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Fri, 05 Nov 2021
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Bizarro Earth

Rare earthquake shakes Kalimantan, Indonesia

Rare Earthquake
© News Asia One
Kalimantan is among the regions in the archipelago known to be free of earthquakes, but a recent series of light to strong quakes recorded in North Kalimantan have shaken that belief.

The latest quake was one recorded measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale that hit Tarakan on Tarakan Island in North Kalimantan at 9.31 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) Balikpapan station head Mudjianto said the earthquake's epicenter was located in the Sulu Sea, which was closer to cities in the Malaysian state of Sabah, such as Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, Lahat Datu, Tawau and Beaufort.

Cities in Indonesia that were close to the quake's epicenter were Tarakan on Tarakan Island and Tideng Pale in the Tana Tidung regency, located 432 kilometers away, and Nunukan in the Nunukan regency, located at the border with Sabah and across from Tawau, located 416 km from the epicenter.

"We did not calculate the quake's duration given the distance," said Mudjianto. He added that the duration could only have been recorded had the tremor reached human settlements or human structures. The magnitude of this quake was recorded by sensors owned by BMKG and was not felt on the sea, or on land in Kalimantan, or on the surrounding islands.

Bizarro Earth

Rogue owl terrorizing Dutch town

European Eagle Owl
© Wikimedia Commons/Alvesgaspar
A European eagle owl in Portugal is shown in captivity. One of its breed has been wreaking havoc in the Dutch town of Purmerend.
The northern Dutch town of Purmerend has advised residents to arm themselves with an umbrella when going out at night after a mysterious spate of bloody rogue owl attacks.

Over the last three weeks, the European eagle owl has silently swooped on dozens of residents of the usually peaceful town, with many victims requiring hospital treatment.

The latest aerial assault on Tuesday evening saw two members of a local athletics club attacked, with one runner requiring stitches for six head wounds caused by the nocturnal bird of prey's talons.

The club has cancelled all training until further notice.

Comment: US: Maine skiers warned about late-night owl attacks

Canadian rabbit trapper says owl attack left his head bleeding

Multiple owl attacks reported in Springfield, Missouri


Binoculars

Arctic Gyrfalcon seen in the Chicago area

Image
© Wikimedia Commons.
Gyrfalcon.
Chicago's hosting an extremely rare visitor which is good for bird watchers but tough on other birds, reports WBBM's John Cody.

Wildlife biologist Chris Anchor with Cook County Forest Preserve District says the same conditions that brought snowy owls to Chicago have also brought Chicago the biggest falcon in the world.

The Gyrfalcon has a wing span up to 4 and 1/2 feet and weighs three or four pounds. Anchor says they can kill other birds as large as ducks and geese.

He says the Gyrfalcon, spotted at Navy Pier and also in Barrington northwest of Chicago, has a maximum air speed of 120 miles an hour.

Anchor says this is only the fourth one he's seen in his 30-year career as a wildlife biologist.

Comment: See also: Rare Arctic gyrfalcon located in Ulster County, NY

Rare Arctic gyrfalcon found in Wells Harbor, Maine

Rare Arctic gyrfalcon seen in Madbury, New Hampshire


Ice Cube

Record-breaking cold temperatures threaten harvests in U.S.

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Ice and oranges.

Winter's grasp doesn't seem to be letting up, as there are wind chill and freeze warnings throughout the state, says this video.

Freezing temperatures in Florida are threatening orange crops while apples from Washington state are left to rot as dock workers are on strike.

Thanks to Taavi Peterson for this video


Ice Cube

Lobster boats trapped by ice in New England harbors

Image

Stuck.
The bitter cold weather is taking a toll on New England's lobster industry which is losing a significant amount of money this winter.

Frozen waters in Maine have left lobstermen stuck on the mainland again this week.

The boats are sitting frozen and stuck and ice is preventing many lobstermen from leaving the harbor.

Some say it's been at least three weeks since they have been able to get out on the water and that the deep freeze is really starting to hurt their very livelihoods.

