Bethlehem Public Library

Bethlehem Public Library values its responsibility to enhance the general welfare and quality of life in the community and region it serves. The library pursues excellence in its mission: to provide equal and uncensored access to resources and services that encourage lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and professional growth.

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November 27, 2016 Night

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Good evening! Partly clear and 35 degrees in Delmar. There is a northwest breeze at 7 mph.

Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low of 31 degrees at 4am. One degree above normal. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph. In 2015, it got down to 35 degrees with periods of rain. The record low of 6 occurred back in 1951.

Waning Crescent Moon tonight with 8% illuminated. The moon will rise around 4:44 am. The New Moon is on Tuesday night with slight chance of showers expected. The Full “Cold” Moon is on Wednesday, December 14th.

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny, with a high of 42 degrees at 1pm. Typical for tomorrow. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. A year ago, we had rain and a high of 58 degrees. The record high of 68 was set in 1990. 6 inches of snow fell back in 1985. The sun will rise at 7:02 am with the first light at 6:31 am, which is 1 minutes and 8 seconds later then yesterday.

The rest of the week looks to be quite cloudy and seasonable cool. Not really bad weather but hardly bright and sunny weather. Then again, clouds are common in late autumn in the Albany area. 

Looking ahead on the calendar, Christmas is in 4 weeks, New Years Day is in 5 weeks, My 34th Birthday is in 9 weeks, Daylight Savings Time is in 15 weeks, Palm Sunday is in 19 weeks, Easter is in 20 weeks, Mother’s Day is in 24 weeks and Father’s Day is in 29 weeks. Lots of Sunday holidays to look forward to in the coming weeks. 

Gave up on restoring my old PostGIS database. I’m just going to create a new one. No need to waste my time on this old data, I’ll freshen it up with new data from the respective sources. It will take the machine a while to update things but I can either leave it working during night or just nice the process. Hopefully I’ll be back in the map business by tomorrow evening. 

Big Red finally got his bath. He is mostly free of rain and mud now. It was fine at the car wash, now I’m sure they’ll start applying road salt like there is no tomorrow. 

Well stocked up on groceries. I shouldn’t have to go shopping until at least Sunday. That’s good as I don’t like to drive during the weekdays. Tons and tons of waffles now in my freezer. 

November 24, 2016 Morning

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Good morning! Happy Thanksgiving. Ready for some turkey? The last time we had Thanksgiving on the 24th was back in 2011. Relatively early. Gives us two extra days before Christmas compared to some years. I’m watching the Thanksgiving parade from my bed. 

Right now, there is light snow coming down and 36 degrees in Delmar. At least around here, the roads should remain fine. Calm wind. We are in a bit of a period of chilly, unstable weather. The skies will clear Sunday around 7 pm.

Thanksgiving Day will have  a chance of rain and snow between before 11am, then a chance of rain after 11am. Cloudy, with a high of 39 degrees at 1pm. Five degrees below normal. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. Last year, partly sunny with a high around 44. The record high of 70 was set in 2014. There was 8.8 inches of snow back in 1898.

The sun will set at 4:25 pm with dusk around 4:56 pm, which is 33 seconds earlier than yesterday. Tomorrow will have 9 hours and 24 minutes of daylight, a decrease of 1 minutes and 40 seconds over today.

Tonight will have a chance of light rain before midnight, then a chance of drizzle after midnight. Cloudy, with a low of 33 degrees at 6am. Four degrees above normal. Light southeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. One year ago, mostly clear with a low around 24. The record low of 2 occurred back in 1938.

Today in 1856, Charles Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species. The book, controversial at the time, would revolutionize how people viewed the natural world.

Back in 1971, during a severe thunderstorm over Washington state, a hijacker calling himself Dan Cooper (aka D. B. Cooper) parachutes from a Northwest Orient Airlines plane with $200,000 in ransom money. He has never been found.

I keep waking up around 5 AM each morning but that’s because most nights I’m in bed by 9 PM. Right now because it’s so cold and dark I’ve mostly returned to bed and just played on my phone but I figured when I need to get up, it’s good to be up and going. 

