Tropical storm blows up oil price

Reuters
Published: Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Oil rose Monday as tropical storm Dolly rumbled into the Gulf of Mexico, stoking fears of disruptions to U.S. offshore oil and gas production.
U.S. crude settled up $2.16 at $131.04 a barrel after concerns about U.S. demand knocked prices from record highs of more than $147 a barrel last week. London Brent crude rose $2.42 to settle at $132.61 a barrel.
The storm, with sustained winds of nearly 85 km/h, emerged from the Yucatan Peninsula over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and could reach hurricane strength today....


July 21, 2008
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Photographer states :: Dolly made it over the Yucatan without giving us to much trouble beside the rain. But she is still wagging us with her tail. Thunderstorms all around. [PaaMul, Quintana Roo, Mexico, 10 Miles south of Playa del Carmen] Looks as if she is going to make some real trouble now. Much look for all in Texas and northern Mexico.

Rare ‘derecho’ leaves swath of damage across Iowa, Q-C region

July 21, 2008
Mitchelville, Iowa
Photographer states :: Corn couldn't take winds around 70-80 mph from last night storms.

Derecho is spanish for "upright."

The secretary of Agriculture seems to lack accountability for 'wind' damage.

Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Northey: Comments on Iowa Crops and Weather Report (click here)

7/21/2008 For Immediate Release

Monday, July 21, 2008

Contact: Dustin Vande Hoef

515/281-3375 or 515/326-1616 (cell)

NORTHEY COMMENTS ON IOWA CROPS AND WEATHER REPORTDES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.“The rapid growth and overall good weather of the last few weeks remain welcome, but the severe storms that continued to cause isolated damage,” Northey said. “The very difficult start we had to the growing season make these weeks of favorable weather even more important.”


July 21, 2008
Decatur, Illinois
Photographer states :: A damaging hail storm hit Decatur, IL tonight along with high winds, 4 inches of rain and tornado warnings. I was able to get this picture from my deck, using the flash, dodging hail! Temps dropped from 87 to 66 quite rapidly.

The weather at Glacier Bay National Park is (Crystal Wind Chime) pleasant, but, not cold.

South African adventurer-explorer Mike Horn is seen aboard his 35-meter (115-feet) yacht 'Pangaea' as part of a pre-expedition introductory tour at St Katharine's Dock, London Monday July 21, 2008. The 42-year-old is set to go on a four-year expedition around the globe, aiming to cover 100,000 kilometers (62,000 miles), cross all the continents and oceans, and reach the North and South Poles. (AP Photo/Dominic Lipinski, PA) (Dominic Lipinski - AP)

Explorer on environmental mission
20 hours ago
An explorer has announced plans for a four-year transnavigation of the globe that will help youngsters engage with environmental issues.
South African Mike Horn, 42, was at St Katherine's Dock in London to launch his Pangaea expedition - a 62,140 miles trek across the globe starting in October.
Young people from around the world will join him on the expedition, an idea he introduced so youngsters will be able to understand the world's environmental issues….

Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m

Local Time :: 2:03 AM AKDT

Lat/Lon :: 58.8° N 137.0° W

Temperature :: 50 °F / 10 °C

Conditons :: Overcast

Windchill :: 47 °F / 8 °C

Humidity :: 87%

Dew Point :: 46 °F / 8 °C

Wind :: 8 mph / 13 km/h / 3.6 m/s from the ESE

Pressure :: 30.11 in / 1020 hPa (Falling)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers

UV :: 0 out of 16

Clouds:
Few 3100 ft / 944 m
Overcast 4000 ft / 1219 m
(Above Ground Level)

No Surpise to Me - "...we have to engage the Pakistan government..."

"...when I said this last August..."


The Obama visit into the war zones was no surprise. They were well known and expected. What does that say about the Bush/Cheney 'surprise visits' exploited by the media as bravery? It tells me plenty. Of course, this isn't the first time Barak has been to Afghansitan or Iraq and on those occassions there was 'no surprise' either !

The Bush/Cheney White House exploits 'shock and awe' for media attention in an inappropriate manner in order to facilitate 'the terror' element among the American Public. The 'mood' of the USA is more important to the current administration than its safety.




The media would like to proclaim THIS visit as a 'political initative.' Not so. How can Barak take his promises to the American people seriously without first realizing what our responsibility is in a shifting focus BACK to destroying terrorist networks that STILL pose a threat to the national security interests of the USA.

Do the wars in the Middle East need 'a draft?' No. This is NOT World War II and it never will be. Allies, including Russia, need to reaffirm their belief in the USA and its return to Afghanistan to destroy 'The Base' of al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Allies need to reaffirm 'fiscal' commitments to Afghanistan and its rebuilding when "The Base" is finally, after seven years, destroyed.

We don't belong in Iraq.

We never did.