Dark Star

Unfortunately, the world is still dangerous. Technology has outpaced the advancement of human nature. Though we wish to see a utopian world, it cannot be achieved until we are ALL ready...

Is there a cloud line "stuck" just east of the Watchungs today?

Yes. But, they are fixed costs and are increasing rapidly. A Board reviews their requests to raise rates, and apparently rubber stamps the increases?

I've been told, first hand, that the bulk of the increase is for the transmission. Yes, we can buy our electricity from a 3rd party provider, which in theory does create competition, but doesn't solve the ever growing transmission costs. I have a feeling we are paying for repairs done in other parts of the grid and or country during crisis time?

Exactly. The problem is that utilities are protected, because we need water and electricity to meet our basic needs. These utilities are "regulated", in other words protected, to insure there will always be enough supply for our demand. Therefore, capitalism cannot be counted on to keep costs down, since they are exempt from competition. So, a power company has to pay for their overhead, and are guaranteed to make a profit. Every time we buy a more energy efficient refrigerator, HVAC, washer and dryer and utilize led lights, the rates must increase to offset losses in revenue. Sort of counter intuitive. Doesn't matter if the energy sources are renewable or not. The only way to beat the system is to totally go off the grid, which I don't think is possible yet, unless you own a ranch with enough space to supply enough wind, solar and geothermal power and store it?

My assumption is that Newark, the city, is just far enough inland not usually affected by cooling from the nearby Atlantic Ocean/bays/rivers. As Forky pointed out, Newark, the city, can be hotter than the airport (EWR the official monitoring station). Even so, EWR seldom is seen to receive a cooling effect. JFK and LGA are right on the water. So, to the best of my knowledge, EWR temperatures are representative of that area. While the monitoring station is above a "grassy" area, we know Newark Airport to be one big paved over parking lot. The nearby Jersey suburbs are normally close to the airports temperatures, but maybe a degree or two cooler. Teterboro airport a few miles to the north, is normally a degree or two cooler than EWR, but Linden Airport is normally within 1 degree of EWR. So, it doesn't surprise me that Newark Airport is the hotspot of the 20 mile radius (or so) around NYC. I believe there are some areas of southern Jersey, Toms River, Berkeley Township and parts of the Jersey Pine Barrens, that can be even hotter, but they are not part of this region's discussion.

I'm in Garwood NJ (central Union County), and usually within 1 or 2 degrees of Newark Airport temperatures. I believe Forky says it is just as hot (or hotter?) several miles to the west of Newark Airport?

PSEG raised the rates about 30%, but they made a deal with the state to "even out" the cost so there are no obvious peaks, hoping people don't notice as much. What I don't understand is that PSEG doesn't even generate the electricity anymore, they are just in charge of transmission. They sold the generation off to Parkway Generation about 2 years ago.

I am ignorant of guitar care, except I had one low grade acoustic crack, (and additionally I took an ovation on a camping trip and the bridge broke off overnight when it got down near freezing). An electric guitar is sensitive to humidity as well, as far as splitting or cracking?

I guess that means I can keep my guitar out of the case, even with AC, humidity in the house is around 45%...

In general, global warming does lend itself to providing more moisture, but certainly every event cannot be blamed on that. Floods have been happening since the beginning of time. A large portion of society have flocked to live in coastal areas. Others inhabit areas below sea level. And our population keeps encroaching on what used to be rural areas, so more and more people are affected by bad weather. I can't believe anybody on this site believes in "Chemtrails"...

Rooftops are usually like driveways, much hotter than the grass surfaces.

I actually sat outside all morning, and occasionally a few times this afternoon. Unbelievable!

Disintegrated. Any wreckage either wound up in a nearby marina, or was washed into the Barnegat Bay. What I find unbelievable is that they said that there were not any underwater obstructions after Sandy. My boat, mounted on the trailer, snapped off and settled in a nearby federal wetlands. Sea Tow insurance would not take it, and they said it would be a few thousand to rescue it. Luckily, I declared it lost and the insurance took claim of it. Later, the federal government said I had to move it, but I told them the insurance company now "owns" it. The area, Good Luck Pont in Bayville NJ was a total war zone. I had thought I would never see so much damage in person...

My house after Sandy, one of my neighbor's houses after Sandy...

I don't know, I think 103 degrees is pretty high...

That's because our night time lows are higher...

No worries, almost every year our average temperatures increase. We need some good northern hemisphere volcanic action (just not around here)...

June 2025 was hot. Newark was 2.5 degrees warmer than "normal" (the new norm), and had days over 100 degrees. That is hot...

I am over critical, but I wouldn't call 5 degrees a bust...

Always bet on warmer than predicted...

Thank goodness. At my age, sustained heat might be the final nail...

Milford PA to Smithfield Beach, just a few miles north of the Gap...

Friday was a perfect day for a paddle down the Delaware River. 3 Bald Eagle sightings (one atop the dead tree), and an unbelievable shad run. You could see their white dorsal and tail fins breaking the surface like a shark...