulations Ivan! Time to break out the frozen broccoli and party horns?

Can you do my driveway next?

 

[Moonbear]

The other contractor and I were joking about how pathetic we are. On a Saturday night, he and his wife are out walking around on a bridge in the middle of the night, in the snow, I've been sitting here watching data for fourteen hours, and we think we're having fun. In fact, it doesn't get much better! Pathetic

LOL! I'd probably be doing the same thing if I was in your shoes. Actually, I'd be like the other guy, out on the bridge wandering around, seeing if there was any ice that was missed, checking out the whole thing. I'm not content to rely on someone else's data. That sounds really cool though! Glad it's working. Does it really steam like a tea kettle? Enough that it could have a side effect of causing any visibility problems? Or just really close to the bridge deck?

I'm with Evo on this, any chance such a thing could eventually be scaled down (especially in price...I imagine this was expensive as a new system) to driveway proportions? That would be so cool to have something that automatically turns on when needed so the driveway is clear of snow and ice when you wake up in the morning. Not such a big deal here, but further north, it would be great. I understand the Canadians have driveway warmers, but they don't sound as fun as steam! And I don't think they have precipitation sensor to turn on automatically.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

You can have a heated driveway put in; in fact I've seen it done. For you it's easy enough but expensive to run, and not very efficient compared to a large system. That is to say, I think you may find the cost a bit high compared to the benefits for a such a low use item. For a busy bridge subject to frequent ice storms, it gets a little easier to justify. This area has some unique weather and road problems and a fast growing population.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Oh yes, the steam would dissipate pretty quickly but near the surface I expect that it got interesting for awhile...I don't know; I'm over a hundred miles away. In either case, definitely not enough to cause a visiblity problem. I would expect it to get people's attention if they looked right at it. It should look much a like a warm lake on a cold night, I would think.

 

[Integral]

Moonbear, Evo,
Just to let you know that Tsu managed to break Ivan away from his bridge project long enough to drive across the valley to Corvallis to do Thai with my wife and I. Of course the cell phone was sitting on the table the whole time. I think he was willing it to ring! He had to dash home to check the data stream so we didn't get the after dinner chat at my house this time.

That was certainly a tasty meal, good food, good company,... can't do better then that!

That is exciting news Moonbear, you had best let us know if you manage a visit to Corvallis. This is a good place to live, and OSU has a beautiful campus. I am afraid that I have been off campus for so long now that few are left I knew. Most of my profs are now emeritus or worse. (RIP Dr. Burch)

 

[Moonbear]

Moonbear, Evo,
Just to let you know that Tsu managed to break Ivan away from his bridge project long enough to drive across the valley to Corvallis to do Thai with my wife and I. Of course the cell phone was sitting on the table the whole time. I think he was willing it to ring! He had to dash home to check the data stream so we didn't get the after dinner chat at my house this time.

LOL! Great you guys all get together like that. Ivan, next time leave the cell phone off during dinner with friends!

That is exciting news Moonbear, you had best let us know if you manage a visit to Corvallis. This is a good place to live, and OSU has a beautiful campus. I am afraid that I have been off campus for so long now that few are left I knew. Most of my profs are now emeritus or worse. (RIP Dr. Burch)

I will definitely let you know if I end up visiting. As I mentioned, it's really a long-shot (as I looked into it, the department has 3 positions open right now...the other two are for extension specialists though...so even if I'm not suited for this position, they may be expanding and creating others).

Well, if I end up in that area for ANY reason, I'll let you guys know! And I do like Thai food...that sounds better than meeting up at Home Depot for hot dogs.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

That was certainly a tasty meal, good food, good company,... can't do better then that!

I couldn't have said it better!

Moonbear, you do realize that all new OSUvians get dunked in the famed OSU wave tank, by PF mentors. Its the law!

 

[Moonbear]

Moonbear, you do realize that all new OSUvians get dunked in the famed OSU wave tank, by PF mentors. Its the law!

I'll have to make sure if I get an offer there that I make sure the appointment starts in the summer! No dunking in water in winter! Brrrr! Well, unless it's hot water, but I can get into plenty of that on my own.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Well, it was a pretty sleepless weekend but we had a great run. Given that conditions were perfect to test nearly all aspects of the systems there were a lot of happy people at the State today. IIRC, this project was already late or nearly late when I started on it over eight years ago! We are testing a lot a different technologies with tons of sensors, gobs of data to be stored, various remote systems, a weather station, some temperamental control systems, and there is a lot of equipment that all has to work. With about ten different contractors and another dozen state people putting their fingers in the pie, it has been nothing short of utter chaos. Trying to pull this all together has been quite a challenge. For a while I nearly lost my shirt on this project but over time it has paid off. Of course, there is nothing better for an automation nerd than seeing a pet project run for the first time. Anyway, sorry to bore you with work but it was a big weekend for me.

