Louisville Zoo gets third siamang

A siamang inflating his gular sac during a territorial display. (click here)
Photo (c) 2006 Melissa Barton
Both male and female siamangs have these “gular sacs” on their necks, which they can inflate to the size of their heads to produce resonating calls. Even through the fairly soundproof glass of the enclosure, these calls are loud. The pair started off in unison, alternating between a resonating bark and a sort of mournful wail (a little like elk bugling). As they called, they swung about wildly and stomping on the glass — while staying in perfect vocal unison!

The keepers told us that this is a territorial display, and secondarily, a bonding ritual for the pair. Sometimes a keeper hosing down the enclosure too loudly will set them off, but most of the time the displays seem to be prompted by instinct (there are no other siamangs at the zoo). Captive lions also make territorial calls, although theirs are prompted by sunrise and sunset.
I’m impressed that the tiny baby isn’t deaf yet.

12 hour loop - I'm not going to leave this alone because I know I'm right

September 07, 2007
1015z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite

The dissipation of the storms that were dramatic yesterday is rather alarming. The same occurred only a week or so ago with another 'set' of storms. The lull after the manifestation of a Cat 5 storm is more than notable. The fact of the matter, there is preciously little 'available' water vapor to support these storms. The reason the storms occurred this time of year rather than earlier and at lower latitudes rather than more northern is because Sol's radiation had to concentrate in the region of Earth where water vapor existed in abundance to provide enough 'energy' and it's absorbance by water vapor to allow these storms to manifest. To many that is 'not news' HOWEVER this reality is accompanied with drought in Western USA; which is on fire everywhere; unique flooding in areas of the country not usually 'under water,' melting ice caps and sea level rise. These storms manifested as the 'only' seasonal turbulence due to extraordinary climate conditions under a very thick carbon dioxide blanket.

In the image above the dissipation of storm intensity is amazing to realize the disappearing of water vapor to a very hot troposphere. The storms are dissipating rapidly as soon as they are exposed to super hot terra firma. Not just dissipating, but, evaporating.

I want to point to the water vapor intensity believed to be a burgeoning hurricane that would organize enough to drench the northeast USA. While I applaud the weather service in following every possibility to save human life and they should continue to do so without a doubt in my mind, I propose this reality. Could it be that the low pressure off the Carolinas would move out to sea and to northern latitudes only to dissipate rather than concentrate because there is NOT enough tropospheric water vapor to support an increasing velocity of a storm. I remind earlier in the season there was a tropical storm near the latitude of New York State so the ocean temperatures are plenty warm enough to spawn a storm but with increased heat of the tropsophere there just isn't enough water vapor to maintain that level of velocity. The Tropical Storm near New York State earlier in the year manifested as this land mass was emerging from huge floods and a very percipitated winter. In other words, a saturated land mass that made water vapor available to the troposphere regionally.

The reason I point to this is because the populous of the USA have to come to terms with the severity of climate change this dictates to their society. Deaths in the southwest due to very high temperatures, storms that have drenched the Mississippi River system and the Great Lakes area, Texas as well due to Gulf Storm evaporation, and Central America struggling to survive when they are little equipped to do so. And that is just the Western and Northern Hemisphere. When anyone with a conscience puts these understandings to work globally, there is profound drought in Australia, storms in Asia killing and displacing people in multiples, droughts in Africa and species of all kinds threatened and moving toward extinction.

We have to come to grips with the reality of Human Induced Global Warming and it's profound future to destroy any livable climate. Weather is not possible without tropospheric water vapor and with a super hot air masse Earth is facing not just drought but an unavailable water supply if this continues without USA cooperation to dramatic measures.

I believe the role of the USA weather service extends beyond prediction capacity but also maintaining an understanding with the public they serve that climate change is due to Human Induced Global Warming and while that source of carbon dioxide continues to spew high levels to the troposphere the danger increases to human life. This is 'not' politics. Human Induced Global Warming is a reality and is a danger to human life as well as the species of plant and animals we value and the oceans we count on to be plentiful. This issue has been labeled as political because it threatens traditional forms of energy as outdated and dangerous including the oil and gas industry, hence, opposing that reality of Human Induced Global Warming has been assigned to the Republican Party. The Republican Party of the USA traditionally supports business over any humanitarian efforts. The fact the Democrats have stepped up fearlessly to 'take on' this challenge to change the face of energy and transportation in the USA is simply a reality we all need to come to appreciate to 'save the future' for our children. There is nothing to prevent George Walker Bush from coming out tomorrow with an aggressive change proposal in the energy and transporation infrastructure EXCEPT for perhaps the personal and political agenda of the likes of Dick Cheney. The LACK of a USA president to address such drastically important issues is unconscionable. The challenge to any professional in weather forecasting and caring for the public they inform is to hold the line on the understanding of Human Induced Global Warming to promote it's reality and it's relationship with carbon dioxide with a clear path to tropospheric hostility that accompanies that reality.

Not long ago, I believe Goddard Labs came out to predict more numerous and more volitile storms including tornadoes due to the climate change of Human Induced Global Warming. Taking this path of public awareness is not a matter of being a maverick in the weather prediction business, it is correct and promotable with current scienfitic findings. It is correct and prudent to be proactive to facilitate public awareness of their responsbility in finding solutions to end this deadly trend of the tropsophere.

All too often I hear statements from professionals that 'we are over the edge already' and hence tends to demoralize their resolve to promote the understanding of Human Induced Global Warming and opting to 'hold the hand' of the populous of the USA as they demise their own planet. That is simply a matter of 'spiritual distress' to those that have 'believed' for so long and never seeing a reason for changing their belief regarding their vision to change the way the USA relates to energy and transportation. There is 'a lot' of satification for these professions to realize the ARE the answer and always have been with the ability to say, "I told you so" being the relief to their chronic state of 'battling' to make 'the truth' survive.

