SCIENCE: El Nino is Fading, La Nina is Waiting : What it Means for the U.S.

The El Nino we have been experiencing over 2023 and 2024 is finally fading. Climatologists and oceanographers expect a transition to neutral conditions for a time, before we likely flip over to a La Nina influenced period. Today's blog will explain both El Nino and La Nina and their effects on seasonal weather in the U.S.

 

SCIENCE: El Nino is Fading, La Nina is Waiting : What it Means for the U.S.

Source: NOAA

WHAT IS EL NINO? - It is a warming of the ocean surface, or above-average sea surface temperatures, in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. El Niño can affect our (U.S.) weather significantly. The warmer waters cause the Pacific jet stream to move south of its neutral position. With this shift, areas in the northern U.S. and Canada are dryer and warmer than usual. During an El Nino pattern, winter means the chances for warmer-than-average temperatures across the northern states increase, while conditions in the Northeast will be wetter (and they were!) than in the West and Midwest. In Southern states, El Nino increases the chance of flooding and wild storms. El Niño also has an impact on ocean temperatures, the speed and strength of ocean currents, the health of coastal fisheries, and local weather from Australia to South America and beyond. El Niño events occur irregularly at two- to seven-year intervals.

LOCAL SOAKER - Here in southern Maine/eastern New Hampshire, we had one of the wettest winters on record with 7" Over average rainfall from January to mid-April.

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW - The El Niño of 2023–24 is weakening. Forecasters estimate an 85% chance that El Niño will end and the tropical Pacific will transition to neutral conditions by the April–June period. There’s a 60% chance that La Niña will develop by June–August. Overall, the forecast this month is very similar to last month, and we continue to expect La Niña for the Northern Hemisphere fall and early winter (around 85% chance). CLICK FOR FULL EXPLANATION

WHAT IS LA NINA? -La Nina refers to the periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. La Niña causes the jet stream to move northward and to weaken over the eastern Pacific. The La Niña phase typically correlates to dry weather in the southern U.S. and cooler, wetter weather in the Pacific Northwest and parts of the North. During La Niña winters, the South sees warmer and drier conditions than usual. The North and Canada tend to be wetter and colder. During La Niña, waters off the Pacific coast are colder and contain more nutrients than usual.

VIDEO EXPLANATION: https://youtu.be/fAvk4RXrW_E

Wonderful Library Experience, Shared Stories & Good Friends to Make a Day Special

On Sat. April 20, I visited the Salisbury, NH library to give my talk about how pets communicate from and the afterlife (based on my 4 “Pets and the Afterlife” series of books). It was an amazing time, and I can’t thank the librarians enough for all the hard work they put into advertising it. There had to be 25-30 people there. Afterward, I had the bonus of meeting a good friend for coffee which made my day.

The Salisbury Free Library is located in one of the three historic one-room schoolhouses in the town, and this one was built in 1887. It was later expanded with a back room added on. It’s located on 641 Old Turnpike Road, Salisbury , NH 03268. It’s in central to northern New Hampshire, north of Concord (the Capital) by about 25 minutes, and it is pretty rural (although there is a Dunkin’ Donuts in the next town).

When I give lectures in libraries, I’m never sure how much of an audience the lecture will draw, so despite Salisbury having a small-town feel, I was really pleasantly surprised with the turnout. It’s important to have many people because everyone has experiences of their own, and I ask them to share. Many people kindly did share.

One woman saw the shadow of her cat in the house after her cat passed. Spirits who cross over will appear as shadows because they don’t have enough energy to show up in full color.

Another attendee told of feeling her cat walk across her bed in spirit. Another heard the bark of her spirit dog in what sounded like another room (it was in the same room, actually, but always sounds distant because it takes a lot of energy).

I noted that sometimes when pets are giving us signs they are ready to pass, they will stop socializing. Others will try to disappear, or leave the house to pass by themselves, knowing that we couldn’t get over seeing them pass before us. That’s their last act of unconditional love.