 

[Moonbear]

Oh, c'mon, you know that's not boring to the folks around here! It sounds like a really cool project, and if I had to wait 8 years to see the results of a project, I think I'd be jumping with glee to finally watch the data rolling in too! That sort of timeline puts your enthusiasm over watching the data into even better perspective. I'm looking forward to seeing more bridges steaming like tea kettles in the future!

 

[Tsu]

LOL! Great you guys all get together like that. Ivan, next time leave the cell phone off during dinner with friends!

As if that would EVEN be possible... I've tried hiding it, but he always finds it...

I will definitely let you know if I end up visiting. As I mentioned, it's really a long-shot (as I looked into it, the department has 3 positions open right now...the other two are for extension specialists though...so even if I'm not suited for this position, they may be expanding and creating others).

Well, if I end up in that area for ANY reason, I'll let you guys know! And I do like Thai food...that sounds better than meeting up at Home Depot for hot dogs.

Hey! Home Depot's hot dogs are AWESOME! Big yummy German sausages. Not blucky Armour or Oscar Meyer things... We'll do Thai AND Home Depot hot dogs when you come for a visit. OK??

 

[Ivan Seeking]

One time I had to call in the lead electrician on a Sunday for a job in Alabama. When I called he answered his cell phone. I explained the problem and he agree that he needed to come in...after he sent home his congregation! He was also a preacher and I interrupted his sermon. I swear! Scouts honor. Really and truly. I could hardly maintain my composure.

Now that's a dedicated contractor.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I have never figured this one out. A fundamentalist Christian preacher who answers his work phone during a sermon on Sunday. What's wrong with this picture?

Edit: Understand, he sent everyone home!

I'm sorry, this one still kills me.

 

[Moonbear]

I have never figured this one out. A fundamentalist Christian preacher who answers his work phone during a sermon on Sunday. What's wrong with this picture?

Edit: Understand, he sent everyone home!

I'm sorry, this one still kills me.

That's just too funny! Maybe he doesn't like his sermons any more than his congregation does, or maybe he realized they had all fallen asleep anyway when they fell off their chairs when the phone rang.

The guy I work for is someone who never turns off his cell phone either. I had gone to see him give a talk a number of years ago (before I started working here), and in the middle of his talk, a cell phone started ringing. You could see everyone looking around wondering who was so rude to have their phone on and not silence the ring. I recognized the ring and the source...his bag sitting a few feet from the podium! He didn't answer it, but eventually had to admit it was his phone and stop talking to turn it off.

 

[Janus]

Um, Ivan, did you forget to turn those bridge heaters off? Because something sure is warming it up around here! Not that I'm complaining mind you, but 66°F is a little ridiculous for the middle of January!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Um, Ivan, did you forget to turn those bridge heaters off? Because something sure is warming it up around here! Not that I'm complaining mind you, but 66°F is a little ridiculous for the middle of January!

Whoops, yes., that would be me. Sorry about that.

Yesterday was the warmest January day on record. I heard today that our snow pack is 43% of normal around Mt Hood. But this is what gets me: S. Cal got as much rain between Christmas and Jan 12th [approx] as we're supposed to get to date for the season - about 17 inches!

 

[Kerrie]

Whoops, yes., that would be me. Sorry about that.

Yesterday was the warmest January day on record. I heard today that our snow pack is 43% of normal around Mt Hood. But this is what gets me: S. Cal got as much rain between Christmas and Jan 12th [approx] as we're supposed to get to date for the season - about 17 inches!

certainly some strange weather and natural events going on with our Earth lately. i remember 15 years ago here in Oregon it would snow quite regularly, or at least get ice patches here and there. now it seems it's a big event if that happens.

 

[Tsu]

I remember many childhood Christmases in Portland with snow on the ground. These days - not so much.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Matt Zaffino [local weather] just checked and found that Portland hasn't had a day with one inch or more of rain since Dec 2003. They are using toothpicks to measure the snowpack.

 

[Tsu]

A man in Topeka, Kansas, decided to write a book about churches around
the country. He started by flying to New York and started working west
from there.

Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making
notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was
intrigued with a sign which read "$10,000 a minute."

Seeking out the pastor, he asked about the phone. The pastor answered
that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to Heaven and if he
pays the price he can talk directly to God. The man thanked the pastor
and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in New York,
Austin, Michigan, Chicago, Milwaukee, and all around the United States,
he found more phones, with the same sign and got the same answer from
each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in Cottage Grove, OR. Upon entering a church in this
part
of Oregon, behold, he saw the usual golden telephone But THIS time, the
sign read, "Calls: 25 cents." Fascinated, he asked to talk to the
pastor.

"Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each
church, I have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a
direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God, but, in the other
churches the cost was $10,000 a minute...

Your sign reads 25 cents a call. Why?"
The pastor, smiling, replied, "Son, you're in Oregon now. This is God's
country...it's a local call."