Notes From the Coast

   The contents of this blog are rather stale and the reason for this is that the blogger is on a trip to the West Coast. Given that only subjects of immense significance are covered here, and personal matters not at all, postings were on hold until I had time to approach a topic of importance. It just so happens that the trip provides one in the form of an 'Atmospheric River' or "Pineapple Express'.  

   We arrived at the Abbotsford Airport on Sunday, Nov.14th and drove west toward Vancouver in heavy rain. Which continued. There are now a lot of 'coasts' in British Columbia and not just the one bordering the Pacific.  If you were to arrive at the Abbotsford Airport today, you would find that the runway is open, but just about everything else is submerged. You can still make it to Vancouver, but heading east is problematic. Here is an illustration, accompanied by some headlines. 

"Abbotsford mayor says catastrophic flood danger averted for now, as water levels drop"

"Thousands remain out of their homes in B.C. after devastating, destructive floods"

"B.C. residents urged not to panic-buy as bare shelves fuel food security angst"

"Military set to arrive today after province declares state of emergency"

"It could take weeks to begin repairing 'unprecedented' damage to B.C.'s highway system, experts say."

   By now, most Canadians will be aware of all of this and even some in the United States. A headline in The Guardian today is "Canada Storm: Floods Could Lead to Country-wide Shortages as Air Force Deployed to British Columbia." So, I need not go on.  But, having provided you with only a rather meagre post, I will change the featured one to the right. Perhaps you haven't read it and it is of more interest. 

The Bonus: 
  My readers usually expect one and I generally provide a gem, or at least a nugget of information. I am travelling and visiting family, however, and was not planning on blogging. So here is the best I can offer today - "Eating a Hot Dog Could Take 36 minutes off Your Life, Study Says, " . The study is found in the journal Nature Food, and was reported on CTV News.  If this is true, then Joey Chestnut can't be feeling well. He has often consumed from 60 to 70 hot dogs in just a few minutes while competing in "Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest."