California's calm before the storm. It's just rain, right? Well, the meteorologists are publicly talking about a
potentially epic storm that could trigger major flooding and
mudslides, especially in areas effected by the state's widespread fires of the past few years. More ominously, though, is
this internal email from CAL FIRE Division Chief Bob Wallen, which talks of the potential for "multiple large and powerful storm systems" with "a tremendous amount of precipitation . . . Much of NorCal is likely to see 5-10 inches in the lowlands, with 10-20 inches in orographically-favored areas. Most of SoCal will see 3-6 inches at lower elevations, with perhaps triple that amount in favored areas", with the potential for a massive snowfall, gusts in the 100-200 mph range in the high Sierras, possibly followed by plentiful warm rains that could melt the snow and cause massive flooding statewide. "The next 2-3 weeks (at least) are likely to be more active across California than any other 2-3 week period in recent memory."
posted by markkraft
on Jan 16, 2010 -
176 comments
Chocolate Rain. From Bach to Tupac, you can always expect the unexpected from
Tay Zonday. Mr. Zonday has experienced some fame as of late, thanks to shock jocks
Opie & Anthony. Tay is quite the original artist and is, shockingly, unsigned. So, if you know any A&R guys that are looking for new talent, please let them know! My personal favorite is his karaoke cover of Rick Astley's
"Never Gonna Give You Up". Although, the
Darth Vader remix of Chocolate Rain is pretty friggin' sweet, too.
posted by digiFramph
on Jul 27, 2007 -
58 comments
The Rainmaker After three long years of drought, a desperate San Diego City council, sought out a man who had been creating rain from Central America to the
Yukon, a rainmaker who could bring clouds, fill dams and douse fires. For $10,000,
Charles Hatfield agreed to make rain. Soon after, on January 5, 1916, it started raining and raining...and raining. So much water fell from the sky that two dams overflowed. One dam broke, unleashing floods and devastation.
Instead of gratitude, the city council threatened to sue Hatfield who in the end was saved by a court ruling that deemed rain to be "an act of God."
Hatfield claimed to have invented a chemical formula to summon clouds and was credited with over 500 successes. He took his rain-making secrets to the grave. Hollywood, of course,
produced a movie.
posted by vacapinta
on Aug 1, 2005 -
13 comments
Tuesday, July 26th, 2005, was a
wet day for the city of Mumbai, India (formerly Bombay), to say the least. Within 12 hours, it rained
more than half the average annual rainfall.
Upwards of 400 people are believed to have died, with more in adjacent regions. In many regions, the water rose as
high as five feet. All transportation links to the rest of India were
severed. Within the city, many commuters who left work, for home, on Tuesday evening,
didn't reach home till Wednesday night. There have been substantial
financial and
ecological damages. The state apparatus was caught
offguard and proven
unprepared; the police were nowhere to be found, and the meteorological department found wanting with their warnings. The rumour-mongering of an incoming tsunami or cyclone also didn't help, as 24 people died in the resulting
stampede. Alas, just as one is relieved that the
ordeal is over, it appears there's yet
more to come.
posted by Gyan
on Jul 31, 2005 -
16 comments
Rainbows, pots of gold, and leprechauns are images that come to mind on St. Paddy’s Day. They are
beautiful to behold, but how much do you really know about
rainbows? Did you know that there are
double,
triple, and
supernumerary rainbows, that
no two people ever see the same rainbow, and that rainbows consist of
more than just the ROYGBIV colors? Rainbows permeate
mythology,
prophecy,
spirituality,
symbolism,
mentality, and
sexuality. Rainbows are a
job for one,
a link to the past for some, and a
hope for the future for others.
posted by debralee
on Mar 17, 2005 -
24 comments
rainwater harvesting As posted on
metaefficient Aaron up in the northeast has his own home based business producing
rain harvesting barrels
It seems like an idea we all should consider doing.
A rain barrel is a rainwater harvesting system that is connected to a down spout tube from a house or building. We make quality rain barrels that collect, store and divert rooftop runoff during a rain shower.
posted by halekon
on Feb 11, 2005 -
22 comments
The Ethnographic Lens: Images from the Realm of a Rain Queen. Between 1936 and 1938 social anthropologists Eileen and Jack Krige undertook intensive fieldwork in the north-eastern regions of South Africa among the Lobedu people whose chief Modjadji was widely acclaimed as a rainmaker.'
'In 1943 their book 'The Realm of a Rain Queen' was published and has remained in print ever since. Some of the photographs taken by the Kriges were used as illustrations in the book but many remained unpublished and little known ...' Via
this
collection of archaeological and anthropological resources from the
South African Museum.
Princess Makobo Modjadji of the Bolobedu has just been crowned as the new
Rain Queen, Modjadji VI.
A light
drizzle greeted the inauguration, which may be
a good sign.
The Rain Queen was the inspiration for H. Rider Haggard's
'She Who Must Be Obeyed'.
More on the world of the Rain Queen - including biographical details on the last Rain Queen, and her relationships with politicians such as Nelson Mandela in a changine South Africa -
here.
posted by plep
on Apr 12, 2003 -
5 comments