Oh, one other thing, that burgeoning vortex in the center of North America? Pay attention to it.

I want to address a few news items....

The Republicans are just plain old. Their party is old, their ideas are old and I don't care whom the candidate is. When it comes to Romney, his ideas are not only old, but, disingenuous. He simply mimicks Bush in everyway and most of the candidates do as well. Romney is attempting to 'buy' the presidency with his own money and that spells trouble. He is for sale by anyone that can replenish his personal treasury after being elected.

Today, Rudy Giuliani made a very dangerous statement:

Giuliani promotes disaster readiness plan (click here)
Republican Presidential contender Rudy Giuliani said today he wants to remake the Department of Homeland Security and provide better disaster-response training to local officials. Giuliani spoke today at Hinds Community College in Pearl.He proposed dividing the the Department of Homeland security into regions to better respond to disasters and terrorist attacks. Giuliani is the latest 2008 presidential candidate to pass through Mississippi raising money. He attended a luncheon in the home of Jill and Richard Beneke.

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Every 'region' of the country with it's own 'decentralized' Homeland Security Department. Sounds like it's exactly what we need.

"W"rong.

The Republicans are notorious for decentralizing the federal government. If Giuliani was successful in his presidential bid, which he won't be, but I'm willing to 'entertain' the idea to make a point. If Giuliani was successful in his presidential bid to actually 'lead' this nation, he would decentralize Homeland Security. That is exactly what this country does not need and is more of the same mistake of the Bush White House.

Bush's administration 'cherry picked' the federal monies distributed through the country in order to play favorites to Republican cronies. The Giuliani 'idea' would lead not only to decentralization, but, would in 'the beginning' cherry pick the funding to 'special centers' throughout the country to act as 'Regional Homeland Security Centers.' Anyone can guess whom would get the funding and where the 'centers' would be; namely; strongly Republican districts that supposed his candidacy.

Additionally, the regionalization of Homeland Security would lead to removing it from a Cabinet level position. In that, the federal funding would no longer be available and the 'regions' would have to fund their own Homeland Security. The 'decentralization' of authority would lead to 'specialized interests of the region' and would preclude effective response to the country in general if required. There is nothing to say the federal government would cut the tax burden to facilitate regional funding. The funding would not be equitable as some areas of the country as some states just can't supply the tax base others can and some Americans would face 'short falls' in their preparedness because of this lack of funding.

This is simply Giuliani 'skirting' the issue of responsibility for the national security of the USA. There are many credible people whom fault his performance before, during and after the events of September 11, 2007. By decentralizing his authority at Homeland Security he is putting the burden of responsibility on the shoulders of others. Giuliani isn't even elected yet and he is 'outsourcing' Homeland Security for fear he could cause another September 11th or Hurricane Katrina. Amazing.

I would think, as a candidate, anyone would be anxious to express ideas that would instill confidence in leadership rather than running from the issues of National Security by 'farming out' that responsiblity to other.

.........................................

So, after trying to 'make it go away' now Senator Craig wants to reverse his position. No surprise there, a familiar Republican strategy, when a lie won't do, try the truth and ask for forgiveness. Except at this point, we don't know if Senator Craig is masking the truth by attempting to make it go away or by stating he is not guilty after stating he was guilty. Very Confusing.

The 'thing' that puts a smile on my face is Senator Craig has decided to stand up to the 'Alphas' of the Republican Party and FOX News. That alone in confronting a controversial 'gay rights' issue is refreshing. Could it be the Republicans will actually have to come to terms with another Barney Franks? That would really be refreshing.

Craig Moves to Block Senate Ethics Panel Complaint
By DUFF WILSON
Published: September 5, 2007
Lawyers for Senator Larry E. Craig of Idaho delivered a letter to the Senate ethics committee today asking the committee to reject a complaint relating to his guilty plea in an airport sex sting operation. The move opens a potentially ugly battle between Mr. Craig and the Republican leadership, as Mr. Craig reconsiders his plans to resign from the Senate.
Mr. Craig stunned Washington late yesterday with an announcement through his spokesman that he may return to the Senate despite announcing Saturday “my intent to resign from the Senate effective September 30.”
His spokesman, Dan Whiting, said Mr. Craig is fighting the ethics and misdemeanor charges “and should he be cleared before then, he may, and I emphasize may, not resign.”...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/washington/05cnd-craig.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Regardless, the 'idea' a Republican Senator would actually find a strategy against 'the truth' of any circumstance in trying to 'make it go away/stop a distraction' is more than troubling and in and of itself is an ethical issue needing address.

................................................

Does everyone realize how large a B-52 Bomber is? They are huge and when they fly across the sky there is no missing them. Now, what is a B-52 is doing flying over the USA at all is enough of a question but to realize the one catching the nation's attention today, was carrying nukes is more than unnerving. I am not sure the people handling the nukes were completely incompetent either. Someone either 'shelved' these things "W"rong and treated them as munitions for transport or someone made a cognitive decision to 'teach the nation a lesson' for the degree of incompetency that exists under this administration. There is even a better chance that both those statements are TRUE and the 'stunt' occurred 'on purpose' to alert the nation to the level of 'National Insecurity' that actually exists. Chilling.


