Well, the girls though we had ghosts

Maybe they're poltergiests.

The 14yr-old has been seeing a green patch on her ceiling sometimes at night. We put it down to somekind of reflection off the security light up the hill.

I guess we were wrong



I guess not only is he a ghostly eating machine, he's a terrible driver also.

The only licensed drivers in the house are myself and Mrs. Trainwreck. I don't drive the Montero because I don't particularly like it. She said didn't get too close to anything when she parked, and I don't remember seeing the NEW hicky yesterday. Our 17yr-old "would never think" of taking the keys in the middle of the night for a joyride.

Soooo, I guess Slimer got too close to the roof support post, and almost cracked the headlite housing along with scraping off the paint from the bumper (to)past the plastic fender flair. And, yes the white paint deposited on the truck matches the black mark on the white 4x4 post.

The 17yr-old isn't up yet, so we'll see if anything's admitted. But I just KNOW it was Slimer.

(I'd post a pic, but the cams batteries are dead, and we don't have any spare AAAs around.)

(UPDATE- When mom asked 17yr-old to come out and see something, she didn't look suprized at all- even though denying she'd done anything. The keys will now be stowed in our room.)

Microsoft looses Explorer patent case

I just thought I'd throw out this link for those that it might affect.

It may even affect me, but I'm no techno geek AND I run Firefox.

This could be scary

Imagine, mice that can replace missing parts.

If they find out what enables them to do that, then they'll be able to translate it into human consumption. No one needs to die anymore. People can regrow damaged organs and limbs. Think about how it will be when you have people in their hundereds (age wize). Population explosion, financial trouble, insurance? I don't want to think of the potential problems that would (in my opinion) outweigh the good.

This guy was worth a look as a possible vote getter

He's running as an independent for the 2008 presidential ticket.
I went to his website to take a better look. He says he's a centrist, and after looking at his issues page, I'll take a pass. I agree with some, but disagree with most of his ideas.

I'm a Conservative, I believe that people should be responsible for themselves. Let me keep MY retirement money. As far as abortion, it should be between the woman, her conscience and her Dr.- but it shouldn't be legal to have a partial birth abortion because mom can't fit into her prom dress. In dealing with other countries Teddy Roosevelt said it right, "talk softly and carry a big stick"(also be ready to cancel foreign aid). I want to see line item vetoes for ANY President. Although I'm a non-practicing Christian, I'd like to see more (positive)references to God, and less anti-social promotion. As far as Iraq and the mideast, we'll get out when it's stable enough- not on somekind of calendar date (it helps keep the enemy off balance).
As far as energy and reliance on foreign fuel- DRILL, build refineries and pipelines- THEN we can ease the red tape of the obstructionist environmentalists.

Ok, the rant is done.
I'll keep looking for someone I can vote for with a good conscience- whatever party, or color they are.

We just sent the 14yr-old off somewhere

We still don't know where; it's "a High School that sounds like
it's a college, kinda close to Castroville." said she

Me: Incarnet Word?
Her: No, that doesn't sound like it.

Me: It's a H.S. on the south side?
Her: yes,,, but I'm not sure where.
Me: Kennedy?
Her: No,,,,
Me: San Antonio Academy?
Her: Ummm,,,, almost, but I forgot to write it down when she told me.
(note- we've been trying to find out since Tues. where she's going)

Me: Ok, next time have her print out a flier so we know Who, What,
When and Where.
She: She doesn't have time, she teaches (something) in middle school!
Me: She can't get to a COMPUTER- with WORD- at a HIGH SCHOOL??????
Me: and print it out???
She: Well,,,, I think she may be low on paper, , ,
Me: A***, I Know how much money that School District has, they are
NOT hurting for supplies.

Me: Tell her, next time she has one of these hairbrained ideas, to
print out a flier so that parents ACUALLY know where the
so-called adults are taking you kids. She is SUPPOSED to be a
professional, with some kind of college degree, and a
responsible adult.
Me: Tell her next time we don't have something in writing- you're
not going!
Her: I can't tell her THAT! I'm 14, she's a teacher.

ummmm. . .

Me: Ok, you're right. Thanks for reminding me. I'll send something
to the Principle.
Her: Can I have the $10 for lunch? I'll bring back change.


What's griping me about this, is that ever since she got into this
colorguard/band thing they've been Nickle and Diming us to death.
First it's uniforms- ok they need that, then

* shoes
* black spagetti strap top
* sports bra
* gloves
* pants
* color coordinated make-up, , , with glitter
* every away game a present for her "secret friend" (the
teachers idea) and food money
* gym shorts
* I can't remember what else- actually, it's something "else"
every week

I and her mother don't mind so much- it's just that we want her to
have some kind of ADULT supervision.

(This was originally ready to post at 9:30AM---But Blogger being Blogger -they said they were down for scheduled maintenance from 4:30-5:30PM PST)

I was doing a little news-surfing


when this article reminded me of the funniest thing I'd heard all week.

See, I leave for work about 5:35AM and listen to talk radio (or classic rock), and the morning guy was talking to an insurance industry spokesflack.

He was telling how, and what people should do if they ever need to file a claim.
The topic of the two hurricanes came up, and this guy said, we are only interested in getting the victims the help they need.

The morning guy asked about the expected premium increase, and the spokesflack said "I haven't heard anyone even mention raising rates. It hasn't even crossed anyones mind."


.



.



.



BWAAAHAAahhhaaahhaaa!

I've been tagged

And the fifth sentence (or line anyway) is:

BAD!

Ok now Here is the 23rd post that it came from.



, , , and no, I won't tag anyone else.

Every time I LOOK at a gas station the price has increased

I know, the two hurricanes did a number on the energy industry.
I was going to post on prices going up more now- a week after Rita than they did right after Kate, wich was a worse storm.

I searched for Gasoline price increase refineries, and didn't get anything up to date. I then tried gasoline price increase refinery damage and finally got this anyway.

The hurricane damage to the oil production and refinery infrastructure in the southern states bordering the Gulf of Mexico – a region responsible for a third of all the petroleum imported and processed in the U.S. – is causing a sharp spike in both gasoline and diesel fuel prices across the country.

However, there remains deep division as to whether these price hikes are a short- or long-term phenomenon.

Nobody knows how long this spike will last. The price of crude is falling, BTW- the excuse now is "the refinery damage". THAT'S why Valaro is having record profits and is offering a stock split.

“Another challenge we face is that the downed pipelines are causing the need to transport gasoline to needed markets by ship [but] under current law, shipping between American ports can only take place on American ships -- and there are currently not enough American ships to move the oil and gasoline to where it’s needed,” the President said. That requirement is being temporarily waived so foreign ships can also help distribute oil and gasoline to where it’s needed, he noted.

While the President characterized the price spikes as temporary, others fear the impact will be felt much longer.

“The devastation of Hurricane Katrina makes us painfully aware of our nation’s vulnerability to oil and gasoline supply disruptions and of the pressing need to become as energy efficient as possible to curb demand and reduce high energy prices,” said Brian Castelli, executive vp & COO of the Alliance to Save Energy, a coalition of business, government, and environmental organizations. “Deploying energy efficiency is the quickest, cheapest, cleanest way to extend our nation's energy supplies and bring down prices.”

No, Mr. Caselli- the fastest way to extend our energy supplies is to DRILL where YOU ban it, and build the refineries and pipelines that you fight against. Then we can look at Nukes, and your renuable energy.

We've got a little bit of hype over here

See, N'awlins got it'self all flooded out, and the Superdome isn't able to host any NFL games for a while.
So, San Antonio is going to try to show the NFL that it's a big enough dog to have it's own team. They volunteered to host the Saints for their home games. Yep, the San Antonio Saints.
Problem is that Paul Tagliabue pisses all over S.A. when they first asked about hosting a team. Then the Alamo City provided practice facilities for the NFL refugees.
Mr. Tagliabue sent a letter of "thanks" to San Antonio, which ticked alot of sportsfans off.

Last I heard the Saints first San Antonio home game is like 14,000 tickets shy of even beating the local blackout -and not even close to a sellout. But the NFL in all their maganimity is going to show all three games here.

If I were some kind of capitalist, I'd be trying to capitalize on this season in souvenirs. But I don't have the contacts to get something going. SIGGgghhhhh.

I hate to admit it, but Hammas and I agree on one thing

Rap sucks!

While many young Palestinians are embracing hip-hop, not everyone in the Gaza Strip sees rap as a welcome addition.

A recent rally to celebrate the end of Israeli military rule in the Gaza Strip, held amid the rubble of Israel's largest settlement, came to an abrupt end when supporters of the Islamic group Hamas stoned a young rap group on the stage.

And I have to admit that I'm kinda suprized that it took this long for the palestinians to embrace that dehumanising, voilent shouting. I mean it seems like it would be right up their alley, , , not that it's bad growing up treating woman worse than dogs, and settling any disagreement with violence and advocating crime as a way of life depending on if you're a moslem- it's just your religion, or a black ghetto dweller it's just the way you weren't taught how to act.

Help wanted-

Looking for a personal representative in an important position.

This person should be of sound morals, and remember who he's there to represent. The Ideal cadidate must be able to produce a budget and stick with it. The position involves being sure that laws are enforced equally for all, not just those who tend to slip you "bonuses".
The idea that our country must come before "politics-as-usual" will almost assure re-employment (as hard as that is for you to believe). Also for this employer, the term conservative must actually mean something besides a political tagline.

Relocation will be required, since none now in the position need apply again, I've seen what your priorities are. Thank you very much!
The location and associations leave quite a bit to be desired. The physical location uased to be a swamp. The social interactions would probably be best described as petty and vindictive, then there are your political foes...

- - - - - - - - - - -

OK, I'm getting tired of what's going on in DC.
The Republicans may just as well be Democratic lite, just like "Compassionate Conservatism"is a codeword for Liberal Lite.
I want to find someone- no alot of people- who will stand tall and say I want to do what's best for America. The ones up there now are only concerned with the next election. Period.
They've increased the size and cost of federal government in a way that would make Slick Willy, , , ummmm- well,,,, drool over a chunky chick with big hair.

It seems to me that the only thing that differentiates the Democrats and Republicans is their outlook on the war on terrorism. I can't say National defense, because our borders are wide open- and the guy in charge has no plans on doing anything about it.
Spending is out of control, with no end in sight- the leaders say there is nothing to cut.
Bush has never seen a spending plan, no- he's never seen ANY over the top law or spending plan that was worth picking up the veto pen.

PLEASE, let there be someone I can vote for to go up to DC and clean house.
I don't care what party they're from, I want a red blodded conservative that has the idea that "America- my country, right or wrong"- and means it.
Zel Miller(D) are you thinking of making a run?

Ok, it just hit me on the way home,

I didn't need to go through all the trouble and effort of making a new eye in our rope.

I bet if we unroll the winch, we can have a brand new factory-made eye, and an almost brand new rope!

Well, I got the eye made

I wanted to do it right, but didn't have close to the tools or experience to resplice an eye in 1 1/2" sinnet braided rope, with a chaffing sleeve.

I got the inner sinnet (the strong rope) about a foot up inside the standing end (the long side) and couldn't get anymore. I wormed the outer covering overwith stranded #14 wire, since I couldn't even get it started backtracking it's self.

I'd take a picture, but it looks like cr@p, and I don't need OSHA seeing it either- if you know what I mean.

I tested it on a 100cfm Ingersol-Rand Compressor and after the slack worked out it held when I jerked it around, so I guess it's safe to set light poles. I wouldn't use it for hanging 100KVA transformers anymore, though.

I wonder how much this study cost?

If you had any doubts, ya know all those chemicals they use to make new cars?
Well it turns out that they are Hazardous Chemicals.

According to a recent study, that pleasurable scent has been linked to harmful chemicals--volatile organic compound or VOC--which releases chemicals from glues, paints, and vinyl.

The smell inside the cabin of the car can trigger headaches, sore throats, and drowsiness. Japanese manufacturers have been the first to respond by reducing the chemical levels within government guidelines.

Gawd, who wouldda thunk that manufacturing chemicals might not be good for you?

Next time your significant other wants a new car, tell them "No, I'm concerned about your health."

If the Govimment wants to know where Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi is

why not ask Iowa Hawk?

As a matter of fact, he has him as a contributing writer.

Right now he's giving the lowdown on their ongoing efforts of recruiting.

Case in point: after taking in the nards in Tel Afar last week, let's just say the martyr recruiting has gone a little slow. And speaking of 'a little slow,' can we talk about this latest busload of asswipes from Damascus? Jeez, I thought the Saudis were stupid, but these Syrians take the fucking baclava. Send one of these choads on a simple martydom operation against a Bagdhad collaborator elementary school, and they're like, "Durrrr, a thousand pardons effendi, I got lost! Doyyyy, can I have a martyrdom car with OnStar?" Then you end up having to print out MapQuest directions for them, which totally chews up printer cartridges, and they end up smeared along some desert freeway because they mistook the detonator button for cruise control.

Just between us, it was almost a relief when Team Satan and their Iraqi puppets greased a couple hundred of my lovable losers last week. 'Thinning the herd,' if you know what I mean, and I suppose it probably raised our average insurgent IQ ten points. To 67, maybe.

Go have a read about the inner workings of our terrorist adversaries.

The ghost of Kingfish Louie speaks from the ruins of Katrina

I don't know if I'd call this huspah, cajonies or just plain greed.

I don't know if you've heard about the LA Congressional Delegation wanting $40,000,000.00 -Billion- to rebuild the levies of N'awlins.

That's like 10 times the annual budget of the Corps of Engineers.

And it's not just Dems with their hands out- either.

Louisiana's congressional delegation has requested $40 billion for Army Corps of Engineers projects in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, about 10 times the annual Corps budget for the entire nation, or 16 times the amount the Corps has said it would need to protect New Orleans from a Category 5 hurricane.

Louisiana Sens. David Vitter (R) and Mary Landrieu (D) tucked the request into their $250 billion Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief and Economic Recovery Act, the state's opening salvo in the scramble for federal dollars.

Yep, and just to be sure the money doesn't go where it's supposed to go:

The bill, unveiled last week, would create a powerful "Pelican Commission" controlled by Louisiana residents that would decide which Corps projects to fund, and ordered the commission to consider several controversial navigation projects that have nothing to do with flood protection. The Corps section of the Louisiana bill, which was supported by the entire state delegation, was based on recommendations from a "working group" dominated by lobbyists for ports, shipping firms, energy companies and other corporate interests

That is all, you may now go throw up.

I was just over at Texas Blogs

And seeing the blogs listed in San Antonio, I understand why they keep voting for the leaders they do.

agonist
B and B
Et Cetrea, And so on
Express-News watch
Just Another Blog
Newshog
Rhetoric and Rhythm
They won't find a place on my blogroll because we're on the opposite side of the aisle- not that they're as bad as Koz, Atrios or the D.U. It's just that people like to be comfortable with those they hang with. I guess that makes me some kind of prejudiced (your Latin word here)phobe.

These two didn't do much for me.
Dagneys Rant
Rosco Ellis

And I don't golf
Texas Golf

I try not to help pay for the money wasted by the pols in S.A. or Bexar county; the Montero was bought in San Marcos, and I made sure that the house wasn't in Bexar co.

So much for the polite British reserve

We've all heard of the British "stiff upper lip" and all, ta-ta...

We also understand that when we have a problem on or near the sea, that the Coast Guard is there to help.

Apparently this British couple didn't get the hint.

LONDON (AFP) - An elderly couple stranded by the rising tide off the British coast stunned coastguards by not only refusing to be rescued, but hurling abuse at a helicopter crew who attempted to winch them to safety, officials said.

The unnamed pair were spotted being forced to shelter in a cove on cliffs after the tide came in at St Anne's Head, in Pembrokeshire, north Wales, cutting them off.

A worried passer-by telephoned the local coastguard who dispatched a lifeboat, only to be told in blunt terms that the couple wanted to "sit it out" and wait for the tide to go in again.

But with the weather becoming increasingly stormy as Thursday afternoon went on, officials decided to send a helicopter team from a Royal Air Force base in distant Devon, southwest England.

The crew sent down a winch, only to be greeted by a volley of abuse from the man, who insisted the couple wanted to be left alone.

Since Sunday's a time for religion

(at least for MY religion)
I thought I'd give you this:

Two eskimos, a big one and a little one, go to their local Alaskan convent with a question. The big one nudges the little one and says, "Go ahead, knock on the door, knock on the door."

The Mother Superior answers the door. Again, the big eskimo nudges the little one and says, "Go ahead, ask her the question, ask her the question."

The little eskimo timidly says, "May we speak with the midget nun that lives here please?"

The Mother Superior answers, "There are no midget nuns living here."

The big eskimo starts nudging the little one again and says, "Go ahead, ask her the other question, ask her the other question."

The little eskimo asks in a quavering voice, "Well, are there any midget nuns in Alaska?"

The Mother Superior responds uncertainly, "Why no, I don't believe so."

With this the big eskimo falls down and rolls on the ground, clutching his belly as he laughs uncontrollably. "See", he says to the little eskimo, "I told you you screwed a penguin!"


(And yes, I know there are no penguins in the Arctic. There are also NO Eskimos in the Atntarctic, so the little one couldn't "do the deed" in real life- it's a JOKE!!!)

I wonder what got to her?

Rhianna is on a rant about the speech she wishes "W" would give.

Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there.

The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.

The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.

It gets better from there.
Sounds good to me. Maybe she's got some kind of future in politics?

I'm getting tired of not being able to upload anything here

I'm stuck with a 26K dial-up (part of the wonders of Tx country living), and am looking at satellite broadband.

It looks like a choice between Directway and Wild Blue.

It looks like Wild Blue is some kind of startup company.

WildBlue Communications is the first satellite communications company to offer a satellite Internet system utilizing newer space age technology based on KA-band satellite services. WildBlue Communications hopes to see nothing but blues skies ahead -- dotted with the company's satellites. The development-stage satellite system operator, formerly known as iSky, is targeting consumers, home offices, and small businesses in North America. It plans to use Ka-band geosynchronous satellites to deliver broadband Internet services combined with DBS (direct broadcast satellite) satellite TV services from EchoStar and DIRECTV.

It sounds like they know what they're talking about, but I'm wondering if as they just got done Beta testing- how reliable is it? SBC just put a repeater up at the top of the hill, and it's slowed down this dial-up even more, I can't even get into some sites I was able too two weeks ago.

At least I know why the installation is almost $150 less than their competitors.

Wildblue is a new Satellite Internet system that has tremendously fast upload and download speeds with a much smaller (and less expensive) dish. How can it do this? Because the Wildblue satellite Inernet system uses a faster (KA Band) frequency that traditional satellite providers (KU Band). A faster frequency means that you’re able to force more information through the same size pipe.

The downside is:

If there is a downside to Ka-band satellite internet, it is because its frequencies are so concentrated, its spectrum must be broken up into spot beams with a greatly reduced footprint. This will require Wildblue to provide additional uplink centers to accomodate additional loads that can be imposed by 2-way satellite communications.

This is where I'm kinda concerned. The way it looks is that I'm on the western side of the coverage area (for service, anyway)[I'm about under the N in Hondo]. Does the spot beam kinda fizz out at the edge, or is it a sharp cutoff? Maybe they only allow service well inside the beams coverage area?

And If I get it, I'll be paying $50/mo for broadband. Which is better than the $10/mo I'm paying ev1 for dial-up (it wasn't too bad at 56K, but this 26K is a killer).

OOPS

I guess this could be filed under "Hammas disarming itself" or "As ye sow, so shall you reap".


JERUSALEM -- A truck carrying a group of armed men and makeshift weapons exploded Friday during a Hamas rally in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 19 people and wounding more than 80, according to hospital officials and witnesses.

Hamas, formally known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, accused Israel of firing missiles at the vehicle from an unmanned aircraft, but witnesses said the explosion did not leave the telltale crater of a missile strike.

Palestinian security officials said they believed mishandled homemade explosives in the truck may have ignited, sending shrapnel slicing through a dense crowd of several thousand onlookers gathered in the Jabaliya refugee camp north of Gaza City.

And- yes there were casualties. As with most palestinian bombings the majority of the casualties were childeren.

And - No, I don't feel any sympathy for them. It seemes there were no "innocent" hurt, the way I understand, all palos are brainwashed from birth to hate Jews.

Just another random hurricane generated thought

Houston has about a quarter of the energy "conversion" factories in America.

anyone want to guess about how much of AlGores internet goes through there, too? I don't know, just tossing it out to y'all. I just know that my already slow dial-up was REALLY slow last night, and it's not much better this morning.

I've heard about the Rita evacuation

And everyone seems to want to credit Kate and the bad example N'awlins set.

Maybe it wasn't THAT so much -as that in Texas we have plans, and actually USE THEM instead of studiusly ignoring them.

Also it helps to have adults in charge.


(UPDATE Sept. 23 9:22)
I guess some people wouldn't agree that it went well, especially those that had people in the evacuation, or were there themselves.

Granted, alot of things need to be changed. The roads could have been reversed alot sooner- but that takes coordination from all affected jurisdictions.
As far as communications go- I don't know. Who's responsibility is it that a PRIVATE cellphone company be able to field an astrinomical increase in calls in an unpredictable timeframe? I'd hate to get the FEDS involved any more deeply than they are already.

Also, plans are just plans. You have to take some wild @ss guesses sometimes. You can't just pull a "practice" evacuation of the entire gulf coast to see how things work.

The powers that be will have an after action briefing and see what and how they can do better next time.

And I garontee you that next time what they fixed this time won't have ANY bearing on the problems that will come up during the next one.

HEY, at least the cities DID evacuate- not like a certain "special" city that I'll not mention.

And speaking of voting

Over here in Texas we have a gubernatorial election comming up in November.
If anyone's in Texas and listens to any kind of talk radio, they've been lectured by One Tough Grandma for going on a month now, already. I hear her ads about once or twice an ad break. It's getting so when I hear "And now, a conservative moment, , ," I turn off the radio or change the channel.

Well Caroll, after listening to your incessant carping about how badly Rick Perry is doing, you HAVE decided me on who to vote for!

Congratulations, it's this guy. We have buffoons up in D.C., may as well have a genuine comic in charge of Texas.

If I were a one issue voter, I would vote for this guy

Even for President!
He just introduced some needed revising of our "automatic citzen-by-birth" policy.

Yes, Rep. Tancredo (R-Co) introduced Reducing Immigration to a Genuinely Healthy Total (RIGHT) Act of 2005 (Introduced in House) HR 3700 IH

The interesting part is summed up in the Table of contents:

TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 201. Limitation on automatic birthright citizenship.

Sec. 202. Requirement for immigrants to provide affidavit of allegiance to the United States.

Sec. 203. Requirement of affidavit of support for employment-based immigrants.

Sec. 204. Making voting in foreign election a basis for automatic loss of citizenship.

Sec. 205. Treating illegal presence in the United States as not demonstrating good moral character.

That's right- in full Section 201 says:

SEC. 201. LIMITATION ON AUTOMATIC BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, with respect to an individual born after the date of the enactment of this Act, the individual shall not be a national or citizen at birth under section 301 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401) unless at least one of the individual's parents is, at the time of birth, a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. (bold->ME)

I don't know his voting record, but I know he's been on the right side of the illegals thing for quite a while.


H/T Digger

Sorry, you enviro-wiennies- it's NOT global warming

We all know that the environmental movement, and their Liberal enablers will(have) blambed these two gulf coast hurricanes on GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE.

Ummm, sorry guys. The head of the Nationa Hurricane Center says it's a continuation of actual weather cycles!


WASHINGTON (AFP) - The current cycle of heavy hurricanes blowing across the Atlantic Ocean probably will continue for another 10 to 20 years as a result of natural weather patterns not global warming, the head of the
National Hurricane Center told the US Congress.

"We believe this heightened period of hurricane activity will continue ... as tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic is cyclical," Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, said at a congressional hearing.

Another three to six tropical storms, which could turn into hurricanes, are expected to strike before the end of 2005, making a total of 18 to 21 for the year, Mayfield said.

He dismissed the possibility that global warming could be playing a major role in the growing number of tropical storms.

If you weren't born here could you pass this test?

I have top admit, if there were more than one answer with the number 4xx in one question, I might not have gotten 100 on THIS test.





(UPDATE Sept. 22) Mrs. Trainwreck- the Brit got 70%.

Here's something to take your mind off of what's in the gulf

OK, we have the Dems piling on Chief Justice to-be Roberts.
There is another opening on the Supreme Court.

Ok, since we couldn't even get Martin Luther King through, if he were a conservative,
Why not rerun this guy?



I mean he DID lend his name to what the Liberals are doing to ANY appointment Bush makes.


(This image is probably under copyright protection- you know where I got it)

Here's a letter I got from my SeaBee newsletter

It's mostly about what the Navy is doing in and around N'awlins and the gulf coast.
It has(in the first half) things you probably hadn't heard from the Legacy Media.



Admirals,

I made a day trip to the Gulf Coast this weekend to visit with and thank our Sailors for the extraordinary work they are doing in the recovery and relief effort. I spent time in at the Seabee base in Gulfport, NSA New Orleans and NAS/JRB New Orleans, as well as aboard HARRY S TRUMAN, BATAAN, TORTUGA and IWO JIMA.

It was at once both a grim and an incredibly uplifting experience. Some of my impressions.

First, the pictures on TV don't even begin to do justice to the scope of the devastation. I saw whole neighborhoods completely obliterated; the only evidence they ever existed at all being the faint outline of cement blocks that once formed the foundations of houses.

I saw massive casino barges in Biloxi thrown hundreds of yards inland, wooded areas so shredded they looked from the air like a spilled box of toothpicks, and much of New Orleans still a tepid, festering lake. There were very few people on the streets that weren't military or emergency workers.

Comparing it to a war zone is not at all a stretch.

Things are starting to turn around. The JTF has really taken shape, becoming more efficient and more organized every day. Communications across the region have improved dramatically. Dewatering efforts are proceeding ahead of the projected pace. And currently rescue teams are finding fewer and fewer people in need of immediate help.

The Navy's contribution to this success has been critical. I don't need to tell you that. We've been there since practically before the storm made landfall -- BATAAN chased it in weathering 12-14 foot seas and began flying SAR missions within hours of the storm's departure -- and we are still there making a difference.

Joe Kilkenny is doing a bang-up job as the JFMCC. He's got a plan, and he is executing it with great effectiveness.

The Seabees are repairing infrastructure and clearing debris at such a pace they have actually inspired local citizens to feel more optimistic about the future.

Sailors from TORTUGA are going door-to-door looking for and rescuing the house-bound.

Helicopter aircrews from TRUMAN and BATAAN are still delivering food and water and other basic necessities.

SHREVEPORT Sailors are cleaning up the St. Bernard Parish Courthouse.

In fact, just about all our ships pierside are housing and feeding and caring for people in need.

Then there's IWO JIMA, who put up POTUS overnight on Sun. Pierside at the Riverwalk, IWO has become a command center, hospital, airport, hotel and restaurant all rolled into one.

I ran into VADM Thad Allen in the p-way. Thad, as you may know, is the senior federal officer on scene, running the whole show. He said, "Mike, you should consider renaming this ship The City of New Orleans." That says it all.

I couldn't help but sneak a smile, having just given a speech up in Newport about the power of naval forces to win hearts and minds by serving as "cities at sea." I used our contributions to the international effort in the wake of last December's tsunami as my prime example in that speech. How little did I realize we'd be doing that sort of work on our own soil so soon.

It just goes to show you how very unpredictable this world really is. But, as I made sure to tell the Sailors I talked to, it also goes to show you how very flexible and adaptable naval forces really are.


If you want a picture of the future of sea basing, consider the image of BATAAN, a Mexican amphibious ship and a Dutch frigate anchored offshore sending boatloads of supplies to the beach ... or HST anchored not far off and the only things flying off her flight deck are helicopters ... or Mexican and U.S. Sailors, side by side, combing the beach and clearing debris ... or a JTF -- with significant civil and non-governmental agencies represented -- headquartered aboard a U.S. Navy ship, led by a two-star Army general reporting to a three-star admiral in the Coast Guard, who is also headquartered aboard that same ship.

Perhaps the most moving thing I did Saturday was visit with a group of ombudsmen in Gulfport.

Many of them had lost everything. They were hurting, barely getting by on their own, and yet here they were at the FFSC looking for ways to help other Navy families. You could see the desperation and the hope on their faces, hear it in their cracking voices. Tough on the heart, to be sure, and yet somehow good for it at the same time.

I was humbled just to be in the room with them. You want to talk about courage? These ladies had it to spare.

There are, we estimate, about 10,000 Sailors affected by the hurricane in some form or fashion. There may be more. I pledged to those ombudsmen our Navy's full support in getting them and the families they represent back up on their feet. We have a lot of work to do to return their lives to some sense of normalcy, but we need to make it the highest of priorities.

It is most certainly mine I can assure you. And I know I can rely on your support.

Again, truly an unforgettable day. In the face of unspeakable disaster and suffering, our Sailors have stood tall and helped provide relief to thousands. They are not alone, of course. It's a total team effort, involving city, state and other federal agencies, not to mention our sister services, allies and relief organizations. But they have accorded themselves well as part of that team and reflected nothing but the very best back on each and every one of the rest of us.

At NAS New Orleans I came across a bunch of Seabees working feverishly on the wooden platform for what was going to be a temporary dining facility. It was a contract job, but the contractor was having problems rounding up the necessary manpower and resources. The Seabees didn't ask permission, didn't wait for orders. They simply rolled up their sleeves and went to work.

"Hey, they needed help," one said. "And we know how to do this stuff."

We do, indeed, know how to do this stuff, and we are doing it exceptionally well. Standing amongst them, I was never more proud to call myself an American Sailor.



Regards,

Mike