There were tears, relief, understanding and comfort and that’s why I do what I do (in my spare time!)

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COFFEE-TIME BONUS! Whenever I'm giving a presentation in a different location, if I'm close enough to a friend I will try to let them know so we can grab a cup of coffee. I'm fortunate that my friends Kevin, Lauren and their son lived not too far from this lecture, so I was able to meet with Kevin afterward. There's nothing like seeing a good friend to make a day special. It was a wonderful weekend, not only for the lecture, and seeing Kevin, but we got to see our good friend Jeff and his dog Myrtle the day before. Friends like Jeff and Kevin are a true gift that make life special.

FOR MORE ABOUT THE LIBRARY- Contact: Jennifer Hoyt . Salisbury Free library Trustee ., Tel.603-608-6862, or on-line at: https://www.salisburynh.org/salisbury-free-library-2

FOR MORE ABOUT MY SERIES OF BOOKS: Pets and the Afterlife: How they Communicate from the other side

Learn how pets in spirit have the ability to send signals to the living and wait for us in the afterlife. Rob Gutro, medium, paranormal investigator, scientist, and author of Pets and the Afterlife series (books 1,2,3, and 4) will discuss how to cope with grief after losing a beloved pet. He will identify the signs they give us and the science behind why living pets can sense entities. By the end of the talk, you'll be able to find signs from your pets in spirit. Based on Rob's #1 selling and award-winning series of books, "Pets and the Afterlife."

Idiot of the Week: Local sports logos on Hat of Jan. 6th Rioter leads to arrest

Today's idiot of the week is a former police officer who adorned his clothes with the logos of his favorite sports teams, which gave investigators a clue to his home region. The FBI is still putting these insurrectionists behind bars and this week's idiot is another one.

(Photo:  In this image from US Capitol Police video, released and annotated by the Justice Department in the Statement of Facts supporting an arrest warrant, Joseph Robert Fisher appears inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. By Abby Patkin)

 Former Boston cop pleads guilty to Jan. 6 charges 

Joseph Robert Fisher’s hat — adorned with several Boston sports teams' logos — reportedly helped investigators identify him in photos and video  

 Jan. 6, 2021. February 2, 2024 , Boston.com

A former Boston police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to entering the U.S. Capitol and assaulting an officer during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, federal prosecutors said.

Fisher is scheduled for sentencing on May 24, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said in a press release.

He joined the Boston Police Department in 1994 and retired on Dec. 14, 2016, The Boston Globe previously reported. Fisher spent his last several months on the force assigned to the “Medically Incapacitated Section,” according to the Globe.

Court documents indicate that Fisher stormed the Capitol with a mob of Donald Trump’s supporters as Congress was certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

Fisher was in the Capitol Visitor Center’s Orientation Lobby around 2:38 p.m. when a fight broke out between a U.S. Capitol police officer and other rioters.

“As a U.S. Capitol Police Officer pursued a rioter who had deployed pepper spray, Fisher pushed a chair into the Capitol Police Officer,” the DC U.S. Attorney’s Office said in March. Fisher then physically fought with the officer before leaving the Capitol.

According to court documents, Fisher’s hat — adorned with several Boston sports teams’ logos — helped investigators identify him in photos and video.

Good News: Dog Reunited with Family from 2,000 Miles Away!

This week's Hero of the week is more of a good news story, where a lost dog finally finds his way home after being half a country away! Here's the story.

California family reunited with dog after she was found more than 2,000 miles away in Michigan

(KGTV, LIZ HOUMAN, GOOGLE EARTH, CNN via CNN Newsource) — It’s not clear exactly how she turned up in Michigan, but a dog named Mishka is back home with her family — in San Diego, California.

It's a situation that brings meaning to the phrase "if dogs could talk."

