Interesting websites

[JH4HJ]

As birchie said, this section doesn't see much action, so I'm starting a new thread to share eclectic things of non-Hugh related interest.

"The Spoon Sisters" has been a favorite of mine for years. Living in The Boonies I often need gifts for far-away friends and this is where I go to find something "different" for a myriad of occasions. I'm not selling anything, just sharing a site that I think is unique and useful.

www.spoonsisters.com/

...and yes, if you read the "About Us" section, they really are sisters, with a large "spoon" collection.

[birchie]

Thanks Valerie, looks like an interesting place to shop. I do most of my shopping online so I like "window shopping" at new sites. Now if only I hadn't lost everything on my old computer I'd have lots of bookmarks to share. :'( So I encourage everyone to share so that I can build up my bookmark collection again!
Sue

[JH4HJ]

[Access the world with a click of your mouse or... yet another way to "waste" an afternoon on your computer.]

Links to Australian videos - First up Sydney Harbour.

360 degree panoramic view

The Great Barrier Reef (something I didn't get anywhere near) is breathtaking.

Great Barrier Reef

Click "Seven World Wonders" or "All Panoramas" at the top to see more places.
They're stunningly gorgeous - and amazing!

Curious about Chichen Itza, The Pyramids, Taj Mahal, Iceland, that BIG hotel in Dubai? It's all there. Great way to "scout" for a vacation destination, or just enjoy the view without paying for airfare and a hotel room. There are some thrilling places (the top of Mt Everest, the bottom of Mariana Trench) I'm pretty sure I'll never get to see "for real" - so this is probably as close as I will ever get.

For a less "general" view, if there's a little helicopter at the top of the screen, "hover" your cursor over it to see the "sub-destination" and click to go there.

[mamaleh]

Wow, thanks, Valerie. What an amazing "tour." I didn't make it to the Great Barrier Reef during my '06 trip, either. The photography and colors are fantastic. Brings back fond memories of my ferry ride around Sydney Harbor, with the Elvis-impersonator pilot.

Ellen

[JH4HJ]

Channel hopping through the morning news shows, I see you've got a bit of snow in The Big Apple. I hope you don't lose power, and that there's nowhere you really need to be. Stay home and enjoy it. Growing up there, I always thought NYC was particularly pretty when it was forced to slow down a bit.

Webcams galore to watch the storm

Central Park, my fave for things like this, is out of service, of course. Can't hardly see the Statue of Liberty. Best I've seen today is Little Italy - it looks like a postcard.

(BTW: Living in The Rocky Mountains now, I'll admit that "big" snowstorms back East are a bit of a joke out here. Our average snowfall is close to 400 inches - you heard me - nearly 30 FEET of snow each winter. So don't complain to me if you have to shovel a bit, or I'll make you come out here and deal with MY driveway.) -teasing-

[chessie]

Feb 13, 2014 12:24:41 GMT -5 JH4HJ said:

(BTW: Living in The Rocky Mountains now, I'll admit that "big" snowstorms back East are a bit of a joke out here. Our average snowfall is close to 400 inches - you heard me - nearly 30 FEET of snow each winter. So don't complain to me if you have to shovel a bit, or I'll make you come out here and deal with MY driveway.) -teasing-

But do you get "thundersleet?"   I heard the local weather guy include that in his forecast tonight, and I thought, "Why not? We've had everything else imaginable in the last 24 hours."

Carol

[JH4HJ]

Feb 13, 2014 23:59:23 GMT -5 chessie said:

But do you get "thundersleet?"   I heard the local weather guy include that in his forecast tonight, and I thought, "Why not? We've had everything else imaginable in the last 24 hours."

Yes we do, but it's rare. Mostly it's just lots and lots of snow... and VERY cold. It's not unusual for temperatures to stay well below zero for days. The worst thing is actually a warm spell mid-winter. (We are expecting temps near 50 next week.) This melts the upper layer of snow which then freezes when it gets cold again. New snowfall "sticks" to the thin coating of ice but does not really adhere properly. It's an avalanche waiting to happen - and they happen with great frequency right after a "flip" in temperatures. A neighbor of mine got swept off the highway a few years ago, driving her kids to school in her SUV. It rolled 5-6X, finally coming to rest on its side in a cow pasture almost a quarter mile from the two-lane highway at the base of the "hill" just east of our homes. (This is the only road to town, school, post office, supermarket, etc. There is no alternate route.) Luckily everyone was wearing seatbelts so, only minor bumps and bruises but it was very scary and it took emergency crews and local volunteer hours to dig them out.