Air Force confirms bomber was based at Barksdale
September 5, 2007
From Staff Reports
The Air Force has released an official statement on an incident that occurred Aug. 30 when a Barksdale Air Force Base B-52 traveling home from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., transported nuclear missiles unintentionally.
Here is the statement from Lt. Col. Ed Thomas, Air Force spokesman, from the office of Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne:
"The commander of Air Combat Command has directed an immediate investigation, led by a general officer, into a situation involving the transfer of weapons from Minot Air Force Base, N.D. to Barksdale Air Force Base, La, on Thursday, Aug. 30. The transfer was safely conducted and the weapons were in Air Force custody and control at all times. The Air Force takes its mission to safeguard weapons seriously. This investigation is being conducted to find facts, determine causes, and to identify any appropriate corrective actions. No effort will be spared to ensure that the matter is thoroughly and completely investigated.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070905/BREAKINGNEWS/70905032

What is even more chilling, is the fact, it's reported in that media that no one knew these 'ready weapons' were on the B-52. Where was this bomber headed for? What if it made a stop in Venezuela? What if the folks in Venezuela 'armed' the bombs, loaded them onto the B-52 and sent the bomber back to the USA to drop the bombs on sensitive areas of the USA? I don't know if the White House qualifies as a sensitive area anymore, but, that would have been a possibility. Hm? Any of these folks involved former citizens of Venezuela or somewhere in Arabia? Perhaps some were illegal aliens seeking citizenship and recruited to serve the USA. It's getting scary.

...............................................................

On Saturday Night past I mentioned the fact Osama bin Laden has been ramping up his rhetoric 'on the net.'

Germans say they've halted terror plot (click here)
BERLIN -- Police have prevented the most ambitious Al Qaeda-linked attack in Europe to date, authorities said today, accusing three suspects allegedly trained in Pakistan of plotting multiple car-bomb attacks on U.S. military personnel near the Frankfurt airport and American bases.After more than nine months of surveillance during which police surreptitiously diluted explosive material stockpiled by the suspects, a SWAT team raided a vacation home in a wooded area of central Germany on Tuesday and arrested two Germans and a Turk, one of whom wounded an officer in the hand during a struggle over a gun.Coming a day after Danish police seized bomb materials in Copenhagen and charged a Pakistani and an Afghan with plotting an attack in league with Al Qaeda leaders, the German operation by 300 officers intensified fears that a resurgent Al Qaeda network is using hide-outs near the Afghan-Pakistan border to train Europe-based militants for attacks on an expanding range of Western targets....

This is proof there is a reason for the rhetoric, but, the average Western citizen has to realize there is strong history regarding the increase in 'activity' surrounding political events such as elections. We have seen it over and over again, the latest in Great Britain with their more recent elections. The reason the terrorist network chooses these strategies is for the same reason, Mohammad Atta, chose the date September 11th (911). It was a strategic move, contemplated to impact the psychi of the citizens of nations. This is a legitimate strategy by these terrorist networks to the point where it is nearly predictable. As before, when Germany once tried to warn Bush/Cheney of the plot of September 11th, it would seem they have a great deal of insight to the 'activities' of the terrorist networks in the EU. If one recalls, Mohammad Atta was a resident of Germany before he participated as a leader to the attacks of September 11th.

One aspect of all this is that al Qaeda and it's sympathizing networks are very thwarted to their 'abilities' to carry out attacks such as happened on September 11th. Airports are different, security is different and the West has done incredible 'infrastructure' design to prevent any such tragedy again.

The reason I bring this up, is because the USA has to realize these reports are going to appear over and over again in the media. They are sensational news items by nature of their alarming quality. What 'lacks' in the media with the reporting of these events are the measures that 'have worked' in catching the terrorists, the measures the West has taken that would have stopped the attacks even if they were successful, ie: pointing to the Scotland Airport and the security measures that prevented deaths and tragedy. As we learn more and more about the terrorists attempting attacks the less and less successful they will become.

The other aspect to this that bothers me, is the way the media doesn't point to the fact, these terrorist networks continue to be a concern 'in the face' of a war that is supposed to be the 'central front on terror.' These plans by terrorist networks continue to manifest and be discovered by Western Intelligence with targets that are nowhere near Baghdad. That reality only enforces the fact that the Iraq War had absolutely nothing to do with September 11th and continues in the face of that reality costing Islam more and more concern to the point where Iran is activating 3000 centrifuges.

In order to stop the mischief of these terrorist networks, the West has to find a way to make Islam a full partner in stopping murderers. The 'mission' of Islam does not include killing, it is however that of peace and the one religious sect more strongly anchored in that Islamic Peace belief are the Shi'ites. One needs to realize, the more the Shi'ites suffer, the more they will (as a minority religion) seek to fight back irrationally to survive a long lived bias by The West against them.

At this point, the only enemy to The West, realizing the competency of it's 'intelligence networks,' is 'fear itself.'

..........................................................

Last for this evening, but hardly least is the continued enthusiasm "SiCKO" continues to attract. Michael Moore is every American's best friend. Yesterday, he featured a statement by Senator Clinton as if she had to pretend about the nation's focus on health care.

The topic of national health insurance is an appropriate focus. One that is benevolent toward Americans to stop incompetent commercial insurance companies from literally causing the deaths of their subscribers while racking in money for their stockholders.

At any rate, Michael asked his readership to write to the good Senator. I did. I want to list it here to encourage others to do the same. I think Hillary Clinton has been sufficiently 'beat up' as a First Lady over the issue of national health insurance to allow her to feel vanquished before she gets started. I also believe she is an expert on the issue and needs to realize the nation is different today regarding national health insurance due to "SiCKO" and we deserve her attention again. So, if you will:


"You can't pretend the system doesn't exist."
-- Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

http://www.michaelmoore.com/

With speech, Clinton lays out goals as president
Democratic says she is willing to work for change from within system
By Patrick Healy / New York Times
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York unveiled a new stump speech on Sunday, outlining the “four big goals” she would have as president and saying she was willing to “work within the system” and make “principled compromises” to achieve them.
Praising the leadership styles of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson, Mrs. Clinton described herself as a pragmatist and an alliance-builder. Without naming names, she said her strategies would yield more results than those of her two chief rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina.
“From my time in the White House and in the Senate, I learned you bring change by working in the system established by the Constitution,” Mrs. Clinton said at an early afternoon rally in Concord, drawing a pointed contrast to the outsider messages of Mr. Obama and Mr. Edwards. Referring to the Roosevelts and Johnson, she said, “They got big things done because they knew it wasn’t just about the dream, it’s about the results.”

http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/news/article.php?id=10198

Tell Hillary No One is Asking Her to Pretend

Contact Us Online
Please fill out the form below to contact us by email.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/help/contact/


This was my entry to "Tell Hillary"

Dear Senator Clinton,

I realize you have been dragged through every opposition to national health care the Republican Party could conjure up when you were First Lady.