And if dogs could talk, Liz and Mehrad Houman told KGTV that they'd ask the 3-year-old Chihuahua-Terrier mix, "Where'd you go?"

Whether she got there by taking an extra-long walk or by some other means, Mishka was more than 2,000 miles away from home when she was found wandering the streets in suburban Detroit.

The dog wandered away from her family’s auto repair shop in July and had been missing for eight months when she was rescued in Harper Woods, Michigan.

When she went missing, the Houman family searched for Mishka and posted flyers in the San Diego area. Their efforts yielded no results and left them full of worry.

Little did they know, Mishka was on a grand adventure.

A Girl Scout troop uses proceeds from cookie sales to help lost dogs find their way home. Here's how In late-March, Liz got a call from The Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society in Harper Woods.

"They were like, 'Oh she's in Harper Woods,’ and I was like, 'Where is that?'" Liz told KGTV, adding that she "almost fell over" when the person on the other end of the phone said the community was located in the Detroit area.

Liz was — and still is — baffled by how the pup ended up in the Motor City suburb. The dog was found walking the streets of Detroit and was eventually taken to Grosse Point Animal Adoption Society, Liz said.

The animal rescue scanned the dog’s identity chip and then reached out to the Houman family.Finding out their dog was safe was a big relief. "Happiness, just pure happiness. Pure shock,” Liz said. “ We're still processing that she's here."

And it seems Mishka learned something while on her grand adventure. "I will say someone taught her how to sit. So, I will thank them for that,” Liz said.

Part 4: Meanings Of These Popular Emoji: Upside Down Face, Slightly Smiling Face, Fire & Folded Hands

Today's blog is part of a series from Dictionary . Com  that explain what new emojis mean so you'll know when you see them! Today we'll focus on:  Upside Down Face, Slightly Smiling Face, Fire & Folded Hands

 Part 4: Meanings Of These Popular Emoji

Upside-Down Face emoji 

The Upside-Down Face emoji  often shows up alongside the Clown Face emoji . It too is often used (passive aggressively) to mean that someone is a failure or behaving foolishly. Alternatively, a person may use this emoji when they are overcome with disgust, frustration, or another strong emotion that has turned their world upside down.

Slightly Smiling Face emoji 

This unassuming emoji will lull you into a false sense of security. But—watch out!—younger users often use the Slightly Smiling Face emoji  in a variety of ways. It can be used to represent a condescending or patronizing tone. It can represent sarcasm or, of course, passive aggression. Or it may mean a person is hiding pain or stress behind a weak smile. This emoji doesn’t look like anything special, but appearances can be deceiving.

Fire emoji 

Time to turn up the heat with the Fire emoji . People often use this emoji to say that something is awesome, cool, or hype. It can also refer to someone accomplishing something amazing (because they are “on fire”). Finally, it can also be used to describe someone who is really hot, as in attractive.

Folded Hands emoji 

The Folded Hands emoji  is often used to represent prayer or someone hoping for good luck. At the same time, this emoji is also often used to mean “Thank you.” Interestingly, it is just one of many emoji that has this grateful double meaning associated with it.

Part 3: Meanings Of These Popular Emoji: Ghost, 100, Nail Polish, Skull, Clown Face

 Today's blog is part of a series from Dictionary . Com  that explain what new emojis mean so you'll know when you see them! Today we'll focus on:  Ghost, 100, Nail Polish, Skull and Clown Face!

 Part 3: Meanings Of These Popular Emoji

Ghost emoji 

Usin’ emoji makes me feel good! The Ghost emoji  often shows up during Halloween or when people are sharing scary stories. However, it also suddenly appears when a person thinks they are being ghosted or are the victim of ghosting. If someone has stopped all contact and has vanished without a trace, who you gonna call? The Ghost emoji !

Hundred Points emoji 

We are 100 percent sure that the next emoji is the Hundred Points emoji . This emoji is often used to signal complete agreement or that someone strongly supports something.