Image

Lobster boats stuck in ice.

Snowflake

Meanwhile in the Desert Kingdom: Saudi Arabia on high alert following snowstorms

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Snow in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
Health and security officials in Tabuk have been on full alert because of snowstorms in the northwestern part of the Kingdom over the past two days. The affected areas are AlDhaher Alakan Abu AlHanshan Attabaq Tinenar Wadi AlAsmar AlLawz Mountain and AlAniq.

The Saudi Red Crescent has reinforced its teams with extra officials to take care of the large numbers of people who are enjoying the snow. The Civil Defense has issued early warnings to alert people to take care and follow safety measures in such extreme weather conditions.

Khaled AlEnaizi spokesman of the Saudi Red Crescent in Tabuk said 11 teams had been assigned to parks and locations of heavy snowfalls where citizens and residents are out around the clock.

Arrow Down

Plow truck gets stuck in sinkhole in Youngstown, Ohio

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Snow plow in sinkhole.
An intersection on Youngstown' west side was blocked Monday morning until water department crews could fill in a hole caused by water department excavation.

A city plow truck fell into the hole Sunday afternoon while clearing the intersection of N. Glenellen Ave. and Burbank Ave. in Youngstown.

A tow truck had to pull out the snow plow, which had gone straight through the pavement. The hole has since been patched with dry material.

The accident happened at the same place where a water main broke the week of Feb. 15.

Attention

Rhino attacks car at West Midland Safari Park, UK

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Rhino at West Midlands Safari Park
Two tonne rhino smashes into mum's car while her toddler son screamed, then chased them through West Midlands Safari Park

A mum has demanded tighter safety controls at West Midlands Safari Park after a charging rhino smashed into her vehicle - with her screaming toddler inside.

The two tonne beast caused £500-worth of damage to Vicky Liggins' Mitsubishi Warrior during the heart-stopping attack at the tourist attraction in Bewdley, Worcestershire.


Comment: See also: Keeper at UK's Whipsnade Zoo trampled by rhino


UFO

Strange 'hole punch clouds' appear over British Columbia

Image
© Carol James / Vernon
A hole punch cloud on Monday morning.
It's called a fallstreak hole or hole punch cloud. It can be caused by the introduction of ice crystals by a plane but the Cloud Appreciation Society explains it best.

"Few of us like to be the first to take the plunge. We hold back at the water's edge, waiting for others to dive in. Clouds are much the same, as is demonstrated by the phenomenon of a 'fallstreak hole'.

Image
© Mark Anderson / Surrey
Layers of high cloud, such as cirrocumulus or the high altocumulus, shown above, are often composed of water that is much colder than 0degC but hasn't frozen into ice crystals. When water is in the form of tiny droplets suspended in the air, it can behave rather differently from that in an ice tray in the freezer. It can stubbornly refuse to freeze, remaining as 'supercooled' liquid at temperatures of - 10, - 15, - 20degC... None of the droplets want to be the first to freeze, and they tentatively wait as liquid, until some brave souls decide to make their move.

Comment: This phenomenon nothing new, but it is certainly strange. The "experts" like to explain it away as being caused by airplanes, but could it be that our atmosphere isn't doing exactly what the experts think it is? See also:


Attention

Dozens of dead sea lion pups found on Malibu beaches, California

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Dead sea lion
Malibu is known for it's beauty and scenic views, but that's changed at some local beaches. A family stumbled upon nearly 10 dead sea lions on a Malibu beach Sunday.

"We just came down the stairs and little sea lions are being washed on to shore dying," Neda Soderqvist says in a video she posted on her Facebook Page after making the discovery with her family at State Dume State Beach.

"It was devastating to see a bunch of sea lions just lyind dead. It wasn't one or two it was six or eight," Soderqvist said to FOX 11's Christine O'Donnell.

The sight was especially difficult for her seven-year-old daughter Isabella Soderqvist. "They came up and just died right in front of us," Isabella said. "I was crying to my mom and I said I was really emotional so i wanted to go."