To begin, you have to know how admirable it was as a First Lady to take on compassionate care of the nation in seeking a resolve to good quality health care. There is no other First Lady with the leadership skill you exhibited in taking on the entire reform of our nation's well being.

It wasn't your fault the Clinton Initiative on National Health Care failed. With the airing of Michael Moore's "SiCKO" it was completely obvious the initiative would fail to the profiteers backed by the "W"rong-headed Republicans.

I first apologize to you for having a nation on your conscience while being faced with such overwhelming corporate forces that would see your compassion be dealt an unjust end. It is difficult to realize from where I sit why any level of compassion which you exhibited at that time would be ridiculed and defeated. Your efforts were more than correct and if they had succeeded many Americans would have received timely care and would be with us today. You have to realize, Senator Clinton, the efforts you made was to save lives of the most vulnerable Americans. We all know that now more than ever.

I ask you, if you would please take up the nation's health again. I believe you will find far more support this time than ever before. There is an idea of the perfect form of American Health Insurance and it is published for your consideration at Michael Moore's website. He has been a force to contend with regarding this issue. It is a vital issue, Senator Clinton. But, those of us that believe in Michael need for you to take him seriously and kindly consider his well researched ideas.

http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/health-care-proposal/

We appreciated you as a First Lady, we appreciate you as a Senator and we offer you a chance as a Presidential Candidate to change the health care outcomes of America. I know you won't look the other way.

Best regards,
Elisa Barrett


The Michael Moore Health Care Proposal

http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/health-care-proposal/

I encourage everyone to write to the Former First Lady/Senator Clinton/Presidential Candidate to express their views regarding the need for a national health insurance. Thank you, Michael.

Pavlof Volcano rocks and rolls, blasting ash up to 20,000 feet

Pavlof is located on the Alaskan Penisula (click for link to 'listening to volcano').

Pavlof Volcano and Pavlof Sister Volcano

ALASKA DIGEST (click on link to title)
Published: September 2, 2007

Last Modified: September 2, 2007 at 02:20 AM
COLD BAY -- One of Alaska's most active volcanoes sent a billowing white cloud almost 4 miles high late Thursday night, the biggest explosion since the 8,261-foot cone began vigorously erupting last month.
Pavlof Volcano, on the Alaska Peninsula about 600 miles southwest of Anchorage, put up a 20,000-foot plume about 9:30 p.m. Thursday, said Steve McNutt of the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
Pavlof stayed restive Friday and Saturday, blasting ash clouds 10,000 feet to 16,000 feet high, McNutt said.
"It just looked like a tall column rising, kind of like a cumulonimbus (cloud)," said Michael McLaurin, a meteorological technician with the National Weather Service in Cold Bay. "It rose about 18,000 or 20,000 feet and subsided, then built up again."
Clouds blocked the view on Saturday night.
Cold Bay and its 90 residents are about 40 miles southwest of the action.
Ash, a danger to aircraft, likely caused lightning Thursday, McNutt said.
An FAA spokeswoman said no flights were diverted Saturday. It wasn't immediately clear if Thursday's event interfered with air traffic.
The volcano set a personal record for explosions early Thursday morning -- 14 every minute, McNutt said. Seismic instruments began tracking activity at the volcano in 1973.
"I've never seen more than 10 a minute," said McNutt.
To check the volcano's activity, go to avo.alaska.edu/activity/Pavlof.php.
-- Anchorage Daily News

Trip around the globe - animate loop with controls at site

September 5, 2007
0033 gmt
Global Pacific Satellite



September 5, 2007
0210 gmt
(Click here for loop - then animate with control at site)



September 5, 2007
0027 gmt
Africa-Europe Satellite

There is still plenty of heat to spawn more storms in the Atlantic although the Autuminal Equinox is approaching and the sun's radiation will be crossing to the southern hemisphere.



September 5, 2007
0016 gmt
Tropical Atlantic Satellite



September 5, 2007
0029 gmt
Western hemisphere

The continent reporting stations are all below zero,but,are warmer across the board except for the very high elevations(24 hour loop missing 3 views)

September 4, 2007
1928 gmt
North Pole Satellite

The reason for all this colder weather over Antarctica are the heat storms, hurricanes, cyclones of the Northern Hemisphere.


September 4, 2007
1928 gmt
South Pole Satellite

Easily discerned are very cold high elevations over East Antarctica. There are heat transfer vortexes from nearby land masses, which explains the winds and high level intrusions on the jet stream.


September 5, 2007
1200 AM UTC
Antarctica Surface Winds (Click here for loop)

Except for the peninsula, there is little break in the higher winds. It explains why so much of the continent is the same temperature; as the wind mixes the heat with frigid air.


September 4, 2004
0600 GMT
Jet Stream satellite image for Antarctica (Click here for six day image)

Basically, no surprises. All the higher elevations are untouched by heat transfer vortexes while there is significant heat exchange at lower latitudes.


September 4, 2007
0900 PM UTC
Antarctica

The coldest reporting stations on Antarctica :

Vostok, Antarctica

Time :: 6:00 AM VOST

Elevation :: 11220 ft / 3420 m

Temperature :: -111 F / -80 C

Humidity :: 70%

Dew Point :: -113 F / -80 C

Wind :: 4 mph / 6 km/h from the West

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: in / hPa (Rising)

Visibility :: 12.0 miles / 20.0 kilometers


Amundsen-Scott

Time :: 1150 AM NZST

Elevation :: 9285 feet / 2830 M

Temperature :: - 75 F / - 60 C

Conditions :: Blowing Snow Mist

Wind :: 17 mph / 29 km/h / 7.7 m/s from ESE

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: 28.32 in / 959 hPa (Rising)

Visibility :: 1.0 mile / 1.2 kilometers

Davis 76.05S 65.02E

Time :: 900 AM DAVT

Temperature :: - 58 F / -50 C

Conditions :: Calm


Warmest Reporting Stations

Palmer Station, Antarctica

Time :: 8:00 PM CLT

Elevation :: 26 ft / 8 m

Temperature :: 22 F / -5 C

Conditions :: Clear

Humidity :: 75%

Dew Point :: 17 F / -8 C

Wind :: 4 mph / 7 km/h from the South

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: 29.35 in / 994 hPa (Falling)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.0 kilometers



Casey 66.28S 110.52E

Time :: 8:00 AM WST

Temperature :: 21 F / -6 C

Conditions :: Heavy Blowing Snow

Humidity :: 92%

Winds :: East at 54 mph/ 87 km/h

Dew Point :: 20 F / -7 C

Pressure :: 28.70 in / 972 hPa (Falling)

Visibility :: 0.0 miles / 0.1 kilometers

The weather at Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica (Crystal Ice Chime0 is warmer than usual.

The link at the title will take you to a collection of pictures from the photographers at McMurdo. Questionably the snow in some photos looks rather soft/wet, but, all are quality photos with extensive explanations. I found them enjoyable.

Looks like an abstract rendition of "Day on a Texas Beach" but the waves say it all.

September 3, 2007

Corpus Christi, Texas

Photographer states :: Bob Hall Pier through the rain coated windshield of the truck.

Rain expected to persist through the day (Click on title of entry. Thank you.)
Web Posted: 09/04/2007 11:59 AM CDT
Express-News
Clouds from a Pacific Ocean hurricane streamed across Texas on Tuesday, touching off widespread rains, gloomy skies and flood watches and warnings around South Central Texas.
Hurricane Henriette, near Baja, Mexico, was supplying deep mid- and upper-level tropical moisture streams, supplemented by low-level moisture from the Gulf of Mexico....

...Heaviest rains overnight will bring the threat of flooding to an area from north of Del Rio to San Antonio to LaGrange, the weather service said.

Felix seeks Henriette (12 hour loop click here)

Streets were flooded in La Ceiba, Honduras.


September 4, 2007
2330z
UNISYS Infrared Satellite GOES East

These storms exploded after reaching land nearly at the same time. There is a slight hint of a quasi-eye in the Carribean just northeast Honduras border with Nicaragua. There is also a storm building east of Florida. It will more than likely remain in the Atlantic. There is an odd little storm that formed in a few hours over Lake Okeechobee. Everyone on the North American continent upto the Rio Grande is drenched. Texas and the Mississippi states into the middle of the USA are experiencing rains. This dual system storm is gigantic and very, very dangerous.





Hurricane Felix Strikes Central America (click here)
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Sept. 4 — The hurricane of the moment, the one that smashed ashore in northern Nicaragua today and began inundating the Honduran countryside, was Felix. But it was an earlier storm, the devastating Hurricane Mitch of 1998, that continued to haunt Hondurans.


Merchants recalled Mitch as they packed up their belongings as Felix moved in and hustled to higher ground. Residents told horror stories about Mitch as they hoped and prayed that the new storm would not do what the last one did....

The weather at Glacier Bay National Park (Crystal Wind Chime) is:

North of Alaska, researchers aboard the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy are gathering the data legally required to extend national territories across vast reaches of the mineral-rich seafloor usually blocked by Arctic ice.

Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m

Temperature :: 63 F / 17 C

Conditions :: Clear

Humidity :: 59%

Dew Point :: 48 F / 9 C

Wind :: 7 mph / 11 km/h / 3.1 m/s from the SSW

Pressure :: 29.87 in / 1011 hPa (Rising)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers

UV :: 4 out of 6

Clouds :: Clear
(Above the ground)

Arctic Ocean ice sheets smallest on record (click title to entry)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
This summer's ice sheets in the Arctic Ocean are the smallest on record since satellite observations started in 1978, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced Thursday.
The Arctic ice observed Wednesday was 5,307,000 square kilometers, falling below the previous low of 5,315,000 square kilometers recorded in September 2005.
The situation is similar to what the U.N.-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted this year would happen 30 or 40 years from now, showing that global warming may be progressing much faster than anticipated.
This summer, temperatures on the surface of the sea were between 0.8 C to 0.6 C below freezing, the highest temperatures since 2000.
The decrease of the Arctic ice likely will continue until mid-September, causing the ice sheets at the North Pole to shrink even further.
JAMSTEC and JAXA have been observing Arctic ice since 1978 using satellites and vessels.
The agencies said the sea ice sheets were shrinking because the Arctic ice formed later than usual last winter and was relatively thin from the start. As a result, the ice started melting earlier than usual, causing the sea water to absorb more solar heat due to a lack of ice, which usually reflects sunlight.
Furthermore, a low pressure system off Siberia brought strong winds to the North Pole, resulting in much of the Arctic ice being driven to the Atlantic Ocean.
IPCC projected this summer's Arctic ice sheet at about 7.5 million square kilometers, dropping to about 5.5 million square kilometers in 2040 and about 4.5 million square kilometers in 2050. However, some research institutes, including one in the United States, have pointed out that the reality is 30 years ahead of the projections.
(Aug. 18, 2007)


September 3, 2007
2311 gmt
Pacific Ocean Satellite

This is a heat transfer event. The storm in the left lower corner of the satellite image is Typhoon-2 FITOW (click here).

Typhoon Fitow brings swells (click here)

A distant typhoon will bring long period swells to the region, according to a National Weather Service release. Typhoon Fitow, located well north of Guam, will impact north-facing reefs into the midweek. Two to four-foot northerly swells will push the rip current risk into the moderate category, the release stated. A moderate rip current risk means wave conditions support stronger or more frequent rip currents. For weather updates, visit the Pacific Daily News at www.guampdn.com or the National Weather Service at www.prh.noaa.gov/pr/guam.
Pacific Daily News

September 3, 2007

1430 AKDT

Adjustable speed loop of vortex event (click here.)




Gale warnings along the Alaska coast and southwest ...Strong wind this evening through tuesday morning along turnagain arm and higher elevations...








Flask flood warnings in southern California and along the Baha peninsula. Large pink area is regarding high wind events. There are also gale warnings off Georgia and South Carolina. There has been significant flooding in that area as well already.

September 3, 2007

Edisto Beach, South Carolina

Photographer states :: Storm flooding scenes after 4 days of rain.

South Carolina Lowcountry swamped by heavy rain (click here)
Monday, Sep 03, 2007 - 08:58 AM
By Associated Press
BEAUFORT, S.C. - The South Carolina Lowcountry has seen heavy rain that has led to flooding in some areas.
The National Weather Service says a record 1.75 inches of rain had fallen as of 5 p.m. yesterday at Charleston International Airport.
Flooding closed a section of U.S. Highway 278 on Hilton Head Island for more than six hours Saturday. The resort town got 6.39 inches of rain. That's more rain than normally falls in all of September.
The heavy rain put a damper on summer's last hurray.
Hunting Island State Park assistant manager Kenny Heater says the park is usually full during Labor Day weekend, but there only about a dozen cars in the picnic area Saturday.

Tropical storm strengthens off Mexico's Pacific coast

September 3, 2007
2230z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite West and North Hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop).

The deluges of water is/will cause major flooding to Mexico on both coasts. There is also a resumption of a familiar pattern of a drenched central USA. Coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Atlantic seaboard need to remain vigilant for the exacerbation of severe storms accompanying this 'dual' storm system. No one is going to tell me Texas and Louisiana isn't in for flooding. As a matter of fact I know there is flooding (flash flood warnings) in Texas (click here) and increase in percipitation in Louisiana (click here) and here.


September 3, 2007
2230z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite GOES East (click here for 12 hour loop)



September 3, 2007
2230z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite GOES West (click here for 12 hour loop)

Tropical Storm Henrietta clearly illustrates how 'moisture deprived' the troposphere actually is. There is virtually NO equatorial water vapor as it has gone into supporting the 'heat storm' TS Henrietta.

September 3, 2007

2119 gmt

Mexican Satellite

Partners prepare for Hurricane Felix in Honduras and Nicaragua

September 3, 2007
Photographer states :: Once in the eye, the view was breath taking even at night. The moon had just risen over the top of the eyewall and lightning lit up the eyewall all around us.


September 3, 2007
Photographer states :: The first eyewall penetration was a bit rough but not too bad. The wind field was incredibly tight.We had winds less than 50 knots at flight until we got within a few milesof the eyewall. Once inside, the plane was surrounded on radar by a ring of high winds and rain.


September 3, 2007
Somewhere under the 'eye' of Felix
Photographer states :: Once in the eye, the view was breath taking even at night. The moon had just risen over the top of the eyewall and lightning lit up the eyewall all around us.

These are such incredible pictures, the photographer needs to be known. Thank you, Mr. Byron.:

Randy Byron - I was an aviation weather forecaster for 15 years for the Air Force. I am now a dropsonde systems operator and load master flying with the Hurricane Hunters at Keesler AFB, MS. I have been an amateur photographer for 20 years. I am also a private pilot.

The misanthropic deeds of George Walker Bush and Richard Cheney and every Republican that has supported them...

... doesn't end there. Currently, they are attempting to override States' Rights and limit the ability of states to provide health insurance to their children. There have been roll backs, under the guise of 'cost cutting measures' to subsidized housing and every humanitarian right Americans should and could at one time have access.

The Republican Party no longer exists as a balance to the spending policies of the USA, they have become destructive and deadly while exhibiting grossly corrupt strategies against the people of the USA.

It's time to be a little misanthropic toward them and give them a taste of their own medicine. Cut the Republicans off at the knees and put an administration and legislature in DC that will return the USA to it's benevolent nature while protecting it's citizens from further terrorist agendas.

The USA needs a fresh start with fresh leadership with good ideas and the will to see them through.

Good luck. I did my part, it's time everyone else do theirs.

The misanthropic priority of a destroyed benevolent troposphere of Earth

In every measure the Bush Administration and the Republican House and Senate have looked the other way hoping the USA can weather the storm of an Earth turned hostile by the abuses of the very country they lead.

While climate changes have brought 'large death events' as witnessed in France several years ago, the USA continues to do nothing in response to the rapidly changing Earth that will in time prove too hostile to support life as carbon dioxide emissions from the USA are unrelenting with no change in sight.

Currently there are no alternatives largely exploited from civilian energy sources. Coal technology, while touting an ability to be 'clean' there is little evidence supporting coal's ability to able to capture carbon dioxide within current sequestering measures.

This is one of the studies conducted in recent years research has been conducted by Duke University and Harvard that clearly states a 'saturated Earth's troposphere' results in little available carbon sequestration in addition to the existing saturation (click here).

"Above Ground Sink Strengths in forest controls, the allocation of carbon below ground and it's [CO2]-induced enhancements", Ecology, December 19, 2006; Vol. 103, No. 51, pp. 19632 - 19367.

This is an update of Clean Coal Technology as of 2001 (click here). I don't find it promising. The type of coal conversion technologies Bush refers to hopes of creating two Saudi Arabias from the USA coal stocks, which can be difficult to reach causing miner deaths; are very polluting to communities and their water and land resources. It's not at all a viable alternative to any other fossil fuel.

There is no better answer for teh USA regarding energy infrastructure than to eliminate the use of fossil fuels from it's menu of options. The cleaner the energy the USA can produce the greater the benevolence to Earth and hence the global community.

Every Earth System has it's limits and the USA has pushed them to breaking, it's time to stop.

Bush's misanthropic Department of Defense turned into The Deparment of War operating outside any international treaties and violating human rights

The sense deprivation of ineffective techniques which were a mish-mosh of every conceivable study on Earth since humans were able to 'set type.' The detainees at Gitmo were guinea pigs to Rumsfelds' 'dreamscape' of breaking down hardened terrorists. These detainees were on many occassions people whom had nothing to do with al Qaeda or terrorism but were sold to the USA military by warlords for rewards.

The latest speculation inside the World Bank revolves around how long it will be before investigators come knocking on Wolfowitz's newly reinforced doors to quiz him about the Iraq debacle, Abu Ghraib, Plamegate, and other scandals.

The least of all the damages to the USA was not simply it's international esteem as a leader in freedom and democracy, but, the damages to it's own soldiers manifested in lost limbs, lives deemed worthless by many veterans outside the 'juice' of war. "I lost one leg and they gave me another, why not have a matching set?" That is a demoralized soldier that sees life as a battlefield where a damaged body has value not readily found in the society back home. Add to that the brain damage in concussion incidents of improvised devices of nearly every kind imaginable. The USA veteran out of Iraq might be alive, but, returned to a demoralized value of self including PTSD resulting in suicide met by VA waiting lists and homelessness if we as a nation were lucky to have them alive long enough to 'get past' a mind full of violence.

Homeland Security is the most misanthropic cabinet department in Bush's administration. I could write a dissertation and someone should. .

The dangers to the USA food supply first manifested as a deadly mix in pet foods, killing many precious companion animals.

Pet food contamination mystery unlocked (click here)
SEATTLE - There are new developments in the on-going story of contaminated pet food. Federal health officials confirm that the ingredient believed to be killing cats and dogs, has also entered the human food supply.When this story broke back in mid-March, it was assumed the contamination was limited to pet food. But now it's clear that various livestock in the U.S. have been given animal feed containing the chemical melamine -- a chemical that is not supposed to be in pet or people food.Last week we learned contaminated animal feed was fed to hogs. Just Monday, there was confirmation that tainted feed was fed to chickens.The FDA says 38 poultry farms in Indiana received contaminated feed from China in early February. Of those, 30 of the farms raise broiler chickens for human consumption....

And let's not forget the misanthropic Bush Advisory Council to the FDA which allows heart disease in order to combat arthritis. Some kind of priorities they are.

The editorial by Hanlon at the Wall Street Journal was when it was still worth the time of day to read The Wall Street Journal.

The obvious misanthropic mission of Homeland Security is completely obvious here. First it's first Secretary, Tom Ridge 'set up' the USA for the 'culture of fear' by advocating 'duct tape' and plastic over windows as a measure to prevent WMD from reaching people inside any home. That not only provided to be the anticipated fearful permission for Bush's illegal invasion into Iraq, but was completely baseless in it's science as if a residence was so tightly closed to any outside air, the occupants would die of suffocation.

The 'idea' the USA's food supply is contaminated causing deaths among pets and endangering the well being of citizens is simply outrageous. Welcome to the misanthropic Bush outsourcing economy, guaranteed to rob the American worker blind of good paying jobs while killing them in the process through water and food contamination. Don't forget, the first Executive Order Bush signed allowed increases in arsenic. Hello?

The 'puzzle' as to whom gets Homeland Security dollars is simple. The monies go to where the greatest density of citizens live. Why? Because there is the most potential of the country to maintain it's populous in the face of devastating attacks of any nature on the USA. Where are the ports found that would have to be monitored to secure the USA borders. In the heartland of Kansas? No. The coastal cities of the USA, New York, Wilmington, New Orleans and nearly every MAJOR city on the seaboards of North America. Additionally, if food and water contamination were to be success to disable the USA from protecting it's homeland it would have to succeed against large populous, not small and distant communities. The BEST chance the USA has in protecting any of it's citizens is to insure the major cities survive any and all attacks so they in turn can respond to the emergencies of the interior of the country in numbers that would facilitate large movement of American infrastructure efforts. This isn't that difficult to understand or master a plan to survival of the USA and it's Consitution.

The obvious misanthropic mission of Homeland Security is clearly dividing it's funds into crony favors to enhance Republican votes within the Bush Culture of Misanthropic and Irrational Fear. By doing so, it should have been clearly evident to the citizens of the USA, any and all calls of terrorist alerts were simply misanthropic attacks on the psychi of the American populous.

Any Homeland Security of the USA involves not 'individual' efforts but the cumulative efforts of the entire country in it's ability to respond to other areas under attack or in distress. The greatness of the people of the USA has always been in the understanding they are a United States prepared to respond as a nation, not a simple city or local authority. To 'make weak' the great cities of the USA allows vulnerability nearly impossible to recover from, the prime and obvious example of same, the attacks on New York City on September 11, 2001.

The free flow of guns throughout the USA as a misanthropic political gesture by Bush in appreciation of the NRA

Norris Hall at Virginia Tech

What is there to say? Except guilty. Post Columbine, the USA got it's act together with The Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban. What occurred under this administration was a demoralization of the USA in a political agenda WITHOUT any valid research to back it up, in that people are better off personally armed than not. Well, at least one young man took that estimation of Bush's misanthropic America seriously.