Nail Polish emoji 

We don’t want to get on the bad side of this next emoji. The Nail Polish emoji  is often used when a person is feeling sassy or self-confident, especially when they are throwing shade at someone.

Skull emoji 

We have Generation Z to thank for some new meanings for the next several emoji. The Skull emoji  can signal death and doom, but it is often used by younger social media users to express strong laughter. It is the emoji of choice when a funny meme or TikTok video nearly made you die of laughter.

Clown Face emoji 

The jokes are over because the next emoji is the Clown Face emoji . Younger emoji users often bring out the Clown Face emoji  when someone has made a fool of themselves, shared a really terrible opinion, or did something unbelievably cringe.

Part 2: Meanings Of These Popular Emoji: Thinking, Goat, Snake & Woozy

 Like some others, I seem to fall behind the times in Text acronyms and meanings of emojis. Today's blog is part of a series from Dictionary . Com  that explain what new emojis mean so you'll know when you see them! Today we'll focus on: Thinking, Goat, Snake & Woozy

 Part 2: Meanings Of These Popular Emoji

Thinking Face emoji 

Hmmmm, now what could the Thinking Face emoji  mean? As it turns out, it is often used passive aggressively—a common occurrence in the world of emoji, actually. Often, the Thinking Face emoji  is used to express doubt or skepticism. It may also indicate that someone thinks you have done something so foolish or cringe that they are puzzled about your state of mind. 

Goat emoji 

Is the Goat emoji  one of the best emoji ever? Well, that is debatable. What isn’t debatable, though, is that this emoji is often used to describe someone or something as being the GOAT, or the Greatest of all Time.  (Think Dolly Parton)

Snake emoji 

We’ll stay in the zoo for a little longer as we look at the Snake emoji . Snakes often get a bad rap, and that continues to be the case with this sssuspicious emoji. The Snake emoji  is often used to imply someone is a liar, a cheater, or backstabber. (Think Trump) 

Woozy Face emoji 

The party is in full swing and the Woozy Face emoji  has inevitably shown up. This emoji is often used to mean a person is, or plans to be, intoxicated or otherwise not in the usual state of mind. 

Part 1: Meanings Of These Popular Emoji: Smirking Face emoji, Lewd emoji, Eyes emoji

Like some others, I seem to fall behind the times in Text acronyms and meanings of emojis. I remember someone thinking that texting "LOL" meant "Lots of Love" instead of "Laughing Out Loud." Today's blog from Dictionary Com is part of a series that explain what new emojis mean so you'll know when you see them!  Today's Emojis: Smirking Face emoji, Lewd emoji, Eyes emoji

 Part 1: Meanings Of These Popular Emoji

Smirking Face emoji 

If you know, you know. The Smirking Face emoji  often appears when someone is using innuendo or euphemisms. They don’t want to come right out and say what they mean, so this emoji is a wink and a nudge to clue you in that something more is going on. In more obvious cases, this emoji may appear alongside frisky adult emoji.

Lewd emoji

Speaking of which… Didn’t expect a whole category for this one, did you? Well, we’re just going to get these not-work-safe emoji out of the way. There are quite a few emoji out there used to represent adult topics, desirable body parts, or someone getting “excited” by spicy content. Common favorites you probably already know about include Eggplant emoji , Peach emoji , Tongue emoji , Hot Face emoji , Hourglass emoji , and Sweat Droplets emoji . You can use your imagination to figure out what contexts might provoke these, because we are ready to move on to our next emoji.

Eyes emoji 

The Eyes emoji  is a pretty versatile emoji and can convey a wide range of meanings. It can be used alongside something that is surprising or eye-catching. It could be used alongside something that is disturbing or hard to look away from. It could be used to mean something is scandalous. It can be used for emphasis to draw attention to something. But it can also be used to represent a side eye! (And, of course, it can be used alongside the lewd emoji to mean someone is very attractive.)

TOMORROW: More emojis!