I ordered the laptop. They have several in stock but I want to get one before they sold out locally. I will pick it up sometime around nine or ten tomorrow, as that’s when the Internet recommends for avoiding packed stores on Black Friday. Some people get up early for the door busters but apparently by around nine AM crowds and thin out. If there is traffic delays – which I doubt based on the store I’m picking it up at – then so be it, I have a full tank of gas. It’s almost close enough to my house to walk. I guess if traffic is too bad, I can park and walk. I’ll have my phone with me to keep entertained in the store, although all I think I will have to do is find a clerk, show my ID, have them get the laptop from out back and off I’ll go. 

I’m glad I’ve made a decision and forward I will go. Now once I get the laptop I got to get xubuntu Linux up and running on it, get LAMP and GIS software running and the files I actually use moved over to it. That’s the plan for Friday. A lot of using the apt-get at the library because I don’t have Internet access at home. I look forward to being able to make maps, process videos and edit blog code again. 

I’m having an issue with the accessory battery draining down too low from accessories when the truck is parked too long. I found a fairly inexpensive ($50) and easy to install automatic low voltage battery disconnect from Cabella’s that will disconnect the battery from the accessory load when the voltage slips below 12.1 and automatically reconnect when the voltage goes above 13.5 volts for 30 seconds when the engine is restarted. I’ll probably yet again end up replacing the accessory battery again in the process, but with the low voltage disconnect set at 12.1 volts I expect it will last much longer as the battery won’t see those regular destructive low voltages. Not sure when I will do this, it might wait until camping season this springtime. I also need to get to a shop that can make me up a cable to wire up the low voltage disconnect. 

I also will be getting a casual winter coat, probably on Cyber Monday. Probably just a Carhartt jacket but one in a darker color. I never bought a winter jacket last year but the way this year’s forecast is shaping up and because I want to do more camping, I need one. For work I have that wool overcoat but that’s something that I can’t really wear in the woods. 

It’s going to be a lot of money over the next few weeks, but I have some extra in my account to make these things happen. Also need to retire debt from vacation. 

Later on this afternoon, heading out to dinner at my parent’s house. They make a really good Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe going for a walk midday assuming that the rain holds off. 

July 23, 2016 10 AM Update

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Good morning! Happy Saturday. Got my eye glasses and I’m finally leaving for vacation. I just quickly stopped at the library to get John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, which I thought would be a perfect book for a summer road trip. My gear is all packed and I double checked my apartment and I’m leaving now. 

Going to be a nice drive out there with it being mostly sunny and 80 degrees in Delmar. There is a west-northwest breeze at 10 mph. The dew point is 63 degrees.

Today will have isolated showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Mostly sunny, with a high of 90 degrees at 3pm. Seven degrees above normal. Northwest wind 10 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Maximum dew point of 64 at 11am. The record high of 96 was set in 1955. The sun will set at 8:24 pm with dusk around 8:56 pm, which is 55 seconds earlier than yesterday. Today will have 14 hours and 44 minutes of daylight, a decrease of 1 minutes and 53 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will have isolated showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly clear, with a low of 63 degrees at 5am. One degrees above normal. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Maximum dew point of 64 at 8pm. The record low of 45 occurred back in 1985.

0.3 inch of rain expected between Monday 8am and Tuesday 1am. Within the next four days, a total of 0.3 inches of rain is expected. We have some muggy weather coming up. Monday 9am – Tuesday 10am. Maximum temperature will be 91 degrees, a heat index reaching 97, and a maximum dew point of 71. Wednesday 7am – Wednesday 9am. Maximum temperature will be 74 degrees and a maximum dew point of 65. Thursday 6am – Thursday 9am. Maximum temperature will be 75 degrees, a heat index reaching 75, and a maximum dew point of 65. Thursday 5pm – Friday 12am. Maximum temperature will be 89 degrees, a heat index reaching 91, and a maximum dew point of 66. Friday 11am – Friday 6pm. Maximum temperature will be 85 degrees, a heat index reaching 87, and a maximum dew point of 65. Going to be hot and sticky next week but excellent weather to be pool side. 
On this day in 1967, today was the start of 12th Street Riot In Detroit, one of the worst riots in United States history begins on 12th Street in the predominantly African American inner city. It ultimately kills 43 people, injures 342 and burns about 1,400 buildings.

There are 1 weeks until National Cheese Cake Day when the sun will be setting at 8:16 pm with dusk at 8:48 pm. The average high temperature is 82 degrees, with a record high of 100 in 1933.

Today is going to be a great one. Enjoy it. Next update from the Finger Lakes. 

July 7, 2016 10 PM Update

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Good evening! Partly clear and very stary skies and a warm  76 degrees at 10 o’clock in Delmar. There is a 3 mph breeze from the south-southwest. The current dew point is 71. It is incredibly humid but at least the fireflies like it, although it seems like there are fewer tonight then last night. Crickets continue to sing their song. 

My apartment is a sauna, but except for a quick dinner, I’ve been either outside or at the air conditioned library. By the time I got home at quarter to six, the mercury had already dripped a lot but it remains incredibly humid. Probably need to get the mildew remover out this weekend.

I went down to the library and implemented some new code on the blog, relating to improving accuracy of the forecast templates that I use. I also got some library books out. Now that I have the books, I can have something to read when I go down to the park tomorrow until dusk. 

I plugged in the digital converter box and it automatically taped the PBS Newshour for me. I probably will go in a little bit and watch the first half hour. I should be keeping track of what is happening more in the world, no matter how awful it may be. 

Waking up tomorrow at seven, you’ll rise to partly sunny skies and 71 degrees. There will be a 3 mph breeze from the north. The dew point remains sticky at 69.

Tonight we have a Waxing Crescent Moon with 20% illuminated. Quite a pretty looking sliver of a moon tonight as twilight got underway. The moon will will set around 11:43 pm. July’s Buck Moon is on Tuesday, July 19th.

Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:26 am with the first light at 4:52 am, which is 43 seconds later then today.

Tomorrow will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 86. Four degrees above normal. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. The record high of 100 was set in 1936. The maximum dew point tomorrow will be 71 at midnight. It will drop somewhat as the day progresses. 

Looking ahead, State Fair Opens is in 7 weeks and Thanksgiving is in 20 weeks.The heat breaks somewhat for the weekend and returns midweek. 

Friday Night. T-storms is likely and 67 degrees.
Saturday. Chance of T-storms and 74 degrees.
Saturday Night. Chance of T-storms and 61 degrees.
Sunday. Slight Chance of Showers and 78 degrees.
Sunday Night. Partly Cloudy and 60 degrees.
Monday. Mostly Sunny and 82 degrees.
Monday Night. Mostly Clear and 59 degrees.
Tuesday. Sunny and 85 degrees.
Tuesday Night. Partly Cloudy and 63 degrees.
Wednesday. Mostly Sunny and 90 degrees.

July 6, 2016 Evening

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Good afternoon! Partly cloudy and 90 degrees in Albany. There is a north-northwest breeze at 9 mph. The dew point is 65 degrees. Fairly hot and muggy, although the breeze  is helping to reduce temperature a bit. 

Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Seven degrees above normal. Humid with a dew point around 65. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. The record low of 44 occurred back in 1979.

Tonight the sun will set at 8:35 pm with dusk around 9:09 pm, which is 21 seconds earlier than yesterday. Tonight we have a Waxing Crescent Moon with 20% illuminated. The moon will will set around 11:08 pm. July’s Buck Moon is on Tuesday, July 19th.

Thursday will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Eight degrees above normal. Very humid with dew point exceeding 70. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. The record high of 97 was set in 1988.

Hot, Humid, Stormy weekend on tap. Saturday, showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Sunday, a chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Typical average high for the weekend is 82 degrees. I’m staying home for the weekend. 

In four weeks on August 3 the sun will be setting at 8:12 pm, which is 23 minutes earlier then today. The average high is 82 degrees, and the record for that date is 97 degrees was set back in 1975.

I didn’t get a book out of the library, but I still may go down to the park after dinner. I might just bring my laptop or a book I have at home to read. I think it will be a nice evening down at the park. 

Gas prices seen to have come down a few more cents. There is still a pretty good oil glut in our country, but  I’m sure it won’t last. Probably Big Oil doesn’t like Trump. It will be good for summer vacations, but I’m sure the cheap oil won’t last. I’m sure that next four years will be fun for sure.