The odd indictment of the Virginia Tech University authorities as holding some degree of responsiblity for the 32 deaths simply overlooked the larger culture and it's spawning of violence. God forbid the misanthropic Bush, his culture of fear and the crony favors to the NRA should be indicted along with any other impetus to the death of the innocent in the USA.

Hokie healing (click here)
By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports

August 30, 2007

BLACKSBURG, Va. – It's a dignified memorial, simple and sad, 32 stones in a semi-circle set up on a hill overlooking Drillfield here in the center of campus....

When does this insanity stop? Certainly the blood thristy Republicans don't have a vision of peace even within the borders of the USA. So long as the misinformation of the misanthropic NPA continues to be a 'belief system' there will be repeated events to match and exceed the one at Virginia Tech.

The Misanthrophic Bush and Michael Brown inexcuseable official death toll 1723. The largest death toll of ANY hurricane to strike the USA.

The infrastructure damage of New Orleans was met with 'speculation of opportunity' rather than seeking to return the city to it's millions of displaced residents. Today, New Orleans is still struggling to rebuild and reorganize with very high crime rates persisting.

The search for the missing of Katrina continues (click here).

The events of Katrina causing catatrophic loss was completely avoidable. The USA ignored the 'real' dangers of surmounting intensity of storms due to Human Induced Global Warming. As a result all plans to refurbish the wetlands of the Gulf Coast and improve the levees of New Orleans was all but abandoned. The latest 'drill' before Katrina arrived showed the deficits of preparedness of the Gulf Coast, yet, those drills meant absolutely nothing to the federal government. People of the Ninth Ward were left to hack their way out of attics to their roofs with axes as a last resort to survive an anticipated storm such as Katrina by the residents there.

Relief efforts have reached the Lower Ninth, but, were the last to be addressed (click here). We have recently opened a new relief site in the Lower 9th Ward. We need a lot of help getting our new site off the ground.

Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans, LA: Hurricane Katrina Aftermath in Photographs - January 2006
No part of The City of New Orleans was devistated in the same magnitude as the Lower Ninth Ward. The photographs below were taken three months after the hurricane struck. (click here)

The events of Katrina are inexcusable and anyone who thinks differently is grossly "W"rong in their estimation to the neglect and disregard practiced at the highest levels of this government under the current leadership. In order to recognize the dangers of Human Induced Global Warming one has to FIRST and FOREMOST accept the scientific information provided by competent practioners of their professions employed by the federal government to do exactly what they have been doing in preparing the USA for drastic changes in the climate to protect citizens. As the circumstances surrounding Human Induced Global Warming have become 'dire' and 'immediate' the misanthropes of the Bush administration and their crony Republicans simply placed politics with the lives that were and remain most at risk across this country, continent and globe with the USA contributing the largest carbon dioxide load on planet Earth. To look the other way is not just unconscionable, it's criminally misanthropic. God forbid, the best interests of the USA demanded 'peace' rather than illegal and irrational Neocon war, and the scaling back of a drastically dangerous fossil fuel economy.

This is a graph from Wikipedia regarding average 'household income.' Click here for a link.

There is a signifcant amount of households below the poverty level. There are even more below the average 'gross' household income below $55,000. In the table of this link it is noted the income of individuals doesn't increase until they achieve a Bachelor's degree. The 'idea' the USA could subsist on High School educations without factories to soak up the undereducated has created an 'exclusive' disparity of opportunity in the USA.
The USA must return to a 'gear up' economy for supplying consmer demands for a nation desiring new forms of energy and transporation. Do you the income level increase a national high speed magnetic rail would create? With increased income across the board for Americans, the tax base increases, the deficit is better managed and the 'opportunity' for young Americans to be well educated by their families increases.
Does the USA have a choice? Do families believe children are worth the investment to rebuild their nation and it's economy?

There are 191 million people in the USA 25 years old and older. This is a graph of the USA 'brain trust.' I am not impressed.

One might ask, how many of those PhDs are minority Americans? Not many. The Misanthropes haven't even begun to address the educational needs of the people of this country. Without a significantly more impressive 'brain trust' and the 'reason' to establish one, the USA's interests will be outsourced as well and we will be a 'slave nation' to a country such as China in more ways than just 'average minimum wage labor.' You might ask yourself come election day 2008, whom is going to lead this nation when they can't even graduate from high school? Where is an American economy if there are no leaders to take us there?

US high school dropout rate: high, but how high? (click title above)
By Gail Russell Chaddock Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor WASHINGTON – The national dropout rate is notoriously hard to pin down, and the latest effort to do so - showing alarmingly low graduation rates in some parts of America - is likely to intensify the statistics wars.
Nearly 1 in 3 high school students in the Class of 2006 will not graduate this year, the Editorial Projects in Education (EDE) Research Center reported Tuesday.
This are current the statistics upto 2004....


High School Dropout Rates (click here)
...Dropout rates of young people ages 16 to 24 in the civilian, non-institutionalized population gradually declined between 1972 and 2004, from 15 percent to a low of 10 percent in 2003, where the rate remained in 2004. (See Table 2) In this indicator, dropouts are those who are not enrolled in and have not completed high school. In 1972, the dropout rate among non-Hispanic blacks was 21 percent, and, among non-Hispanic whites, it was 12 percent. These rates declined substantially for each group between 1992 and 2004, narrowing the gap between the two groups (though the rate for blacks remains twice that of whites). The dropout rate for non-Hispanic black youth reached an historic low of 11 percent in 2001. (See Figure 1) This drop is at least in part related to the dramatic increases in incarceration rates among black high school dropouts since 1980, which takes them out of the civilian non-institutionalized population on which these estimates are based.7 Rates among Hispanic youth have declined in last few years from 30 percent in 1998 to 24 percent in 2004....